SEVENTEEN YEARS AFTER.
FRANKLIN.
"Home, sweet home" I muttered under my breath, excited to finally be back to the palace. I watched as the huge gates were flipped open, and drove in,our carriage.
I grabbed the seat of my chair tightly, my fingers dipping into the soft foam as I leaned forward, my eyes drifting around the compound.
'Much hasn't changed,' I thought, as I stepped down from the carriage with slow steps after the door was opened for me. Immediately I got down, everyone rushed towards me, including the maids whose cheeks had turned red.
'That was creepy' I thought, trying not to wrinkle my face.
"Welcome back, Lord Franklin; how was school? It feels good to be home, right?" Multiple questions attacked me as they all gathered around.
The guards dropped to their knees, bowing in respect while the maids curtsied instead.
My face stretched into a wide smile, showing my teeth, as I waved my hands at them, trying to signal they all got up.
"Oh please! Rise, all of you. It's so good to be back". I replied, and everyone smiled, doing as I asked.
I nodded in satisfaction, proceeding to move towards the building when I caught sight of the maids looking at me, a warm glow spread out on their faces, their eyes sparkling.
Immediately, our eyes met; I tilted my head at them in confusion, furrowing my brows toward their actions; they immediately let out a giggle and averted their gaze, trying to hide their smile.
I just stood there, puzzled.
"What have gotten into them?" I pondered while rubbing the back of my neck, unable to fathom the reason behind their weird actions, but then, I just shrugged and continued with my movement when I heard them let out a huge gasp before discussing amongst themselves.
"Isn't he so dreamy, look at that long hair and beautiful eyes?". One of them whispered to the other, letting out a dreamy sigh, and I froze on the staircase, relaxing my body and listening in on them.
"I know right. The Queen's gene sure passed on to him. They are the epitome of perfection. Both of them". Another let out and I just curled up the side of my lips before moving up gracefully, one step at a time.
My mind drifted to her mother. To think I would be seeing her again after 5 years, made a thrill of excitement course through my veins, my heart racing with anticipation as my palms grew sweaty.
I increased my pace without knowing, just wanting to see her at the moment and probably hug her and have her in my arms after ages.
I opened the door to her study, ready to scream in jeer, when Athena, Mum's assistant, popped into my view.
"Lord Franklin, you are back". She commented, giving me a thin smile as she arranged the scrolls on the shelves. I looked around but saw no sight of Mum. My face fell, eyes dripping to the ground in dismay.
'Was she avoiding me again?' I wondered.
"How is the arcade....?". I didn't even let her finish her sentence when I cut her off.
"Where is mum, Athena?" I inquired, walking deeper into the room, and the smile wiped off her face as she immediately looked elsewhere, confirming my theory.
I found myself chuckling bitterly as pain seeped through my heart.
"Again? When will she finally just face me and tell me what all this is about?" I yelled, swiping everything on the desk to the floor, breathing heavily and just feeling like punching something.
"Calm your horses, Franklin; it's not what you think; she is just....". Athena tried explaining, covering up for her as always, but I was damn tired of that.
"Hold it Athena. I will find her myself and get the explanation I deserve". I seethe, gritting my teeth against one another before turning around when she screamed.
"No no, Franklin, you don't want to do that". Athena pleaded, a warning, noticeable in her tone but I didn't give a damn.
"And why not?" I asked as I turned around briskly to look at her, my hair flinging around in the process due to the intensity of speed I used.
I squinted my eyes at her, shifting my weight from one foot to another, waiting for a response I didn't get.
"Thought as much" I added before leaving the study, ignoring Athena's calls and pleas.
'This ends today'. I thought, determined, but all the bravado faded as I busted into her room without knocking, coming face to face with her in a white robe, just emerging from the bathroom.
Her deep, blue eyes took in my appearance, empty and cold as always, her expression blank, a mask of indifference, not showing a bit of emotion.
"So you are back". She commented nonchalantly, more like asking, her voice flat and unwelcoming as she used the other towel, which I didn't notice was in her hand, to start cleaning her wet hair.
I couldn't reply because I was just staring at her. She looked breathtaking as always. Her black hair, wet and curly, clinging to her skin, from her neck down to her...
My eyes drifted to her chest, and I swallowed the saliva finding ways to gather in my mouth. Her slash wasn't tied well, letting the robe lose a little and exposing her cleavage.
I could get a glimpse of the milky flesh, especially the way it rose and fell with her breathing.
"I believe I asked a question, Franklin". She called out, her tone icy, sending shivers down my spine, and bringing me back to earth.
"Why?" I asked, looking downwards as she turned around, unable to meet her gaze any longer. I couldn't bear her looking at me with indifference, without emotions.
"Why do you hate me so much?" At my words, the towel in her hand dropped to the floor and I looked up immediately, my eyes widening from surprise.
