Chapter 12

Harlow

"You shouldn't do that you know"

"Do what?" I asked a little harsher than I intended.

I couldn't help it. I was frustrated and I couldn't see myself getting back to the base in the near future.

"Provoke him" I shot him a look of confusion "The arguing and everything is okay but I'd advise you not to mention you in a romantic relationship with anyone that isn't him".

I scoffed "Or what?"

"Hopefully we'll never have to find out" He assured me. I wanted to ask another question but something told me he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"How do you feel about him?" I inquired tilting my head slightly. A part of me wanted to gather as much as I could about him so I could find the best way to take him down but another part of me just genuinely wanted to get to know him.

A small, small part of me.

"He's the best king we could ever have and this kingdom owes him more than we could ever repay" He replied honestly. "The lengths he has gone to keep all werewolves alive even before the Takeover are admirable".

Yes, The Takeover.

To them, it was a great deal in their furry history. Them finally coming out to the world and getting the opportunity to live without hiding who they really were.

To humans, it was the day we lost everything.

"I can tell you're really loyal to him" I muttered in disappointment. I was secretly hoping he'd be bitter and power-hungry like all the previous men I've had the displeasure of meeting. "How do you feel about me?"

He was thrown off my question "Erm.. what do you mean?" He questioned politely. I picked up my pace of walking so we could be side by side.

"I mean" I looked down "You're only beta because I killed the last one. Personally"

"I would never hold it against you-

"Oh, but you should. I feel not even a smither of guilt about what I did to Beta...Beta" I feigned innocence as if I'd forgotten his name "It was Beta-

"Matteo" He corrected me coldly "It was Royal Beta Matteo"

"Oh silly me, talking about his death as if it isn't a fresh would for you, my bad" I giggled. Aggravation came off of him in waves "But you don't have to be worried Leo, you'll soon reunite with your precious Beta" I smirked. "I'll make sure of it".

"I know what you're doing" Leo chuckled darkly "And it's not going to work, at least not whilst we're under Malakai's roof. Whenever you think you'll think you're about to get the upper hand he'll always be three steps ahead".

I was speechless, my mouth gaped open and close like a fish as my mind scrambled to find a quip to throw back at him. "Y-you really believe in him" I breathed. It wasn't a question but of me stating the blatant ovbious.

Leo was trusted Malakai. A lot.

"I do...and I know you will too. One day."

I slipped into silence as I sank into my thoughts. The idea that I could be as loyal to Malakai as Leo was made me frown. I would become just like them, those poor human girls that I often saw being submissive to their wolf counterparts.

They all seemed happy enough but I always ruled it off as Stockholm syndrome at best. Why would you ever fall in love with someone who has taken everything from you? It just didn't make sense.

This mate bond.

I knew enough about it to know it was powerful. To be able to bring two people together with nothing but the hope that they were meant to be together was insane to say the least. One side of me still thought these wolves were deluded for creating hope for themselves that a high being had a purpose for them with another person.

A soulmate. The thought of it did sound easier. Just going about knowing there is someone that was created for you somewhere. But today I'd saw it- no, felt it face to face and that face was Malakai.

He was physical perfection. So attractive that I could even call him pretty.

I envied his right eye. The crystal cerulean was breathtaking.

It made me mad how he challenged me. I ruled the rebellion and my word was law but now I'm here where people worship the ground he walks on. I felt my hand reach up to my neck that he had his fist around earlier.

For something that was supposed to be painful, it felt so...good.

I could feel a ghost of a smile on my face as I remembered the firework of sparks that exploded on my skin as soon as he touched it. Was that the mate bond? Is that how it felt to be someone's ma-

"Is it still painful?" Leo asked. I looked at him to see him observing the way I was caressing my neck.

"No no, it's not" I answered truthfully, not feeling an ounce of pain on my neck.Leo nodded in relief and stopped looking at me altogether. "Hey, Leo?"

"Hmm?" He hummed.

"Do you have a mate?" I asked innocently, actually wondering whether he had one.

A smile spread on his face as a blush lightly dusted his cheeks. "Um" he cleared his throat "Yes actually" He looked away.

"What's her name?"

"Ivory," He said almost giddily as if the thought of his mate sent him on a sugar rush. "She's human too, you'll like her".

I nodded "What does she look like?"

"She has beautiful dark hair and this pale-

As he continued rambling on I lightly touched his elbow, brushing my fingertips over the skin. Immediately images of a beautiful woman came rushing into my mind. Tapes of her smile and her in many outfits flew past my eyelids until it stopped at the last time he'd seen her.

This morning.

I felt myself grow a few inches as my hair straightened down my back into black slightly coily silky locks. My eyes enlarged into my face and my skull structure shifted to fit that of the woman in Leo's memory. The maids dress I'd previously worn turning into a skirt and top.

"I'll ask Malakai if you can meet he-shit!" Leo jumped back slightly as he looked at me for the first time in his rant. The colour drained off of his face as he studied mine with horror in his eyes. He looked around as if looking for me before realization crossed his eyes. "Wow".

My lips broke in a smile and I felt air rushing in from the wide gap I now had in my teeth. This seemed to have shocked Leo even more. "You should compliment her for me, she's indeed stunning," I told him.

He seemed to be calmer at the fact that I still sounded like me but he still looked a little shaken up. "Relax" I laughed before changing back into my body, immediately missing the feel of her gorgeous hair down my back.

"Your magic is frighteningly accurate" He whispered.

"So I've been told" I nodded unfazed by his weary looks. This wasn't the first time I'd done it and I doubted it'd be the last.

"No really, it must be quite useful to have your talent".

I shrugged. "It gets the job done".

"If you don't mind me asking did you learn how to do that or have you just always been able to..." He trailed off before making dramatic hand motions. Imitating the way I shapeshifted.

"I guess I've always been able too" I stated, starting to get uncomfortable.

"I don't think you should do that in front of the king either "He spoke slowly. I narrowed my eyes.

"Why the fuck not?"

"Just a suggestion" He quickly said, raising his hands up in defence "But I really think he'd like it better if you just stayed the way you are."