Azazeal mounted his horse, and they rode back to the castle. The night air was cool and filled with the scent of pine and dew as they passed through the darkened woods.
Besides the rhythmic sound of hooves on the dirt and the distant sound of the waves crashing far below the cliffs, the world was quiet.
His expression was unreadable, and none of the thoughts swirling beneath the surface of his cold face were visible.
His storm-gray eyes, however, occasionally flicked to the woman mounted next to him, as if he had no control over his eyes anymore.
Elora.
She was perched on Midnight, his most temperamental personal favorite warhorse, her dainty hands clenching the reins tightly.
The sight of the horse happily trudging along with her amused Azazeal.
The beast, who had tossed hundreds of men to their deaths in battle, had let her climb atop him without protest, returning her to the castles as if she were a fragile thing to be protected.
But he knew she was anything but weak, it was obvious from the very first time they met.
Azazeal's fingers gripped the leather of his own reins.
Humans were weaker and fragile creatures, that was why there is a border between the wolf kingdom and the Humans.
They often cannot stand the power that werewolves exude and the commanding influence of a wolf. It overwhelms them.
But this woman next to him doesn't let her fears overtake her.
Even earlier, she had confronted him head-on.
Her voice still rang in his head.
She spoke softly yet boldly as she ordered him to let go of her.
He knew that all these sides to her had been hidden from everyone else.
This was her real side. She is bold and beautiful even when she was scared, and not weak and quiet like her father had claimed her to be in the marriage proposal letter.
She was a contradiction he couldn't untangle.
Shy but defiant.
He'd seen it in her eyes tonight as she raised an arrow between them, until she had withered under his overbearing presence.
Standing up to someone as intimidating and dark as him took courage and he felt a hint of pride in his chest when she didn't falter under his pressure.
Even Anax felt excitement race through his veins as his mate challenged him.
Although if it were someone else in her place challenging an Alpha, it would barely take a second before their head rolled on the ground.
But not his mate, in fact, he was the weak one when she was near.
She had an undeniable power over him, and she doesn't even know.
His eyes followed the long sight of her soft jet-black hair, falling in waves to her waist, moonlight glinting off the dark strands.
His hand itched to twirl a strand in his finger, but he didn't dare to.
He recalls her soft palm in his calloused ones, they were as soft as she was.
He couldn't get over the feeling of holding her as he placed her on the horse and he wished she could stay there, in his arms forever.
The last time they were together, she couldn't even stand the sight of him, and she fainted right in his arms. Was the situation still the same or is she now okay with the fact that they were mates.
The fact that she might hide away from him again unsettled him.
He didn't want that, he would have a conversation with her tonight.
He can start by breaking the ice and slowly easing himself into her life.
They soon got to the castle's towering gates.
The guards outside immediately snapped to attention, their fists thumping against their hearts in salute to the Wolf king.
Bright Torches blazed along the stone walls, stretching long shadows across the courtyard.
Azazeal climbed down from his horse and helped Elora down from hers.
But before Azazeal could open his mouth to speak to her, Elora's maids came out in the open, already moving forward, skirts brushing against the stone floors they formed a tight circle around her.
They curtsied when they saw him, their features twisted in fear and anxiety.
Before he could blink, he couldn't see his wife anymore.
She had been whisked away and shielded from his view as they made their way to her quarters hurriedly.
He watched as the maids spoke to her softly in low voices, hands fussing to keep her cloak close to her, avoiding the biting cold of the night.
He even heard a tall maid scold Elora for making them worry by sneaking out of the castle grounds.
His gaze darkened.
He fought so hard to remain calm as he stared at her longingly, watching her go.
And a dark hopeful corner in his heart wished that she would at least turn back and look at him.
Elora never once looked back.
With her bow in hand, she had ducked away from him, avoiding his gaze, as she slipped into the castle, like a meek rabbit.
She shut him out like he didn't exist in her world.
Azazeal's jaw tightened, and his fingers clenched tighter at her quiet dismissal.
A muscle in his jaw ticked, the fact that what he had feared was coming true.
She still didn't want anything to do with the monster.
Casteel moved forward.
"I shall tend to the horses, Your Majesty," he said bowing his head slightly
Azazeal hardly glanced at him.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
On the woman who had turned her back and never looked back.
He loved the quiet discovery that his sweet new wife wasn't quite the meek personality she was claimed to be.
And he was utterly drawn to her.
Like a moth to flame.
The maid moved briskly around the chambers as she folded Elora's riding clothes and prepared her for bed.
"You shouldn't have snuck outside the castle wall my queen! , We were so distraught, what if something had happened to you while you were out?"
Elora only stared guiltily as Irene scolded her over and over again. Who exactly is the queen here?
She rolled her eyes, but didn't dare to say a word.
" Thank the goddess that I came into your chamber to see if you needed water or anything. Imagine my shock when you were nowhere to be found, I had to call on Sire Casteel immediately! " she huffed out a breath.
" You're a human, what if there was a rogue wolf on the loose tonight and you had been attacked by it? I even heard that His Highness had found you tonight, we're surely going to be punished for not watching over you properly "
Her voice kept rising higher as she spoke, fearing the impending punishment.
" Y-you don't have to worry about that, I'll speak to the king as soon as I can. "
Elora calmly assured the anxious woman.
Irene nodded solemnly and laid out the sleeping clothes for Elora.
She whispered a goodnight slipping quietly out of the chambers.
Elora forced her eyes closed, but the sleep never came
After tossing and turning for a while, she suddenly sat up with a huff.
"Why on earth did he have to come back now?" she clicked her tongue almost screaming in annoyance.
She made her way to the edge of the grand bed, clutching the silky sheets under her fingers and her heart beating ferociously.
She could not stop thinking about the man she had met tonight— her husband.
Azazeal.
Just the name gave her a slight shiver.
Beneath her skin, her cheeks flamed red, as the crystalline image of his stormy-gray eyes hit her memory.
He was detached, cold, and very intimidating
But by the gods, he was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen.
He made her heart restless and she hated the feeling.
She can reluctantly admit to herself that not even Regan had made her feel this nervous despite her intense devotion to that scoundrel in her past life.
Azazeal's beauty was blinding , no man could compare.
Now she knew why rumors of his otherworldly looks had spread even beyond the land, why songs were sung of the Wolf King who was as cold and cruel as he was beautiful.
" No Elora, beauty doesn't matter, he's ugly within. Cruel and dangerous, don't fall into the same patterns because he would only ruin your beautiful life if you do. He would break you with a snap of his fingers."
The more she spoke, she nodded to herself and her lips tugged up a little as her mind conjured up reasons why he wasn't a good person.
Are you okay Elora?
The wide smile on her face instantly disappeared at the remembrance of his quiet voice and the concern she'd glimpsed from his eyes.
That feeling struck her heart again and she groaned, hitting the bed repeatedly.
She sighed and then buried her head in her hands.
Her eyes went back to the hand where he held her.
The stupid tingles she'd felt.
He must've worked his dumb magic on her, that's all it is.
And she'd never fall for his petty tricks.
She should've just shot that arrow at him when she had the chance
A knock sounded on the door and before she could compose herself, the door opened to reveal a castle attendant standing rigidly in the doorway.
"The High King requests to see you"