The Prince’s Bride

Mate or not.

Lycanthropy.

In others words, werewolves.

According to science it is an unusual delusion, a human gene mutates into that of an animal, precisely a wolf, in such that the human becomes part man and part wolf.

But in Aveynia, neither is it unusual nor a delusion, as it is common for a man to become a wolf, as with the transformation, it is believed that when the heavens brought down the first lycanyhrope man, he was believed to be the devil in a Man's skin.

Clans ran from such creature, as at that time, there were only two clans, majorly of Fea and witchcraft clan. At that time, seeing a man turn into a wolf was something and somewhat an abomination, that no one associated with Geraldton, the first Lycanthrope to roam the earth.

Geraldton feeling the immense depression and loneliness he felt from the isolation given to him, such that he previewed the heavens cursed him with his mere existence. With his believe, it is said an angel descended down to earth, to console him and also wish him glad tidings, which the heavens has sent for him.

Geraldton already filling his thoughts that nothing the heavens will bring to him, that would suffice the length of loneliness he went through, until the messages was indeed delivered to him by that angel.

The message of a mate.

And so did Geraldton find a soulmate whom neither ran away from him, nor see him as an abomination, but for the beauty that the heavens created.

Felicia, Geraldton mate soured the earth with him, as they loved like no one has ever did, regardless of what her people said about what an abomination Geraldton is, still yet, she saw the man and wolf as beauty.

And that is how the creation of mates began in all lycanthrope, whereas each werewolf is destined for a partner by the heavens. Such partner that is irreplaceable and once in a lifetime.

Dalia stares at Lucien still with gaze wide enough to feel her eyes tearing up, upon hearing Lucien's words.

"Have you perhaps heard of the word  mate before?" Lucien asks Dalia facing her directly.

"Mate or not, what does this have to do with...the evil werewolf?" Dalia questions still trying to get the hang of Lucien's words.

"Because Dalia, you're my mate!" And at the words of Lucien, not only is Dalia taken back but also Lucien with his words, as they do come unexpected to him, as this is not the manner he envisaged on informing Dalia something he may have known since he laid eyes on her.

"The feeling of you wanting to be close to me, wanting to feel your skin against mine, wanting to be in my presence." Lucien begins, whereas Dalia only stares in perplexity. "That feeling where your heart races at the mere thought of me, or the Arousal with just a touch and so much more, all comes to the reason that you are my mate Dalia, and I am yours."

At the end of Lucien's words Dalia can not help but feel disappointed in him, feeling him able to know all these which she feels and still yet not tell her till this very day, not until she forced it out of me.

"Did you perhaps, ever thought of informing me, if I didn't bring it up?" Dalia questions with her gaze disappointed and her voice low. "You knew about all that I felt and still feel, yet, you neglected to inform me, because I am that nonchalant to you, yet, you claim of me being your mate." Dalia scoffs unbelievably. "Words that I have only heard of tales about, and nothing to prepare me for, and you believe your explanation would justify any of it?" Dalia completely and utterly disappointed in Lucien speaks her heart, whereas Lucien stares as though his heart has just been broken into a thousand pieces.

"Dalia..." Lucien's words come, as for the first time ever he has never felt such length of disappointment oozing out of someone, especially to him. "It is because of such reasons, such reason that I didn't not want to bombard you with my world at first meeting, which is why I didn't inform you about it." Lucien defends his truth.

"Tell me Dalia, honestly, would you have listened to me, or taken me seriously if the day I met you In the woods, and told you that I was your mate? Would you have even understood anything at all or even given me a chance?" Lucien questions Dalia sincerely.

"And do you presume that I do understand anything now?" Dalia cutting into his words. "Alright, let’s accept you couldn't tell me at first glance, how about days after, days after I accepted to stand by your side, regardless of me being anyone's mate? What about then Lucien?" Dalia's words coming with pain, asking Lucien vividly.

Lucien goes silent for a while, as he also reasons no words may indeed justify his actions, for no matter what, Dalia has every right to take a decision of her own.

"No words can indeed justify my actions Dalia, but believe me when I do tell you, that for the first time ever, I was scared of loosing someone and I still am. Such fear that made me act unreasonable for once. And I apologize, I apologize with every notion in me, yet, I do not regret my actions, for I know that if I had told you earlier, you never would have granted me a listening ear." Dalia scoffs even more, hearing Lucien's audacity with his words.

