Lucas
Leaving Miatta behind in that cell felt like I had chopped off an arm. It hurt like hell and my wolf rebelled against my decision, nipping at me with every opportunity it got. The organ under my pelt had remained angrily erect, making my walking quite burdensome. Mate, my wolf wept endlessly, willing me to return to that cell and claim our mate. I wanted to with every living fibre in my body but I didn't want to copulate with my mate because she was in heat and could not resist me. I wanted a cooperative Miatta, one who would give herself to me because she needed me as much as I needed her. I craved her submission as well as her permission to explore the lovely secrets of her maddening body. Kisses would never be enough to satiate me or my wolf. I discarded my disguise having exposed myself to her and thus, it didn't seem necessary to me anymore to conceal my identity. The lycan warriors bowed low in respect as I walked past, acknowledging my royal heritage.
My strides came to a slow stop when I overheard my father and Beta Logan speaking. The sly beta must have returned after I had gone, probably with news for my father. I could go in, of course, or I could stand at a distance and eavesdrop. I chose the second alternative, leaning against the walls. The guards had been dismissed and so, there was no one to discover my hiding spot.
“Logan! What are you insinuating? The prophecy has been averted and my throne secured. I fear no being: human, wolf or lycan!”
“But, Alpha, the child lives. She should be put to death to assure that there are no more threats to this pack. Master, I know that she is your offspring, the bone of your bone but...”
“But nothing, Logan! Athena would be furious and....only the Goddess knows how much I love that scary woman. I wish I had been mated to her instead. Then, there would have been no need to banish her to that shack. She would have been sitting beside me as my queen, not the pack's healer. I can't, Logan.”
My father, in love with Athena? I never thought I would see the day my father sounded so weak and humbled. The anger was washed out from his voice and he seemed almost ordinary, not the fearsome father or terrifying Lycan King I knew. He was merely a man in love with a woman he had wronged on all counts. However, Beta Logan was persistent in his appeal.
“Master, I beg you to reconsider. Love is fleeting and passion lasts for only a while but this pack needs you even more than Athena does. I will leave you to ponder on my words. I beg to take my leave.”
The throne room became silent until I heard the doors opening. I remained where I stood, hidden by the darkness. Beta Logan frowned and muttered under his breath, disturbed by my father’s stubbornness. No matter how close he was to my father, I didn't trust him. He acted suspicious and he had his eyes on my mate, something I and my wolf did not agree with. Immediately he exited the courtyard, I made my way up to my room where Ryker stood, alert and awake.
“My Lord, you had me worried. You were gone for so long.” Ryker was always worried about me and the habit was continuous. He believed in my abilities and longed for the day I would take over as Alpha. However, he kept his wishes out of the hearing of my father. Such aspirations were considered treason and the death penalty without a court hearing was its punishment.
“I guess I should get used to you worrying about me, Ryker. You do know that I can take care of myself, don't you?”
“Yes, My Lord but...“
“Wait!” I interrupted him, more harshly than I intended to. I could sniff out someone in my room, an uninvited female. I pushed past Ryker, enraged by her audacity. It was Yvette, stripped to her bare skin and lying on her back provocatively. Her feet were planted flat on the bed and parted widely enough for me to see her pink rosette. In previous times, I would lock the door behind me and devour the meal between her legs slowly with just my tongue while she begged for mercy till her voice went hoarse. I would tie her wrists to my bedpost and keep her thighs perpetually open with the aid of jute ropes, tormenting her with short thrusts, followed later on by lazy strokes. However, standing in the middle of my room with Ryker dogging my heels, I was angry.
“Ryker! Who let this bitch into my room?!”
He stumbled forward and fell to a knee, his head bowed in supplication. “Forgive me, My Lord for this erroneous act. I was not aware that you and the prefect had a falling out.”
A crazy laugh shortly left my throat as I fought to keep a grip on my temper. She smelled disgusting like rotting worms in old soup. Her body did not appeal to me in the least and her presence on the same bed I slept on was worse than an abomination. What if Miatta found out? Thoughts of the consequences sent chills down my spine.
“We did not have a falling out! I don't want anything to do with her anymore. Get her out of my sight!”
“My Lord!” Yvette jumped off the bed and fell at my feet, already in tears. “My Lord, if I have offended you in any way, on any occasion,” she clasped her palms together, “I beg you, please forgive me. I want nothing in this world but you and if I lose your affection, I have lost everything I care about. My world is meaningless without you.”
She bent over and dropped a kiss at my feet, pleading for forgiveness. Her tears only ignited my fury and I kicked at her, revulsed.
“Do you need me to repeat myself, Ryker?”
The warrior sprung into action and dragged the weeping slave princess away from me. She scratched and screamed at her captor but Ryker neither flinched nor had pity on her. He threw her out of the courtyard and returned almost immediately. I felt more than saw him stand behind me, stoic and straight.
“Permission to speak, My Lord?”
“Granted,” I grunted, unable to conceal the anger in my tone. I walked to my window, breathing in and out to steady my emotions.
“I know you went to see the proud princess in her cell. I also know that you have been sneaking out of your room previously to see her. It is none of my business, of course, but I beg you to be more careful, my Lord. Beta Logan has his eyes on you.”
Ryker was more than my bodyguard; he was my friend and almost like a brother to me. I had grown sloppy of late and it was good of him to call my attention to my errors.
“Nothing ever gets past you, Ryker,” I joked, drumming on the window sill. “However, haven't you heard of the saying that goes: ‘It is impossible to be in love and be wise.’ Miatta is my mate and you shall regard her as so. You may leave now. I wish to take my rest.”