Reborn as the Lycan's Mate

Chapter 3. I Escaped the Party

“Mum —”

“No buts, Orion,” the Queen glared at me, ignoring Duke who had bowed and gone to the side to make the call. “You may be nine spots removed from the crown, but that doesn’t give you any excuse to give those paparazzi a regular heyday.”

Isabella may be a nag, but I guess it’s how mothers are. I’ve seen how Duke has received the same treatment from her and from his own mother (the two females are best friends), and how many of the guys in my pack get the same, so I feel lucky that all these years, even when I’m already off The Castle, she continues to pester me from time to time about my… “habits.”

Isabella continued to prattle on how my brothers are each already positioning themselves in society, ready to take Father’s crown as soon as he descends the throne… which, I doubt, would be anytime soon.

I mean, who would think ill of my father, the current Lycan King of the Central Kingdom and the Lycan Empire’s Emperor, who’s still as virile and as strong as a newly-minted Alpha?

I have eight more siblings before me. Basically, I’m the last in the direct line of succession, with plenty more after me. My family was just that big. Before Isabella, Father had a chosen mate before he met my blood mother, and when the mother I never knew passed away, Father also had another chosen mate.

I thus have three brothers, two of them already mated and with a successor niece and nephew, and three sisters, all lined up for the crown. After I are my twin sisters, Eleanor and Elizabeth, followed by cousins from my father’s side, and if I were to accept those stories of infidelity, before the King met my biological mother, well…

I sighed as I went back to my bedroom and into the en-suite bathroom, ignoring Isabella who went on to chatter about today’s events that I needed to attend for the Twins. I already know today’s itinerary; I had conference mind-linked Duke and my secretary Tomas as I was on the way to the shower.

Days like these have been typical since I moved out of the Palace and turned this top-floor Lycan Paradise penthouse into my new home a couple of years ago. Mum would drop by the day after any Royalty-hosted dinner I attended, and in between jabs against my “after-party playing”, the latest Court gossip, and the Twins’ misadventures and events I have to attend with them, she personally fixes me up some breakfast.

“So you’re having dinner with the family this evening,” Isabella said as she handed me a generous pile of waffles drizzled with my favorite honey and butter, and another huge plate of bacon, sausages, and egg as I sat on one of the counter stools by the island. She also poured me a generous helping of orange and lemon juice. I practically drooled.

“Ori,” she said. I merely grunted, focusing more on the food before me. “You’ve got to be there.”

“Whose daughters will be attending this time, Locksley’s and Ironhound’s?” I rolled my eyes.

“Alpha Bassett’s and Alpha Tyndall’s will also be there,” I grimaced at the mention of the names. “And some of their sons too, along with the nephews and grandsons of Alpha DeSade.”

I growled. What the heck are my parents doing? My little sisters are but three years short of their Werewolf shifting ceremony!

“Mum,” I rolled my eyes, but Isabella merely tutted.

“Oh come on, Ori,” she said. “Don’t give me that look. This is why you’ll be there. You and your brothers will make sure the guests will be of their best behavior as they meet and greet Elle and Liz.”

“If I know you guys are just trying to matchmake me again. I got a couple of things to take care of tonight, so I can’t —”

“No buts this time,” Isabella tutted again, giving me her disapproving Mum look. “You still owe Elle and Liz a week’s worth of escorting, remember? And besides, I know where your tasks for this evening need to be done, so you can’t escape.”

“Mum!”

“You can’t avoid it, you know.” That look again. The number of people who could push my buttons is limited to the fingers of my hand. Unfortunately, Mum happens to be one of them.

I groaned, as there was no escaping this one.

—

That evening, I cussed under my breath as I stood by the spacious balcony hidden by the layers of curtains that graced the dance hall.

“Have you seen His Highness?” Came an all too familiar female voice that grated in my ears. It was too high and squeaky, yet all too loud — as if begging for people’s attention. It reminded me of sandpaper rubbed over glass.

Why the f**ck is she here again? How did she get invited?! I wanted to growl, but I held my breath lest she hear me.

Your fault, not mine. My Lycan wolf spirit muttered gruffly in my mind.

Last night was a mistake, I groused mentally. I really shouldn’t have accepted an extra drink.

If you had listened to me, came my Lycan spirit’s reply. You know how their family has their hands on some Lycan-affective drugs.

It wasn’t confirmed, I groused. We barely have evidence.

Still, my wolf said. Even if we have yet to find strong evidence to make a move on her family and pack, you should’ve kept in mind what they’re capable of. Especially her. She doesn’t want you. She wants what you are.

I was about to retort when Duke replied.

“Which Highness do you mean?” I could my Beta, answering in his bored voice. Yes. Bored. Duke was one hell of a womanizer, but even he disliked this one. “Lady Margot Shipman.”

“Surely you know what I’m talking about,” Lady Shipman scoffed. “My fiance.”

“I didn’t know you were already engaged, milady,” said Duke. It was barely there, but as his childhood buddy and best friend, I could detect the hint of sarcasm in his tone. “May I know who is the lucky gentleman?”

