The King of Werewolves

Chapter 3

Conri.

Where am I? The thought passed through my mind as I tried to remember how I got to this place. There was a man in the room with me, his face set to a permanent scowl.

“Hi,” I started awkwardly. I didn't know how to address him. “Who are you? And where am I?”

I groaned as I tried to sit up, my breath coming out heavily and in short bursts. The man refused to acknowledge me and if it wasn't for his heavy breathing and clenched fists, I would have thought he was a statue.

The door suddenly burst open and my head snapped towards the sound. Wrong idea. Pain laced through my neck and I brought up a hand to support it as I lay back down.

“You still need to rest. You're not fully healed for sudden movements,” the man who had burst through the door told me.

I asked him the same question I had asked the angry man earlier and he smiled at me, “I'm Doctor Roman and you're in the Raven Wolves pack. Don't you remember anything?”

I vaguely remembered the Raven Wolves pack as one of the most powerful packs I had to learn about when I was preparing to take over the Kingdom.

As if a dam was broken, the rest of my memories rushed through my brain and I winced as my head hammered. The coup. My cousin. My mate.

My heart ripped into shreds as I remembered how exactly I got here.

***

It was the morning of Kent's coronation and I had prepared him for the ceremony that morning. I seethed as we walked out into the grand hall designed for occasions like this.

I could imagine me being in his place and my anger boiled but I forced myself to rein it all in and act like the subservient steward I was.

Keira was still in the dungeon and if my cooperation was the only way to save her, then that's what I'll do.

Kent walked up to the podium and I remained behind with the crowd, trying to take my mind off the activities so I wouldn't be tempted to go and snatch the crown that originally belonged to me.

As he was crowned before the whole city, the chief priest demanded the blood of a virgin to ensure a successful reign and longevity of the new monarch.

Murmurs broke out from the crowd and I was also confused by the ridiculous request. Blood had never been required on these kinds of occasions.

But everything clicked into place when I saw Keira being dragged onto the podium. My heart thrummed in my chest as I started pressing my way through the crowd to get to her.

I was screaming but I couldn't hear myself over the noise of the crowd. I watched helplessly as Kent pulled Keira by the hair and pushed her to the front of the podium, just near the edge.

Time stopped as her teary eyes met with mine and she whispered, “I love you.”

“Nooo…” I screamed as Kent made eye contact with me. He smirked as he ran his blade along her neck, effectively beheading her in a clean swipe.

***

I was torn away from the painful memory as Doctor Roman shook me vigorously.

“No no no…” I kept muttering, tears falling down my cheeks as I felt the empty void in my chest.

“Why did you rescue me? I wanted to die. You should have left me to die,” I cried.

“Well, that can be arranged.” The angry man from earlier said.

“Hush Darren.” A powerful voice reprimanded him and I realized I had more company. I managed to compose myself as I looked around.

There was an elderly man sitting next to my bed with Darren standing in a protective stance beside him.

“Hello, I'm Alpha Saul, leader of the Raven Wolves pack. We found you on our border a few minutes ago. You were half-dead and I'm glad you're now awake. I would like to ask you a few questions.” He seemed nice and I braced myself for his questions while debating in my head if it was advisable to tell them the truth about me.

Realizing he was waiting for an answer from me, I nodded.

“Good, let's begin. Who are you?”

I took a deep breath as I replied, “My name is Carter. I have traveled a long distance running for my life.” I chose my wolf's name as it would be easy to get used to. I didn't want them to piece things together as Conri was not a popular name among wolves.

“Alright Carter. Who were you running from?” He asked after a moment of staring at me, as if trying to decipher if I was lying or not.

“Some rogues burnt down my village, Blackheart pack and I managed to escape. They came after me and I have been running ever since.” I spoke with confidence because the Blackheart pack had been razed to the ground just a few days to the coronation with no survivors.

Alpha Saul kept quiet for a while before getting up. “I will look into your story, Carter. If it checks out, you'll be welcomed into our pack. But if I find out you're lying, well…” He left it at that but I could hear the threat behind the words.

I relaxed into my pillow when he left, closing my eyes as I tried to communicate with my wolf. I couldn't imagine the agony he was going through, now that we had lost our mate.

After trying many times to reach him unsuccessfully, I sobbed quietly into the pillow at my loss. I didn't deserve any of the things my uncle and cousin had thrown my way.

It was cruel and I wouldn't wish for the loss of a mate on my worst enemy. I wondered how Kent was fairing now that his father was dead.

***

After I watched my mate beheaded in front of me, I had gone on my knees as the pain blinded me. It felt like someone had reached into my chest and carved my heart out painfully with a blunt blade.

My wolf had taken control at that moment and the transformation was excruciatingly painful since I hadn't shifted in thirteen years. From where I was crouched down, I shifted into my lycan form and towered over everyone, standing at nine feet.

I could see the fear in my uncle's eyes as I got myself on the platform in one powerful leap. I gathered my mate's body in my arms, howling in pain.

Her head was still in Kent's hands and I made for him but my uncle planted himself between his son and me, giving Kent a chance to run as he drove a sword into my knees.

I growled at him angrily and picked him up, decapitating him instantly. I could hear the panicked shouts from the crowd as they scattered but I didn't care. I was hellbent on getting revenge. After all, there was nothing to live for anymore.

But I was sloppy, it was hard getting used to my lycan form since I hadn't shifted ever since my father died. The lycan form was passed down to the next ruler after the current one died or retired. And since I had inherited it, I hadn't gotten the chance to get used to it due to the wolfsbane injection I was given everyday.

Due to my unfamiliarity with that form, I was targeted and shot with wolfsbane from different angles but I fought against the drug. I will not allow myself to be captured no matter what.

But even as I fought the warriors, the wolfsbane began to affect me. I growled when I realized the only thing that matters was to leave. That was how I escaped, my lycan form giving me the strength to outrun the warriors even in their wolf forms.

I trudged on for days and I had finally collapsed at the border of Raven Wolves’ pack.

***

I came to the present when Doctor Roman shook me, suggesting I take a shower. I begrudgingly agreed and fell into a deep slumber when I returned to bed.

A knock woke me up and I watched as a lady peeked her head through the opening of the door.

“Can I come in?” Her voice was melodic and I was dazed for a moment before I found my voice.

“Sure.”

She closed the door behind her and as I breathed in her natural scent, I felt Carter's presence in my head.

He was confused and so was I. There was no way she was my mate, right?