Chapter 4
The Gamma said cautiously, “I wasn’t standing very near where you were when you met Gamma Lucianne, so I’m not sure if what I heard was…what I heard.” He hesitated. “You mentioned that Lucy is your mate?”
“I did, and she is.” The King responded with a smile, despite the tint of jealousy he felt from the way this warrior called his mate ‘Lucy’ with such affection.
Gamma Raden nodded and said, “I’m not sure if you’re going to kill me for what I’m about to say, your Highness. But as I said, I owe her my life, so I think this is going to be a fair trade.” He chuckled once, before saying seriously, “Your Highness, I beg you, don’t hurt her. She is a good person who, for some unknown reason, was forced to go through with more than most.”
The King’s eyebrows were furrowed. He felt insulted. Why would this Gamma think that he, as Lucianne’s mate, couldn’t take care of her? Who the hell did this wolf think he was?! The King tried his best to keep his composure and declared in a serious tone, “I would never even think of hurting her. She’s my mate. I would start a war before I let her get hurt.”
“That’s good to know. It’s been an honour to meet you, your Highness.” Gamma Raden bowed.
The King smiled flatly and said, “Likewise, members of Blood Eclipse. Do enjoy the rest of the evening.” He walked away in quick steps as he felt the jealousy overtaking his body when Raden expressed so much concern for Lucianne. If he stayed any longer, he might have killed Raden.
When he was speaking to a Luna who was running her pack after the death of her husband the previous month, Xandar felt a hand run down his arm seductively, making him turn his sights to glare at the creature.
He asked in a dangerously-low tone, “What the hell are you doing?”
It was the daughter of his Defence Minister, Sasha Cummings, who smiled coyly at the King, making Xandar angrier.
“Sasha,” her father called out as he approached them.
The King growled again. “Should your daughter interfere in one of my conversations again, we’ll have to discuss your future and hers, Cummings.”
Sasha was left stunned but opted to say nothing, and held her head low as her father bowed and apologized, “I’m terribly sorry, your Highness. I should’ve been more alert. We’ll excuse ourselves now.”
The King’s glare remained on them until they were far enough for his comfort. He thought about Lucianne to calm himself before turning back to the Luna whom he was speaking to and said, “I apologize for the interruption, Luna Lyssa. We were talking about the construction works for a training ground in your pack if I’m not mistaken?”
Luna Lyssa didn’t expect an apology from the King, and was quite surprised by the sincerity from his words. When the King remembered where they left off in their conversation, she was more encouraged to show her enthusiasm when she spoke about her plans to mandate every able pack member to fight. The King supported her, and encouraged her to submit an application should she need help in terms of finances or trainers. She thanked him, and promised to keep his offer in mind.
When he left Luna Lyssa, Alpha Juan and Luna Hale approached him hastily and nervously. They stood before him and bowed. “Heads up, pack leaders of Blue Crescent. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Their raised heads were met with the King’s smiling eyes. No King in history was known to find meeting werewolves a ‘pleasure’, and no Lycan would bother offering a smile to their species, let alone the King himself.
Alpha Juan glanced at his mate, who nodded encouragingly. The Alpha looked at the King and spoke doubtfully, “My Gamma is your mate, your Highness?”
Now, he was getting pissed-off. His eyebrows furrowed as he said, “She is. Is there a problem?”
Alpha Juan muttered a ‘wow’ under his breath before speaking, “Your Highness, please understand I mean no disrespect for whatever comes out from my mouth next.” He cleared his throat and continued, “If you’re not… serious about… having her,” he swallowed a lump in his throat before proceeding, “…please let her go. I don’t want to see her hurt by the mate bond again. I’ve known her since we were kids. She’s like a sister to me. It pains me and my Luna to see her hurt.”
If Alpha Juan didn’t have a mate, Xandar was dead certain that he would have ripped the Alpha’s throat right then and there out of pure jealousy. Gamma Raden had already emptied his patience reservoir, and Xandar was clinging on to the thread of patience he had left for the night.
“Why would you think that I’m not serious about Lucianne, Alpha Juan?” He asked, taking some comfort in saying her name.
Alpha Juan said, “My King, I admit that I don’t know your intention with Lucy. Having just met you today, I have to say that I don’t know you at all so I cannot tell how this… mate bond is going to… progress. All I wanted to say is that...” he sighed like he was going to make one of the biggest mistakes of his life, “…she has gone through too much in one lifetime. Please, don’t hurt her.”
Alpha Juan looked like a man ready to receive his punishment after he finished speaking. Xandar was impressed with what Lucianne was capable of doing with her very existence. In one night, two wolves were ready to be punished just to tell him not to hurt her, and one was an Alpha.
He chuckled at his own thought before meeting Alpha Juan’s confused look as he declared, “Alpha Juan, my intention with Lucianne is to court her, mate and mark her and only her, have her mark me, and make her my Queen. I don’t know what I did to have you and Gamma Raden think that I will hurt my mate, but I can assure you that I can never bear to see Lucianne hurt, let alone hurt her.” He chuckled darkly before muttering, “If anything, she hurt me with what she said tonight.”
Luna Hale then stepped forward cautiously and explained, “Your Highness, p-please forgive her. It’s not in our position to speak about her past. But if she decides to tell you one day, you’ll understand why she said the things she did.”
Xandar nodded in understanding as he listened to her speak nervously. He then added with a smile, “You both need not be so afraid of me. I wouldn’t punish or kill without a proper basis. Logic and legality aside, I wouldn’t dream of killing my mate’s pack leaders who are just trying to look out for her.”
There was a moment of surprise before they bowed to display their gratitude. Xandar moved on to the next pack and two more after before he took his leave.
When Xandar arrived home, he made himself go through one file in the rogue stack before turning in for the night. He looked to the side of his bed, and he imagined Lucianne lying next to him. His hand subconsciously reached for the empty pillow and felt the coldness on its surface. His animal whimpered, missing their mate. He thought about being able to see her the next day and fell asleep with a smile.
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