His beloved witch

Chapter 1: Lycan Prince -Andre- “Please, your highness, look at the pictures.” My assistant placed a pink folder open over my desk. “Adela, I am busy.” I closed it without looking at it. I am Andre Carvalho, Prince Heir of the Lycan Kingdom. My coronation is in a few days and there is a lot to do before that. “Your highness, these Lycan ladies are single and pretty.” The reports I am reading are more interesting than that file. However, I need more information. Only accurate data to make the right decision to address pressing matters in the Kingdom. I gathered information to analyze it; once I process it, I can manage any situation better, and find solutions for the Lycans population. “I need to finish reading these reports, Adela," I told her. “I don't have time for anything else.” I love to win, but winning requires preparation and planning. A lot of planning. I do not welcome surprises in my life, although I must prepare for them. Adela served me a cup of coffee. I thanked her but kept working without looking at her. My assistant knows her place. I appreciate her as a family member, but I am working. “Where is the Minister of Labor?” I asked her. That Lycan hasn't replied to any of my emails this morning. I have some questions only he can answer. "He is on vacation with his family, your highness." "What? Who allowed that?" This is unacceptable! I can feel my Lycan angrier than I was because of the insubordination. “Your father, your highness. But he will be here for your coronation." Adela was smiling and eyed the pink file once more. My father did not even have the courtesy to let me know about that, nor that fucker of a minister. That is why no one with a title of nobility will be a minister in my reign. I have promised myself that. “What about the Minister of Social Inclusion?” I can get some work done in that area. “It is Saturday, Your Highness.” I grabbed the phone from my desk to dial his number, but Adela cleared her throat. Does it mean I cannot call him? I huffed, truly annoyed. Damn it! I hate to depend on others to get things done. “I need answers, Adela!” “Please, remember he is old, your highness.” “That is the problem! All the ministers have been in their roles way too long.” They are old and too comfortable in their positions. They are lazy! The nobles think I will change nothing when taking the throne. However, on the day of my coronation, I will announce the news of breaking an ancient tradition in the Lycan Kingdom. All my ministers will be commoners, worthy and loyal Lycans. Since I established my office to help my father, I have planned to remove all those privileged, self-indulgent pricks from their positions. "There are excellent prospects for replacements, Your Highness. Please, look at these files." Adela handed me six blue files. I have evaluated many files to change entirely the pull of Ministers of the Kingdom. The candidates didn't even know they were candidates or my interest in hiring them until I revealed myself to them and my proposal of designation. By now, only three ministries are pending to be assigned: Defense, Social Inclusion, and Labor. “Fine, thank you. Maybe I can start with that now.” I ordered her, and she sat down. “May I recommend someone, Your Highness?" “Yes, please.” Adela had had not only experience but also a good instinct. Adela was my mother’s friend and her assistant until she passed away. Her work in the palace is known, and briefly, she even worked for my father, until he took a new Queen. “Leonard Walls, for the Ministry of Defense.” I opened the file, and I remembered the guy in the photo. Good education, humble background, a patriot. "This inquisitor lives between our Kingdom and neutral territory… Why?” Adela took a deep breath. It is difficult for her to change from being formal to informal with me. She is like an aunt to me. My mother considered her more than a Royal Assistant. Adela was her friend, even her confidant sometimes. “Speak your mind freely, Adela.” I conceded to her. Adela and the secret service of the Kingdom keep me informed on everything that happens in the Lycan territory and beyond. “He is a loyal subject, your Highness. Leonard has the training, and the warriors and other inspectors respect him. Besides, Leonard was part of the team that saved the werewolf princess from a rogue attack and delivered her safely to her father. His work helped us to secure our alliance with the King of werewolves…” There is something else she is not telling me. I am thirty-five years old, and Adela has worked for me since I was nineteen. Besides, I've known her since I was a pup. I glared at her, and she told me. “It is a surprise your father prepared for