Bride To The Werewolf King: Enemy To Lover Werewolf Shifter Romance

By Justice Faruck

After Blue Learley got married to King Demetrius Easton, Blue's Life changed totally and took another route for good. She became the Queen at seventeen-year-old and lived in a big palace with Demetrius's mother, his brother's wife, and a lovely daughter.

Everything was going fine. Blue became pregnant and was expecting a baby, one day the king had to go to a war, and left the kingdom into the hands of his pregnant wife. Queen Blue Learley, will her husband come back alive and how will Blue control the affairs of the Kingdom…..

• Language: English
• Publisher: supernovel
• Release date: Apr 24, 2023

Book preview

CHAPTER One – Going Through Hell

Blue's POV

Please, don't do this, I pleaded one last time. And just like every other day, they did not listen. Another kick was forced onto my stomach. I jerked forward on the ground, biting my lips fiercely to keep myself from making a sound. I did not want to look weak.

Tell me, will you do it again? Draven snarled, grabbing my hair roughly.

I tried to talk, but no sound came out of my mouth. My throat hurt from the agonizing grasp he had there a while ago.

Tell me! he yelled, bringing his mouth as close to my ear as possible.

Leave her alone, brother. She is nothing more than a piece of garbage. There is no reason for us to waste our time here, Maxen stated.

Speak up, you filthy whore! Draven hissed once more and slapped me across the face.

It was too much. I hit him back on the chin. I was not a particularly strong person. My punch surely did not have much effect on him, but it, at least, made me feel a lot better.

Whatever you do, don't touch my face! I hissed.

You little cunt! Draven growled and yanked my hair, forcing me to stand. He kicked me in the stomach once more.

My eyes welled up with tears, but I blinked them away quickly before they fell. I would not give him that satisfaction.

Draven tried to slap me again, but this time Maxen stopped him. He dragged Draven back with difficulty and spoke to him in hushed tones. I could not hear anything. I did not want to either. All I wanted to do was get out of here.

Draven muttered something under his breath and hurriedly left the room. My knees were trembling violently as I struggled to stay on my feet.

Let's go to your room, Maxen said, a bit soothingly.

My knees... I can't walk, I mumbled, trying hard not to cry.

Maxen sighed and wrapped his arms around me, guiding me through each step. I was grateful to him for that.

As we reached the door of my room, he elbowed it open and took me inside. He closed the door from inside, being careful so others could not hear anything. Then he took me to my bed.

Maxen went to the bathroom and returned with a bowl of water and a soft white towel. He sat alongside me and began cleaning a cut on my left arm that had been caused when Draven hit me with a belt.

What did you do today? he asked, wiping two drops of blood from the wound.

I didn't bring him any beer today, I replied.

You know how he reacts when he doesn't get his beer, Maxen said.

I know. But there... there was this...

What?

There was that animal on the road. It was bleeding. I could not just walk away. I took it to the vet. I think the animal was shot. It was bleeding badly, I said.

Where is it now?

I just left it a little inside the forest so it could get back to its habitat. It was heavy.  I had to tie it up with a rope and pull it inside.  Hope it didn't mind.

All the money went in that?

How much do you expect me to earn working in a coffee shop? I snapped. I can't even buy any clothes or books for myself. Mother and Father aren't going to buy us anything either. They need to buy drugs, right? That's the only thing they need. I can't understand why they even bothered to bring me into this world if they don't even care for me. And our big brother, Draven- all he can do is yell, fight, drink, smoke, and fuck underage girls. And of course, kick me for not bringing him his beer.

I know, Blue1. But what can we do? Maxen said, sympathetically.

I told you that we should go to the police. But you're too afraid. And you're supposed to be my big brother.

Draven will kill us.

Kill us? He kills me every time I can't get his beer! I yelled. He doesn't tell you to do anything but to look for girls for him which you do as well.

It's not like I'm proud of it.

Does it make a difference? You still do it, right? Bring whores at home for him so he can destroy them!

Blue, it's not me who you should be angry at, he said, in a surrendered tone.

I don't even know who I should be angry at, Max. It's just too much. To be abused in my own family, it's unbelievable, I sighed.

Max remained silent as he meticulously cleaned each of my wounds. He was one year older than me and the only person in my family who genuinely cared about me.

We had both accepted as children that our parents would never love us. At the very least, I knew it was a must in my case. Father was not interested in having daughters. He desired more sons to look after his property as if he had a lot! But then there was me, the unwanted cursed daughter, born after Draven and Max.

Mother looked after me until I was three years old, at which point she also put me away. It was as if she had just shown me how to survive and then abandoned me. She was a drug addict, just like Father and Draven.

Max and I grew up together, despite the fact that my family's attitudes toward him and me were always diametrically opposed.

I was frequently yelled at and kicked when I refused to do what they wanted. When I was seven, my father kicked me in the stomach so hard that I had to go to the hospital. When I was released from the hospital, Father beat me again because his money had been squandered on my treatment.

I grew accustomed to it. When they hurt me, I had learned not to cry.  Mother had never raised her hand on me, but Father and Draven did. It was like I was their torture toy. They would strike me not just when I refused to bring them beers and cigarettes, but also when they were in a foul mood and wanted to have a good time by hitting someone.

Draven was now twenty years old, and Max was eighteen. He said he was going to leave the town forever after he graduated. I was happy for him while at the same time, I wondered if he left, it would not take long for Draven and Father to kill me.

