Aurelia's POVThe first time he spoke my name was to reject me as his mate. Life had been nothing but unfair to me. I was seated outside in a garden with the other maids, tending to it as I had nothing else to do.If I remained in my room, I'll definitely be in shambles..I needed something to distract me from the thoughts that filled my head after he spoke those words that crushed me into pieces.It seemed that I had a very unkind fate.I inhaled the sweet smell of grass and fresh air into my lungs but my smile was missing from my lips. I was finally allowed to move about the castle.I never knew that was the price I was going to pay for the freedom I so desired and longed for.It had been two days since that shocking night and I still asked myself if I regretted it and hoped to take back the hands of time but I was yet to find the answer.But there was something strange about the rejection. Where was the soul crippling feeling of being rejected as what was the usual tradition?Why di
Liam's POV "Hey, Andre," I called lazily as I tried to keep my eyes open, "I can't seem to move my legs." "My king," Andre whispered in a pained tone. "Andre," I called again, "My insides are on fire." I heard the sound of metals crashing on the floor and my ears rang from the noise. I turned my head as it was the only thing that didn't feel heavy. Andre was on his knees staring at me with tears gathered in his eyes. "Don't look at me like that," I scowled but ended up groaning in pain. "I don't know what else to do," he whispered. "Your fever won't come down. You complain of body pains and even likened it to a tree falling on you. You've been throwing up for two days now, my King." Everything he listed ridiculed the hours of pain I was going through. "You make it sound so easy," I muttered. Speaking took too much from me and it left me breathless. "The healers don't know what to make of your strange illness and it worries me. It feels like an endless circle. What else should
Liam's POV "No!" "Your Highness-" "It is not up for debates," I shook my head and turned my face away from him with my arms folded. "Would you rather I die at the bottom of the sea?" I scoffed, "You said it yourself, you'll be fine." "Your Highness, the solution to your wellbeing is only one call away," Andre pointed out but I had my foot down. I wasn't going to allow myself to be mated to a weak orphaned Beta from a different territory like herself. She was a complete pushover who let others take advantage of her. "Andre, I don't see you leaving for the sea," I reminded him and when I looked at him, he was staring at me in disbelief. "You would rather send me to my death than be with your mate?" "When you swore an oath to protect me with your life, did you think that was a joke? I am not letting that woman-" I gagged a little and I paused as I felt the pressure rise in my chest. He moved to grab the bowl but I shook my head. I cleared my throat and continued, "…come anywher
Aurelia’s POV"M-My body?" I stammered as I stared at him in shock. The serious look on his face told me he wasn't joking. I was yet to recover when he suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards my bed. I heard the door slam shut and my heart jumped."You Highness please wait-""I've endured enough. You're driving me crazy. Do you know who I am? I am the Lycan King!" he boasted and each word added a beat to my heart. "Come here," I gasped when he pulled me down onto his lap."Now stay still," he gruffed and rested his head on my heaving chest.My eyes widened and a whimper escaped my lips, "Your highness-""I need silence," he stated and his shoulders came up and down in a sigh.Different thoughts raced in my head but I didn't dare say a thing. I heard him inhale deeply and I wondered if he was taking in my scent.Had he come all the way just for that? He already rejected me as his mate so why was he coming to me?My back was arched and his hands rested lazily on the low of my bac
Aurelia's POV He was sniffing me again like he couldn't get enough of me. It left me with a weird feeling. Was this the effect of the rejection? I knew how much he tried to deny the mate bond between us. Seeing him act like this only made me wonder how much he hated it. Or did the mate bond on his end grow stronger after the rejection? I could only wonder as asking him was out of the options. Even with that, my cheeks were flustered and my body reacted to his touch in ways I had never experienced for another. Everywhere he touched left a spark that needed his special attention. "I-I was only talking to Andre," I said to him and tried to lean into his touch without his knowledge. In my defence, he came to me first and I was only following his lead. I blamed him for making me want his touch so bad. In two days I thought I had lost my mate forever. Even if I didn't feel the mate bond, I couldn't erase the fact that I once felt it. "Do you know what happened to me when you left th
Aurelia's POVI squeezed my fist on my thighs as I sat uncomfortably in his chambers. I could feel several stares on my skin and I didn't dare lift my head up."Do you feel any better now?" Andre asked expectantly. He sounded like a child whose promise was delivered.I couldn't stop thinking about that wink and those words of misconception. He was probably thinking the same thing.My cheeks heated as I bit my bottom lip softly."His colour already looks bright," this was Emma and she sounded heavy in thought. I wondered what was heavy in her heart, it was too impossible to miss.I stared down at the jean and round neck top I was wearing and was thankful that his highness had listened when I begged him to at least let me take a shower.He let me into his bathroom that looked like a mini lake but was wide enough to fit at least a hundred people.I showered as quickly as I could as every now and then he would threaten to kick the door open. The thought that he was at the other side of th
Aurelia's POVI didn't know he meant every word he spoke when he said 'I better get used to it.' For the next couple of days, I was only allowed to be three feet away from him even when he had his bath.I would sit a few feet away and keep my eyes lowered as the maids added beautiful scents to the water and also washed his hair while he relaxed against the edge of the lake sipping a drink.But every now and then It was as though I could feel his gaze on me.My cheeks would hurt from all the crazy thoughts and imaginations that filled my mind but I never raised my head until it was time for him to leave so I could have my bath.Of course, I asked for my privacy. I'd send the maids and guards away and the King would stare down at me with a strange look in his eyes like he was trying to piece me together.He would wait outside the door and whenever I took too long, according to him, he would bang the door and threaten to come in.I definitely wanted him to come in...oh fuck my thoughts!
