Loved by My Archenemy

CHAPTER TWO

Far in the outskirt of Al-hilal and very far away from Nukhba Academy lays a pack of rogues, an unusual group of shifters from different races but the same purpose drives them; Their undying hate for the Makhthums and the thirst to overpower the throne of Al-hilal. At the middle of this small group lays Fauzan Malik, the leader of this unusual pack and Basit Makhthum’s sworn enemy.

It is a beautiful sunny morning at the Malik Manor. Asad, fauzan’s only son was pacing on the hallway whispering words to himself “focus, focus Asad focus” then he heard footsteps coming towards him “Asad?” he stopped pacing now, his eyes were filled with fear he closed them really tight, his face flushed red, he knows that voice of course he does, as he turned around to face his father, he tried to get rid of looking so weak. “ye..yes father” he stammered “I…I didn’t see you there” he said trying to hide his fright “Are you okay son?” Fauzan said looking suspiciously at his son “yes! Father, wh… why did you ask?” Asad asked scratching his shoulder nervously and distracting himself to avoid eye contact. “You seem very distracted son, you shouldn’t show your weakness so easily! I can smell your fear! Wipe that out! A true king fears nothing!” Fauzan said with disgust, now Asad was clearing his throat and straightening his back. “yes father.” He bowed and made his way down to the kitchen “we will talk about your trip to morocco after breakfast” Fauzan said sternly. “yes father” Asad said trying to sound as stern. When he made sure his father was out of sight, he made his way back to his room.

Pacing in his room from left to right, he could hear himself breathe he could also feel the hot breath coming from his mouth and nose. He was sweating now, profusely. He lifted his hand to wipe the sweat up from his forehead. He started to mutter to himself, holding his chest as he went on ‘Ares!’ he whispered “are you there? I need you” he said with his eyes filled with so much hope for a reply. ‘you know I am always here with you asad, we share the same soul, we feel the same fright, we are one. Asad was filled with relief he wasn’t alone.

I can’t do this ares, I can’t lie to father, Asad was trembling now. But wait! It’s not my fault! No its not! I did everything I could! she just knew how to throw me off my balance with her beautiful smile, oh her beautiful smile ares you saw it too right?, of course you did. She was all we saw and how her long hair swayed behind her when she walked away ‘Asad, you are diverting again, you were worried remember? How do we tell your father she doesn’t seem interested? How do we tell him we failed?’ no! no we didn’t fail, we just .. we just .. it is just a setback! Yes! A setback. ‘ You don’t believe that yourself Asad’ I don’t know what to do anymore ares ‘just breathe and be bold around your father’ ..you have always helped me work out my anxiety ares, I am happy you’re my wolf... ‘you do realize we have missed breakfast, I am not staying hungry until lunch’ I almost forgot you were mean too.

Asad made his way down the stairs and into a dark room that smells of old books, his father’s home office, he knew fauzan would be there standing behind his chair and looking at a picture of his late wife Hadifa, Asad’s mother. “father?” Asad said slowly, so as not to upset him . He knows fauzan gets very emotional when he is at this state. Fauzan turned around his eyes teary and weak, “yes, son.” He said sniffing and robbing his eyes with his hand. “took you long enough, I was just about to order the butler to call you in, sit” he gestured to one of the chairs in front of Asad. Asad obeyed. Then Fauzan smiled. “how did it go in morocco, you’ve been back a week now . why does it seem like you are hiding away from me? Did it not go well?” Fauzan said now he sounded stern and suspicious. Asad, again was trying to not look at his father he started to mutter words again he started to scratch his neck again he was focused on not looking at Fauzan. “n…no father I.. it went.. it went..I..I” “Asad Fauzan Malik!” Fauzan interrupted. “do not whimper like a puppy! Speak like a man!” Asad was shaken he was frightened. He has always been like this around his father, he saw his father like a general in the army. Fearless, authoritative and scary. “Speak!” Fauzan said again. Asad straightened himself took a deep breath and started… ”father, it did not go well in morocco. It seemed like she knew what I was doing, she pushes me away when I try to get close, and when I persist, she walks out on me.” Asad said, still trying to avoid eye contact. “I have done all I could I guess we can never really take revenge on the Makthums they are stronger” “you are unbelievable! No child of mine is a coward!” Fauzan said, this time, he was furious. He pushed the desk between them away. Asad was frightened he stood up from his chair to avoid getting hit by the desk. “ the Makthums are the reason we’ve been hiding in this threshold for nineteen years! They are the reason your mother isn’t here with us!..” Fauzan’s voice was breaking now .. Asad looked confused, he thought his mother had died of complications from the pregnancy. “what are you saying father? Mo..Mother died because she lost a lot of blood while giving birth to me . what do you mean by they are reason mother died” Asad was on the floor now. looking so confused he had secretly blamed himself for his mother’s death. ‘How is this possible?’ he grew up thinking his father was so stern with him because he {asad} was the reason his wife died. He has lived with the guilt for eighteen years. “what are you saying father?” he said gritting his teeth, looking back at his father with so much rage on his face. “Asad…”