Father had almost killed me a week ago when he was too angry and almost stabbed me with a kitchen knife. But Maxen managed to stop him. I yelled at Max for that. Dying was better than enduring this kind of abuse every single day.

They hated me even more because I always yelled back. I knew the consequences would not be good if I talked back, but I could not help it. I would get beaten even more for that and even Max would not be able to stop them that time.

Max and I would go to school together. But I could not go to school since last week as I had to work additional hours at the coffee shop to earn more money so Draven could have his beer. He even managed to get a fake report saying that I had a high fever and the doctor advised me not to get out of bed for fifteen days.

But I had spent all the money today as I had to take the animal to the vet. Marcello and I were coming back in his car. Marcello was my neighbor and friend. We were in the same class and he was kind enough to give me a ride every day. When we were driving by the forest, we saw it lying in one corner, bleeding badly.

Look! I noticed it and made Marcello stop the car.

What? he asked.

I did not say anything. Rather, I got out of the car and went to the animal to see if it was still alive. Thankfully, it was breathing.

We need to take it to the hospital, I said.

It's a wild animal, Blue. We can't just...

We can't leave it here either, I said sharply, cutting him off.

We will need money. I don't have any in my pocket now, Marcello said.

I hesitated for a moment. I glanced at the animal in front of us and then took a deep breath, realizing that I was going to go through hell today.

I have, I said.

But what is this anyway? It's too big to be a dog. It's huge.

It's not a dog, I muttered, leaning closer to the animal. It's... oh my god! I didn't know...

What?

It's a wolf, I gasped

CHAPTER Two – A Sin

Blue's POV

Max left after he had cleaned my wounds. He told me to sleep. But I could not. Every night, I was haunted by the thought of not being able to leave this family.

Max once told me that there was a cause behind Father's vehement dislike of me.

Can't you see that you don't look like him?

You mean he beats me up just because I don't look like him?

Come on, Blue. It's clear that... Don't mind, please. It's clear that you're not his.

You mean, Mother cheated on him and I'm the result? I asked.

I guess so. I mean, look at Draven and me. We have gray eyes and dirty blond hair. But you don't. You have brunette hair and blue eyes. Even Mother doesn't have them.

He had a valid point there. My appearance was diametrically opposed to that of my father. I had a few things in common with Mother, but I had nothing in common with Father. Father, Draven, and Maxen all had blond hair and gray eyes. Mother had dark brown eyes and red hair. But I was unique.

My facial structure was also different. My nose was similar to Mother's, but in other ways, I had a completely different structure. This time, I truly wondered if I was not my father's. Maybe this was why he despised me so much.

I sat next to the window, leaning against the frame, attempting to fill my mind with cold air to expel all of my misery. Things were becoming more complicated. I overheard Draven and Father discussing whoring, or something similar two days ago.

I was horrified, believing he was talking about turning me into a whore to get money. Since that day, I had been carrying a knife with me. So in case Draven or Father tried to sell me to someone, I would be able to kill myself. I would rather die than become someone's plaything.

The moon was obscured by dense clouds tonight. The night seemed to be pleading with me to go out onto the roof and sit in the rain. Whenever it rained, I would go up to the roof and sit there for as long as I could without being seen.  No one was there to see anyway. But I still refused to cry any other time if it was not raining. Perhaps, to make myself stronger, I chose this way.

Draven's usual yelling reached my ears. He was even angrier than usual tonight. I did not care to go and see why he was behaving like that. In these situations, I stayed as far away from Father and Draven as possible. If I came into their line of sight, they would direct their rage at me.

I decided to get some sleep. At least, if I slept, I would not have to deal with the pain in my abdomen.

But my peace was not something my family would want. Suddenly the door of my room burst open, and before I knew what was going on, Draven had grabbed me by the hair.

She took the money. Ask her, he hissed.

I saw Father there as I writhed in agony, trying to break free from his clutches. Both of them together... I was so dead tonight. I wanted to tell Max that he should at the very least bury me.

Have you taken the money, Blue? Father asked coldly. His voice was not loud and I feared this the most. When he was loud, he would kick me or strike me with a belt. But when his voice was cold, he was the most ruthless. The last time he said something like this to me, he shoved my hand into the fireplace and held it there despite my wailing and screams. Fortunately, an elderly neighbor stopped by to see what was wrong. Or I would surely lose my hand that day.

What money? I asked. I had no idea what they were talking about. I had never taken their money, not even for once, not when I needed to buy tampons in an emergency, not when I needed to take costly medicines for my throat pain.

I've kept five hundred dollars in the second drawer of my table, Father said. Did you take it?

No.

A punch landed on my throat. It was excruciatingly painful. I felt as if the bone there had broken as a result of the sudden force. I clenched my teeth, making a futile attempt to breathe.

Liar! Draven hissed angrily. I was certain now that Draven was the one who had taken the money.

I'm... not... lying, I managed to stammer, in the throes of agony. I coughed and felt my chest burning with pain.

She is lying, Father! That whore! Draven snarled.

You piece of pure nonsense, I'm not lying! I shouted, not caring about the pain in my throat.

How dare you talk back, you bitch! Draven said and pulled my hair so hard that I felt my whole skull getting out of my head.

Slow down, Draven, Father said slowly. She will learn her lesson soon. I got our first customer.

I gasped, realizing what he was talking about. Even though I knew exactly what he was talking about, I did not want to believe it. He could not truly do it, could he? He was my father. No matter what, he could not do it, right?

