Chapter 001

Esmeralda POV

“Hey baby. You look stressed, what’s the issue?” I asked Thorne as he entered our room, he wasn’t smiling at all.

“Hey, I didn’t see you there. Shouldn’t you be with the women right now?” He asked me instead, staring at me with a little bit of unhappiness on his face. He doesn’t even look like he’s happy to see me at all. I frowned a bit at that, putting aside that thought.

“I came back early because I wasn’t feeling well. What’s wrong with you though? Did something happen?” I asked him again.

“Nothing much, I’m just stressed out. But what did you do that made you not feel well? I bet you all were just talking and all. What happens when you finally become queen then?” He asked me.

My heart dipped a bit. For some reason, the words made me a little bit hurt. It was almost like he was invalidating my feelings.

“I want to be left alone for the rest of tonight please, just stay out of my way.” He added, making me even more confused.

Thorne never talked to me that way, he had never told me to leave him alone before.

What exactly is going on with him? I didn’t miss the look on his face as he walked away.

Was that disgust?

I could have sworn that was what I saw on his face.

But that’s not possible.

It’s just not possible that he’s disgusted by me, it doesn’t make any sense to me at all. I badly want to believe that it’s my brain playing pranks on me. Maybe it’s because I’m not feeling well.

Thorne has been the most romantic man I’ve ever seen and met. We met years ago, and I was over the moon when I met him. I've been longing to meet my mate since.

I fell in love with him since the first day I saw him, he was everything I wanted in a mate and more.

And although he’s the heir of the werewolf King.

I pictured our future together and I just really want nothing more than to get mated with him already. The mating and coronation ceremony is tomorrow and he hadn’t failed to tell me how much he looks forward to that.

I really expected him to be all smiles when he got home today but the attitude I got wasn’t expected at all.

He was so happy with me before leaving, what happened then?

“Thorne, what’s the issue?” I asked as I walked over to the room.

I tried to open the door, only to see that it was locked from behind.

He really doesn’t want to see me?

“Look for something to do, Esmeralda. I’m not in the mood for you at the moment” He shouted from inside. That hollow feeling came again, I felt really hurt by his words.

Just as I turned around, I heard the door to the right swing open. I walked towards it, wondering who came in without knocking. I got into the living room to see Aria, Thorne’s childhood friend and my biggest hater.

She only spared me a glance, about to walk past me when I dragged her back.

“Excuse you? You don’t barge into someone’s-”

“I asked her to come, Esmeralda. She’s here to see me.” Thorne’s voice came on, cutting me off.

“You heard that, bitch. Now get out of my way.” She slightly pushed me aside and walked past me. I was really stunned by her choice of word, and Thorne heard it clearly too but he didn’t say anything about it.

Before I could say anything else, I felt bile rush up my throat and I ran towards the toilet. I dumped everything in my stomach into the sink as a very sick feeling washed over me.

I rested my back against the wall as I tried to catch my breath. I felt really dizzy, my head light too. Thorne should have felt it already that I wasn’t feeling well, but he didn’t run through the doors to come to me.

My eyes suddenly traveled to the pregnancy strip on the table. I had gotten one from the clinic earlier today. I slowly picked it up, nervousness eating at me.

The fact that Thorne called for his female best friend while he asked me to leave him alone and they’re in the same room right now didn’t even freak me like the test.

I waited patiently in the restroom as I waited for the result. I don’t even know the result I hope for. How will Thorne react?

My heart missed a beat as soon as I saw the two pink lines on the strip.

Maybe… just maybe this news will make Thorne happy.

~~~

Today was the day I become the Queen of the werwolf kingdom and also mate with Thorne rightfully. My makeup and hair has been done perfectly already, I could barely even recognize myself at the point.

“I’ll go and grab the gown now.” My stylist said, referring to the regal gown that I’m meant to put on. It’s the gown that has been passed down from generations to generations and now I’m next in line to wear it.

I’ve tried it yesterday for the fitting and the necessary fitting has been done already, now it’s just for me to wear it for the celebrating.

As I was left alone in the room, I couldn’t help but think about Thorne. He still hasn’t said anything to me. I just hope that the news I want to break to him tonight cheers him up.

The stylist rushed in with panic on her face, forcing me out of reverie.

“There’s a problem, your highness. We can’t find the dress!”

“What? How’s that even possible? You said it’s a very sacred dress and I can’t become queen without it.” I said back, my heart racing wildly in my chest.

“It’s really sacred, and we’re way behind schedule at the moment. Everyone is waiting for you, we have to do something.” She said.

“What do we do then?” My head had started to bang with the kings of thoughts running through it. I really can’t afford to mess anything up again, I don’t want to make Thorne more mad than he is already.

“We have a backup dress, there’s one that you can wear. It’s just that a special rite will be done after this coronation.” She said.

“Okay then, let’s do that. Let’s just get this over with already.” I said to her. We swung into action immediately, I put on the dress that looked like that one that I wore yesterday. The only thing was that this one felt lighter.

Immediately we were done, I was escorted to the grand hall by some maids, I had been told that I’d only see Thorne when i get into the hall.

Hopefully he’s over anything that’s going on with him already.

The doors opened and the sounds of chatters filled my ears. Then suddenly everywhere went quiet as soon as I stepped in, Thorne stood at the altar with his father and mine at the front too.

Nervousness was at the forefront of my mind.

I walked over to where Thorne stood, a small smile on my face. Meanwhile he had a very stern look on his face, there was no hint of a smile or anything related to it on his face at all.

“We welcome you all to the mating ceremony and coronation of the new king and Queen. May the both of you please step forward.” The announcer started.

Thorne walked towards where I stood, but his eyes weren’t on me at all.

They were on someone behind me.

I turned and gasped.

Aria. That’s Aria, in the same dress like I was.

What exactly is going on right now? Is this a prank or something?

“In opposition to what every one of you think or know, I’m not taking Esmeralda as my queen or mate today. I choose Aria as my Queen and mate instead.” Thorne spoke for the first time since I got here.

My head went light, I pinched myself just to be sure that I wasn’t having a bad dream or something.

There’s just no way this was real.

“Esmeralda here and her father have plans of starting a coup and overthrowing my father, the king.” He announced then started walking towards me.

“I hereby offer her as a sacrifice to prove my loyalty to the whole pack and my father, the outgoing king. I reject you, Esmeralda Knight as my mate. I give her up for my father.”