The Return

It's been one month since Anastasia transmigrated and become a Queen. Much to her surprise life in the palace was quiet and she hadn't seen Wolf since he was gone due to an emergency disaster in a neighboring country.

He left a few days after the ceremony, Anastasia was ecstatic that he would be gone for a long time this meant that she had more time to live! She spent her days in the palace eating, sleeping, reading, and enjoying the garden, her days were blissful.

She dreaded his return because her newfound peace would be interrupted by her constant fear. She was now in the garden having tea and desserts. Elena and the other maids stood to the side awaiting any command. Everyone in the palace loved Anastasia, she was a beautiful, sweet Queen they thought.

Unlike other Queens and nobles, Anastasia did not treat them poorly, which made them want to work harder for her and they did. Carl noticed the differences between Anastasia and other nobles as well, she admirably fascinated him. He felt happiness in his heart that his King found a Queen that was beautiful on the inside and outside.

"Your Royal Highness, the King has returned," Carl said as he approached Anastasia with a bow.

Anastasia nearly spit out her tea when she heard of his arrival her happy days of lazing around has finally come to an end.

"Damnit!"

"I shall go greet him," she said with a nervous smile but to Carl, Elena, and the other servants she resembled a wife who was happy to hear that her husband had returned.

It's been almost a month since she had seen Wolf, she had gotten too comfortable in the palace and forgot who owned it. Anastasia clenched her fist as she awaited Wolf and his knights to arrive in front of the palace gates.

From a distance, Anastasia could see the smoke of dust forming and a band of men on horses coming out of the cloud of dust. There was a man who rode in front of everyone he was the biggest of them all and so was his horse.

Anastasia immediately recognized him even from far away. His stature is unmistakable and she trembled as he came closer. She practiced her greeting over and over again to make sure she wouldn't make a fool of herself.

Watching Wolf and the knights dismount their horses she stepped forward to give an official greeting.

"Welcome back my husband" the words spilled out of her mouth like rotten food. Anastasia once again put her foot in her mouth she cursed herself for being so stupid!

"That's not it! That's not it!" She cried in her heart as she practiced to say "Welcome back my King" Where the bonkers did HUSBAND come from?! She thought.

Since the bomb was already dropped she had to play it cool.

"You must be tired come, come," she said turning around and walking back to the palace. She clenched the front of her dress trying to calm her beating heart.

The knights and servants were all stunned at Wolf's new name nickname they never thought they'd hear someone call him "husband."

Wolf himself had a stone-cold expression but inside he felt that warm tingling feeling once again. As soon as he saw her it happened and when she called his husband just now he froze.

"My wife was waiting for my return she even called me husband," he thought as a smirk appeared across his lips as he watched Anastasia walk to the palace.

Everyone who was watching was gobsmacked the tyrant King smiled! It was the first time in history! They all thought something big was going to happen from this.

Up ahead Anastasia hurried back into the castle she smacked her face in a scolding manner.

"Husband?! Are you kidding me!" She cursed herself she felt that every time she confronted him her mind went haywire she was too nervous around him.

"It's because he's a tyrant that's destined to kill me that's why I act this way!" She said pacing the hall. Elena who had followed her was watching and concluded that Anastasia's reaction was that of a young girl in love.

She misunderstood Anastasia's bright red cheeks and ears as embarrassment from liking her husband so much. Everyone had seen the change in the Wolf, before she arrived he was hotheaded and impatient. Now he's taking walks and eating the sweets Anastasia gives him when they dine together.

"My Lady is adorable," Elena thought watching Anastasia pace back and forth.

"Have you eaten?" a raspy voice said stopping Anastasia's constant pacing. When she looked up from the ground Wolf was standing in front of her with a questioning look.

"I haven't."

"Eat in the dining room the meal will be served shortly," he said walking passed her.

Anastasia's appetite immediately vanished.

******

Sitting at the table Anastasia sat with her hands in her lap until the food was served. Once the platter of delicious food and desserts was placed in front of her she drooled a little.

She was a foodie and a glutton even with her small size.

"Eat," Wolf said to Anastasia. He was watching her eyes shine when the food came out he was impatiently waiting to watch her eat it filled his stomach just to watch her.

Anastasia started to dig in she hummed in satisfaction at how delicious the food tasted. After a few bites, she started to feel that something was wrong.

Ahem Ahem

Anastasia tried to clear her throat for some reason her chest felt like it was on fire.

