Lycan King's Nemesis

GWEN??

"I can manage on my own, Tyler," I waved him off with a slight smile, hoping he would heed to my plea and leave. From the black bags under his eyes and the manner his collar bones were sticking out, I could deduce he hasn't been having a proper sleep. Possibly because of the games.

"I can't leave you here, you know that," He grumbled, and pushed my wheelchair further into the temple yard. I didn't know if to be grateful to him for being here with me, for being the kind of friend I needed right now or to be irritated by his peskiness. I requested him to bring me with the idea that he would leave once we reached the gate.

Tyler wasn't a fan of temples. According to him, he said he stopped believing in the goddess after she allowed his former pack people to humiliate and exile him. I might not have grown up with Tyler, however, these past weeks we have spent together as friends have given me a beamlight into his history and the kind of man he was.

"Tyler, you know what will happen if Ashton sees us together." I tried another trick. "Let's not make him suspect our lie." I needed him to leave, I needed to be by myself. I might not see his face from this angle, but I knew he was gritting his teeth now.

You see, Tyler had been adamant after I tried to beg him to play along in the lies we fed Ashton. He insisted he didn't want to be involved in telling an untruth to his King which if found out might lead him to trouble. I know that, and I also know that I will do everything in my power to protect him from Ashton if the need arose.

"You of all people know I hate this role I'm playing, your highness."

"Gwen, Tyler." I corrected him for the umpteenth time. "I will soon be forced to join Ashton and call you the rogue if you don't..." I faltered, my head wrapping around what I just uttered. "Fuck, I'm sorry, Ty, I'm not supposed to say that." I placed my hand on his right hand in the wheelchair. "That was a silly joke."

"It's fine, it's not like it's not true." He stopped in front of the temple. "I am a rogue and will always be no matter where I go to. No matter what position I am placed in, it is an identity that can never elude me."

I couldn't take seeing him so sad. I sat up instantly, coming around to stand in front of him and take his cheeks in my hands. His eyes widened, flickering between the dumped chair and me. I didn't let him say what was on his mind. "I didn't mean to say that, Ty. And you are not a rogue to me. Besides, what am I?" There was a tinge of sadness in my tone. "I am also a rogue, Ty. So, do you think one rogue has the right to address another by that title?" He chuckled dryly. "You are the Queen. You are one of them now."

"Yet... my mate despises me."

"He's a fool."

The first thing I did was to break down in laughter. Normally one could be beheaded for addressing the King like that. However, here I was finding it funny that my friend was calling my mate a fool.

"I have to go into the temple now, Ty." I parted his right shoulder and gently swerved about. "If you ask me I will say you should join me. You might never know why the goddess brought you here." He snorted. "Thanks, I pass."

The small smile on my face remained until I was inside the temple, proceeding to my familiar spot to knee. Immediately, like rushing waters, memories from the other day came back to me. The day Merit humiliated me, leading to my fractured spinal cord; the reason why I will be using the wheelchair until I have fully recovered.

When the doctor came that evening, he informed me of the blood samples he collected initially to further expand his knowledge of my reproductive state. It turned out my blood was altered, which was why my body couldn't harbour another being for now. He asked me if I have shifted yet and when I negated, he was of the opinion that until I shift, he can't ascertain the true cause of my altered blood and even I might not be able to conceive.

Recalling it now, made my heart pound. It's three months gone already and despite not asking me, I know Ashton would be worried. The people are distracted by the games for now, what happens after it. In the next five months, a year, two years... How long would the doctor take before he spilt my secret to Ashton of my inability to bear him an heir?

I had made him swear not to tell anyone, leaving only me, him and Abby the only people with this secret, but I am so afraid. Why does my blood have to be mixed? Why do all the bad things keep happening to me? Why can't I shift? What if I am human? And if I am, are human blood altered?

"Goddess, even if my head went on swimming with questions from now till tomorrow, only you have the best answer. Please, help me." I lay there, tiny droplets of tears gliding from the side of my eyes. I don't care who saw me like this, all I need is help from the Queen goddess.

"Are you okay?" Tyler asked me when I came out. I nodded, contemplating if to tell him or not, then resolved not to.

"You know you can always tell me if anything bothers you." He prodded with his eyes fixed at me.

Though it pained me that I was hiding this from him knowing he meant well, nonetheless, the less number of people that knew, the better. "Where are you taking Abby?" I asked, to digress.

He buckled the clasp to secure my feet to the wheel and stirred it about facing the direction of the palace. "I'm still not comfortable with this whole arrangement, your_Gwen."

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"I know, Ty. Please, consider this the best thing you could ever do for me. We will sort this out with time."

"But when?"

"Soon. I promise." I feel so bad in making him do this. Does this make me truly manipulative? "How is your lady love?"

"She's not that fine... for now." I snapped my eyes to him. "What happened to her?"

He shrugged, not meeting my eyes. "Nothing much. Don't worry about her."

I was still worried, albeit I didn't push it. If he wanted to tell me, he would. He doesn't hide much from me. "I can chaperone if you want..." "That would be better. I wouldn't want to be left alone with her."

"I don't mind at all, after all, it would give me something to do away from the palace. I'm sick of seeing the dry four walls of my chambers." "What about the King?"

"I don't know... I haven't seen him in three days." My tone was tragic. "Probably with his mistress."

He hummed. "Merit has been suspended as the chief female Delta for now, plus we also forbade her from coming to the watchmen guide."

My ears jerked, liking the news. I haven't seen her since three days ago, not like I have shown my face where I could see her. I intentionally avoided any place that would bring us together, as well as anyone in this Kingdom. For now. I don't think I am brave enough to face them after that major flop.

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"You know you were amazing that day," He said as if reading my mind. He stopped at the palace front, coming in front of me with his hands in his jacket pockets. The wind blew his hair in different directions and somehow the sunlight made his Obsidian look bluish now. "Everyone was proud of you."

"You are only trying to appease me."

"You are not going to remain indoors forever. Resume your training. It would help your reflexes."

"I will think about it, Ty." I propelled my wheelchair forward, striving to escape sooner. "We will be there by five."

"I will come pick you up."

I stopped, twisting my neck. "Seriously? You too?"

"You are still my Queen."

I blushed. When he said it like that, it had multiple connotations. I nodded, not wasting more time wheeling away.

Thank goddess the over-jovial butler wasn't there, so at the foot of the stairs, I unshackled my legs from the wheelchair and stood up. I managed to take the first step when like a wind, Merit emerged from the left-hand corner of the foyer, halting when she saw me.

"And who do we have here?"

...