Chapter 8 A Wolf In Sheep Clothing

Jasper’s POV

Ariana didn’t realize I had been following behind her, even though I had been repeatedly calling after her.

What was happening? Why didn’t she notice me?

The possibilities were endless but the stranger with the eyes of rubies that reminded me of death came to mind.

What game was he playing? Did he want the throne too? I wouldn’t let him. I was the only one who deserved that throne, I’d slaved for nearly all my life for it, being at the foot of that brat.

If only I could break her knees then maybe she’d realize she was too fast for a supposed princess. My canines were sharp with anger.

I fastened my footsteps, grabbing her right hand by the wrist. Startled, she grabbed my hand on hers using extensive force I didn’t imagine possible. The intense roughness of her grip startled me causing me to instantly regret what I’d done.

She twisted my wrist with dense instantaneous pressure just enough to cause pain and restrict my blood flow. I groaned out.

“You fucking bi—" In seconds, my grip loosened and she twisted my hand to my back swiftly pushing me against the nearest tree, the contact strong enough to reduce the quickness of a counter attack I’d manage to cook up. The side that made contact with the tree was my left cheek and I nearly screamed out in pain.

“Ariana, it’s bloody me!” I yelled and she gasped realizing it was me.

On a normal day she would’ve noticed me with just a whiff of his scent and come running towards me like a dog.

With the amount of pressure she used to stop my blood circulation, I knew she’d leave bruises, if not worse. If I was an untrained werewolf or a mere normal civilian, my wrist would be severely broken without repair. Damn!

Instantly, on hearing my solemn voice, she instantly let me go. “Oh my God! I am so sorry!” Regret washed over her voice like waves.

I wanted to rip her throat out. I turned towards her, my face fuming with rage. My cheek was on fire letting me know the nasty bruise that awaited me. I couldn’t move my wrist. She fucking broke it.

“What the hell man, couldn’t you hear me?” I yelled, holding my broken wrist. On contact, I winced and knew I had to go to a doctor.

“I… couldn’t, really. I was so lost in thought about the whole ordeal my whole senses got shut off, plus your grip was threatening.” She spoke shakily, watching my wrist and face in horror.

“Threatening? Really, Ariana?” I gave me a pointed look, massaging his bruised cheek.

I really despised how much I had to soften my voice when speaking to her. At least with Lorna she was my personal ragdoll, maybe I shouldn’t have killed her and my poor, unborn child.

She came closer to me, “You know I wouldn’t lie, Jasper. Once we’re back at the palace I’ll ensure the family doctor sees you.”

“Your strength is insane. You’re really dangerous now, no wonder you’re brave enough to eye the throne.”

She looked ashamed and that only satisfied me, if not that I was hurting terribly, I would’ve said more to watch her sink into a state of self-hate. I knew her more than anyone and I knew how to break her under my grip.

Her gaze hardened. “You’re the reason I even bothered to go for it in the first place. I wanted us to be happy together and that only meant I’d have to be worth such happiness. So everyday for so many years I dedicated myself to being this strong.”

This was new. And irritating.

I gritted my teeth.

“You’re the reason I decided to give my undying loyalty to this kingdom, I always kept our promise to each other close to my heart while I was gone. It was what kept me going while I couldn’t be with you, Ariana.”

“Yet you decided to mate with another woman, mark her and even get her pregnant while you were at it. You cannot make such utterances when you destroyed everything.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

One of the reasons I missed Lorna was because she knew when to shut up, this fool, however… did not.

I drooped my eyes. “Till my dying breath I will always be sorry for the pain I caused you, Ariana. You can’t even imagine what I’m feeling right now. It’s truly unimaginable that this is where I’d end up, my child dying and you rejecting me.”

With the look on her face, I knew she had been caught in my cage, I only had to take it up a notch. She was so easy it was laughable.

“Remember when we were kids and other children would taunt you for sticking by me because I was a beta?”

“Yeah, I remember that.” Her voice had severely softened. Perfect.

