Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 31

NATASHA.

“Okay, I’m very certain the king cannot resist it when he finally sees you! Damn, Natasha, you look smoking hot!” Tiff said as she took a step back to admire her handy work.

“I don’t know, Tiffany. I’m really not hoping to look smoking hot to Aiden’s parents,” I mumbled worriedly as I stared at my reflection through the mirror.

“No. I promise you’re only going to look smoking hot to the King. No one else. You just look different than you normally do and I’m sure you’ll have him tripping. Thank you for letting me help,” she smiled, leaning against the chair as she brought her face close to mine.

“I’m still not sure I should’ve let you lure me into wearing this,” I mumbled, staring at the scar on my wrists.

“Come on! You look amazing! You’ve been bundling yourself all this while. I thought a change might help,” Tiff reassured, as she fixed my headgear again. “And you’ve had some rough days this past week. A change always helps.”

I smiled softly, I did love the reflection I saw of myself in the mirror. It was past 1pm and I was getting ready to go visit Aiden’s parents with him, since the visit had been pushed back when the Grand king travelled, and then I was down with a slight fever that lasted for some days after my encounter with the shadows.

We were in my room, the other room at the top of the stairs beside the one Aiden and I shared. I mostly use this room during the day when Aiden is not around. Tiffany and I mostly nap here, or when she decides she wants to practice her make up skills on my face. I liked that Lacie’s visits had reduced drastically, which is because she was taking her third year exams.

“Thank you, Tiffany,” I smiled.

“Always welcome, Girl. I’m actually eager to see the king’s reaction when he sees you. OMG!” She stood up and fanned her face with her hands. “My face just heated up from imagining. How do you always stay sane with the way he looks at you?” She asked.

I laughed, loving the way she was acting.

“Well, I’m not really exactly sane all the time,” I admitted.

“I bet so! I wonder how it’ll feel to have someone look at me that way. I’m so eager to finally meet my mate too!” She squealed.

“You…aren’t scared?” I mumbled, wondering if I was the only one being this way. Afraid of committing. One with no confidence.

“I won’t exactly say so,” she replied. She helped me up from the seat and I stood to admire how the gown had snatched my curves. “I want to feel loved. Appreciated. I’ve never felt anything like that and I want to experience it.”

“The new feelings make me scared,” I confessed. “I’m not used to them so they are foreign to me. It is hard to really understand how I should react in certain situations.”

Tiffany moved so she was standing before me, then she giggled. “Do you like it when you feel those new emotions?”

“Yes,” I did after thinking for a moment. “I like the new feelings. But they confuse me. Although, I’ll like to say I’m getting used to some of them. Like the hand holding. The little forehead k****s. Is it weird?”

“Of course not, Natasha. I noticed you’ve never discussed your past with me. I only knew you were rejected, aside from that, nothing more. However, I understand why. People are different. We react to things differently. We heal differently. For me, talking about it and sharing it with someone I trust helps. This is why I replace it easier to discuss my past with you.

“From the look of things, I’m certain you’ve gotten your fair share of abuse in your past pack. It looks nothing like mine. I have scars, but not as bad as yours, and no silver. Bottom line here is, whatever I may have gone through, be it less than yours or worse than yours, I’m certain I’ll still share it with you if I trust you. It won’t stop me from day dreaming about my future with my mate, or how it’ll feel like to be wanted. I crave that emotion, and I’m certain I’ll embrace it once I get the chance.” She paused, took a deep breath and continued. “This is me trying to tell you I understand how you feel, and there’s no reason to feel like you need to do more than you are doing.

“I’ve only suffered physical abuse for three months, mental abuse since my Baba died two years ago and my mum remarried. I told you how my step dad wanted to have me. That made me emotionally damaged. But once I left, it seemed like I left a dark past behind and now embracing a clean future. It is how I like to think, and it helps. It keeps me sane, and I found I’m always happy this way. Besides, I figured that everytime I talked about my troubles, I felt better. I am never one to keep emotions bottled in. I like to talk about them. It is another way I cope too.” She finished with a wide grin.

“Does this mean…I’m different? For not healing faster and embracing my mate?” I asked quietly as Tiff took both of my hands in hers.

“Goddess! No, don’t you say that. It only means that you have a different way of coping. Of healing. Of embracing new things. I’m not your therapist, but I can boldly say you are changing. I see the way you look at the King when you thought no one was looking,” she giggled, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her.

