Lycan King’s Nemesis

**GWEN**

“Abby?” I squealed, jumping up from the settee to hurry to her, not paying heed to her subsequent stifled tone. I higher her right the instant I was close to her. “I can’t believe you are here in person. Where have you been?” The questions flowed one after the other.

When she didn’t reply, I pushed away from her and grazed her from head to toe in assessment. Then it dawned on me that Tyler had lied. I swerved around you and ogled at him. “You lied to me!”

His hands lifted and fell by his sides, his eyes rolling up. “I didn’t,” he drawled. “She just showed up at my doorstep a few minutes after you left the other day.”

“And you didn’t think to inform me.” I was back at Abby. “You had everyone at the palace worried! Your mother, brother, the people. Everyone! Abby.”

She rolled her eyes and snatched her hands off me, moving into the sitting room. “Like they care. Like any of you truly care.”

“What are you talking about, Abby?” I didn’t give her a chance to escape. “You of all people know we do.”

“And yet all you cared about was running here to talk about my brother’s proclamation of his love for you.” Her words were callous. And very unfair of her. I have grown to love Abby with every day that broke. I now saw her as a sister than a friend and I didn’t want to assume that the little happiness I seemed to get would irk her this way.

I didn’t take it personal. She was going through a lot, I could understand. “Abby…” I plopped down beside her and once more took her right hand. I pretended not to notice how she tried to hold back. “I know you are hurting and heaven forbids that I take any word you throw at me personal. Because I love you. I am also affected by the recent developments in the palace. Williams death. But we have to move on.”

Her face snapped at me, her hand leaving me with such force I feared a bone would break. She was furious. Tears shimmered in her orbs. “Would you have said the same if it were my brother who died?”

I couldn’t reply. I only allowed her to vent.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I lost my mate and it’s all because of you!”

It was time for my mood to swing in the dark direction. The guilty side, resurfacing. My head fell low, taking on my entwined fingers. Would Abby ever see me in the same light ever again? Would she ever forgive me?

“I only came here because I had nowhere to go,” She concluded. “I had gone to a former place I used to go with Williams but the memory of his presence there was too much for me. If I had spent one more day there, I would have taken my own life.”

“Augustine?” I adjusted on the couch to be able to see her properly.

“How did you know?” She eyed me.

“Your mother. She told me you might be there.” I nodded toward Tyler. “That was also why I came here. Not only to share what you heard earlier but to inform Ty that we had a lead on where to find you. So, you see, I was not idle all these while, I have been digging, trying to find out where you are likely to be.”

She sniffed and shook her head. “So, what now? You are going to tell them you found me? I’m not coming back.” There was a note of finality in her voice.

“I am not… going to tell them if you don’t want that.”

“I don’t…want to be there. Not now.”

“Okay.”

I sighed and pushed deeper into the seat. This was a major relief. Abby doesn’t know how much coming back meant to me. At least this problem is rectified, even if her family doesn’t need to know it.

I glanced at Tyler, who was still in the same position, unmoving. He looked at me like he had something to say. This isn’t easy on him. I have brought him only trouble since we became friends. If I hadn’t become friends with him, Ashton wouldn’t hate him and if I hadn’t made him pretend to be Abby’s mate, he wouldn’t have to face the former Queen’s wrath and now have to hide her.

Only me! I seem to be a conveyor of doom wherever I go since I turned eighteen!

“Do you need me to bring anything for you from the palace?” I asked Abby. “Clothes, underwear, anything.”

“No, I can manage. I took enough wear to last me a long time. Besides, my brother is very smart, he might be monitoring your movement, and you will never know.”

At the mention of his name, my heart soared. It felt like forever since I saw him when it was not even up to 5hours. This love could wreck my soul if anything went wrong.

“Okay, I will have to supply food to Tyler, anyway. You have to be… maintained.”

“I’m not a pup and do not treat me like one.” She spat.

My heart was breaking with how Abby was attacking my every move to help. This was not us. I knew I ruined everything and it would take probably forever to mend it, still, it didn’t stop it from hurting.

Tyler sensing the stiff air decided to intervene. “If you ask me I will say we shouldn’t lay blame on anyone, at least not for now. We can’t say for sure who killed Williams and from the searches I’ve been conducting, it might not be any of the invitees.”

Abby stood abruptly and hissed. “Of course, you will take her side.” She scampered off.

We didn’t go after her. I was tempted to, but when I saw Tyler’s raised palm, I sagged back and watched her go.

“She will be fine,” he said. “She needs space.”