“Oh, you,” laughed the female. To most lords it probably sounded like a melody; I’ve seen how many noble Alphas-in-training have fallen for that laughter. Too bad it won’t work on me. “Soon you just might need to call me Luna. So… where’s your Alpha Prince?”

“Uhmm,” Duke said. “If you mean His Highness the Crown Prince —”

“Don’t play with me,” the she-Lycan’s tone climbed another octave. “Where the hell is Orion?!” Goddess, someone help us all…

“Milady,” Duke said, his tone now with a slight growl as a warning. “As much as I would like to accommodate you, I myself don’t know. Most likely he went upstairs or perhaps he is in the library or his father’s office.“

“Why, you — how dare you to answer me in such — let me remind you you’re just a Beta and I’m of Alpha bl—”

“Please, milady,” Duke said, his voice lower… but still gruff. “You may be an Alpha but I am also an Alpha by blood; my Beta is but a title and a role in reference to my Alpha’s stature.” He lowered his voice even further down to a whisper, but I heard a strong hiss of warning in it. “Now if you wish to be respected by others vying for Alpha Hunter, milady, I suggest you address him in his proper status as Prince and Alpha.”

A growl escaped from the she-Lycan. It was then followed by the heavy clacking of heels as the woman moved away.

Thanks, I uttered through the mind link.

Anytime, bro.

Dinner was already finished. Inside, in the spacious lounge in one of the biggest areas in the Palace, everyone was just hanging out for drinks, conversation, and a little program my Queen Mother Isabella cooked up for everyone.

In a meeting room in the deeper parts beyond the dance floor, my father, King Dolfus, held an audience with some of the older guests, along with my brother, Crown Prince Adolf. I didn’t join them despite my position; my Father already had his mind-link channel opened so I could eavesdrop on their meeting. The men were merely exchanging pleasantries and chit-chatting about the goings-on in the Central Kingdom, and in the Lycan Empire.

Simply put, the party was the stuff of old drunkard nobles’ gossip. Definitely not my tankard of mead.

Ever since I arrived this evening, I’ve been bombarded with simpering looks and unwanted advances from the unmated she-wolves. Males were either pestering me with questions about my work or my businesses, or they were literally begging me to introduce them to my sisters.

My other siblings were surrounded by their own set of friends (or fans); unlike them, I would not have any of it. I may enjoy occasional partying and mixing with the ladies, but not tonight.

Many of the b****es here were closely watched by their packs or by their power-hungry relatives, and I have no intention of getting attached to any of these pompous mutts.

Thus, I stayed out here on the balcony, loving my spot, mind-linking with some of my subordinates, members of the Moonblade Pack, the KIngdom’s intelligence department.

All in position Your Highness, my Gamma, Theodore “Ted” Brooks announced through the mind link.

Good. Don’t forget the timing.

Yes sir.

And Tom…

Sir?

How many times do I have to call you to just call me Hunter?

Yes, Si - er - Yes Chief.

Hunter.

Yes Sir Chief.

Hun. Ter.

Yes. Hunter.

We’ve been friends for a long time now. Get back to being the old Ted or I will have you run around the Moonblade pack grounds for the next 168 hours.

Ugh. Yes, Alpha… Hunter.

I could hear my Beta chuckling by the curtains inside. I gave him a barely audible growl that only he could hear before I looked at the overcast night sky. I held my nose up to sniff the air.

Incoming storm, I announced to the team via mind-link. Best hurry up and get things done, people.

Need your coat? Duke mind-linked via private line.

Nope. Just get the shields up.

Roger.

The shields were integrated into the Castle when it was first built, centuries ago, when my Lycan forefathers still worked with many who dabbled in magic and sorcery. Today, there are barely any available magi left, but we have a couple of family friends who occasionally maintain the Castle’s shield systems.

The air grew colder and the winds in the nearby forest slowly picked up. My wolf was starting to get restless; he stood, paced a couple of steps, sat, and paced in the opposite direction.

The heck is wrong with you, Ophois?

My wolf merely growled. The storm was picking up. Certain creatures are bound to fear the stormy skies — but not me. As a young Lycan pup, I was raised in a storm-riddled country in the Far East. I was thus unafraid, but I could not pinpoint what was bugging my wolf.

Stop that.

My wolf wouldn’t listen. He continued to pace, paused as if to hear something, then paced again.

Heavy rain began to fall. I could make out the outline of the shields keeping off all the rainwater that trickled downwards to the ground below, instead, like springwater on a hill.

Opho —

Pull back! Pull back! I could hear my Gamma calling out to our men.

From a different line, I could hear shouts and piercing screams, howls, barking, and the wails of non-combatants.

Status, Gamma!

Gamma to Hunter, we got a problem! Rogue reinforcements on illegals! Pincer attack on our raiding team. Multiple non-combatants found aside from shipment! Requesting to back up!

Affirmative Team 2. Move out!

Team 2 move out!

Team 2 moving out!

Ophois paced more as I picked up on the distinctive scent.

Duke, I turned my attention to Beta.

Ready when you are, Alpha.

Lock the doors. We’re heading off from here.

Roger!

—