Aurelia's POVI was seated in his study room again today while he spoke with Emma and Andre. I rested my eyes as I willingly spaced out on their conversation.I guess I should be paying attention to pack matters since I was going to be Luna-No! I frowned at the thought, sending it packing as quickly as it came. When did I start to think things like that? I was clearly getting ahead of myself.I found that I was getting too comfortable with the King's daily attention and it worried me. He found the littlest excuse to reach for me and share physical contact. While it made me blush whenever he was fast asleep or whenever I could get some alone time, it also left a dreadful feeling in my heart.His attitude around me was changing drastically. His eyes would search for me to make sure I was where he dropped me and whenever they landed on me, I could see relief and a smile in his eyes.The King was making my heart beat faster whenever I thought about him and when he was close to me. I had
Aurelia's POV How long has it been? "Your highness," I smiled at the guards as I walked past, feeling a bit self conscious at their greetings. I thought I would've gotten used to it now… well I was trying but the thought that everyone in the Pack knew my name and my title, was a bit terrifying. The Castle had been rebuilt as well as the properties that had been destroyed in the war. "Your highness!" Mia called in a sing-song voice. She rushed over to me with Glenn and Olivia by her side. It was nice to see them again. After the mating ceremony two weeks ago, I had sent a few guards to search for them and luckily, they were alive and well. I wish I could say the same for Casey. She fell alongside the Wild Rose Pack. "I've set everything already," I paused. "Well, the maids did. Let's go?" they nodded eagerly and we headed straight to the tunnels where everything came to an end. With the breeze in my hair and the laughter of my friends, I felt relieved. I never thought I could be
Aurelia's POV"Stay back!""Let go of her, Emma!""If you take one step closer, I'll kill her!" her voice was breaking like she was in tears but there was still a hint of fear and panic in her tone."You've done enough already! Do you really want to add this to your sins?" This voice belonged to Emma. She was probably grinding her teeth in anger. She sounded like she would explode any minute.I was slowly regaining consciousness and strength over my body but I kept my eyes closed. The chain was no longer around my neck but her arm instead and she held me so close to her chest."I did everything for you!" Emma screamed. That meant that Liam was close by. "Everything! I gave my whole life to you. Everything you did, I did it too just so you wouldn't feel left out and alone-""You assumed all of that," Liam was sounding surprisingly calm. I didn't expect that. I wish I could see the expression on his face; would it be blank like a sheet or worried like a true lover?"Ha," she gushed out
Aurelia's POVThere was no more than needed to be said. Emma had chosen her own path a long time ago. What was I thinking trying to show her pity? After all she had done, the only thing she deserved was death."I'm sick of this," Mia said beside me and started to walk towards them. "I'm going to beat her to a pulp and make sure she's hanging from a tree." She increased her pace and charged towards Emma.Just then, a few rogues in wolf form jumped out, attacking Hunter and Mia dodged quickly and surrounded me, keeping their eyes at the rogues that continued to increase.We were surrounded and from the look of things, it would take a miracle for us to get out of here alive."They killed the boss," Emma said, pointing in our direction. "I couldn't do anything because of this," she tugged at her chains. "Where is the key? Release me at once-""The key is with the Prince," someone answered her."What? Where is he? I can't wait that long? What if they kill everyone and come after me too?" S
Aurelia's POVIt wasn't even up to thirty minutes and one group had been annihilated. How did they-"Are you the real Aurelia or are you actually a fake?" they sneered and I recoiled to my corner while Mia shielded their evil eyes from me. I could feel their murderous intent and the hard pressure of their gaze."Sorry," the smile in Mia's voice gave off a psychotic vibe that made me shiver. She was having a good time. I had almost forgotten that Mia had a thing for trouble."They are increasing!" one of the guards yelled from behind. "We can't stay here any longer. We'll be trapped-""Idiot! We're already trapped here. We either go back to the Castle or we go out there but either way, we're gonna have to fight and some of us are going to die and it's not gonna be me because his highness told me to live!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards them."Keep your face down!" she yelled as she pulled me further into the tunnel. I could only stare at the floor as the guards fought their w
