Lycan King's Nemesis
Chapter 94

**ASHTON**

"Are you even listening to what I am saying?" Williams tapped the desk in front of me.

I was jostled from my pleasant thought only to smile at him. "Mmm? What?"

Williams appraised me, his eyes narrowed at me. "Start spilling."

"Spilling what?" I demanded, adjusting in my chair so he didn't see the large bulge I was spotting. How was I supposed to start telling him that the man sitting before him was no longer the man he used to know? Once more, I was allowing myself to get blown away by a werewolf.

Scratch that.

I have an idea that this happened a long time ago. I was the one evading it, pretending to be unaffected when of course I was down the ocean, drowned by the goddess's own ropes. This is too good to be real.

"Tell me what has you glowing like this?" He drew out the chair in front of my desk and sat down, taking the bottle of Madeira to pour a large potion for himself. "I have been noticing it, don't give me crap. At first, I was like, let me give you some time to confide in me. Since that ain't forthcoming, I am obliged to ask."

"I don't know, Williams," I took the glass and sipped, clucking my to gue. "Let's just say my eyes are finally opened."

"Open? Opened to what?"

"Everything, Will." I reeled. "Everything y'all have been trying to make me see."

His eyes squinted in reflection. "Does this have to do with Gwen?"

"And I never thought you a nincompoop, Williams." I laughed out, pouting my glass at him. "Why did it take you so long to dissect."

"Ehe, I knew it. I would have sworn it wasn't in my head the way I have been seeing you looking at her. It had a different fare to it." He quipped. "So, tell me, what changed?"

"That's the exact question I have been asking myself, Will. I don't know."

"Let me guess." He tilted forward. "She grew the balls to call your bluff, and then you realized you were about to lose her to the rogue and decided to act fast."

I grimaced. "The rogue is my sister's mate. I would never be scared of him stealing my mate."

He scoffed. "Then what? That has to be it. Have you perchance forgotten mates leave each other for others? Have you forgotten what happened to Gideon?"

A distinct kind of fear settled in my chest. My case can never be like that. Gideon used to be one of our friends growing up. He exiled himself after his mate left him for a lower-ranking Lycan saying she was in love with him. Our friend could not take it and had to leave. He was so much in love with her and couldn't best the heartbreak.

"Are you praying for such fate to befall me?" I asked with a tinge of grump.

"I am merely saying you should tell me the truth. It's only the two of us here, there's no need to lie."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, you win. I have always liked her, Will. I assumed she was like Emma which was why I wanted to make her life miserable so she would leave."

"And now?"

"She's different, Will. I didn't recognize it until I was about to lose her."

Williams nodded in understanding, taking his glass to chug down the content. "I understand, Ash. You are on the right path."

"You think so?"

"Yea, Ash. Gwen is a very good woman and a great Queen too. She is kind, tolerant and very forgiving. She is what the Kingdom needs. What you need."

"I agree with you, my friend." A certain event flickered past my memory. "You know, thinking about it now, she is brave too. Imagine going to the human territory to plead for peace despite knowing how risky that was." "That too." He jeered. "I like her."

I growled.

"C'mon, mate, not like that. I already have someone I like in that way."

My ears pricked. Williams was in love with someone and I didn't know. "Pray, tell."

He was shaking his head before I would land. "I can't tell you for now, I'm sorry." He grabbed the sheets that had been lying dormant in front of us and slapped them closer to me. "You have to approve that ASAP. The committee need to commence planning."

I took the sheets and skimmed through them. Satisfied with the numbers, I took my pen and scribbled my signature. "There, they can go ahead." I pushed it back to him. "Now, tell me who is this mystery woman."

"I told you I'm not telling you for now, man, I'm serious." He stood up, picking up the sheets. "When the time is ripe, you will be the first to know."

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"Okay, I trust you."

With a single nod of acknowledgement, he disappeared from my office.

I stayed there for a few minutes, drolling about my mate, wishing I knew where she was so I could go to her, but then, knowing she wouldn't like that. She took the pack's business too seriously and with Mom around, they were a perfect match. "Urgh!" I swung down the remaining drinks and dumped the glass, sitting up. I couldn't wait for the ball to come and go so I could have my mate to myself away from Mother's constant intrusion.

I left the study. I needed a stroll.

I made my way to the stables to check in the stable hands and the horses. They weren't there, meaning they were out for training.

Save for Striker.

There he was nibbling on dry hays, his ears perked when he heard me approach. We have grown used to each other presence in a short while. "I see you are having fun, huh?" I greeted him, scratching his left ear. He neighed and poked his muzzle on my face. A form of greeting as well as asking if I brought something.

And fortunately for him, I always have something for the black good boy. I produced an apple and fed him. While he ate, I went to bring a brush and clench cutter. His hooves are due for cut.

At seeing them, he neighed in protest, shifting from his position. I opened the shed and let him out, folding the cuffs of my coat.

I particularly liked the weather. Sunny but not hot. The weather was tranquil like my heart. I wished my mate was here.

It was not an easy task, but with caution and multiple apple bribery, I was able to get Striker to be still and allow himself to be pampered. I took his front hoof and started the hectic task of vacating the excess hooves. Midway to it, my nostrils caught the pungent smell of Gwendolyn. I stopped, standing straight to sniff the air.

It was very close.

And sooner, she materialized with one of the stable hands, speaking in a hushed tone. At seeing me, her eyes dilated in surprise then she waved the boy off.

"I wasn't expecting you," She said, placing her hands in her coat pocket. They fit her so well. Brown brought out her eye colors. Fuck, everything fucken does great magic on her. She made a duck designer look smooth.

And now she had to see me looking like shit.

"I wasn't expecting you either." I dropped the cutter and raved my eyes around her. "You look beautiful."

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She blushed. "Thanks, you too."

I knew that was a lie, but I didn't contend. "What are you doing here?"

"I was strolling and came across the boys. So, I asked him to give me a tour and you know, tell me the names of the horses. He said the King's favourite was back here and came to introduce me to him." Our proximity was thin by now. "Can I join you?"

"No, this is not for you. It would soil your dress."

"I don't care. I want to help." She began folding her sleeves. "Besides, you are fully kitted doing it. Don't you have work clothe or something?"

"I didn't plan to do this. Was an abrupt decision."

"Cool, then let's utilize it. It would be an awesome pastime."

She brushed him while I cut his hooves. And surprisingly, Striker didn't protest. He tended to bond with her instantly for first-timers. And Striker I knew, was a picker. And very jealous too.

It ended up I enjoyed myself greatly.

When we were done, we were sweating profusely. And the evening had arrived.

"Want to go swimming?" I asked her.

"Swimming? I have never used the Palace pool and undressing outside, it's kind of awkward." She swept her strayed hair behind her right ear.

"No, silly." I fitted back all the stirrups. "I meant outside. In a real stream."

"Is there a real stream?" Her eyes crinkled in excitement.

"It's a secret I'm only introducing it to you. Which means nobody is allowed to know about it."

"Deal." She giggled. The sound was soothing.

I assisted her to climb on Striker and followed after her, and slowly we made our way out of the palace.

...