Chapter 6: Scarlett

"Excuse me?" I understood the part where I didn't have to go to him except, he requested for me but why did I have to keep my door unlocked?

Her strange eyes seemed to glow just before she bowed and said, "I am afraid that is just one of the rules, my queen."

Her reply only gave even more questions. "There are other rules?"

"Yes, my Queen..."

My teeth tightened as rage build from deep within, threatening to push out of me but I swallowed it back as I suddenly remembered Luciano's warnings. I had to keep acting like I was still in the dark.

I forced a smile and joined my hands together in front of me. "That's fine. I'll do as he wishes..."

Stella bowed once more and remained where she was like there was more, but I wasn't in the mood to listen to more instructions or rules made by my supposed mate and husband.

"Stella, you may leave now. I will call for you if I need you," I said, turning to the balcony. I felt her hesitation, but the echoing sounds of her legs soon filled the room as she walked out.

Finally, alone, my hands moved through my hair as the weight of my pitiful situation washed over me. As much as I wanted to hate Asher for becoming this way, a part of me still wished that all of these was a nightmare, and I could have the perfect picture I once had.

But this nightmare was not going to end until I ended it. Staying in this room and acting like a slave following his rules blindly wasn't going to cut it. I had to beat him at his game and one of the strongest lessons I learnt from my mother, was that:

"One needed the hearts of men to win a war," I whispered as my brains paused.

A slow smile curled itself over my face as I finally got a plan. I needed to win the heart of his people. If they loved me, cancelling out my people was going to be hard. At least some of them would be able to stand for me at least.

I moved back into my room and began to pace. How could I win his people over? I had been away from my family for a very long time. I didn't know what a queen or a princess could do to win people over. As my thoughts moved around, my eyes also fell on my phone, and it suddenly clicked. Aunt Emily. She could help me.

With long strides, I got to my phone and moved to the bathroom. I locked the door and turned on the shower, before going to the toilet sit where the noise from the shower wasn't as much, then I dialled her number.

She picked almost instantly. "Scarlett, are you okay?"

"Yes, I am. I just-" She didn't let me finish speaking before she interrupted me.

"Your brother mentioned that you were having cold fucking feet. Now listen to me clearly, we do not fucking backdown. You are married now, and you gave your fucking word on the alter. So be a good girl and enjoy Asher's cock-"

"Aunt Emily!" I yelled, squeezing my eyes shut and hoping the disgusting picture she just painted would disappear.

"Sorry, love, I got carried away. Did you want to talk about something else?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed as my eyes opened. "Yes, please... I need help with my people... I mean, Liam's people. How can I make them like me?"

"Scarlett, love, don't tell me those fuckers are giving you a hard time. What is Asher fucking doing about it?" She cried out and I slapped a hand to my head.

"Aunt Emily, its nothing like that. I just..." I paused, reconstructing my words. "I just got here, and they barely know me. They are not cold, they just- well they are being too careful. I want them to be free around me. I want to be like mother was to our people..."

"Ah, now I see what you mean." She breathed, finally getting serious. "Ava was an amazing person. A human but the light in all our fucked-up lives..." Her voice cracked and I could imagine her fighting her tears. My mother was her best friend, and we all knew that deep down she was probably more broken than the rest of us. The revolution took away her brother and her best friend.

"How can I be like her?" I added, hoping to end the conversation as soon as possible for both our sakes.

It took a moment for her to respond but after a few seconds, her voice came through the call. "Scarlett you are a wonderful person too. Just like your mother... I am sure you can figure it out," she paused, and I heard sniffles before she added. "But you can speak to Violet. She is pretty creative when it comes things like that."

"Oh, sure, I will call her. Thanks." I ended the call before she could say more, and I placed the phone on my chest as I took a moment to calm the ache in my heart.

My parents were gone. My younger brother was gone too. But we all believed that they would return, one day. So, when that day came, I had to make sure that there was something that they were returning to. The kingdom.

I took another deep breath and dialled, Violet's number.

