Loved by My Archenemy

CHAPTER FOUR

The sun has now set, the sky turned orange and pink. A beautiful site, but all was tension at the Malik’s manor. The news of Asad’s sudden rage and disappearance to Al hilal had spread like wildfire in a dry desert. Fauzan was pacing up and down the study. ‘I shouldn’t have broken the news to him like that’ he thought to himself. ‘But there was no other way to tell him about the pain Basit makhthum has caused us..BASIT MAKHTHUM’ he paused. ‘ its been two long decades but yet! You still cause so much pain to me and my family’. Fauzan said, gritting his teeth and gripping his claw like nails into the antic burgundy leather cushion that sat at the corner of the study. Staring at what seems to be nothing. ‘ I will destroy every single thing you ever cared about. I will go all length to make sure you feel even worse misery! I will not rest until you and your family pay for every single tears... “sire?” the butler interrupted. Fauzan lifted his face and realized Asad had left the study door ajar when he stormed out. He quickly straightened himself out and cleared his throat, glaring at salman, the butler standing in front of the study and exclaimed “your interrupting me should better mean you found my son!” Salman’s face fell, he hadn’t found Asad. In fact, he had an even worse news.. “sire..” he said again. This time avoiding eye contact.. “the rogues… they are outside, on the manor grounds, they demand your presence my lord” “DEMAND??” Fauzan repeated furiously “how dare they use such words?!” Salman took a step back and continued “they heard about master Asad’s sudden flee too Al Hilal. They need answers sire” there was a sudden chill in the room followed by a long pause. “Tell them I will be right out to address their questions” Fauzan said turning around to face the picture of his late wife on the study wall. He could hear Salman shutting the study door and heading to the Manor grounds.

Fauzan’s eyes turned sad and teary, looking straight into his wife’s pearl blue eyes as though she was there with him.. ‘what do I do Hadifa? How do I handle this? How do I handle our son’s anger and the people’s questions all at once?’ Fauzan said softly still looking deeply at the picture as though he was waiting for an answer. ‘Every day I blame myself for allowing everything to happen, for allowing my trust for a “dear friend” to turn into weakness, if I had stopped cowering and stood to fight, I wouldn’t have lost you’… ‘I haven’t made peace with loosing you, I cannot lose our son too. I cannot force him into this whole scheme.. if Asad can’t do this. Then I will. I cannot keep cowering and staying low’. Fauzan said reassuringly, making his way out of the study, he paused for a while and continued, ‘this is not his war to fight’. He held the knob to the study door, motioning to the picture, and finished… ‘This is MY war to fight’. He proceeded to open the door and made his way to manor grounds.

As Fauzan proceeded to the grounds he could hear loud mumbles coming from the grounds. He stood before them on the patio close to the main entrance. It seem as though nobody noticed him, the mumbles became even louder. Fauzan could hear every word of disrespect and disregard thrown at him and his son … “ever since we pledged allegiance to Fauzan Malik we have gotten nothing but bad luck” some of the rogues had clamored. “his son is nothing but a weak pup, he whimpers at everything” others said. Now Fauzan is turning furious, he was sure he was going to pounce on these rogues if they say more… “We shouldn’t pledge allegiance to weaklings, we are not weak! …” “ENOUGH!!!” Fauzan roared. “How dare you disrespect me in my own home!” the Manor had turned awfully silent. One could feel the immense chilliness the presence of Fauzan brought. It seemed as though they were quiet for an eternity, until it was broken by one of the rogues, Kaaz Alim, Fauzan’s adviser and also his link to the rogues. “Forgive our disrespect my lord” kaaz announced as he walked towards the patio away from the other rogues. “we are just desperate for answers. For eighteen years we have been quiet. We have listened to everything you told us, we never questioned your authority. Not even when you decided our fate of getting back at Al-Hilal and Basit Makhthum laid with your pup. But it has been eighteen years! And the one in which our fate lies is still a scared little pub” on hearing this, the rogues murmured in agreement. Fauzan’s face turned weak. That is not a lie. He thought to himself. “we just want answers” kaaz said firmly. “Yes!!!” the rogues chorused. “Do we still keep our fate with a little pup!” some rogues exclaimed. Fauzan had no words. He was ashamed. These rogues took him in as leader after he had promised them Basit Makhthum’s head. Would they take him seriously if he tells them Asad is incapable of taking on this task? Would they still believe in him? He knew all he could do to get his answers is to open up to them and hope they understand his plight. He could feel a sweat coming down his face, he had never felt so nervous. The rogues had turned their complete attention to him. He took a long breath and started. “I understand your worries and I am taking it as seriously, I am well aware that our union together is solely because we have a common enemy. And for eighteen years we have worked sternly to see the end of the Makhthum dynasty. And I assure you that our goals have not changed…” “Your son does not know his history we assume!” a voice from the crowd interrupted. Fauzan felt his teeth gritting, but he knows to keep calm. He took another breath and continued “My son Asad is …” “is well aware of his history! And he is ready to fight for his people…” a deep firm voice from the manor’s gate interrupted. Now the attention of the rogues had curiously turned to this voice from behind the crowds. All they saw was a huge like figure coming from the dark, breathing so loudly and heavily. As this person came forward from the dark, the suspense grew even stronger. The crowd let out gasps as they saw Asad. He looked different, they could see the veins popping out his skin, his eyes had become more sun-like than hazel, he seemed taller And he had a more masculine posture. “he has accepted his wolf” some rogues whispered to the others. It is said that when an alpha male wolf accepts his wolf as his, they both twine to be one. That the wolf form and the human form exist together. “He really is the alpha” others whispered as he emerged from the crowd to join his father at the patio.

