Chapter 11

Apple stood rooted to her spot; she wanted the gravel beneath her feet to swallow her whole. She didn’t know if she should cry, jump or shout.

A huge, beautiful white wolf stood in front of her, its blue eyes gazing at her.

“Dario,” she mutters but the wolf growls. “Onyx?” she asks questioningly, her brow cocked. The wolf looks at her and bows. Apple gasps. “Onyx,” she says again, this time, there’s no confusion in her voice. “You’re beautiful, Onyx,” she says wide-eyed.

“Madam Apple,” Apple looks up at the guard, who wore a permanent scowl, and smiles. She looks back to the spot where Onyx sat a few minutes ago, but notices that he’s gone.

“Is everything okay, sir?” she asks.

“The dressmaker has arrived, madam. And the king has to start his training.”

“Sir?” Apple calls out to the guard who’s about to walk away.

“Yes, madam? Is everything okay?”

“Why was his wolf black when he was training and white now? That doesn’t make sense, right?”

Hunter hides a smile, “I think you would make a remarkable queen, Madam Apple, you have a great eye.”

“Well, that wasn’t the question, right? I asked you if—”

Hunter looks around and notices the king has disappeared. He looks back at the queen with a small smile tugging at his lips. “The black wolf represents a warrior, the fiercest one alive. The white wolf represents the softest part of The King, the part that has been unseen by everyone except his beloved mate.” Hunter opens the door for Apple and they continue their journey through multiple hallways before they end up in front of Apple’s door.

“So, you’re basically saying that no one has seen The King’s white wolf except me?”

“Yes, My Queen. Absolutely no one.” Apple nods and thanks Hunter who opens the door for her.

“Well, that’s sad.”

“No, it’s not. It’s an act of love, My Queen.”

“My Queen, Queen Apple! How are you?” Lucia asks as she scatters multiple designs of dresses out on the floor. Hunter smiles and shuts the door as he leaves.

“Lucia, I’m good and yourself? Where is Anastacia?”

“She went to the kitchen for something sweet. That child’s morning sickness will be the death of her… Anyway, let us get started! I have so many ideas I want you to see.”

Apple looks at the designs and smiles. “Your enthusiasm is absolutely mesmerising.”

“Oh, thank you, Queen Apple,” Lucia says. “Anyway, I brought all these designs for you to choose from. I didn’t know your exact style, but I just know that you prefer something with poof, right?” Apple picks up one design and slides her fingers over the three-dimensional diamonds. “Do you like it.”

“Something like this, but with sleeves,” Apple answers with a smile. The bedroom door opens and Anastacia strolls in with a bag full of snacks.

“You guys start without me? No fair!” she says like a baby and plops onto the couch with a sigh. “Are you guys hungry?”

“No thank you, Ana,” Apple says and continues skimming through the pages. “The patterns; what do they represent?”

“Unity. Love. The coming together of two vast different families… two different people who will form one and lead this kingdom into victory.”

“Or in simpler words, they are there for show.” Anastacia says and laughs. “You’re an artist, Lu, everything has deeper meanings. Everything.”

“I think it is beautiful. The fact that you take something simple that has no literal meaning other than decorating and turning the figurative meaning into something so brave and exquisite. Even if a woman only wears her dress once, when she does wear it, she carries the fine work of someone that carved a dress into something precious.”

“I’m officially scared of you, Apple.”

“Oh goodness, I cannot wait for you to wear my dress!”

.

“How did it go?” Dario asks as he sips on his whiskey. Apple chews on her bottom lip as she sat in front of Dario’s hot gaze.

“I found the perfect dress, Lucia did a few measurements, and she said she’ll start on the dress by the weekend. She said it will be done by Wednesday.”

“That’s good. That’s good, right?”

“Yes, it is. Ana said the next thing to do is cake-testing.”

“You and Ana can do—”

“No.”

“No?”

“No. I want us to do it, together.” Dario nods and puts his glass onto the coaster.

