Lycan King's Nemesis
Chapter 17

It was Saturday morning and I couldn't wake up fast due to the intense cold weather. Normally, I would have woken up earlier and left the room for my newly acquired habit; running, after tossing and turning throughout the night as my mate hardly acknowledged me whenever he came into the bedroom.

These days, he comes in very late in the night when he thinks I am deeply asleep and then very early, he will leave the room when he thinks I am still asleep. Unknown to him, I was very much aware of every one of his movements, enduring it in agony and wishing most times that I could give in to my natural instinct and touch him. Most times I even wake up in the middle of the night and just stare at him in abject longing, my heart breaking at having something so precious, yet, suffering in loneliness.

"Your highness,"

I flipped my eyes towards the bedside where Kora stood smiling down at me. Forcefully. I didn't even hear her enter the room.

"What?" I sat up from the bed and tossed the covers, sliding to the edge to climb down. "What's the matter?" I haven't seen her since the last time I asked her to leave.

"I-I am here to a-apologize." I walked towards the window and pushed them open to take a long gaze at the bright blue sky, taking my time to admire the glamorous splash of white and blue palls across the heavens. I was intentionally ignoring Kora who kept looking at me from where she stood, muttering words of apology.

Once I was satisfied, I made my way to the wardrobe to pick out my morning dress, when Kora intercepted me, her face cast downward and her hands clasped together in an appeal. "I was a fool to have judged you wrongly. I was only trying to be on the side of my King. But_"

"Stop, Kora." I halted her with my right hand up, "I don't have a problem with you. If you are here to work with me, then you do. But if not, then please, leave. I am going through enough, I don't want to add to my stress." With that, I went to the wardrobe to remove a simple blue flannel gown and a pink ribbon to tie my hair and then came back, tossed them on the bed and went to the bathroom as Kora hurried about arranging the house. "Where is the King?" I asked as I came out of the bathroom, wiping moisture from my face to look at her.

"He left with the Beta this morning in his riding garters. I deduce they are possibly out for their riding habit."

"Okay," I mouthed and went to apply my body lotion. After that, I wore my dress and left for breakfast, already anticipating another day of eating alone in that large dining hall as the Queen mother had moved out yesterday evening after all the guests left.

I have never felt lonelier in my life.

Entering the room, the maids scurried about sampling assortments of dishes all of which I didn't feel any form of enticement to taste.

I heard a sound and like a magnet, my eyes were drawn to the entrance anticipating my mate to walk in. But it wasn't him. It was his Beta.

"Your highness." He bowed slightly and came to sit down directly opposite me at the table.

"Williams," I returned, my eyes wandering to the door expecting Ashton to walk in next. The door closed. I looked at Williams who seem to be anticipating my obvious query as he quickly said...

"The King left the palace for a little... reprieve."

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My blood went cold, my heart clenched in dismay.

"How? But, we haven't even gone for our honeymoon." What am I saying? Honeymoon? "What about the blood ritual? We are supposed to conduct it immediately. How could he just leave like that?" And he didn't tell me.

"I'm sorry, your highness." His face fell. The way his mouth moved and wavered informed me that he had more to say but was withholding.

I didn't want to prod, and neither did I want to eat again, so I stood up abruptly. "I think I will have to pass. I have lost my appetite." I stepped out as a maid hurried to push the chair backward.

"But you haven't even touched your food." William stood up, his two hands on the table as he took me in with a hint of worry in his eyes.

I blinked rapidly to hinder the tears in my eyes from falling. I am trying so hard to be rational. To be patient and wait for my mate to be reasonable. But with every dawn of light since the day we wedded, it appears he is taking my softness for granted. I looked away and swallowed. "Thanks for your concern, William, but I... I don't think anything can go through my throat at this moment." With that I sauntered out of the room steadily.

When I reached my chamber and shut my door, I lapped against it and lifted my face, my hands holding the sides of the door to take in steady breathes. Once I was done, the moment I opened my eyes, Kora was standing close to the bathroom gazing at me intently.

I looked down and sniffed, reaching up to wipe at a tear that had escaped my eyes, forcing a fake smile to cover up. "You are still here?"

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"Yes, your highness." She wiped her hands on a napkin as she ambled my way and I walked in, going straight to the chaise lounge by the fireplace to sit down and exhale loudly. "Are you alright?" She inquired in a voice I haven't heard her use with me before.

"Yes, Kora. Don't you have somewhere else to be?" I wanted to be left alone.

She looked around and shook her head. "I have nought else to do. Apart from you, I only go to attend to the female delta and former chosen mate of the King, but now that she left with the King, I am left to attend to you_" "What did you just say?" I was up from the chair swiftly.

Alarm registered on her face. "The female Delta left with the King. She is usually in charge of the guards whenever the King leaves the palace in any_"

"Where did they go to?" I was already marching to the door, tension building in my guts. So he left with his female Delta? He didn't care about me and dared to do this to me?

"The Mandalas," She replied and I nodded, went to grab my bag and left the house.

Ashton has gone too far this time around.