The Prince and The Prophecy

CHAPTER NINE

There she is, her body curled up to be able to fit on the small couch in what looks like a service area. My heart is clenching while watching her in a very uncomfortable state.

I can hear four heartbeats inside. This house looks big enough for four people so why is she settling here?  Then I remember what she was doing yesterday. She was watering a whole plantation all by herself.

Is she a slave?

I can hear my beast howling in despair as we look at her current situation.

“I told you Lucas, we must save her and get her to our kingdom!” he growled in a dominant voice but I was still hesitating.

“But we’re not yet sure if we can give her a better life there. We don’t know if our people will accept her, especially if she’s going to be a queen.”

“What are you talking about? It’s not their choice! It’s ours!”

“I’m afraid that she will have to suffer more when she’s with us.”

“Ah you stupid!”

“Please listen to me, let’s observe her situation first. It couldn’t be that bad.” Even though I sounded like I don’t believe what I just said too.

He didn’t respond anymore and no matter how much I insist on talking to him he wouldn’t nudge so I just let him for the time being. I just focused my attention to our mate.

Now I can hear her soft snores. I have the strongest urge to be near her. I have to find a way in. I went to the front door hoping that she didn’t lock it when she went in but it’s locked.

Feeling determined, I walked around the house to find another door or window but they were all locked. I can easily break them but I don’t want to cause her any trouble. I was about to give up when I saw the balcony at the second floor.

I jumped and quietly landed perfectly on the railings. I scouted the area first, I can clearly see even in pitch darkness and I can see two forms sleeping deeply on the bed. The man was snoring so loud, there’s no way that he will wake up soon.

Stealthily, I stepped my feet on the floor trying to be as quiet as possible. When they did not make any movement, I walked to the sliding door of the balcony and I was right.

They were open!

“Are you trying to get her now?”

I almost jumped when Ryker suddenly talked to me.

“What the hell mutt?! Can’t you see that I’m trying my best to keep my presence unknown?”

“Why? You can easily take them down with a flick of your finger!” he quipped.

“Shush!”  I ignored him as I quietly made my way in.

Then I went straight to the bedroom door and opened it. It made a small squeaking sound but it didn’t wake them up so I just continued to go out of their bedroom. I found a hallway with another two set of doors.

Anger is slowly building inside me. I can hear another heartbeat from one of the doors but the other one is definitely empty. Why doesn’t she use it instead? I continued walking until I found the wooden staircase.

It creaked with every step I make so I just jumped down and went to the direction of her scent.

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with her delightful scent before I kneeled in front of her.

She is even more beautiful up close. Her long thick lashes are like curtains covering her closed eyes. I raised my hand near her face, I wanted to touch her so bad but I was too scared to wake her up.

I didn’t know that it was possible to feel all these emotions at the same time. I feel like my heart is going to burst any minute now.

After a few minutes of hesitating, I finally touched her cheek ever so gently with the back of my hand. Sparks instantly flooded my senses the moment our skin came in contact with one another. She leaned more into my hand.

I thought she would wake up but she didn’t.

“She’s perfect.” Ryker muttered in awe but I barely hear it.

All my attention is focused on her. I gently caressed her face and a smile broke on my lips when I hear her purr. She’s like a cute little kitten.

 I tucked her more inside her tattered quilt and she snuggled under it. How I wish that she was sleeping on a bigger bed, that way I can cuddle her while she’s on a deep slumber. She seems cold.

I sit on the floor and draped my large arm over her hoping that it would keep her warmer. I wish that I could stay here all night. I still did not feel contented with our position so I laid my head down on the couch just below her head.

In this angle, I can freely stare at her as long as I please. I listened to the sound of her calm heartbeat. Her breath is fanning my face but I don’t mind a bit. I feel so contented right now.

“Lucas!” Ryker growled, interrupting my thoughts.

“Hmm…” I am not in the mood to argue with him.

“Just take her and bring her with us. Now!”

“Shut up and just enjoy the feeling of being beside her.”

“You’re really crazy! We can be beside her all the time if she is with us.”

“We can’t do that to her. Yes she’s our mate but she is her own person. She has to decide for herself.”

“Excuses. Excuses! Why don’t you admit that you’re just a coward?”

“Okay, that’s it!” I am so annoyed that I just pushed him further back into my mind, cutting our mind link.

Now that’s better!

Peace and quiet with my mate.

Being beside her just took all my worries away and made me calm to the point that I fell asleep beside her.

I was having a very good dream. We were together in a large field of flowers. She is laughing and the sound of it made my heart swell with bliss. I held her hand and took it to my lips to kiss it. She giggled before snatching her hand then ran away from me. I was about to run after her when I suddenly woke up.