How much does he want to  pay? Draven asked, not loosening his grasp on my hair.

100 dollars per two hours, Father replied.

It's not much. Tell him 150, Draven said as if he was talking about renting a piece of unused furniture.

It's just the beginning. We'll grow the business more, Father said. I think she is ready now.

Are you talking about...

Yes, sweet sister. We're discussing how we can use you as a business tool. What's that body of yours for then? Draven said, smiling like a maniac.

My heart sank with fear at the prospect of losing my sole valuable possession.

No...

Oh, yes, Father said. If you can't come to use, there's no need for you.

Then I'll leave. I won't ever come back, I swear, I said quickly, hoping he would agree.

Don't even think about it. Why do you think I kept you alive all those years? Father said.

To use my body for money? I yelled. I would rather die than be anyone's sex toy.

Don't raise your voice, you little slut! Draven hissed and yanked my hair even tighter.

Leave me alone, you evil! I have never done anything wrong. Then why are you doing this to me? I said desperately. This time, I could not even stop the tears.

Shhh... Draven jeered into my ear. You will like it, sister.

All I wanted to do was hit him so hard he would never forget what he had done to me. Maybe my hand was a little faster than my intellect. I did not even know what I had done until Draven groaned in pain.

How dare you...

Draven almost knocked my head against the corner of the bed. To my greatest fortune, I heard Mother's voice from downstairs.

Raphael! Someone wants to meet you.

Mother's voice was unbelievably gentle. I was certain it was someone who we did not know or someone important.

Draven, come down. I don't want whoever it is to hear her stupid screams, Father said, glancing disgustedly at me as if I was rotten garbage.

Draven sneered one more time before releasing my hair and exiting the room, slamming the door loudly behind them.

I sobbed as I sat on the bed, my knees pressed against my chest. I did not want to cry, but the tears did not stop. The voices downstairs were very low. I had no idea who had shown up or what they were discussing. Not many people would come to our house. If anyone did, it would be the drug-selling hefty obese man with thick mustaches.

After what seemed like an hour, I heard footsteps upstairs. I laid down and pretended to sleep so I would not have to face whatever they had planned for me this time.

Blue, come downstairs.

It was Mother. Her voice was cheerful, which was unusual to hear. She was clearly ecstatic about something.

Why? I asked, suspiciously.

Just come on, she said and pulled me with her roughly. Her grip was not as tight as Father's or Draven's, which I was grateful about.

What is it? I asked again.

But she ignored me, yet the smile on her face remained. She brought me downstairs into the living room. I glanced at the place and still could not fully understand why she had brought me here.

There were not just them there; there was another man, or I would rather say a sin.

CHAPTER Three – Bride

Blue's POV

He was... I had never seen anyone like him. He was leaning against the wall, staring into my eyes in a way no one else had ever done.

He was tall, very tall, even taller than Draven, who stood six feet three inches. He was muscular, his long white sleeves cinched around his biceps, and the first two buttons on his chest were undone, displaying a wicked sight to anyone's eyes. His long face remained expressionless, with no sign of warmth, only coldness.

He sported dark black hair that matched his eyes. His beardless, razor-sharp jaw appeared to cut through my skin.

His eyes traveled up and down my body. I became self-conscious all of a sudden. I was not in a good condition for sure. My body was covered in scars, almost all of which ached. Thanks to Draven, my hair was as unkempt as if I had just emerged from a tomb and had not washed my hair in weeks.

That's my daughter, Father said, sitting on the couch, his face brighter than usual.

She has a nice physique. She may be petite, but I'm sure you'll find good things inside, Mother said eagerly and my whole existence dropped.

The ground beneath my feet was swaying. Were they renting me out to him as a plaything? My eyes welled up with tears, but the strongest thing I felt was anger.

What are you saying? I asked Mother sharply.

She pinched my skin and told me to shut up with her eyes. I could not help but stare at her, unable to say anything else.

How long do you want her for? Draven asked.

I don't want to rent her. I want to buy her... forever, he spoke for the first time and I felt my whole world freezing around me.

She is not for sale. She is for rent, Draven said.

I'll give you as much money as you want. And as I said, I want to buy her, he said sharply, his gaze sweeping me from head to toe.

Draven looked at Father who seemed to be thinking, thinking about selling his daughter.

I think we should sell her, Raphael. She is useless anyway, Mother said eagerly.

I could not bear looking at any of them any longer. My mind was foggy as each of my senses went numb one by one. My head felt heavy, and I felt compelled to lie down, fearing that I would trip and fall at any moment.

How much will you give us? Father asked.

Let me tell you something before. She is not touched at all. We're giving you a full untouched virgin. The price should be high, Draven said.

Ten million, he said, his voice as cold as ever.

Draven gasped and Mother's grip on my hand tightened in excitement. She is yours to use, beat, or whatever you want to do with her, Father said, even before a second could pass.

I'll go to the police and tell them what you're doing, I shouted at them.

You fucking whore! Draven snarled and was about to smack me when his hand was instantly bent behind him with enormous power, and he winced in pain.

She is mine now. Don't you dare touch her or raise your voice at her, the stranger said, his voice threatening, but noticeably calm. You don't have any right over her anymore. She is mine, only mine.

When he said I was his, he looked me in the eyes as if he was trying to imprint it in my mind so I would never forget it. He let go of Draven, who took a quick step away, too stunned to do or say anything.

Go to your room and only bring what you absolutely need. Take no clothes and don't stay too long. We'll be leaving in ten minutes, he spoke directly to me, causing my heart to skip a beat in terror and a strange emotion.

