Chapter 5: Ashter

Until a tiny figure appears.

"Mate!"

Ashter growled. It can't be, did the moon goddess finally lift his curse?.

Ashter retreats completely defenseless. He stares deep into his mate's deep blue eyes. Eyes like ocean. He noted. He could get lost in them.

Why was she out in this dark night, in a dangerous forest where he was previously attacked. She is not safe with him. Ashter was pacing relentlessly. His mate was not safe and because of this, been a Lycan, he was on edge. Especially that she came at such an unexpected time.

Thankfully, he didn't have to choose one of those village women whom he knew nothing about.

Ashter watched as she hurriedly drop her bag, searching through it, what was she doing? What woman in her right mind saves a Lycan in the midnight. In a dangerous forest.

Was it the mate bond?. Ashter thought.

"I have never seen a warewolf this beautiful. Whoever this was. I am ready to safe h_," Ashter could listen to her thoughts. Until she met his eyes.

She keeps staring at him like she was lost in them. And he couldn't help but place his head on her laps. His mate was such a peaceful soul. She was a good person too.

"Are you a female or a male?" She asked, as she tore the hem of her gown to reduce the amount of blood gushing out of his paws. She must have been convinced about his danger.

He whimpers, shaking his head in response. He was her mate. And a male. If only she knew he was a crown prince.

She placed his large head gently on her lap. Sitting on the cold snowy leaves.

She adjusted to the way the wolf's large head balanced on her lap. Massaging the paws with her ointment, another painful whimper escapes Ashter's throat. The pain didn't hurt that much. It was a silver sword, so the cut didn't heal yet. Unlike been cut with a normal sword.

Lycans tend to react to silvers cuts. They don't heal faster.

Then she begins begin to brush it's oh! so beautiful dark fur.

It was so soothing, Ashter keeps staring at her eyes. His mate is beautiful. He noted. And she is the first woman to make him nervous. It was the mate bond. All of this was so new to him. Ashter wanted to stay in this position till the end of the world. Drowned in those ocean blue eyes.

"Was this how Warewolves succumbs to anybody's touch?.Why was he even sniffing me"? His mate surely speaks too much in her head.

His gaze directed at her neck. Like it was ready to bite them. Bite? She knew wolves bite. Why did she look suddenly flushed?. Ashter thought he had done something to her hurt her.

For centuries he had been mate less.

Therefore he was not ready to make his mate have the wrong impression about him on their first meeting.

"You are surely a male. I can sense it. But what kind of fate had befallen you? Or why are you out on your own when it's not even the full moon.?"

Ashter only keep staring at his mate. Like she was the only thing that could have ever hesitated.

Like there was no sky to stare at.

There was a sudden change in her behavior. His mate was uncomfortable to speak with him. Was he staring too much?.

"You know, the reason I am out here this late at night is not to hunt. As I had told my father. But because I had to escape. I had to runaway from this cursed prince. You see, he would be choosing his braid tomorrow and my coven had decided to drop my name as slave to him.

Aware that the crown prince was cruel. Yet they had to discard me. And my father wants to increase his wealth. So I am the perfect one. Because both our coven, my village and my father would benefit from this. "

"Wheeewz" Ashter made that sound, completely displeased. His mate was forced to marriage. Her father must have been cruel to her, to want to discard her to increase his wealth.

He was the crown prince though.

"You don't have to be sorry. It's not your fault. It's that cursed prince fault. My clan was cursed with the task of saving him you know? And my mother happened to be the most powerful witch at that time.

Even my sister lost her life in their hands.

The Mickelsons!. They are my greatest enemy. I want to avenge her death. On that night, all I could see was his green eyes as he brutally mudered Sawyer."

"Funny how you both carry the same eyes." And that was when it struck him. She was the one. The young girl from eight years ago. When the vampires wanted to overule the kingdom of Meth.

He had led the war at that time. Unfortunately, her sister was matee to the vampire. Who was his Ares own enemy. Ares had to wipe out the entire being. But he had left the young girl alive.

Ashter felt sorry for his mate.

He just met his mate and she was the one suffering because of him. Why does everyone have to suffer because of him.

"Don't you think? I could avenge my sister's death if I manage to catch the crown prince eyes. I would come into life with another intentions to the world. But deep inside, I harbour Revenge for him?"

Been a half Lycan_half wizard. He was destined to live till eternity without a mate.

