Lycan King's Nemesis

**GWEN**

It has been three days since the ball and since Williams was found dead. The pack had been serene with everyone silently mourning the loss of their beloved Beta.

No one said it, but somehow, everywhere I went it seemed the news of my involvement in bringing in other creatures into the Kingdom had spread like wildfire and everyone now looked at me in a certain way that despite not saying it to my face, I knew they the hate they harboured for me from the onset was now full-fledged, if not worse.

I killed their Beta. I brought evil into the pack and nearly killed their King.

It was there in their eyes and they didn't need to tell me. I just knew. These days leaving my room was a herculean task I thought profoundly about so I left.

Albeit, I had to. I needed to be in certain places at certain times; the temple, visitation-even if they shut their doors on me once they heard of my arrival. And Abby, she hadn't looked my way nor spoken to me since then. I killed her mate. As I stood by my window this evening looking outside as twilight approached, tears slowly streaked down my face one at a time; watching the humane sky, yet feeling indifferent as a result of how tumultuous my heart was.

Who could have done this evil? Which of the creatures had carried out such a barbaric act? The humans? But how? Yes, I had invited them, yet, they were not present at the ball.

None... not even Sweetbaby.

I had singularly invited him, seeing as he was the most obsessed with the Lycans; to ask for peace. He was not there. So, who?

Ashton said he had walked into a trap. Who set this trap? How did the person set it without the guardians, Deltans, patrollers, and salutaries seeing them? How?

The more I thought about it, the more confused I got.

I reached up to wipe tears off my face, turning back with my hands on my chest. I swept my eyes through the room, seeing nothing. My eyes stopped at a new artwork of me set opposite me on the wall. It captured me in my happiest moment. When I was still cheerful.

It came in the day after the ball. Turned out Ashton wanted to surprise me with it after the ball. I ruined that.

A knock sounded on the door catching my attention. Who could it be? Ashton?

"Come in," I called. It couldn't be him. He said it himself. He wanted me far from him. And even if he was, he wouldn't have knocked.

Kora came in. "Your Highness." She bowed.

"Kora." I left my location and crossed to the sofa to plop down.

"You look paler this evening, your highness. You have to come down for dinner today." I shook my head and looked down at my hands. I was not going to do that. Dinner with people who hated me and possibly wanted me dead by all means by now.

"I am fine, Kora. I will have fruits and water this evening." I have to suffer for what I did. I deserved it. Every treatment I got.

"Your Highness..."

"Kora... stop."

"The former Queen... she insisted."

"She..."I shut my eyes and when I opened it, I looked io at her. She seemed very bothered. "Would the King be there?"

"Yes, Your Highness. She is angry you haven't come down for three days."

"Abby?"

"She hasn't come out of her room since then."

Gosh! What if she did something bad to herself? Something nudged inside me to go check her out, but I was afraid she would ask me to get out. She might despise me now and I would dt want to hear her say it to me. Abby was my first close friend here and apart from Tyler, I didn't think anyone knew me more.

"Can you help me check how she is fairing?" I requested from Kora whose head bobbed.

"I will, your highness. However, the chief guardian arrived this evening to check on her. The King had asked for his presence."

I bolted up, my eyes wide. "When did he come?" Shit! How could I have forgotten our parade?

"Not long ago. He had been with her there, I have t seen him leave."

I nodded, making my way to the bed. "I hear you, Kora. Tell the former Queen I would come down for dinner. I have to go to Abby now."

"From what I heard from the Chief Salutary, the King had ordered the chief guardian to take Abby to his home."

"What!"

"I was unable to hear why before I had to come here." She hasn't moved from the spot she stood since she came in. Only making hand gestures. I garnered she had nothing to do in here. Probably came to check on me and inform me about the dinner.

"Did the King say anything to the former Queen?" I queried mindlessly, my mind scattered all over. I didn't even know what I was thinking. "I mean, have to heard anything?" But she said she hadn't. "I mean, have you seen the former Queen? Is she furious?"

Korea reached by side, and did what she had never done before; her hands came to both sides of my shoulders and grasped me gently, steadying me. "Your Highness," her soothing voice came. "You have to calm down."

My chest was making a staccato movement that didn't allow me to hear her. I needed to know why he was here now. "Kora, I will see you later. I need to go."

"Is there any problem, your highness?"

"No, no, not at all." I waved my hand at her, shaking my head. My eyes went behind her and ended in a black material on the bed. My shawl. I rushed forth grabbed it and hurried out of the door.

I ran all the way to Abby's room nonstop, ignoring the curious looks on the faces of those I passed. They would surely wonder what had me in such scandalous haste, but knowing better not to stop me.

I knocked. There was no sound. I knocked harder. What if she refused to open it because she knew I was the one?

Fuck, Gwen, focus, I chastised myself.

I knocked-the door swung open. Tyler stood there, weary obsidian taking me in and then I saw his shoulders sag in what appeared to be a relief, stepping back from the door to give me room.

"Tyler..."

"I swear I was going nuts over my head." He began strolling back into the room and I fretfully and half-heartedly, took one step after the other into the room.

Abby was curled on the bed, with the white bed cover wrapped about her as she looked into space, a totally cloned version of herself. I never knew my eyes would behold Abby in this state. And it is all my fault. Without meaning to, I ran to the bed and fell on it, my arms going about her. To my dismay, she didn't push me away. She remained impassive, not moving.

"I'm so sorry, Abby," I wept. "I am so sorry for everything. I wish I could rewind back the hands of time I swear I would."

Like a dam was broken, her body began trembling as she let go of whatever she had been keeping bottled in and shook like she was electrified in despair.

I didn't hold back either. I cried with her. This was our loss. Williams was a good man, the best mate to her and friend to me. And I killed him.

Sometime later when her tears subsided and we lay there side by side, Abby engulfed in my embrace, Tyler standing by the window, his hands crossed over his broad chest as he watched us crossed legs, he eventually broke the silence and went to sit by the hearth with his hands forward.

"So what now?" He asked.

I shrugged, lost for words. "Did he tell you if the former Queen knows?"

"He didn't. So I can't tell_"

"I don't mind," Abby interrupted, shocking us both. Our eyes were on here. She sniffed and gradually sagged up. "I can't bear being here without him. I don't know... I don't know if I can endure it anymore." She looked around the room, tears falling down the side of her face. "If-If Tyler don't mind, I don't mind moving in with him. At least for now until I resolve what I am going to do with myself." "Abby..." I caressed her forearm.

"I'm serious, Gwen... Will is gone..." She took in an in-depth gust of air-one that bordered on strength. "I want to be as far from his memory as I can."

My eyes traveled to Tyler who hadn't said a thing... we watched each other. His we're oblivious but I could tell he knew the question at the tip of my tongue. What now? Are you willing to take her in?

What about his lover? How was she going to feel about all this when she found out the Princess now resided in his household?

...