"You may be a prince and control territories, but I am unlike the territories and people that bow down to you, and I do not appreciate your deception to me." Dalia stating clearly, as Lucien gazes fills with horror.

"None of it was and is a deception Dalia, as with what you feel, I feel it a hundred times more, in ways that I fight to control the man and beast in me. So, I plead to you Dalia to grant me a listening ear." Lucien adds.

"I have always granted you a listening ear Lucien, yet, you never said words to me." Dalia facing it all, having her last words with Lucien, such that at the end of her words, she wastes no time in passing Lucien by, and walking away from his study, but not before Lucien catching a glimpse of tears descending her cheeks.

And at this point, mate or not, this is beyond that.

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Dalia drops the wide basket having Sebastian in it gently, as she meets Lady Eve already on the training ground waiting for her.

"I will not tolerate lateness child." Is lady Eve's first words to Dalia, with her gaze resuming back to be her usually stern.

"Good morning to you too lady Eve. My apologies for my lateness." Dalia apologizes sincerely, walking closer to her.

"Is that an infant on the training grounds?" Lady Eve's gaze moving to the basket not far from her.

"Yes, he's my brother, Sebastian." Dalia answers proudly, having a smile on her lips, which Lady Eve does find suspicious, as the last time she met with Dalia there nothing which resembled a smile on her lips.

"And why is he here, you know very well I'm not here to give feeding bottles." Lady Eve scolds as that brings the smile off Dalia's face, moving her gaze to see Sebastian soundly asleep.

And why wouldn't the poor child sleep, after all she had just finished gushing down two bottles down his throat. 

"Not at all Lady Eve," Dalia answers sadly.

"Then why bring him here?" Lady Eve inquires again, taking Dalia's gaze to face her.

"Because it seems, I can't trust anyone anymore, and I think I knew that, I just wanted to have just one shoulder for once, yet, what did I expect?" Dalia speaking her own words that Lady Eve neither understands, as one thing she does know, is something must have happened to Dalia within the short period she left her.

"Well, that neither concerns me, as my job here is to get you prepared." Lady Eve, strict as always snubs Dalia's feelings, preparing her stance for them to begin training.

Dalia nods in understanding, moving Sebastian a bit farther from her, to give space to stand opposite Lady Eve.

"You will be learning the witches song today." Lady Eve speaks.

"But I know the witches song," Dalia counters.

"But do you get a response?" Lady Eve questions Dalia's knowledge, taking her to go silent and giving Lady Eve her response. "I envisaged so." Lady Eve adds. "There is a difference between knowing the witches song and feeling the witches song. Do you know why it is called the witches song?" Lady Eve asks Dalia.

"Well, because only witches can perform it," Dalia answers making Lady Eve scoff out in disbelieve at her response.

"Just what did your mother teach you child?" Lady Eve speaks, as by the end of her words, Dalia's gaze already swifts into rage.

"I will not tolerate you mentioning my mother..."

"You will tolerate whatever it is I send your way child!" Lady Eve cuts off Dalia with now a stern gaze directly at her. "You want to know why? Because as long as you can not perform the witches song and get a response, or send a glass my way for speaking to you falsely, then you will tolerate whatever it is I say." Lady Eve, without remorse or regret of her words fill Dalia with regret of not being able to control her powers at such a age, that the feeling of her being an abomination, seeps through her body along with the feeling of having Lucien betray her trust in her believe.

Dalia doesn't bother responding to Lady Eve, when a tear slips down her eyes taking Dalia herself by surprise at why she will feel this immense melancholy in her with just the words of Lady Eve, when in truth she had heard and be done worse to.

"Oh for heaven's sake, I never took you to be the type for a cry baby. Do you not know the world you live in and where you want to stand?" Lady Eve questions her vividly, while only more tears descend Dalia's eyes, until her voice becomes sobs, taking  Lady Eve by perplexity and acknowledgement that Dalia must indeed be going through something, as she believes its time to keep her stern words to herself and reason with the young woman in front her.

After all, she can't teach her anything if she continues to shed tears like that of a running spring fall.

"What happened child?" Lady Eve finally letting her voice calm, while she moves closer to Dalia feeling the immense melancholy radiating from Dalia to her, making her realize this may be more than she realized.

"I am prince Lucien's mate, Lady Eve." Comes Dalia’s voice with her sobs cascading her voice.