Betrayal, Love and Revenge

ASPEN VESPERTHREE YEARS LATER“Doctor Vesper,” the man seated in front of Aspen called and she knew he was about to ask another one of his intriguing questions. “Did you zone out?”“Uh…” Aspen drew a breath and looked away from the muted TV. “I did not. I uh…”The man looked behind him and saw what held her attention for so long.“I see,” he said and directed his focus to her. “Lycan Kailin seem to be doing well.”She sighed. “My sister looks sick.”“And pregnant.”Her brows lifted. “She does look pregnant.”Ezra adjusted the query in his brows and said, “Do you still want a chance to go back? You have built quite a life here. You are now one of the best doctors and-”“My life is certainly blissful,” Aspen sighed. “But underneath the bliss, I still remember that day. I still remember how Kailin Blackwood refused to recognise me, I remember the look my father gave me while my so-called mate got married to my sister. Watching them just now reminded me that I still need answers and that

ASPEN VESPER“So, you just happened to find that entrance?” Kailin asked, his eyes alternating between a masked Aspen and Lance who were kneeling in the throne room, a couple of swords pointed towards them.Aspen deepened her voice and replied, “I am a shy and disturbed person. I find pleasure in taking dark, abandoned paths.”“How do you think that sounds?” Kaailin got up from his throne. “It’s already bad enough that you are lowly rebels trying to act like you have a place in our society. How could you think of sneaking in? If you are really a respected doctor, act like it.”Aspen drew a breath. His words angered her but she kept her emotions in check and asked, “Do you wish for us to go back? I can always refuse to check on the health of your Luna.”“I called you here as the Lycan King.” His eyes hardened. “If you refuse my order, I will ask for your head.”“Ask for my head and you will make the news in no time. Do you think we are still in the barbaric period?” Aspen retorted.“My

ASPEN VESPER“Wh-what?” Kailin took some steps back. His shock could not be hidden. “You did this?”The woman quickly fell to her knees. With tears in her eyes, she cried, “I am sorry. I thought it was an herb that would make her feel better. I didn’t know it was poisonous. I really-”“Do you have any idea what you have done?!” Kailin roared while the small bottle in his hand shattered against the ground. When Aspen saw that, she quietly got up and stood in a corner to watch the scene unfold. “Not only did you threaten the Luna’s life, but you attempted to kill our child!”“No!” The woman screamed. “No, no. That’s not true.” Her head danced left to right frantically. “It’s not true. I didn’t mean to. I j-just wanted t-t-the Luna t-to be fine. That’s all!”“Is it?” Kailin drew a sharp breath. “How is it possible that you merely fed some herbs to the Queen without anyone knowing? How do you expect me to believe that you meant no harm.”“I am your mother, Kailin.”“Stepmother,” the man c

ASPEN VESPERBefore Aspen and Lance could reach the rooms designated for their stay, Lycan Kailin sent for her.Lance went on to carry out the mission as planned.And Aspen readied herself to make the best use of the meeting she was about to have with Kailin Blackwood.“I heard you discovered the cause of my Luna’s pain,” the Lycan King said the moment she entered the room where a ridiculously long table was placed with just two chairs accompanying it. “I should thank you a million times and more for that.” He gestured to the seat opposite him and she sat down. “What do you want? Mention it and we will complete our contract right now.”Aspen leaned back and attained comfort. “I don’t want a single thing.”“Oh.” He chuckled. “I heard you think dark magic might be involved.”“It is possible.”“If that’s the case, do you think I will accept that you don’t wish to get anything in return? For all I know, you might go out there blabbing on the streets about dark magic and whatnot.”“So, wha

ASPEN VESPERFor many minutes, the two of them remained still; you would think they were in a movie that was suddenly paused because the watcher wanted to get used to the crazy plot twist they had just witnessed.Aspen especially had no particular reaction. She could not even draw the strength to appreciate the freedom her face now had after days of being masked. All she did, with nothing but blankness on her face, was quietly reach for her mask. She pasted the mask against her face and walked out of the room as though she just didn’t reveal her identity to Kailin Blackwood.She also didn’t bother to decipher what that moment meant to her or what her full-of-shit ex-mate felt about what just happened.She just walked and walked until a crazy feeling in her heart forced her knees to bend. She fell to the floor and let go of her mask.Her eyes were trained intently on the tiled floor, and with slightly shivering hands, she clutched her chest and tried to resist the burning in her chest.