Welcome, Your Majesty
Jocelyn and Rachel refused to listen when Joanna and Audrey told them to return home and that they could manage just fine.
Rachel and Jocelyn accompanied them until they reached the boundary separating their pack from Kingdom Twipera.
At this junction, they all felt reluctant to part ways despite knowing that there was nothing they could do.
They have only spent a short while together and it had already felt like they knew each other forever.
"Rachel, we are merely returning home and not dying so why are you giving me that look huh?" Joanna asked playfully when she saw the unexplainable sadness in Rachel's eyes as she stared at her.
Joanna went and embraced Rachel. "We will meet again in the future. I have this feeling that we are gonna meet again sooner than you think so there is no need to feel so sad because we are leaving," Joanna pats Rachel's back affectionately.
She assumed Rachel was upset because they were leaving not knowing that it was even a more serious topic which was on Rachel's mind.
"You must stay alive no matter what, ok? Even though you have to fight against destiny to achieve that you must do it hmm," Rachel said as she wrapped her hands around Joanna's neck.
Her grip was so firm that Joanna found it hard to breathe.
Although Rachel's words sounded a bit strange none of them saw anything wrong with it.
When realisation struck Anthony that he might never get to see the two girls again, he broke down in tears. He bawled his eyes out.
With so much pain they parted ways. Jocelyn waved at them until they were no longer in sight.
"How I wish those moments we spent together lasted forever…,"
"We knew from the beginning that this wasn't possible. We knew they would eventually return to where they came from," Rachel said. She placed her hand on Jocelyn's shoulders to console her.
She, Rachel and her guards returned to the pack where they belong.
Joanna and her companions had a difficult time hailing a taxi from the lonely street. They had to walk a very long distance before they were able to hail a taxi.
Meanwhile, as they were returning home Kayden's men who had been keeping watch over the boundary immediately called him to relay the good news to him.
"Make sure they don't leave your sight. I will come by myself to welcome my woman home," Kayden's smile broadened as he stood up from the Golden Chair he sat on.
His once foul mood took 180 degrees turn the instant he heard the news of his mate's return.
"Your Majesty, you want to welcome her home, isn't that too much…,"
"I have waited for a very long time for this very day and I have exhausted every little patience left in me," Kayden said with a stern expression.
"It's time to declare to the whole world that Joan isn't merely the mate chosen by the prophecy for me but that she is the one I have chosen to be my wife, the only Queen of this kingdom and the Queen of my heart".
Kayden's face lit up even more as he spoke. He made his way to his dressing room to change into something even more fantastic.
As the taxi draws near home Joanna could not help but get very nervous especially since she didn't know what the situation at home was like.
Her hands suddenly became sweaty and her heartbeat quickened. Audrey notices the sudden change in her temperament so she lifts her right hand and pats Joanna's hand.
"I am sure everything will be fine so there is no need to worry. Besides, you have me here to protect you, don't you?" Audrey said playfully to make Joanna cheer up.
"Yeah, with you by my side I have nothing to be afraid of," Joanna forced a smile even though she was still very scared from within.
How could she not fear for her life when she knows the mother and daughters duo brutality.
It would be a very great miracle if she can survive this.
Audrey so much wanted to accompany Joanna home but unfortunately, the cab passed through her home first.
And since this happened Joanna vehemently said Audrey should go home first so that her parents would know that she was still alive.
After about five minutes of argument, Audrey gave in to what Joanna wanted but with the promise that she would rush over to Anderson's home the moment she showed herself to her parents.
The moment the car pulled over at their gate, Anthony and the shivering Joanna climbed out of the cab.
Joanna's legs become extremely weak as she stares at the house she has spent her entire life in.
"Big Sister, what's wrong?" Anthony asked innocently when she saw the beads of sweating forming on Joanna's forehead.
"Are you perhaps feeling unwell?"
"Of course not. I am fine," Joanna lied. She held Anthony's hands and together they entered the gate which the security guard had opened for them.
Joanna stopped in her tracks the moment she walked into the gate and raised her gaze to see her stepmother standing close to two security guards. Laura served as her fourth bodyguard.
"How dare you have the guts to return after kidnapping my precious son?" The woman whose anger was visible on her face asked coldly.
Her gaze directed at Joanna was deadly.
"Today I won't waste my breath or strength on you but I will let the guards show you what it means to die a horrible death," Adhara thundered angrily.
"Mum, Big Sister didn't do anything wrong…,"
"Shut the hell up if you don't want mum to take it out on you too," Laura cut her brother short sharply. She walked over and yanked him to where they stood.
"Get her," Adhara gave the orders that the two guards had been waiting for.
Hearing this Joanna went down on her knees and pleaded. "I know I was wrong. I know I shouldn't have left home without permission and I am even more aware that I shouldn't have taken Tony with me so please forgive me…,"
"I swear I will rip that mouth of yours apart if you dare to call my son's name with that filthy mouth of yours again," Adhara said. Her fury eyes which were red in anger show she won't spare Joanna.
"What are you both still waiting for, I said to grab her," Adhara angrily kicked the guard standing at her right-hand side.
"No one dares touch her," A cool voice coming from outside the brown gate said before the gate flew open to reveal the owner of the masculine voice that exudes nothing but authority.
Everyone's mouth dropped agape when they set eyes on the dashing figure that just entered with his entourage.
He was tall, and handsome with a perfectly sculptured face. His natural peach-coloured lips sent ladies crazy.
"Your… Your Majesty," Laura stammered in shock. She didn't even know how to react.
On seeing Laura and Adhara's expressions that looked like they had seen a ghost, Joanna tilted her head sideways to see whether what she said was right.
How could the King come to her home?
She didn't believe it.
Joanna's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when she set her eyes on the devilishly handsome guy's face. "Kay… Kay…," Joanna stammered, not able to hide her astonishment.
Kayden smiled at her. He stretched his hand to help her to her feet but Joanna refused to budge.
She knew her punishments would double if she dared disobey Adhara at that moment.
"It's an order," Kayden said sternly. His expression and tone were stern but his eyes were full of love.
"Welcome, Your Majesty," Adhara reluctantly greeted. Kayden was more concerned about Joanna than caring about the woman's attitude.
"Your Majesty, this is a family matter. Even the local authorities stay off such cases," Adhara said, not daring to sound impolite.
"The King reigns over everything in the Kingdom, how dare you compare him to mere local authorities?" Chris glared at the woman as he spoke.
If not that the King had ordered him not to harm the cruel woman, he would have long taught her a serious lesson for always maltreating Joanna.
The King wants Joanna to be the one to take her revenge on the woman. Nothing feels better than trampling on those who trampled on you. It won't feel good if it was another person that was to do it.
"I am not here to exchange words with you neither am I here to punish you for the crime of daring to force the future Queen to kneel for you…," Kayden smirked devilishly on seeing Adhara tremble at the mention of punishing her because Joanna.
"I am here to get my Queen…,"
"You don't know the crime she committed so how could you defend her? And also who will accept a powerless girl of low birth for a Queen?" Laura said, panting heavily.
She momentarily forgot that the one standing before her was the King and not Audrey she always raised her voice at.
She shivered when her mum nudged her to behave.
Kayden turned to look at Chris standing by his left side. "What was the punishment for anyone who dares to interrupt the King?"
"Slap her hard ten times," Chris replied coldly. His words made Laura subconsciously touch her cheeks with her hands.
"And what also was the punishment for anyone who dares to belittle the Queen?" Kayden asked again. He directed his fierce glares at Laura and Adhara.