Enslaved to the King of all Lycans

5—The Bond

~King Salvatore~

Her scent remains strong even after she has left. As I step further into the room, I send a calculating look towards Orion. When I get to the couch Claire was sitting in earlier, I brush my index finger over the head support and exhale sharply.

"You gave her my clothes. What are you up to?"

Orion averts his gaze to carry the cups to his worktable, and then he sighs. "You know what I'm doing, brother. I have told you my belief, but it seems they are placed on deaf ears."

"She is fragile. She's been a slave all her teenage life. She cannot be the queen." My words make Orion turn around, his eyes fixed on mine, and then I shift to a more sensitive matter. "Yes, I know what you're doing. You think you are wrong, a coldhearted being who caused the ruin of another species, but they have simply been weak from onset."

I step forward, cupping Orion's face. "You did what you had to do. I started the war between our species. I caused their pain, not you, so there's no reason why you must feel for them. Their suffering is a result of their offence, brother. I need you to remember that." Then, I drop my hands. "Don't think I've offended you for splitting the side of my neck anyway."

Orion laughs, earning a chuckle from me as well. "What have you come here for? You simply didn't come here to check up on the girl."

Orion's a smart one, and that's why he's my closest ally; plus, he and I have long histories. He's technically the biological brother I didn't have and a replacement of the sister who gives no s**t about me. He's the only one I consider as family.

"Father is gaining territories as well as armies. He has hundreds of them. You're right. These Lycans are beginning to think I am weak, and I have a plan. I do not want to resolve to violence yet. It'll just make me kill them all, but instead, I've called my sister, Ravenna, for a get-together. She'll be arriving the following week."

As expected, Orion senses are alerted. "Why the f**k would you do that?"

"All these years, I distanced myself from both father and Ravenna. Perhaps it is time I get close so I can have an idea what they're up to. Father doesn't hate me because he thinks I'm weak. No! He thinks I have more power than him. When I took over the world, he never expected it. His little mind only wanted to rule with fear but I...I took over the entire world, rooting my fangs into the earth, and now that power mongrel is threatened."

Orion doesn't accept my reasoning. "Ravenna will never let you use her as bait. She's always been perilous and smart."

"Not if I make her think she's winning." I reply, making Orion shake his head with more intent.

"Mark Claire and have a heir. With her, it'll be an easier feat. The power of an heir will strengthen your hold on the throne. It might as well end the enslavement." I stare into Orion's eyes as he speaks. Indeed, he wants to end this war between werewolves and Lycans, but that can't happen.

There was a reason why the war started, and it cannot end now.

Orion wants to continue speaking when he squints his eyes at me. "You're panting."

"What?"

He wipes off sweat from my forehead, "You're panting, and you don't pant. Your breathing has heightened."

"Yeah, I..." I'm out of air, gasping for more. My chest heaves up and down as I hyperventilate. My hands clutch it, feeling it thud with great intensity, and then, an alert sinks in. "It's not...it's not me. It's Claire."

Orion's eyes widen. "But you rejected her, and she accepted it. How could her feelings still affect you?" His question is one I have no idea how to answer. "And if your body's reacting this way because of her, then she..."

"She's in danger." I complete, instantly racing out of the room. My speed is inhumanly fast, not listening to whatever Orion says next.

I can hear his footsteps behind me as I scan for Claire, leading me towards the lounge arena.

"Let her go!" I hiss, fuming on the inside, as I maul at Talon. I didn't hesitate to charge at his face. With a pounce, he's sent off against the wall.

My instinct catches Claire right before she would fall. One of my hands is supporting her head, and there, I smell her blood seeping out from the back of her neck.

From the claw patterns, I know Talon is trying to get into her head. "What the f**k were you doing?"

Talon, who's found his equilibrium, replies, "Exactly what I'm watching right now. Why do you care for a mutt? She's nothing but a bitch."

His words turn my stomach, and I focus back on Claire. Her eyes are closing, and I whisper into her ears, the smell of her blood driving my wolf crazy. He roars inside me, his anger level blown off the bar limit. My eyes flash red, my claws pointed out as well as my fangs, changing my jaw figure. "Stay awake for me, Claire. He shall be punished."

Standing up, my skin bristles as my hair grows more, almost into furs, and I quiver from rage.

"Some help here, Orion?" Calls Talon.

Orion, who's across from us, steps back to show his repulsion. "Actually, I want you punished as well."

When my wolf is finally in control, I utter. "You want to know why I care about her? Fun fact: I have no idea either." And then, I charge at him, digging into his stomach, carrying him into the air right before I slam him against the wall.

Talon recovers quickly. He slams his elbow against the wall to break it and then sharpens the brick to be utilised as a weapon. He comes at me this time around, where I dodge his attacks, except unknowingly, he finds an opening and cuts me in the stomach.

My blood spurts to the ground. I take a second to inhale and then lunge at him. The rage inside me is fuelled with the thrill to kill. I clasp his hands right before I break them from their joints. He hasn't healed when I detach the connection between his thighs and legs. When he's useless on the floor, I begin to punch him.

Again. And again. And more.

"Enough, brother. You've proven your authority enough!" But I didn't stop, not even at Orion's words.

Orion grabs my arm to stop me and growls at the same time I did at him. His Alpha aura entangles with mine, bringing me back to my senses.

Talon is still healing on the ground as he laughs. He's about to make some annoying jest again, as usual, when Orion slams his foot on his face, breaking his jaw.

"What? He doesn't know when to shut up. He thinks everything is a joke." Orion defends himself. Then, he goes serious. "Claire needs you. She's dying."

I snap my eyes to her. She's losing herself to uncontrollable, contracting muscles that make her spasm on the floor.

"Talon's venom." I whisper inaudibly and hurry to carry Claire inside my room.

Inside there, I tell her. "Claire, I need you to inhale the moment you feel my claws inside your head. Please."

I stop when my claws are on the exact spots Talon had dug in earlier. There's a fear inside me. I've never not wanted to hurt anyone before, but this time, I don't want to. It scares me that I would cause her pain first before I can heal her.

Seeing as Claire's convulsing, I go ahead with it. My claws dig inside her neck, reaching into her mind. "Claire, now. Inhale."

Claire inhales sharply, sucking in my venom that counters Talon's own. My wolf also merges hers, strengthening her wolf so she can heal both of them faster.

Claire sleeps off after, her body already repairing itself. I watch her for some minutes before I decide to leave. At the door, Orion's pet is waiting. Orion must have sent her to keep an eye on Claire.

"Take care of her and make sure to change her clothes. Use my wardrobe." I order as I leave the room. Well, what can I say? Oddly, I like my shirt on Claire.

I meet Orion on my way back to the lounge. "Where's that leech?"

"We have a far more pressing matter, Salvatore. Talon can wait." Orion has a fazed expression worn, and I narrow my eyes.

"What could be more pressing?" Just as I say, a door flings open. Into the hallway, Ravenna catwalks. Oh, f**k. Like the devil she is, her presence tenses the air, literally suffocating me.

"Hello, brother. Happy to see me?"

"What are you doing here at this moment?"

She draws her dreads to the back. "Oh, father thought it'd be better I arrive here this week instead. After all, you seemed like you needed me for something important." She walks closer and pulls me into a hug. Within, she adds. "I can't wait to know all that you're up to, brother." And then, she kisses me on the cheeks. s**t!