"Where are we going?" Her sweet and calm voice reached my ears as we walked in the silent hallways of this stupid castle. Ignoring the looks that the guard threw at us, I kept holding her hands as we walked towards my room.

"Okay why are you taking me to your room when we should be-" I did not let her complete her sentence as I claimed her lips just as we entered the room. I closed the door behind us and pulled her body close to mine by her waist. I pressed her body against the wall behind her while she kissed me back. Her hands found their way to my hair as she fisted them and pulled at them softly. I groaned into the kiss and let my hands wander around her curves.

I felt sparks erupt in my body as I savored the heavenly taste of her lips. She pulled me closer to her by the collar of my shirt and I could not help but smirk against the kiss. I squeezed her ass and she gasped. Taking the opportunity, I slid my tongue in her mouth and explored each corner of it. I felt myself becoming hard as I deepened the kiss by tilting her head. The effect she had on me was something I never imagined someone would have on me. Finally, I pulled away and rested my forehead on hers

"What was that for?" She asked in between her breaths

"I hate the way they talked to you." I admitted. The way her family, not that they deserved to be called that, talked to her was really infuriating. They never seemed to be happy with what she did. In meetings too, even if her ideas were good, they never really acknowledge it. The way they treated her siblings was totally different to how they treated her.

"I stopped caring about them. It does not hurt." She said as she held the side of my head in her palms and made me look in her bewitching purple eyes that I always managed to get lost into. Her words brought a bit of relief to me but I still did not want her to get hurt. Maybe now she is not hurt but I will not take the chance of them hurting her in the future.

"We are going to my kingdom." I said. She looked at me and nodded in understanding but I could see the worry in her eyes. "Why are you worried? It will be fine." I reassured her

"What if they don't like me? What if they think the same way as my father and don't want me because I am a werewolf?"

"None of this will happen. I am sure they will like you especially since you helped them earlier. Also, you are not just a werewolf. Remember you have equal power over them as me? So, that makes you their leader whether as queen or not."

She smiled feebly and leaned her head on my chest. "I hope so." She wrapped her hands around mine. I never knew I would let anyone hug me after the death of my mom but in came Analise, who changed me without even knowing it. I like being hugged but only by her. I like it when her sweet scent invades all my senses. I like it when I wake up with her body tangled in mine. I crave for the touch every moment. I miss the sparks she makes me feel.

-------------------

"Xander! I am nervous!" I heard her voice from outside the closet. Chuckling, I took all my belongings and went out of the closet to see her plopped on the couch with her suitcase next to her. She threw her head back, resting her head on the headrest as she faced the ceiling and let out a frustrated groan.

Just like I had said earlier, my people and I would no longer stay here. So just after telling Analise about it a while ago, I linked my people and they were all currently getting ready to leave. Analise is also coming with us which is why she is stressed out right now.

"It will be fine. I am sure they will like you." I walked towards her and stood behind the couch while I looked down at her. "If they don't like you, they have to face me first. I will be with you at all times Liz. Don't worry" I said, using the new nickname I found for her. I leaned down and pecked her lips and she did her cute smile at me.

"Everybody is ready and are waiting outside" Diana said as she came in the room followed by Adrian. I nodded at her.

"Thank you for helping us earlier" Adrian said to Analise.

She smiled at him. "It was the right thing to do."

"How can I call you by the way?" Adrian asked while awkwardly rubbing the back of his head.

"Just Analise. No need for formalities." Adrian beamed at her answer.

"Great. I'll call you Ana then." Analise chuckled and nodded. "Well, I'll take your belongings to the car then. We should get going if we want to reach there by the morning." He said as he dragged our luggage out of the room with Diana following behind.

"Come on. Let's go." I entwined our fingers together and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. We walked through the now empty hallways, leading to outside the castle. As we neared the exit, I found the other leaders standing there along with Analise's family. I felt my blood boil at their mere sight. I could not be more thankful that we were finally leaving. I gave the other leaders a curt nod and watched as Analise did the same, ignoring her family.

We went outside and just like Adrian had said, everybody was already there. The crowd fell silent as they sensed our presence. I could see the nervousness in Analise. I squeezed her hand and pulled her closer to me. "As you all know Analise is my mate and she will be coming with us. I ex-" I did not get time to complete my sentence as Adrian started cheering and the others did the same.

I watched the corner of Analise's lips tug upwards as she looked at the happy crowd in front of us. Automatically I found myself smiling too. "I guess you are happy with the decision." I said out loud once they calmed down. "We must leave now. You can meet her properly once we are at the castle." We walked down the steps and the crowd parted, making way for us to pass through.

I opened the door for Analise and got in the driver's seat before setting off for my castle. "I can't believe it. They actually liked me." She squealed and relaxed in her seat. I watched in amusement as she put both her legs up on the seat and slightly leaned against the door. Last time when we went to search for Amelia too she sat like that.

"It is impossible to not like you." I smiled at her.

"Cheesy!" She scrunched her nose and I laughed.

I never thought the day would come that I would laugh freely because of another woman except my mother. Ever since, that witch cursed me, I stopped thinking about having a mate and accepted my fate.

But then the impossible happened. I met my mate, Analise. I still remember the first time my eyes fell on her. I knew at that very moment that she was my mate but I refused to believe it because of the curse. I remember how she was checking me out the first time at the meeting. How she blushed when I saw her watching me. The way how she held herself in that meeting and how she convinced the other leaders made me admire her.

Honestly, at first I did not know who she was because I had never heard of the royal werewolf family having another daughter. I wanted to be with her since the start itself. Live with her, make her happy, make her my queen and even have a family with her later on. But then, the thoughts of how my father treated my mom came to my mind and ever since that moment, everything went downhill. I started hurting her.

That night when we met in the garden and she was crying. I wanted comfort her because I knew why she was crying. I overheard her conversation with Ivory and Rayna but I refrained from doing so. Instead, I pushed her away from me, hurting both of us in the process. All the time she tried to talk to me but I shut her out. I was scared she would not be happy when she would be with me or even worse, hate me when she would know that I killed my own father. Or she would view me as someone weak just like my dad did.

Among my stupid thoughts, I did not realise how both of us were suffering from being away from each other. Then, during the time we went to search for Amelia, I could not help but want to be closer to her. It felt good talking to her but then the topic about my family was brought up.

Somehow, when we returned back after meeting Amelia, I wanted to know more about her and I did. Thanks to her grandmother I was able to know where she was and I am glad I took that decision and we talked it out. Both of us found comfort in each other after sharing our dark experiences. I was elated to know that she still wanted to give our relationship a try even after I behaved like an asshole to her and that time, I did not let go of the opportunity. Till now, I don't regret it.

I finally have her by my side and we can be together freely now, not having to bother about people finding out about us. I wonder everyday how I got so lucky to get someone like her as my mate. And no, she is not perfect. Nobody is. She has her flaws but I found myself loving her flaws too just like she does for me.

Yes, I love her. Her good side, her bad side, her broken side along with her flaws. She completes me in a way and I could only hope that she felt the same way for me.

"Wohoo." She waved her hands in front of my eyes, bringing me back to reality. "Focus on he road. I don't want to die this young." She joked

"Whatever you say my queen." I winked at her and a familiar blush crept up her cheeks. "You can sleep if you want, it is a long journey."

She nodded before moving closer to me and pecking me on the cheeks. She then got comfortable in her seat and closed her eyes. I held her hand in mine as I rubbed circles at the back of it. I found myself smiling throughout the rest of the drive.