19. Trick.
2270 Words
Stacey eyes narrowed deeper. Trapping an awkward looking Amber.
Amber pause feeling a kick on her belly. An immediate smile appearing on her face as an idea kicks in.
"My baby kick.. my pup is kicking.." she exclaimed loudly. Passing a knowing glance at Lina. Who immediately nod picking up what Amber means.
"It's a moment of celebration.. congrats Amber" Lina say standing up from her seated position.
"Howard.." Amber said sternly glaring at him. Howard who remain seated on his seat oblivious with what to do.
"Amber. Shouldn't you be calling Cameron? The baby kick.. it should be Cameron who feels it, not this Howard..?" Lina sighed completely in a state of helplessness.
Why is Melinda never useful when she is needed.
"It kick again" Lina gasps touching Amber's belly. A sweet warm longing smile on her face.
"Can I feel it?" Stacey soft voice whisper staring at them blissfully. Amber immediately nod smiling widely. It was a good gesture and a honour for her and her baby pup.
"My honour.. Luna Queen" Amber said back to a smiling Stacey. Placing her hands on top of Stacey. Guiding it towards her belly.
"It move.." Stacey whisper softly after some seconds of silence. Like she was fearing she would disturb the baby.
"It must love your touch. Acknowledging you.. his future queen" Amber smile down at Stacey in a crouch position. Queen? When would they stop calling her that?
"Hi.." she whisper softly communicating with the baby. Rubbing softly on top of her dress.
They stare at Stacey watching her silently. The anxious uncomfortable look on her face before no longer visible. None of them makes a sound or speak out to disturb her. If Amber baby can distract Stacey attention from her asked questions. Then they were more than pleased.
"Cam honey.. the Luna Queen is greeting our baby" Amber mind link Cameron her mate excitedly. Before all the previous Luna had never given interest on matters as simple like this.
"Amb where are you? Please don't be in the castle" Cameron speed out his words. Silently begging his mate was not with the Luna. Which was absolutely impossible.
"Huh? What are you saying? The Luna Queen is in the castle so isn't it obvious I'll be here.. forget the stupid talk. Where are you? Get here quick. Alpha king is not here now.. you can meet the Luna" Amber said back humming happily watching Stacey rubbing her belly softly.
"It's big" she whisper making Amber eyes widen with confusion.
"Exactly that's what I have been thinking for the past days.. but dare not say it out. She's a scary pregnant women" Melinda grin evilly at Amber. Speaking out her mind which she have it buried down for the past few days.
"Are you seriously telling that on my face?" Amber gasps her eyes widening looking petrified, titling her head towards Melinda who just shrug casually.
"You annoying little woman" Amber yells at Melinda about to stand up. But a low growl sounding very dangerous and angry makes them all freeze.
"Amber get out of there now. I'll pick you up. The Alpha King is on his way back and he don't look so pleased.." Cameron mind link Amber who was currently not standing nor seated. Frozen in her position.
"Honey don't you think you're a little late.." she stiffly replied back to a cursing Cameron who sigh. Cutting the mind link.
Jared stood fuming at the door of the big dinning hall. His eyes flaring with anger glaring at the werewolves surrounding her mate. They dare to defy his words and warning against the meeting of his mate. He make it crystal clear. They were not allowed to meet Stacey before she settled down.. adjusting with the situation she was in.
"Amber are you alright?" Stacey asked frowning to a frozen Amber who was in an awkward position. Was she in labour?
"Luna Queen.." Amber mumbles out wanting to escape from the wrath of her Alpha king.
Stacey turn around facing Jared who was half n.aked with only a short pant on standing at the entrance of the dinning hall. His chest heaving with deep pants and he also looks enrage. His upper body parts on display. Exposing his muscular firm chest puffing out, His abdominal muscles so firm and hard forming a shape of eight abdominal walls.