‘If she only knew the fantasies in your head. And how bad you want to lick him clean!’ Erin teased. ‘And Nat, I’ve told you so many times that you are healing just fine. Like I said before, everyone is carved differently. What may work for you might not work for others. Some may come out of an abusive relationship, replace a new partner in a few weeks and still be able to love wholeheartedly. Others may take months before they open up. Some may take years. It all comes down to an individual.’ She finished, snorting softly.

I smiled at her reaction, and leaned into our bond to give her fur a slow caress. ‘You are right, Erin. We are carved differently and I’m sure I’m doing my best here too.’

‘Absolutely! Now, you look gorgeous! And like Tiffany, I’m eager to see what Aiden’s reaction would be like,’ she said as she jumped around.

I laughed again. I seem to be doing that a lot these days and I loved the feeling.

“Tell me, Natasha. Does your heartbeat quicken every time he calls you Nala?” Tiffany asked, eyeing me carefully.

I swallowed. The sound of his voice floating into my mind every time he calls me Nala. “Yes. It does. I think it’s even more than that. There’s just this kinda warmth that seeps through my soul every time he calls me that.”

I confessed.

“Oh my Goddess!” She clapped her hands and squealed again. “And do you feel his gaze when he watches you?” She asked again.

“Down to my core, Tiffany. Down to every core in my body!” I replied, picturing him watching me from the couch every time before I sleep. Or when I write into my journal, which he never indicated he knew about even though I told him Doctor Lily gave it to me. Or when I garden outside, trying to plant vegetables since I’m bored as crap.

“Did you just say down to your core, Natasha?” Tiffany asked with a wink.

My cheeks heated up and I wished the earth would split in two and swallow me.

“Not that core you dirty minded woman!” I hissed as I hit her playfully. “Besides, it took me a while to sort out all these emotions. They are new, but I love them, and I like feeling them.”

“I can’t wait to experience all this!” She giggled again. She seems to be doing that a lot.

It’s been 9 days since the incident with the priestess. It took a whole day before Erin woke up after she collapsed. Neither she, nor I could explain what had happened to her back there or if she remembers anything. When I had told the priestess what had happened, even she had no answer and we ended up leaving after four more hours in the hopes that Erin wakes up, and perhaps, we get to replace something. I didn’t feel any change within her, I was just so glad she returned. The shadows still danced during night time, and it became nearly impossible for Aiden and I to sleep during those three nights.

Then three days later, they stopped appearing and everything just…stopped. I was down with a fever that lasted for four days. Hot fever that keeps making me soak my sheets wet whenever it gets down.

Aiden didn’t dream of the shadows again, heck, to be honest, even the strong pull I felt towards him after he had gotten the mark seemed to have vanished. I wish I knew what the language they spoke meant. With the way Inna had reacted after I told her what the shadows said, I wasn’t sure she also had a good grasp on the language.

Today marks three weeks since I got to the capital. Three weeks since I found Aiden. Three weeks since my new life began. The Kalmanshe festival, which was due to start tomorrow, has been pushed back. Aiden never explained why, but I’m certain it has to do with the shadows, and me. Now, the ceremony comes up in the next five days and I’m eager to experience it.

I have been going to my therapy sessions, and after each time, I get to learn something new. Just like Inna mentioned that power doesn’t have to be physical or through supernatural powers, I am slowly replaceing my strength. And that is in healing. That is in accepting my new surroundings. The new people in my life.

The best part of this journey was Aiden. I may not say it to him openly, or openly show it. But that is only because I don’t know how, and I’m slowly trying to learn and get used to the emotions he stirs in me. He’s been so patient with me, and I appreciate him for that.

I know how frustrating it might be to him at some point. I’ve read up on how people deal with this and it’s all different. But I can’t exactly control how I completely feel about all this without giving myself time to understand and accept everything.

There’s also a thing about my heritage which I’ve been ignoring. I’m taking one step at a time. For now, I’m learning to love and appreciate myself.

This was why, when Tiff had offered I wear a short sleeved, fitted Ankara gown today, I did.

“Will you read a book tonight or watch a drama? I found a new kdrama that is so good! What do you say? Girls date night?” Tiffany said.

“You got it!” I said, excited to watch the drama. “What is the title?”