I nodded and went to my room. I knew he was just a stranger who wanted nothing more than sexual pleasure from me. Even if I stayed with my family, they would rent me out to other men so they could enjoy my body. I decided to go with him and then whenever I would get the chance, I would run away. I would never let anyone force me to do something. I had had enough of listening to others.

I went into my room, only to find it unusually quiet and dark. Everything felt empty. Then I realized that the main thing that felt empty was my heart.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I took deep breaths to keep myself from collapsing right here. Even Max was not coming to meet me for one last time. He was not like this at all. But then where was he?

I looked around the room and realized that I had nothing but my wounded heart and thoughts to take with me. I sighed and looked out the window one last time. I was never going to come back here, my home, a miserable one, but still, it was my home.

I went into the restroom to wash my face. My wrists and neck were covered in marks, making me appear pitiful. I did not have any kind of cosmetic to use to hide my wounds either. They were always on display, like a piece of heinous art.

I gathered myself together and went downstairs quickly, not wanting to waste any more time in this house. The guy looked at me narrowly, noticing that I had not taken anything with me.

Aren't you going to take anything with you? It was not him who asked this. It was Mother, showing fake care for the last minute I was here.

As if I have anything, I muttered.

She has taken money for sure, Draven snarled.

I haven't, you jerk. You are the one who has been stealing all of the money. I earn my own money, you dumb-headed asshole. You just got ten million selling me. How much more do you want? I shouted and approached the front door before anyone could tell me anything else.

He came up behind me and unlocked the door for me, his gaze never leaving mine. The cold air landed on my face with drops of rainwater. I flinched at the sudden chilly sensation.

It will be ten minutes of walk into the forest, he said.

I did not look at him, but kept my gaze forward, deciding which way to run. I felt tiny next to him, standing five feet four inches tall. I had a feeling that no matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to get away from him. And the way he twisted Draven's arm behind his back made me wonder what would happen if he did the same thing to me.

Look at me, Blue, he said, his voice cold but gentle. Hearing my name in his voice was intoxicating for some reason I could not explain.

His voice seemed to compel me to look him in the eyes. They were extremely dark as if sinfully absorbing all the light in the world. It was peculiar. His eyes were pure black, not dark brown. It was, however, impossible for the eyes to be completely black.

It's pointless to try to run. It will only take me a few minutes to find you. And now that I've laid eyes on you, you'll never be able to get away from me, he said, sending shivers up my spine like the feel of cold water on the skin in the winter.

And you're safe with me. Whatever your family has done to you, I will never do the same to you. No one will ever hurt you in the place you're going now.

I'm not safe with you either, I said, mustering all my courage.

Oh, yes, you are. You'll be the safest and happiest with me, he said, slightly smiling, but his smile did not reach his eyes as his gaze traveled to the wounds on my wrists.

You just bought me, I wanted to shout, but I could not. All that came out was a low murmur.

I've bought you to make you mine, he said.

Make me your slave? I asked.

No.

You're lying. You all are lying. Why else would you buy me if I'm not going to be your slave? You're going to turn me into your toy. You will hurt me and enjoy my body without my consent. You're the first customer they were talking about, right? You want me to use me, you want to strike me when you're angry. You want to do unimaginable things to me and then kill me eventually. That's why you want me, don't you? I shouted, all my rage pouring out like it had been released after a long time.

No, Blue, he responded calmly. I want you as my bride.

CHAPTER Four – On The Way To His Place

Blue's POV

Bride? I mumbled, my breath catching in my throat and causing intense pain. Stop playing with me!

You think I'm playing? he asked.

You are. I don't trust you.

I can't make you trust me right away. But you will very soon, he said, his voice calm but confident.

I don't want to come with you, I said, looking pleadingly at him.

Don't make me force you, Blue, he sighed.

I looked around at the dark surroundings, the sound of the wind mingling with the hammering of my heart and his hushed breathing. I had no idea what to do or whom to put my trust in. But there was something about him that made me think I could try to trust him.

Just give me a chance. You won't regret trusting me, he said gently.

I locked my gaze on him, intently studying him. I nodded after a while. Even I was puzzled as to why I had been accepted so quickly.

Let's go then, he said and offered me his hand. I studied his hand for a moment before slipping my small hand into his large, firm one. His hand was warm like a candle lit from a distance. It took a few moments for my skin to acclimatize to this new sensation.

Where are you taking me? I asked.

To my place.

Your place? Don't mind my harsh talking, but anyway, you have a lot of money that you... ok, so where do you live? You said we have to walk ten minutes inside the forest. But I mean, as you have a lot of money, you can live in a big town in a very comfortable mansion or something like that. You don't have to live in a forest cabin, I guess. Is it a personal preference or something?

Who said I live in a forest cabin? he asked

in a way as if he was amused by my confused state.

You live in a forest. So that must be...

I don't live in a forest, sweet Blue. You'll see in a while. My place is enough for us, he said smiling.

Then where?

You'll see. Come on now.

He suddenly took off the long coat he was wearing. It was black and appeared to be made of high-quality fabric. When I saw him before, he was not wearing that coat. Perhaps he had taken that off when he came here, and then he put it on again.

Before I knew what was going on, he had wrapped the coat around me. As I was wearing a short-sleeved long shirt with my shorts, his knuckles brushed over the exposed skin of my upper arm. Goosebumps appeared all over my body when my skin came into contact with his.

