Lycan King's Nemesis

**GWEN**

Have you imagined when two elephants are in the same room? The feeling of those beside them especially if they look like they are going to fight? That was how I felt as my mate walked into the room. And the annoying part of it was his composure.

He was grinning. Nonchalantly.

"There is nothing comical about the situation, Ashton." His mother was at him.

"Life is simple, Mother. We make things complex for ourselves." He came to sit beside me and took one of my hands. It was a mindless action, from what I could deduce.

"We have a ceremony coming up!" His mother snapped.

"And everything is going to be fine, Mother. We have a team in charge of planning those kind of things. We don't need to meddle."

"Is that what you think, Gwen?" As she asked me, I could see her eyes flick to our entwined fingers before lifting to my face.

I shook my head. "I am not of that school of thought, Mother."

"Then, you see that the Queen needs to be available all the time to make this work. I had to prepare the list in her absence."

"Mother, that was not necessary." I noticed his tone was pinched. "That is a duty strictly reserved for the Queen."

His mother's eyes twitched as she shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Well, I know... I had to do something to stop me from worrying over your absence." "You know, we are humans before we are leaders, Mother. Just because we left the palace doesn't mean we will disappear off the surface of the earth." "I know that too."

"My wife needs to go through the list."

"Ashton..." I tried to come in.

"No," The former Queen intervened, gesturing to me. "He is right. You will need to see the list for approval. As a matter of fact, there it is on the desk." She nodded to the deeper corner on top of the desk where piles of files were stacked. I was astounded. I have never used this place. I was told about it, but I have never cared to be here.

What was I coming in here to do? No, I will prefer being about than secluded to a spot doing goddess knows what.

"I don't know if your maid informed you but coming in every morning is part of your courtly responsibilities. There are files also meant for the Queen to approve of." She schooled me.

My mouth opened and shut and I noticed Ashton's finger tighten on mine.

"She will go through the file and sign on it, Mother." Ashton helped me to say.

I cleared my throat. "Actually, I will like to speak to Mother about something very important. Concerning the list."

Something danced in her sharp blues, and also, the other two as they all looked at me. Finally, the former Queen said, "Okay, I would have liked to listen now but I have an engagement. So, what if we do that this evening when I get back from my outing with my friends?"

The eyes that were in me were soon on her. "Friends?" Abby asked, surprised.

The Queen stood up, squaring her jaws and body motion. "Yes, child. I am no longer a Queen and am bound to have company from time to time now. I am no island." she made for the door, as smoothly as she could. "Have a nice day, children. What happened should never repeat itself again." With that, the door closed.

Ashton exhaled loudly and slouched on the chair. "That went better than I thought." And I thought he was not fazed.

"I didn't think you would be terrified," Abby uttered in a mocking carriage.

His head twisted to the side to scowl at her. "What are you doing here by the way? Why are you not in your mate's house? Does mo_"

"Hey," I took his hand and kissed the back of it, close to his vein. I heard him groan and focused back on me.

"Are you okay?" He asked me, sitting up to cup my chin. "Don't mind Mother. She can be... too much. You already know that."

I sniggered nervously. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Abby stand. "I don't mind at all," I whispered.

He leaned in and pecked my nose and then hesitated a while before taking my lips. I sighed into the kiss becoming oblivious of my surroundings in a second as I was hauled away into fantasy land.

When he pulled away, I was reeling from confusion, my head clouded with so much need. "You didn't need to do that." He kissed me again. But this time it didn't last.

He stood up. "I have to go now. You can attend to the file." He nodded in the direction of the desk. "I have a meeting with my elders and after that, I will be going for training with the stable hands and Williams." "Okay... and after?"

"I will come back to the palace. What about you?"

"I will be going to the temple after attending to the files, and then I will be heading to... train. I need to train. With Abby." I intentionally didn't mention going to visit Tyler. It was a red flag for us.

He bent down and kissed me once more before he left.

After that, I rushed to peer through the file and the names delineated in them. I didn't know any of them so it didn't make much sense to me.

There was a knock and Abby emerged. "Can we go now?" She asked.

I dropped the file and followed her out.

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On our way, I had the urge to ask, "Do you think your brother's sudden change toward me is because of your mother's presence?"

Abby snorted, kicking a pebble out of her way. "You think? Perhaps, you should realize that my brother does not do what he doesn't want to do. Yes, he fears my mother, still, it doesn't stop him from being tenacious."

I desired to honestly believe it was because he wanted to give us a chance. And I am holding unto that. I seriously liked to believe that.

"I like how you guys are now, anyway." She uttered after a long time, beaming at me. "It's just like before. He now smiles more often and displays how he feels without caring for who is close."

Instinctively, my face was stretched in glee until got to Tyler's cottage. I was feeling fly and another kind of happiness. What if Ashton is falling in love with me? What if he is starting to see me? Then another feeling took over.

Despair.

If Ashton fell in love with me, it would be a good thing, albeit, what would happen when he found out I couldn't bear him children? At least for now.

At three knocks the door to Tyler's cottage sighed open. And truly he was looking unhappy. Upon seeing me, there was a spark of light in his eyes. "Gwen?"

"Tada!" I blurted, with a deepthroated laugh. "Here in flesh and blood." I rushed into his arms. "I missed you. Even though it was just two days."

"You left without telling me anything."

"Hello, are we going to stay outside?" Abby asked beside me. Tyler gasped.

"I'm sorry, Princess, come in." The title sounded like a taunt.

Abby scoffed and bypassed us, going in.

"She never stops to get on my nerves," Tyler hissed playfully.

"She is loved that way." We shut the door and went in. "How are you?" I queried, looking around. As always the place was impeccably clean and everything was well arranged.

"I am fine. Just busy." He went into the kitchen and soon returned with a tray of refreshments which he placed on the table in front of us in the living room.

"You look tired, Ty. And you haven't shaved." I knew he disliked looking unkempt and knew when something was up with him. "Are you having any troubles? With her?" I was sure he understood. "No," He sat opposite us with a slight wave of hand to dismiss my comment. "I am fine, seriously. Work has been... stressful."

"Are they demanding too much from you? I can ask Ashton to..."

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"No, Gwen." He interrupted. "It is my duty I am carrying out. Don't worry, I will shave and I will rest more henceforth. You worry too much." I agree with him. It was part of my makeup. Worrying. "Where did you go to?" He asked suddenly, his eyes intent on me.

"You don't ask your Queen where she went to, Tyler." Abby intruded. "That's inappropriate."

"Abby..." I patted her hand. "We are friends. Here, no titles."

"Still... well, since he wants to know... she went on a little vacation with my brother. Happy?" Her tone was biting. I knew it was animated. They were cool that way.

"Vacation?" Tyler sounded surprised. And when I looked at him, his eyes held hurt somehow. Was it me? "He now takes you on vacations?"

"Nothing serious, Ty. We are just learning to... coexist together in peace." I tried to hide the exuberance in my voice but I could swear it showed.

"I see..."

"Sorry for not telling you, Ty," I muttered. "It just happened without a plan."

"It's okay, Gwen. You are fine, that's all that matters."

"I think I will take a house tour, dears," Abby lowered her teacup and stood. "Soppy makes me cringe."

"Abby!"

Tyler rolled his eyes and fell back in his chair.

I stood and went to him. "Tell me about it, Ty."

"Nothing to tell."

"I tell you everything."

"If I tell you what is going on in my head, it will ruin our friendship forever. I can't risk that." He sounded very sad. "Tell me."

"Gwen..."

"Please." I took his left hand.

...