Lycan King’s Nemesis

**GWEN**

The entire palace was busy with people milling about, engaged in one activity or the other. It was the interior decor team that arrived to prepare the venue where the ball would be held.

With every day they broke, I was astounded by the level of importance that was given to this very occasion.

Earlier this morning, I had woken up early as Kora came in to arrange the gowns I would be using today, and being that I had informed her to leave attending to me in the mornings when I rose to ask her out, I discovered Ashton was gone. And Kora went on to notify me about the palatial engagement today.

I went training with my friend after that, where Abby said Ashton asked her the other night why she didn’t hang out all the time with Tyler. I could see that Tyler was growing uneasy every day with this herculean task plunged at him, and I was very happy he was willing to help me. As always.

Now, here we are, doing nothing but standing close to the former Queen, nodding, waving, and smiling at the decor team as a form of encouragement.

“Maybe we should get a drink or something,” Abby said in a hushed tone close to me.

I turned to her, my face half-smiling and nodded eagerly. Anything to rest away from the former Queen. It was one thing being here with these people by myself or with my friends and another thing doing it with her. It was exhausting.

“Where are you two off to?” She asked as we took the first step.

“To get refreshment, Mother.” Abby signalled to the tables at the far corner that held the different shades and categories of eateries. Merely watching it my stomach grumbled reminding me that I haven’t hadn’t had anything that afternoon, and it was fast approaching evening.

Queen Charlotte as I have come to know her name, shrugged, glanced at the work party singularly, and when she looked our way once more she waved forward. “Let’s go then, I guess I will need some respite too.”All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

I was close to sharing a look with Abby which I managed to withhold as we all matched down to the table.

Since it was already evening and I would be having dinner sooner, I settled for orange juice and brownies. I have come to relish in the brownie skill of whoever made this particular one. Once arranged in the tray, I carried it to another table under a canopy that was put in for a scenario like this and dropped it, about to go back and help Charlotte when I saw her coming with her tray.

I reached out but she waved me off.

“Don’t forget I am your subject, lady.” She teased with a cheerful smile, dropping down at the first chair.

Quietly we ate, still watching those working. I liked the colours they were using for the outside. Deep creamy gold materials, and ribbons with silver balls.

They ran the entire length of the palatial pillars using it to form artificial roses and strands that fell from the middle of the roses creating something like hair inside golden roses.

And I was sure by night when they turned on the lights, the balls were going to glitter. In fact, we didn’t need light. Moonlight itself would give us the effect. I was anticipating that.

After the outside, they will go ahead to decorate the inside. And by this weekend, the magic would be unveiled.

This was one thing I loved about the supernatural world; the unity. The same way the interior decor team was doing this reminded me of back at my former pack, and how we handled everything within us, fostering a spirit of togetherness. Well, that was until I needed them and they turned their backs on me.

“Ashton told me you have found your mate, Abigail,” Charlotte said, startling me out of my drift.

Abby’s eyes found mine for a second before making their way to her mother. “Uh-yeah, I mean, he might be right, Mother.”

“Might be?” Charlotte dropped her glass of juice and the cookie to smack the crumb off her palms. “How so? Have you or have you not?”

Tricky question, I thought.

“Mother if he said I have, then, that’s the truth.”

“I don’t understand you, young lady.” She let out a slight chuckle at the end of her statement. “I was angry that you didn’t see it necessary to confide in me about it and now that I decided to ask you, you still speak in parables?”

“I don’t speak in parables, Mother. Okay, Yes, I found my mate but I didn’t tell you because for now, we are still getting to know each other and deciding if we want each other.”

Charlotte simply stared. I stared too. I was not expecting her to ask and didn’t know Ashton would inform her about it. When did he suddenly start cuddling up to his mother about stuff?

“Who is this young man if I may ask?” Charlotte looked toward the table where a maid was standing packing up some berries possibly for the workers. Her orbs turned glassy and not long she focused back on us. “I hear he is the chief guardian.”

The maid approached us with a jug and teacups in a white which she dropped on the table, served Charlotte a cup, bowed, and left.

“Mother, if he was going to discuss me behind my back then he should have given you the full story.” Abby was getting irritated I could tell.

I seriously wanted to intervene, however, I held my mouth. This was family business and despite Abby being my friend, I had to keep my peace. Though she was not handling this well.

As if fate was working with Mother Nature at this moment, I saw Tyler. He was entering the palace. At the same time, I saw Abby’s eyes widen, flicking to me as she saw him.

She stood up, out of impulse. “Mother, I am sorry about that. Yes, he’s in the_i mean, he’s the chief guardian and yes, we are…”

“Is there a problem?” Charlotte asked with wrinkled brows, her eyes sweeping the yard. “You seem out of place.”

Abby peered at me once more but looked off as soon as she did. “Yes, mother. That is because I have something important to take care of inside. This minute.”

“Oh…”

“Yes…” Abby was pointing in the direction of the palace’s front doors. “I have to go now, I’m sorry. I will tell you everything you need to know later, I promise.” She hurried away.

“Am I the only one who noticed that she was acting awkward?” Charlotte asked me, watching her daughter go.

My head was swinging side to side in denial. “Not at all. That’s Abby whenever she needed to use the restroom. Always, always in a haste.”

“I didn’t notice before…” Her voice faded away.

I was uneasy too. Why was Tyler here? Such a timing. He never mentioned during our training that he would be here today.

“Have you approved the new list for gifts?”

“Yes, Mother.” I tried to concentrate here. “I have sent it to the financial secretary for disbursement. Though, I felt there were some duplicates.”

“Oh, and I thought I was the only one. Nice one.” She glanced in the direction of the front door once more before taking her teacup to sip.

She was not the only one wondering what was going on there. I wished I could perform magic and disappear from here to there. To distract me, my eyes travelled in the direction of the worker at the right time to see a little girl placing a purple material a month the golden ribbons.

I stood up abruptly. “I have to check this out, Mither. Excuse me.” I bowed and strolled to them.

“Why are you putting that there?” I pointed at the purple material that was obviously off-colour compared to the other designs.

The girl, looking too young than the rest, blushed crimson and was about to say something when I heard a sound behind me and twisted. A woman was running to us.

She waved at the girl. “Get down immediately!”She bowed to me. “I’m sorry, your highness. My daughter came to visit me, I didn’t know she was up to any mischief until I began searching for her and saw her up here.”

My heart soared, my eyes finding the smaller child whose eyes were wide as she made her way down. At this point, I think I was the awkward one. It felt so good seeing mother and child like this, and it made me wish I could have a child to run the palace looking for what form of mischief they were up to.

I looked down my idle hands by my side and shook my head. “It’s nothing at all. She can have all the fun she can get, just be careful.” I stepped back. “Beautiful eyes by the way,” I commented, referring to the girl’s unusual topaz orifice.

Instead of going back to sit with the Queen, seeing as my mood was about to be ruined, I made my way forward to inspect their works and from there sneak off somewhere quiet to help me relax.

Children are the natural gift of every woman, I wonder why mine had to come with absurd narratives.

Just like every other thing in my life.

…