Mated to the Alpha King (A Royal’s Tale Book 1)

“Theia! Theia, get up. I’m going to school!”

What the hell!

I swatted away the hands that were shaking me vigorously before moving up into a sitting position, my eyes still squinted and trying to make something of all the light that I was suddenly being bombarded with.

“Turn off the bloody lights, please,” I moaned, making a covering of my palm and placing it just above my eyebrows, trying to shield myself from the light.

“Theia, I can’t do that! That’s the sun! I’m going to school, where Bryce will probably be! Want to wish your best friend all the best or something in going to the wolf’s turf?”

My eyes immediately shot open, and I jumped backwards. “Don’t do it!”

“She must go to school, Theia.”

I turned to face Judy, her lips pulled up in a bright, comforting smile.

“I need to shut down suspicions of you being with me, Thi. By being present at school, I will strengthen the notion that I was indeed sick yesterday and not with you.”

I sighed and nodded, staring at both of the women, as one sent me a soft smile before walking out of the room, and the other picked up her backpack and padded to the door.

“Be safe. Do not turn on your cellphone, or they will locate you. I hope your GPS isn’t turned on.”

“Don’t worry—it isn’t. Thank you, Ley. This means so much to me. You know that, don’t you?”

She nodded and smiled at me sadly. “After what you went through, you deserve a bit of a break.”

I smiled and moved back into bed once she closed the door behind her. I had barely been able to sleep at all last night, and now that sleep was visiting me again, I really wasn’t going to let it just go.

***

“Theia, it’s for you.”

I turned from my math assignment to Mrs. Smith and glanced at the cellphone she was extending towards me.

“Marley?” I asked her softly.

She smiled and nodded sadly. I gulped down the sudden bile that had just invaded my mouth. This was nerve-wracking.

As quickly as I could, I took the phone from Mrs. Smith and placed it against my ear.

“Hello?”

“Theia! Bryce is going crazy!” Marley whispered, sounding a mixture of panicked and excited.

My heart beat faster.

“W-what?”

“Yes! He’s going crazy! He just walked into class today, then glared at me for a good minute before storming out!”

My eyes widened, and I gulped nervously again.

“He knows,” I whispered, my heart beating at a rate I hadn’t thought was possible.

“Nah. It’s nearly 1. We didn’t have art class today. He would have been there had he known. That happened in the morning. Matthew says that he didn’t leave your room at all last night, that he patrolled your yard. Keith’s worried he is going to hurt someone, or worse, himself and Rome. Yeah . . . It’s better not to even mention him. He is that bad.” Marley giggled. The excitement in her voice seeped through the cellphone and towards me, but I just shook my head. The ache in my heart seemed worse than it had been yesterday.

“I just don’t want him to get hurt or hurt anyone because of me, Ley. I don’t know why he can’t just go to that woman he was so lovey-dovey over. I’m gone now, aren’t I? He’s free now, isn’t he? Why is he being so selfish!”

A tear slipped down my cheek and onto the page of my book as I waited for Marley to reply. But then my breath hitched in my throat when I heard him.

“Who are you talking to?”

I froze. His voice sounded like home. But I thought back to how he had behaved yesterday and that . . . It made me cry even more.

“My mother! Who are you, Private Calls Minister?”

A low growl was emitted from somewhere around Marley. “Why do I have a feeling you’re lying, Marley?”

“Why would I be lying! You’re the one who hurt Theia so much that she had to get away! Don’t make this my fault somehow! It’s obvious it was you who did something wrong! She’s gone! You won’t get her back! Now go sulk over what an amazing girl you have lost!”

I flinched when a sound like a fist hitting a wall reached my ears. What was going on there?

“You will learn to respect your king!”

I heard Marley scoff. “You’re no king of mine; I haven’t mated with Keith. And you can’t demand me to respect you when you least deserve it! Good day, ‘king’!” Marley had sneered before sounds of footfalls rang.

I held my breath as I waited for her to start speaking again.

“That cheating scumbag pisses me off so bad! I’m going to the last class, then I’ll meet you at home, okay?”

Still numb over what had just happened, I nodded, then realized that she couldn’t see me. Sighing, I muttered back a weak reply: “Okay, I’ll see you here.”

“What was it?” Mrs. Smith asked when she saw the look on my face.

I looked at her, my eyes wide with fear. I didn’t want to see Bryce so soon; I just didn’t.

“I think he knows,” I whispered. “I think he knows, and Marley told him off. I heard.”

A proud look produced itself on Mrs. Smith’s face, and she grinned down at me as I handed her cellphone back to her, murmuring a soft “Thank you.”

“I’m glad she did. I was hoping for it too. Hopefully I can give him a piece of my mind too!”

“He’s—”

“Dangerous?” Mrs. Smith asked, her lips pulled up in a smirk. “Oh, honey, so is a woman scorned!”

I smiled. I supposed she was right . . .

