“I’m sorry, Dani-”
“Think of it this way, Paisley, you tell who the father is, I will secretly tell the King to make the person marry you, that way you have your dignity intact than to be exposed… later.” It appeared my abinitio false claim of truth isn’t working, so I’m choosing another tactic. “Is that what you want?” I prodded, not giving her any chance to change her mind.
“I can’t tell you! Stop, stop trying to manipulate me!” She clasped her hand tightly on her head and shouted, “I am going to marry the King, I am sorry!”
“But he is not the father of your pup, so why make him do that? Are you that callous that you will throw away a chance at true love between me and the King, just for- for your selfish reasons?” My patience is waning.
She ceased shaking her head about, and slowly dropped her hand and leaned her torso towards me. “If anyone is being selfish here, it’s you! You are the one who doesn’t want this pup to have a father! You are the one who wants to deprive me of genuine happiness… just go away!”
“Paisl-”
“Go away!”
I fell back on my butt and gently stood from the ground to dust my grimy palms in fixation. Paisley is mean, very, very mean. She is set on making the King marry her and from how resolute she is, I think she is going to win. And where does that leave me?
I couldn’t find my feet as I made my way out back to the room I and the King shared, and as the door closed, I slid down on the floor and cried so hard. I shook with tears of acrimony, wishing I could change things for us. I have tried so much and still nothing is working. I don’t know what I am going to do. Maybe I should give up.
Judging from everything that has happened, if the goddess wanted me to win, if she wanted this love for me, then she would have found a way to help me, but I know what is happening, this is my cruel fate at play. I have no redemption. I am cursed to die unhappy and wretched. Love is not for me.
My body ached, and my mouth tasted bitter as I sat there allowing it all out. I can’t escape and yet I don’t know what to do. I can’t bear watching my love get married to another woman, it would kill me faster than anything I have ever thought would. It surely will.
I have to look for Alonso, I don’t care if he wants to talk to me or not, I have to know my fate. If he is not going to marry me then he has to tell me what I am going to do because I can’t stay here. I gradually stood from the ground to my feet, and the floor started tilting under my eyes, informing me of my dizziness.
I took one unsteady step forward, my head hanging on the earth that was blurred by tears, and my hair scattered about my shoulders, adding to my state of sightlessness. I wobbled forth and grabbed the knob and pulled until the door came open. I am drowning, my head banging. I don’t think I can make it down, I should wait in the room for Alonso.
That is what any normal person should have done then, however, I wasn’t normal. I was sick, terribly sick of everything. I was slowly dying of despair, and desperation killing me. I wanted to get it over with. It’s rather fetching to know your fate on time than allow yourself swim in an ocean of anticipation. Expectations that might never be fulfilled.
That was my exact impression as I staggered down the hall whilst I held on to the wall to steady me. Then, I stopped, something like bile raising in my throat about to move out of me, and at once, I bent my head and held my stomach. I shook off my hair clinging to my face from perspiration I didn’t notice till now, and gradually lifted my head up to scan how much I had to walk to reach the stairs. It was still far!
The hell have I been walking since?!
I wish my friends were here, it’s now I needed them most. I didn’t get to- “Arh!” I screamed as a sharp pain sizzled through my body and rocked my world. I fell to my knees and clawed my fingers on the tiled cold floor, a pungent contrast to how I was feeling inside. “Help!” I shouted.
What is wrong with me? Muse was whimpering in pain. I have never seen her like that, only on that day the vampires tried to kidnap me which is not our present fate, so what is- “Arhhhhhhhhhh!”
I fell to my side, and at the same time, heard rushed footfalls running toward me with the familiar voice of Nadia shouting, “Danika!” That was all I recalled hence darkness claimed me.
ALONSO LOCKHART
It is clear to me that I have to handle this like the King I am, the kind of King that my mother wanted me to be. I am not going to allow anything or anyone to ride me. I always knew that bitch was desperate to sit by my side as a Queen.
I knew, and like the fool I am, I gave her wings to fly alas!
I gulped down my tenth glass of whiskey and staggered back from the window. My emotions were in disarray now. If I’m to be frank, it has been for the last one month. I have been traipsing around blankly, a shadow of myself. I didn’t know what to do, hating myself for bringing unhappiness to the face of my beloved. I know how much she is putting into making this thing work for us, and I want it to end it.
Today, I will tell Alpha Hellion to take his deceitful daughter and get out of my pack. I don’t care what he thinks or plans to do. If he wants to give his loyalty to the King of the North, then so be it. No one would dare to cross me. I am only trying to do this better for the sake of integrity and because of my dear, Danika. I know how much this would mean to her.
If we don’t, the Alpha would forever think I used his daughter and then dumped her in her delicate state. He would continue to listen to her lies against me and he would never know the truth.
There were three raps on the doorway and before I would hide my reflector, Lance peeked in and trudged inside solemnly. He had that look of chastisement I loathed so much. It reminds me of my father. He was my best man and taught me to see the Kingdom first before anything, especially feelings, only that this time, just like the last time that cost me his affection, I was doing something for myself. And I don’t regret it.
“We have a lot going on in the pack and here you are drowning yourself in this stupid shit!” Lancelot grabbed the bottle and the glass forcefully from me. “When are you going to learn to face things squarely and not be carried away in self-imposed grief which often leads to procrastination!”
I threw my bloodshot eyes at him and pursed my lips grumpily. “What do you want me to do?! I am fucken exhausted!”
“Send her away with her father! I hate to say this, but you are putting attention on the wrong things. This thing is as simple as ABC! You don’t want to marry her and so what? You are the King, act like one.” That’s why I said he reminds me of my father. Insipid at times.
“Danika wants us to do the right thing…”
“Well, she also wants you to marry her so…?” He spread his arms quizzically.
“I dunno, buddy.” I shook my head, my head starting to ache now from the plenty of alcohol.
He stepped forward with a forlorn look, I knew what was coming. “We have an incessant threat on the pack from the vampires and an upcoming full moon ceremony to plan, man. The sooner you wrap up this thing once and for all, the sooner we can face how to stop this vampire menace and give the Kingdom a ceremony to remember!” He patted my shoulders which sagged hopelessly.
I am so busy with my problems that my pack business is suffering. “You said you have something concerning the fugitives?”
He nodded. “Yes, my spy spotted them in the East, I guess they are trying to sneak their way into their territory, and then they were caught by the blood tasty ruffians. They are presently in their dungeon.”
Alas, a breath of fresh air. I smiled. “Perhaps it’s time to release this pent-up anger in me…” I crooned. “The King of the East is a close ally, why don’t you try to get in touch with him and organize a meeting. Tell him I will need him to release the fugitives to me as soon as possible.”
“What are you going to do with them?” he asked me gently, knowing what my answer would be.
I cracked my fingers, releasing loud noise into the air, then I looked up at him with a cold smile. “I am going to use them as an example to whoever is out there trying to double cross me. Again!”
“Very well, bu-”
The door snapped open unceremoniously to my mate’s maid and friend, Nadia, panting heavily. She looked like rogues were after her. “I’m sorry my King, for barging in unannounced. Your mate just fainted.”
…