Shifting Fates

Silas

Silas

“I don’t care about an alliance! She’s my fated mate!” Maybe yelling at the King wasn’t such a good idea. At this moment, I didn’t care. I needed my father, not the King. I needed Aspen. The kiss Zion gave her before they left the city had me in tears, on my knees. I felt what she did when I kissed Lena. I couldn’t even look at that woman now. We tried to consummate our marriage, but I could only go so far before I started feeling the ping of pain from Aspen. I knew Zion was doing something to her, probably to counteract whatever pain I was causing her. I couldn’t be mad at either one of them for that. She was in pain, and it was my fault. I should have accepted her rejection. I shouldn’t have kissed her. That’s all I could think about now.

“You should accept her rejection, son. The only thing you’re doing is hurting her and yourself. Lena too. Aspen doesn’t have the kind of power we need from your marriage with Lena.” My father said looking at me from behind his desk, my mother by his side with a sad face. She didn’t agree with him. She wanted my marriage to Lena annulled and she wanted me to take Aspen. She and I were on the same page about this, but my father was not.

“I don’t want to reject her, father. You know how long we’ve know each other. I couldn’t bare to lose her twice.” I was practically begging him. I needed Aspen like I needed air. I couldn’t even think about someone else having her. She was mine.

The door to my father’s office creaked open slowly, revealing a shy Lena behind it. My father waved her in and I groaned. I didn’t need my wife to see me like this, or hear anything that was being said. She knew everything that was happening, but she simply thought I was being stubborn. That her showing me her skills in bed would make everything better. Or that her daddy’s money could fix this. Nothing could fix this. Nothing but Aspen. And that was never going to happen if I couldn’t get my father on the same page as me.

Lena took a few steps into the room, curtsied and came to my side. “I am willing to make a deal with you, Silas.” She said softly, instantly having my attention. A deal? What could she offer me that would be worth it. I raised a brow at her, beckoning her to continue. “Take Aspen as your mate and mistress. She can have you in bed, have your children, but I raise them. I attend parties. I am your Queen.” This was no deal for Aspen. She would never agree to be my mistress. She deserved better than that. She deserved to be my Queen. My everything.

I shook my head. “You’re a selfless person, Lena. But that will never, ever work. Aspen is no one’s mistress. Raising her children? Fat chance. She’s a fierce lover. She cares for others more than herself. She would be crushed if she had to endure someone else raising her flesh and blood.” I couldn’t even imagine raising children without her. I could see my mother nodding her head out of the corner of my eye. She was agreeing with me, again. She would never speak against my father in anyone’s presence. When they were alone, however, I’ve seen my father change his mind over night because of something she said behind closed doors. It’s hilarious that such a small woman has such an impact over the King.

“I agree with my son, Lena. Aspen is no one’s mistress. There is nothing to be done tonight. She’s already left and I’m sure she’ll be home by tomorrow night. We can take a few days to figure things out. Silas, I suggest you think long and hard about accepting her rejection. If you don’t, I would avoid any kind of affection towards Lena. You’ll only be hurting Aspen.” She said standing from her spot, making my father quickly stumble up to his. When the Queen stands, everyone including the King stands. Both my mother and my father left his office, leaving only Lena and I.

“I had a fated mate once.” She started softly, staring into the flames from the fire that my father had his servants start. I turned to look at her fully. “He was so handsome. His eyes were like a blue ocean.” A small smile crossed her sweet face, but her eyes held so much pain. I didn’t want to pry. She was telling me this on her own, but I really wanted to know what happened to him. “He was a prince, so someone I could have married. The only problem was he was the son to whomever our enemy was at the time. Our marriage could have saved so many lives. But my father had him killed, in the dead of night.” I saw the lone tear slip from her eye, my heart hurt for her. “I woke up screaming, my parents thought someone had broken in. He didn’t realize that killing him would have such an effect on me.” She turned her face to look at me. “I understand what you’re going through and what she’s going through. Don’t prolong it.” She said softly before leaning in and kissing my cheek softly before turning away and walking out.

I was alone now. Alone with these thoughts that I didn’t want to be alone with. Aspen was mine. My wolf knew it, I knew it. Most of the city knew it now. I had promised her I would make this right, and I will. I just couldn’t do it by accepting her rejection. My heart wouldn’t take the pain. It was already strained from seeing the look in her eyes after I kissed Lena, and then again as she rode away. Damned Zion for getting her out of here before I could talk to her.