Aurelia's POVMy legs moved on their own. In my defence, I needed to quiet and soothe my wolf.This wasn't me trying to assure myself that the King still needed me by his side. Why would I need assurance? He rejected me after all and even if the mate bond was repaired, that didn't mean he wanted me by his side as a mate."I'll just go in to check if he's fine," I said to myself as I chewed on my fingernail out of nervousness. "I'm sure he is. If he's not, I'll stay by his side. If he is, I'll return to my bedroom. Yes, I'm free at last."But why wasn't I happy about the prospect of going back to sleep in my room?The thought of being away from my mate and not knowing when next he would need me by his side, struck fear in my heart.What if he ended up rejecting me again this time and the bond was truly severed?Was it even possible to be rejected twice?I shook my head and I stared long and hard at the door. I grabbed the door knob but it was suddenly pulled open.My heart jumped as I
Aurelia's POV "What happened to you?" Liam asked in a soft voice as he pulled me away from his embrace to stare into my face. My cheeks were coated with tears and I drew in every breath slowly as if afraid I would have a panic attack if I rushed my explanation. His hands gripped my shoulders, forcing me to stare up at him. Under my blurry vision, I could make out lines of worry on his brows. His expression almost made me laugh. Why did he look like he was ready to rain down hell on who had made me cry? My mate searched my eyes in silence and his expression only hardened. Was he concerned, but why? "Why do you keep crying?" he asked again but this time, it felt like he was asking himself. "I don't know what to do," he trailed off, mumbling some words as his eyes wandered but mine focused on the movement of his mouth. His lips were full with a Cupid's bow arched perfectly on the top. They were very inviting but ...they seemed cold. Those lips spoke to me in such a comforting way
Aurelia's POVHis self control was stronger than I thought.My mate casted strange eyes on me as I took a step closer to his desk. I was in his study room the next day wanting to ask if he felt any better after not being in my presence. I already knew the answer to that but I still came by because my intentions were not just that.I was blushing as I stood before him, the only thing separating us was his desk and while there wasn't much to do on it, he decided to keep his eyes on his table and picked up an old document instead."Do you need anything?" His tone was light and not what I had been expecting."You didn't send for me," I cleared my throat. "I was a little worried since the past few days we have been," I trailed off as I resisted the urge to bite the corners of my lips. I wouldn't want him to think that I came here with the intention to seduce him.I simply wanted to know if he was alright and to see maybe if… well.. What we started yesterday… that feeling, I wanted to feel
Aurelia's POVMy ears perked up at that and I gave her my full attention. Emma didn't seem to be lying and that sparked something in my heart. She whispered the directions in my ears and when she was done, she began to walk away."Well then, I'll be on my way. His majesty must be in a really bad mood. Only you can stop it, Aurelia," Emma waved at me as she walked away and soon she disappeared from sight.Bad mood? I knew it. I had only seen his back today but the way he hastened in his steps with Andre and Emma behind him wearing serious faces, I could tell that something was up.Quickly, I made my way to him with the directions she gave and it led me to a hallway I had never entered before. I could hear voices and it became louder and louder with each step I took."Your Highness please calm down," I could make out Andre's voice and it was filled with so much fright that caused my legs to tremble but I didn't stop walking.The next thing I heard was the sound of things crashing onto t
Aurelia's POVMy cheeks heated and I bit the inside of my cheeks."Are you hurt anywhere?" The King asked me as he looked at me intently.I shook my head, "No, your Highness. I'm perfectly fine. Thank you. How about you?"He shook his head while keeping his gaze on me. "Why would you jump out of a window? Do you know how high that is?" He frowned."Well uhm," I didn't know how to say it without making Andre look like the bad guy. I had tried to pull my hand from him but he only tightened his grip so it was impossible to stop. "He was trying to save me," I said instead. "He thought I was in danger."The King's eyes darkened and he corrected, "You were in danger."I didn't believe that and he saw it in my face because he arched his brow and lifted his head as if he knew what I was thinking.We heard footsteps rush to us and I looked around and saw the guards suddenly surround us. They fell on one knee as they greeted and one of them hurried towards us with a robe.I threw my face away.
Liam's POV "I could still call the healers to check on you, your Highness," Emma tore through my thoughts with those words and I frowned at her. I had been in such a beautiful place in my head; one where my mate was in my arms and her eyes were filled with desire for me. "Do I look less than fine?" I asked her as we walked in my City under the warm afternoon. Every now and then, the pack members and shop owners would bow their heads in greeting when they held my gaze. I had decided to take a stroll around the market today. Behind me were my guards and maids while Emma walked beside me. "No, your Highness. But then again, you could be in pain and no one would know," she sounded worried and a tad mad. "What happened yesterday, your Highness? Andre wouldn't tell me anything-" "That's good then," I sighed and looked around and I stopped when something caught my attention. I squinted my eyes at the accessories displayed and from the corner of my eyes, I noticed the shop owner jerked i
Aurelia's POV"This is a gift from the King," Renee said as she dropped a pink hairpin that was placed on a golden tray on my bed. "I heard it was specially hand picked by him." She added with a coy smile."It definitely cost him more than a fortune," a voice added.I looked up to see another maid, Lena, who was closely behind Renee as she marveled at the hairpin that gleamed under the sunlight."The King even asked that we deliver this on his finest trays," Lena said as she looked at me with a shy smile on her porcelain face. "Look, Miss Aurelia, it's the golden one..Do you know what that means?""I'm sure the King would be pleased to know you liked his gift, don't you think?" Renee asked over Lena's voice at the same instant.I just stared at them dumbfounded as they spoke endlessly and my ears rang from their information."A gift he picked out himself?" I mumbled to myself, still in awe of his actions. Why would he go through the trouble for… me?"Yes, you should've seen the way he
Aurelia's POVI glanced at the hairpin and different thoughts raced through my mind. What sort of privilege had he given me? I was yet to hear his name from Andre and Emma. Or did they only speak his real name when they were alone?I didn't know why I was desperately trying to feel less special by what seemed like the King's foreign and novel kindness towards me. I didn't want to bear these special feelings in my heart only to be let down later.I stayed that way for a while, pondering on the king's actions and soon I fell asleep. I awoke to a knock on the door later that evening and was informed by one of the guards by my door that the King had invited me to dinner."What time is it?"I glanced at the wall clock and almost passed out. I was ten minutes late already.I hurried out of bed and into the bathroom to freshen up in under five minutes. I grabbed my hairpin from my dresser and placed it on the right side of my hair, pulling it up.I dashed out of my room and the guards walke
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