“A Business Proposal. It is an office romcom and I loved the trailer. Would be perfect for tonight.”

“Perfect!” We high fived, at the same time the blaring sound of the horn hit our ears.

“It’s time!” Tiffany said as she pulled my hand towards the door.

I hope this ends well.

AIDEN

Something stopped the thudding in my heart as Nala stepped outside, the glowing sun capturing her essence. This is what people mean when they say ‘Melanin popping’.

She was dressed in a green and yellow ankara. A tight fitted gown that accentuated the sharp curve of her h**s, and every curve that needs defining. She had a headgear tied on her head, and two curls of her dark hair dangle on each side of her face. And for the first time ever, she applied kohl on her eyes, and her lips glisten from something shiny.

She looked… ethereal.

The last knot of sense holding my sanity in place however, vanished as soon as she stopped before me and her scent engulfed me. Besides the scent of ice and wild flowers she always carries, she smelt of something more. Like Bakhoor.

“Hi,” she said softly, her long lashes fluttering close as she blinked.

Mother Goddess! I badly want to hold her in my arms and bury my face in the crook of her neck so I can take in her scent even more.

But I didn’t do that. Instead, I balled my hands and nodded like a f*****g lizard before I managed to fix the working of my throat and reply.

“Hey, Nala.” I smiled. “You… goddess, you look beautiful, Nala.”

‘No, she looks ravishing, stunning, pretty, gorgeous, irresistible. Aiden, tell her no words describe how good she looks,’ Leo said.

I chuckled a bit, before ignoring him. My heart skidded to a stop when Nala smiled, ducked her head down and played with the straps of the black bag she carried.

“Thank you,” she beamed. “You look…handsome,” she added, fidgeting with her fingers.

My eyes zeroed to her wrists , and pride swelled in me when I noticed she had them bare. My smile widened as I took a step closer to her before I stopped.

I shouldn’t touch her. Lately, it was getting too much for me to control myself around her. I itch to more than hold just her hands, I craved and yearned for more. And not at the expense of pushing her, no matter how frustrated that makes me feel.

“Safe to compliment the queen, Your Eminence?” Kane’s voice floated across from behind.

I shifted my gaze towards Kane, and growled a bit at him.

“Kane, how are you?” Nala turned to face him, the smile on her face still intact. “It’s been three days since I last saw you. What were you up to?”

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I’ve been busy preparing for the ceremony. Kamal and I had a lot to handle so I was mostly away. Allow me to say you look gorgeous!” He smiled, hands clasped behind him. “Plus, I have been piling up reports from the accident so I can give them to you later today.”

“Thank you, Kane,” she smiled again, and I couldn’t help the swell in my chest. She smiles a lot these days, and that is a good thing.

I should be happy about it. But why was I acting like a miserable bastard?

“You two finally listened to me,” she sent a playful glare to me before turning back to Kane, “and the victims?”

“The mother and baby are both fine. Same with the boy. He’ll be using crutches for a while now.” Kane reported.

“Did you replace their home?”

“His Eminence asked that they should be kept within the palace walls till you’ve read the reports and decide what you want to do with them,” Kane said.

She turned to look at me, the type of look she had never really given me. Was she happy? Grateful? Did she like that I’m giving her the reigns? For a moment, I thought I saw her mouth a quick thank you.

“And where exactly is Donald? I haven’t seen him around for over a week. He won’t even pick my calls,” she turned back to Kane.

When did she and Donald get this close?

“Donald traveled with Baba. But even before that, he had been acting differently. But I think he’s at home, we’ll see him when we get there.” I replied, pulling the back door of the car for her.

I watched as she furrowed her brows. I wasn’t sure why. But when she looked at her hands and then mine, I figured it was because I didn’t hold her hands today? Or perhaps, I was imagining things?

She tipped her head, like the proud, sweet woman she is, and stepped into the car with a quick thank you.

I sighed and waved at Kane to take the driver’s seat before I rounded the other side and stepped into the car.

Silence stretched as the car began rolling, and from time to time, Nala and Kane engaged in small talks while I sat quietly and stared at the tall trees.

Being this close to her was pure torture!

I watch her sleep alone every night, when all I want to do is hold her against me as we sleep. I want to see my mark on her. I like that she’s gotten comfortable with me holding her hand and kissing her forehead from time to time. But that is as far as it gets between us.