But then the moon goddess decided to give him a mate. It was a mate with a heart of Revenge towards him.

Maybe if she kills him. This eternal suffering would end. Ashter thought.

Shifting uncomfortably on her laps.

"Oooh. You don't seem satisfied. But then, you do not know how much hatred I have for him.

I am going to enter that palace as his bride. I would do my best to have his attention. And I will kill him with my own hands. Lycan or not. I would utilize my powers, I do not care for the prophecy. All I want is to destroy him."

Prophecy? What prophecy?.Ashter was confused now.

"What! Just because I am telling my deepest secret, doesn't mean you get to control my feelings, you do not know anything. I am not going to wait here until my father's guards notice that I have escape. Tomorrow would be the beginning of my mission. I am heading back home."

So sudden?. He had wanted to spend as much time as he could with his mate. But she had to leave. He had to let her go. She was a witch who held so much hatred towards him.

"Why do you keep whimpering?. I am sorry, but I have to go now. I am happy that I am able to meet you. If I hadn't met you. I would have been lost in my escape, bearing the guilt of not avenging my sister's death. And that of my mother"

Ashter replies with a single nod. And shifts gently away from my lap.

His paws has relieved him.

"You see, don't you think it is fair that I atleast know your name. Since I have disclosed my deepest secret with you?".

Relieved that his mate could confined in him.

Ashter lowers his body and starts to write with his claws on the wet floor. "ASHTER" he wanted to know his name. She was his mate afterall.

"Ahhh,Ashter. Wow, you have a very beautiful name. I am amazed. I am Avalon. I hope we meet in the future, by that time it could be you to save me." Avalon. His mate had a very beautiful name too. He noted.

With hopes that she eventually comes to attend the bride selection tomorrow, Ashter then watches as she retrace her steps back into the forest, carefully walking behind her, to make sure no dangerous thing befall his mate in this forest.

Though the atmosphere was getting colder, but Ashter didn't seem to care. Her safety was what matters.!

Present day:

I was still standing in the grand hall, literally embarrassing my self. I could hear the other ladies murmuring. "She is a shame to the woman dignity. How can a woman live without a talent"? One of the ladies said, she was so full of her self. She was the one who danced the best. Prince Dorian applauded her too much.

It must have gone into her head, for her to think I am a shame to womanhood.

What do I do? "Lady, you are wasting his highness's time." The Court lady said. Pulling me out of my trance.

I glance at the set of instruments with the royal maids. Until my eyes landed on the flute.

Flute!

Sawyer thought me how to play flute. We usually play this whenever we go hunting. I would call her with my own flute if she ever wanders far in the forest.

No other choice, it would be flute.

Closing my eyes, I let the sound take me to a peaceful place, in the dense forest, it's been a while I did things that would remind me of Sawyer. I didn't want to do these kinds of things. But what other choice do I have. If I want prince Ares to pay for killing her. Then I would do anything.

Lost in my sound, I didn't notice the moment a tear slide down my cheeks.

Prince Derrick rose from his seat, along with prince Dorian. I wasn't scared. It felt like the two princes felt something.

Like there was a connection between them as they stare at the crown prince.

Was that a Lycan thing?. Waiting for his response. What is happening? Did I do something unacceptable?.I asked myself confused.

It took a little while before prince Ares said.

"You are tearing up" Prince Ares said, his voice, oh so heavenly. Why does he have to be so sinfully perfect. It was not fair.

"Like you care" I wanted to say. Or maybe I already said.

"What?" He asked. Thankfully no one else heard. It was only prince Ares that heard.

"Oh it is nothing serious your highness. I am sorry for wasting your precious time" I quickly apologize.

He is going to be the king very soon. So I must be mindful of the way I speak with him. Enemy or not. He is a royal.

"I am worried as to why you look so emotional"

Worried?. Is he really worried? No way!.

"It is not my place to make you worried your highness. I apologize for making you worried" Didn't they say he was cruel.? That he had no heart, So why then is he suddenly worried about me tearing up. I was lost in my thoughts, until I felt his fingertip under my long lashes, catching the tears forcing to drop.

"I am ready to choose my bride" he suddenly announced, retreating from me.

Did he feel pity towards me?. I hate.to be pitied.

Everyone begins to panic. The other women are busy murmuring about who the crown prince would choose as his bride. No one really expects him to choose a bride. But every woman would obviously kill to be his bride.

