Forbidden affair.

Chapter 4.

Since it was still morning, King Raymond did not know that his wife had run off from the palace at night. Although he knocked on her door that morning to greet her but there was no response so he thought that she was still asleep and did not want to disturb her by barging in, therefore he left.

He also went to the room of his son to check on him because it was very unusual that up till that time, Jasper had not come to welcome him from his journey. He wanted to know if all was well. It was a tradition for Jasper to always welcome him once he returned from any movement, whether it was to conquer a city or to visit the cities under his rule. Since it had to do with returning with a new wife, he expected to see Jasper come to welcome because he knew that his son was very happy when he said he was leaving to bring back a wife.

After checking his son's room, he learnt that Jasper did not sleep in the palace. In short, it was reported to him that his son had gone hunting last night before his return to personally catch meat for him. Hearing this, he understood why he had not come to welcome him, but then he was worried at the same time because Jasper was good at hunting so he shouldn't have stayed outside till that morning unless he had fallen prey to another Hunter's trap. So he was coming out of the castle to lead some men into the woods in search of Jasper.

Jasper and Ashley then met him as he came out of the castle, ready for a movement.

"Father, where are you going?" Jasper asked because he was not expecting to see him in that manner.

Ashley instantly let go of Jasper's hand as she greeted. "Good morning my Lord."

"Wow," Raymond was surprised with a smile, "You've met each other already?" He diverted the question of his son.

Now Jasper was the one full of confusion with eagerness to know what was going on and why his father acted as if he knew Ashley. Then he noticed also that Ashley was feeling discomfort because of the presence and question of Raymond, so she was switching looks between Ashley and his father.

"I checked your room and there was no response so I thought you were still sleeping," he referred now to Ashley. "Well, since you've met already, there is no need for further introduction. Come on, let's go in and have a drink as a family." Raymond was saying these words without observing the faces of those who he spoke to.

Jasper was gradually trying to understand what was going on as he fixed his eyes now on Ashley. He could now understand the reason why she had insisted that they make the blood covenant. His anger seemed to be kindled upon her but it was impossible as he could not get angry at the one his heart now belonged to. Instead, the anger was channeled to himself for not noticing this earlier and also he was angry at his father for marrying his mate.

Ashley could see that he was angry but not at her despite her wrong of not telling him she was married in the first place. So she could see that his heart belonged to her the way hers belonged to him and he would still love her if she had told him about this when they met. That way, he would have followed some process. But all the same, the mistake had been made and she could not start apologizing to him there, therefore she just looked at him with no words to say.

Raymond, who had turned around back into the castle with the hope that they had followed him at once could not hear their footsteps coming behind, so he stopped, turning to see the both still at the spot where he left them, so he said. "What's the matter?"

They then looked at him and had to comport themselves so that he would not begin to suspect anything fishy. Therefore they followed him and came into the parlor of the King where they would make a toast as a family, just as he had said.

"Come on, sit beside me," Raymond said as he sat down and saw that Ashley was going for another seat.

Ashley had to respect herself and do as he had said because she was yet to study his temper. As she sat beside him on the same chair, he crossed his hand, holding her waist as he smiled. Then he signaled a servant to get them a drink for their toast.

Seeing the love of his life, his mate, being cuddled by his father in that manner was an eyesore to Jasper as he could not behold the sight. He tried overlooking it but it was impossible, as his heart would repeatedly tell him that Ashley was his mate. He was a jealous lover. He tried several signals to cause his father to lose hold of her but Raymond was not understanding any of those signals. Though Raymond did not understand those signals from his son, Ashley knew that Jasper was jealous, and she also felt for him but there was nothing she could do to make Raymond leave her, so she buried her face to the ground as she did not mean to hurt the person that had captured her heart.

Since his father would not let go of Ashley, he had to leave them and not see that again, but at the moment he wanted to stand up, that was when the servant returned with the drink and poured it into their cups.

"To us," Raymond said as he raised his own cup up.

Jasper could not repeat those words after him, so he quickly took a sip from the cup and said, "Father please excuse me." He got irritated and walked out of the parlor.

It was now that Raymond could tell that something was wrong as he asked Ashley, "Do you sense something strange in the way he left?"

"No," Ashley said as she did not want to create any impression now.

Then Raymond shrugged, "If you say so," he continued his drink and even attempted giving Ashley a sip from his cup but she quickly put her own cup in her mouth and sipped from it instead.