She Has Always Been Born Ready

"So..." Chivia started as she wiggled her eyebrows.

Her tears were long gone.

"What do you like most about my brother?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Uh...excuse me?" Tashina choked and coughed awkwardly and Chivia laughed.

"Oh, come on, even though you haven't known him for that long, you should have something you really like about him..." Tashina's frown grew deeper.

"Right?..." Chivia tilted her head as she openly stared at Tashina with disbelief splashed on her face.

Now that Chivia mentioned it, Tashina hasn't really thought that deeply about Xavier, she has been so caught up in her worries about her kingdom that she totally disregarded his kind features.

He had so many qualities that she loved and it was impossible to choose one.

"I don't know..." Tashina said silently and looked down at her thigh as though she was disappointed with herself.

"It's okay. I mean you have a long time to figure that out" Tashina cringed at that statement and slowly retracted her hand from Chivia's.

"You are going to stay, right...?" Chivia trembling voice didn't go unnoticed by Tashina and she sighed in despair.

"What happens if I don't accept him?" after several minutes of carefully thinking and choosing the right words, Tashina asked silently.

"Nothing happens" Chivia shook her head and took Tashina's hands back.

"Having a mate wasn't our choice but being with the mate is completely up to us. You don't have to do something that your heart doesn't wants nor do you have to force yourself to be with a person you don't love. It's completely up to you" Whether she felt reassured by that, Tashina didn't know.

"I know Xavier may come as someone that is aloof and indifferent but it takes some time before you start seeing the good in him. He has a heart of gold, his heart is so pure and so delicate that you will have no choice but to fall in love with him when you get the chance to see that bright side of his.

"Life has made him ruthless and unforgiving but he still cares for his people as though they were his family and he takes good care of the animals that not a single one is left injured or in danger. He is very complicated but believe me when I say that if you find it in your heart to love him, you will never regret it" Chivia offered her a smile.

"The choice all lies in your hand, Tashina but just know one thing. If you leave him, nothing can save his heart from turning into stone and Xavier won't be able to survive it. That is the cruel truth. I'm sure you know his heart was already turning hard before you came but when he met you, the process completely stopped and if you turn away now, from him and this bond...Xavier will be no more,: Tashina shuddered at the dread in Chivia's voice.

"It's... it's just so complicated. At times, I feel like I know what I have to do but then I just get confused all over again and my head aches from all these thoughts" Tashina ran her hands over her long, bright red strands.

"I understand. You see, I was like you when I first met Ren. I met him at his royal debut where a werewolf comes out of age and develops the ability to sense his mate. He instantly knew it was me and he was eager to have me. Me, being the stubborn brat I have always been, I rejected him more than I can count just so I could make him suffer a little before I yielded.

"I was young, scared, and nervous about having a life partner but that didn't stop me from getting to know him at least. I decided that if life was going to give me a spouse, I might as well make sure he's right for me. I took my time and got to know my husband and when I finally accepted him, I made sure I was fully aware of what I was about to step into and I prepared myself for any obstacles that will definitely come our way" Chivia's eyes twinkled as she reminisced the old days.

"I know it's not the same with you because you're a vampire but it's not that different either. Try to know him, analyze and calculate your advantages and disadvantages with him. Just don't make a rash decision in the spur of the moment. Most of all, listen to your heart because as my Mama said, the heart never misleads you" Chivia took Tashina's hand and laid it upon her heart.

"Thank you for that, I will think about it and this time, I will think with my heart"Tashina decided.

"That's great to hear" Chivia beamed.

"I really appreciate you being here. You've helped me a lot in such a short time" Tashina gave a kind smile.

"Ah, I'm glad to hear that. Going to brag in my husband's face that I can stay in the same room with a vampire without getting killed. Hopefully, he will let me go on a real battle next time" Chivia rolled her eyes.

"Why are werewolves so possessive?" Tashina crinkled her face as she remembered those times Xavier was overprotective of her.

"Well, I heard it has to do because we are from the dog family but not so sure how true that is. Although, we get a little too much when the things we labeled ours are misused by anyone" Chivia hopped off the table and styled her curls while looking at the mirror.

"Baby girl, it's time for us to go have our breakfast" She put her hand in front of Tashina, and Tashina took it without much thought.

As they walked to the door, hand in hand, Chivia was about to open the door when she halted and looked at Tashina hesitantly.

"You know, we could have breakfast in the room if you're not so comfortable going out" Chivia suggested.

"Thanks but sooner or later, I'm going to have to face it"

"And as always, I prefer sooner" Tashina reached out and pushed the door open.

"You've succeeded in winning my heart, Darling" Chviia chuckled and stepped out of the room.

The guards straightened up as the girls came out of the room and walked down the hall.

"This entire floor is usually empty because it is the Alpha's private hall. The maids only come up here at a specific time of the day" Chivia said as they walked down the hall.

"Now, it's about to get crowded" Chivia muttered as they went down the stairs and into another floor.

"This floor is where Ren and my bedroom are and a few guestrooms are also here. You will start seeing unwelcomed faces now"

As Chivia said, a few maids passed by their side after giving Tashina a distasteful glare.

They went down the next floor and it was even more crowded than the former.

Maids, soldiers, workers, and officials were filled in the hall and as soon as Tashina stepped foot inside, all eyes fell on her.

It was clear from their glare that they were about to pounce on her. Something told her that if Chivia wasn't with her then they would have attacked her without a second thought.

As they walked further, Tashina seemed to have lost her courage and she now looked down at the ground as she walked, the events of yesterday hunting her.

"Are they staring at you?" Chivia asked with a whisper.

"Yes," Tashina answered.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"A little" Tashina mumbled.

"Want to make them look away? Stare at them with equal ferocity, show them who is in charge here," Chivia whispered as they walked.

When Tashina felt a strong squeeze on her hand, she took the courage and raised her head to stare at the faces.

She kept her fiery, jade eyes locked with each of them and walked with her head held high.

A few murmurs rang down the hall and they all dropped their gaze down with slight fear of the vampire's glare.

"Ooooh!! Go, girl!" Chivia cheered her on from her side and Tashina smirked at their cowardly faces.

"You're going to fit perfectly in" Chivia grinned.

Strangely, Tashina liked that.

Chivia stopped before a bronze sculpted double door and Tashina knew they had arrived when she smelt freshly baked goods, a pleasant aroma of delicacies and a familiar scent she would recognize anywhere.

"We're here. Are you ready for this?" Chivia asked for the last time.

Even though her heart was trembling and the thought of running away sounded more appealing, Tashina braced herself and with a steady voice, she answered.

"I was born ready"