What... what are you...

It's raining. You'll catch a cold, he said normally as if it was nothing but common sense. Perhaps it was, but this act of common sense stood out to me. No one had ever given a damn if I was dying, let alone a simple cold.

Don't you need it? I asked.

No. I don't catch a cold, he replied.

Thank you, I mumbled.

"Don't thank me for this little thing, my bride.

Or you'll get sick thanking me," he said, smiling at me. His smile was not overly broad, but rather a small curl of his brownish pink lips, frigid but full of unspoken feelings.

He led me deep into the forest, his coat, keeping raindrops off my skin. However, my face and hair were wet. He had my hand in his, and for some reason, it gave me butterflies in my stomach.

Why are you doing this?

Doing what? he asked.

Marrying me? Why do you want to marry me? I asked.

To my surprise, he chuckled. "Because I want

to."

But why? You're good-looking. You can have any girl. I don't think a girl with a bruised body will be a good match for you, I muttered.

Hey, look at me, he said, and I obliged.

Since the moment I laid my eyes on you, I wanted you.

When did you see me first? I asked in a shaky tone.

A long time ago.

When?

He did not answer me, but kept walking, not so fast as if he was walking like that for me. It felt a strange walking hand in hand with a stranger who turned out to be far too handsome to handle.

The scent of fresh raindrops on the ground filled my nostrils. But it was not the smell that made me dizzy. A hallucinogenic deep masculine smell had been emitting from him, making me want to sniff him, pressing my nose on his skin.

What's your name? I asked.

Call me Demetrius, he replied.

It seemed like an ancient name, but very handsome. I liked it but also wondered what it would feel like to say his name. Would it vibrate in my mouth? Would I be able to say it properly or mess up in the middle because of overthinking?

I wanted to ask him a lot of things, but I was not sure if I should. What if he got annoyed

and decided to punish me or something like that? I did not want to be struck again.

Blue, you can ask me anything you want. You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm your soon-to-be husband. There's no need to fear me. At least, not you, he said as if he could read my mind. I was curious as to what he meant by at least not you.' Did others fear him a lot? It was true that he appeared cold as if staring at him for an extended period would cause one to freeze to death. But, based on how he spoke to me, his appearance appeared to be the polar opposite of his words.

Ask me, he urged gently again.

Do you live alone?

No. My family lives with me and there are servants as well.

I could not tell if what he was saying was true. That many people would necessitate a large space. Where exactly did he live?

Here, he said.

I noticed that we had arrived in what appeared to be a very dark place, full of trees and shadows and the sound of small animals running over small branches, making snapping noises.

You live here? I asked.

You'll see, my bride, he said with a smile.

I blushed suddenly at his word. He was being way too gentle with me and even calling me his bride even though we met a few minutes ago.

No, I met him a few minutes ago. But he did not. He said he had seen me a long time ago.

Was he stalking me? But how was that possible? He was probably twenty-four or twenty-five, not more than that.

Um... can I ask you something? I hesitated.

Yes, my bride.

I gasped once more at this word but quickly straightened myself out before making a fool of myself. How old are you?

What do you think?

I don't know... perhaps twenty-five...

Close. I'm twenty-four, he replied.

So he was seven years older than me. Perhaps a little less than seven years, as I was just two days away from turning eighteen. The age difference was neither too great nor too little.

Is it unsettling?

What?

The age gap?

No. 1.... I just...

It's okay. I'm not too old I guess, he remarked, and I couldn't help but smile. His lips curved into a smile as well. It was perfect; the way his lips curved, his dimple appeared on his left cheek, and his eyes softened.

Everything seemed to be making me feel different.

There was a Coast Douglas-fir in front of us. Both in width and height, the tree was enormous.

Coast Douglas-fir, I murmured.

Yes. How do you know it? he asked. I was surprised. I said it so quietly, almost not making a sound. But he still heard me. How?

"I read about it. It is also known as Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Pacific Douglas-fir.

It is a species of evergreen conifer native to western North America, ranging from west central British Columbia in Canada to central California in the United States. Its range in Oregon and Washington extends from the Cascades crest west to the Pacific Coast Ranges and the Pacific Ocean. It can be found in the Klamath and California Coast Ranges as far south as the Santa Lucia Mountains, with a small stand in the Purisima Hills, Santa Barbara County. It can be found as far south as Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada. It ranges in elevation from near sea level along the coast to 1,800 meters in the California Mountains.

O And..., I explained. Oh, I'm sorry. I actually could not... stop myself. I have this bad habit of talking about something I know. I'm sorry.

CHAPTER Five – Werewolf

Demetrius's POV

I was amused by the girl's embarrassment at uttering a lot of things all at once. I was quite taken aback by the way she spoke. She had read a lot of books and learned a lot, and she wanted to share that with others, but she was not sure if others would like to hear that.

She was afraid of me, I could sense that. I could not do anything about it, at least not yet. But I was determined to make her feel better.

Her tiny hand shook slightly in mine. She was looking away, possibly because she thought I had become angry because of her talking.

You know a lot of things, I said, smiling at her. It was difficult for me to smile, but I did my best. I was not in the habit of smiling or speaking in a friendly manner, but I was determined to try because of her.

She smiled shyly but did not look at me. I had a feeling that she did not want to see what my face was holding. Perhaps she was afraid

of seeing what kind of emotion it would hold.

I chuckled and turned to face the trunk of the tree. She was in for a rude awakening right now. I needed to make sure she did not flinch away from me out of fear.

