Fie Wright's P. O. V

A thumping of swift feet against solid stone pathways echoes all around me. The distinct sound of my boots alerts the already clamouring people to rush out of my way as maids and chamber boys alike dodge by me. It could be also be the angry sweltering expression on my face that pretty much screams 'stay out of my way or I'll trample you'. Okay maybe it's also my growling wolf with its hackles raised telling everyone else's wolf to not so kindly go do dirty things to themselves.

'Where the hell are you?' My voice echoes in my mind as I connect to Ezra'a. At first I get no reply which aggravates me and my wolf even further. The irritated snarl tearing through my lips is something I can't control. The poor lady passing by nearly jumps out of the way as she flits passed me with a worried look on her face.

One part of me feels bad and wants to stop to apologise while the other part of me preens in triumph and bristles up even further.

'Ezra.' My thoughts get answered as Ezra's nervous energy reaches me. His wolf on edge just like the man himself is. I can also feel the tentative way he drops his guard so that he can answer me. Voice more so tentative as he finally answers me.

'Um. Yes Fie? What's wrong?' I grunt at the timid sound of his voice like he expects me to lash out at him.

I'm not that out of grip. I can handle myself, thank you very much.

'Where the hell are you?' I grit out while I hear a sigh on the other end as he shows his annoyance at me mentally.

'We're all outside. In one of the back gardens. I'm not sure which one though.' Taking his information into mind, I decide to put my plan into motions.

My partial shift alerts me to sounds I would not have heard prior to my normal gait which allows me to distinctly hear the door to the room where I was situated to slam open. The resounding thud of a heavy wooden door slamming against its own hinges and echoes of creaking splintering wood reaching everyone's ears in the vicinity.

No matter what, I know I'm on my own without even my wolfs backing when it comes to a situation like this. She might be angry now but just the mere thought of our mate will cause her to shift her stance and go over to his side of the battle. The damn domesticated wolf retreats further at the growls that reach me from the end of the castle as my stomping turns into a brisk walk and then a gentle jog so that I can escape the King's clutches. My inner animal already seems to be turning tables as she pushes thoughts of our mate further into my mind. Images of a heaving Malleus with anger blazing in his eyes as he slams that door open. Chest moving up and down with exertion as his deliciously toned muscles flex causing his already bulging biceps to tighten tantalisingly further. His sharp dark blue eyes searing me to the spot as his rough stern demeanour glares down at me from his higher position, his sharp jaw clenching and unclenching as he tells me how I need to be put in my place.

The blush on my face is enough to cause me to snap out of the haze filled delirium that I'm almost magically put in. Pushing myself out of my horny wolf induced stupor. That in itself causes my legs to fasten in their movement as my nose pushes instead further into the air, inhaling deeply so as to gather the scent of my little hunting party that I had come with.

A cacophony of smells greet my nose but another inhale into my lungs causes the particular smell of my home and pack mates to register within me. The smell of damp soil and Jasmine invading my senses that sends a pang of home sickness to flood through me.

I hate how one part of me has already accepted the fact that this is my home now. That I won't be going back with the rest of them to cure the Luna and that I'll only probably see any of my old pack mates and family when I go on some planned visit for King Malleus to greet the in-laws or something and I'll have to do the same.

So hoity toity.

Someone get me a bucket so I can heave into it. Maybe one of these over the top expensive looking plants in the hall can do the job instead. Hell the garden itself will do for me.

The sane and very much rational side of me is chastising my rather over dramatic side but it's almost like I can't control myself. My brain tipping over the edge as I work my legs harder to reach the other side of the castle. I barely register the paths I'm taking and I already know I'll be lost when I'm trying to find my way back again since all I'm focusing on is my feet in front of me with my nose stuck high in the air and seeking out the people I'm here for.

I finally come across a white patio door that looks slightly out of place what with the normalcy of it all as it stands rather plain looking amongst all the other grand objects in the vicinity. Of course upon further inspection there are carvings in the wood as it recedes into the high ceiling in a twisting and turning of patterns too complex to decipher. Twisting the gold door handles, I push the doors open and step outside just as the smell of my pack mates increases in saturation along with a plethora of other smells of flowers like roses along with neatly trimmed hedges and cobbled pathways that lead to a fit for royalty gazebo.

The entire gazebo is surrounded by bush flowers with the small building in itself a circular shape with small marble pillars holding the top end together to the bottom end. The disc like top structure covers the glistening marble statue from the harsh weather as the woman stands in an elegant position for all to see the ardent carving of the artist for his beloved.