And I wanted more.

I hate how skittish she is around me. And while I may want to ignore it all the time, it is hard. It gets to me. Because I’m not perfect and there is so much more I can endure.

Is it bad to think that I’m being treated unfairly for a crime committed by another?

Neither of us has ever dealt with something like this. It is always hard trying to understand what to do best around her. What not to do. How to react. How to keep my damn hands to myself.

‘I think the idea that we are mates makes it hard to get past. She was rejected by her first mate, which was a good thing for us. But we don’t know how much that had affected her. Remember how she tried to reject us the first time we met?’ Leo sighed. ‘I admire the efforts you’ve put in so far, but I’d like to think things are getting better. Does getting better make it hard for you?’

‘Easy for you to say when you aren’t the one around her all the time. I’m just so frustrated these days,’ I g*****d quietly, as I leaned against the headrest and closed my eyes. If I pretend she isn’t here, then I may be able to control myself.

I’m eager for the next two days. Matteo had lasted this long only because Baba had been away. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, everything ends. I’ll replace out what they did to Nala and I’ll make them all pay. One by one.

My thoughts drifted towards this morning. I remembered how the eyes of the wolf mark on my abdomen had glowed. It was the first time that had happened. Even the crazy pull it had increased between Nala and I had magically vanished.

We need to start looking for Nala’s relations fast. But that would have to be after the ceremony.

My phone buzzed from the pockets of my Caftan. I sat up, tucked my hand into the pocket and fished out my phone.

Nala’s name appeared alongside a message icon. I looked up to replace her gaze pinned on me. Grim and unreadable.

N- ‘Hey, you okay?’ the message read.

Those three words seem to do a lot more damage to my heart. I looked back up and smiled before I typed back.

A- ‘I’m fine, Nala. Just exhausted.’

N- ‘Is the exhaustion the reason you are ignoring me? The reason you are acting this way?’

A- ‘Of course not, Nala. I just have a lot on my mind.’

N- ‘That’s not true. Why are you lying to me, Aiden?’

Her reply came in, and the look on her face had changed. Nala was angry.

N-‘Is something going on? You can talk to me.’ she sent another message.

I puffed some air as I turned to face the tall trees we were passing. I can do this, I have been doing this. Ignoring her isn’t going to help.

However, before I could reply or do anything, I heard her soft voice speak.

“Kane, does this car have a privacy screen for couples?”

I nearly choked on my spit when she spoke. Couples. She called us couples.

I watched as Kane stifled a laugh before he nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. Would you like me to put it up?” He asked.

“Yes, please,” she replied.

I would be lying if I said she didn’t look amazing as she sent her command. I would be lying if I say the calm composure she maintained didn’t make my heart swell with more want towards this woman. In that moment I realized, without the effect of the mate bond, I had fallen for this woman.

Hard and raw.

The screen was up, and I turned to speak to her, only for the remaining breath in my chest to knock out when I saw her closing the space between us.

Her fingers timidly reached for my cheeks, before she finally let them settle around as she cupped both sides of the cheeks. Then she pulled my face closer to her, ran a finger around the curve of my brows, and the small scar I had around my right eye, down to my beards.

Best feeling ever!

“I don’t know what is going on with you. You’ve been this way since yesterday, and it breaks my heart. Are you okay?” She whispered.

“Nala…”

“You don’t have to tell me if you aren’t ready yet. But just know that I’m always here if you ever need someone to talk to, okay?”

I could only nod.

Then she pulled her hands away and I nearly screamed. But I had no time to react because Nala looked me square in the eyes and demanded something she never did.

“Do you want to cuddle?”

I swear by Nyala, the goddess’ name, that my heart stopped beating. I sat, wide eyed as I stared at my mate, who looked at me innocently as though she didn’t just ask for us to cuddle!

‘If your frail heart cannot handle, then let me take over!’ Leo hissed.

I didn’t reply to him. I couldn’t. Instead, I watched as she nervously licked her bottom l*p, and the way she kept fidgeting with her fingers.

“I…”

Before the words could fully leave her mouth, I pulled her to me, wrapped my arms around her and rested her head against my chest before I buried mine at the crook of her neck.

And when I felt her arms wrap around me, I understood Leo. Because right now, my sack was about to explode.