Chapter 15 - Her Fated.

-Aurelia-

I threw my head back in laughter, laughing at Azure's terrible joke which she had accompanied with an aggressive laughter. Sorya, was doubled over beside me laughing her heart out too, then it came…

My father's angry yell came through the mental link, ‘Aurelia Draxmere!’ Suddenly, not only me but three of us, our laughter stopped and we stood straight abruptly.

We could all hear him.

‘You come here at this moment!’ He yelled.

‘Father-’ I tried to ask what was wrong but he growled at me, I snapped my lips shut.

‘Now!’ And with that he cut the link before I could even think of what to say.

I looked at Azure and Sorya, they were staring back at me terrified, they heard too, he intended for them to.

“No need to worry, we will–”

“Huh? We?” Sorya gave me a pointed look, “There is no we, your highness, there is only you.”

I gasped in surprise, “Sorya, come on.” I tried to take my cousin's hand but she took several steps back.

“Say me well to Uncle. I don't want to see the steam oozing from his ears and nose, the goddess goes with you.” My cousin took a bow, stood dramatically on her toes and tiptoed away.

I turned to Azure who was already visibly shaking, “You leaving too?”

Azure shook her head, “Noooo, my princess.” She stammered, a small smile pulled in my face.

Azure had been assigned to me as my maiden since I could tell my right from my left and our relationship had grown behind the expected maid and princess, we were more like sisters and this came with knowing she always had my back, always.

“Let's go,” She took my hand and we turned to leave, “What did we do wrong this time?” She asked, more to herself than to me.

I shook my head, I didn't know either.

*

But as we stepped into the palace, standing before my father and mother who were adorned in their royal regalia and sitted in their thrones was Nigel, the Minister of Defence’s eldest son.

Nigel had his hand held up in bandages and slung over his neck, I didn't need to see his face to know he was badly bruised.

Oh.

I suppressed the chuckle I could feel coming up my lips.

From my side, Azure also stifled a laugh too, we both bowed to my parents.

“Apologize to Nigel.” My father said sternly, I opened my mouth to say something but I shut it back seeing my father's glare.

My mother who sat beside him had a small smile on her face and nodded at me to obey.

I turned to Nigel, “I apologize Nigel.” I said with a smirk playing on my face which only he could see, he frowned at me before he turned to my parents and bowed, they nodded at him and then left.

“Now, you,” My father pointed at me, “tell me why Nigel has an injured arm and bruised face?”

“Well, he challenged me to a fight.” I rolled my eyes, a grin covered my face, “He didn't go for his own size, he came for me, all smiles and well, that landed him in no smiles.” I burst out in laughter, Azure and my mother joined in.

But our laughter slowly died when my father frowned at me, apparently Father didn't find it funny.

“He said you attacked even before the fight started.”

I pressed my lips together.

Azure stepped forward with a bow, “Your majesty, Sir Nigel took my princess’ hand to his mouth.”

My father's frown dissolved into confusion, he turned to my mother who was also confused.

“Azure, explain more.” My mother said.

Azure nodded, “He did this,” She turned to me, took my hand and kissed the back of my hand, then looked up at me and pointed her lips towards me, drawing near.

“He kept coming closer and closer, even after I told him not to,” My face mirrored from disgust just as I did hours ago, “and his stupid friends were cheering and clapping…”

I pushed Azure's mouth away and we both chuckled.

“And you punched him and gave him an injured arm?!” My Father exclaimed in surprise.

I and Azure stopped laughing.

“You rascal! The innocent young lad was trying to show you that he likes you.”

“Ewwww.” I snickered.

My mother erupted in laughter beside my father, he tried to frown at her but as always I watched his frown slip away replaced with his smile, the very beautiful smile he always has on when I sees mother's happy face.

My mother was doubling over when he shot out his arms to prevent her from falling, not as if she was going to anyway.

I smiled…. My parent's kind of love is what I pray to the moon goddess for.

“But honey,” My mother started, “Don't you see Nigel as a qualified male for you?”

I shook my head immediately, “No. Nigel is weak. One throw and he is flying in the air.”

My father shot up his brows, “So, you want it to be you flying in the air instead?”

I rolled my eyes, “Father, I meant I need a strong male to be my fate.”

My father smiled, “And the one that will love you just like I love your mother.” He turned to her and leaned in, kissing her on both cheeks and then my mother giggled.

“Oh please. We are still here.” I drawled, Azure giggled beside me.

“Well,” My father started, he stood up from his throne, “even the strongest of males needs protecting sometimes, darling.”

He walked towards me, took my hands and pulled me to himself, “The goddess knows best, sometimes she doesn't do as we wish but she does know best.”

I wrapped my arms around him as he kissed the top of my head.

End of Flashback*

***

Tears filled my eyes but I blinked them back.

Father had said the Moon goddess knows best but right now I don't think she does. She must have been angry with the other angels and had made a mistake, fating me with that monster.

No. The goddess has played a cruel joke on me!

She has just told a very humourless joke!

Alpha King Alaric is my fated?! There is no way that's ever going to be possible.

Not the fucking monster! Not the bastard who killed my family, who destroyed my kingdom, who ruined our lives!

Never.

I clutched hard at the wet cloth I had just pulled out from the river, “The moon goddess has to be telling a joke.”

A laughless one at that, because I wasn't laughing at all.

This joke should and must turn out to be untrue just like every joke would.

There is no way I would be fated to the very male I had trained night and day to kill.

The very one that had turned out lives, my life miserable… full of pain?

No.

“Oh goddess!” Azure's excited yell fastened me out of my thoughts, I turned quickly to the cloth I was washing, I didn't want her nor Sorya to see my face now.

I don't want them finding out about this.

I fixed my expression, a smile on my face as I turned to Azure who was carrying a basket of dirty clothes with Sorya behind her, holding several empty baskets.

“We just saw a soldier and one of the palace maidens got fated!” She squealed, happily jumping around, “It was her that called to him, he couldn't smell her out because he was on military compulsory suppressants, but she called out to him.”

I stilled, “What?”

“Yes,” Sorya dropped the empty basket on the floor, “When he came closer to her and smelled her neck, his wolf responded but was very subtle.”

“He also had his fellow soldier hold her hand and oh!” Azure jumped excited, her eyes looking all dreamy, “He pushed him off! Ah!” She screamed in excitement.

Just right before my eyes, I could see Alaric hold me by my neck and then bring his nose to smell me….

Irritation grew on my skin as I widened my eyes and screamed in horror, “Ahhh!”