Royal Outcast

Chapter 13

Queen Liviana's POV

Flashback to yesterday…

“Your majesty! Your majesty!”

“Aunt Livi!”

“Ugh!” I groaned as I ceased my training regimen, sensing Dillon’s voice reverberating in our mental connection.

“What is it, Dillon? This better be good,” I said, my impatience surfacing.

“It’s Lucas,” he replied immediately. The mention of my son’s name froze me momentarily in place.

“What about Lucas?” I inquired cautiously.

“He… uh… how do I say this?”

I furrowed my brows in anticipation.

“By using your words, that’s how,” I prompted him.

“Ehh… you see… Lucas might have caused a bit of trouble…”

I frowned, massaging my temple in an attempt to alleviate the burgeoning headache.

“Again?” I asked, disbelief creeping into my voice.

“Yes, but he has a pretty valid reason this time… I think.”

I raised an eyebrow at that statement.

“A valid reason?” I asked, my curiosity piqued but tinged with doubt.

“Yes.”

“And what reason might that be?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest in a gesture of semi-frustration, even though Dillon could not see me.

“Well, Lucas has found his mate, and it seems she is not very fond of him… so he may or may not have caused her to faint for whatever reason,” he divulged.

I stood still, absorbing the news. My son has found his mate.

“He found her where?” I pressed on, urgency rising in my chest.

“Here at the orphanage we are currently visiting.”

“And then what happened?”

“Well, according to Lucas, when she saw him, she appeared quite confused and even fearful. He mentioned that she actually stepped back when he attempted to approach her, and before he could reach her, she suddenly just fainted. Now, Lucas is extremely upset and disheartened by what transpired.”

My brows knitted together again. That was indeed troubling…

“And the girl? How is she faring?” I asked, my concern for my son’s supposed mate overshadowing my anxiety for Lucas.

“She’s still unconscious in the orphanage clinic.”

I pursed my lips thoughtfully.

“And Lucas?” I queried.

“He’s… letting off some steam. He stepped out earlier with a couple of guards. They went for a run in the nearby forest that surrounds the orphanage,” Dillon informed me.

I sighed heavily, massaging the bridge of my nose in an attempt to soothe the stress building inside me.

“Do not leave Lucas alone with the girl. You and I both know how his wolf behaves when distressed in unfamiliar territories,” I reminded him sternly.

“I understand, aunty,” Dillon affirmed.

“Keep me updated from time to time. And if you can, inquire about the girl and report back to me,” I instructed, my tone firm yet caring.

“Yes, your majesty,” he responded.

I exhaled a deep sigh, feeling somewhat relieved.

“Thank you, Dillon,” I said, genuinely grateful.

“Always, your majesty. I should be on my way now, as I have just been informed that His Highness is almost back.”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

“Go, and… good luck,” I said before the link was severed.

I lifted my gaze toward the sky, contemplating the news. So, Lucas has finally found her—his true mate.

I wasn’t quite sure if I felt glad or apprehensive, but considering how Dillon described their initial encounter, it didn’t seem very… ideal.

Not that every first meeting must be perfect. My first interaction with my own mate certainly wasn’t memorable for the right reasons.

I had resisted him for a long time before finally yielding, but from Dillon’s report, it appeared their situation was different.

She seemed terrified of Lucas? To the extent that she actually fainted?

I remembered that I had fled from my mate upon encountering him as well, but my reasons were not rooted in fear. I simply had different priorities at that time. There should not have been any fear associated with meeting one’s soulmate. Nervousness, perhaps; but fear?

What could have made her feel that way?

Or perhaps the question should be: what did she see that could lead her to such a reaction?

End of Flashback….

After that, Dillon kept me informed throughout their visit, allowing me to gauge how my son treated his mate with a sort of careless disregard.

However, that particular conversation would need to transpire between him and me at a later time.

As we began our meal, I turned my attention to Seri, my son’s mate, and immediately noticed her staring down at her plate while scooping a spoonful of food.

I was just about to capture her attention when she… wiped a tear from her eye.

I glanced toward Lucas, who was sulking over his food, aware that I had previously advised him not to make a fuss over the servers attending to his mate.

His possessiveness was both annoying and inappropriate, especially considering how well-mannered Seri had been.

Lucas looked up at me with a face that seemed to ask, “What?”

I narrowed my eyes at him in displeasure.

As I contemplated the reason behind Seri’s tears, it struck me that she must be missing her family from the orphanage she had been forcefully removed from. Naturally, she wouldn’t be feeling very at home.

