Matters of the Heart: King Xavier and Flora

Chapter Six:

Flora’s POV:

Rose and I had an awful sleep, tossing and turning all over our bed. I kept waking up with sorrow-filled eyes and a deep hurting in my chest. The wet patch on my pillow was evidence enough of how upset I felt.

“I really thought he would come to us and accept the bond after we left,” Rose whines. I can see her lying on her paws, with her head resting peacefully on top of them.

The truth is, so did I. The knowledge that he didn't, is enough to make me feel sick inside. Is something wrong with me? Am I not pretty enough? Was I imagining his arousal?

Other male wolves cannot resist their mates arousal and teasing. I have watched time and time again how wolves react to their mates here at the pack. Hell, even Pippa, who is the least interested in her mate, sometimes can't help but reign her wolf in! Kyle is a lustful and blubbering mess every time he sees Pippa in a swimming costume, or even just in her tight training gear. Even my father used to drool and run around like a lovesick puppy when my mother was alive and kicking. So why does my mate not react like this?

Maybe he really just doesn’t want us. This causes Rose to slump down in defeat in my mind. I can feel her sadness, causing a dull ache to run through my chest. Today is going to be a long day if my mate doesn't show up to the party.

I grab my hot shorts and a sports bra and throw them on along with my trainers. I better go get a run-in before I have to face him again. The thought of seeing his face excites me and hurts me all at once. I want him, I need him and I choose him. I just wish he could do the same.

I step out the door and am instantly greeted with the cool, fresh morning breeze. I really do love the environment around this pack. We are really blessed with the lushest, green terrain and the bush is almost tropical. Of course, the wildflowers are my favorite. My eyes take in the way the green slides into the blue, into the red, into the yellow and then how the white sparkles of petals dance and shine in between. I could sit out here and take in their beauty all day.

I begin my slow, warm-up jog around the land and get lost in thought.

(Flashback)

I’m only thirteen years old, but the adults never realize that I understand everything.

I remember listening to my mom and dad at the dinner table that evening. They were totally lost in their own conversation while I was munching on chicken nuggets and tomato sauce.

“Can you believe it honey, the young King, Xavier, is rejecting his mate! It turns out, she was using dark magic to fake the mate bond this whole time!” My father passionately expressed the latest headlines on, “WereTimes Magazine." I can see he looks really worried about this particular issue in the magazine and his whole body is riddled with shock.

My mother grabs the copy. Her eyes are wide in horror and her whole expression is laced with concern and shock. I could laugh at her reaction, but I know that would be childish and also earn me a reprimanding from them.

“Oh, our poor King! Imagine that love. Imagine finding out that your mate has been lying to you for a whole year about being your mate. He must be devastated!” my mom retorts. Her once-shocked expression has turned into a softer and sad one.

“They are calling him a lovesick pup for not picking up the magic though. He should have been able to smell the magic, we all know that. His father, our former King, said his son was so obsessed with the idea and notion of having a mate, he never used his logic.” My father adds. He goes back to take a few bites of his food.

“Well love, breaking the bond is going to take its toll on him nevertheless. He has marked and mated that girl as his chosen! Poor young man.” My mother sighs.

They left the conversation there, but for days, maybe even weeks later, the whole Kingdom could do nothing but express their thoughts, opinions and perceptions on this news about their King. Everybody was just so, so concerned about what this meant for the Kingdom, how the King could make such poor mistake and of course, what this means for HIS future as a King.

(End of Flashback)

I am snapped out of this memory by the mass crowd over at the training grounds. I peep my head through an opening and this is when I notice King Xavier land a hard blow to Alpha Luke’s nose. Ouch!

“Mate is strong,” Rose purrs in my mind. This makes me roll my eyes.

Just as the King recovers, I notice Alpha Luke jab his knife into King Xavier’s foot. He didn’t even flinch, but I cannot stand the sight of anyone hurting my mate.

“King Xavier!” I gasp and everyone turns around to look at me. Their eyes are searching and questioning.

Before I know it I have Alpha Luke around me, jabbing a knife to my neck.

“What the hell?” Rose growls in my head. I can feel my body bubbling with anger and confusion. What is he doing?

Before I can react or ask Luke what is going on he chimes in.

“My sweet beta, you may care that our king was stabbed, but would he care for you under the same duress? Don’t you know the rumors, sweet Flora? King Xavier has no heart for any female, not even his own mate. What was her name again? Ah yes, Sarah!” he shouts out, staring at the King in the eye.

The mention of his lack of care leaves me feeling defeated. Beta Sam has taken care of Alpha Luke, but before I know it, my knees have given in and am a crumpled mess on the floor. I look up at King Xavier, but his indifferent demeanor is still oozing from him.

“Mate,” I whimper, but King Xavier merely turns around and begins to walk out of the field. I can feel the anger rolling off of his dark aura, making the air suffocating and thick around me.

My heart is thundering loudly and it feels as if a thousand ice shards have pierced into it at this point.

How could the moon Goddess choose so wrongly for me? How could she be so cruel?

“So I suppose it is true then, King Xavier.” I whisper, clutching my chest and letting the pain fill my lungs.

I notice his body tensing to my remark. He turns around and scans my face and Rose whimpers under his dismissive gaze.

“You believe what to be true, beta female?” he snorts and emphasizes the word, “female.”

His tone doesn’t sit right with me and I find a small string of courage inside me to reply.

“That you’re a cold-hearted king who has no respect for the Moon Goddesses' wishes, despite being a werewolf. That you have no respect for your mate. You have no heart for your mate. You have no care for your mate.” My confidence wavers and tears well up in my eyes. I cannot say anything more.

King Xavier keeps his gaze on me, but moves closer. I can feel his warm breath against my skin and the power of his aura seeping through his skin, as he edges and molds my body close to his. All the wolves standing witness to this exchange, have bowed their heads in submission to their alpha king. Gently, he takes my chin in his hand and lifts my face to look into his eyes. I want to melt at how handsome he is, but I know I need to stand my ground if I am to be mated to a king.

“Let me get one thing very clear, Flora.” He pauses and scans my face.

“I have no mate.” He bluntly states, before dropping my chin and turning on his heel to leave.

It feels like the air has been knocked from my lungs. I cannot stand this pain. He is rejecting Rose and I before he has even given us a chance! The pain becomes unbearable and I shift into my golden, blonde wolf before letting out a heart retching, soul-shattering howl.