"Hey, Violet," I started the second she answered.

"Scarlett, Emily just sent me a message about you wanting to impress the people, what is that about?"

I rolled my eyes at her question. Of course, Aunt Emily would be dramatic about passing on such simple information. Forcing a smile, I clutched the phone hard, "Oh, it's not like she put it but its close. What do I do to put a smile on people's faces?"

"Food," she simply said. "Everybody loves food. Prepare a meal for everyone. Maids, guards, members, anyone who is hungry. Make this a thing, once a week or twice, the people will love you."

The forced smile I had, suddenly turned natural as her idea made sense.

That night, I didn't sleep. I planned how I was going to make the cooking a success. I would make sure it became the sort of feast everyone looked forward to.

When morning eventually came, I was more than pumped to begin my plan. I took a quick shower and picked a light dress for the day. With my hair packed at the top of my head, I moved to the kitchen.

The maids and cooks all stopped what they were doing and stared at me as I approached them. I couldn't possibly blame them; I would have had the same reaction if someone barged into my work space like I just did. But I had already planned this out.

With a smile on my face, I came to stand before them and held my head high. "Good morning, I am Scarlett and today, I want to join you in the kitchen. I want to make a meal for everyone today."

If they looked shocked before, then I was wrong. For the minute the words left my mouth, blood drained out of their faces. A strong tension suddenly filled them as they stared at themselves not knowing how to respond, until one of them, I was guessing the cook or head staff, took a step forward and bowed before me.

"My queen, we are all..." he turned to his colleagues, and they urged him to go on, "We are pleased that you will want to help us but please, let us do it. If you want a certain type of food, then please, let us cook it. It is our job."

I also knew that they were going to be stubborn, but I was more than prepared. With the smile on my face not fading, I walked pass him and grabbed one of the old aprons laying on the counter, then turned to him. "I introduced myself as Scarlett. Not your queen. I want to do this. Now, you either help me or you don't. Its fine."

I moved to the counter and cleared the space I would be using. Cooking a pot of chicken wasn't so hard. I pulled out a pot in the drawer and placed it on the stove.

There were a lot of doors around me, but with the positioning and the scent coming from it, I knew that the one directly behind me was the storeroom, so I walked towards it.

"We should have chicken in the store, yes?" I asked while already heading there.

But before I could get any closer, a young boy with striking green eyes, stood there holding two packs of frozen chicken. "What else do you need, my queen?"

My wolf moved within me, and I knew it wasn't just for his bravery, there was something else about him that felt strangely familiar. Like I knew him.

My hand stretched to the wrapped chicken in his hand, but my eyes couldn't tear away from his eyes. "What's your name and who are you?"

He smiled, his eyes glinting almost like... Axel's.

"I am just a lost human boy. But you can call me Bee and I am at your service..."

Chapter 7: Scarlett

"Bee?" Confusion clouded my mind as I stared at the boy, trying to decide if this was a joke or not, but before he could reply, the cook, came to with a basket full of ingredients.

"I am Bantu, the head maid and just like Bee said, we are all at your service too."

My thoughts left the strange new boy and I smiled at Bantu. I collected the basket from him and resumed cooking. More maids joined us and together, we made the food even faster. Not just chicken soup was made, other delicacies like potato puree, baked rice and so many types of salad was done.

At the end, we had a table full of food. It was truly a feast.

They were all giggling to themselves and for a second their joy made me forget about my ordeal. I became more concerned with seeing them happy. I was still lost in their picture they were painting before me when Bantu's voice pulled me out of it.

"My queen, this is a lot. The entire palace can't eat it all. What do we do?"

I moved away from the counter and smiled at him, but before I could speak, Bee beat me to it with his bubbling spirit: "We can always pack them and store in the cooling room. I am sure no one would mind eating chicken soup and some extra rice tomorrow. The guards won't mind." He suggested but I shook my head, I had an even better plan.

"Do you think the people outside would mind eating this?" I asked as I approached the baskets and trays of food.