I wanted to agree with him so badly. But I was scared. Afraid that Abby would never like me again. “Ty, I am so sorry I got you involved in all these.” I had to say to digress from the present topic for myself.

“I don’t mind. She might be grumpy and a vixen, but I simply hope to manage.”

“You know she’s a sweet person, don’t you?”

“So you say.”

“She’s only hurting.”

He indicated the tray. “You don’t like the tea today?”

I exhaled with a relaxing sigh, closing and opening my eyes as I leaned forward and picked up the cup. “This is one of the best parts of coming here. In fact, I used to enjoy it very much the time I was here.”

“I know.”

“You are such a wonderful person, Ty.”

He frowned and stood up. “I have to check on something outside.” He was trying to escape. Did I say something wrong now?

“Ty?”

“Not now, Gwen.”

“What? You don’t even know what I want to say.”

“I know you, Gwen.” He played with something in his hand. “I know you are dying to know everything about me. It’s in your eyes.”

“And what’s so bad knowing everything about my friends?”

“It’s nothing bad but I am not the kind of person you think I am, Gwen. That’s all I have to say to you.”

I scoffed, lowering the tea cup and placing my palm into the other in front of me as I observed him. It appeared we had enough time on our hands as we wouldn’t be going in search of Abby anymore. “I know everything I want to know about you, Ty. I don’t care about what others think of you, your former pack, my husband, or anyone. It’s how you have acted towards me that I care about. I pray you understand that you have me and could tell me anything.”

“And yet you won’t share your problems with me.” He brisked in a tight tone.

I was astounded. “What have I not told you, Ty?”

“Really?”

“I desire to know ’cause I would like to think I am a very open-minded person.”

“And I didn’t know you were having a problem with conception?”

I paled. My mouth fell open and closed. Wordlessly. How… how did he know?

“I thought you had nothing to hide?” He chastised, causing me to shift uncomfortably. This was a part of me I do not like talking about much.

“It was complicated, Ty.”

“I have thought about it and no matter how hard I did, I don’t get how hard it was to share that.”

“How did you know?”

“It’s not your business.” He walked to the door.

“Ty, I was ashamed.” I went after him. I couldn’t bear Ty being mad at me. Why was everyone getting furious at me today that was one of my happiest days.

“I need to be alone, Gwen.”

“I wanted to tell you. But of what use would it be?”

“I could have shared in your pain? Was that why each time you went to the temple you come out with red-rimmed eyes?” He was at my face. “You think the goddess cares about if you bear children or not?” He scoffed. “You are such a dreamer.”

“I believe!” I screamed at him. “You are not the only one who had been wronged, Tyler. I was also abandoned by the goddess when I needed her most. But that didn’t stop me from still trusting that she would do right by me.”

“And where had that gotten you?”

“I am still… waiting.”

“You are so…” he shook his head. “Just go inside.” he waved me away. I couldn’t accept Tyler was saying these mean words to me. He had never shown me anger. It was foreign and something I didn’t think I could endure.

“I’m sorry, Ty.”

“I forgive you, Gwen. I told you so you would know it was not a secret. After saying you told me everything.”

He walked away, leaving me standing there watching his broad back. He was so furious. He kicked at an object on his way and never turned to look at me.

I didn’t want to break down so I twisted and ran back in. I drank all the tea in one gulp, my eyes pinned on the door, waiting for him to return so we could resolve our differences.

Time flew by and I was beginning to grow weary and bored. I decided to seek out Abby and see how she was fairing. If she would let me. Coming here today was starting to look bleak.

“Abby?” I called as I climbed the staircase. “Where are you?”

There was no sound.

After opening two doors, I located her in one of them, wrapped under the duvet, and from the tiny snores produced, I figured she was in a deep slumber. I went to cover her properly, kissed her forehead hence I left the room.

Seeing as Tyler was taking time to come back and might be avoiding me, I had to leave too.

At the palace, when I came down from the car, I made my way back in the direction of the temple. It was Thursday and prayer day.

Unlike before when I came here, and the people would greet me, today they looked at me with venom in their eyes. It was apparent how much they hated me. Even when I waved at a group of women entering the temple, they glanced away sharply and hurried along.

Not to hurt myself by thinking about their behaviours, I concluded it was meaningless trying to gain their approval when they were bent on ruining my day. I went to pray, and after prayers, I went back to the palace.

I didn’t go to look for Ashton as I knew he would still be out, somehow, I knew. Instead, I went in search of Charlotte, I needed a little of the substance from the other day.

Reverse to what I assumed that day about getting drunk, it made me well and almost felt like all my problems were over.

…