Aakifahlynn clutched her aching chest with one hand as she held the papers in the other.
Her eyes were wide in shock, a shiver of dread ran down her spine, and her already strained state weakened as she read.
'The PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM OF TAMMAN,' Aakifahlynn's eyes narrowed, and eyebrows deepened, "Jairus? What's this?" Her voice was barely audible, but she knew he would hear her with his wolf senses.
Aakifahlynn continued reading, but she did not like how he stood there lightly, leaning his butt on his desk observing, and each time she questioned, he gestured to her with a roll of his palm to keep going.
But it was not that she could not read and understand. It was just that she could not begin to fathom what brought this on. 'How? When? Why?'
This made her a bit anxious and uneasy; she continued, 'To All Who Shall See These, Presents.....DIVORCE GREETING'
'Know ye shall license and permission was given,' she could not continue reading. Aakifahlynn stared unblinking at her husband of five years and mate of eight years, desperately searching his eyes for the meaning of this.
Her eyes were full of confusion and uncertainty.
This must be a mistake, a cruel one, but a mistake nonetheless.
"It's divorce greetings, Aakifahlynn. What does it look like?" Jairus straightened his back, folded his arms, and looked down at his wife, mate, and Luna Queen, suddenly emitting a hint of agitation.
She stood a few feet from her husband, and his sizeable spacious study suddenly seemed to be closing in on her. All the elegant pieces of furniture were suddenly mocking her as the glare from the candlelit chandelier above cast eerie shadows on the wall surrounding them.
The stacked bookshelf behind her mate seemed to stretch suddenly and loomed over them.
While her husband's features and stance suddenly dripped with annoyance, like he wanted this to be over with, and hatred shot through the weakened bond, yet it was substantial enough to strangle her.
Aakifahlynn clutched at her throat as she struggled to get any air into her body that suddenly ached with the shock that ripped right through her, the papers falling from her hands.
Her heart rate picked up, "Jairus! Jai? This does not make sense. No, no, no, no, what happened? What was happening? What is going on?"
"I can't...I don't..." Aakifahlynn wanted to say she did not understand the meaning of this. However, words failed her terribly, and she was still in shock.
After a moment of silence that stretched thin, "Just sign on the dotted line. I have already signed. Let's be done with it." Jairus rose off the desk and spoke with aggression and hatred laced deep in his voice.
His face, that face, she did not recognize him.
Queen Luna Aakifahlynn wanted to cower before him but could not move. She was trapped in her fright by his sudden movements and aggression toward her.
And to top it off, she struggled immensely to think clearly or even reconcile what was going on given the night she had.
Her night of a romantic dinner for two in her favorite restaurant as they had toast about her getting better and returning to her people.
It was just the two of them at the restaurant first. Then they ventured to walk under the full moon at the park downtown. The drive through the towns and villages.
She couldn't utter a word as she stared at her husband with confused, hurt, narrowed eyes.
What she saw in his eyes and demeanor - her body shook, and she felt like a million pins and needles pricked her skin, and her heart cried out in pain.
'How could this be? Hatred? Did he hate her so vehemently?' Jairus took a deep breath, then exhaled, and another intense emotion shook her to her core, loathing.
It was strong enough to trample her small, frail, weakened body. She swayed but stayed upright.
Would the man she grew up with, her best friend, sneak her like this? And not be open and honest with her?
So then, was that what tonight was really about? To sweeten her up before he ripped her heart out and sent her on her way? Then why the crowd?
She could not believe her husband. This was not him? "Jai, this...this is not you." With a trembling voice, she whispered, gesturing to the fallen papers while desiring to reach out and touch him.
Have him wrap her in his arms and say this was a mistake. He had temporarily lost his mind. Though the bond was weak, it still worked just as fine.
This was not him. Aakifahlynn started to feed on that idea. That has it be it. It just has to.
Not after she came to him with this as a trusted partner, her mate, her best friend, and her husband. Then, at his suggestion, she researched and heard of the temple of rest.
There, she could rejuvenate and find solace, hoping to reignite her magic and reawaken her wolf. The monks there were expertly gifted in restoration.
However, one needs to be thoroughly cleansed and have a free and clear mind for this to succeed, hence the sabbatical.
Queen Luna Aakifahlynn wanted to be away from protecting and running a kingdom while she focused on her health, truly freeing her mind from the thoughts of the Kingdom's survival so she could concentrate on her own.
She needed isolation; why would he not let her do that? Or did he want to rid himself of the weak Queen Luna, not interested in her return to the Kingdom?
Quickly getting impatient, Jairus snatched the divorce papers off the floor where they had slipped from her fingers, shoved them in her face, and forcibly pushed her backward as he bellowed, "GET OUT NOW."