Her eyes were arched at me as her pink lips parted, forming an " oh", her irises exposing and showing flickers of emotions.
'What was happening, was she actually taken aback?' I pondered in disbelief, finding the boldness and moving closer to her.
"I don't hate you," she whispered, taking her gaze to the floor like an innocent child who was just accused of doing something wrong. I felt like reaching out to her and did, taking her warm hands in mine and moving even closer, our faces were inches apart.
I expected her to push me away and jump backward as always, but nope. She leaned in too, arching herself into me, my chest meeting her soft flesh.
I placed my hands on her face, looking deep into her blue eyes, lost. My tummy squirmed, weird, unknown feelings going through me as I felt like kissing her, like doing more than just touching her, but she was my mother.
It wasn't right. I was about to back off when she suddenly jumped backward and gave me a sharp slap.
The force of her hit threw my face to the other side, almost cracking my neck. My face is stinging. I took my lower lips into my mouth, feeling the cold metallic taste of blood.
"You fool!" She cursed, gritting her teeth against one another, the air around us rising to 50 degrees, becoming chilly, a dark force emitting from her and casting a shadow around the room.
"Get out of my room now!" She yelled, finality in her tone but this time, it was a no. I refused to back down.
Different emotions that I couldn't place my hands on, filled me, most especially sorrow. It was just like a knife was being twisted into my guts.
"Years after years, you ignored me. Send me away, far away, to an academy where you never even reached out to me. You pushed me away, treated me like some sort of plague, and you claim not to hate me?". I asked in disbelief, scoffing in the process.
Suddenly, everywhere became calm, a long silence dragging on as the air around us dropped like her resolve was breaking.
"How can that be?" I screamed, rage running through me as I faced her, moving and towering over her. Her jaw dropped as she moved backward, probably not expecting such a reaction from me.
"I never asked to be born into this world. If you despise me this much, then why conceive me?". I yelled out with all my lungs, not giving a damn anyone could hear us, feeling beyond frustrated.
"You know she treated me way better. I might have been tender but I certainly remembered receiving love from her".
Her eyes softened, but briefly, before it hardened again as she turned away, walking towards her closet.
"Get out, Franklin. I have no time for this. Tonight is the full moon, so I have to prepare," She reminded me, and I let out a snort, blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall.
"All I ever wanted was just your acknowledgment, your love," I began, and she stopped at her pace, her back towards me.
"But I never got any of these. You treated me more like trash instead. I will stay away from you, Davida". I called out her name boldly, for the first time, since she wasn't acting like a mother.
I noticed as she trembled, breathing heavily but I didn't care and just departed from her room.
Full moon festival.
I just stood in a corner, watching everyone rejoicing and giving thanks to the moon goddess for being gracious towards us as usual.
Somehow, my spirit didn't go with the thought of praising someone I had never seen before, but it was like a tradition, so who was I to stop it?
The mood was in full bloom, The atmosphere Joyous as children ran around laughing and chattering within themselves.
Important guests from other packs were around and were being escorted to their seats by Athena, who abruptly stopped in her tracks and began looking around like she was expecting something.
Yes, me. I was supposed to be doing her job as the soon-to-be crown prince of this realm, but I wasn't in the mood, and it wasn't like anyone respected me either.
No one had an idea of the species I was since I was currently 21 years old and hadn't shifted to determine the rank I was. I could already sense my wolf but couldn't transform into it.
Every full moon, I always prayed things would be different because I knew that's why Davida hated me. Because I was a disgrace to her and probably not fit to take over from her.
She probably sensed it when I was born, and it was the reason she sent me away to her in the first place, to the woman I first knew as my mother before she died.
I closed my eyes briefly, remembering her.
"Diane," I whispered.
Well, I couldn't blame her. I mean who would? Father would have been disappointed too, if he was alive.
I let out a weary sigh, facepalming myself and just wishing everything would turn out well.
Just then, the most delicious scent hit me, fueling my body with desire, and making me tighten my hands into fists.
I got up and decided to walk towards where this beautiful smell was coming off, sniffing the air and feeling my body grow hot, something trying to snap in me.
I found myself going towards a corner when someone, out of nowhere, gave a very loud shriek that made me wrinkle my nose in disgust.
This person ran and threw themselves on me, wrapping her legs around my waist as she screamed out my name.
"Franklin baby". I froze, my senses becoming scattered.
"Jane?" I called out, my jaw dropping and she giggled before drawing me close and placing her lips on mine. Then the scent became stronger, getting me intoxicated and making me hard in my pants.
"Mate" my wolf growled in my head, as Jane was still kissing me.
My eyes fell, hands dropping to my side as I stood in awe.
'Jane was my mate?'. Just then I heard her voice.
"What is going on here?".