Stacey gulp staring at him. Feeling a dizzy tingling feeling of excitement all over her body. In his enrage state. Jared appears very appealing and sexy to Stacey double times of what he was.
"How dare you defy my orders against meeting the Luna Queen? Have I not make it clear?" He growls through the mind link sounding very angry. And pissed than usual. All the four of them gulp. Shivering at his harsh cold tone.
"Answer me pup.." he order roaring slightly. Showing his teeth demanding an answer.
Melinda swallow a lump on her throat. Fidgeting with her fingers. It was not her brother Jared in control but his wolf Alex. The Alpha King.
"We're at fault Alpha King.." Howard said deciding it would be a better choice to calm Alex first.
"Alpha King we are guilty and we acknowledge it.." Lina replied back bowing her head like Howard showing him the respect he demand.
"Out now. Reflect on your mistakes. Ten lap on the training ground" Alex order his eyes fixed on his mate. He could feel the burning stare of his mate on his body. A tingling sensation following every where her eyes travel.
"Amber your excuse but it's the last. Out" Jared takes back control blinking his eyes adjusting the colour. Amber sigh relief. Walking out behind the rest after waving a short bye to Stacey.
"How are you feeling?" Jared asked walking towards Stacey.
"Stacey are you alright? Are you feeling sick?" He asked concern touching her head. A spark following swiftly behind.
Stacey gasp feeling the spark again. It was so abnormal and new to her. Sparks? Tingles? It was confusing her more with no one telling her anything despite they knew something.
"I'm fine.. just surprise" she quickly replied moving her head away from his hand.
"That won't happen again. They are receiving their punishment-" Stacey cuts him off.
"Punishment?" She questioned confused. Frowning at him.
"Yes. Punishment. They defy my orders. It is going against the Alp-" Jared stop himself. Clearing his throat.
"They broke a rule and breaking it means either retaliating against the rule maker or revolting against his ruled" Stacey still stood confused staring at him like an i***t.
"And what rule did they break?" She asked again. They were just with her. So either they broke the rules before meeting her or after meeting her.
"That's not important Stacey. Are you done with breakfast? I should have stay till you're done.." Jared change the topic. Not wanting Stacey to know.
"Long back with Howard.." she shrug looking down. Jared head immediately whipped towards her from glancing at her empty plate to make sure she finish a whole pancake.
"Howard?" His eyes darken as he asked. Her first breakfast in the castle and she ate it with a male other than him. His chest tightens with an over flowing of foreign emotion.
Jared sighed clenching his jaw.
"Do you like him?" Jared asked suddenly making Stacey frown with confusion. Where was the question coming from?
"Pardon?" She glance at him with an unbelievable stare.
"Do you favour him?" This time Jared voice came out harsh and rude. Unexpectedly he was jealous of his brother.
"No. That's not it. He was indeed friendly and approachable. He was kind enough to stay with me for breakfast unlike someone else. But it doesn't change the fact he's still a stranger.." she trailed off from speaking more. It makes her uncomfortable.
"You said you'll tell me everything when you get back.. even though you came earlier than expected" Stacey say to a frowning Jared.
"You're changing my words there.. young lady. I said we'll talk and that I'll clear off your doubts.. but I never said I'll tell you everything" Jared smirk looking amused. Raising his right eyebrows at her.
"That's the same.. anyway shouldn't you be at least civil enough to tell me why am I not allowed to go back home" Stacey retort back folding her arms.
"That's not your home.." Jared mutters under his breathe.
"Excuse me there. What do you mean?" Jared stride towards her in soft slow step. Closing in the distance between them. His eyes lock with her's. He wrap his arms around her slender thin waist pulling her into his chest.
Stacey gasp felling his warm n.aked chest on her palm. The spark erupting from the tip of her fingers all over her body.
"Home is where I am. Your soul mate.. your fated man" he whisper in her ear leaning towards her.
Stacey blush feeling his warm breath on her ear. A tingling sensation of excitement spreading through her body once again.