Queen Luna Aakifahlynn stumbled. She held her palm to her face, gently caressing the spot that sparked through the pain because of the slight graze of his finger. She whipped her neck toward him, but words failed her again.
She searched his once-loving eyes.
"LEAVE THIS PLACE," he growled, and at the sheer power in his voice, she stood unmoving, but it was not a command. However, the power he unleashed held her captive as her body shook violently, yet again under its strength.
Her frail bones started to ache more from within.
She stared at this stranger before her. Her eyebrows knitted as she observed him unable to form coherent words. He was huffing and puffing as if he was ready to blow her away literally.
His thick eyebrows pinched, and his gorgeous hazel eyes that she used to get lost in were blazing down at her with anger, hatred, loathing, and something else she could not quite put her fingertips on.
His defined jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth.
Her mouth opened and closed two more times, but nothing came out.
However, they were both interrupted when Taisiya Smithesenja sauntered into the room in a gorgeous cream-colored mermaid-style fitted gown.
Intricate and delicate, beading and lacing weaved through the front effortlessly, fitting her curves like a glove. Her long, flowing orange hair stood out in contrast to the dress.
Her luscious eyelashes batted as her mesmerizing emerald green eyes glinted with the excitement of the occasion, and Aakifahlynn stumbled as she recalled her husband's reaction in the vehicle.
He was vibrating with excitement. Aakifahlynn's eyes slid between the pair.
Oh, the betrayal was too much; she could not stand it. She wanted to scream, rant and rave at her husband.
What was SHE doing here? Aakifahlynn thought as Taisiya leisurely walked toward Jaimes.
Aakifahlynn scoffed when Taisiya captured his lips in a kiss right before her. Taisiya's neck craned to watch Aakifahlynn looking on repulsed while she claimed her husband and childhood friend. Her mate, for Goddess's sake.
They carried on in a manner as if they were starving for each other's touches and caresses. Aakifahlynn watched in horror and disgust as her heart shattered again into pieces, unable to look away as her husband's hands slid down to cup Taisiya's ample butt.
He squeezed and growled in pleasure as she moaned into the kiss while struggling to move in her restricted dress, almost reading to rip it off.
Who was this man?
However, she did not get time to think further because, after their make-out session, "What are you waiting on? I SAID GET OUT AND GET OUT NOW!"
Billionaire Alpha King Jairus Mathiasen growled menacingly, and he was in front of her instantly, leaving his mistress's side.
"What are you waiting on? I SAID GET OUT AND GET OUT NOW!" Billionaire Alpha King Jairus Mathiasen growled menacingly and was in front of her instantly, leaving his mistress's side.His sweet luscious lips that used to kiss her tears away or pepper kisses all over her body, having her skin erupt in a flurry of warm, comforting, and sensual tingles now curled into a scowl as he reared back his hand and struck her across the face, this time with the already prepared and signed divorce paper.Causing her to stumble, hunching over sideways with the force of her husband's shove behind the slap. With her reflexes, she was able to right herself as she held the side of her face that stung in the aftermath of his heavy hand. And yet mild sparks were warming it simultaneously, but she was thankful he did not use his full strength on her weakened body.Yes, her husband, a man she had married, loved, and given five years of her life as a doting and supportive wife and Queen Luna. That same man w
Queen Luna Aakifahlynn rolled down the stairs and landed on the gravel and stone path below the steps in front of a crowd of magical beings, some humans among them.Her aching bones were bruised further as she hit each step on her way down.And only then did she hear what they were shouting as clear as day.'PUNISH HER,' 'THE WEAK QUEEN,' 'UNFIT LUNA,' 'UNFIT TO RULE.' And some grunts and cheers of agreement.And at that moment, Aakifahlynn realized the depth of this betrayal. He would whip her in front of these people, further stripping her of any ounce of dignity she tried to hold onto.Surely they wanted to punish her, but why? However, at this moment, she wished for death.She felt empty yet full because of the mate bond. Every hurt, aching, soul-crushing pain and trauma racked her body. The mate bond would offer her a sense of calm and comfort. Lies, all lies, Aakifahlynn thought but resigned herself to the comfort it still afforded as she faced her faith.She tried to sit up, h
Aakifahlynn felt her flesh being torn. Her skin stung as the whipper continued his whippings, and she was sure germs were already setting in from whatever filth the whip was soaking in.Because among her blood that filled the air, there was also the stench of something foul.*WATAX, WATAX, WATAX* came the sound of the final three whips.Her back was a bloody mess. Her skin was stripped to pieces. Aakifahlynn was sure of it. She could feel her pale skin dangling off in the back there, hitting her softly as she swayed.Her face was a mixture of tears, perspiration, spittle, and mucus that ran out her nose.Suddenly, the whipper cut the rope that held her upright, and she fell to the ground and rolled, screaming out as pain caused by the sharp stones and gravel that penetrated her sore back shut through her.Her breathing was still ragged. She heaved as much air into her lungs as tears streamed down her cheeks endlessly. She shook as it was now over. She whimpered.Aakifahlynn hoped he w