"No ma'am, they will be thrilled. How many queens have done this for us?" one of the maids asked and other chorused, supporting her opinion, which only added to my conviction.

I clapped my hands and beamed at all of them. "Then, we shall share this food with them. Bring plastic plates," I suddenly requested and as they were brought to the counter, I took the lead and started dishing them out into plates.

Somebody started playing music somewhere and I was sure more than half the palace could hear us. Their excitement was surprising as I knew there was always food in the store -from the look of it-yet they seemed so happy to eat this. Was it just because I joined them or was there an order for them not to eat or touch it?

Looking at them, I didn't want to ask a question that would ruin the moment, rather, I made a mental note to question them later. I packed more than half of the food and placed them in baskets, then handed them to Bee. 

"Take this to the people outside the palace. I am sure we have some of them that are hungry or just low on food. Come on."

His face lit up with excitement and some other people volunteered to help with the task.

As they were leaving, I spread my arms and turned to Bantu; "We can then eat the rest."

The kitchen erupted with roars of excitement as everyone started taking out their potions to eat. They didn't even have to thank me; I saw it in their eyes. The shock and appreciation as they ate to their fill. But all the joy came to a standstill as the door burst open.

"What is going on here?" Asher's dark voice suddenly filled the kitchen. He stepped in and I saw Luciano and Stella behind him.

A negative aura filled the entire space as everyone froze in fear not knowing what to do as Asher came towards me with fire in his eyes. But I wasn't moved. I was prepared for everything.

The room was so silent, even a pin dropped could be heard and the closer he got, my heart started racing but I refused to be intimidated. We were in public, I had already won his people's heart over, whatever he did now, was going to play against him. All I had to do was the act the victim.

As he got closer, he grabbed me roughly by the arm and pulled me towards him with rage in his eyes, he growled: "I asked you a question, Scarlett. What the hell is going on here?"

The room went even more silent, and I held back. The eviler he portrayed in front of his people, the better it was going to be for me, I thought. But the silence was suddenly broken, as Stella fell to the ground and cried out.

"My king, I told her to stay in her room, but she refused to listen to me."

As her voice echoed in the heavy bubble of negativity that had filled the kitchen and I couldn't help but turn an arched brow to her. She had her head bowed and even though I couldn't remember her telling me this, I decided to let it go. She was probably too scared to even face Asher and this wasn't her fault, so she had to lie.

"Shut up, Stella! I didn't ask for your opinion." Asher growled and I saw Stella visibly shivering under the intensity of his aura.

"Asher, can we please talk in private. You are scaring your people-" I tried to whisper to him but his hold on me tightened and I was forced to swallow back my words at the pain.

"Do not tell me what to do!" He growled, but I didn't flinch. He was only ruining his own image which was good for me.

His eyes moved over my face like fire, almost like he needed them to burn me, but I stayed strong. As if that triggered him, he dropped my hand and returned his focus to the rest of the kitchen.

"And you!" he growled, heading to the counter where Bantu stood like a lone plant in a dessert not knowing which direction to sway to. "You let her come into my kitchen. Cook for my people and give it to them! Did you for once think that it could have been poisoned?"

My brows furrowed at his petty thoughts, and I was going to defend myself when a crashing sound shook the whole kitchen.

"I do not want any of you eating what she makes! I do not even want her near this kitchen or anywhere near my people!" he hissed, kicking off the rest of the food that survived his first ambush.

I was shocked by his brutal action, but I wasn't surprised. He had lost his mind. He was becoming desperate, and it was a pity he wasn't even seeing it.

Bantu, just like Stella, suddenly fell to the ground and everyone else except Luciano and me, joined him. "Forgive me my king... It would never happen again. Please," Bantu whispered, his voice shaking with fear.

As if that little act appeased Asher, he returned his gaze to me, ignoring the maids: "And you!" he hissed as he came to me.

I didn't speak. I didn't move. I just stood there, waiting for him to reach me. And when he eventually did, he grabbed my arm again but this time, he pulled me out of the kitchen, his breath fuming like a mad wolf as he charged for my room.