If I had found myself in her position and my ‘mate’ had acted as Lucas did, I would have had his neck for daring to separate me from my loved ones on their own terms, without considering my emotional well-being.

Yet, I had grown up within a pack where I wielded absolute control and authority. Of course, I had worked diligently to earn that power, but I also had a supportive system around me.

While this young woman had…

I sighed heavily.

I glanced at Seri again, noting that she was now eating her meal quietly.

Clearing my throat, I offered her a soft smile before attempting to engage her once more.

“Seri, dear,” I called gently.

“Yes, your majesty?” she replied, her voice attentive and polite.

“Would you mind if I asked you a few questions? I would love to learn more about you since you’ll be staying with us,” I said softly, my tone encouraging.

Seri hesitated for a moment, gulping nervously, but then slowly nodded.

“If any of my inquiries feel too personal, you don’t need to answer them,” I assured her. “I am merely interested in knowing a bit about you so that we aren’t entirely clueless about one another.”

Seri nodded again in understanding.

“I comprehend, your majesty,” she confirmed, and I returned her timid smile with a warm one of my own.

“Hmm…” I mused, contemplating the questions to pose.

“Do you have any hobbies, Seri?” I asked first.

Surprise flitted across her features at my question, perhaps because she expected something about her past instead.

I believed that conversation should be initiated by her. At the moment, my primary goal was to uncover aspects of her life that I could potentially cater to for her comfort during her stay with my family and my people.

Seri nodded earnestly.

“Yes, I do, your majesty,” she responded. I beamed at her.

“What might those be, if you don’t mind sharing?” I inquired. Seri hesitated shyly, pursing her lips before answering.

“I enjoy playing musical instruments, listening to music, and creating my own music,” she stated softly.

“Oooh, that’s wonderful, dear! None of us in the family possess even the slightest bit of musical talent. Finally, we have an artist among us,” I cooed, and I couldn’t help but notice the blush creeping up her cheeks.

“I’m not good enough to be called an artist, your majesty,” she modestly protested, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Oh, I’m certain that isn’t true,” I said with an encouraging smile.

“We currently don’t have any musical instruments in the palace. I believe that might need to change. Don’t you agree, Lucas?” I suggested, turning to my son, who appeared to be quietly absorbing our conversation.

Lucas paused mid-bite, clearing his throat before looking at his mate.

“What instruments do you wish to have? I’ll have someone procure a few,” he offered.

Seri immediately shook her head while waving her hands anxiously, her face growing even redder.

“Oh no, I don’t think that’s necessary. I already have my ukulele with me. That’s really all I need,” she replied.

“Having other options is beneficial as well. There’s little to do around here, you see, unless you fancy training with the other wolves,” I informed her gently. Seri halted, seemingly processing my words.

“Training?” she echoed. I nodded.

“Yes, dear. Swordsmanship, various forms of combat—is that something you would be interested in?” I asked her. Seri pressed her lips together, clearly unsure.

“That wouldn’t be necessary, mom,” Lucas interjected. I shot him a raised eyebrow, somewhat dismayed by his dismissive tone.

“That is not your decision to make, sweetie,” I stated, my voice laced with mild annoyance. Lucas frowned as he glanced at Seri.

I redirected my attention to her, noticing her gaze shifted nervously towards Lucas.

“Seri, darling,” I caught her attention again.

“Don’t mind Lucas, Seri. Whatever it is you wish to do or learn while you’re here, you have my blessing as long as it is for good purpose,” I assured her, and Seri offered a small smile in response, which I returned with a heartfelt smile of my own.

“Thank you, your majesty,” she expressed, her gratitude evident.

We continued our meal, and I asked Seri a few more questions regarding her interests.

As our conversation progressed, I couldn’t help but muse on how starkly different my son and Seri were—like complete opposites.

While this young woman was soft-spoken and polite, my son possessed a sharp tongue with words that could easily cut into anyone.

Seri appeared to be a gentle and harmless orange cat, while…

I glanced back at Lucas, who wore an expression that suggested he was utterly annoyed with something. I furrowed my brows at him.

My son resembled a feral hound with his rugged demeanor and the permanent frown etched on his face.

Among him, his father, and his brother, Lucas had grown to be the most aloof of the bunch.

This was a significant shift from before; before that incident occurred. The alteration it brought about in Lucas was profound, and I couldn’t blame him for it—not in the least.

Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t fully support the person he had morphed into following everything he had experienced.