Aakifahlynn recoiled away from Jairus, but it took strength she did not have because her heart still fluttered at his closeness after all his betrayal.She felt disgusted.Weak electricity flowed through her body, betraying her. This bond was betraying her just like her husband and mate were. She turned her face away, and Jairus reached and grabbed her face, turning it back to him roughly.Aakifahlynn made a sound of protest at her pain."I fed you a poison that weakened your wolf..." He squeezed her jaw, ensuring she stayed still and listened, "And when you continue to strain your body using magic, it did the rest of the work for me..." He kissed her cheek again, so tender and sweet."I must thank you for that," With a smug look on his face, he gave her another gentle kiss, this time on her nose.After he whispered those horrid words letting her know he was responsible for her current condition, weakening her in front of the people so he could declare her unfit to rule.She looked at
Queen Luna Aakifahlynn Mathiasen scanned her memories. She remembered developing a tactical plan that ended this war before it even began, and this was a constant wrangle.Some group or the other was continually rising up to overthrow the Monarch. She never understood why they would not quit.Aakifahlynn abruptly rose from the head chair, scrapping noisily on the concrete flooring, and she leaned forward, resting her knuckles on the table, feeling slightly off-balance."Please, pardon me. It seems I am not well. Do carry on with this meeting." Her eyes slid to each of their faces, ensuring they grasped."It is imperative that we secure our borders and stop these snakes." With that, she nodded and was about to head out of the room to gather herself when Duke Chapman said, "You should see the healer."She nodded again and quickly exited the meeting room. Aakifahlynn shut the door behind her and leaned on it.Her head resting on the door, she looked up to the ceiling as if searching for
The council comprised two Elders, two Dukes, two Marquesses, two Earls, two Viscounts, two Barons, and two Lords. Each ranked level had two species representing, never of the same kind, except for the Elders. So, on each level, it was either a Daimph, a Vampyre, or a Werewolf. The Ayacques were never a part of the council because they had not surrendered to the throne. They were from the south. The betrayers were the two Elders. Both elders were Werewolves, for apparent reasons keeping only the history of the werewolf relevant and alive. One Duke, another Werewolf, a Marquess, and a Lord are Vampyres. Aakifahlynn scoffed as she recalled Duke Mark Chapman's words. He dared to act concerned for her well-being when he was front and center... Well, more like front and off to the side, but still, he supported her husband during her death. Aakifahlynn felt a wave of anger rising in the pit of her stomach, causing her to see red at her demise. And a deep-seething hatred for those that
Aakifahlynn stared wide-eyed and unblinking because it was at this moment she learned that Jairus and Taisiya were not something that had happened recently because of her ailments, as she had initially thought. This has been going on since Taisiya returned a few months ago in this Timeline. And in her past Timeline, they would have been together for three years and counting. Aakifahlynn swore her heart skipped a bit, and at this moment, she was thankful she had decided to use her magic to calm her nerves and steady her emotions. She would have definitely gotten caught if she had not taken this precaution. Aakifahlynn also acknowledged she needed to rely on her wolf and magic to survive in this castle. Just to be able to be around them and not give herself away, she needed the reinforcement; she would not dare fool herself into thinking she could do this without help. Jairus's eyes dimmed, eyebrows pinched as if something suddenly disturbed him. He pulled away from caressing her f
Unable to continue watching how the duo fawns over each other while her husband caresses Taisiya's stomach, eyes shining with love and adoration, making Aakifahlynn sick to her stomach. She'd seen and heard enough. Her heart ached at the sight. Aakifahlynn called on her magic, removed herself from her husband's study, and landed by the treeline before the forest outside the castle gates. However, the lands of this Kingdom extend for miles on end. The sun was gone entirely, and now the beautiful half-full moon would rule the sky for the next ten hours or so. Aakifahlynn turned and watched the tall, mighty walls of the castle. She glanced around for any movements. The villagers were out and about having a merry time doing one thing or the other. Warriors were on their usual patrols, ensuring the grounds and walls were safe, while some were sparring and training. All oblivious to her torment and struggles. At night the castle grounds were not typically busy, but at this moment,