The Lycan's Desire

A scent of roses lingered in the air and mingled with the faint scent of fresh dew. The fingers of Althea were shaking as they touched the fine lace of her wedding dress. She never thought that her wedding day would be such a burden instead of a celebration. The words of the elders reverberated in her mind, and their demand darkened her every thought. You must have a mate in order to ascend the throne of your father. "Marry him and we will make the Luna of the pack," they said, almost like a formality. Her heart had gone down now as she stood there before the full-length mirror. She looked at the mirror and did not see the beauty of the dress or the perfect work of the make-up artist, but she saw only the image of a woman in chains of responsibility. It was her wedding day. Her parents died two years ago, and she had the burden of the future of the pack on her shoulders. She was now the next in line to lead since there was no male heir. But to have that leadership legitimized, the elders demanded that she get married. It was meant to reinforce the pack. She had suffered the great ceremony already, the previous year, at the full moon, when the ball of doom a night when the wolves had found their mates had been launched. Althea herself, standing there in the corner, had been nervous, and her eyes were frantically dashing about the room in an uncertain manner. However, now a smell had entered her senses. Very strong and intoxicating aroma. It had been saturating the air, drawing her. She had turned upon herself, and her eyes seek the origin of it. And then, she saw him. Big, proud, his smile as he smiled over his lips. She felt her heart beat as he came to her, her wolf awakening within her and purring. He kissed the back of her hand, and there was a promise in his words, which lingered in the air. "Mate," he had whispered, and the entire world had come to a halt. His name was Carlos Lupin, son of Dirus, one of the man who was most trusted by her father. A man who had been slain in arms, and yet his son had come to take his spot by Althea's side. He had seemed perfect. The older people had been on the match, and even Althea had been subject to that tug, that attachment. Her heart had been certain, and her head concurred. He was the one. And she had imagined that he would lead with her and defend her. And then, as she stood before the mirror, getting ready to marry him, a doubt defied her. She heard a voice. "Althea!" Althea turned and raced toward her younger sister, Lila Mirasol. Lila came up wearing a mask of concern on her face, and her dark eyes were wide. You are actually going to get married to him? Lila was sharp in her voice, and more than disbelief filled her tone—fear. The moment was pressing on Althea with its weight. "Not this again, Lila. Carlos is a nice fellow, and I love him. I do not mean your feelings; I mean yours, Lila replied, trying and failing to restrain her irritation in her voice. I mean that you listen to the elders. They're deceivers, Althea. You know it. You cannot hurry yourself into this marriage because they insist on it. You do not even know him very well. You don't have to do this." Lila was seventeen and was always headstrong and protective. She was the antithesis of Althea—more wary, more given to doubting what people really meant. And, though Althea had endeavored to thrust aside the scruples of Lila, she could not say that a certain element in herself did not sympathize with her sister in her fears. "I know the elders can be manipulative," said Althea in a low voice, with some of the lost conviction. But the moon goddess would not have given Carlos my mate without a reason. He'll rule beside me." "I see, I see," Lila said in a gentler voice. Her hand touched Althea on the shoulder. But it takes more than the decision of the moon goddess to be a leader. You have to be sure. You need to be careful." Nodding, Althea gave a deep sigh. She had no idea why but believed her sister. She had always trusted her. "I know you're worried." "I understand, Althea; I understand," said the girl. But the vacancy in this post cannot be long. You have to trust me. I know what I'm doing." Lila gazed upon her long, and then, half against her will, nodded. "Okay," she whispered. Althea smiled a little and was glad that her sister understood. She passed Lila and went to the hall where they were all waiting. As she took each step, the weight of the gown appeared to increase, yet it was not possible to retire. She was not able to escape her duty. A thrilling atmosphere filled the grand hall, where the pack members were ready to join the union that would cement the reign of Althea. The older man who had presided over the rite was in front of her, and his eyes were fixed. Lady Althea Mirasol, do you accept Carlos Lupin as your mate and husband, to be beside you as Ravenwood Pack head, to keep you safe and loving as long as the moon still shines above? The voice of the elder reverberated all through the hall. The words stuck in her chest and made her throat tighten as Althea said them. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears, but she could also feel the fingers of Carlos touching the back of her hand, and the feeling of anxiety was replaced by warmth. A smile tugged at her lips. "Yes, I do, I do, I do," she said, the words almost inaudible but slightly definite and determined. The older one looked at Carlos with such a serious face. Do you, Carlos, accept Althea as your mate and wife as the head of the Ravenwood Pack to stand beside her in life to guard and love her forever as long as the moon shall shine above? Carlos answered very promptly. "I do." Althea had a fluttering in her chest. This was it. The stage of the start of their journey. She felt the load of the eyes of the pack on them and the expectations, the hopes. The older man lifted his hands, and his voice was booming. By the moon and the will of the pack, you are now mated and leaders. May your love be great, and may your reign prosper in us. The cheers of the hall broke out, unorchestrated howls loud and sweet, and Carlos drew her to him, kissing her lips tenderly, making their connection. But something was wrong. There seemed to be something wrong about the air; a storm was brewing somewhere in the distance. In their own apartments later that night, the touch had been nearly mechanical, remote. Althea was lying beside him in her nightgown, and her mind was busy. "You have failed to mark me, ," she said, and the question slipped out before she could retract it. Carlos turned, his eyes cold. "Do I have to?" His voice was sharp and detached. Althea looked and was more confused. "What do you mean? You are my husband, and I have just given you my body. You're my mate. You should mark me." He laughed, though it was not a very kind laugh. It was dark and hollow. Do you not see yet, Althea? Her heart skipped a beat. "What's that supposed to mean?" Carlos's eyes darkened. I have never met such a naive person like you. So easy to deceive. Then again, I thought, the Moon Goddess made it easy by binding us together. The words sunk deep into the stomach of Althea. Was this a joke? Was he mocking her? In a colder voice Carlos spoke again. Your father, Alpha Thane, fought many years with my father, Dirus. But my father was falsely charged, and Alpha Thane turned him in. He killed him, Althea. I watched from the shadows." Althea not only breathed in, but her throat also suddenly constricted. "No... my father wouldn't..." A wicked grin came to the lips of Carlos. "I saw it all. The truth, Althea. And you see, he killed my father, and now you will pay him. Her heart was beating in her breast. "What are you saying? You're lying!" Carlos stood, his back to her. His hands shook, and he clenched them in fists. The pack must have a real leader, Althea. And that's not you." She could not respond when the door flew open. Two guards came in, and their faces were not readable. Althea's heart raced. "What are you—?" Carlos turned about and drove a dagger into her abdomen before she could complete the sentence. The steel was chilly and sank in, and Althea screamed, her world swirling. The room was whirling her vision round. It was not the man that she fell in love with. This was a stranger, a monster. "No..." she whispered. "No, please..." Carlos spoke coldly, impartially. I, Carlos, son of Dirus, refuse you, Althea, daughter of Thane, to be my mate. Her limbs had gone so dead, and her world had gotten dark. And then, the final blow came. "End her. "Then burn the body," said Carlos, in an icy voice. The blood poured under Althea, and she was losing her life bit by bit.