On one hand, I understood that he acted based on what he believed he had to do to survive.

I sighed.

“Are you alright, your majesty?” Seri suddenly inquired, her concern evident.

She must have perceived the weight of my sigh.

“Oh! I’m perfectly fine, darling. Thank you for being so considerate,” I reassured her warmly.

We finished our meal and our engaging conversation after a while, and I recognized it was time for me to address the incident that had taken place back at the orphanage with Lucas.

For starters, I wished to hear his side of the story and understand it thoroughly.

“Seri, dear, you wouldn’t mind if I borrowed Lucas for a moment, would you? Dillon and the maids will accompany you back to your room, and if you require anything, just let them know,” I said to Seri.

Seri glanced at Lucas for a brief moment before lowering her gaze and nodding.

“Of course. Thank you, your majesty. It was a pleasure to have joined you for a lovely dinner,” she responded politely, and I smiled, reaching out to give her a gentle pat on the head.

What a lovely child she was.

Seri blushed, her smile shy but genuine.

Then, I turned to Lucas, motioning for him to follow me. He complied, well aware that he had little choice in the matter. He knew better than anyone that we needed to have this conversation sooner rather than later.

We silently traversed through the hallways and entered my office. Lucas closed the door behind him, and I walked over to my desk before turning to face him, leaning against the edge of the table and crossing my arms.

“So… care to share what happened?” I began, observing as Lucas moved to a couch and seated himself.

“Didn’t Dillon already brief you on everything?” he replied, his tone edged with frustration. I rolled my eyes slightly.

“I want to understand what transpired from your perspective,” I explained. Lucas let out a resigned sigh.

“Look, mom. I was just as surprised as you were to stumble upon my supposed mate in the middle of basically nowhere,” he stated.

“Finding your mate is one matter. Blackmailing her and pressuring her to accompany you is a completely different issue. I’m certain that was one of the principles I emphasized while raising you,” I reprimanded gently.

Lucas sighed again.

“I realize that I may have… overreacted,” he admitted, his gaze shifting away.

“Overreacted would be a mild way to put it, Lucas. You laid your hands on her to a degree where you caused her distress. You were out of control—your wolf was out of control. Once again,” I pointed out, noting how his jaw clenched but he remained silent.

“How long has it been since you last lost control of Idris?” I inquired.

Idris was the name of his wolf, and he was an even larger headache than Lucas himself could be.

“I don’t know,” Lucas replied defensively.

“Not long ago; literally last week. Do you remember how you almost harmed one of the guards from another esteemed pack because he merely mentioned a flower—a name you happen to despise?” I probed, raising an eyebrow.

Lucas frowned, his gaze dropping in guilt. I sighed softly.

“I get it, sweetie. You have some ‘triggers’, but you need to improve in managing your wolf. We are meant to control our wolves, not the other way around,” I reminded him gently.

Lucas clenched his fists, looking down despondently.

“I understand,” he murmured, the weight of his emotions clearly visible.

I studied him for a moment before letting out another sigh.

“Seri appears to be a lovely young woman. I could tell from our dinner conversation that I genuinely like her,” I said, and Lucas finally looked up at me.

“She’s alright,” he responded, his tone dismissive.

I rolled my eyes again.

“I recognize that she may not fit the mold of the type of she-wolf you usually gravitate toward. However, you and I both know that personal preferences aren’t always… preferable,” I countered.

“We have completely different interests,” he maintained stubbornly.

“And I wasn’t particularly interested in your father at all back in the day, either. In fact, I wished for him to leave me alone. Many years and three children later, I’d say we’re doing better than okay,” I pointed out, noticing a hint of humor twitch at Lucas’s lips.

“The reality is, you two were chosen to be mates for a reason. So, treat Seri well; you won’t want to regret mistreating her,” I advised earnestly.

“Don’t let the pain from the past dictate how you treat your mate. Seri was not the one who harmed you; she wasn’t the one who betrayed you, so don’t project your frustrations onto her,” I cautioned firmly.

Lucas clenched his fists again, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

“I’ll… try my best,” he muttered, looking at me earnestly.

“You’d better,” I said sternly. “It’s already unfortunate that you took that poor young she-wolf away from the only family she has. Seri deserves so much better.”

Lucas fell silent at my words, and I approached him, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.

“Get your act together, sweetie. You only get one true mate in this lifetime. Don’t give her any additional reasons to not want to be with you. Your mate can only take so much bs from you, my dear” I advised before stepping away and leaving him alone in my office.

Now, I would simply watch.