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

***

“Oh my God!” Marley exclaimed as soon as she set foot in the house. Her excited eyes found mine, and she immediately laughed as she rushed to me.

“Oh my God, you won’t believe what happened!”

I stared at her, a tiny smile of my own forming because of her bright one. “What happened?”

“Alex finally dumped Diandra!”

My mouth hung open. “What! Why?”

Marley slightly grimaced at that. “Well . . . she finally gave in to pressure. She had your scent all over her yesterday, but she supposedly refused to say if she had seen you. But today, after Bryce had directly questioned her in front of all of us, she finally gave in and started to giggle over how pathetic you looked when she collided with you, all red-eyed, crying like crazy, blotchy-faced—looking like your true ugly self.”

I grimaced and slumped in my seat.

Ley caught my expression and moved towards me, engulfing me in a hug. “Hey, that’s what she said! It’s not true at all! She also said that she was happy that you looked so broken and lost, it made her weak, that, that’s what you get for trying to steal her boyfriend. So Alex ripped the locket she had given him and handed it over to her, said that just because his mate had died, it didn’t mean that he would ruin his life tolerating what a bitch she is! He stormed out—but not before looking at Bryce straight in the eye and saying, ‘I hope you know how lucky you were to get her.’ You should have seen Bryce. He looked completely broken. I kind of felt bad for him.”

I couldn’t do anything but stare at her while she recited the whole thing. The inevitable, warm sense of sadness and appreciation for Alex for speaking up for me like that creeped into me, and I promised myself to thank him on a later date.

Marley reached forward and wiped away a loose tear that I didn’t even know had fallen.

“It’s okay; don’t cry. It’ll be fine, okay?”

I nodded and moved closer to give her a small hug.

“Do you have enough clothes?”

“Why?” I asked, suddenly curious.

“Mrs. Anderson called today. She suggested you stay here a couple of days, until everything is settled a bit. Your dad is thinking of sending you back to California.”

I looked down at my palms.

Did I have to run away like this—without facing him? Was it right to just leave without even hearing his side of the story?

What side? The side where he made you feel so awkward, then flirted with someone else in front of you? He doesn’t respect you. Surely to have a mate in one’s life is a necessity, but to love them a choice . . . No. I shook my head. I was in over it.

I was not going to go back without facing him. I would not tolerate him being with someone else but still wanting to have me for himself. I would leave but not without giving him a proper goodbye. I would leave but on my terms.

Right now, though, I needed to keep my distance. I needed to sort this out. I needed to plan everything.

I looked up at Marley and nodded. “I have enough clothing and enough cash to buy more. I think Dad’s right. I’m not going to tolerate being a third wheel. I will leave but not for California—well, maybe until after school.

She looked at me sadly. “I understand. I don’t want you to go, but I know you have to. I understand.”

I smiled at her softly and closed my file. Grabbing onto my stuff with one hand, I grasped her arm with the other.

“Let’s go watch that Notebook movie again. I’m ready to face the hotness known as Ryan Gosling. I promise I will pay attention tonight,” I chirped, giggling slightly, as I pulled her upstairs.

It had been completely unfair of me to push my burden onto my best friend. The least I could do was try not to become a zombie, like I felt I was, and instead do some girly things with her.

Yes, I suppose it was time to start collecting memories. Maybe I should collect pictures?

***

Shit—I felt like shit.

I was sure my top was wet from all the tears I had cried throughout the two hours and six minutes plus the time I’d then spent thinking about it.

“Pass me some more tissues, please,” I sobbed, not even trying to hold it in anymore because Marley was as bad as I was, if not worse.

“Oh God, I forgot how bad that movie was! It stabbed me in my heart, Thi!” Marley hiccuped as she passed me the tissue box and, after taking out some for herself, proceeded to wipe off her freshly fallen tears.

“It’s safe to say I’m never watching it again. But, Ley . . . that’s how love is supposed to be. I wish . . .” I couldn’t continue because I’d fallen into another fit of sobs.

“Okay, get up!” Marley suddenly ordered as she herself got up from her position on the floor and extended her arms towards me.

“We’re dancing to the first K-pop song that’s going to come on MTV Asia,” she declared determinedly, pulling me up on my feet and switching the TV on again, only this time we were tuning in to MTV Asia.

“Ohhh myyy God, Ley, staaahp!” I squealed, laughing, as she suddenly started twirling me around when “Fantastic Baby” by Big Bang came on.

By the end of the song, we were both panting from dancing like we were professional hip-hop dancers and completely mucking around her room. I laid on the floor, trying to catch my breath, as Marley crawled towards me.

“You should go shower, woman; you stink.” She giggled as she fell flat on her back beside me before positioning herself just as I had positioned myself: with my arms and legs wide apart, like a star.

I rolled my eyes but also giggled when I replied, “Talking to yourself, Ley?”

Ley only laughed more.