Prince Ares scrutinized every woman lazily as he walks back to his seat on the other side of the throne. "The girl with long ebony hair. Would be my bride" he announced.

But then several girls with long ebony hair are lined up here. Including me.

"Are you deaf?" He asks staring straight at me.

Oh so I am the one. He even noticed the color of my hair. He loos so interested in me. The same way the wolf from lasted was staring deep at me. Like he could unravel every single secrets of mine with those green eyes.

"Why is your name?" He continues staring into my deep blue eyes with his own captivating forest green eyes. I couldn't speak. I am captivated.

"Um_Avalon is my name your highness" he doesn't have to know my family name.

"Avalon. From what clan?" He would definitely ask, my name rolling out beautifully from his pink lips.

"From the Heavens clan" I didn't have to lie to him. He would be my husband soon, however knowing his bride's family name isn't a crime.

Husband? that name sounds foreign to me. Things don't even feel real. But the fact that I am able to become his bride brought happiness to my heart.

This is the beginning of my Revenge.

"Now your highness, has chosen his bride the future queen of our kingdom. The other virtues women would be his mistresses. The caravans would take you to your chambers.You may also take your personal maids along with you" The court lady said, she is dressed Ina royal blue and red gown. Both her arms situated in the front gown.

She stood chins high, without fear.

She smile warmly at me as she watched the other women walks out bowing their heads low without a word.

I stood there not knowing what to do as I felt the crown prince burning gaze on me. Could he stop looking at me?. I am sure I am not the only one in these hall.

The others must have felt the uncomfortable heat between us, because prince Derrick walks towards me to introduce himself. "You are welcome to the palace. I hope you can handle your soon to be husband's attitude. Some says he is a hardcore nut job." He said, his eyes full of secrecy. Like he was not allowed to unravel such great secret.

Prince Derrick definitely is another devil to deal with in this palace. I hope I am able to survive.

I thought as I responded with slight a bow. "Thank you. I look forward to that". He didn't say anything prince Derrick walks away, because prince Dorian shoo him away. This young prince has an effeminate feature. And acts all childish.

Because he is the only one who had smile at me all these while. Others are too dangerous.

He was otherwise cheerful. I am definitely going to be friends with him. Who knows, he could serve as the weapon against his own brother.

Prince Derrick didn't look like a good person either. He is definitely on bad terms with prince Ares.

So he is off zone. I am never forming alliances with my enemy's enemy.

Better to form alliances with the friends of my enemy.

Because I have come to learn that, been betrayed by a friend hurts than been betrayed by ones enemy.

Prince Ares Mickelson, I would ensure that your loved ones stab you in the back.

"How do you play so good?. I am amazed as to how my brother is easily bewitched. Oh, your beauty could have swayed him for one. But not only your beauty, I am sure his highness was charmed by your talent. You know at first, I thought you had no talent. Every women was warned before hand that the crown prince takes a huge liking in women's talent. Perks of been the lovely son of an overly talented mother"

Prince Dorian rushed out from behind me. I didn't know which one to answer with. Prince Dorian is definitely a charter box. Unlike the crown prince.

He is a man of few words.

"Um...I think your choice of words are too wild. You highness". I answer. But before prince Dorian could speak, he was cut off by the large arms that captured my wrist.

I could feel the strange feelings in my belly again. Those feelings are alluring. I had felt them last night when I was with the wolf.

Like I wanted those arms on mine forever.

It was prince Ares. He glared at prince Dorian angrily as he quickly got the message and creates enough distance between us.

"I am just welcoming your bride brother. Your highness, nothing intimate" his hands up in surrender as he walks away.

"You're coming with me".he only said, draging me along with him out of the grand hall.

He keeps draging me towards a very large and beautiful castle. It was painted white. This place gave gave off dark energy.

I could feel it in my core. Been a witch that could never utilize her powers, I was never thought how to identify what kind of energy I feel in my surroundings. So this kind of energy I don't know what it was. So I just kept quiet.

Ares then halt when we got to a room. Closing the door behind him. I was suddenly cornered on the wall. Prince Ares stare deep into my eyes.

He was so close. Too close I forgot to breath. "You do not go around allowing people touch you however they want to. I am going to be your husband. Hence, you are mine and mine alone." Ares declared.

What is going on?. Why Isnhe been so over protective.?

"What's up with this beautiful nut job?'

His eyes was still glazing deep into mine as he released a loud chuckle.

No way! Did I just say that out loud?.