Blue?

Yes? she asked as she returned my gaze, her wide eyes expressing the depth of her heart.

You need to trust me, okay? I won't hurt you, I said.

She looked perplexed because I had said the same thing to her before. She had no idea what I was going to do at this moment.

Just don't run. Watch and then I'll explain everything to you, I said, holding her gaze.

She nodded, strands of her wet brunette hair falling on her cheeks. I was tempted to tuck them behind her ear, but I restrained myself.

There would be plenty of time for that once

she had fully trusted me. Then there would be no restrictions. But now, I needed to have patience. I needed to give her time and I would not mind waiting, even though it was going to be hard.

I took a sharp breath and as I brought my right hand in front of the tree, it was not just a hand. There were claws, sharp nails, and a bit of blackish fur.

She widened her eyes, not looking away from my hand as her heart rate increased noticeably. I had held her hand in my other one, so she could not get away.

What... What's that? she asked, her voice shaky.

I'll explain later, I said. Don't fear, Blue. I won't hurt you. Calm down and take deep breaths. One... two... yes, like that.

She looked very fragile, but her eyes were full of determination. She was brave, I knew it. She was everything my world needed and mostly I needed.

When I pressed my claw against the trunk of the tree, a bright light began to shine from beneath my claw. The light went black, as if it were ink, in an instant, and a gap appeared. The gap widened until it took on the shape of a door.

She was staring at it all, too stunned to say anything. She clutched my hand tightly as if she was terrified and needed me to save her. I reassured her by tapping her hand, and she glanced at me.

Come on in, I said, leading her through the door. Her steps were shaky as if she was about to fall at any moment.

As soon as we stepped inside the door, we were in a forest, but it was not nighttime there. The gentle breeze along with the charming morning light fell on her face, which was saturated with water.

She turned around in time to see the door vanish in the same way it had appeared,

leaving an ash tree in its wake. She exhaled deeply and gripped my hand even more tightly.

Welcome to my world, my bride, I said.

What... Okay, you said you'd explain everything. Please tell me everything right away. I'm feeling bad. I think I'm going to faint, she said quickly.

Let's go to my place first. Then you're free to ask me whatever you want.

Why not right now?

We're in the middle of a forest, after all. I imagined it would be cozy in a room I stated.

Everything is weird. You better tell me everything now, in this place. I'm... it's hard to understand. Please tell me, she said, almost pleading.

Alright. Let's sit down there, I said and took her under the mango tree. She sat down, a

bit hesitantly feeling me close to her. I smiled in my head and sat down beside her, her hand still in mine, and I had no intention of letting go.

Tell me now.

Ask me what you want to know.

Alright...um... What are you? she asked.

I'm a werewolf, I replied.

But there is nothing like a werewolf in this world.

Yes, there is. First, tell me everything you know about werewolves. Do you know what they are or what they can do?

"A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope, is a human who can shapeshift into a wolf on the night of a full moon, either on purpose or as a consequence of a curse or affliction. The transformation can be temporary or permanent; the were-animal can be the man himself transformed; it can

be his twofold, whose action takes off the genuine man to all appearances unaltered; it can be his soul, which goes forward looking for whomever it can eat up, clearing out its body in a state of stupor; or it can be nothing more than the human being's flag-bearer, a genuine creature or a recognizable soul, whose insinuate association with its proprietor is appeared by the reality that any damage to it is accepted, by a marvel known as a repercussion, to cause comparing damage to the human being. In the..."

She stopped suddenly. I'm talking too much again. I'm sorry, she murmured.

No, I want to hear it. Go ahead, I urged. It was not a lie. I wanted to hear everything she had to say and I would never get tired of hearing her voice.

"Cutting the accused's flesh in the hopes of finding fur within the wound was one method of detecting a werewolf in human form.

A werewolf can be identified by bristles under the tongue, according to Russian folklore. The appearance of a werewolf in its animal form varies by culture, but it is most commonly depicted as being indistinguishable from ordinary wolves except for the lack of a tail, the fact that it is frequently larger, and the fact that it retains human eyes and a voice. According to some Swedish accounts, the werewolf could be distinguished from a regular wolf by running on three legs, with the fourth stretched backward to resemble a tail. After returning to their human forms, werewolves are known to become feeble, crippled, and suffer from agonizing nervous depression."

You know a lot I have to say. You talk like you memorized book lines, I said gently.

Well, I read a lot of books about almost everything. I read about this on the internet. I have this weird ability that I can remember almost everything that I read once. Line by line, she said.

That's strange but great.

It's useless. I mean, people don't listen to me. So, it's pointless to have this kind of ability, she muttered, clear sadness in her voice. But it was not the sadness that clenched my heart painfully, but the acceptance of the sadness in her voice. I promised myself to make her so happy that she was going to forget what sadness was.

People are stupid, that's why. Don't worry. I'll listen to you. You can tell me anything, you know.

She smiled and nodded. So, am I right? About werewolves?

It's how your world describes werewolves, right?

Yes. I mean, there are these myths, no one knows if they are true or not.

They are not right in all cases. Well, let me tell you about werewolves then. You need to know that as well living here.

There are more werewolves here? she asked, surprised.

This is an exact replica of your world, with three doors leading to the other world. This was one of the entrances that we used to get here. Even though this world appears to be similar to yours, there are numerous differences. This world lacks the technologies that your world possesses. It's more laid back here, but much more privileged than your world. And this world only has...

