Lycan King's Nemesis

**ASHTON**

What is happening? Why do I feel this level of pain? Damn it! It looked as though my eyes were bound with heavy-weight objects. I couldn't move or blink them.

I tried again, this time with a groan. Fangs were agitating too. I knew he wanted to show himself, but I couldn't let him out because that would mean danger. It was rare for me to let out my Lycae. As a matter of fact, it was a rarity for a Lycan to let out their Lycae when it was not yet the red moon.

This is because without the closeness or at least the presence of the red moon, it made it hard for us to control them. For someone like me, I have learned over the years to control Fangs because of how vicious he could be if threatened or smelled unwanted confrontation.

Something like what happened this evening. We were caught in a trap. A trap I was still confused about how we entered it.

After my sister broke the news of the presence of the Vampire King, I had been blinded by rage all I desired to do was to go down there and ask him to leave. When I reached down, I was further dismayed to see not in the cunning Vladimir but other creatures that for as long as I had lived in my Kingdom have been banned from coexisting on the same side us. Even before my birth, such had been the case.

All of them were there. Except for the werewolves.

I was mad. Utterly and uncontrollably mad. I was going to lose it and at that moment one thing was for sure, my Lycae was surely going take control.

Mother saw that and stopped me before I could get to the main hall and asked me to leave. She said I should go do something else or be with the crew until I had my control back. I had to leave.

I saw Merit with the others coming back and she was incensed with me for leaving without informing her-since she was supposed to be everywhere with me as my Delta or someone else- but I deluded everyone by running off.

Still infuriated myself, I asked for Williams and was told he was still with the other guardians by the border. I had to ask the train to return. I could see the look of disappointment on their faces, seeing as I was keeping them from being at the party early.

That was how it happened.

Just close to the border camp, I started feeling heady. My heady was swimming, and my Lycae going in uproar. The next thing I recalled was shouting voices, Merit by my side screaming at the top of her lungs as I hit the ground from my horse.

Now, I'm here.

Where?

At once, my eyes snapped open. "Mother?"

"Son!" My mother was by my flank, falling to her knees beside me to touch my forehead. "I was over my head with worry that you won't wake up." Tears shimmered in her eyes. Tears, in my mother's eyes?

"Mo-" My chest wrecked with cough. Very painful cough. I sat up force full, going on my knees as my body rocked with more cough. Then, I saw blood. "Wa-water."

"Get him water! Quickly!" Mother screamed and someone ran off. "Hold on, there, son." She was tapping my back.

I was still coughing more blood. At this point, I was striving to stay strong, utilizing the little strength I had with my healing power which right now I was not supposed to use since I didn't know what was wrong with me. "Here, take." My mother placed the bottle of water in my mouth and I gulped down hastily. "My chest, Mother."

"It's okay, son. It's the after-effect of the charm." She continued tapping by back.

I have stopped coughing by now. I sat up straight. "What charm are you talking about, Mother?"

"Someone had unleashed the venomous charm of the seven covens on you. That was why you fell."

"How? Mother, who brought those people here?" I asked in the calmest voice I could muster knowing it must have been from the guests. This was why we never allowed them here. This was a very slim line we trod on by allowing those people here. They were enemies!

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"Son, that is not what matters_"

"Mother!" I howled. "I respect you so much and you know that. I know you didn't because out of all people know how much they hate us, how much they want me down! They want our Kingdom to go into extinction! Tell me who did!" From the way her eyelids distorted downward, and when my eyes travelled to my sister, she was shifting on her feet uncomfortably, I knew the person.

"Damn it!" I stood up abruptly. I was lying on the floor. In a room. An unkempt room. It must be in the forest. I, King of Chronicles lying on a raffia leave in a dumpster! and it's all because of my carriers mate! A woman who does not listen to instructions! A woman who acts impulsively, not caring for the implications of her actions! "How could she?"

"She didn't mean to do it, son," My mother defended, standing up with me. My mother had turned too soft for my liking. My mother who I knew, the woman who brought us up with a steel hand would never tolerate this irrational decision from anyone!

"She could have killed me, Mother," I said, looking around the disgusting room. "Mother, she-she is insane!"

"She means only the best and she deeply regrets her actions, I promise you." As she spoke, my sister's head kept bobbing after her, acknowledging everything my mother said. However, that was not important. "Where are my men? Williams, everyone?"

"We haven't seen Williams," My mother told me. "As for your other men, they're good. I think the charm was meant to hurt only you. The Deltas are outside as I instructed and the guardians I had sent out to their homes to prepare and go the ball." "The ball." I totally forgot.

"Yes, the ball." My mother's hand stroked my arms as if still trying to soothe me. "Gwen is there making sure they don't notice your absence."

The mere mention of her name right now irritated me. I was beyond irked that if I encountered her now I would not hesitate to put her in her place for putting my life and the entire Kingdom at risk all for what? She didn't even discuss it with me!

"I have to go back." I made for the door. "What do you mean by you haven't seen Williams?"

My mother was behind me. "We came right to you that we didn't have the time to go after the others. But we trust he would be alright."

When we reached outside, truly, Merit and her squad were there, and at seeing me, a look of relief registered on their faces as they bowed their heads. Merit rushed to me. "I'm glad you are awake, My King." "Thank you. Have you seen my Beta?"

"No, not yet. The last time we saw him was at the camp. He might have left for the palace."

Why am I feeling a bit troubled about his whereabouts? Williams would never be far from where I was. Every time I encountered difficulties such as this one, he was always there when I woke up. But not this time.

"That was a very rash act you did before, My King," Merit proceeded, her hair matching by own. I could spot my horse out in the open night and couldn't wait to reach him. "You should have informed us before leaving."

I didn't respond until I got to my horse and leapt on it. I turned to Merit. "Make sure my mother and sister are safely taken back to the palace, then you inform the patrollers that I need to see Williams in case he is still there, immediately." With that, I galloped into the night.

It was just normal procedure and a means to shut Merit the fuck up. I was not in the mood for her busy body. After all, if any chaos should arise along the way, I was certain my mother and sister could save themselves in the snap of a finger. There was something wrong somewhere, I didn't know what it was, nonetheless, deep down my guts, it continually gnawed. Much like a bad omen.

It didn't take long to arrive at the palace.

I didn't bother going to the main palace to change, I went in search of my mate. I had questions I needed answers to. Tonight I had to confirm between her and me who was the King. If we were going to live in peace, she had to answer that question.

What I was not expecting was to meet my mate engulfed in a tight embrace in the arms of another man in an isolated part of the building where the ball was held while he whispered sweet words of nothing into her ears. "G-Gwendolyn?" My voice shook.

...