Chapter 7 - Moon King
2427 Words
Nathanial POV
My head keeps aching. It’s been like that for days now. It’s a dull throbbing, while I try to keep the voices out of my head. It takes every ounce of concentration to keep my sanity intact.
The wolf within is clawing and scratching, trying to get out. I know if I’ll let him, I will lose control over him. He’ll run straight back to the compound and pounce on every Hunter that dares to stand in our way.
With a low groan, I slip into my sneakers. I don’t put much effort into getting dressed. I know I should, but I can’t bring myself to care.
I am limping down the stairs of my apartment building. The pain in my leg is a good distraction from nausea that’s been following me around lately.
I know they are torturing her. I don’t know why and what she did to piss them off that much. Maybe they know she helped me. I doubt they take to kindly on traitors like that.
Humans. Petty little creatures. Sometimes I wonder why we don’t just wipe them out and take over. Right now it takes everything not to give in to that thought and turn Rogue.
Snow is falling. Sticking to my hair, slowly melting. I don’t mind the cold. None of us do as we run at a higher temperature than humans do. We can easily survive in the cold.
I glance up to the grey sky, spilling the icy flakes without mercy. I prefer the winter months. I prefer the soft sting of the cold on my skin to the melting heat of the sun.
A shiver runs down my spine as I feel a sharp jolt of pain. I groan and try to shake that feeling, knowing exactly where it comes from.
“You look like s**t,” Zeek appears out of nowhere, falling into step beside me. I push my hands into the pockets of my black jeans.
“Feel like it too,” I say and he carefully pats my back.
“Are you going to do something about your situation?”
“What am I supposed to do? Didn’t you tell me not to reject this?” I wanted to. Then again. I don’t want to.
My wolf doesn’t want it. He’s whining at the thought. I’ve heard of tales of a wolf rejecting his mate. It was painful and usually came at a high price. I’m not sure I am ready to pay.
“I still don’t think you should. Maybe there’s another way. A rescue mission or something like that.”
“That would require us taking over the Hunters village. I doubt the King will allow it.”
“Probably not. But we could do it. You and me.”
“I highly doubt it,” I sigh.
“We could just act human. Or, I pretend to attack you, they’ll save your sorry ass and that’s how you get in.”
“That’s how I get myself killed,” I mutter, just as a white car stops beside us. Both Zeek and I stop as two men step out of the car. They are dressed in white suits. They are part of the royal guard.
“Nathaniel Knight?” one of them asks. I nod. “You are being summoned.”
“Looks like your little secret is out,” Zeek mutters under his breath.
“Why?” I ask the guard, ignoring Zeek. It’s not that big of a deal. I’ve faced him many times before since I am Blakes Beta and his adoptive son.
“I am merely a messenger. Please,” he gestures at the car. I sigh and get in, leaving my friend out on the street.
Snow attacks the windshields as we speed through the city, up to the mountains. To see the Moon King.
The trip takes about an hour. An hour of pure agony as I have no chance to walk it off. All I can do is sit still in the moving car.
I feel paralyzed with pain and I can’t shake the feeling she’s been forcing on me ever since she touched me. I wish she wouldn’t have done that. I wish I never crossed paths with her.
I rub my temples as I’m being guided to the mansion at the foot of the mountain. Up a fleet of marble steps into a large office. It’s empty. Except for a woman, resting on the white couch, staring into the fireplace.
At the sound of my footsteps, she turns her head to the side and takes me in from head to toe. “Nathaniel,” she says with her a too-friendly smile, “are you here for me?” she purrs.
“I highly doubt that,” I answer. She’s with the King. Not his mate, since he lost him a long time ago. She’s just his current mistress. If that term is even accurate. She likes to call herself that.
She chuckles and shrugs, “are you here to see the King?”
“I am,” I say, “do you know how long he will bäh?”
She shrugs and sinks back into the cushions of the couch. She’s easily distracted by the flames, dancing in the fireplace. Daphne has always been a little simple. Easily impressed and eager to stay at the Castle. Can’t say I blame her for wanting to be here. She’s human and she’s living her best life.
The King's office is spacious and the ceiling above is decorated with a chipped painting. A woman, with long white hair and glowing skin. The moon pales behind her as she looks down at me. A gentle expression on her beautiful face.
Somehow her face morphs into someone else’s. Her hair becomes shorter and long scars stretch over her naked body. Blood slowly oozes from her wounds and tears stream down her cheeks. It’s heartbreaking to watch, yet I can’t bring myself to look away.
“Enchanting, isn’t it?” I jump at the smooth voice of the King. I didn’t even hear him enter the room. I bow to him and try to get my head back into the game. Get back to this place.
“My King,” I say respectfully. But his gaze is turned up at the ceiling. A longing expression on his face. Longing and sorrowful. He sighs and strides over to his desk.
“Does she change for you too?” he asks. I can barely hide the surprise on my face. For a minute I thought I was losing my mind as I witnessed the painting move and change before my eyes. “I take that as a yes,” he chuckles and folds his hands over the desk.
“Daphne, dear,” he says and the girl on the couch jumps to attention, “would you be so kind and leave me and Nathaniel alone.”
“Of course my King,” she purrs and walks away.