Aurelia's POV"How serious is it?" I asked for the umpteenth time but every time I did, something strange happened."Should I braid your hair?" Mia asked with a cheerful smile- more like a forced one. "I learnt how to braid when you were away."Whenever I asked about the war, someone would change the subject. It was too obvious they were avoiding having to answer, especially when they answered with something completely unrelated."I know what you guys are doing," I leaned back on my pillows, staring at all three of them. "You don't have to do that. Just say you can't tell me or that it's confidential."They glanced at each other before Carlos spoke up, "Wouldn't it be strange to tell the future Queen that a war is happening in her own land and she can't be informed about it.""Really?" I rolled my eyes. "Yet, no one is telling me anything.""We don't want you to worry," Hunter said as he stood by the door with his arms folded and his eyes closed. He was probably paying attention to so
Liam's POVMia closed the door behind her, leaving me and Aurelia in our bedroom. I didn’t think she would have still been awake. It was a shock to hear her giggling from the hallway with Hunter, Carlos and Mia.Now she was swinging her legs while she sat on our bed in a silky thin strap night dress that covered her knees."I have never wanted to make eunuchs out of my warriors so bad," she gasped at my words with a smile on her face. "Tell, my dear, am I wrong to think such things? You're practically naked.""I'm wearing something," she said in her defence."Yes. I see your point," I folded my arms and kept my gaze on her boobs. It took a while but when she understood that, she threw a hand over her breasts."It wasn't like that a few minutes ago" she looked away. "My body only ever malfunctions when you’re close by." she blushed."So you’re saying even when you're next to my grave, you're ready to-""Liam!" She covered her face. "My goodness!" she shook her head aggressively with a
Liam's POV"You gave them twenty four hours?" Andre repeated."That's 16 hours left," I pointed out. I had spent a great deal of time with Aurelia, exploring her body like it would be the last and enjoying our mate bond. The minute I stepped into the room filled with my commanders, everyone could smell the mate mark on me.Their faces lifted up and they were all in high spirits. They couldn't wait to get the war over and done with so they could hold a feast and celebrate that their king had finally been mated."We should ready the warriors soon," Commander Rhys said, staring at the map. "I'll lead my team to the southern part. We should have all four entrances blocked and have them surrounded. I have heard some pretty dark rumours about Norton.""Me too," Commander Denice replied absentmindedly with a hand stroking his chin. "The number of rogues he controls are," he trailed off. "If they all defend Red Valley, we may have a hard time penetrating.""But it's not impossible," Commander
Liam's POVWe arrived with my beast in no time. Even the guards by the border didn't see us when we passed. They only felt the gush of wind and I saw how they all panicked, calling for backup immediately and some chasing after us. They alerted the Castle through the mindlink and once we arrived, I heard the footsteps of a hundred men, rushing to protect the land.I set Aurelia on her feet who clutched my hand like she would lose balance. She smiled up at me and despite the fear on her face, she had been thrilled by the ride. Her heart was beating loudly and I placed my hand on her stomach, hoping that wasn't too rough on our child."We're fine," she said, putting her hand over mine."We have you surrounded!" Andre yelled and stepped forward. "Surrender now or-" his words disappeared when he came a little closer and he recognized who was before him. His eyes moved between Aurelia and I with tears in his eyes.I saw the burden lift up on his shoulders and he turned to the others, "Someo
Liam's POV"What do you mean by that?""The Beta families suffered an unfortunate fate! It is a sensitive topic-- how dare you bring it up so casually!""Unfortunate fate?" I repeated the word and glared at the woman who had said that, ''how disgraceful!''She flinched at my gaze but refused to back down. Her eyes were bloodlust and I saw through her boiling anger-- thanks to the file of course. She had lost a dear friend too but the case was swept under the rug for very obvious reasons that were oblivious to them."We will not allow you to speak about our dead-""What investigation was carried out?" I asked them. "Were the perpetrators even brought to justice? You tell me you honour your dead yet you all failed to produce the killer.""Your visit here is about my son," Alpha Hector chipped in. "I have promised to scold him so refrain from-""I have evidence," I took out the papers from my robe. "Evidence that Norton is behind what you termed an 'unfortunate event'.""Such wild accusa