Lycan King's Nemesis

**GWEN**

I got to the palace later that evening with mixed emotions. On the other hand, I was still delighted about my shifting experience and my day hanging out with the farmers, and on the other, I was terrified about Ty and Abby's present relationship mostly as they were together under the same roof with no one to chaperone them.

It was a case of dumping a yam with a goat to safeguard.

I walked down the driveway that led to the palace's front door, thinking hard about what I was going to do. The people I thought of were not bothered at all. In fact, when I left them, they were more concerned about dealing with Merit for attacking me. Mostly Abby who vowed to put Merit in her place the next time she encountered her.

Ty popped a bottle of Margarita for my shifting celebration and they were confounded to see me drink it without stuttering. They didn't say it, but I saw them exchange uneasy glances.

Damn, I was worried. The worry resulted in my blatant gulping down of the cold liquid without a blink. Wishing it would give me an unambiguous head. Nonetheless, it didn't.

Here I was, walking home, still in thought. And right now, I was even more disturbed about how I was going to keep this a secret from Ashton.

I was so deep in thought I didn't see the front doors spring open until I heard a very familiar voice squeal from there, "GWEN!"

My head flew up so fast that it nearly left my shoulders. "Theresa?"

She was heavily pregnant, yet it didn't stop her from racing down the lane all the way to me, her hands splayed apart. In confusion, my hands opened to welcome her as she crushed herself to me. "Omg, look at you!" She pushed away, twisting me from side to side. "Mom, can you believe my sister is now a Queen?"

Mom? My eyes traveled backward to where my mother-my former family- stood, tears pouring down their faces. Even Julian was there!

My heart skipped. He has grown bigger and more handsome in a few months since I last saw him.

"Gwen..." My mother came forward and hugged me, followed by my father. "How could you do this to me?"

"M... mom, Dad." I finally came out of my daze and hugged them fully, unrestrained joy engulfing my body. I didn't expect this. I never ever expected this

How did they know my whereabouts? How did they know I was still alive?

Tears brimmed and began cascading down my face. They tore away and Mother turned me around. "I thought I lost you, baby. I didn't know you hated me so much you had to leave and become Queen to the very people who despise us too much."

"Not now, Salome," My father said for the first time. "Come here, baby. We are happy to see you healthy and alive." He hugged me tight, patting my back.

When they finally allowed me to breathe, we stepped in the direction of the house. I haven't said a lot as I was still trying to figure out what was going on. My insides were wadding in unexpected euphoria.

My family was here! They came for me!

"Gwen," Julian greeted, smiling with style. My sister hung beside him as though protecting her property. For the first time, I sniffed back tears and smiled at him.

"Hey, Julian. You are... erm, looking great. Alpha." I laughed. "Have you seen my husband?" Whoa! I'm not supposed to ask that.

Well, maybe it was a coincidence or the oaf was behind the door, but then, the doors flung open and there the hunk stood, his eyes piercing at us.

He reached my side, grabbed me by the waist, slammed me to his side, shared a look around my people, and then he pointed at Mousy-lurking by the side. "Make them comfortable in the dining, while I speak to my wife." The way he said the wife, one would think he was in competition with someone.

"Yes, Your Highness," Mousy replied and hurried to guide the flock away.

My mother kept darting back, with my father possibly making sure I was okay. I nearly laughed out. It was funny how they would think that when I had survived out here by myself for seven good months. If anything was supposed to happen to me, they would surely meet dead meat! Not Gwendolyn in flesh and blood.

"We have to talk." Ashton took my wrist firmly and guided me toward the direction of his study. Then, changed course at the last hall and headed for the dimly lit hall of my study.

He threw the door ajar and ushered me in. At this juncture, my heart was palpitating in trepidation uncertain of what he would be thinking right now. What if he thought I invited my family here without informing him?

We only just reconciled from the initial mayhem I provoked and now this? Werewolves, in his Kingdom. An Alpha werewolf inclusive. Holy Goddess.

Before he could say anything, I took my stance before him and said with my hands raised, "I swear to you I didn't know they were coming."

He locked the door and started pacing about, his hands behind him. "Obviously I'm aware of that. They-they attacked me saying I had kidnapped you and forced you into matrimony."

Oh, God. That's my father.

"I'm sorry, Ash." I scurried to him, but his right hand was out to stop me. "They have to go."

"Excuse me!" I squeaked, stopping in my tracks. What does he mean by they had to go? I might not have invited them and yes, it was not right for them to come without proper notification but it's justifiable. They possibly must have been looking for me. Was it my heart, somehow trying to believe that my family missed me and had been looking for me? Are those sunken eyes of my mother from having sleepless nights worrying over me?

I might hate them for lying to me, yet, this was disrespectful.

"They have to go," Ashton blurted again as if I was deaf. "My people can't see them here. They are werewolves!"

"Well, so am I!" I was losing my shit. "Can you hear yourself?"

His eyeballs dilated in shock not agreeing that I was challenging his declaration. These are my family and I deserve if not for anything else but to have my closure with them. They deserve to be here as much as everyone else and if his people are not seeing that then what's the point of me being their Queen?

"I am your husband and you are designed to obey my bidding. We have a problem we are trying to solve and we can't add to them by bringing in bunches of..."

"Bunches of what?" I was at his face, eventually relinquishing my control. How dare he? "Do you know that those people out there in my Kingdom are high-ranking wolves? You don't dare talk to them like that. Not to mention they are my family! I love your family.

"You told me you hate them. You don't want them in your life. They lied to you."

"Let me be the judge of that. I was angry with them for lying to me, but seeing them today... I realized how much I have missed being hugged by my mother and father. I missed them so much more than I could ever imagine." A tear fell down my face. "You have to endure them being around, Ashton."

"That would be over my dead body." He was resolute.

"Then you don't want me anymore." I clamoured, my lips going in a straight line. If he was going to be a prick, then I won't stand for it.

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"What? You will choose people that lied to you all your life over your husband?"

"Not when my husband is an arrogant self-conceited prick!" I threw at his face.

He fisted his fingers, digging daggers at me. "I know where this is coming from..." He jabbed his finger at the door. "It is that dickhead, isn't it? That Julian or whatever you call him. You still love him."

I exhaled loudly and bucked back in awe. I couldn't believe he would say that. After everything we have been through he still assumed I love Julian. I thought Ashton had sense, but standing here I knew he was an insecure bastard.

That was it. That was why he saw every man that showed or used to show interest in me as a challenge. How come I didn't see it all these while? If after the many times I have proclaimed my love for him he dared to say this, then I was certain he would forever keep feeling this way.

I didn't bother fighting him further on it. I needed to spend time with my family to restore all the time I had lost and ask all the questions I could. I was not going to allow Ashton's insecure ass to hinder that.

"I have to go." I turned to go. He grabbed my forearm.

"Don't walk away from me."

"You are hurting me," I cried, flickering at the point he was holding. He quickly released his hold.

"They have to go. They are rabid animals! They don't have control, they can't be here. You are a Queen and should protect your people leaving sentiment aside."

"BE HONEST, ASHTON!" I screamed. "IS THIS ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR PEOPLE OR THE JEALOUSY IN YOU OVERRIDING YOUR COMMON SENSE?!"

When he only stared at me blankly without an answer, I huffed and stomped out of the room, leaving him to wallow in his selfishness while I wallowed in my bitterness of knowing he didn't trust me.