Chapter 2. Sore Thumb

When Jairus whispered in her ear, his lips brushed over the tip, kindling the hairs on her skin to stand at attention.

As if reading her mind. "I have a little something to show you first," Alpha King Jairus kissed her temple tenderly. So soft, she closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms, overcome with so much love for this man.

Surely it was another surprise, a private one, maybe before they greeted the people. Her cheeks stained tomato red as she blushed and nestled further into his chest.

His arms tightened around her.

Life was not perfect, but at least she had her husband and mate who would be back home rooting for her and supporting her in her absence.

Queen Luna Aakifahlynn was sad to leave him and her people, but she knew it was a sacrifice she needed to make.

She did not have a choice if she was to get back in the shape of being a faithful and devoted Queen Luna at full strength, fully capable of defending her kingdom.

Jairus has been by her side aiding, comforting, and supporting her. Her true champion, she had not left yet, and she was already anticipating her return.

Soon Jairus set her down, and she realized it was his private study. The room was fully lit with exquisite candelabras set up around the room. These were on the cabinet jammed into the wall, the coffee table, and his desk.

A chandelier glowed above them, filled with white candles. The sofas are still the same on the right as you entered.

Jairus strode straight to his vast mahogany desk ahead of the entrance. He pulled out a cream letter-sized envelope and handed it to Aakifahlynn. Looking into her eyes, suddenly, a blank expression on his face.

Her eyes widened, then a smile stretched her lips, and her eyes glinted. 'Oh Goddess, was he able to make the trip after all?'

She would have loved it if he could, simply to get her settled, but she knew of the ramifications. A Queen and King can only be away from their Kingdom for a short time, especially at the same time.

The council consisted of the Elders, Dukes, Marquises, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, and Lords who advised against this. They were all from varying magical beings simply for transparency and to maintain a balance.

Nevertheless, she hoped he could at least spare a few weeks to make the trip and back like one of their short delegate outings. Visiting prestigious werewolf communities and towns around the continent.

Aakifahlynn eagerly took the envelope and quickly opened it, gently lifting the top and slipping her fingers in. She pulled out a few ink-quilled sheets of paper.

Her eyebrows furrowed. Odd, she thought, this was not a train ticket. She asked, confused, not bothering to zone in, "What's this?"

She gestured the paper at him, her voice skeptical, confusion written all over her face. She looked at the sheets again.

And read, however, nothing in this world could have prepared her for what she saw in bold capital letters.

How did she miss this at first glance? It was sticking out like a sore thumb.

Aakifahlynn clutched her aching chest with one hand as she held the papers in the other.

Her eyes were wide in shock, a shiver of dread ran down her spine, and her already strained state weakened as she read.

'The people of the Kingdom of Tamman,' Aakifahlynn's eyes narrowed, and eyebrows deepened, "Jairus? What's this?" Her voice was barely audible, but she knew he would hear her with his wolf senses.

Aakifahlynn continued reading, but she did not like how he stood there lightly, leaning his butt on his desk observing, and each time she questioned, he gestured to her with a roll of his palm to keep going.

But it was not that she could not read and understand. It was just that she could not begin to fathom what brought this on. 'How? When? Why?'

This made her a bit anxious and uneasy; she continued, 'To all who shall see these, presents.....divorce greeting'

'Know ye shall license and permission was given,' she could not continue reading. Aakifahlynn stared unblinking at her husband of five years and mate of eight years, desperately searching his eyes for the meaning of this.

Her eyes were full of confusion and uncertainty.

This must be a mistake, a cruel one, but a mistake nonetheless.

"It's divorce greetings, Aakifahlynn. What does it look like?" Jairus straightened his back, folded his arms, and looked down at his wife, mate, and Luna Queen, suddenly emitting a hint of agitation.

She stood a few feet from her husband, and his sizeable spacious study suddenly seemed to be closing in on her. All the elegant pieces of furniture were suddenly mocking her as the glare from the candlelit chandelier above cast eerie shadows on the wall surrounding them.

The stacked bookshelf behind her mate seemed to stretch suddenly and loomed over them.

While her husband's features and stance suddenly dripped with annoyance, like he wanted this to be over with, and hatred shot through the weakened bond, yet it was substantial enough to strangle her.

Aakifahlynn clutched at her throat as she struggled to get any air into her body that suddenly ached with the shock that ripped right through her, the papers falling from her hands.

Her heart rate picked up, "Jairus! Jai? This does not make sense. No, no, no, no, what happened? What was happening? What is going on?"

"I can't...I don't..." Aakifahlynn wanted to say she did not understand the meaning of this. However, words failed her terribly, and she was still in shock.

After a moment of silence that stretched thin, "Just sign on the dotted line. I have already signed. Let's be done with it." Jairus rose off the desk and spoke with aggression and hatred laced deep in his voice.

His face, that face, she did not recognize him.