The beast held me as I leaned on him, crying intensely.

Remembering Jasmine, did make me want to run into a box, and hide myself from it all.

“She was my sister.”

In a husky and hushed tone, I said.

“And you lost her, didn’t you?” he asked.

“She was just 9…”

I brokenly let out, shivering. My body pondered as I said those words, with so much hurt withheld in my chest.

“I lost someone too.”

He suddenly let out.

“I might not know what it’s like but I remember having an empty feeling.” he added, gently.

“She was my mum.”

“And her death was unforeseen. She died in the hands of the enemies.” he added.

“And when she did, my dad became a gruesome, ruthless beast. I became worst.”

“First you feel immense guilt, next…rage and anger. You then begin to blame yourself out of the trauma and nightmares that comes after.”

“And soon after, you try to block the pain. If you succeed, you heal. If re-opened, it becomes even worst.”

My hands quivered, moving to push his chest away to create a distance between us.

“Ava…”

“That’s how I feel.”

I muttered. “That’s how I felt, and that’s how I feel now.”

“I think I opened the pain, again. And this hurts so much.”

He cupped my cheeks in his hands. I looked up into his silver-grey eyes.

“How did you get over her, your mum?”

“Do you still think of her? How do you not blame yourself for it all?”

More sets of tears rolled down my cheeks, as I cried out, asking.

“You have to start by not blaming yourself, Ava.”

“I-I can’t help it.” I stammered.

“You’re not in any way responsible, for what happened.”

“And then what?”

“Start with that, Ava.” he said. “Healing comes in differently for people. My dad never healed though.”

He softly let out. I chuckled at his words, smiling weakly at him. My eyes, held an appreciating look.

“Thank you.” I said. “Thank you, Caspian.”

His hands wrapped around mine, firmly bringing it up to his chin. Warmth from him mouth fanned my hands as he kissed it softly.

I couldn’t believe he was on the bed with me.

“Be my concubine, Ava.”

My eyes widened at his words. I withdrew my hands from his, looking at him alarmingly.

“W-what do you mean?”

“All this, could have been avoided if you had power. A concubine is higher than these ranks. With it, you’d be safe, Ava.”

A concubine?

When I was his mate?

That was indeed disrespectful.

I want to be your Queen, Caspian.

“What happened when I passed out?”

I asked him, changing the topic immediately.

“I thought I lost you,”

Caspian’s features held a saddened expression. His hands reached out for me, once more, wrapping around my entire body. He held me closely like if he let go, there would be so much detriment.

“I thought I lost you, Ava…”

He continued, trailing in his words.

“You saved me, didn’t you?”

I asked him to be sure.

He withdrew from the hug, giving me a possessive look, as he nodded a ‘yes’.

“I was supposed to die.” I breathed out. “How did you?”

“I marked you as mine, Ava. Turned you to a wolf immediately so you won’t die from it.”

I stiffened on my spot at his confession. The hairs at the back of my neck stood.

He marked me, as his?

And right now… I was a wolf?

“You wanted it anyway.”

“I did want it, but I wanted it to be of your own accord and not some compulsion.”

“Saving you from death, is my own accord.”

“Not some compulsion, Lady Ava.”

He moved in, leaning for a kiss. I reacted by moving back from the sudden gesture.

“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s okay…”

“So, what do you say, Ava? Would you be my concubine?”

“There are going to be bad rumors. I do not want to get the attention of your father.”

I said.

“I prefer being a pawn, Caspian. An honorable pawn, who fought her way through, winning.”

“Ava…no--”

“With the newfound strength you gave me, I will be fine.”

“You don’t understand, there are other--"

“I will breed your baby with honor, Caspian.”

…

As soon as I got out of the room, I began to think that rejecting the beast’s offer was a mistake.

A concubine.

That so-called rank was higher than the Knight, Rook, or Bishop. Thing was, I couldn’t go this far for that.

I was going to be the Queen.

A Queen had the same authority as King. A Queen made decisions. A Queen raised the heir to the beast.

That I could do.

Even if it would take slow and steady steps, I would make it happen.

Clearing everyone in my path.

…

“Piper.”

I whispered.

“Piper.” I whispered once more.

I had snuck into the kitchen, where she walked to get the information, she claimed she had.

I needed to know the truth behind my assault on the ship that day. The mastermind.

“Ava,” she said, running to hug me so tightly with a smile on her face.

“When you didn’t show up last night, I thought you had been attacked by someone.”

“Checked your room and bed, asked Emily but she said she had no idea of where you were.”

“And then those girls came, Tanya and Satandra. They said we shouldn’t look for you, cause they sent you to a place far away.”

“Death, Ava.”

She cried out, with a saddened expression.

“It’s okay now. It’s okay, Piper.”

I let out.

“I promised remember? I did promise. Now tell me all.”

With a determined look, I said.

“O-kay…”

She said, bracing herself up.

“Lady Francesca was responsible for the assault.”

Piper surprisingly said.

“W-what?”

I choked out, saying. I couldn’t believe my ears.

Knew that snake was up to no good, but didn’t expect her to be from the very beginning.

“She knew the beast liked virgins, so she plotted for them to assault each girl being transported here.”

She added.

“They succeeded in assaulting Emily.”

Emily? Oh no…

That was the reason she had been so angry and uptight when she got here.

“They mistook someone else for me, because I was in the dungeon when it was about to be executed.”

“You were lucky the beast happened to be around, Ava.”

Piper remarked, saying.

“That idiot Rook. She would pay for all this.”

I snarled, clenching my fists. I felt a sudden rage build up in me. I felt energized too.

“I hope she will, but she’s a Rook, Ava. Next in authority to the King since he has no Queen.”

But the King doesn’t like her.

I remembered him, calling her a harlot.

“How are we going to get back at her?”

I asked Piper. She pulled me in whispering something.

I smiled, patting her head.

…

After eating, we were given a break. Most of the girls taught I was dead, so going unnoticed was quite easy.

I went back to the battle ground to train.

As the rain fell dangerously with the snow on me, I looked at the battle ground with a determined look.

Master Zu was right ahead, practicing his breathing therapy.

My raven hair was wet. I lifted my sword, cutting my hair and digging my sword on the ground to make a stand.

“Master Zu!”

I yelled out. “What do I have to do?”

I asked him.

“Beat me.”

He stated. I snarled, with a smirk.

That would be easy. Now that I was already a turned wolf, I was a million times stronger.

...

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