Chapter 54

The King and Lily were having what they called a day of talking, asking questions, and getting to know each other on a more logical and practical level. It was their last day away from the world; tomorrow, they would have to face the council and everyone else regarding their relationship. Not that either one cared much about what others thought.

Sometimes fate deals its hand, and that's that. If you're smart, you'll jump on the ride and experience everything life offers, even if it means enduring some bad experiences. If you go through life pushing people away because you don't want to experience the pain of losing them, then you will never know the joy of having them either.

He looked at Lily as she sat in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. She seemed miles away. He went and sat down in the opposite chair.

"Penny for your thoughts, little flower. What has taken you so far from me?"

"I was just thinking of the past, not the abuse. I was just wondering if Adira will ever forgive me."

"Little flower, if you don't ask, you will never have an answer to your question."

"I just keep thinking about her stupid stuffed bear."

"Stuffed bear?"

"Yeah, she made a bear from all the stuffed animals I would tear apart in a fit of anger. I wonder if she still has it?"

"You will have to ask her, Lily. Once the hubbub of all this dies down, we will go and pay a visit to Duncan and Adira. It's time you both had a sit-down and got it all out."

She let out a sigh. "Back to our talk. Now I know what happened to your first son. I thought you had two sons?"

His face went from concern to a darker shade of sadness, almost one of intense pain. She leaned forward and put her hand over his. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. It's very clearly causing you great pain."

"No, it's okay. With you, I will have no shadows; between us will only be truth and love. The last son never saw his first birthday."

"His name was Mathew. He was like sunshine, never cried, always a giggling baby. We were not sure what happened, but he died in his sleep. They said it was SIDS, but it never sat well with me."

"I think that was also the reason my first mate died."

"Yes, she died because she lost the battle with her cancer, but I think Matt’s death contributed. My first wife was not wolf; she was human."

"It wasn’t advertised to the world because the council thought it would make me look weak. I was a fool for agreeing with them. I was young and stupid."

"After my first mate died, Thorn and I kind of lost our will to go on. The council covered it up and ran all the day-to-day activities. I should have been there for my second son."

"Jason is a lot like Adira’s husband, Duncan. Adam hated him with a passion, to the point that I had to appoint a couple of guards for Jason. He hated that and was angry with me for a bit. I just didn't know what to do with my eldest son."

"I know parents are not supposed to have favorites. I know that Adam was my first mate's favorite. He was always a little off, and the other children didn’t want to be around him, so my mate spoiled him."

"I found out after my son's death a whole lot of things that were not told to me before, and it breaks my heart that a son of mine would do those things, those poor children he tortured. He was insane."

"About two weeks before the crap hit the fan, so to speak, Jason found his mate, Karen. He was sick and tired of the court life; he never liked it to begin with, and feared his brother would do something to her or their children. He decided that they were going to go back to my original pack and have a family away from all this."

"He even changed his last name. I don’t hear from him much, only that they are expecting their first pup—it’s a girl. After Adam died, I asked Jason if he would be willing to come back and take my place someday. He said no; he was happy with the way things were and would not change it for the world."

"That is why I wanted Duncan and Adira’s firstborn to be my heir, but in truth, I don’t think they want anything to do with the throne. They are there for me in the capacity of friendship only."

"Callen, you know I can’t have children. I have been messed up for too long."

"My little flower, didn’t you notice that your wolf Zinnia had turned all white?"

"Yes, I noticed, but I didn’t know what it meant. When I asked Zinnia, she just giggles and tells me that I will see soon enough. She has been nothing but smug and mysterious lately; it’s almost impossible to get a straight answer out of her."

"I love reading old texts of history and events. I believe, my little flower, that when your Zinnia turned all white, it was a sign from the goddess that you were forgiven. I do believe that it means you are whole and healthy."

"Furthermore, I believe that, at least according to Thorn, we have already made our first pup."

Lily looked at Callen in shock as a giddiness filled her heart. She jumped from her chair into Callen’s lap and started kissing him all over his face and neck. She couldn’t stop herself. When she reached that spot where his neck and shoulder met, she bit down hard, marking him.

He let out a growl of pleasure and happiness; finally, he was mated for all time. Things were going to change for the good, he hoped.

Archer was enjoying the quiet of his cabin. It was a welcome change from the rat race he was usually dealing with. Life in a Pack is a lot different than in a Pride, at least his pride anyway.

That was when he heard a shrill voice he was hoping never to hear again: Felicia! He went from almost at peace with the world to chaotic frustration. He wished his parents weren’t such good friends with Felicia’s parents. They had been trying to get one of their sons to mate with her for a long time now.

It wouldn’t be that hard; she is rather pretty. That was until she opened her mouth. She was also under the impression that sex would get her anything she wanted. She is mean-spirited and haughty in nature; she thinks she is better than everyone.

She believes that her presence is a blessing for all to be thankful for. She is only tolerated because of her parents' money and status.

He looked out the window at the shrew walking up the path, bitching all the way. He did get some satisfaction seeing her barefoot in the snow.

He wondered whose pants she was trying to get into now. She was determined that one of them had to mate with her. She not only wanted money, but power over others as well.

Something she had better get into her head is that it’s never going to happen. Everyone looks at her as one of the pride's sluts, and that is all she was ever going to be if Archer has his way.

He just hoped that she didn’t try her high-and-mighty crap with the pack members. The rules are a little different in this pack. She will be expected to, at the very least, be respectful of everyone. No acting like a queen here.

If she does end up causing trouble, perhaps he will let Duncan handle her punishment. That way, she doesn’t get off easy because of dear old dad’s money.

He sat down at his desk, determined to put her in her place right from the start. It's time Miss High and Mighty learns some humility. He should have dealt with this a lot sooner. Perhaps being here will be an added bonus to him; she can’t just run off to Daddy to fix her mistakes.

One thing is for certain: she isn’t sleeping under this roof. She can either stay in a guest cabin or get a hotel room.

Still, something was bugging him about all this. She isn’t the type to go traveling unless it’s to a million-dollar-a-night room. So why is she here now?

Felicia came into the room in a huff; she didn’t look happy that she had to walk 50 feet.

“Well, Felicia, to what do we owe the honor of your presence once again? Truly, you’re going to spoil us by gracing us with your presence so much.”

As Felicia looked at Archer, she could tell he wasn’t happy to see her. Perhaps she had overplayed her hand this time. Then again, he always looked at her like that.

In truth, she had given up on Archer after a while; he lived like a monk and was not interested in her. He always kept his distance. Even her daddy got off her back about him and told her to focus on the other two.

August played with her but never gave her any inkling that he would go further or that she could manipulate him to do as she wished.

Ashton was the shy one, she thought. He was always watching her. He was the one she wanted this time, and this time, she would get what she and her daddy wanted, even if she had to travel to the middle of God knows where, having to be around all these low-life, mangy mutts to do it.

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