He kicked the door open and threw my body roughly to the ground.

"I thought I made it clear to you that your purpose was to give me a damn child, Scarlett! What did you think you were doing outside with my people?" He snarled his finger pointing dangerously at me.

I slowly pulled myself to my feet, dusted my dress and faced him: "If I am to stay in this room until I give you a child, then it means my work here is more of a breeder and not a queen-"

"You are not my queen!" He hissed, cutting off my words before they could even leave my lips. "A child of Talon can never be my queen."

Hearing him say it again, tore my heart all over again but I stood my ground.

"Then I am afraid your evil plan would be ruined even before it even begins, Asher. Because you arranged with my family. You married me as your mate, luna and queen."

Each word I spat out made his face turn bright red and I could almost smell the lava of anger growing through him. But I didn't stop.

"For a man hungry for revenge, you are not very smart. If you insist on reducing me to nothing more than a breeder, then the news would travel faster than you think, and my brother will find out about it-"

The words were barely out of my mouth when he roughly came towards me and pushed me to the wall with all his might: "How dare you speak back to me, Scarlett? Who do you think you are?"

My back was burning but so was my heart.

"I am Lycan Princess and until my last breath I won't let you make mockery of our kind."

His eyes glowed, twisting even darker as the words left my mouth. Time froze and I saw his hand raise to hit me as he yelled my name.

Chapter 8: Asher

As my hand descended on her, my wolf stopped me, only adding to my irritation.

I tried to force myself to go through with it, ignoring the innocence on her face and the way my heart was rejecting my action. I wanted to prove not just to her but to myself that I didn't care about her. I was only concerned with the lands her family stole from me. That was what mattered but try as I may, my hand refused to land on her cheek.

I pushed my wolf aside and forced my willpower to take control. This time, my fingers moved, and I prepared myself to finally hit her...

"My king!" Luciano's annoying voice suddenly filled the room, cutting off my newfound strength to hit Scarlett.

My hand instantly fisted and I turned all my rage to him. "What is it? Don't you know how to knock? What do you want?"

He bowed his head, keeping his eyes away from me but didn't back away as I had hoped. He stepped closer and raised his hand, his eyes shining with determination. Some of my anger reduced as I figured, that whatever couldn't wait, had to be serious.

"My king, the mission... it wasn't successful. We have a problem."

My eyes narrowed at him and a deep thirst for blood filled me. The frustration I had towards Scarlett vanished as the situation swirled in my head causing fresh rage to join my already chaotic emotions. I wanted to blurt out my anger at Luciano, but I held myself back. I didn't want Scarlett to listen to the details.

"Come with me." I snarled instead, as I moved away from Scarlett.

My fists were already folded as we marched down to my study and the second the door opened, I stepped in, and I turned to him. "Now how the fuck did those fools mess up the mission?"

"Their old beta happened to be there, and they countered the attack. Some of the men got caught, that's why I came to you, so we can think of an extraction plan."

My eyes widened as the rage grew inside of me. "What?" I hissed. "An extraction? For those fools?" I growled moving my eyes over his body.

Luciano lowered his head again. "My king, it is true that we employed real rogues and some outsiders and insiders, who wished to earn some good cash..."

"What does this have to do with the current conversation?"

Luciano cleared his throat and began again. "My concern is with the insiders. They know a few details that might link back to us. If they torture them, they will speak. We can't afford to have them talk."

Fuck.

"Damn it," I growled. "An extraction is out of question. What if there was no safe zone?"

"But what do we do then? We can't just sit here and hope that no one questions them. That's not true at all."

I started pacing. This was bad. That old Greg was very thorough. He wasn't going to stop until he got names from those fools. If they mentioned our names, the plan was done.

"You will have to go there," I suddenly said, and Luciano's eyes widened. "I need all of them dead before that old fool gets a chance to question them. Since there is no extraction, they will definitely be an execution."

Luciano's eyes hardened as he finally understood what I was trying to say. He slapped his fisted arm to his chest and bowed. "That will be done... but we just need to have a good reason to send me there-"

My fists landed on the table. Hard.

