The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 205: Certainty ()

"Your Grace...?" Lucas called uncertainly as he stepped into Askel’s office.

Lucas glanced around and when Askel was nowhere to be found, Lucas ventured in, making his way to Askel’s private training ground. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Lucas warily pushed open the door as he found himself doing often these days, Askel’s beast side was unpredictable and volatile, though Lucas did know Askel cherished him, he could not say the same for Askel’s beast side.

Lucas was surprised to see Askel was not within his training ground, hanging from the iron bar in the creepy way he always was recently.

"Where could he be?" Lucas wondered aloud.

Lucas knew Askel was within his quarters, his scent was very much present in the atmosphere.

Lucas followed the trail, pleasantly surprised to find Askel in his bedroom. Askel was laid on the bed, he had on a pair of glasses and was reading through a book whilst a quiet tune played in the background from the music box.

"I do not understand how humans use this." Askel said, taking off the glasses he had on without glancing up from the book.

Lucas blinked in astonishment, a day ago, Askel was barely human, overcome by his beast side but now, Askel was before his eyes, completely normal.

No, he was even better than normal. Lucas had not seen Askel like this since before he left the Ethereal Palace as a Prince, after cutting ties with his father.

Since then, Askel had shed off that playful and carefree side of himself, taking on responsibilities of great consequences, first as a representative on the supernatural committee and now, as Alpha King.

Lucas had even forgotten, that there had once been such a side to Askel. A young prince who found his peace in silently reading all the books in the great library.

Lucas had known Askel for so long and had been privy to all the changes he had been through, and knowing the reasons and the fact that Askel had been left with no choice but to change in order to be able to protect what he wished to protect,

Lucas had been with him every step of the way, regardless of how much Askel changed, regardless of how much of himself he had lost.

But now, Lucas was completely baffled to find Askel like this, especially after how Askel had returned much earlier after spending the night out.

Lucas could have sworn, Askel was fuming and seemed about ready to slaughter whoever got in his path, but here he is now, in a completely different mood.

"Uhmmm... what is going on?" Lucas asked Askel.

Askel glanced up from his book, passing a questioning glance to Lucas as though it was Lucas who was saying something surprising and unwarranted.

"What do you mean?" Askel asked Lucas with a raised brow.

"I mean, earlier it did not appear as though your visit to Zariah went well...but now..." Lucas trailed off, uncertain of what he could say.

Askel tilted his head to the side slightly, seeming in deep thought and after a moment, he sighed quietly.

"I hate to see her hurt, I wish I could have been there to keep her safe...but at the same time, I am grateful she is in no danger and will be fine. Nile assured me...there will be no obstacles in her recovery despite the earlier health concerns." Askel related to Lucas.

Lucas permitted a small smile, nodding his head slightly.

"That is a great relief. Alpha Zariah is not just any woman, we should have expected as much." Lucas said with a small sigh of relief.

"Even so... I know she is strong, but I would rather she did not have to be strong. I would rather she was just safe and unharmed." Askel said with a quiet sigh.

"And that is all? So why did you look about ready to go on a rampage when you returned? I swear your beast was right on the surface then, but now...it is just gone." Lucas asked in complete bafflement.

"Well, our meeting began quite well... carried on even better so..." Askel trailed off, a silly smirk settled on his lips.

Lucas’s gaze narrowed in suspicion before his eyes widened slightly.

"Do not tell me..." Lucas left his words hanging.

"Well, we did not consummate our bond, if that is what you are asking. But we made sufficient... progress." Askel murmured.

"And Alpha Zariah was willing?" Lucas asked in surprise.

Askel grinned, but nodded slowly. Askel had been raging initially, but the delightful memories from the night before kept returning to his mind and just like that, all his rage and wrath was gone.

Askel was not certain what these mood swings were about, but he did not really care to know, he simply could not get the image of Zariah gasping in pleasure beneath him out of his mind and he did not wish to.

"Does that not mean, she still has you in her heart? I mean, to be with you even with the agreement she made to give Caedmon priority for a month still in the picture..." Lucas asked,

"Zariah... she is stubborn, hardheaded and insistent in her own ways. And her eyes...they never lie. And I saw in them, her truth...so I know without a doubt, that Zariah loves me, as I do her." Askel said with certainty.

Askel did not doubt this in the slightest, despite how strongly Zariah was trying to make him believe otherwise, he had never once doubted the fact that he was in her heart.

Askel guessed he just could not help spiralling with various thoughts, given the fact that Zariah had once intended to reject him on their first meeting.

Askel needed that confirmation, that certainty and he had gone to Zariah the night before intending to get it and Askel had.

Now all he could think of was, why had Zariah chosen such a difficult path for them both? And what could he do to make her return to him?