I
King Timodore decided not to tell yet his wife about what happened to him and Neoma in the forest. It is better not to tell her in front of Neoma.
“Neoma, you have been learning a lot from your father. In three years' time, you will be maximizing all your potential powers. But always remember our number one rule, use that only when it is necessary,’ Queen Asalea said while ruffling her daughter’s hair. She really feels proud being the Queen Momma of this sweet teen in front of her. She had been endowed with great power, yet she grew up to be still humble and kind in her own ways.
Neoma nodded and smiled happily. “Of course, Queen Momma, I always remember that. See, I have not used my powers for a long time, not until King Father told me so, a while ago.”
“That’s my girl. Go and rest. Take the guest room on the left side. Remember, you are not Princess Neoma in the meantime, so you cannot take your own room for a moment,” Queen Asalea reminded her with a grin on her lips and Neoma laughed.
“I will take the guest room on the left side then,” she replied grinning back.
As Neoma walked out of the room, King Timodore and Queen Asalea followed her back with their eyes, glittering with much pride. They cannot ask for more for having a son and a daughter like Quacey and Neoma. They grew up to be sweet and respectful.
“Sweetheart, I need to tell you something.” King Timodore broke their silence. He tried to get her attention, who was still on the door as if Neoma was still there.
“Oh, sorry. What was that, Sweetheart?” Queen Asalea said as she suddenly returned to her senses.
“I said, I will be telling you something," King Timodore reiterated what he said a moment ago, with a bit of amusement to his wife's obliviousness.
“What is it?”
“About Neoma. About what happened to us while walking inside the forest.”
Queen Asalea furrowed as she gauged her husband with an intensified look. “Tell me then. Then make it too dramatic, Sweetheart. I am getting nervous.”
“Alright. While walking in the forest, four werewolves suddenly showed up in front of us.”
“Oh gosh, did they attack you and Neoma?” she said, exclaiming. Somewhat overacting that made King Timodore laugh a bit and grin at her.
“That was the ironic part, they did not attack us. When their biggest companion growled so loud, they all ran away thereafter.”
Queen Asalea’s forehead, once again furrowed.
“You mean, they were frightened and went away instead of attacking you?”
“I guess they ran away not only because they were frightened but there was a more meaningful reason that I can think of.” King Timodore said. His instinct as a father was telling him strongly that there was something between Neoma and that big, yellowish werewolf.
“What about?”
“I saw the big yellowish werewolf look at Neoma before it growled so loud, and Neoma has been stiffened when her eyes darted on that werewolf.” King Timodore was a real keen observer and his senses are stronger than any vampire and Queen Asalea knew that. So, she believes in his intuitions.
“What are you pointing at then, my love?” Queen Asalea asked wanting to hear what he was thinking, although she already has a hint of what he was about to say.
“My Queen, I am certain that the big yellowish werewolf in the forest was Alpha King Burkoo of the Ecleteon Kingdom.”
With that, Queen Asalea fell silent.
II
At the Ecleteon palace, Alpha King Burkoo and his warriors just arrived in the palace after having a hunting spree in the nearby forest.
They all shifted into their human forms nearby their palace garden, where they left their clothes before they shifted into their wolf forms.
“My Alpha King, I am just wondering why you ordered us to retreat a while ago rather than attack the enemy. I recognized that man, your Highness. He was King Timodore of the Glodeous Kingdom, one of our mortal enemies.” His Beta asked, quite confused.
But Alpha King Burkoo just looked at his Beta and answered indirectly. “I have my reasons for doing so. Just don’t ask. You will understand later on.” He then walked fast toward the palace’s main door without even looking back and went straight to his room.
As he entered his room, he chose first to sit on his bed and calm himself. All throughout their walk from the forest, until they reached the Ecleteon Palace, his heart was still beating fast and his wolf was still restless. He could not think of anything else but Neoma. She was like an enchanting creature that charmed him and never left his mind since the day that he saw her again at the airport.
“You are so beautiful Neoma, my mate, but you are still so young to ever feel what I am feeling now, and most of all, why on earth you happen to be the daughter of my most despised enemies? Your parents killed my father and with that, I could not accept you as my mate, even if my heart and my wolf wanted you so badly,” he murmured with sadness creeping through his heart. How ironic life is and what did Moon Goddess was thinking when she wrote in her book of life the name of Neoma as my fated mate?
Alpha King Burkoo stood up and went to his shower room. Aside from a fast-beating heart, he could feel a certain feeling of hotness whenever he sees Neoma and he is getting worried about it especially since their mating season is soon to start already. Could he be seduced still just like before by any other she-wolf or woman or his body, mind, heart, and his wolf, would be craving more for Neoma?