CHAPTER 20

Cassy pov.

I felt as though my life was finally going the right way. The way it should. Even during dinner, I couldn’t help the smile on my face. It was a good thing that our family had dinner separate from the duke Harold’s family. I didn’t want to feel awkward in front of everyone.

Even during his absence, all I could think of was him. How sweet was it to have someone in your life? Maybe I now understand why my parents are so over each other. They are in love. I think I kind of know what that feels like. I wonder if I could call this feeling love.

My mom kept commenting on how happy I looked and that I was glowing. I simply responded with a laugh. Of course, I was happy. I was more than just happy. I was overjoyed and ecstatic. However, I haven’t told them about us yet. I wanted Elliot to be ready for that.

I made my way back to my room as soon as dinner was over. I wanted to spend some time alone. I lay with a broad grin on my face. I couldn’t sleep. Whenever I close my eyes, the sweet memories of that brief moment we spent in the park flood back. I hugged my bolster and imagined it to be him. Well, it wasn’t anything like him, but still….

My phone dinged. It was a message from him. My heart skipped a beat as I hastened to open it.

Hey beautiful. Awake?It said.

Maybe he too couldn’t sleep.

Yeah. Can’t sleep.

Same here. I miss you.

Beaming, I replied. We ended up texting back and forth until it was past midnight. Way past the time I normally sleep.

Hey. See you in the morning? I can’t wait to be with you again.

I texted.

Yeah. We have a training session tomorrow. Remember?

He replied.

Yes. I’ll be there on time. Good night.

I promised, and put my phone under my pillow. I slept with a huge smile on my face. How couldn’t I? I am going to see my boyfriend tomorrow morning.

The next day, I rushed out of my room, gulped down the porridge mom makes me have each time and was about to run towards the arena when mom stopped me.

“Whoa! What is the rush?” she asked. Her expression told me that she had a lot of questions.

“Uh… I have training?” I answered. I was feeling cold and hot at the same time.

“Yes. But the sessions would not begin for another hour or two.” She stated, with an eyebrow raised.

“Oh,” I suddenly felt numb. I was so excited about attending the session that I had forgotten about the time.

“You seem to be excited about training.” She said, smiling.

My heart raced as I giggled. “Yes. I love it.” I answered cheerfully. “Mom? Until when would my identity be kept a secret?” I asked.

“Oh ……I think we should keep you hidden until you complete your training. So roughly a year. Well, now about nine months is left.” She smiled, caressing my hair.

“Are you excited about it?” she asked.

“Sort of. More anxious than excited, I think.” I told her laughingly. “When can I speak to my Lycan mom?” I asked. I was so eager to talk to her and have my best friend in my head. Someone who I could connect with whenever and wherever I wanted to.

“She should wake up within the next three months honey. I believe your senses must be enhanced now.” She said, looking at me as though she wanted to make sure, and I nodded, confirming her statement.

“That is awesome.” She exclaimed.

“Mom?” I called.

“Hmm?”

“When am I going to see your Lycan?” I asked, making her lips pause in a thin line. Her eyebrows knitted in a frown and she let out a deep sigh.

“Hey. Mom. It’s okay. I understand. You and dad barely have time.” I told her and her expression quickly changed. Her eyes lit up and her lips stretched into a broad grin.

“Hey. Mom. It’s okay. I understand. You and dad barely have time.” I told her and her expression quickly changed. Her eyes lit up and her lips stretched into a broad grin.

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. We will. Soon. Umm….how about sometime next weekend? With all those impromptu meetings with the dukes and duchesses of our kingdom, it is really hard to find the time. And on top of that, the regular royal duties.” She spoke, frowning deeply.

“Mom. Next weekend sounds great.” I told her. I checked the time. A lot of time was still left for my session to begin. But I honestly didn’t know anything better I could do.

“I think I’ll go to the arena. Maybe do some warm-up exercises before he comes? I don’t know what else I would do.” I told her and she nodded in agreement.

When I went to the arena, I was surprised to smell his scent as I approached. Grinning, I opened the door. Looks like I’m not the only one who was eager to start today’s session.

“Hi, girlfriend.” He grinned as soon as I entered.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I scowled. “What if someone heard?” I asked. “Aren’t you worried?” I smirked.

He simply waved his hand as if he didn’t mind.

“Uh. They wouldn’t know. I can always come up with something.” He answered confidently and leaned forward to place a k**s, but I stepped away.

“No! You are sweaty!” I protested.

“Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow and I shrugged.

“Okay. 50 laps. No excuses just because you are my girlfriend. Now move!” he ordered, his demeanour quickly transforming to the serious and stern one he usually had while training.

