The Curse Of Rejection
Love and Freedom

AYSU

Ximun gasped and she did the same. It was thrilling that she was able to do such an insanely amazing thing, but since she initially doubted her ability to pull it off, Aysu remained amused as she stared at the gaping hole that was the aftermath of her attack on Nirel.

“Damn, Aysu,” Ximun spoke and joined her in staring at the ceiling as though it were some kind of beautiful art that was about to be auctioned at a very high price. “You’ve got quite a gem hidden in you. Who knew you were hoarding so much power?”

Aysu almost smiled. “I think the powers came because I’m sleeping with you.”

“That’s an interesting theory. Does that mean the more we make love, the bigger your powers grow?”

Aysu shrugged with seriousness as though she wasn’t threading a huge joke. “That’s a possibility. So, Ximun, you have to make sure you do a good job henceforth.”

“Of course, My Queen.” Ximun chuckled for a few seconds then he said, “How are you feeling?”

Aysu’s shoulders dropped in reaction. “Honestly, I am scared and it’s not just because Nirel might come back but because I am experiencing strange changes. I truly don’t understand why I am powerful all of a sudden.”

“I also have a feeling that he’ll be back,” replied Ximun as he took a step closer to her and reached for her hand.

“He had better not.”

“And about your powers, I also don’t understand. If we had known they would manifest this way, we could have asked the High Seer to look into it. I am sure he saw the way you waded off the attacker on your coronation day.”

“But, we are no longer in the palace, Ximun,” she reminded him as though he wasn’t aware of it.

“I wish we were still there. A few days ago, I didn’t think that we would be facing a Lycan Wolf in a Pack I have never heard of.”

“What were you thinking back then?”

“I was thinking about a lot, actually. There was the issue with the members of the Tarmish Pack trying to make you into a traitor, there were issues concerning the growth of the pack as well as the serial killer problem. And in the midst of everything,” his eyes were wearing intense sadness, “I had to make sure the mating ball was well planned for. But why did I even bother? It turned out to be the occasion where my title as the Alpha King met its demise.”

“Ximun.” Aysu stepped closer to him. She reached for the smoothness of his cheek and as she caressed his skin, he closed his eyes and she said, “I want you to take this chance to forget about the tedious life you had to get used to in The Night Crimson Pack. Take this chance we have to relax and enjoy a few hobbies or two. Is there something you have always wanted to do?”

“Hmm.” His chest rose and fell heavily and he opened his eyes. “I have always wanted to know how to make a sword. I don’t get to use it a lot because my strength and Evalopus’ is enough to win battles, so I want to get to know a sword better.”

“That’s wonderful, Ximun.” Aysu admired the fact that he had something he wished to do. For her, at that point, she didn’t have anything she desired to do, so she hoped she would replace it sooner than she thought. “I am sure we can replace a sword maker in this pack.”

“We are staying back?” Ximun was surprised and that perplexed her a little.

“Why is that surprising?”

“I thought you would be willing to rush out of this place because of the whole Nirel situation. He might come back as you said and who knows what he’ll do then.”

“Well, that’s true. But I can’t leave, Ximun. I have to help the women whose lives were destroyed because of Nirel.”

“We are going to rescue them soon and-”

“Rescuing them from that cage is not enough, Ximun,” Aysu gently retorted. “Those women have lost all hope to live. Even when we help them gain freedom from this place, they will continue to feel caged and I don’t want that for them. I want them to be happy. I want them to be free, Ximun.”

Ximun had many words lodged in his eyes and as Aysu wondered what he was about to say, he said, “As long as you also replace true happiness and freedom, I don’t mind.”

Aysu wondered why she thought that he would continue to argue with her choice to stay back.

“Thank you, Ximun.”

“Let’s get those women out of this hell.” He held her hand securely and proceeded to lead them out of that room. “After, let’s replace a house and start building our home.”

“That sounds lovely already, Ximun. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I love you, so it is only natural I-”

Their eyes met and slight awkwardness settled between them.

“You…” Aysu started to speak but she halted her words to clear her throat. “You just said…”

“It’s not a lie.”

Aysu loved him too. She knew that much. But she was more inclined to display those words in another form or action. So, as she walked beside him, she replied, “I know it is not a lie. Thank you for loving me, Ximun.”

“Thank you as well, for letting me show you how much I love you.”

It took many minutes for them to replace the dark room where Aysu was initially kept. But guarding the door to that room was the hefty man that came to get Aysu earlier.

“My master says not to allow anyone in,” said the man, his thunderous voice a very good fit for his statue.

“But your master is not here anymore,” replied Ximun. “He left you and flew to a very far place. So, be a good boy and let us in.”

The man was somewhat babyish in his mannerisms and as his eyes wandered in confusion concerning the issue with his master leaving him, Aysu found him cute.

Then, he grumbled, “Don’t call me good boy.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not my name!”

“Okay.” Ximun threw his arms up in surrender. “What is your name?”

“That’s none of your business. So go back right now.”

“Good boy,” Aysu stepped into the conversation, “ we can’t do that.”

“Don’t call me-”

“But I am sure you can do something for us if you don’t want to end up like your master.”

“What did you do?”

“Did you hear his screams earlier?” Aysu asked and the way his eyes fluttered answered her question. “I did that. I made your master scream and I didn’t have to tie him down. So, please be a good boy and move aside.”

“My master-”

Aysu found him pitiful. “You can wait for your master in a corner or you can walk out of this place freely. What will it be, Good boy?”

The man resigned to his fate faster than Aysu hoped. And with a grumble, he said, “Let me get the keys.”

“There’s no need for that,” Ximun said as he approached the barred gate that was blocking their paths to the caged women. And without much drama, he pulled the gate out and gently placed it against the wall.

Aysu who found her mate’s action very sexy, walked in after Ximun and once light was introduced to the dark space, she was now able to fully witness the horror Nirel had created. Then, as her pained heart tried to process how wicked Nirel became, she directed the burly guard to open all the cages.

The man hurriedly did as asked and he did it by pressing a single button positioned not too far from where she and Ximun were standing.

Once the doors of the cage flung open, the women’s attention was grabbed and they all looked confused.

So, Aysu stepped forward, and at the same time, she became awfully conscious of the fact that she was putting on a white gown like every other woman.

“You might not know me by what I look like, but I am hoping you remember my voice. Minutes ago, I was dragged out of this place to be laid in front of the Lycan Wolf.” She saw that they were all attentive despite the look of death in their eyes. “I am now back here moments later because thanks to you all, I found enough reason to kick the ass of that monster.”

Aysu paused for a few seconds.

“I confronted him and I tortured him. I belittled him then I tossed him as far away as possible so that he would never, ever come back to hurt you. So, everyone, please come out of this prison and live again. Huh? You deserve to live again, everyone.”

Insane silence followed Aysu’s pleas until someone asked, “How do we know you are not lying? This could be a trap.”

“I can’t convince you with my words because we are strangers to each other. But, we are also women, so I will speak the truth to my fellow she-wolves.” Aysu adjusted her stance. “The Lycan Wolf has been chased out of this place and he will never show up to make life hell for us, so please, let’s do this. Let’s embrace freedom and let’s all go back to the loved ones waiting for us.”