you, Your Highness.” “You know I hate surprises.” Especially those that come from my father. Last time, he introduced me to his already pregnant fiancé, his current Queen. I frowned, deeply concerned. “The agrarian bonds, Your Highness! The hard work of your father and the support of Leonard were to rescue the agrarian bonds from the criminal organization FDL!” “The agrarian bonds?” “Yes, the King will give them to you as a gift! Alpha Richard Duncan will come with his Luna to deliver it to you. Your Highness, this is so exciting." Those documents are worth millions, a fortune to start a small kingdom or even a rebellion. Alpha Richard Duncan is coming. My cousin, Richard... I have hardly interacted with that werewolf over the years. I remember my aunt. The once happy princess of our Kingdom became the sad Luna of Silver Rain pack. The Duncan family earned a cold shoulder from my family when the King's beloved princess didn't come for a visit after her mating ceremony. Until one day, Joshua Duncan came asking for our help. He was looking for an omega female in our territory. Who would have known that omega was the secret daughter of King Stefan? And that she even turned out to be Joshua's destined mate. I am not sure how to feel towards the mate bond granted by the Moon Goddess. I have heard good and bad things about it. Fortunately, I do not have to worry about it. Lycans hardly get fated mates. I don't want to lose my mind to any female. "That is a relief! I don't want to start my reign with debts. My father has done me a big favor with this." Adela did not change her expression. I can see she has something else to tell me. If she does not say it, she will choke. “Your highness, may I speak frankly?” "Yes…" I said, but before she opened her mouth, I added, “as long you do not mention that freaking pink folder again.” “Your highness, I just…" she puffed. If my mother were alive, the two of them would side with each other to force me into picking a mate. “I know you mean well, but I don't want a mate, Adela. Honestly, I am busy.” There is a lot to do, especially since this will be my first year as King. She opened her mouth to say something again, but I beat her to it. I know what Adela is going to say. “I want to be the first Lycan King to ascend without a Queen. There will be no announcement of a new Queen on my coronation. I want to do this alone." I stated firmly, trying not to sound intimidating to my long-time friend. “Our Kingdom needs a Queen…” “I know, and I will get one,” one day. “I just don't want to pick someone for now.” “Then, when?” She inquired worriedly. Sometimes Adela forgets I am the future King of Lycans, not the pup that used to run around my mother and her in the garden. “I am not sure.” I shrunk my shoulders. “There is a lot of work to do. I don't want to waste time looking for a Queen.” “I can help with the search, Your highness.” I almost rolled my eyes at her, but as a prince, I can't do that. “No, thank you. We should focus all energy and effort on more important matters for the Kingdom, Adela.” “I promised to my Queen, your mother, that I would look out after you. Your Highness... Andre, you need a strong female by your side to help you with the burden. A partner, a mate, someone to comfort you when things get difficult…” “I am fine. I know I can do this alone. Besides, females would only complicate my life, and they have a lot of needs and expectations... I don't have time for any of it." "Andre!" she exclaimed, frustrated. "I mean, Your Highness! To say that is wrong on so many levels!” “I mean… females can be a distraction I don't need in my life. My commitment, my time, and my energy should be dedicated to my Kingdom. Especially the first year of my reign.” I answered her with a smirk on my face. "I plan to take control of everything, unlike what my father did." His indifference allowed nobles to abuse their position. Even the family of the current Queen owns monopolies of businesses, controlling prices to the detriment of the consumers, our Lycan population. I will not tolerate it anymore! As King, I want to improve the lives of the average Lycan. I will be a better King than my father or any other Lycan King. “Where would I find a female interested in something more than looking pretty and wearing expensive jewelry?” “Your mother would not be happy to hear you talking that way about females… Your Highness." It is funny how she tried not to scold me like when I was a pup. I almost chuckled, amused by Adela's frown. “I am serious, Adela. I am fine, and I will be fine.” Besides, I cannot have a normal relationship to find out if someone is compatible with my Lycan and my ambitions for my Kingdom. Females