Chapter 2

Apple threw her head back as she laughed at Fredericko’s silly jokes. She stuffs another handful of puffs into her mouth and chews them. “You’ll choke, Apple.”

“Sorry dad.” She mumbles playfully. She wanted to ask Fredericko about him. It’s been nearly three days since their last encounter, and not being able to see the sexy beast, drove her crazy. Apple waits a few more minutes before turning to Fredericko.

“Yes, milady?”

“Tell me about the king. For starters, what’s his name?”

“Alpha King,” Fredericko replies but Apple hits him against his head.

“I know that, Fred, I mean his real name. The one his mother gave him at birth.”

“You’re asking unhealthy questions.”

“Oh please, the only thing that should be seen as unhealthy is this bag of puffs.” Fredericko looks at Apple with a small smile and gets up from the couch. “You always sit there.” She remarks her playful tone suddenly gone. “So far. Are you afraid of me? I don’t bite.”

“The King does.”

“I doubt it. He looked like a lost puppy when I kissed him last night.” Fredericko’s breath hitches in his throat. A sudden emotion bubbles in his chest.

“You kissed him?” he asks breathlessly.

“Only on his cheek. His lips seem off limits.” Apple’s cheeks suddenly warm up as she realises what she said. “I mean- they didn’t look kissable… no, what I actually meant is that you don’t kiss someone on the first date if the feelings aren’t mutual… I don’t have feelings for him. Or, I think I do. No, he saved me and now I’m like a high school girl with a stupid crush on my Science teacher. There’s nothing wrong with Science teachers though.”

“Apple,” Fredericko starts, trying to gain the mumbling beauty’s attention. She stops bickering and averts her big, brown eyes at Fredericko. “Relax and stop overthinking.”

“Where are you going?” Apple asks as she notices Fredericko strolling towards the door.

“The king requested that I report back to him every day regarding your well-being.”

“Woah hold up. Let’s reverse for a second. The king actually likes me?” Apple wiggles her eyebrows playfully.

Fredericko chuckles. “Get some rest, Apple.”

.

“How is she?” The King asks as he sips on his Jack Daniels, his eyes on Fredericko.

Kill him, Onyx mutters impatiently. He smells like her; his entire body smells like her.

“She’s healing, My King. The cuts and bruises on her hands are healed. They’re only tiny scars now, barely noticeable. Her ankle is my greatest worry though. She always complains about it.”

Kill him!

The King takes a deep, whistling breath to calm his fidgeting wolf. “Tell me something, Fredericko,” he starts as he downs the last bit of whiskey in his glass. He sets the empty glass onto the coaster and slowly trails his gaze up to Fredericko. “Why is it that you sound in love with my mate?” Fredericko’s heart flops against his ribcage.

“Pardon me, My King. I do not understand the question you’re asking me.” This adds fuel to the burning rage that grumbles in The King’s body. He gets up from his seat, his eyes never leaving Fredericko. “My king, the lights aren’t appropriate for your eyes. They could cause further damage to-”

“Shut up before I snap your head in half.” Fredericko so badly wanted to run, but he stood rooted to his spot. Fear crept down his spine as he saw the king’s hands shaking with rage.

“My king, I-”

“I said shut up!” he flips the table with one hand. The king turns around and shuts his eyes. “Leave, Fredericko. Pack your bags and leave the castle.”

“But my king, I am your third in command.”

“You don’t deserve the title.”

“You didn’t want her. You said you will stay away from her at all costs.”

Kill him! Onyx grunts out and within a second, the king had slammed Fredericko’s head into the wall. A sickening crack sounds through the room and he lets go of Fredericko’s limp, lifeless body as it slides onto the floor.

.

The king strides down the hallway, his nostrils filled with Apple’s intoxicating scent.

He enters her room without knocking.

He hears her gasping and shuffling. The king switches the light off and looks at her. He couldn’t make out her beautiful face, but he saw the curvy outline of his mate as she stood unmoving in the centre of the room.