“Okay. We’ll do it.”

“It is tomorrow at nine.”

“Who eats cake that early in the morning?”

“Apparently people who are planning a wedding.”

“Apple, there are a few things we need to discuss.”

“Like?”

“As the queen of the entire kingdom, you’re expected to fall pregnant within the first month of our marriage. An heir or heiress is very important to the people of this kingdom. They expect their future leaders to be just as brave, kind and strong and as the previous ones.”

“And you think that I want to fall pregnant the first time we do it?” Apple’s brow cocks as she asks Dario this question. He nods. “Okay, Mr Baby Machine, come here and put a little foetus inside of me.”

“That’s not what I meant, Apple.”

“Exactly. All customs changed when you found out I am your mate.”

“Apple,”

“No, don’t Apple me. I said all customs changed when you found out I’m your mate. I’m twenty-six. Imagine falling pregnant every year to satisfy your people.”

“Our people.” Dario rectifies with a frown.

“They’re yours if you want me pregnant and waddling.”

“I hate it when you overreact.”

“Oh please, if you call this overreacting, imagine how I act without over-ring.”

Dario smiles widely. “I love you,” he whispers and shuts his eyes as if Apple might disappear. “Promise me something.” Apple looks at Dario.

He looks broken.

Like something shattered him, tore him apart.

But it looks as though holding onto her made him fix himself. Apple tugs a strand of her curly, black hair behind her ear. “Anything,” she murmurs lowly. Her fingers so badly wanted to touch his hairy cheek. She wanted him to hold her tight and tell her all his fears. Apple wanted Dario to express his deepest, darkest feelings to her, but she knew a thronged heart like his needs time; enough time to work through his problems before she helped him. The only thing Apple is unsure about, is Dario’s feelings he had and probably still has for Cecilia.

After all they slept together.

“It’s nothing.” Dario says as he opens his eyes again. He looks at Apple with deep longing in his eyes. The glass he held in his hands suddenly felt small and breakable, it felt the same as Apple’s heart. Dario knew he had her wrapped around his finger. If he snapped it, she would fall for anything that left his mouth, and that made him guilty of so many things, but the worst of all; is the fact that he is holding her heart hostage.

“It’s nothing?”

“Yes,” Dario suddenly gets up, the chair he sat on scrapes against the floor. “I have a few things to do. I will see you—”

“Tonight.” Apple chimes in and gets up from her chair. She moves around the table and tries invading Dario’s personal space by holding onto his hands. “Come see me tonight.”

Dario smiles and cups Apple’s cheek in his other hand. “I will see you tonight.” He says with a huge grin. He pecks her forehead and leaves.

Apple felt that nasty, shallow feeling again.

The one that surfaced every time Dario left.

Apple is terrified of her feeling for Dario.

It felt as though she is drowning, and as water enters her lungs, she takes a deep breath of hell.

.

Dario stood in the garden room; his eyes focussed of the row of blood red roses spread alongside the corners.

These roses remind him so much of his Apple, the one he loves dearly.

Apple reminds him of his mother. Her attitude, the one that makes him lose control, reminds him of his grandmother. “Are they for the queen, My King?” Dario looks at the Silver, the royal gardener, and nods. “They are beautiful. I’m sure she will love them.” Silver comments in awe and smiles. “Shall I?” he gestures towards the roses and Dario only again. He didn’t know what to say.

What if she doesn’t love them? What if she’s allergic to roses?

She will adore them, Onyx remarks bravely, our mate will love them.

“Yes, only one—”

“You don’t want a bouquet, My King?”

“No, only one.”

Silver nods and snips the rose away from its family. He carefully hands the king the rose and smiles. “She will love them. Even though not all women prefer roses and stuff.”

“What do you mean not all women prefer roses and stuff?”

“Some women prefer a faithful man.”

“Are you implying that I’m not faithful?”

“Some women prefer a loving, caring man that knows her every nook and cranny.”