“She’s pregnant,” he says with a sigh as he watches her leave the room. There is no emotion in his voice. None, except for regret.
“Congratulations?!”
“It’s a girl. Again,” he says and shakes his head, “sometimes I wonder if she cursed me,” he says pointing at the painting of the Goddess above, “they never survive longer than a few days.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. He’s been desperate to create an heir, but until now he has failed. None of his children survived.
“Mh,” he hums and glances up one last time before he fixes his silver gaze on me. “How is your leg?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Still attached,” I say, “healing slower than I like.”
“Yes,” he laughs, “you’ve never been one to sit still for very long, have you?”
“No, Sir,”
“I remember when Blake first brought you here. Still a toddler,” he recalls, “but you were already running all over the place.”
“I guess that’s true, but that’s not why I am here, am I?”
“No,” he says shaking his head, “we have something else to discuss.”
“Blake talked to you?”
“He did. He is worried about you.”
“I’m fine,” I mumble and out of habit run a hand over my face. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. For a brief second, it soothes the ache in my head.
“I had a mate,” he tells me. Nobody knows much about his past, except that he had a mate and that she died almost twenty years ago.
“What happened?” I ask carefully. Not sure if I’m overstepping by asking that question.
“She died,” he says, sorrow filling his voice,
“I was there to protect her and I never forgave myself. Losing a mate compared to someone is cutting out your heart. It’s like dying alongside her. Not many can survive such a loss. It can drive a wolf mad. So can rejection,” he adds with a meaningful look.
“You did survive,” I say hesitantly.
“Barely,” he says, “tell me about the girl. Tell me where you found her and where she is right now.”
I tell him how it all happened. Why I followed her scent and how I ended up getting caught in a trap. “She’s in pain,” I say hesitantly, “I can feel it. I think they are holding her captive,” I say, rubbing my chest at the memory of her anguish.
“It is driving your wolf crazy!” It’s not a question, yet I find myself nodding.
“We cannot risk an attack, Nathanial. I cannot let you storm Hunter's village to free her. I have no men to spare for such a mission.”
“I am aware,” I sigh, but I don’t like it. I don’t like that I have no option here. I want to go get her with every fiber of my being, but I know it’ll have consequences if I did. Most likely it’ll cost my life.
“I won’t stand in your way if you want to try on your own. But please keep in mind how dangerous such a mission would be.”
“I am... aware,” I say hesitantly, already forming a plan of how to get closer to her. Fantasizing about rescuing her. I can almost smell the soft wintery scent of her skin. My wolf hums at the thought of her. He’s howling. Longing. “She was attacked by a Rogue,” I say, “she wears the scars.”
“And you think she’ll hate who you are?”
“I don’t... care,” I lie. The King smiles knowingly. “Can she feel me the way I feel her?” I ask.
“Maybe. If she were a wolf, she would. As a human, she might not be able to feel the bond as strongly as you do.”
“How is that fair?”
“I didn’t say it was.”
“I can’t help her, can I?” I whisper, my voice laced with pain. Hers and mine combined into a cruel cocktail of emotions.
“If the Goddess wants it so, you will find her eventually.”
“Broken? Dead? They are torturing her and I don’t know why, but I can feel everything. She’s slipping away. She’s slipping out of this life and I’m... I’m not sure how to deal with it.”
“You are stronger than you think,” he says, standing up and pacing a few steps, “I knew it when Blake first brought you to me. Just a baby, but I could sense your strength. I told Blake that you might, one day fill in his footsteps.”
“I don’t want to be an Alpha,” I say.
“Yet you were blessed with a mate. This might no longer be about what you want, Nathaniel. It might be about what the Goddess has planned for you.”
“Torture? I think I’ll pass.”
A low growl erupts from the King, causing me to immediately lower my head. “I don’t mean to disrespect you,” I say quickly.
“You disrespect the Goddess. You shouldn’t. I understand your lack of faith, but what are we without her? Without the Moon? Nothing but wild animals.”
“We are also men,” I say.
“We would be extinct by now. You know we have a purpose. You know there is more to it than just a simple war with humans. It’s just an unpleasant side effect we let the Rogues carry out. We are here for something else. For something far more important. We are children of the moon. We are her protectors.”
I slowly nod, not sure what else to do or say. “If... If I chose to get her, how would I do that?” I ask hesitantly.
“You will need more information on her and where she is. You need a plan. A carefully crafted plan to save her life and yours. But Nathaniel, this might be the last thing you’re doing.”
“I’m not sure I can keep my men from following me,” I say, thinking about Zeek. He’s loyal to me and it will be hard to make him stay behind.
“You cannot sacrifice them for your cause.”
“I know,” I say, “but they are loyal.”
He chuckles, “and you say you are no Alpha?”
“I... I just do my job, Sir.”
“Mhm,” he hums amused, “I allow you to take two of your men. That’s it. Their lives are in your hands. You will be held responsible for them, do you understand?”
“Yes!” I say, my hands curling into fists. My wolf is impatient. He wants to go. He wants to leave right now. But it’s too soon. I need a plan. I need to make sure I don’t lose any lives on my watch.
But I also feel the clock ticking. The need to get to her grows stronger and I know I have to find her. Soon.
- Writer
