The Lycan King’s Claim

Chapter 1

I had just returned from a run with Bran, where we’d frolicked and played in the cool shaded woods that surrounded my home.

He had been my best friend since we were pups, and recently the friendship had grown into something more.

Bran had hinted that he would ask my father for permission to become my mate, and I’d been thrilled at the idea. Many of my friends were already mated, and as my nineteenth birthday approached, I was becoming restless—eager to experience bonding with another. But my father had held off choosing me a partner. Naively, I had thought he was waiting for me to find someone who suited me.

Now I acknowledged that was never the case. While my father loved me, he was first and foremost our Alpha and had to put the well-being of the pack ahead of all else.

My older brother and sister had mated with packs to the north and south. With the sea at our back, it was only to the east that an alliance was needed. When Kave became the new Alpha of that territory, the Elders determined that a union between the packs was needed to ensure continued stability.

That day, as I returned laughing at something Bran had said, Jake, my father’s Beta, had greeted me at the door.

"Elaine, you're needed in the assembly room."

Something in his tone warned me that all was not well. With a wave to my friend, I followed Jake, curious as to what could possibly require my presence. The assembly room was used on occasion for general pack meetings, but usually, my father and the council of Elders dealt with all important issues.

As I pushed the door open, a cacophony of emotions hit me—excitement, worry, curiosity. I puzzled over the strange mixture of moods while scanning to see who was present. In the far corner, the Elders appeared pleased as they conversed with another group of older persons, all of whom were strangers to me. My father, near the middle of the room, had a serious expression on his face and was talking to a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. I hadn’t encountered him before, so rather than approaching my father, I took some time to study this new arrival.

The man was taller than my father, at least six foot four, and powerfully built. His shoulders were broad, muscles rippling beneath his shirt as he gestured to make some point. Dark hair topped a pleasing face, with sculpted cheeks and a full bottom lip.

Possibly sensing my inspection of him, he glanced toward the door, and his amber eyes locked on mine. There was a hard edge about him, a commanding presence that made me feel as if I were pinned in place. Slowly, he studied me from head to foot before his gaze returned to my face. I felt myself flush under his scrutiny. As he flashed a brief smile at me, I thought I caught a glimpse of softness in his eyes, but it was quickly gone and he returned his attention to my father. I sulked. For some reason, his apparent dismissal of me rankled.

My father glanced my way, sighed, and ended his discussion with the stranger. He walked toward me with a scowl on his face.

"Elaine, you’ve been running again, I see."

My reflection in a nearby mirror showed my long brown hair was messy, and a faint sheen of sweat gave my sun-kissed skin a dewy look. Noting a smudge of dirt on my nose, I scrubbed it off. Turning toward my parent, I gave a sheepish grin aimed at cajoling him out of his mood.

"It was too nice a day to stay indoors."

"But what did I tell you? It isn’t safe to be out alone in wolf form. It’s hunting season, and even though our property is posted, the humans don’t always heed—"

"I was with Bran, and we didn’t go near the edge of the property. We aren’t fools, you know."

"Ah… Bran…" My father frowned, and then sighed again. "Elaine, I have something to tell you. As you might know, the pack to the east has a new Alpha. His name is Kave."

He nodded toward the man standing across the room, and I shot him a glance again before smiling with polite interest at my father’s news.

"He’s come to meet you?" I wondered why I was being summoned. The politics between the packs had never been of concern to me. My father didn’t involve me in council meetings, yet clearly, I could only assume that the gentlemen in the corner talking to the Elders of our pack must be representatives from the eastern group.

"Yes, Kave is here to meet me… and you."

"Me?" I couldn’t contain my surprise, and a strange quivering feeling began to develop within me.

"Yes, you. It has been decided by the Elders that with a new Alpha in charge, a fresh alliance should be created. Kave is willing. He will be mated to you, and our packs will continue to live in peace."

"Mated? To me?" I knew my mouth was hanging open in shock. Darting a glance across the room, I saw Kave staring at me blandly, his hands behind his back. If my expression offended him, he didn’t show it. I looked at my father, blinking to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

"But… what about Bran?"

"I’m aware you’ve had your eye on him, but this is for the good of the pack. We need strong alliances so that we can guard against the human threat. And allied packs allow access between territories and increase the area in which we have to roam."

He stopped speaking and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I know this is a surprise, but don’t worry. Kave is a good man. He’ll make you a fine mate."

My mouth had suddenly gone dry, and I clenched my fists at my sides. Was this how my sister had felt when she found out she’d been betrothed to a male from the north? At the time, I had only been twelve and had been more excited about the festivities than concerned for my sister’s feelings. Now the shoe was on the other foot, and I found the fit to be decidedly uncomfortable.

Finding my voice, I began to protest.

"But that’s the old way of thinking! Alliances aren’t needed anymore. We’ve gone beyond pack wars, and as for the human threat, most don’t even know we exist!"

In desperation, I began to toss out facts and opinions to counter the decree that had been delivered to me.

"Packs co-exist peacefully because of the long-standing tradition of alliances. Unions between packs join us together and ensure respect of territories."

My father kept his tone even, but I sensed he didn’t enjoy having to explain this to me. He was from the old tradition, as were many in our pack, and expected unquestioning obedience. As the youngest in the family, I’d been treated more leniently than the others; less had been expected of me. Now I could hear the implicit lecture: I should have paid more attention to pack politics, taken an interest in what was going on; if I had, I would already know these things.

He continued to speak.

"And the human threat is still real. Not so much that they know we exist, but that they continually try to encroach on our territories. We need to be united and stand firm against selling our land to developers."

I opened my mouth to protest again, but my father’s stern look had me shutting it, leaving the words unspoken. It was useless to protest. The Elders had decided, and the Alpha had concurred with their decision. To go against the edicts of the pack would result in being cast out. I’d lived my whole life in a pack. The concept of being alone was unthinkable, yet the idea of mating with a total stranger was also abhorrent.

"When?" I managed to pronounce one word.

"Tonight. There is no use in waiting. Kave and his council are here. A dinner is being prepared, and the rest of the pack is being notified. We’ll conduct the ceremony as the moon rises."