“I don’t need a women’s guide, Silver.”

“But the thing every woman wants is a man who is consistent.”

“And you’re insinuating that I’m neither?”

“Have you asked her what she wants? Have you found that perfect spot that makes her quiver when you remember the stuff that she wants you to remember? Have you given her sleepless nights? Have you even held her when she is asleep, My King? There are many things women love that can make a man crazy. But no matter how impossible her demands are, choose to love her the way she needs to be loved. Give her that soft, sensual touch that makes her shiver beneath your fingertips, and I promise you; she’ll be yours and yours only.”

“I have to go now.” Dario says confused.

“Keep well, My King, and don’t forget what I said.” Dario stumbled out of the garden room with a frown on his face. He hurriedly speeds into the castle and slams the door behind him.

“Alpha King?” Dario turns around, looking completely distraught. “Are you okay, My King?” Hunter asks and reaches from his sword, but Dario quickly masks his confusion with a neutral expression and stands up straight.

“Yes, Hunter. Is everything okay?”

“I thought about the security that needs to put in order for the wedding.”

“Yes, and?”

“I thought maybe we’ll need about three hundred and sixty guards patrolling that night, sir.”

“How much of them patrol the grounds on a normal night?”

“Nearly two thousand, sir.”

“And even if there are nearly two thousand guards, the castle can still be under attack when I snap my fingers.” Dario snaps his fingers and Hunter blinks from the sudden shock that fires through him. “So why do you only want three hundred and sixty guards patrolling if two thousand of you cannot keep the castle safe? The decrease in numbers increases my anxiety of an attack. So, no, I need all my guards patrolling that day, Hunter. Every single one of them.”

“Very well then, sir. And the other thing I wanted to discuss—”

“Would it be possible for us to discuss this tomorrow, Hunter?” Dario knew why Hunter was so adamant with keeping him happy, he wanted to be The Alpha King’s third in command.

“Of course, My King, what time will suit you?” Dario smiles and stuffs his hands in his pockets.

“I’ll be in my office most of the day, and if not, I’m with The Queen.”

“Good, Alpha, I will see you then.” Hunter excitedly skids away from Dario.

Dario continues his journey down the hallway and confidently opens the door. For a second, he is gobsmacked, but quickly regains his posture and shuts his mouth that shot open upon seeing the sight in front of him. “Apple,”

“Dario, I didn’t know you’d be here now…” Apple wraps a towel around her body and folds her arms in front of her chest. “I expected you to come at midnight.”

“Surprise.” He says as he shuts the door and stalks towards Apple. He stops in front of her, a few centimetres stopping them from touching. “I brought you this.” Dario hands Apple the rose.

“It’s beautiful, Dario. Thank you.” Apple sniffs the rose and sets it onto her bed. She tries backing away from Dario, but he closes the space between them and  gently pushes her onto the bed. He gets up on top of her and supports his weight on his arm. “Dario,” Apple says in a whisper.

“Yes, Apple?” Dario asks as he runs his tongue against Apple’s collarbone.

“I love you,”

“I know, because I love you too.” Dario slams his lips onto Apple’s parted ones and pins her wrists above her head. “Can I ask you something?” He asks in between their hot kiss. Apple nods, “Are you afraid of me?”

“No,” she says curtly and shuts her eyes as Dario’s other hand glides beneath her towel. “No, I’m not.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,”

“I don’t believe you,” Dario stops and gets up.

“What do you mean you don’t believe me?”

“What does it mean when someone says they don’t believe you?”

“I don’t understand,”

“Do you trust me, Apple?”

“Yes, I do!” Apple exclaims.

“How did you know I was sleeping with Cecilia?”

“I don’t—”

“Don’t say you don’t know.”

“It was probably woman’s intuition.”

“Am I consistent enough?”

“Dario what the heck is going on with you? Where are all these questions coming from?”

“Do you like my touch? Is it too hard? Is it too soft? Is it even good enough?”

