"And what are mates supposed to be doing after they turn? Just roam the woods until sunrise?" I ask, trying to dissolve the awkward silence that fell upon us.
"Doesn't seem too entertaining for you, huh?" He asks, raising his eyes to meet mine.
"Well, I've never been a sports buff. Besides the training I am forced to attend, I'm as lazy as a sloth."
"Now it makes sense that you're trying so hard to convince me to take you home, instead of enjoying our night out." He shyly pinches my side, making me giggle. "So, do you want to spend the rest of the night by this tree?"
As he speaks, I draw my eyes to the night sky. Stars were shining powerfully, casting waves of light all around them and shattering the black of night. Although they were beautiful, I was never a person who enjoyed star-gazing. I'd rather gaze at the dust between those shiny, cold offsprings of the cosmos. I have no reason for why I'm so fascinated by it, but I had a recurring dream, of a palace of shining, golden dust in the middle of a peaceful glade. There was always a murmur around the castle, but I always found by myself behind its aureate gates, ruling alone in this richness. Sometimes, I point my finger towards the sky and draw the figure of this beautiful place. Although the stardust couldn't compare to the brightness of the palace, it was the next best thing I ever found. I never dared to put the image on paper, as my drawing skills are as non-existent as my socializing ones.
"The night sky looks especially beautiful tonight, doesn't it?" Asks Asher and I roll my eyes because I've had that though first. Although, I didn't tell him that, we couldn't have known that I've already had that thought.
"Well, not as beautiful as the flat screen in my dorm." I bluntly replied, trying to look serious about my words when he bursts in laughing. "I'm sorry I'm not as much of a nature-lover as you are, but if you hadn't noticed yet, we have nothing in common."
"Which makes things even more interesting," he says, catching my chin gently in his fingers and forcing my eyes to meet his. "Tell me about you, Aline. I wish to know everything there is about you."
"I don't even know myself," I let the information slip my lips and I mentally slap myself when his eyes grow bigger as the realisation that I'm speaking seriously hits him. "Caught you, fool."
I laugh more than necessary when he frowns, trying to figure out what true and what is a lie. I silently pray that he believes the theatre I put on and he does, although his eyes are still cautiously looking at me.
"Fine, I'll answer if you want." I divert his attention again, making an answer that will satisfy him. "I'm a hunter, as you know, and a sophomore student at the University of Colorado. Currently, I'm enjoying my life as a newly-rehabilitated hunter and trying to decide my major. Now tell me about you."
"Will this be like 20 questions?" He evades my question and I just push it.
"If this will get you to answer my questions, sure." It'll be even better if I keep the whole game on him, so I won't have to give many answers I don't want to.
"Fine," he agrees, looking at me, then gazing back at the night sky. "I'm a Royal Heir and I'm currently training along the other Lycanthropes and Lycans for the Lycan Throne."
"Lycanthropes? What are those?"
"I'm one," he says, but shuts immediately after. "There were two questions. Your turn: why did you come to college in Boulder?"
"My parents signed me up here because the university has a partnership with the hunter's rehabilitation program." I quickly answer his question, so I can ask mine. "Weren't you a Lycan? What are Lycanthropes?"
"You're so bad at this game, baby." He laughs and I cross my hands across my chest. "You still have to answer one question for me, before you can ask anything."
"I'm only good at asking questions, not answering them," I state, cursing myself for agreeing to his stupid slumber party game.
"Then this game will help you work on your answering skills." He taunts me and I keep myself from lowering myself enough to stick my tongue out to him or cuss him. It's not worth the effort anyway.
"Now, you seem a very skilled hunter. How did you end in this hunter rehab, as you call it?"
"Long story."
"That's not an answer."
"It is, for me." I quickly state, then proceed to ask my question. "What are Lycanthropes?"
"Unmated Lycans," he answers simply.
"How are you different from Lycans?" I shoot the next question, only to be met with another one, from Asher.
"Why were you admitted to hunter rehab?" His eyes were looking right into mine, telling me that he can avoid my uncomfortable questions as well as me.
Two can play this game and he is damn good at it.
"I've failed a mission... miserably. I was nearly forsaken, but my parents couldn't do it, as it'd have hurt my family's reputation, so they decided to exile me instead." I answer honestly, letting out unnecessary details about my mother's implication in all of this and the little war going on between us; one she's been winning for the last years. "Your turn."
"Yes, we are different," he answers in a sigh and I know something bad will follow. "In this state we are cursed just like werewolves, unable to turn into wolves and have full access to our powers. We are stuck in that monstrous half-form until we meet our mates."
