Aurelia's POV I spent the day with the maids beating myself up. I couldn't get Liam's words out of my head. It was even worse when I realised that I brought it upon myself. I incurred his distrust and he would probably never trust me again. I wished he would cut me some slack. I've been running away for days after I left Norton's castle. I could still remember the straight look on his face when he got up from the bed and how he left my room without even bothering to glance at me. What did he want me to believe? The only time we communicated was with kisses and he barely ever answered my questions. What happened to pillow talk? I couldn't just take his words and eat it up. Trust was something that needed to be built and apparently, Liam simply wanted me to rest in him. I felt terrible that he called me a liar but I had truly meant that. I wasn't going to try to leave anymore. The fact that he returned to me with words of affection even after hearing what that spy had to say was en
Aurelia's POV"Nothing.." I muttered. On second thought I felt I shouldn't have said that to her...at least not yet.We walked in an awkward silence going further into the woods. The sky was getting darker and I grew worried by the second. Was his majesty searching for me already? I was fidgeting as I thought of how pissed he would be."Er… Miss Emma?" I called and stopped walking. "It's getting so late. I don't want his majesty to worry.""Come on, Aurelia," Emma mocked. " I'm sure he's fine. He can stay without you. Let's have some fun girl time. You've been locked up in that castle ever since you got here.""Well," I rubbed my arm. "It's alright. The King keeps me… company," I bit my lip and stared at the floor."I'm sure he does," her tone was strange but her smile eased my worry."Are you looking for something here?" I looked around. There was nothing but trees and leaves here."Yes. There's a herb around here," she stared at the floor. "I need it for the King-""Why? Is he sick?
Liam's POV"Set the guards at all corners of the woods. Anyone who goes in cannot step out until the time frame has elapsed," I told my commanders who were gathered at my study room."Yes, your Highness. The warriors cannot wait for the hunt to begin. It'll be a full moon soon," one of them said."How many wild animals are we throwing in there?" I asked."At least, twenty," another responded.I looked out my window as they continued their chatter. It was already dark and I wanted to call it a night. The annual hunt was coming up and my warriors were looking forward to it.It was an event to grade my warriors and select the top strongest that would serve by my side for the next year."Will your highness be joining the hunt this year?" Commander Rhys' voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I turned to the large man in silver armour.Old age was approaching him fast. He was no longer the young warrior I used to know when I was a kid. His red hair had streaks of white and his face had wri
Aurelia's POV"Emma?" I called as I tried to sniff her out. I switched to my night vision as it was too dark to see anything. Even the moon didn't shed enough light.I rubbed my arm as a chill made me shiver. It was getting cold too and as I turned to look around the woods, I came to the bitter realisation that I was lost.Even worse, Emma was nowhere to be found.Had she wandered so far that she forgot the way back? I was worried about her.Why couldn't I trace her scent? It felt it was everywhere yet nowhere at the same time."Emma?" I tried again, flinching at the sound of every little thing. "It's just a bird," I said to myself.I couldn't even remember the route I followed to get here. I wasn't paying attention when she led me here.Would Liam be looking for me by now? I could already feel that I was in trouble. Maybe he would lock me up this time and throw away the key.Deep down I wondered if he would be mad or worried. I actually wished it would be the latter but Emma's words
Aurelia's POV She pushed the door open with silence on high pitch. I stood behind Emma as she instructed. She was going to try to calm down Liam before anything else. I didn't dare lift my head from the floor as we walked in. She led me by holding my hand and when she stopped walking, I stopped too. "Your Highness," she greeted. "Y-Y-Your Highness," I mumbled and bowed a little, trying my best to stay invisible. I couldn't feel his gaze as she was shielding me but I could tell he was probably drilling holes through her to get to me. His silence was deafening and I only imagined how hard his features were right now. "Punish me instead, your highness," Emma started. "I shouldn't have left her at a spot to go find the medicinal herbs for my mother-" Her mother? I thought she said they were for the King. Maybe I misheard... "...I did tell her to stay at a spot. I didn't expect to take so long nor did I expect her to wander around. It was all my fault." I gulped in anticipation,
Aurelia's POVHe didn't let me walk to my room myself. Liam was beside me in silence. Despite how calm he had reacted, I was still recovering from the shock and fright I had thrown myself into.I had expected him to throw a fit. Why had he taken everything like it was a natural occurrence for me to leave and it was his duty to chase after me?It would prove a lot harder to get him to trust me. The first time, he called me a liar, now he was acting like he was already used to it.I felt like I was putting my mate through a roller-coaster of emotional and mental abuse. Why would he go through all that because of me? He shouldn't be getting this interested in a toy if he was going to lose interest someday.I ignored the dreadful feeling in my heart with Emma's words. I didn't need to feel at loss that my mate would never love me. I too was holding back from it.We slowed down when we got to my room and I circled my thumb in my other hand."You should-""Your highness-"We paused, waiting
Aurelia's POV"That's not it," I started to explain but he stood there with his eyes silently accusing me. It was my word against my previous actions and it didn't seem like I had a chance of winning. He didn't move a muscle nor did he say a word but the thickness of his accusation was enough to my ears.I squeezed the door knob, "Why were you… outside? I thought you went to bed.""I just got here," he replied immediately. "I couldn't sleep. There was a lot on my mind."This was the first time he was mentioning something about his thoughts to me. "Was it… me?" I wondered. Did he worry I would leave and he was here to confirm for himself."What are you doing out here?" he asked again."I had a nightmare. I wanted to come see you," I trailed off, feeling nervous and realising how needy my words sounded."You probably had a scare while you were out late in the woods," he concluded in a tight voice. "I'll have the guards summon the maids to get you something to help you sleep-""But it's
Aurelia's POVI laid in bed for an extra twenty minutes after I woke up. I had no will in my body to drive me out of bed. What did he mean by 'saving me from himself?' Was he holding back on me now? Have we drifted that far apart? My bed suddenly felt too wide for a little she-wolf like myself.It felt like ages ago since the King last held me in his arms. It was strange to admit I was addicted to his touch. It was almost impossible to get a good night's rest without him being around. I took a shower… a long one, silently hoping he would come in and touch me like that day. It felt like I was waiting for an hour and when I finally stepped out, it was with a frown on my face.I dressed up and headed outside to join the maids in their work today. I could already imagine working myself to the bone to keep my thoughts away from making me feel depressed or sad over Liam.Why was I getting this upset over the fact that he was keeping our bond a secret? Sometimes, I wondered what I really wan
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