Lycan King's Nemesis
Chapter 84

**ASHTON**

Women are selfish. I have come to know that ever since Emma broke my heart. Yet today as I mounted Striker and thrust the stirrups forward to make him gallop fast out of the palace, I knew that Emma's selfishness was nothing compared to that of Gwendolyn.

She couldn't have chosen a better time to do this than the period of our game. A time when we are expected to be at the arena cheering our people on to show our maximum support. And now I couldn't even be there, all because of her irrational behaviour.

I didn't think she could carry out her threat of leaving after yesterday. In my head, those were mere words uttered in the hit of anger, in addition to the knowledge that she had nowhere to go.

She told me herself. This place was her only hope. So where in hell did she run off to?

"Yah!" I pulled the reins, having no idea where I was heading but somehow I had an inkling that if Gwendolyn couldn't be found anywhere around the palace and even the so-called arena she lied to my guards to use to escape, then there was one person I suspected knew her plans.

Not even my dear sister had her trust enough to confide in. Pitiful!

"You drove her to do this!" The accusing words of Abby like a silver spade drove through my heart. It was heartbreaking seeing as my sister had grown to dote on someone who doesn't trust her and still, maintained despising her own brother perpetually if I didn't bring her back.

In a matter of minutes, I stood at the familiar cottage of the rogue, my eyes burning in anger as I took it in. Everywhere seemed to be tranquil from the outside, the low green meadows well-trimmed and unlike the last time I came here, there were now tulip flower pots used to line the wall all the way to the doorpost.

But, that wasn't my business.

I jumped down my mount and stormed to the door. I knocked three times very loudly enough to wake the dead. "Tyler!"

The door opened and there he stood, maintaining that gut-wrenching smirk that often seemed to make me crave to smash his head in. "Your Majesty..."

"Where is she?"I grunted, towering a good 3 feet over him(A form of intimidating). I was willing to barrel through him if that was what it would take to get to my mate.

"Who?" His left brow angled up in askance.

"Where is my wife, Tyler? Don't make me ask twice."

"I have no idea what you ar_"

I didn't let him finish and shoved him to the side, stepping into the cottage, my eyes wild in search.

I could smell her here.

My mate was definitely here. Her scent was the only perfect decoration in this sham of a place.

"This is not right, Your Majesty," The rogue blocked me. "This is my house and I will not allow you to do as you want just because you are the King."

"I built this house for you, rogue," I spat in his face. "I gave you a life when you were on the verge of having none. I gave you a fucken identity! So," I jabbed my finger at his chest. "... remember that when you think you can now mince words with me or try to take what belongs to me."

"Gwen is a human with feelings and belongs to no one. She is not a property. Most certainly not to a man who doesn't know her worth."

I growled, baring my fangs at his face. "I see she has been feeding you a daily manuscript of our lives. And now you feel like you can challenge me."

"I can never challenge you and I appreciate you for what you have done for me, Big Wolf, but Gwen is very close to my heart and I will fight whoever makes her unhappy if I have to."

My fingers itched to surround his neck and strangle him. But I will wait, for now. Gwen thinks she could rouse this dead emotion in me and then turn to this mutt to mock me, so I will let him live until I have my mate wrapped around my fingers so much that killing him would be a delightful feat that Gwen would be too much in love with me she would forgive and forget in only a night of wild passion.

"Bring her out." I broke our eye combat.

"Again, like I said, I have no idea what you talking about, Big Wolf."

"Tyler, I don't have time for this. Do you realize this is inappropriate and you can be executed for it?" I was almost going to beg him.

He snickered. "You will have no evidence against me."

"I know the things you can do, Tyler, and that is one of the reasons I still keep you alive and as the chief guardian of my people. Don't test me. For the last time, where is my mate?"

"You can't replace her if she doesn't want to be found. I suggest you leave my house, big wolf. Look elsewhere. Yeah, she was here but only to tell me she was leaving your ass as she had failed to replace happiness with you."

If he was trying to make me feel bad, he succeeded. My heart slumped, Fangs whimpers started to go overboard. I swallowed and looked away. "I have to make sure you are telling the truth." My eyed was still revolving around. For some odd reason, I reckon he was lying to me.

There was no way my mate would have been gone from here and her scent was this prominent. It's either he was hiding her in there or outside somewhere close. Either way, I intended to replace out. "As the King of this Kingdom, I order you to step away, Tyler. If you try to use any of your powers against your King, bear in mind that you would be considered a traitor and trailed accordingly."

I stepped around him and began tossing things about in search of her. When I climbed upstairs and entered one of the halls, I heard him growl, making to follow me, but one daring look from me and he stepped back. I knew from how uncomfortable he was that I had my mate. He was restless. This was his plan, to have my mate to himself while I suffered.

And once more Gwen was giving him that power.

I broke through the first door. I discovered no one there. I left and moved into the others, and yet, no one.

At the last one, The smell was pungent and I was very certain she was there. Without a knock, I swung the door open. My eyes first went to the bed. There on it were scattered female clothes. Clothes I recognized as my mate's. Then I was inside, pushing everything aside, searching, looking, but she was nowhere to be found. I opened the bathroom and found it empty. My heart sank further. Where is she hiding? "Okay, little wolf, you win. I am sorry, okay? Please, just come out and let's talk about this. He might seem perfect to you now but I am your mate. I know I can be too much most times and last night... I was so stupid, but I'm sorry." My shoulders sagged in tiredness.

I looked at my watch, it was 9:00 a. m. The game activity had started by now. I had asked Williams to precede while I was gone. Albeit, I still need to be there.

As my eyes lifted, the first place they travelled to was the open windows. Directly opposite me.

"Shit!"

I was out the door, almost colliding with Tyler.

I stopped, pointing at him. "When this is over, you will answer to me. I promise you."

"I told you she wasn't here, you didn't believe me." He replied smugly.

I was gritting my teeth. "If she returns, inform me or I will make sure I send you away into the wild where you apparently belong."

"You can try, big wolf," He stepped closer to snarl in my face. "Don't forget I own your secret. I won't hesitate to blow your cover to the werewolves of your fiendish stunt in the snap of my finger. So, run along, big wolf, you have a wife to replace." I was seething with rage. I craved nothing short of breaking his neck. But as he said, he had something I couldn't risk letting out, plus, I had a wife to replace. "This is not over."

"You shouldn't be threatening me, Big Wolf." His voice followed me as I strolled away. "I could have your wife if I want..."

That was enough to kill me. I knew what he was doing and I won't fall for it. I slammed his front door as I left, jumped my gallop and faced the forest.

Gwen caused all this. If she could conduct herself properly like the Queen she was, I wouldn't have to be absent from my games and that runt wouldn't have the guts to challenge me.

Tyler is part of a life I chose to forget, the outcome of my loss of control. That was why when his Chief kicked him out, I took him in. Everyone assumed it was because of how benevolent I was, unknown to them, we had a secret, a secret that earned him his present position and would ruin me if it ever got out.

The humans are already my present enigma, I wouldn't want to add to my problems by inviting the wrath of the werewolves. So, for the sake of that secret, again, I will let the rogue win.

...