Werewolves, she finished for me.

CHAPTER Six – Ask Me

Blue's POV

Yes, werewolves, he said. We are born werewolves because our parents are werewolves. We can't turn anyone by biting or casting curses or something like that.

That means if the parents are werewolves, the child will be a werewolf as well? I asked.

Well, that's usually the case. But a werewolf and a human can also create a werewolf, though there are some factors to consider. The human has to be the werewolf's mate, he explained.

Mate? Is it like some kind of goddess chooses a particular werewolf for a werewolf?

Yes, it's like that.

Can two humans ever make a werewolf?

No. It's not possible, he said. Anyway, so, when we turn eighteen, we find our mate.

Ok, I said, puzzled as to why he had brought me here in the first place. He was twenty-four; he surely had a mate. Then why did he have to bring me here? So, a werewolf can have a werewolf mate only, right?

Yes, he replied. It was clear now. He had a mate and he had brought me, God knew why. But what if his mate was dead? Then perhaps that was the reason he wanted to marry me.

But I was not his mate. He said that a werewolf and a human could make werewolf children as well. But then how did they do it if the human was not the werewolf's mate? There must be a reason. But did I want to be his mate? I guess time would tell.

Then why am I here? I'm not your mate. You must have a mate, right? You're older than eighteen. You surely have found your mate, I said before I could stop myself.

I'm the Alpha which means I'm the king of the werewolves. Since my father's death, I have been the king being the oldest son. And the kings have a chance to choose their mate. They can choose any mateless werewolf or even a human, he said.

But why haven't you chosen someone before? I mean, why wait this long?

I waited for you to come to age, he replied.

What?

I told you I know you for a very long time. If I want to make you my mate, you need to be eighteen first to mark you. You'll be eighteen in two days, so I thought it was time.

Mark me?

Mark you and make you my mate. You'll see how it works.

What will happen if you mark me?

"Then no one can take you away from me.

You'll be mine fully," he said. He pronounced the word 'mine' with too much force and determination which gave me the idea that no one could ever take something away from him if it was his.

But why me? I'm just a human. You could have any werewolf as your mate. They are strong and more gorgeous as well, I said.

But I don't want them. I want you.

Why?

There are a lot of reasons, but the main reason is what you'll find out later. The reason is sweet, Blue, he said, smiling slightly.

The way he looked, he did not seem to be the person who would smile and talk friendly. It felt strange.

Well, since you're the king...

You're going to be the Queen.

I wasn't about to say that, I murmured while drooling over the prospect of becoming Queen. A queen and me? It seemed to be impossible. I was sure I would never be able to believe that until I truly became the Queen. I was about to ask, as you're the King, then do you live in a castle or something like that?

Yes, I live in a castle. It's huge. You're going to love it.

Is there Motte? I mean, an earthen mound with a flat top?

No. The castle is on plain land. A Motte and-bailey castle is a European fortification. Ours is not like that, he said.

His words made me believe that he, too, knew a lot about things. It made me happy in a way. At the very least, he would understand what I was saying, whereas the majority of people assumed I was insane because of everything I said.

What about a gatehouse?

Yes, we have a gatehouse. It's important for security.

Moat?

Yes, our castle is surrounded by a moat. There is a bridge that leads inside. It's the only entrance. The moat is filled with water and makes it hard for invaders to try to enter, he said.

You have a great hall, right?

Every castle has a great hall. Sometimes it's in a separate building. In that case, it's called a hall house. But ours is in the castle. That's where the dinner party for you will be held.

For me?

When you will be the queen, we will invite other kings and queens here in our castle for dinner. It's tradition, he said.

Oh, right, I said. It was weird to think of myself as a queen. Can I ask you something?

Just ask me, Blue. You don't have to ask for my permission.

Um... I'll turn eighteen in two days. Then when will....

Two days later. I don't want to waste any more time, he replied without letting me finish. He did that a lot. It gave me an odd feeling that he could read my mind.

Oh ok.

Do you want to ask me anything else?

Well, there is another thing.

Spill out.

Are you marrying me only to have kids? I blurted out and held my breath, without meeting his gaze.

Look at me, Blue, he said, in an icy and calm voice.

I looked up at him, my lips slightly trembling as I tried to apologize. However, he pressed his finger to my lips, causing me to shudder even more.

I'm marrying you because I want you to be my wife. Kids are not my concern at this time. My concern is you and that's all, he said calmly.

Ok. That's all. I'll ask more when questions will come to my mind. Right now, it feels weird but somewhat clear.

I expected you to ask about my werewolf.

You will tell me? I asked. I wanted to ask him a lot of questions about it, but I could not. I assumed it would be inappropriate or something. I felt strange asking him questions, especially after he said he was the king. I feared that he would be offended and punish me.

If you want to know, I'll tell you.

So you can turn into a wolf?

Werewolves can turn into a wolf. But as I'm the Alpha, I turn into a much more terrifying creature. It's still a wolf, but a lot bigger and different looking, he said.

Will you show me?

I'm frightening.

I don't care. I just want to see it. I mean, I've seen wolves before. I just want to see how much different you look from them.

You saw wolves before?

Yes. Well, there was a wolf that was possibly shot by a hunter. I took it to the veterinarian. Because of that...

I could not finish. The memory of being beaten up by Draven came back to me. I could not just tell him that. I would look weak.

He did not ask anything about it as well. I was grateful for it. Rather, he even had enough sense to change the subject.

