The Werewolf King's Bride

(From Blue's Perspective)

That day, Dem came back and told me how his meeting with Evelyn went. It turned out she was dead set against me and kept on telling him to divorce me. It was pretty funny because divorce was something Dem and I would never get. We were just too tied together.

"From what I understand, I think Mother has met up with her and put rubbish in her head," Dem said.

"Hmm…"

He placed a comforting palm on my cheek and I looked into his eyes. I saw the difference in the color again, but ignored it.

"What are you thinking?"

"Something is not adding up and I'm… anxious."

"Tell me about it."

"You have told me before that the relationship between Evelyn and Mother was never that deep. Besides, she went to Mazazine and found out about Mother's past and even said that she found it all shady. Then, why would she suddenly believe her, even if we think that Mother met up with her and told her all of it?"

"… Do you think she is being controlled?"

"I don't know anything, Dem. I just… It's too much pressure on me," I said and cradled my baby bump.

"Darling, take some rest. I can't tell you not to worry, because that would be useless. But for the sake of our baby, I hope you will rest. Both of our children need you. Until our baby is born, please rest well, darling, and let me worry."

"It's not enough… Something is going to happen, Dem. I can feel it… And I can't relax…"

He hugged me tightly and for the first time, it did not make me feel better. Something was off. I could feel it. Was there something around me to make me feel like that? Or, was it just in my head?

No, it was not in my head. I simply knew it. Or, I would not have felt this bad.

I pulled back from the hug and stared at him. He was surprised.

I was surprised too. But I was surer than ever.

This man was not my husband.

I knew it with all my heart. So, I did not waste time confronting him. It was not him. It could never be him. And when I drove my clawed fingers through his chest, when he gasped and blood poured out of his mouth, I did not stop, not until I pulled out his heart and he lay motionless on the floor with blood all over.

I felt nothing. Why would I? This man could not be my husband even if he looked like Dem.

I stared at the heart in my hand. Human heart, werewolf heart- they looked the same, only it was slightly bigger than a human heart.

Dion let out a cry. I did not get up. I just stared at the body. Some kind of fear crept inside me.

Did I just kill my husband? What if it was my husband and I had been wrong?

I crawled towards the dead body, ignoring my son's cry. I checked it again and again, for some sign that would give me a hint that it was not my husband. But indeed, it was my husband's body. Anyone could see it.

My body almost started shaking. Even the scent I got from him was my husband's.

That was the moment when, as if fate was by my side, the door of my bedroom swung open and Dem walked in quickly, possibly hearing our son's cry from afar.

He stopped short, looked at the body which looked exactly like his and at me, then at my hand and at last, at our son in his crib.

At the sight of him, I dropped the heart on the ground, got up hastily and ran into his arms. I did not even notice that my gown was bloody as well as my hands.

I did not cry, but I was relieved, more than ever. I had been right and I did the right thing. But what if I had been wrong? Would it be okay if I killed my husband? Would I ever recover from that?

"Who was it?" he asked, his tone sounded controlled.

"A dark mage… I don't know why, but I sensed nothing from him. No black mana, nothing. It was you. I thought it was you the whole time," I said. "Then, something about him… I felt something. I felt very uncomfortable.

And I killed him."

Dem did not say anything else. He called the knights and took Dion from his crib. He soothed our son, while I watched every numbly.

'Feel something,' I urged myself. But I felt nothing.

Was I turning into a monster?

I stood on the balcony, shaking, while our room was being cleaned. I felt chilly. More than anything else, I was feeling confused. I needed time to think. But would time even give me an answer?

Something was wrong with me. Maybe I was right. I truly was turning into something else. A monster, or even something worse than that.

"Mama…"

My son's voice made me turn and I noticed he was right behind me in his father's arm.

"Yes, baby?" I mumbled. My lips were quivering. I needed to calm down. This was not how I wanted to be in front of my son.

"Mama…," he said again.

I took him from Dem and kissed him on the forehead. "Darling, Mommy is failing you…"

My pure and little son did not understand. Perhaps that was why I could say it so easily, without fearing what answer I might hear.

"You are not failing him, darling," Dem said. "You just need some time dedicated to yourself only. You should do what you like and take as many days off as possible. I can take care of Dion. Dion is a good boy. He will stay with Daddy like the good boy he is."

"You know, I can't do that…"

"Of course, you can, only if you want to. The problem is, you never take a break. Honey, everyone is working, but you are working more than you can handle, more than anyone can handle. So, take some rest. I know, the situation is tough. So, take it easy."

"About today…"

"It wasn't me. I wasn't there. You killed someone who came here to hurt you and our son. Of course, you had to act. It's a good thing, you understood."

"But I did not… Not entirely… After it was done, I could not… I could not find any different between you and him…! I… I thought I killed you!"

"For a moment, did you not think it was not me?"

I was a little taken aback by the question. For some reason, I did not think someone could even think of this question after seeing what happened. I thought he would hate me thinking I could kill as well.

"…Y-Yes…"

"For that small moment, were you not entirely certain that it was not me, but someone else with my skin?" Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

I gave a small nod. It was true. For a moment, I was surer about it than anything else. But for a small moment only. It was like a flash of lightning. As soon as the realization came, after I killed him, the realization went away that fast.

"Then, honey, why are you sad? You knew. That's why you did it. It makes me happy that no one can deceive you even with my skin. If you could not recognize him, he could have hurt you and something would happen to you and you would think it was me. For example, would you like it if someone with your face and body kissed me or hurt me or anything and I was not able to figure it out beforehand?"

I shook my head.

"It's the same for me. I am glad. I know you won't hurt me, darling. You just have to believe so yourself," he said and bent to kiss me. Our son almost stopped him because he wanted a kiss too, but Dem was too focused on me. "Darling, you are too tough on yourself."