Ileus: The Dark Prince

Kaizan returned to the mansion soon after. He didn't want to linger and console Samus for he knew that the man needed a lot of time to recover from this shock. It wouldn't be easy to forget the betrayal of his wife, the hatred she bore all these years against him under the garb of niceties and how she shaped their only child. Kaizan didn't know whether he should be happy for Bernice or be angry that she was with her mother in a plan Fuchsia drafted. In the end, he just thought that now she had found her mate, probably she would understand the bond. Thinking that, he was willing to forgive her.

Back in the mansion, Fuchsia was standing in front of Vaarin and Kaia in chains. Kaia was numb with shock. She was staring at her sister whom she had trusted so much, who was her blood. She couldn't believe that Fuchsia had tried to kill Olivia. After Olivia narrated what the mother and daughter did at the capital, Kaia was simply dumbfounded. Her one hand was on her heart while the other had clutched Olivia's. It was difficult to even reason about Fuchsia's treason.

"You betrayed the King and Queen by trying to murder Olivia," said Vaarin, his voice showing no emotion. Kaia looked at her husband totally dazed. It looked to her as if she was under water and every voice was warbled. She felt nothing from him, not even a modicum of emotion, as he held his sword against Fuchsia's neck. "You betrayed me, you betrayed the Whiteclaw pack. But even that betrayal is not the worst sin you have committed.

Fuchsia, who was kneeling on the ground, turned her head above to see him. "I did—"

"You did the unthinkable," said Vaarin.

"Samuel wanted to kill Olivia, not me—"

"Total bullshit!" Vaarin snarled.

For a long moment Fuchsia was silent. Her gaze went to Kaia and then to Olivia. "I am not sorry for whatever I did, Vaarin. But I had to do it. I couldn't let my daughter deal with the pain and stigma that I suffered because of my sister. I don't think you will understand it, but my Bernice is much more deserving than Olivia. Just like me—I was more deserving than Kaia."

Vaarin's fury rose to his chest and then cruised through his body, making him shudder. His fury became like hot lava that was trapped in the core of the mountain and about to blast. It was as if he was trying to stop himself from killing Fuchsia. His control over his temper was awe-inspiring. "You are responsible for causing so much chaos in Olivia's life, aren't you?" he asked, not lowering his sword. "Even though she was your sister's daughter, even though you cradled her when she was a babe?"

Fuchsia stared straight ahead at Olivia and then at Kaia. "I did," she confessed.

"If Captain Samuel weren't Bernice's mate, you would have plunged the knife in Olivia. And that means that you tried to break the peace treaty."

"No," Fuchsia said slowly. "Then Bernice would have married Kaizan."

"Fuchsia!" Vaarin roared. He lifted his sword to kill her when once again he stopped himself. "For this alone, I should kill you." Vaarin lifted the sword and then sheathed it. "But I won't."

Fuchsia jerked her head back. She knew it. She knew that she would be spared. "You are sparing my life?"

"What?" Vaarin sounded amused. "I think you didn't understand what I said. I said I won't kill you. I didn't say that you will not be killed by anyone else." He looked over his shoulder to where Kaizan was standing. "I believe she is the prisoner of the kingdom and not the Whiteclaw pack."

Kaizan nodded tightly. He looked at his guards and jerked his chin. They pulled up Fuchsia.

"What are you doing?" Fuchsia shrieked.

"Take her to the dungeons of the royal palace," Kaizan ordered to the Mozia who had chained her.

Fuchsia looked up at Kaizan in shock. Her face twisted with rage and hatred. Anger rose in her chest. "You bastard!" she shouted. "You can't take me there! This doesn't end here. I will come back. Our real Alpha will come—"

The Mozia flung his hand forward, ending her poisonous words into a distant sound.

For the entire night, Kaia was unable to sleep. She didn't know how to handle the situation and the next day the first ceremony of the celebrations had to start. Olivia understood her mother's shock and she spent the night with her and her father in their chamber. Though it was Kaia who cried uncontrollably, Vaarin only stood and watched her helplessly. Olivia stayed with her mother and left only when she had settled into a sleep.

When Olivia reached her room, she saw that Kaizan was already asleep. She changed into a soft camisole and slipped beside him. She snuggled into his warm chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around his mate. By the time it was morning, Kaizan's little brother had stirred. It wanted to drive home, but Olivia had smacked his chest. "Not now. We are getting late for the ceremony." Reluctantly, he left her, grumbling.

They reached the courtyard where the Shaman was there, preparing the statue of the gods. "See, no one is ready?" said a petulant Kaizan scanning the crowd of friends and relatives. "We could have done it!"

Olivia's cheeks flamed with heat. "Shut up!" she chided him. "Can't you see that there are so many already?" Kaia hadn't come and she could understand that her mother was still unwell. She walked up to her friends and cousins with Kaizan on her heels. All of them were awed by Kaizan's presence. They congratulated the couple enthusiastically. Olivia was snatched from him by her cousins who took her away to dress her with flowers.

Kaizan pouted as he looked at his wife from a distance who was now surrounded by five girls. They were pinning a red rose headdress. Then they made her wear a rose garland and rose earrings. Kaizan's breath lodged in his throat. He wanted her so badly. While she was laughing and enjoying herself, he was sitting alone on a divan and watching her. His little brother twitched and pulsed and he crossed his legs. Couldn't she look at him even once?

Olivia was loving the company of her cousins after a long time. Suddenly she heard a loud groan. She snapped her head to the right and saw Kaizan with his hand on his heart groaning in pain. She sprang up from her place and rushed to him. "Kaizan, are you okay?" she asked as several others crowded them.

"I think I have heartache," he replied, his lips downturned.

"Gods!" Olivia rasped. "Come, let us go inside." She helped him to stand up, as others fussed. He leaned on her shoulders and with her help, slowly walked to their bedchamber. As soon as they were inside, the sly wolf bolted the door, scooped his wife in his arms and carried her to the bed and made her lie down.

"Kaizan!"

Before she could protest again, he seized her lips and lifted her gown. His hands went to her panties which he tore.. The wolf licked his lips and lowered his mouth in between her thighs.