Soft Kiss.

Arielle woke up to the bright afternoon of the following day. It didn't take her long before recalling all that happened yesterday, and the weakness was still in her bones but she had enough strength to move around. Throwing the sheets away, she was just about to scurry into the bathroom with her naked body when a light and feminine voice came from right outside her door, "My lady?"

Arielle paused, "Are you referring to me?"

"I was assigned to your mansion. I'll be looking after you. My name is Astrid." She sounded like a bright person. 

"Uhhh, is that needed? I can take care of myself,"

"I was sent by our King. I'm sorry my lady, but I cannot go against him,"

Ah, now it was making sense. 

"I see then. I'll be taking my bath,"

"You must be hungry. Lunch will be ready as soon as you're. I'll be here if you need anything!" She sounded so enthusiastic about it which had Arielle narrowing her eyes at the door skeptically. She trusted no one! 

After soaking up a lot in the shower, she dried herself and changed into one of the dresses she found in her drawer. They all had this familiar scent of Ezekiel that had been soaked into them, and Elle just knew he had done it on purpose. 

It was her first time wearing something as good-looking as it without having to feel disgusted in it. As she recalled, the other beautiful dresses she ever wore had been linked to her achieving a deadly goal. She walked out of the room and met the other Woman waiting for her with a gingerly smile on her face. 

She looked very young and full of energy. Astrid had long dark hair that was tied in a bun, and she had a corset on. 

After having lunch, Elle decided to go for a brief walk around the place. She didn't notice it Last night, but the land was extravagantly beautiful with ornaments and decorations and vases at every corner. She came across a few people moving around who stared at her in puzzlement. Elle wondered if maybe they could feel that her wolf wasn't a beta. Astrid explained to whom every land belonged as they went on

"Oh, There's his highness!" Astrid happily pointed at a small hut not too far from them where Ezekiel sat down attending to his activities. It looked like he was having tea with some elegant-looking people, and Elle turned her head away to continue her tour of the place. He was busy right now, and she still felt like avoiding him nonetheless.

"I think he's coming this way," Astrid mumbled as quietly as she could this time, and Elle could already feel his scent enveloping her calmly, his smooth footsteps, and his sheer dominating aura. She turned to him again when he was close to make sure he was actually coming at her and what he did next shocked everyone around. 

Grabbing her face, he pressed a soft kiss on her lips before he trapped her in a tight and warm hug. 

Elle had been caught off guard, especially by that kiss. It had been very soft, but she still felt it so much. Now she was in the embrace of his body that always welcomed her, and she could only try to suppress the uneasy feeling. 

Astrid had her mouth dropped in astonishment but quickly turned around to give them privacy. The people he had been having tea with had their eyes calculating like crazy, wondering who Elle was and her relationship with the King. The princesses there didn't look too happy with it. 

Elle had to push him back a little before Zeke pulled away from her. It's like he had forgotten they were not alone, but he kept his hands on her shoulder. He had been planning to finish to quickly round up the chat he was having with the guests and leave to see immediately, but then he had caught her scent and she came into view. 

"Hey," He sighed. 

"Hi," She sighed back, "You seem busy." She reminded. 

"I am, or should I say...I was," Zeke turned around to Nico who was standing by the hut, and waved his hands like a signal had been given. Nico then faced the people and say something that had them stepping out of the hut and walking away. 

"You shouldn't cut your activities short because of me. I'm sure you're very busy since your return as King. There's a lot to do." She said. 

"How about you come along with me? I want to see you as I perform my duties," 

She narrowed her eyes, "Is that allowed?"

"I wonder," He looked amused, "Maybe I should take a request from the King of Euscarria to see. Oh yeah, here he is and he has absolutely no problem with Miss Arielle riding along with him," He smiled again, and Arielle's heart leaped. 

Taking her by the hand, he pulled her along with another wave to both Nico and Astrid not to come along with them. 

He took her with him while he attended to so many things concerning the country. Paperwork was filled out thoroughly, and a few complaints were heard. At last, he took her to the main gate of the Castle, and she finally understood where all the cries of joy and noise had been coming. 

A lot of people had come to see their real king from all over the country, and the guards were barely able to hold them off from breaking in. Lifting his hands, Zeke waved at them all as the cheers grew louder while Arielle maintained her distance this time. She could only watch his back this time, feeling somewhat proud of him. 

The people seemed to love him.

As she stood there, she noticed a certain man standing from the sidelines also watching Zeke. He was dressed in Royal garments like he was a very respectable and profound person of the palace, and she noticed his eyes cast a cruel look toward Zeke. At first, she thought that was just the way he looked till his gaze had shifted to her... and that expression instantly changed. 