“What?” Dario grabs Apple’s forearm and pulls her into his chest. Apple tries getting out of Dario’s touch. “Let go of me. You’re hurting me.”

“Someone told me—”

“Well if you need to speak to someone to make me happy then you obviously don’t know how to love me your way.”

“I don’t know your body well enough.”

“Who cares?”

“I don’t know your body the way I knew Beata’s or Cecilia’s.”

“You never told me about the third one.” Dario looks at Apple then at the ceiling. “I’m not afraid of you, Dario. If I was, I wouldn’t be here. You’re the most consistent Alpha King I’ve ever met. And I love your touch and no, you do not need to know my body well enough to touch me.”

Dario turns around. “The third girl,” he says. “You want to know about her?”

“Yes, I would love to know about her.”

“She’s perfect and truly a queen with her curvaceous figure. She has the biggest afro I’ve ever seen if she combs out her curls.” Apple is unaware of the tears that uncontrollably flow from her eyes. She looks at Dario’s back with a nonplussed expression. “This entire kingdom loves her, and they have accepted her.”

“Dario,” Dario turns back to Apple and hugs her tightly. “How can it be me if Anastacia told me that Cecilia was the third girl?”

“I loved you before I knew you. I saw you in my dreams for three weeks. And each time my heart ached for the need to have you near me.” Dario says and ignores the question.

“H-how- how did you know I’d be there that night?”

“In my dreams- in my dreams—”

“What about your dreams?”

“I saw you dying on multiple occasions.”

“What do you mean you saw me dying?”

“The first time was when you and your mother went to the family festival. The fire that broke out- you were supposed to die that day, but I sent Amadeo and a few other guards out there to keep you safe. You went to the doctor, and the doctor would’ve accidentally stabbed you in the neck. The wound would’ve been near your jugular vein, but it still would’ve killed you. The—”

“Stop ta-talking!” Apple cries out and shoves Dario away from her. She cradles her face in her hands. “You knew me before I knew you. How long? And why was I told the third woman was Cecilia!”

“Apple,”

“How long? And why was I told the third woman was Cecilia?” she bites out angrily.

“Six months.”

“So, you knew you have a mate but you still screw your maid, your apparent not so last woman you loved?”

“That’s not what this is about, Apple.”

“Yes, it is. Because I was angry at you and you said all those nice things and I fell for your stupid words again! Were you even at that supposedly council stupid meeting?”

Dario uncomfortably scratches his neck.

“It’s fine! I have my answer. How could you, Dario? I am probably the stupidest person alive. Am I just a pawn in your little game?”

“That’s not- no, Apple.”

“Then what is this? Huh? What are we even doing here?”

“What was I supposed to do?”

“Be faithful!”

“I wanted—”

“What about what I want, Einstein? Have you stopped and just thought about what I want and need? No, you don’t, because you think that this world revolves around you and your stupid kingdom.”

“Apple, stop saying stuff you don’t mean.”

“Or what? What’s going to happen to me? This isn’t love we’re feeling, Dario, this is fairy-tale stuff. I shouldn’t even be here. I wasn’t born for this.”

“What do you mean this isn’t love?” Dario asks to hurt. He tries reaching out to Apple, but she moves back.

“Look at me, Dario. Look at me and tell me you don’t feel anything for her.”

“I don’t!”

“Look at me! Look into my eyes and be honest with me.”

“We’re supposed to get married, Apple.”

“I’m not getting married to someone who loves his ex-tramp. And I’m sure as hell not getting married to a liar.”

“I will give you time to cool off.”

“I don’t need time. I want to go home.”

“Do you honestly think it is that easy, Apple?”

“Yes!”

“Well, it isn’t, okay? If you leave, or if you continue saying stuff like this—”

“Stuff like what?”

“That you don’t- you don’t- the curse will reverse, Apple.”

“What curse?”

“The one Cecilia did. The one that made me blind.”

Apple looks down, “I liked you better when you were blind.”