go crazy... “But…” "I have tried it twice, and it was a disaster. You know that. For example, Lady Lydia. She bullies any female I show any interest in. She is so toxic that I would rather be single for the rest of my life than take her or someone like her as a mate." “I am not losing hope, Your Highness. I am praying to the Moon Goddess for you to be blessed with a mate. A nice and graceful Lycan lady..." “That is another detail, Adela. If I ever decide to take a Queen, she will not be a Lycan.” Adela’s jaw almost touched the floor. I left her astonished. I am not the type of Lycan that smiles often, but I felt like smiling today. “The werewolf princess is already pregnant with your nephew's baby, Joshua Duncan. They are destined mates... The fairy princesses are toddlers, I do not think…" I am not like my father taking someone younger than me. No way! "I mean a commoner... I would prefer someone who is not a princess." Someone down to earth... But one day in the future. "Anyway, I have talked enough about this matter. I will not choose someone for now. That is final, Adela." I will take my time to decide. Maybe even for a couple of years, or more, or never… Because my work is first. I tried to get back to work, but I didn't have a minister with the information I needed. And I will not chase assistants. “Your highness, a noble Lycan lady would be so good for you.” I doubt so. The ambition of their families is scary, which turns them into witches. “Antonella is taken," I said, without looking at Adela. Antonella is the only daughter of a nice Marquess, a loyal servant of the Lycan Crown. Someone nice like her was the fated mate of an Alpha. Too bad. “Your power in the Kingdom would be solid with the support of your Queen's family." Adela was about to say the name of such a noble female! “Someone like… Marcela, perhaps…” "Did my father ask you to mention her name to me?" I groaned. Marcela is a relative of my stepmother! Our current Lycan Queen is twenty years younger than my father. Cara is even younger than me, a year or two, I do not remember. The age difference doesn't bother me, but the fact that he took another female as mate and Queen, not long after my mother died. I want nothing to do with her or her relatives and their ambitions. "It is very lonely, the place where you will be, Your Highness… even dangerous.” Adela was truly worried about me. "Please, do not blame the King for taking another Queen. He was heartbroken after your mother died. He could have died… you were young and not ready to take the throne... She might not be his fated mate, but the current Queen loves him. I am sure of it.” That empty head. Who knows? My mother was not his fated mate, either, but at least they loved each other until the day she died, or I thought so, considering he did not waste time on getting someone else to replace her and have more children. I have three younger half-sisters. The story of the beautiful commoner and the Lycan prince is a legend in our land. The love story of my parents inspired the fairies to invent tales. Unfortunately, there is no real "happily ever after" as those fairy stories tell. There is more after "the end" at the movies, and not all are pretty. “My decision is based on my people. I am not taking a Lycan lady as my mate and Queen because her family will feel empowered. They will oppress my Lycans." Even commoners like my mother’s relatives turned out to be so… I hate the memory. “I just want to be a good King.” Adela realized this conversation was over. I preferred to get back to talk about work, but the laziness of those two ministers blocked my progress on the projects. I think I will sneak out of the palace today dressed up as a commoner, something my mother taught me when she was alive. I would like to interview that potential minister that lives in neutral territory. I have not been there before. "Your Highness, you have that look in your eyes. Are you going to…?” “Get things ready, Adela. I will leave in a couple of hours." I stood up from my desk and grabbed the file to prepare my questions on my way. Leonard Walls lives in Saint Isabella. I think I will even use a potion to hide my identity. I would like to assess him and hear him from male to male. If he is worthy of the position, I will give him the job and my trust. ... Who would have told me that this plan would work that way? I went to recruit a loyal werewolf as my minister, but it led me to her... to the first hint of her, her scent, and a glance at her petite frame, and her beautiful long silver hair... I still remember the place, Saint Isabella... I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told me that day I would begin my story with her.