"My wolf is quite tall. I'm tall as well, but he's massive. And it's black. Given the color of my fur on my hand, you might have

guessed." I gave a nod.

So, one of these days, I'll show you what my wolf looks like. It's difficult to look at him because he's so terrifying. But you're brave, aren't you? I'm sure you are. I know you're not going to back down.

His words were soothing. Except for myself, no one has ever called me brave. It sounded strange, but it was also too good for my ears to bear.

Are you ready to go to the castle then? he asked.

Yes.

He stood up and helped me to my feet. I noticed he was always holding my hand, and I was not at all bothered by it. In some ways, it felt good. It was as if his touch made me feel safe as if no one could ever hurt me if I was with him.

Your family is there too, right? I asked nervously.

Yes. They are waiting for you.

They know about me?

They do. Not only them, but the whole kingdom is waiting for you, he said.

They are waiting for their Queen.

CHAPTER Seven – The Echo

Blue's POV

My knees were trembling after only five minutes of walking. I felt like I would not be able to walk anymore. But I did not tell him that. I did not want to look weak. I knew I could do it.

But he stopped suddenly and looked down directly at my legs. I did not even wince in pain, but he seemed to see through me.

Do your legs hurt? he asked.

Just a bit. Not so much. I can manage, I said.

Hold onto me.

Wha...

Before I knew what he meant, he picked me up in his arms in bridal style. No one had ever held me like this, not in this way. I blushed and was surprised as well.

I can walk, I murmured.

Just relax, he said.

He started walking again. He was carrying me so easily that it looked like I was weightless. It was true that I was very slender, but the way he picked me up, was completely effortless.

Father had never let me eat properly. He said that if he fed me fully, I would get spoiled. I tried to steal food from the kitchen as well, but when I got caught, I had been struck with a belt twenty times.

I exhaled a sigh. Everything changed in the course of a single night. I felt safer than I had in a long time now that I was away from my family and in the arms of a stranger.

Furthermore, the stranger claimed to be the King of Werewolves and desired me as his Queen, despite the fact that I was a nobody.

His scent was enticing as if it transported me to a different world of relaxation and addiction.

I buried my face in his chest, trying to make it appear unintentional. And soon I realized that I had completely become addicted to his scent and it was making me relax more than I should. My eyelids felt heavy, and my mind reminded me that it had been a long time since I had slept.

Sleeping in his arms would be inappropriate. I tried to keep my eyes open and think about anything other than sleeping. My attempt, however, was too feeble to be effective. My eyes soon gave out, and I felt myself drifting away.

"You're completely useless. You're garbage.

You will never be wanted by anyone. Accept it, you bloody whore," Father said, his voice booming and nasty.

You cunt, do you have any idea what you look like? You piece of trash, bring my beer before I break your skull.

Draven's words made me cringe. I could tell that he meant what he said. He would not back away from breaking my skull. Furthermore, he would be delighted to do so.

It's your entire fault, Blue. Why didn't you listen to your father? You've brought this up Mother said, showing her fake pity.

It's going to be alright, sister. I know it's hard for you. But trust me, everything will be fine. Just hold on a bit longer, Maxen's soothing voice came to my mind.

Come back here, you slut! Draven roared.

I could not see anything, but I could hear their voices. It was like they were never going to leave me alone. They were going to haunt me all my life and never going to let me sleep.

You haven't brought cigarettes again, you bitch! Father growled.

That cunt stole all the money!

You deserve to die!

Don't even try to talk back, you bitch!

It's your fault, Blue, you and I both know that. Just listen to them.

It will be okay, sister. Have faith.

Hearing their terrible remarks and then Max's comforting ones made me want to scream. Everything was killing me. And then I heard it suddenly.

She is mine now. Don't you dare touch her or raise your voice at her. You don't have any right over her anymore. She is mine, only mine.

I jerked awake, gasping for air as his voice echoed in my head. Did he mean everything he said? Was I truly his? But why would he want me? I was nothing more than useless trash.

It took some time for my breathing to return to normal. In my panic, I was sweating profusely. With the back of my hand, I wiped the sweat from my brow. That was when I noticed that I was not in his arms anymore, but rather in a room, a completely unknown room, and oh lord... the room was bigger than Max's and mine combined.

I was in a tall, queen-sized bed with plenty of pillows and a thick comforter. The bedding was the same color as the walls. The deep blue color scheme gave the room a royal appearance. Silly me, I forgot that it was supposed to be royal when he was a king.

Some of the pillow covers were dark blue to match the bedding and walls, while others were royal gold, gleaming in the candlelight.

There was a large window on my right side. The long dark blue drapes hung there, fluttering in the breeze. I noticed that it was dark outside, kind of like evening. Had I slept for this long?

An exquisite chandelier hung atop my head, looking as magnificent as ever. It was golden in color with a silver tinge on top.

Beautiful golden artworks adorned the walls, giving the space a unique feel. Everything in

the room was flawless, if not more.

Can I meet her? I heard the voice of a little girl from beneath the closed door.

Not now. She needs rest. You can meet her tomorrow morning, he said. His voice was full of care as he talked to the girl. I wondered who the girl was.

Please, Uncle Demetrius. I want to meet Aunt, the girl said pleadingly.

Did she mean me by aunt? I wondered what it would feel like to be called Aunt. It would be weird as I was not even eighteen yet.

Uncle Demetrius told you that you can meet Aunt tomorrow. She will like to meet you too. But she needs proper rest for that. Especially when you're going to spend the whole day with her,