A loud snore roused me from my sleep. When I opened my eyes, my mate’s beautiful face is the first thing that I get to see. How I wish that we can be like this every day. I’m sure every morning will be perfect with her by my side.

I inhaled her scent once more before I forced myself to get away from her. Soon enough she will wake up and for sure she will be terrified once she sees herself with an unknown man. I quietly walked out of the door but I didn’t leave yet.

I can go back to the kingdom when the sun is up already. I wanted to spend some more time with her. I waited outside not so far from her house.

If she is indeed a slave like what I suspect her to be, I’m sure that she needs to wake up soon. I quietly watched the house, ignoring my beast who is continuously nudging me to turn on our mind link but I didn’t. I already know what he has to say.

After quite some time, I finally heard small movements from the house. I am sure that that is my mate because I can still hear two steady heartbeats and snoring coming from the second floor of the house.

She may be cooking as I can hear the sounds of metals clanking with each other and not long after I can already smell of something cooking.

I patiently waited for her to go out of the house. I wonder what chores she has to do this morning. It took a while before she finally went out with bread on her hand, eating it as she walks.

She looks happy and energetic, almost skipping on her way while humming to a happy tune. I followed her trail from afar. But my attention was shifted when a putrid smell of livestock wafted into my nostrils. I looked ahead to see where it’s coming from.

Now I know what she has to do…

I used my Lycan speed to reach the hog farm. My stomach churned at the scent coming off from it. My heightened sense only made it worse. I took a peek inside and found about a hundred of pigs inside. Trying to hold my breath, I went in to figure out what exactly she needs to do here.

Maybe feed and clean them? I looked around and saw the things needed to clean them. I moved quickly because I can already hear her faint steps approaching. I moved faster, even though it seemed to be impossible to clean all of these before she comes in.

I stopped when her steps turned to a different direction. Is she not going here? With a shrug, I just decided to finish what I’m doing anyway. I’m sure that nobody will do this but her. I splashed water around the pigs and the grounds to wash off the grime and crap.

“Ahh! How could she do this?” I asked myself while panting.

Considering that I am a beast and still got tired from all of that what more for a tiny human like her? I walked out immediately after I finished the task, the stink of the pigs clinging on my skin now. I have to wash off before I go back to the kingdom.

Remembering the river where I first saw her, I decided that I might as well take a dip.

As I walk to the river, I can smell her scent through the stink coming off of me. Is she there?

I walked faster and saw that I was right. She just walked out of the water so I quickly turned around. I know that I have all the rights to look at her because she is mine. But knowing that I can’t have her yet, I think that I will just be torturing myself if I will do so.

I waited for a few minutes before I turned around. She’s already heading to the direction where I came from. I grinned knowing that I was right. I went to follow her but I took a misstep and made a sound.

She stopped on her tracks then turned her head around.

“Is anybody there?” she asked then waited for a response. I kept my mouth shut even though I wanted to show myself to her.

This is not the right time.

I decided not to follow her anymore when she went back on her way. Anyway, I feel a little contentment already knowing that I did something to lighten her load.

Shifting on my beast form, I started to dash to the waterfalls. I will just wash myself there. I kept on running even though I can see it already. I leaped through the air and made a big splash as my body fell into the deep waters.

I stayed there for a few minutes, washing off any smell that clings to my skin. When I got satisfied, I headed back to the portal.

The sun is slowly peeking out of the sky. Soon enough, everyone will get up on the kingdom. I will just make up an excuse.

I took the clothes that I hid behind the rocks near the portal and put them on before finally crossing the portal and putting the mind link with Ryker on since he won’t stop budging me.

“What the hell Lucas!”

“What?” I asked nonchalantly.

“Do you really have plans on claiming our mate?”

I didn’t answer him. Even I don’t have the answers as of now. I ran faster, the wind harshly rushing on my fur as I leaped quicker. I reached the castle grounds in no time but I almost jumped when I saw the King standing mightily in the before me.

“Father.” I bowed a little while still catching my breath.

“Where have you been?” he asked, his face held no emotion. It’s hard for me to decipher what he’s thinking at the moment.

“I just took a run in the forest.”

He didn’t answer. He just kept staring at me like he was trying to gauge whether I’m telling the truth or not.

“Hurry up or you will be late for school again.” He said after a while before dismissing me.

I went on inside the kingdom while slowly releasing the breath that I have been holding when I was in front of my father.

“That was close.”

“You could’ve just told him the truth.” Ryker taunted.

“Shut up!”