Eventually, he very gently let go of and I had to free him reluctantly.
I swallowed uncomfortably.
I had never been this comfortable talking to a man like this.
The only man whom I had been okay with was Loren.
And even with Loren it had still been strained with boundaries I set up.
He gently cupped my cheek. "You look tired. You need to rest."
I was reluctant to let go of my newly found father.
"No...." I managed. "I’m fine. I still need to talk to you about-
"It can wait." He interrupted in the most gentle manner.
He caressed my cheek.
"It will wait Jasmine." He whispered.
The way he called my na.
It sounded perfect.
I looked into his perfect eyes, and I felt at ho.
"You need to rest." He said and then looked down at my tummy. "At least for you baby. Your baby needs to rest."
My hands went around my tummy.
I was still hungry for answers.
I still wanted to save my baby.
Still wanted to know more about my mother.
About the two of them.
About how she was the daughter of the King and Queen and yet sohow wound up giving birth to in a cell.
But then he set his hands on my shoulder and with a gentleness that kept at ease, he said. "We would discuss later when you wake up and have dinner. Portaling here can be very exhausting and in your condition it could be more hectic."
I nodded numbly and then he looked at my face. "I’ll take you to your room."
My room.
The sound of that, sounded unbelievable.
But he was right, I was in fact weak.
I nodded numbly in delight.
I didn’t want anyone to take away from him.
He held my arm as he assisted out of the magnificent throne room.
He led down a hallway that had wide French windows with paintings ters apart.
The castle felt warm, there weren’t people running around as usual packs were.
Even the royal pack itself.
This was calr, more quiet.
Felt at peace and yet instantly foreign.
Soon I started to see sign of life.
Signs that my "father" and I weren’t the only ones in the entire pack house
n and won dressed in both leather pants, boots and leather shirts weren’t by.
So in dresses and then so in casual clothes.
If they passed us, they would bow at Aiden and I.
Aiden would nod in acknowledgnt.
I felt embarrassed.
I swallowed hard at he led on ahead.
"If you ca here accidentally." I asked after a thought. "Then how and why did you beco their king?"
He gave a light shrug.
"I didn’t." He said with an air of softness.
I rose a brow.
"See jasmine, that’s what I’ve told you." He said in his gentle, yet firm voice. "One doesn’t seek for power or leadership, it chooses them. I never chose to beco their King. When I ca here, it was dangerous and the people here died in dozens from monster and rebels. I helped them and they accepted . They made their leaders."
I was in total awe.
As we walked by in silence, I looked up at him in pride.
The air of confidence he had around him.
The way he carried himself.
He didn’t need to speak harshly, his words were enough to command a crowd.
The most charismatic leader I had ever t.
And he was my father.
He led to a beautiful oak door and turned the nob.
The door was opened and I stepped into a magnificent room.
The room was green.
There were plants inside.
On the wall were paintings of nature. Animals by a lake.
Beautiful birds.
It was breathtaking.
The massive poster bed has white sheets and curtains tied by their posts.
There was a beautiful brown color rug in the center of the room.
There were candles that lit the room.
A beautiful chandelier handing from the center of the room, a chest of drawers that would take up hundreds of clothes I had never owned.
The windows were ford in a perfect arch that led the evening light stream in.
It was such a beautiful room.
"This is beautiful." I said as I waltzed into the room.
I looked around taking it all in.
"I’m glad you like it." He said from behind .
I turned to look at him and saw there was smile on his face.
I managed a weak smile and let my hand trace the soft velvet cushion.
Then I went to bed and gently touched the wood of the poster bed.
Then I sat down on the bed and my behind sunk inside.
I closed my eyes and let out a soft gasp of relief.
The mont I lted into the seat, I couldn’t help realizing I was genuinely tired.
My body felt weak and truly I needed to rest.
I struggled to set my feet on the bed but then Aiden hurried to my side and assisted.
"Let ." He offered as his hands gently lifted legs unto the bed.
"Thank you." I said. "I’m fat now."
He gave a soft laugh. "Not at all. Looking at you I can picture your mother being pregnant with you. You look exactly like her."
I felt a wave of emotions I didn’t understand and held back the tears behind my eyes.
I couldn’t imagine how terrible it had been for him.
Being stuck here while he couldn’t go back to her.
How she must have suffered.
It shook my core.
"You took my hair." He said as he stared. "When your mother found out she was pregnant, she was so sure the baby would have her hair. She had been so stubborn."
I slowly took off the bracelet Pearl had given and then I could feel my blonde hair revert back to ginger.
His eyes went wide in surprise.
"So she was right." He said with a chuckle.
I blushed.
"You never have to hide anymore." He told . "Now go to sleep. Rest. I will co for you later."
I nodded numbly and turned to my side.
The mont my head nestled into the pillow, I slept off.
"Jasmine."
I opened my eyes.
Lo and behold, I was standing in a beautiful green field.
It was already dark and so the moon showed the way.
I looked up at the Stars sparking in the night sky.
I knew that voice.
"Jasmine." It ca again.
I turned around in the direction I had heard it and then I saw her.
My mother.
Beautiful.
Wearing a light blue dress.
Her ginger red hair, just like mine was let out wild and free unlike mine that was always held in a single braid.
Her beautiful green eyes staring back at , her full lips pursed together.
Her perfect cheekbones highlighting her unique facial structure.
Her slender pale skin that glowed under the moonlight.
She was so beautiful.
For the first ti since all my confused dreams, I felt sure of her.
My eyes welled with tears.
"Mother." I said aloud and I raced to her.
I threw my hands around her and gave her a hug.
She embraced too and I wept as she held .
She slled so lovely.
Like a mixture of different flowers and also had her own distinctive scent.
A sent that I knew I would never get from anywhere else.
She gently let go and held my face in her hands.
"My baby." She said as she looked at , her eyes filled with love. "My beautiful flower."
And then she kissed my forehead and hugged once again.
"My sweet sweet Jasmine." She said through the hug. "I’ve wanted to hold you this way my entire life.
I lted into the hug.
I felt like a child despite the fact that she was around the sa age as I was.
I didn’t want to let go.
My entire life I had been looking for my mother.
Praying for her.
And now here I was with her.
I never ever wanted to let go.
And then I begin to slowly let go.
I was reluctant but I had no choice.
She cupped my cheek. "My sweet flower. You’re so grown up. Look at you."
"How can I see you?" I asked. "Is this a dream?"
She smiled at . "Not exactly. If you can see , then that ans your powers are slowly beginning to manifest."
My what?
"Powers?" I managed.
She looked at with a weak smile. "Yes my love. You have powers. You can shift."
I was taken aback .
She didn’t look surprised to know that I could shift.
And that took by surprise.
"You don’t understand and it’s understandable." She said. "You’re confused but I assure you it was for your own good. It was the only way I could protect you my love."
"What are you even saying?" I asked. "I... I saw dad. I finally t him."
She looked at in shock.
Complete disbelief.
"Aiden?" She asked , her lips quivering.
"Yes. He says he is my father." I said to her.
"He is your father." She admitted and I was delighted.
"I portaled to this world called the other side and then-
She began to look worried. "Jasmine....
Before I could hear her last words, I woke up
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