I scoffed but then, I started to run. Fifty laps are nothing to me now. Just enough for me to warm up. However, I do need to catch my breath before starting my next round of exercises. Just as I was relaxing, Elliot came up to me and glared down.

I looked up at him. Why was he glaring at me?

“What?” I shrugged.

“Twenty push-ups!” he ordered.

“Huh?” I frowned. That was new.

“Yeah. Because you wouldn’t k**s me.” He whispered silently and clapped his hands together. “Hurry! I need twenty push-ups!” he boomed.Material © .

“Elliot!” I g*****d.

Just then, the door to the arena opened and my birth parents entered. They would come from time to time and check on my progress.

“I said twenty push-ups.” He smirked at me, fully knowing that I wouldn’t utter a word of resistance. Rolling my eyes, I started to count as I painstakingly did the push-ups. Among all the exercises, these were the hardest for me.

“One….two……three……”

Grrr….. I’ll make him pay for this. I thought.

***

“Honey. We must find some free time this weekend. Carina still hasn’t met our lycans.” Mom told dad that afternoon while they worked in the office.

I had decided to ignore Elliot, after training, simply to make him miss me. I wanted to get him back in some way, although avoiding him was hard for me as well. It was a Sunday afternoon, which usually meant that we would have the whole day to ourselves. I usually go out with him and doing nothing is extremely boring. He needs to learn a lesson. I reminded myself.

My phone kept ringing nonstop. However, I had kept it silent so that my parents wouldn’t hear it. I sighed. It was taking all my willpower to ignore the itch in my fingers, just so that I could ignore the vibrations of my mobile phone.

Stupid Elliot. Hadnt I liked him so much, it would have been easier to ignore him. I thought, smiling. I can’t believe it! I was mad at him, yet, thinking about him makes me smile. He is an ídiot. My idíot. I thought.

Argh. Crazy heart. Perhaps this is what love feels like. It doesn’t make sense at all. It truly is a serious mental condition. I chuckled inwardly as I thought about it. Does this mean that I’m in love? Do I love him already?

“Carina?” Dad snapped his fingers in front of my face, making me snap out of my dream world.

“Huh?”

“Where were you lost at? We were asking if you would be okay to go with us into the woods early in the morning during one of the weekdays. The weekends are the only days we get to sleep in.” He asked. “To meet our lycans.” He added.

“Yeah that would be great ….but training?” I asked.

“Missing just one day wouldn’t hurt.” Mom smiled and I nodded.

“So… Tomorrow morning?” I asked and they shrugged.

“Fine with me,” they answered.

“Babe. I think it’s time to meet the duke of the West province.” Dad told her, checking the time and she nodded in response.

I sighed. Once again, they had to leave.

“Why do you have to meet the dukes so much?” I asked, pouting.

“They come to meet us to report the news of their respective provinces. And if they have any requests or anything else,” Dad explained. “Their work is to govern their provinces of the Lycan kingdom and report to us.” He further explained.

“And Elliott’s father?”

“The duke of Central province. The province that we are located in. All the dukes would report to me. They are like my ministers.” He kindly explained.

“Oh, I thought you were the king of all alphas. Including the werewolves.” I told him.

“I am. And when you become queen, you’ll be the queen of alphas. The dukes simply helped me with governing the Lycan kingdom. My rules apply to the whole werewolf world.” He explained, making a sly smirk spread across my face.

Oh, Miles, you are screwed.

I decided to go back to my room since they had to meet the duke of the West province. It would be so boring to spend the entire evening alone. I didn’t care. I was not going to talk to Elliot, no matter how hard it became.

Just as I was about to enter the room, I strong pair of hands grabbed me roughly by the arm and pinned me to the wall.

Oof. I was stunned and, at first, I didn’t see who it was. However, I knew who it was from the scent and the frame.

“For how long do you plan to ignore my calls, my love?” his husky whisper made my heart race. I gulped. I was angry at him. Angry! I wanted to remind myself. However, this foolish body of mine betrayed me. It yearned for him.

“Someone might see us” I managed to gasp as he traced his nose against the skin of my neck.

“Let’s go to a movie?” he asked. “I miss you. I want time alone with you.” He whispered and stepped back. I huffed out a deep breath and looked right into his grey eyes that held so many emotions as he looked into mine.

“Please?” He begged. I scowled, but I knew I was not angry anymore.

“Why can’t I stay angry at you for long?” I sighed.

“Because I’m awesome.” He smirked. “And you love me.” He added, making me roll my eyes.

Oh so conceited. I thought as I chuckled to myself. Nonetheless, it amused me.

“So, movies?” he asked. “Please, my love.”

“Okay. Let’s go “ shaking my head, I agreed. I liked him too much to say no.