He smiled wildly and gave a small wave from where he stood. Arielle had no intention of returning the gesture, and so she casually and naturally looked away to his left, making it seem as if their eyes had locked by mistake and she was only admiring her surroundings. 

Retiring back to his mansion, they were now alone. She was surprised to see that where he lived was just as small as her place. She had expected somewhere exquisite and huge for the King, but this was just shocking. 

Now that she thought about it, even the house that they had left to come here hadn't been that big at all. Just an average house that contained him. He wasn't a man that loved luxury. 

Dinner had already been set, and they feasted on the varieties of meals in front of them. Nico stood by the entrance of the house when he saw someone approaching him. It was Princess Olivia of the Moon Royal family that had visited from the east. 

From what Nico had noticed so far, she had seemed so interested in Zeke ever since she set her eyes on him at the ball and since the king doesn't have a Queen, everyone was taking their chances. Plus, she wasn't the only woman after him and competition would slowly build up between the women. 

"Your Highness," Nico bowed. 

"Is he free to see me?" She asked, her hazel eyes twinkling. 

"No, your highness. His Majesty is quite busy right now," Nico replied softly. But Olivia was quick to pick up the soft chewing and plate scraps with her sharp ears. She immediately knew Zeke was having dinner. 

"How about you ask him if I could join him for dinner?" She smiled lightly at the king's man, but Nico didn't bulge. 

"His Majesty is busy. Maybe another time, your highness,"

She wanted to listen even closer to what was going on in there, but she would be breaking a serious law by doing that. Some attendants rooting for her had informed her earlier that the King was through with his duties for the day and had retired back to his place. So she thought maybe she could steal some alone time with him. 

Suddenly, the red-haired woman he had hugged earlier flashed in her mind and a sour expression took over her face. 

"Can you at least let him know I'm standing outside?" She tried again, "I mean I came all the way here to see him. I do not know when I would get another chance like this. Do consider this, tell him, and let me know his response," She sounded like some lady in distress but tried not to sound too desperate to see the King. 

With a sigh, Nico sent the King a message through telepathic communication. 

Zeke was having dinner, especially watching Arielle who was stuffing her face with everything in front of her. Her mouth was full and she was struggling to get them down her throat, but it didn't stop her from forcing more into her mouth. 

"Do you need water?" He poured her a glass and passed it to her. 

She narrowed her eyes at the glass cup before accepting it. With the help of the water, she was able to clear her mouth of the stuffed-up food there. 

"Here, have more," He kept placing more meals in front of her, urging her to eat more since she looked so hungry. 

Just then, he heard Nico speaking in his head. It was a special connection their wolves had made a long time ago. Zeke called it special because it was between a Lycan and a wolf, "I'm sorry for interrupting your meal your Majesty, but Princess Olivia has asked to see you, if possible." He said politely. 

Zeke replied immediately, "Have her know that I'm not available to her, and I will not."

Nico looked at the Princess, "His Majesty says he cannot see you," He then looked away hoping she would just leave now. She did stand there contemplating for a while before she finally gave up and walked away. 

Meanwhile, Arielle has been dying to ask him a few questions. She wanted to understand a few things he had said back then, and why he was so possessive of her right from the very start. 

She looked up at her food, and found him already staring at her with soft eyes, "Uhhh, Zeke?" 

"Hm?" 

"Why do you sometimes speak or behave as if we've...met before?"

His eyes flickered softly, but she continued. 

"When we first met, you said something like ' I won't let you reject me again ', and that must have meant that I rejected you before and you do not want it to happen again. Like, you're trying to get me back or something. The things you do...the care and possessiveness, I find it hard to believe it's because of the mate bond that was between us back then. Wolfs that just became mates do not show such bountiful emotions and care toward each other except if they already knew each other before or till after their activities together have made it stronger, but you keep behaving like I'm your forever right from the beginning." She paused to Guage his reaction before continuing. He looked as composed as always, but the smile was almost gone. 

"I also want to know how you knew my name. I don't think the kidnappers would have known since I lived alone for so very long except if they're able to read minds and I do not think wolfs have advanced that far. Zeke, it bothers me. I don't trust you, and neither do I expect anything from you," She added the last part just to be clear with him on how she saw things on her part. 

She was sold. There were no two ways about that. 

As she waited in anticipation for his reply, she gripped her dress under the table when he stood up to his feet and took in a deep breath.