The Lycan King's Fate Calling (Shawn Gibson and Sylvia)

Laura's POV:

I froze, stunned by my son's words. Only then did I realize that Arron's face was no longer bandaged up. What was more, Rufus had carried the boy all the way here.

My son was no fool. He must have already had his suspicions the moment he saw Arron's face.

This was all my fault. I had been too caught up with my worries that I forgot about the bandage on Arron's face.

I had no way of knowing when Rufus had first seen Arron's face, or if Crystal was aware of it. If she had given him some sort of explanation, then I must tell the same story, or we would be exposed.

As I mused over this, I also realized that I had been too intimate with Arron just now. Anyone with eyes would have recognized that we had a special connection, let alone my cunning son.

"Is something the matter, Mom? You don't look well." Rufus fixed me with a worried look, as if he didn't care about the answer to his question at all. He painted the picture of a good and dutiful son. My mind was in a mess. I didn't want to lie to Rufus now that things had come to this, but at the same time, I refused to let him suffer the curse again.

"I'm fine. I'm just having a headache. Remember the ointment you gave me last time? It worked wonders. Do you have any more of it?"

I made a show of rubbing my temples and tried to change the topic again, but Rufus was not easy to fool.

"Yes, I'll have one of the servants to take some to your room later. Let's go back to the question at hand. Arron looks so much like me. Is he my halfbrother or what?" Rufus said this last part in a joking tone.

I was so offended that I almost lunged at him to smack him in his head. How could he say such a thing? "What nonsense are you spouting? Aren't you scared that your father would roll in his grave and come out to haunt you tonight?"

"Don't be mad, Mom. I was just

kidding. It's because Arron looks a

lot like me. He can't possibly be mine, right? I don't remember having any relations with a she-wolf. Besides, Crystal..." Rufus paused

then, and gave me a sharp d

meaningful look. "Unless, of course,

there is something you're not telling

me."

I averted my eyes in a panic. "Are you saying that I'm keeping something from you? Preposterous! You are the king. You can easily find out whatever it is you want to know. Why would I bother hiding anything from you? I would only be wasting my time, don't you agree?"

"That's right," Rufus said with a small smile. "I am the king. I just need to dispatch my men to look into the matter, and I'll know everything I need to know."

I swallowed a lump in my throat as a keen sense of foreboding washed over me. After racking my brains for a while, I ventured, "You know, there are a lot of random people who look alike. Some are even on opposite sides of the world. Arron is just a kid. His looks will change over time. He might look like you now, but I'm sure it would change once he grows up. This is just a funny coincidence, nothing more."

"His eyes, his mouth, his hair... Even his dimples are an exact mirror of mine. Are you sure it's just a coincidence, Mom? Contrary to what you think, I believe he will only look more and more like me as he grows older." My son raised an eyebrow at me, obviously not believing the paltry explanation I had offered.

I stared at him, much like a deer caught in headlights, I presumed. I didn't know what else to say at this point.

"If I'm not mistaken," Rufus continued with a pointed glint in his eye, "you've known Crystal for a long time now. Of course, that applies to Arron and Beryl, too."

He paused before adding, "Moreover, your longstanding wish to have grandchildren has already come true."

My breath grew shallow. I didn't have a way out of this. Rufus had practically figured everything out. If

I tried to deflect again, it might only make matters worse.

I had no other recourse. I groaned and dropped to the floor, pretending to faint.