Cough Cough

Anastasia coughed loudly placing a hand over her mouth. As she coughed more and more she felt her palm become wet. Removing her hand from her mouth she saw it completely covered in blood.

Her eyes widen in fear and immediately looked at Wolf. His face showed great concern his eyes were wide and his face contorted in anger and confusion.

"Why does he look so shocked didn't he poison me?" Anastasia thought as she fell off of the chair unconscious.

*******

Anastasia slowly peeled her eyes open her eyelids felt heavy and her body ached in pain.

"Ughh it hurts," Anastasia said feeling like she was hit by a truck.

"Your Royal Highness you are awake!" Elena said kneeling at her bedside with swollen eyes.

"Elena.."

"Your Royal Highness, how is your body? No wait I'll go inform His Majesty that you're awake first!" Elena said getting up and dashing out of the room before Anastasia got the chance to speak again.

Anastasia remembered that she was poisoned but what she didn't know was who did it and why. At first, she thought it was Wolf but she had to remember that he isn't the type to use low tricks such as poison. He's the type to cut his opponent down face-to-face.

The thought of having another potential death flag being raised made Anastasia shutter.

"Isn't it enough that he might kill me now I have to worry about others?!" She yelled.

The next minute her chamber doors swung open and Wolf came inside with Elena, Carl, the physician, and other servants.

Just like that more than ten people stood inside the chambers they all looked exhausted including the wolf like they hadn't slept for days.

"Your Royal Highness you've been unconscious for three whole days! I was so worried you wouldn't wake up!" Elena cried.

"Check her," Wolf said to the physician, Anastasia didn't want to acknowledge it but she could feel that his gaze was on her the entire time.

"Yes, my King."

"The Queen's body is fine there is no more poison but she needs to rest for two more days and have light meals." He said bowing respectfully after checking Anastasia's condition.

What Anastasia did not know was that the person involved in her assassination attempt had been executed by Wolf.

During her three days of slumber Wolf had gone mad he returned to the tyrant King everyone knew. Surprisingly a lowly maid who was jealous of Anastasia decided to poison her.

It was said that the maid was madly in love with Wolf and wanted the position of Queen she secretly put poison into Anastasia's dish after the dish poison testing was done.

Though she worked alone her entire family was slaughtered by Wolf.

"Dare to hurt my wife," he said as he beheaded the maid.

Over the three days she was unconscious he did not leave her side unless it was of extreme importance.

When he got the report of her being conscious he ran to her chambers. Seeing her sitting up in bed he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

The physician said she was fine but to Wolf, she still looked sickly and pale.

"Bring her a light meal." He said as he finally made his way to Anastasia's bedside.

"Your Maj-" Anastasia was cut off.

"My name, call me the way you did before," Wolf said standing over the bed hiding all the sunlight with his mountain-like frame.

Anastasia bit her tongue she knew what he meant but felt too embarrassed to say it again.

"H-husband."

"Yes. Are you really fine?" He asked placing his gigantic hand over her forehead.

"You're warm did the physician even do his job," Wolf said glaring at the physician who stood there trembling.

"Husband I'm fine, food and sleep will help" Anastasia smiled.

"I'm hot and sweating because you are hovering over me like a beast and you're acting weird!" Anastasia yelled in her heart.

Elena came back with a light soup and was preparing to help Anastasia eat but she was stopped.

"I'll take care of my wife everyone goes back," Wolf said surprising everyone, especially Anastasia.

"What is wrong with him?!" She thought as she watched him blow the hot soup and bring it up to her lips.

"Eat."

Anastasia hesitantly opened her mouth taking in the hot contents of the soup. He feeds her slowly making her eat everything.

"You still eat so well." He said teasingly.

"Hmph, you have to eat to get better." She said defensively.

She could have sworn she had seen a small smile creep onto his lips.

"No, I must be imagining things." She thought.

"Now sleep." He said placing the empty bowl onto the nightstand.

Anastasia positioned herself to get comfortable but she noticed he wasn't leaving.

"Aren't you going?"

"No."

Anastasia turned her back to him in annoyance.

"How can I sleep with you just sitting there and staring at me!" She cried to herself pulling the covers over her head.

Anastasia counted sheep into the thousands before she drifted off to sleep.

Watching her sleeping form Wolf got the urge to sleep too so he climbed in bed next to Anastasia and he too drifted off to sleep.