The Alpha King and His Vampire Queen

Chapter 3: Mate

She looked at me surprised then her fangs came out, eyes bloodshot, and she growled at the same time, then without thinking my wolf came out his eyes glowing a shimmering gold.

"MATE" we said almost the same time.

Lust fueled her eyes. Then I said boldly, "I - we reject you as my mate."

The hall fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.

Then I heard my father's voice. "You dare defy me. Kneel to your queen and mate, or I'll make you."

He was now half shifting, claws out, teeth bared. And before he could land a strike at me, my mother the Queen stepped between us.

The Queen blocked his aura with her own. Golden light flared around her, pushing my father back one step.

"No one touches my son," she said, her voice calm but deadly. "Not even you, Apex."

My father snarled. "She is a vampire. She will destroy our kingdom."

"And yet," my mother smiled, eyes cold. "The bond chose her. Not you."

All eyes turned to Lyinda. Her chest was rising and falling fast. Her fangs were still out.

She looked at me, then at my father, then back at me.

And whispered, "I don't want him either."

But her hand was shaking.

Mine was too.