As his son went on to join him, Fauzan could not help his shock, though he knew Asad would one day accept his wolf, but he didn’t think he would take up the form of an alpha. He was proud.

Now on the patio Asad looked at his father, bowed and ushered to him as if he was asking for a permission to continue on talking. Fauzan nodded in agreement.

Asad’s POV:

Looking down at the crowd before me, I remembered the moment Ares and I shared at the Arabian desert. The moment I accepted ares…

After we left Al-Hilal, I decided I needed break from the chaos. So I allowed Ares to wonder off to the desert. I loved the feel of being alone and away. I could feel that Ares did too, he howled as we went up the highest sand mountain. I felt at peace and as ares sat on the sand mountain I knew he was at peace too. ‘ares’ I called on to him. He whimpered, he knew what I was about to ask of him. ‘ I know how difficult it may seem Ares but we need to’ Ares looked the other direction, he was still whimpering. This time I knew he was getting scared. ‘we only know to be one if we both come out together Ares. The sun is about to set, we need to cross now’ Ares stood to face the sun. I could feel myself pulling out of Ares like a spider’s prey forcing its way out of the web trap. Ares howled, but this time with so much pain. I could feel my bones forming again, my eyes were shut, I couldn’t bear my hurt Ares and I let out painful howls. As our bodies separate, I felt the warmth of the red desert sand go through my body. I could sense a shadow upon me, I opened my eyes and there he was standing magnificently in front of me… ARES. I stood facing him with wonder still written all over my face. ‘Ares’ I blurted. Ares looked straight in my eyes, I could tell that we still have a connection. Ares started to move closer to me, he sat facing me and bowed his head to look down at the desert sand. I held ares by the sides of his head and placed my forehead right at his. With our eyes closed I felt a sudden rage of wind around us. Ares continued howling, and I too joined in the howl. The wind was so strong I could feel myself being lifted from the ground I held on tight to Ares, we both howled like our lives depended on it (cause it did). ‘Don’t let go Asad’. I could hear Ares faintly. I started to lose control of myself, my eyes still shut I was feeling very weak. ‘we share the same soul, we feel the same fright, we are one’ I heard very faintly as Asad repeated the same words. It was the last thing I heard…

I opened my eyes after what felt like an eternity, I felt different. My body seemed like it was stretched and remolded. I saw my veins popping out of my body to make its lines around me. I looked around me, and there seem to be no one present. ‘Ares?’ I called out. I felt a cold silence that left me in deep fear. Could I have lost my wolf before my story began? Did I not hold on when ares told me to? ‘Ares?’ I called out again. This time I was stern. ‘did you think you’d lose me that easily?’ Ares replied with a weak chuckle. I let out a sigh of relief. I thought I lost you. ‘you never have to worry about losing me anymore Asad, we have become one’. Ares said. I let out a howl of victory. But just when I thought all was well I remembered the drive that pushed my transformation. Makhthum…the name rang in my head like an unwanted alarm. We will avenge my mother’s death Ares… let’s go home. Ares emerged and we made our back to the manor…

Now at the manor, standing before the lone wolves, I could feel an immense energy inside of me… I have never felt this much power before Ares, I can feel every ounce of anger and frustration of these lone wolves in my veins. This is the feel I need to conquer.

I looked right at the rogues, and started to howl, they howled right back and right then I knew their hopes has risen and they are ready for me as Alpha. ASAD’s pov end.

Fauzan Malik look to his son and then his rogues. power will be restored. He thought to himself. The tension in the manor had been lost.