"Soul mate? I don't believe in that.. fate" she pushed him away. Putting in distance between them. Jared being too close to her was not helping with her erratically beating heart.
"Why?" He gulp muttering it softly.
"That's only child foreplay.. soul mate don't exist. I don't even believe in fairy tale when I was a kid.. now I'm already an adult I can differentiate between reality and fantasy.." Stacey shrug casually.
"What if one day you did find him. Your soulmate?" Jared tried again. Observing her every small details of expression.
"Do you believe in those things? We're in 21st century.. modernization and technology have taken over the world. Bringing it to men's knowledge. We are our own fantasy and miracle's. We create it. There is no such thing as fate.. and my answer to your questions. Even if he does exist somewhere.. he'll be too busy trap with modernization" Stacey grin staring at Jared brows in a V shape as he listens to her attentively.
"It's so surreal.. this, us.. everything. I feel like I'm in some kind of dreams. A typical nightmare.. like your not even real. And when I wake up.. I'll be in my mother's lap cuddle up in her arms.. and forget this long tiring nightmares. Hearing her soothing words and that soft lullaby.." Stacey murmurs unconsciously drifting away. Speaking out something she had always bottle it down.
Jared eyes soften hearing her. His mate is hurting right infront of him. She was longing for her mother warms. His chest tightens when he realised he could do nothing about it. He can't let her return back. Leaving him alone.
"Just tell me where am I?" stacey said. Trying to divert his attention from her words. Catching the change of atmosphere in Jared eyes. She wants to escape away.. runs away from her past.
"What do you mean by nightmares? Is that how you're gonna portrayed this as? Us? Our encounter is just a mere nightmare to you?" Jared raise his voice as he speak more and more. Making her startle. Flinching at his tone.
"I don't mean it that.. way-" he cuts her off. He was beyond angry. He was fuming with desperation, hurt from her words from how she describe them as nightmare. While it was the total opposite to him.
"If not then what? Stacey? You were my blessing.. meeting you was the moon go-" he shut himself abruptly. Punching the table. Panting heavily.
Jared was at his limit from snapping at her. He don't want to. But it was hard to control back his dominant anger.
"Alex. Stop.." he gritted the words out. Trying to hold back his teeth from elongating.
"I'm sorry.. I never mean that.." she reach out to touch him seeing him tremble. Supporting both his hand on the table. His head hung low.
Jared growls making Stacey freeze from approaching him.
"Don't touch me.." he growl again. His voice deep and cold. Sounding rough.
Stacey felt a throbbing pain on her chest with his rejection. She retreat back her hand touching her heart. Which was beating.. thumping loudly.
Jared could only resort to mind link Cameron and Hunter ordering them to immediately respond to the dinning hall. His fingers just a moment away from turning into claws. His eyes changing from Hazel to golden constantly. Even in his state of anger he was still concern about his mate seeing him in his true form.
She needed time to accept him and his wolf. He was aware of that.
"Jared.." Cameron enter breathlessly looking alert with Hunter right behind him.
"Be- Cameron guide Stacey back to her room" he command hiding his eyes from Stacey.
"We're not done yet-" Cameron caught her hand shaking his head. Stopping her from saying more. Which would only agitate Alex disobeying his command.
Stacey huff with a disbelief look. Glaring at Jared. Who looks like in pain.
"Please follow me Stacey-" Jared growls more like a roar. Not pleased with Cameron calling her name than addressing her as the Queen.
"My apologies.." he bow passing an apology to Jared.
"Luna please follow me.." Cameron begs with his eyes for Stacey to obey.
Stacey glance at Jared before walking away with Cameron. He was acting strange. Too strange for her to notice and be suspicious.
"Alpha King what is your command?" Hunter said standing besides him.
"Prepare a match" Jared growls out clenching his teeth. Trying to control his wolf.
"Yes. Alpha King" Hunter immediately informed the warriors to be ready on the fighting ground.
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- Writer