The entire sight of the garden takes my breath away as I step out of the safe havens of the castle and into the outer remnants of the garden. Only now do I realise that it's still raining as a slightly disconcerting drizzle barricades against me. My eyes latch onto that of four others as Ezra and Marcus seem to be chatting animatedly while the two warriors talk amongst each other in hushed times. All four of them seeking shelter from the rain just as a sharp bolt of lightning shoots through the ever draining sky.

My once frizzed up hair from the previous onslaught of rain, regains it's figure as the strands of my birds next cling to my face and creating the image of a drowned looking rat.

Okay now I seriously hope Malleus decides to have his child like tantrum somewhere else so that he doesn't see me like this.

What about your childlike tantrum? Hmm Fie? Giving my conscious thought a quick swift kick in its imaginary posterior, I head further into the depths of the garden till Marcus finally catches my gaze and ushers me faster towards them. That's all it takes for me to hurry up the cobbled footpath and towards the opening of the gazebo so I can seek shelter from both the rain and the already looming presence of my dastardly mate.

Oh yeah, I'm definitely laying it on thick.

"Back so soon Fie? I thought you and the King would have a lot to discuss. Especially due to the current turn of events." Marcus says in a level headed manner all while that anger starts to flare up again as my own body starts to feel antsy and like I want to hit something repeatedly. My gaze flits towards Ezra for a split second who almost immediately raises his hand in a harmless and helpless position as if he's showing me that he's no threat to me at all. I scoff at his dramatic behaviour.

Why would I attack him? He's a pain in the ass but that's about it.

"The King can go fu-,"

"Fie!" My words get cut off by a shocked looking Marcus as his face turns red and he gets flustered at the mere mention of a swear word coming passed my lips. I nearly roll my eyes at his words, nothing appeasing me as he glances around sharply.

"You can't just go around bad mouthing the King. That's a punishment then and there. I'm a hundred percent sure the punishment can lead up to death itself." His words are even more flustered as he takes a step back while Ezra grins and takes a step forward, hands on his face as his over grown hair flops into his eyes.

"She's the King's mate. She can do what she wants, Dad. Lighten up." The boy says simply as he throws a hand in the air to showcase how nonchalant he really is. The next batch of thunder causes him to nearly jump a foot in the air but he regains his previous attitude of a feigned unperturbed schooled expression.

Marcus grumbles under his breath as he speaks to us, "Not whatever she wants but you have a point. Anyways, you never properly answered my question Fie. Is something the matter?" One glance at the already sucked in with intrigue party and I'm spilling everything left right and centre. This time even my wolf is edging me on to get a better perspective on things which she knows that Marcus as a Head Advisor will be able to give me.

"He's acting like an ass even though I've just met him. Apparently I have to follow some damn etiquette training or whatever the hell he calls it so that they can see if I'm fit to be queen or some bullshit like that. I'm his mate. Shouldn't that be enough? Who the hell does he think he is? I could just up and leave him? Good for nothing stupid piece of sh-,"

"Indeed." I hadn't even realised I was walking backwards and forwards in the tiny space of the gazebo until I actually stop marching and turning towards Marcus with a brow pointed.

"Indeed?" I question to which he simply gives me a curt nod. "What do you mean by 'indeed'?" I prod further as the man leans his back against the marble pillar with a swallowed sigh of exasperation.

"Are you feeling more emotional than usual?" He simply asks in return and this time my eyebrow raises before my eyes drop into a narrowed glare.

Is he about to ask me if I'm PMSing? If he does I swear, I will fight him with tooth and nail.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Is all I answer back with. The both of us simply evading each other's questions with our own questions.

"I'll tell you when you answer me. Have you been feeling on edge? Not only you but your wolf too? Mood swings and sudden switches from being normal to angry in a blink of a second?" My once glaring eyes settle into an owlish look as my lashes slowly bat against each other.

Reassessing the past few moments of me stomping out of the chambers with the growling beast after me. One minute me being angry and the next envisioning my mate's glistening body and all the things I could do to it. Then of course, slipping back to pure rage once again and wanting to slap everything of the man.

"Maybe?" I mumble, my words coming out slightly unsure even though he's hit the metaphorical nail straight on the head. Marcus merely hums in thought before straightening up and coming closer to me. His own eyes narrow as he stares deeply into my own. The action making me shift uneasily on the spot as he places a hand on my shoulder with his signature kind smile aimed directly at me.