Her heart erratically pumped against her chest. “Alpha King,” she says with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t planning on having visitors for the night.” She says and quickly scurries to tidy the bedroom that she didn’t bother cleaning.

“Apple,” he says slowly, each letter of her name popped out of his mouth like a soothing melody.

“Yes?” she responds politely. Veins appeared on The King’s neck as if he was restraining himself from doing something to her. He moved a few steps back until his back collided with the door. He seems vulnerable, Apple thinks as she drops the pillow on the bed. She slowly stalks towards him, and finally stops a few inches away from him. Apple cranes her neck to look at the king. “You can see me.” She remarks and straightforwardly puts her hand on his cheek. The King melts against her touch as shuts his eyes. “Incredible,” she mutters and gently rubs her thumb against his shaved cheek.

“Apple,” he says again. Apple now steps closer to him, her chest touching his.

Mark her, Onyx says loudly and the king snaps out of his daze. He grabs Apple’s forearm forcefully and shoves he away from him.

“If you value that hand, you’ll never touch me again.”

Apple stood in front of the door the king left ajar as he sped out of her room. She stood rooted to her spot for nearly five minutes trying to understand why he’d been so rude. One minute he seductively whispers her name, the next, he runs away from her. She needed answers, and the only person who could answer them other than the king himself was Fredericko.

Apple takes a long, hot shower and goes to bed after putting on a black dress shirt she found in the closet.

The next morning, she wakes up and patiently waits for Fredericko to bring her breakfast. To her dismay, a maid with neatly plaited hair, enters her room, sets her breakfast down and leaves without saying a word. “Well good morning to you too, Miss Grumpy.” She mumbles with a disappointed frown. After hungrily swallowing her breakfast, Apple `takes a shower and wears a t-shirt she took from the closet. The door opens and the king enters. He switches the light off and leans against the wall watching Apple who sits cross-legged on his bed. “A good morning to you too, Alpha King. And please learn to knock.” She says sarcastically. “Let me keep my hands to myself before someone threatens me again.” She folds her arms in front of her chest. “You know, it’s good to let people in sometimes. It won’t hurt.”

“Is that so, Miss Joe?”

“I will kick that smirk off your stupid face.”

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kick you out.”

“Because you love me.” Her words leave him speechless. Apple looks away from the king’s penetrating gaze. “It’s a joke.” She says and stands up. The king’s eyes fall to her legs and trail up to her face. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re really blind. You see the smallest motion.”

“Darkness.”

“Huh?”

“I see seven percent of objects in my view when I’m in the dark.” He says awkwardly.

“So, you see me?” she slowly walks closer to him. “Pull me closer,” Apple instructs.

“A-”

“Just do as I say, okay?” The king hesitantly wraps his arms around her waist and pulls Apple flush against him. “Amazing,” she says as she stares at him with wide eyes. “I saw it the day you saved me.”

“What did you see?” he asks curiously. The king’s voice is low as Apple’s sweet scent invades his nostrils.

Mark her, Onyx growls and he situates his right hand on her neck. Four of his thick fingers sprawl out around her neck while his thumb rests on her jaw. His mate stood in awe of him. She didn’t see him as a monster. Apple was intrigued by him, infatuated even.

“I saw hurt.” She says in a daze. “I never knew one person could carry so much hurt in their heart.”

“Apple,”

“I know I should leave.” She pulls away from the king and nervously looks at the floor. “I’ll be on my way today. Thank you, my king.”

“Wait, what?” The King panicked because tonight would be a full moon. Onyx would be reckless, and if Apple left, there’d be bloodshed. “You’re leaving?”

“Yes, my king,” he cringed as she submissively called him her king. “I have to go home. My mom will have my head if I stay here any longer.”

“Very well then. What time are you leaving?”

“At four, sir.”

He turns around and opens the door to exit, but halts in his steps. “Onyx, call me Onyx.” Without waiting for an answer, he hurriedly strides out of his mates view before he does something, she’ll forever hate him for.