The Werewolf King’s Runaway Queen
Chapter 21

Alissa's

POV

I woke up to the ray of sunlight as someone opened the window curtains.

I slowly fluttered my eyes open and saw a figure standing by a window.

"Rise and shine, beautiful" Lia greeted me with a smile.

I smiled as I pushed myself up.

"Wash up. This is your first official day back. We'll make it worth while" she said.

I chuckled and nodded as I got out of bed and went to the bathroom.

I showered for some time then got out in a robe.

I grabbed an outfit from my baggage and got a pair of beige corduroy pants, a white zip up blouse and white sneakers.

Lia must have stepped outside because she wasn't in the room.

I sat on her vanity table and dried my hair before brushing it and leaving it down.

I put some lipbalm and powder on my face just so I wouldn't look like I obviously don't have my life put together at the moment.

I chuckled at my own thought.

I looked at ny reflection and took a deep breath.

It's going to be okay.

If not, it'll get better.

Eventually.

I prepared to go out and when I walked to the door, I heard voices talking.

I could barely hear it so I went and opened the door.

As soon as I opened it, I saw Luke and Liana outside.

"For the last time, you can't force yourself onto someone, Luke!" Lia screamed at Luke.

I just stood there and they turned to look at me.

Lia seemed taken aback.

"Alissa" Luke said.

I pursed my lips as I looked at Luke.

"Luke" I said.

"Can we talk now?" he said.

Lia stepped in between us.

"If you're still not ready, you don't have to" she said.

I gave Lia an assuring smile and a kiss on the cheek.

"It's fine" I assured her.

Lia sighed and nodded before stepping aside.

Luke seemed a bit surprised as well that I immediately agreed.

"Is the balcony an okay place for you?" I asked.

Luke nodded.

"Give us a moment. I'll go down soon and we can start our plan for the day" I told Lia.

Lia nodded and Luke and I walked to the balcony together.

"Just like that?" he said as we made our way to the balcony.

I chuckled.

"Why? Did you want me to keep resisting?" I said.

Luke didn't answer until we got to the balcony.

"You're not planning on choking me again or throwing me off this balcony, are you?" I said.

Luke looked at me with guilt.

"Alissa..." he said.

"I was kidding" I said.

Atleast, half kidding.

Luke seemed uneasy.

"What is it, your highness?" I asked.

Luke's expression.

"Quit calling me that" he said.

"Call you what? Your highness?" I said.

"Yes. Don't call me that" he said.

"I can't just call you by your name" I said.

"You already did multiple times" he pointed out.

"Only when I was mad at you" I said.

Luke didn't talk for a second.

"Still, don't call me that anymore" he said.

"Why not? You're the king. You should be referred to with respect" I said.

Luke's jaw clenched as he massaged the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Because I'm your mate" he said and stared straight into my eyes.

"I'm your mate, Alissa so I'd prefer if you treat me like I am" he said.

I subtly bit my inner lip.

"It's not that easy" I said.

"I don't think we're close enough or know each other enough for me to drop formalities with you" I continued.

"Look, I understand that most wolves who replace their mates immediately form a bond. Unfortunately for us, we..." I paused.

"We started off on the wrong path and I might be to be blame for how we started off but not how we ended up" I said looking at him.

"It's going to take time. I hope you understand that because I'm not the same person I was when I left. I know who I am and how I want my life to be. If you..." I paused again and sighed.

"If you refuse to let me do what I know is right for me, I will try to break free one way or another because for years, I never did anything for myself until I decided to leave" I said.

I looked down as I took a deep breath and looked at Luke again.

He was staring at me with an unknown expression.

"I...I don't want to just give up on what we have but I don't want to get lost in the process as well" I told him.

Luke stepped closer and I backed away on impulse.

Luke sighed and reached out his hand carefully.

I hesitantly took it.

"I can't promise to change overnight. I never had to adjust for anyone ever. And you..." he said and paused.

"You made me feel something I haven't felt before when I found out that you left" he finished his sentence.

"I hated you. No. I actually hated myself because I was convinced that I drove you away and maybe I somehow did and instead of accepting that, I blamed it on you" he said. Luke sighed.

"I can't assure you that it's going to be easy if you choose to stay but I will try my best not to fck this up again" he said.

I was stunned.

"I want to be with you, Alissa. My mate. So let's try this" he finished.

I was too stunned to speak as I backed away a little.

"Who are you and what did you do to his highness?" I said baffled.

Luke chuckled.

"My mom happened to me" he said.

I chuckled.

"That explains it" I said.

Luke gave me a small smile and he gulped.

"I'm sorry" he said.

I smiled a little as well.

"Thank you" I said and stepped closer to him.

Well, this is going to be interesting.

"Aliii?"

I turned to look at the direction where the voice was coming from.

"Bryan?" I said as I pulled away from Luke and tried to go to where I heard my brother's voice.