"So how can your mates help you access your full powers?"
"Does your exile have anything to do with the obvious tension between you and your mother?"
"Yes, it does," I shout a little too loud because his question touched an off-limits part of my life he should have kept himself from. "Now quit the stupid game and answer my bloody question!"
By the time I finish talking I'm on my feet, clenching my hands into fits and trying to keep myself from doing something stupid. Maybe the instinct is the safe choice for most people when they feel uneasy, but mine is broken so I need to keep it under control when I'm furious, so I won't fly out from another balcony.
"Don't get mad, Aline," he tells me, raising from the base of the tree and trying to calm me down.
"I won't if you answer this: why are mates so important to you, to Lycanthropes?"
"Lycan Mates have the ability to cure each other of curses, as it was the Moon Goddess gift for us when we swore to serve and worship her. The werewolves rebelled and were sentenced to the monstrous half-forms you know. They can't be cured unless they are mated to a Lycan." I analyse his words, thinking of how Adam appeared more Lycan than werewolf at tonight's ceremony. It must have been his bond to Phoebe that granted him the possibility to turn into a wolf.
"The world doesn't know about this liability we have, as we're supposed to be the superior race of shifters: the true children of the Moon. Truth is, we are as cursed as everyone else until we mate."
"So most of the Lycans I've seen are Lycanthropes?" I further ask, trying to understand how truly important is for Lycans to be mated.
The visit to Kale's cottage comes back to my mind and I remember how angry was Hayder when I met him. He was accusing both Asher and Kale of stripping him of his chance to win the Lycan Throne. And if what I've seen tonight is accurate, Hayder is also a Lycanthrope. Also, Kale noted that everything the Heirs ask him about is their mates because he can foresee a mate's coming like he prophesied his meeting with Alpha Taylor. I may have missed the breadcrumbs, but I managed to go pack and piece them back into a loaf of bread.
I just need confirmation now.
"No, most are Lycans. Only a few of us are Lycanthropes." Asher seems to be aware of where my questions are going, but he is not surprised that I've figured out everything. If he doesn't wish to put a stop to this, I can taunt him until sunrise.
"How come? Looks like most of you hurried to get mated before the competition."
"They did," he answers. "Some even to people that were not their soul mates."
"Why?" I ask and I know it's the final question necessary to have the truth finally come out.
"Because only Lycans can compete for the Throne. There can't be a Lycanthrope King."
"I see..."
I was expecting this answer, but I still didn't like it. It just confirmed everything I suspected from the beginning: Asher only wanted me in order to be able to compete for the Lycan Throne. If my heart wasn't stone cold, it may have broken down over this betrayal, but I'm not a cry baby. And I can't say that I had so much faith in someone I've met less than 24 hours ago, that I wasn't expecting his betrayal. It comes naturally, like every single bad thing that ever happened to me. And the worst isn't that I was lied to, but that now I have to get home while the forest is full of turned werewolves.
I may get killed, but I'll be damned if I spend another second next to him.
"Don't go, please!" He pleads just as I was preparing to turn on my heels and make my way through the thick woods. "I know how it sounds, Aline, but I can assure you that what I feel for you is not influenced by that stupid competition."
"You know, for a second I almost believed you. I've seen you trying to convince me that we're mates by asking Kale for help, seducing me every time my guards were down, and playing the 'worried-boyfriend' part when I adamantly stated that I don't feel this bond you're pushing so much. Only to finally find out why you tried so much to get me in your bed! Tell me, Asher, why me? Couldn't you have chosen a werewolf girl that wanted to become the next Lycan Queen? I know I'm not worth the trouble I cause."
"You are worth it because you are my mate, Aline. I'm not playing any role, I'm not trying to deceive you in any way, I just..." He continues lying to me but I just roll my eyes, tired of this show he's pulling.
"Keep it for the next girl you'll try to fool, Asher. I hope she'll be as smart as me to walk out at the right time." I look around, seeing the darkened path before me, but I didn't show any fear. I may find my end in these woods, tonight, or I may live to confront the consequences of my latest meeting with my mother. And as cruel as life is, I'm perfectly sure I'll make it to the halls safe and sound.
"Aline!" He calls me, but I don't react until I hear his footsteps following me.
"Don't you dare come after me, Asher. I may be unarmed, but I can still put up a good fight." I let the threat smoothly go, not even caring to turn to look at him. I keep my slightly hurried pace, pushing branches out of my way and stepping on twigs and dead leaves, not minding the noise I'm making.