Chained Hearts

Late Nights

"No"

" Ava please, you owe me big time." David begs me as he has been sitting here for the past hour convincing me to do his border patrol. Apparently Jamie and him want to have a special date night.

I swear they went to the fanciest restaurant in the city about a week ago. I already did my border patrol two days ago and it sucked.

"Have a heart woman, your best friends just want one night to have fun and relax with each other."Jamie pouts along with David.

These two will be the death of me.

" Ugh fine." I groan out and roll my eyes. They both yell in victory and hug me.

I push them off and shoo them away from me. I should get ready to go to the border since the sun is setting.

Maybe Alexander can come with me. I have actually been avoiding him because I have a strong feeling he is going to talk about us moving into the castle since it has been about a month from the ball.

I groan as I put my bowl of chips aside and shut the TV off to go upstairs and prep for boarder patrol. I need to wear warm clothes since it gets chilly at night around the forest and carry some weapons with me. Usually my body heat is enough as a wolf but it can be distracting during patrol to always keep your body warm manually.

I speed up the stairs but soon come to a halt when I crash into a very rough chest. I feel myself sway backwards but warm hands are placed on my upper arms to keep me steady.

" I was hoping to bump into you but not literally" Alexander says as I finally come to awareness and look up in his eyes. He is truly a piece of art.

I smile weakly hoping he hasn't noticed that I have been avoiding him like the plague for the past week. I rather love him from a distance. Not in love yet so I will just keep that toxic energy away from me.

I step out of his embrace and get ready to walk past him when I am pulled back into his chest and sigh.

" Not so fast. I have barley seen you this whole week and I am not letting you go now that I have."

" I have to do boarder patrol so let me go please and we can hang out later." I say with a small smile hoping he would let go and I can avoid the elephant in the room for as long as forever.

" Nope." He says immediately and I know he won't change his mind. Might as well bring him along tonight.

" Fine then come with me." I say and he nods.

We both go into our rooms at get ready to go as I shut the wooden bedroom door behind me, I walk out into the hall and see him standing in black joggers and shirt.

I just threw on some black track pants and tank so I can at least be comfortable and move easily along with a light hoodie.

My eyes wander around the almost empty house and it's white walls trying to avoid the a very heated green gaze.

" I know why you have been avoiding me." He says as we head out the door into the cool night as the moon lights peers down on us as I hear crickets from a distance.

I tend to stay quiet as I know there is no point in denying it. I have been caught red handed and now it's time to pay the price.

Silence envelops us so the only thing we hear is the sound of leaves and branches crunches beneath our footsteps as we descend further into the forest and closer to the borders.

Some late nights I may have enjoyed this walk but today it has my hands clamped together with sweat and my heart rate beating faster than usual just by thinking about what my future holds in the big castle that haunts me like a bad dream.

Am I ready to actually be a queen, to have everyone look up at me and look into my eyes for help at dark times?

" I- I'm scared Alexander." I finally manage to say,even if it was a slight whisper he hears me and is head turns to my angle.

" Of what my love?" He asks me in a gently voice that soothes me down a bit.

" Of that crown. I know the moment I put that crown on my head I am not only putting a royal object but the pressure of the whole kingdom. I am not fit to be a leader to thousands, heck I can barley decided what I want for dinner some days. How am I supposed to be a role model for the little children, how can I look into the eyes of help less people and tell them I don't know? Their stupid queen won't know what to do if darkness falls." With the last sentence my voice breaks and I realize how heavy my heart feels.

Now we have stopped walking and Alexander comes closer to me as he cups my cold cheeks with his warm hands bringing me comfort.

" You will be the best queen they have ever had. I know it can be scary but it also won't be because you have me with you every step of the way. Your kind heart and warm eyes will bring comfort that even words can't sometimes." His words make my lips turn up in a small smile as hope sparks in my chest.

I look up at him and see him looking at me with adoration and I see myself looking at him with the same gaze.

My body on its own leans up and kisses him gently. This time our kiss is sweet and loving. I can see myself kissing him like this years from now and that thought brings excitement in my veins.

I pull back and look into his hazy eyes.

" We should keep walking, the border isn't gonna be guarded on its own."

He laughs and shakes his head.

" Yeah, we should." He agreed and we started back on our path.

With our hands linked together and the crickets singing in the night I decided I will be the queen they want and need no matter how scary it might be. I'm so confused with my own heart and mind. What am I truly running from.