It took a moment for the sun to shine through the canopy of butterflies, casting a kaleidoscope of dazzling colors into the air. The delicate creatures fluttered their wings in unison, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and movement. Each wing was adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant hues. As they took flight, the colors mixed and merged, creating a beautiful symphony for the eyes to behold. It was like witnessing a burst of confetti, but more magical.


    Darren''s hand put pressure on my waist as he led me forward. With each step, hundreds of butterflies erupted and took to the skies. The ground was covered in colorful flowers that had a sweet scent. It must have been a super attractant judging by the concentration of butterflies in this area.


    "Ally." He spun me into his chest, holding me tightly against him. "Ally, I can''t bear this feeling. I feel like I''m about to lose you, and I''m panicking."


    "Dare, you aren''t going to lose me-


    99


    "He was your mate first, even if he was a shitty one. And he wants you back ... I''m sure it''s confusing, and-"


    "Dare-"


    "And I want to respect you, but I can''t ever allow you to leave me. You are my world ... and our pup-


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    "DARREN!" I reached up, cupping his cheeks so he was forced


    J4


    Iughed, shaking my head. "Idiot.” He quirked a brow.


    "Are you calling the Lycan King an idiot?"


    "Yes, you are nothing but a blithering moron if you believe for even a second that I could ever be torn away from your side. You must be aplete blockhead to think that I would ever consider going back to that pathetic excuse of a man. And you are an utter fool to think that I''m confused at all by that letter. Yes, in many forms of the word, you are an idiot... your majesty." I smiled as I rubbed my thumb over his cheek. "Dare, have I not made it obvious how much I love you?"


    "It''s because I don''t deserve you. Why would you want to be with me?" He kissed my palm, staring into my eyes.


    "Well, for one, the sex is amazing." I giggled as his arms slid around my back.


    "Ally." His emerald eyes bore into mine, intense and


    unwavering. His expression was serious, with a hint of tension. I could feel the weight of his gaze, as if he were trying to convey an important message through it. "I''m going to kill him. I will not allow that man to live. Not only for his previous crimes, but for staking a im on my mate. I need you to understand this. I don''t want you to resent me."


    I nodded my head. I knew it woulde down to this. "I understand. I have mixed feelings, but not because I love him. He changed when he met Ivy. And while we were never the doting couple, I thought we had a good working rtionship. When I think of that, it makes me-"


    "Sad, that''s-"


    "Disappointed." I held his gaze, feeling my emotions boiling. "He could have been so much more. He could have been a good leader and left a real legacy. He threw it all away. Killed his pup and left me to die. His fate is what he has made of it. But iming that I have to return to him who the hell does he think he is?! I''m livid! I could gut him myself over his letter. The audactiy. Who the hell is that man? Was he always like that and I never saw it? I''m angry with myself for not paying better attention. I knew nothing about him. My mother seemed relieved when I agreed to be his luna. If she had only known ... if I had only known-" I paused, thinking of my mother. She was in a lot of pain then, and honestly, I would have done anything to help her. "Dare, you don''t have to worry about me being upset when the timees. I''m never leaving you, and I trust you." I smiled and looked up at the swarming butterflies that spread over us like a canopy. "This ce is beautiful. Thank you for showing me."


    He grabbed my shoulder and leaned me against his chest, resting his head on top of mine. "I found this ce when I was younger. I was ying with my brother and I jumped over the hedge to hide from him. I remember being awestruck, and it hit me how simple happiness could be. Iid down on the ground in the center of the flowers and just watched the butterflies swarm overhead. This ce became special, up until I became the king. Then, it was as if it didn''t matter anymore. The joy that I felt here never returned once the curse took hold. Now that I have you ... I feel that again. Only I don''t need this ce for it. I only need you." I lifted my eyes to him, to see a small smile resting on his lips. "I have found my joy. My happiness is you." With a gentle pull, he led me further into the center of the area. The sweet fragrance of blooming flowers surrounded us, their colorful petals spilling over the hedges that enclosed our private space. I couldn''t help but feel as though we were in our own


    In a sudden burst of excitement, he flopped to the ground and tugged me down beside him. He pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, as we both gazed up at the mesmerizing disy of fluttering butterflies above us. The creatures were like tiny pieces of art in motion, their wings painted with hues of blue, green, and gold. With each p, they seemed to create a symphony of colors that danced across the sky. "This ce is my secret. I decided when I first found it, that I would share it with my male and my children. I wanted them to feel what I did." I felt his lips brush against the side of my forehead. "I never knew that being with you would bring me this feeling constantly. The curse from the crown had stolen this joy from me, but with you by my side, I have it again. Yourughter is like a melody that fills my heart, and your touch ignites a warmth within me that I thought was gone forever. In your eyes, I see all the love and happiness that I had longed for as a king and now finally have as a man in love. My soul found its match in you. I can''t exin it but this connection... I swear, it''s more than fated mates. I''ve seen fated mates, and what we have is different. I feel like our paths are striving for the same thing."


    "Our hearts want the same thing. We both want happiness, a family, and a love that transcends time." I rolled to my side as he did the same. "My grouchy king isn''t so grouchy anymore." I smiled as he chuckled.


    "I''m only not grouchy with you. There are several people in the castle right now that will vouch for that." He plucked a dark maroon flower from between us and lifted it to my nose to smell before he tucked it behind my ear. It had a sweet, chocte scent to it. "You know... there is one other thing that I want to do here." "Oh yeah? What is that?" I smiled as he leaned over me, resting Chapter 54


    "I want to make love to you." His green eyes searched mine, asking for permission. How adorable! We were beyond the point in our rtionship where he needed to ask for permission. I


    was an open book, and I was sure he could see just how much I wanted him. I felt my heart racing. Gods, I love this man.


    I reached up and brought his head down to mine, softly kissing his lips. We were not in a soundproof room, and we were not quiet lovers. Making love here would be a very public deration. Everyone with supernatural hearing would know what was happening here. And that was why he was asking.. that was what he wanted. A public iming. "What are you waiting for? Let the world hear who I belong to."