“I got bullied and you would stand up for me, each time. The day you got really hurt I promised myself that I’d fight everyday to protect you. I couldn’t stand what you had to go through just to be with me so I struggled even while away.” I took a step closer. “Ariana, I never stopped loving you but I was so scared.”

“Scared of what, Jasper? We had everything planned out. There was nothing stopping us.”

I feigned regret. “I know but I was terrified after hearing all the news of your parents introducing you to so many people of immense power that I do not have. I thought you’d agree to a proposal and forget everything.”

“How could you even think that? I wrote to you every time, telling you in detail how I was still waiting for you to come back to me.”

“Anytime I talked to someone about it they reminded me of where I stood. Me below you while you would always be above me. I hated it every time I had to hear that. I then thought: there was no way the moon goddess could choose me as your mate and the news of your parents looking for a wedding arrangement spread like wildfire and how they were upset you weren’t picking any suitor. As a lowly beta, I thought I couldn’t keep causing you so much troubles. In the midst of that, Lorna came along. She was such a sweet girl and she was kind to me, she reminded me of you so much I used her. It sounds so evil of me to say but I know it’s true. I used her to feel closer to you, even if it was just a lie and then she got pregnant. I couldn’t just abandon her but I eventually did. I left her and my child in that forest and now they’re gone.”

The sympathetic look gave it all away. Bingo!

“Jasper, please, do not blame yourself. I’m sure if she truly loved you she’d want you to be happy.”

“I can’t!” I yelled suddenly, bursting into tears. This was my last and final act. “I can’t, Ariana. Everywhere I look, I’m reminded of what I’d done, the pain she must’ve gone through. I know she fought to protect our child and the suffering of that kills me so much. Ariana, I wish to die so I’d be with Lorna and weep at her feet to forgive me. I know only my death can atone for my sin.”

She pulled me in a hug, holding tightly. She smelled of power and I sniffed it in, daydreaming about the life waiting for me. “Please don’t say that. You’ll get through this, I’ll be here each step of the way to help. You can get through this, I promise, you’re not alone. You’ve never been alone.”

I began to cry, heavily. I couldn’t contain myself hearing all that, it was either laugh in the stupidity and ruin my hard work or cry like a fool. Slowly I stopped crying, pulling away and maintaining eye contact with her.

I leaned in for a kiss. She froze, in shock, not responding but neither pulling away. I had to take advantage of that.

Suddenly, one of her father’s guards appeared in front of us.

“Your highness.” He called for her attention, taking a bow.

She blinked rapidly, taking a few steps back. With her reaction, I knew it was fine either way, I’d already won.

“I’m listening.” She responded, her breathing shaky.

“Your majesty has requested for your presence. He wants a report on the murder of the pregnant omega.”

“I will be there, instantly. Thank you.” Ariana turned to me, “We’ll see some other time, okay? Try to get some rest please.”

“Of course, thank you so much for everything.” I replied, giving her a fake smile as I walked away.

“I’ll be sure to repay you with your death.” The last word was said in a whisper, and I smirked even more.

****

“I have heard everything you’ve said. Get up, young one.” The king spoke. Ariana had just finished giving him the report of the murder. “I still want that unruly beta exiled from my kingdom!”

“I understand your sentiment, Father, but grant your mercy and relinquish his sin. He is truly sorry and Warwick Kingdom will definitely thank you for it in the long run.”

“You, my daughter, are light reincarnated. I, your father, is a man that wants to exert his judgement on those that harm you. How much of your light are you willing to shower on people that have chosen the path of darkness?”

They didn’t know I’d been listening to everything. I had followed her without her knowledge and I was listening from a back door not even they knew about.

Annoyed, I gritted my teeth in anger wanting to rip that old man’s neck with my very own canines.

He should just wait until I get my hands on that crown.

I knew I had done well today, Ariana was surely going to come back to me. She had always been a lonely fool, I just had to make sure I’d be the only one to utilize such foolishness.

Light my foot. She was a dog with strength big enough to crush necks, I mean she almost broke my wrist, permanently.

All I had to do was to get the dog to choose me as her master. And it would happen. It definitely would.