Chapter 3 3

Aaron

I lived for meetings and planning war. I was the mad king after all. The mad Alpha whose languages are war and destruction and I was bloody fluent in them. Not until tonight. I couldn't go through a single meeting without thinking about her. My wife.

Never had I seen a creature so beautiful. She was such a frail little thing I feared I'd break her if I held her too close but what was more maddening was I wanted to hold her. The way she looked at me back at the castle with those big diamond eyes. She wasn't disgusted like other people were when they looked at my scarred face. Rather she was intrigued. Probably curious as to how I got them and why I did.

I gritted my teeth as I remembered how I was forced to keep her from panicking earlier. It was never my intention to hit her but it was the only way to keep her from screaming. What had frightened her in the WhiteMoon pack that she wanted me to kill her? I'd killed the Alpha and that bitch he called a wife so I wouldn't know who did.

I pushed back my seat, eliciting questioning looks from everyone at the table including my beta, Caesar.

“Is something wrong, Alpha?” he asked with concern.

“Carry on without me.” I said, grabbing my cloak.

“Sir?” he asked, confused. “Where are you going?”

“To my wife.” I answered then slammed the door behind me.

The carriage ride was the fastest I'd ever ridden. I'd never been this impatient in my life or felt this crazy need to see someone before. I needed to see my wife!

The maid at the entrance was ready to take my coat but I brushed past her and demanded in a growl. “Where is she?”

Understanding whom I spoke of, she bowed her head. “In the dining hall with Madam Clarisse.”

I stomped up the stairs to the dining hall, then I pushed the door open. A sound made me freeze.

It was my wife. She was smiling.

When her eyes landed on mine, she rose to her feet and stared at me with those eyes. Goddamit, those eyes would be the end of me.

I turned to Clarisse and asked. “Has she been fed?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Clarisse nodded. She ran her eyes to my disheveled appearance and I could see the knit in her brows. She was pissed but I cared less about that.

I reached for my wife and pulled her to my side. The oversized woolcap over her head covered her eyes. She'd never looked more adorable and I'd never been so close to taking her there and then.

“But your majesty, won't you have your bath?—”

“Leave me be. I'll stay with my wife.” I pulled her out of the room.

My steps were too fast for her and she was lagging behind. My impatience grew and I scooped her into my arm. She weighed next to nothing. We will have to fix that.

She went stiff in my arms but she didn't run or hit me either. She just stared at me like I was some exotic creature in the woods.

“Can you stop looking at me like that wife?” I asked when I reached our room.

I expected her to look away but she didn't. Instead, she surprised me by asking me a question. “What is a wife?”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“What is a wife?” She repeated when I kept her down on the bed.

I stared at the woman wearing my shirt and fur coat and nearly laughed. She was kidding, right?

She tilted her head. “What's funny?”

I grinned and leaned forward. “What's funny is you asking me what that is.”

“But I don't know what it is, Majesty.” She said.

I smiled. “You really want to know?”

She nodded enthusiastically. This woman would be the death of me.

I pressed my hands on either side of her and leaned forward. “A wife…” I picked up the wool hat and threw it away. “is the woman who belongs to me.”

“Belongs to you?” Her breath hitched when I ran my nose along her jawline.

“Yes.” I inhaled her sweet scent of Lavender and Wildberries and gripped the sheets. Fuck.

“I belong to you?” she whispered softly.

“Yes, you do.” I traced soft kisses on her neck. “You belong to me, Odette.”

A soft moan escaped her when I bit her neck. “Your Majesty…”

“Aaron… My name is Aaron.” I pushed down the sleeve of her shirt and kissed her there.

“Aaron…” she clawed her fingers on my neck.

The sound of my name on her lips does something to me and I growl. Fuck. It was happening again.

I peeled myself off her with a force that left her gasping.

Odette peeked at me with curious eyes. “Aaron… are you okay?”

“Get out!” I yelled at her in a sickening unsteady voice.

She sat there, blinking. Why won't she run? Why won't she see that I'm trying to not hurt her?!

“Odette, run!” I screamed at her.

Her eyes dropped to my face but I looked away immediately. She shouldn't look at me.

I turned over my shoulder and banged the door.

“Aaron!” Odette screamed behind me but I ignored her.

“Get her out!” I smacked the wall, letting it tremble under my fist.

The guards burst through the doors and grabbed her.

“Your Highness, come with us!” They said with fear in their voice. They're always scared of me when this happens.

“No…” Odette's voice shook but not from fear. “Aaron… what is going on?”

Her voice echoed behind the doors as she was pulled away from me.

I let my wolf take over and scream as my bones snapped in and out of place.

A loud, painful growl left my lips and the stench of metallic blood enveloped my senses. The pain leaves me faster than I could blink and instantly, I don't know who I am or where I am.

All I know is I ran straight to the woods to draw blood.

A few hours after quenching my thirst for blood and rage, I return to my senses. I blink as I make out my surroundings. Where the fuck am I?

I looked up at the sky. It was still dark. It's not morning yet but how is that possible? The curse usually takes over my body for 24 hours but it's less than that or am I wrong?

While I pondered what the fuck was happening, I felt a presence behind me and reached out a hand.

Caesar placed a cloak in my hand and bowed. “Your Majesty, you're… human again.”

“You sound surprised.” I put the cloak around my shoulder.

“That's because I am,” he said. “The curse usually lasts for 24 hours. It's only been 30 minutes.”

I blinked. “30 minutes? But how…”

“I'm not sure how but whatever happened, I'm glad the curse didn't last that long.” He said, lifting his eyes to me.

“And why is that?” I asked with an edge in my voice.

“Your father is here.” He said, then corrected himself. “Your family is here.”

If father is here that means…

“Odette!” I turned on my heels and ran.

Father better not lay a fucking finger on her.

Caesar caught up with me. “I assure you that she's safe, Your Majesty but it'd be more appropriate if you look decent first.”

I paused then hissed. “Fine.”

After getting dressed in my secret cabin, I hurried to the castle. The Blackwood's royal carriage was here. Dammit! Father was truly here.

I pushed the door to the dining hall and entered.

All eyes turned to me but I ignored them. I searched for familiar diamond eyes and relief washed through me as I found her.

Odette. She was here.

“Ah, the prodigal son is finally here,” Adam, my elder brother, smiled at me. I saw where he was sitting and rage tore through me.

The fact that he was sitting next to my mate made me want to punch his face so badly.

“Where are your manners, Aaron?” Father arched his brow. “Won't you welcome your own family?”

The same family who rejected me the second they heard I was cursed? I don't think so.

I ignored him and walked to where Odette sat but I didn't get the chance to reach for her when he snaked his arm around her shoulder.

“Easy there, brother. Why the rush? Take a seat.”

I swallowed the retort about to escape my lips and sat down.

Then father looked at me. “I heard this woman is your wife and came to see her.”

“We came to see her.” Adam added with a grin, then he turned to Odette and asked. “Are you aware that you're not Aaron's only wife?”