"You haven't realised the signs because it's happening to you but we've gone through this in your lessons. You listen too Ezra." My own head tilts in confusion at Marcus' words as I try to decipher what on Earth he's going on about but coming up blank.

"What do you mean exactly?"

"What I mean is that you're experiencing your pre- heat. It's messing up with your emotions but on a base level. Your wolves started off the pre-heat in between you and Malleus and once on the full moon you'll settle into your own full fledged heat." His words are like a sensory of new information slamming into my brain as I find myself sitting down on the floor with my head in my hands.

I've been a bitch to my mate just because my wolf wants to fuck the living day lights out of my other half?

"But what about Malleus telling me all of that crap? He meant it." I say with a huff as I pull my knees to my chest, the thundering going on as the sky darkens and our surroundings grow dimmer and dimmer.

"Maybe his wolf got out of control before yours? It made him snap and say things he wouldn't have? Or maybe in a different way, twisting his words to get you to lash out?" This time it's Ezra who speaks up while I let out another indigent huff of air.

My own prior lessons with Ezra do come flitting to mind but it's out of annoyance that I don't want to pay any heed to it. I'd rather be petty and make the King apologise only to rub his face in it for treating me in such a rude manner.

"Where is the King anyways? Shouldn't he be raging around trying to pin Fie down since he's newly mated. Well newly found his mate." Ezra corrects as my head slowly lifts up at Marcus' ever growing smile.

"The King mind linked me to let me know he's giving our Fie some space. He'll come out to talk to her once they've both calmed down." He says simply while pointing to the patio doors that I'd just come from. I barely make out the tall figure looming in the doorway. The soft glow from inside casting my mate's shadows towards us. The gap only causing my heart to squeeze painfully before fluttering within it like a damsel in distress.

"How did the King mind link you? He's not a part of our pack!" The urgency to which Ezra's voice speaks up is enough for me to tear my eyes away from the King and over to the babbling fool in the gazebo.

"He's the King. He doesn't need to be part of the Pack. Smart ass." I retort to which Ezra frowns at me.

"She's mean when she's like this." The over grown boy grumbles as Marcus smiles gently before motioning to me.

"Come. I'm sure you and the King would like to talk things out." With a sigh, I stand up and watch as they all leave the confines of the gazebo. My own self shivering as a cold breeze flits by or maybe it's my mate's now calm and collected dark blue eyes peering out at me as he makes his way right towards where I await.

Chewing on my lip, I cross my arms across my chest before putting them down besides me. The position feels too weird but crossing them might be seen as me challenging him instead of wanting to talk things out.

I'm over thinking this. I'm overthinking everything when it comes to this man.

My mind made up, I go to cross my arms across my chest but stop in place when his comforting scent envelopes me. What I can now decipher as the citrusy smell of lemongrass mixed in with wild orange and an underlying of a smoky musk that seems to be on the tip of my tongue but evading my senses as I cant quite pinpoint what it is.

The next thing that has me freezing in place is his movements towards me, not even stopping a respectable distant away but only settling down once I feel two strong arms wrap around me and pull me into a tight firm chest. A sigh escapes past my lips almost immediately while all sense of dignity and chiding leaves me thoughts completely. A soft kiss to my forehead causes my insides to melt as I sag against him.

"I'm sorry my mate. That Ezra speaks the truth. My wolf came out at the wrong time and took your words as a challenge. Do not think for one second that I have not accepted you," I seem to be at a loss for words as his large hand comes up to cup my cheek, my own face nuzzling into his hand as I close my eyes at the feelings coursing through me.

"I do not need you to submit to me little wolf. Nor do you have to prove yourself to me. It should be the opposite. I need to prove myself to you." If that isn't enough for me to turn into a withering mushy pile of mess than I don't know what is.

Peeling my eyes open, I stare into his own as I find myself smiling up at him, "I'm sorry for the way I reacted. I guess we both went a little overboard." All I get in return is another soft kiss to my forehead.

The bustling breeze flying passed us causing goosebumps to raise on my arms but the warmth emitting from Malleus stops me from being a shivering mess.

Never did I think I'd be in such a precarious position. Huddled into my mates arms, sheltered from the storm raging on outside of them.

——————

AN: Please forgive me for the late chapter. I have no excuse except to say that I was jam packed with assignments this week and also that two of my puppies have gone missing and I was a mess because of that 🥺. That's two excuses I know but hopefully chapters will be updated much quicker than the time it took for this one!

Question: What type of hair do you have (Curly, wavy, straight)? Also have you ever gone through a particularly bad haircut or experience. If so, what?

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