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 POVI accepted his deal.How could I not? The deal was too tempting to refuse. How could I pass off an opportunity like that?But thirty minutes after we returned to the castle and I was all alone, I suddenly realised how impossible the task was."How do I convince him?" I stroked my chin. According to Andre, he had never attended the annual hunt in all the three years he had been King. How could I convince a person like that?"This is impossible," I said to myself as I covered my face for a brief second before I continued heading to his study. It was 2p.m. in the afternoon. He was probably still very busy with his duties and here I was, on my way to disturb his life and get him to agree just for my selfish gain.I tried to convince myself that he brought this upon himself but l kicked out the thought and couldn't stop worrying about if this was a bad idea or not. His angry eyes popped up in my head and I stopped. I turned and started to walk away."Nope, I can't do this," I
Liam's POV I pressed my seal into the document and put it aside. I still had a few more to go and after that, I could take a stroll to stretch my legs. It was already evening anyway. I reached for the warm tea on my desk and leaned back on my chair. The preparations for the annual event needed lots of review and while I could just hand them over to Andre, I still had to review some. Besides, what else did I have to do? My head throbbed and I closed my eyes, trying to ease my thoughts and stop myself from thinking in her direction. "I wonder if she slept well," I mumbled into my cup before taking a sip. I glanced at the door when I heard a knock and ordered them to come in. Andre walked in with his cheeks puffed up in a smile, flashing a flirty smile at every object in my study room. "I take it that it went well, yes?" I asked calmly as I dropped the cup back on the table. "Yes, your highness. Everything looks lovely. It's a shame you don't get to see it." He said, the underlying
Liam's POVAurelia?"Andre, what is the meaning of this?" My voice was calm but I was on the verge of losing my mind. "Find her and bring her to me at once!""Yes, your Highness," Andre looked back and forth thinking of where to start. Today was the first day I cursed the fact that I had such a big hall."I'll take the right, you go left," I ordered as I saw that he was confused as to where to go to start looking for her."Forgive me, your highness. I would've asked the guards to do it while you wait-" Andre mumbled but I didn't let him to finish his sentence."Do they look sane to you?" I asked over my shoulders as once again, I was reminded that my guards and maids were a total mess. They had left my castle unguarded and put me in possible danger. Not like I couldn't handle myself, they just had their own duties in the castle and it should be carried out diligently.I carefully passed my guards and did well to avoid the maids. Their eyes were lust filled and very flirty. The guards