A smile seemed to have permanently etched itself on my lips as I got up to sit on the floor. I looked at Ley. “I think you’re right, man; I do smell.”

“Make a move then, soldier!” Marley mockingly saluted me, still lying on the floor, on her back. That only made us fall into another fit of laughter.

***

After pulling my cotton shorts over my underwear, I slipped on a white cotton tank. My gaze found my reflection in the mirror, and I stopped briefly—my brown eyes large and red-rimmed, my cheeks flushed, and my nose, lips, and chin a very rosy shade. I sighed.

That movie did a good number on me, I thought, shaking my head, as I ran a comb through my hair.

That Bryce did a good number on you, too, Theia.

I stiffened but ignored the small voice in the back of my head. It wasn’t helping.

Putting the hairbrush down on the vanity, my gaze landed on the clear door to the balcony. I smiled as I thought of fresh air and the smell of wet soil. It felt like rain was approaching.

Maybe a tiny stroll outside on the balcony would do me good?

I moved towards the door. Still smiling, I slid it open and stepped out to rest my palms against the railing. It was a dark night, I suppose because of the impending rain. Thankfully, though, the night also seemed quiet enough that I could close my eyes and take a few breaths in peace.

My breath hitched as a memory bubbled up, and Bryce’s face popped up. His hand was on mine, holding me to the swing—the first time we met.

Desperate to get that image away, I immediately snapped my eyes open. A single drop of tear slid down my cheek almost instantly.

“Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead,” I whispered but laughed midway through as a few more tears made their way down. I was being ridiculous, standing there singing a line from Adele’s song—utterly ridiculous.

I closed my eyes and took one last breath of the night air, the smell of wet soil and the woods with it, and turned back to the door.

Wait.

I froze, then spun around, searching the woods’ clearings.

I thought I’d seen . . . I shook my head but stopped again when two bright yellow orbs glowered at me from the darkness.

I stood frozen as the ominous orbs moved closer. Another tear slipped down my cheek.

Don’t cry, dammit! Don’t cry!

They moved closer, and I almost held my breath as I realized that I was actually shaking with fright.

Not now . . .

Please, not now! I’m not ready!

The two yellow orbs came closer yet, then became three, then four, then a dozen.

I almost fainted from relief—fireflies.

A small smile split up my face just as a gust of chilly wind hit my cheeks, sending my free hair into disarray. Still smiling, I quickly tucked my hair behind my ears and turned around to stride into the room, sliding the door shut behind me.

“What were you, smoking?” Ley asked as I padded towards her, my hands closed, safely holding a few fireflies that I had managed to catch as I was coming in.

“Here,” I giggled, standing in front of her, and opened my palms slowly, three fireflies carefully settled on my fingers.

Marley’s eyes widened as she watched the tiny torches moving around my palm, and she almost brought her hand to mine, but a huge loud crash sounded from the balcony door. The fireflies, scared, fled.

Marley let out a loud scream as she looked towards the door. I stared at her, wide-eyed, scared to look back, as her gaze snapped between me and what was behind me.

“Come here, Theia!”

I froze instantly, my eyes widening further. Chills ran down my spine.

It was Bryce.

“You know I would give everything to keep you with me, don’t you, love?”

“N-no,” I stuttered. I needed to get my courage. I needed to face him. I was not going to be a third wheel!

I flinched as Bryce growled loudly, and the sound of glass breaking reached my ears again. I turned quickly on impulse—this needed to stop—but stilled when I caught sight of him.

Gone was my Bryce; this was his beast, his lycan. He stood just outside the balcony door, shattered glass surrounding the once-secure door. He bared his canines for me to watch as he moved forward slightly, his hairy dark arms outstretched as if ready to receive me into a hug, his only recently bleeding fists now healing.

I heard Marley whimper behind me as I unconsciously took a step towards Bryce. I gasped when I realized what I was about to do and stopped myself.

Shit.

“Move back,” Marley whispered, and I nodded, taking a step back. But the distance didn’t last long because, before I knew it, Bryce had stormed over to me and flung me over his shoulder, his dark fur brushing against my skin.

“Bryce, let me go!” I almost screamed, landing a few punches on his back. He only growled louder as he proceeded back towards the balcony door.

I lifted myself up a little and looked at the startled, scared Smith family as they all looked at me with tears in their eyes.

Marley wiped a tear away and mouthed an “I’m sorry.”

I only shook my head and sent back a “No, I’m sorry.”

As Bryce brushed past the broken door, shards dug into his bulky form, and red immediately followed his trail. I hesitantly reached out to touch the wound, but then Bryce continued towards the railing, the night air hitting the bare skin of my legs and arms. I shivered.

“Bryce! Let go! I don’t want to go with you!” I smacked his back again, harder this time.

“Shut up if you want everyone around us to survive, Theia, or I swear to God, I will slaughter each and every one of them!”

I held my breath as Bryce climbed on the railing and, with me still in his arms, jumped into the night, off of the balcony.