The Lycan King's Fate Calling

Crystal's POV:

I trudged back to my palace in low spirits, slumping on the bench in the garden. I could feel my heart slowly dying inside me.

Rufus had been so cold to me, as if I were an outsider. It had only been last night when we made love so passionately, yet he had treated me like I was some garbage to be disposed of.

A sob broke out of me. It wasn't his fault. He hadn't been completely sober last night, and probably hadn't recognized me.

I should be relieved that Rufus did not discover my identity, but it was the last thing on my mind. I was barely holding myself back from storming into his room and screaming at him that it had been me last night.

I pulled at my hair in frustration. Things could not be any worse than they were now.

what should

have a new mate and move on. Isn't that what you have long foreseen?" Yana's voice

it felt as though my heart was drowning

Watch him fall

to think that way. Rufus himself declared his intentions to marry Adela. She will be the new queen of the empire. You have no choice but to accept it. No matter how painful it is, you

closed my eyes in an attempt to block out some of the pain. Tears

see it unfold before my very eyes. I wish it all happened without my knowledge." "Stop. deceiving yourself. Even if you weren't there, you will still find out sooner or later. It's just a matter of time. You must accept it. Fate has decided." Yana was ruthless, but I had to admit that she made a lot of sense. She was right. All this time, I had been deceiving myself. I was crazy enough to think that the cold and menacing Rufus would not find. a new love so easily.

with the pain of that realization. "I will accept it, Yana. I know I will in time. But I still feel miserable. I love him so much. I just don't want to..." I paused as something occurred to me, and I took a steadying breath. "Or we can just escape back to the border now. I don't want to stay here any longer. I want to leave this place and go as far

changed

still the