"Ali?"

I rushed inside and saw my brother by the hallway.

"Ali!" he shouted excitedly as he ran to me.

I ran towards him as well and caught him in my arms and spun him around.

We both giggled and laughed.

"I missed you" he said.

I smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I missed you too" I said and booped my nose on his.

Bryan giggled and I lightly pinched his cheeks.

Then, someone cleared their throat and both Bryan and I turned to look.

Luke stood there watching us.

"Oh uhm, Bryan, pay your respects to the King" I said and put Bryan down.

My brother bowed his head to Luke.

"Hello, Bryan" Luke said clearing his throat.

"Hello, your highness" my brother said and went behind me.

I chuckled and looked at Luke.

"We should probably go" I told Luke.

Luke's brows slightly furrowed.

"Go where?" Luke asked.

"To the mall, of course" Lia suddenly came and linked my arms with hers.

Luke raised a brow at us.

"The mall? Why?" he said.

"Oh we're taking Bryan out to bond and catch up" I said.

"And we're shopping for a few things for my dearest Ali" Lia said.

Luke hesitant nodded.

"Don't leave without guards" he said.

I nodded.

"Kay kay! Bye, big brother!" Lia said and dragged both my brother and I out of there.

"Time to bond and catch up" Lia said excitedly.

"Yey!" Bryan cheered excitedly and I smiled.

Just seeing them feel so thrilled makes me feel happy already.

We went downstairs and Lia and Bryan basically skipped to the door.

As soon as we got out of the palace, there were already guards waiting for us and the car was also prepared.

Then, I also saw Axel.

He's not coming with us, is he?

Bryan waved at his dad and Axel gave him a smile and looked at me but I looked away.

"Princess Liana. Lady Alissa" a guard said and they all bowed their heads to greet us.

Lady?

Oh that's not something I'm going to get used to anytime soon.

"Your majesty, Kalil will accompany you today" Axel said.

My eyes slightly widened when Kalil appeared behind Axel.

Kalil...

He smiled at me and bowed his head.

"I'll be of your service today" he said then winked at me.

"Kalil..." I muttered and went to hug him without thinking.

Kalil hugged me back.

"Welcome back, champ" he whispered.

I hugged him tighter.

"Since when did you come back?" I asked as I hugged him.

"A few weeks after you run away" he said.

I sighed.

"Ghad. I missed you" I muttered.

Kalil was one of my closest friends since I came to the palace 6 years ago.

He's 3 years older than I am and is well know in the territory for being a great fighter.

Luke, Kalil and I were always fighting for the top spot.

Or at least they were because I mostly focused on learning and surviving.

Unfortunately, Kalil left when he turned 18 to search for his mate.

I guess he came back when I had already ran away.

Kalil was someone I could always count on whether it be in or out of training.

He was like a big brother to me and I appreciated that so much since I didn't have a lot of people that I could rely on.

I was so down when he left and just ended up training excessively as my coping mechanism.

But I understood and supported him.

I always hoped that he'd come back safely.

Fortunately, he did.

Unfortunately, I wasn't there to see him come back.

Suddenly, everyone started faking a cough or clearing their throats.

Kalil chuckled and we both pulled away from each other.

I looked at him apologetically but he just gave me an assuring smile.

"Good thing my brother isn't here. He would've lost his marbles" Lia whispered to me.

I pursed my lips as I blushed.

"I just got carried away" I whispered back.

"I know. It's Kalil after all. Your first love" she whispered.

My eyes widened and I flushed red.

"Don't sat that" I said.

Liana giggled as she pulled me inside the car.

"Ali, are you okay? You're red in the face" my brother pointed out.

I gulped.

"I'm okay, Bry. Just a little...flustered. That's all" I said and glanced at Lia.

Lia laughed.

"Don't do that" I mind linked her slightly pouting.

"Do what?" she asked innocently.

"In my defense, I was a kid and it was just a crush. Stop teasing me already" I mind linked her.

Lia laughed.

"It definitely wasn't just a crush. Maybe puppy love?" she replied.

I shook my head.

"No. Don't. Stop" I said.

Liana laughed out loud and my face was already so red from embarrassment.

It was just a stupid crush that started when I was 11 because one, I found Kalil attractive when I first met him and he was so nice and charming as well.

He was friendly as was skilled in combat and he reminded me of my dad somehow and maybe that was why.

It continued on until I was 16 and about a year after he left and then just stopped since I was maturing and also because I knew Kalil could come back with his mate at some point. Anyway, it was all in the past.

"I'm not shipping you with him because you're mates with my brother but as your bestfriend, I will never let you forget" Lia teased.

Oh come on.

"You're going to get me into trouble with Luke" I pouted.

Lia shrugged.

"What's the harm of a little teasing" she shrugged.

A lot.

There will be a lot of harm.