Shutting out his silly whines; "Do I need to do everything for you?"

"No, my king. I was just- I don't want us to make any mistake."

My eyes narrowed down at him and from the way he was fidgeting, he was going to fail. "Fine. I'll go alone." There were enough failures already, the last thing I needed was for him to also get caught trying to fucking kill the rogues. That would be sick.

"Prepare the vehicles, we leave immediately." A plan on how I was going to slip my way into their palace and kill those men was already forming in my head and I just needed one person to help solidify it, Scarlett.

I walked out of my office and went back to her room. I kicked the door open and met her sitting on the vanity chair, watching her reflection. As I stepped in, I expected her to flinch, but she barely even moved.

Almost like she didn't even notice my presence.

"Prepare yourself. We are going to your brother, and you need to make them believe that you have missed them," I growled with a deep voice of authority.

I was certain my instructions had been heard by her and I was turning to leave when her voice tore through the air of silence that originally occupied the room.

"What if I don't want to leave?"

My legs stopped, my skin began to crawl, and irritation built within me as I turned to her. "Are you daring to defile me, Scarlett?"

She turned away from the mirror in front of her and stared at me. "I asked a simple question-"

"Then the answer to that is no. There is no room for your overpampered opinion. We are leaving in thirty minutes and that's final." I didn't wait for her to give another response, I walked out of the room, banging the door shut.

I packed a few changes of clothes for myself before heading to the parking lot, where Luciano had already spoken to the drivers, yet both he and them hung aimlessly around in groups, discussing in hushed tones when they should be checking the vehicles.

Even when they saw me approaching, they simply bowed and Luciano started coming towards me, the drivers did nothing to move to their cars.

"My king," He began, and I glared at him. "The drivers think that it would be safe if we travel tomorrow instead. The winds are very strong on the highway in the evenings. We might meet up with a storm."

"Luciano," I growled, and he raised his eyes to meet mine. "Come here..."

He didn't hesitate and that was his mistake. As soon as he got close enough, I grabbed him by the neck and slapped him against the back of the closest car to me.

"Do you think a damned storm will mean anything when they get the truth out of those rogues?" I hissed, baring my teeth at him. "Do you know how much we would be losing?"

He shook his head, unable to utter any meaningful word as I applied pressure on his windpipes.

"I am going there, and I am going there now. I don't care if there is a bloody sandstorm. We are leaving now!"

I withdrew my hand, and he hurriedly went to pass the new information to the pale-stricken drivers. Surely, they must have known that if it were one of them, I wouldn't have thought twice before breaking them into two like dried twigs. Luciano was only lucky that I still liked him, and his duties were still relevant.

The drivers instantly jumped into their respective vehicles and started the engines. I went down to mine and the door was instantly opened for me to step in.

I was about to get impatient when the door opened again, and Scarlett finally joined me.

"Let's move out." I growled to the driver and the vehicle came to life.

What I was about to do was risky, but it had to be done. I had to just make sure that Scarlett could be trusted enough to act her part well.

So, as we got closer, hours later, I took her hand, surprising her. Her wide eyes stared back at me, and I could almost read the questions that moved through them.

"Dear Scarlett, I wanted to remind you of something," I whispered, bringing her hand to my lips. "Your brother's army is weak. An attack, offensive or defensive, no matter the tactic your dear uncle Greg and his son apply, can never measure up to what I have..."

She made to pull her hand out of my hold as her initial surprise faded but I held it back forcefully.

"My trained soldiers are not as stupid as those rogues. We would have them annihilated in minutes. Maybe the battle will be fierce for I know the great house of silly Talon would not go down without a fight, but that fight will be futile, my love." My free hand, caressed her cheeks, loving the rage that was slowly building on her face, slowly wiping away the confidence she carried through the journey.

I brought her hand to my lips once again and as they made contact; she threw a broken stare at me. I smiled. "Good. I believe we are now on the same page my love. Welcome back home..."