Saving the Last Lycan King

Chapter 2

Liam

My weak body suddenly bubbled with energy. Energy I hadn’t felt in years. I felt strange, like something was going to happen, but maybe it was just death lurking in the shadows, waiting to claim my soul. It was going to happen sooner rather than later anyway. In all the years I’ve spent in this prison, I’d come to accept the fact that I probably wouldn’t see the sky again, feel the grass again, smell anything other than the stuffy smell I had grown used to. The hope I had in the beginning had ebbed into nothing, slowly replaced by the feeling of acceptance instead. Did I want to spend years in agony, slowly dying from the lack of food or oxygen? Obviously not. Did I have to? If it came to that, then yes.

“Hello?” A sweet voice echoed through the walls of the cave, making me look around me as I wondered if I had imagined it. When nothing else came, I figured that it must be the moon goddess herself coming to claim my soul. I lied down again, trying to make myself comfortable on the old sheepskin. With peace in my mind, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, ready for her to take me, ready to give my body the rest it deserved and needed. Any breath now could be my last and I tried to think of all the good things I had experienced in life. My loving family, my responsibilities and my pack, or what was left of it. A loud crack interrupted my stream of thoughts and my eyes snapped open and stared around the dark cave, only to be almost blinded by the amount of bright moonlight peeking into the cave. It almost burned my eyes. What was happening?

My attention snapped back towards the hole which continued to get bigger, making more room for the moonlight to beam inside the cave. I took a few steps away, feeling a little suspicious and guarded, because I didn’t know what or who was the cause of it. Someone was grunting loudly and I craned my neck to have a closer look, but all I could see were some strands of hair bouncing back and forth. But then… Then I saw this magnificent, tiny woman using her small and fragile hands to pull away the scraps of stone from the opening. Her face was hidden behind a curtain of long dark hair, a little shorter closer to her face, and her arms were covered in sweat and dust. I couldn’t help but step closer to the opening and once I stood right underneath it, her piercing blue eyes found mine, and for a moment it felt like time stood still. I snapped out of my trance as I noticed her eyes roll back into her head and she fell over, through the hole and straight into my arms. She was light as a feather and even though her skin was covered in sweets, she smelled amazing. Like the forest in early spring, like sunshine in the rain, like home. I glanced around the cave with her limp body in my arms, thinking that my best option was to place her down on my stone bed and I strolled towards it and carefully put her down onto the sheepskin. Her chest was rising and falling gently, assuring me that she was still alive, and my hand instinctively reached out to brush the hair stuck on her cheek away from her face, revealing her perfect face to me. Small, plump and rosy lips and a cute little nose. She had dark brows and long, dark lashes fell almost down to her cheeks when her eyes were closed. She was wearing something that resembled a man’s shirt with short sleeves and a pair of very short pants. My heart thudded a little quicker, not liking that she was probably wearing some other man’s clothes. Did she belong to someone else? Somehow, the thought of it made me feel furious and sad, and I clenched my hands, trying to dissipate the sudden feeling of anger.

Her lips parted slightly, a short breath escaped her mouth and I glanced down at her again, feeling a warm sensation spread through my entire being. No. She was my savior, sent from the goddess herself and I would worship her for the rest of my life, however long or short it might be. I could feel it, deep inside of me, that she was special to me. This young and perfect woman in front of me, lying unconscious here in my tomb, she was the other part of my soul. My mate. My queen.

***

Sophie

I woke up covered in sweat and my heart was pounding furiously inside of my chest. My clothes were drenched and covered me like a second layer of skin. The surprisingly realistic dream had my nerves on edge and I dragged my hands down my face, trying to get rid of the remnants of it and get ready for a new day.But wait… Why was it still completely dark? I glanced around, taking in my almost black surroundings, as two golden eyes stared back at me, making me remember exactly what had happened. I left the camp, found the stone formation and presumably a tomb, which meant that someone was in the sealed tomb…Very much alive. My train of thoughts almost made me want to pass out again, because this was absolutely nonsense.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the darkest corner of the cave, revealing a very handsome but rugged man, bathed in moonlight, and I frowned as my mind worked in overdrive, trying to remember why I was there in the first place. Right, the tomb. I was looking for the tomb of the Lycan King. Taking a closer look at the man, then around the cave and, lastly, on the weird bed I was sitting on, I noticed that he was the only one here and, oh god. My cheeks blushed furiously when I saw that he was completely naked and if he was who I thought he was, then he was very much alive…

Feeling a little uncomfortable being so close to a naked and living corpse, I turned my head away, desperate to hide my blushing cheeks from his vision. My hand traveled to my opposite arm, pinching the skin hard enough to make me realize that I was indeed alive and conscious, making me feel even more embarrassed within his close proximity. He was slowly walking closer, circling around the bed I was sitting on with heavy steps. I kept my eyes closed, hoping this mummy wouldn’t eat me whole or something. My mind raced with all kinds of questions. How could he be alive after so long? Was he even alive or was I hallucinating after falling through the hole? How could his body be so well-preserved? I felt his demanding presence in front of me, a little too close for my comfort, but I kept my mouth closed.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” His deep voice sounded a little hoarse, but it still made a shiver run down my spine. Not daring to glance up at him, I decided to just nod my head instead, hoping he could see it in the dark. Something ruffled behind me and an almost silent gasp escaped me, as I was scared that he was coming even closer.

“Is this better?” He asked me and I slowly opened one eye, stealing a peek at him and noticed that he had wrapped a piece of red fabric around his hips. I nodded again and gave him an uncertain smile. He leaned over a little, his huge frame scrunching forward as he suddenly was at my level of sight. His hazel eyes were staring almost into my soul and his intense stare made me move slightly backwards to create some distance between our faces. He stepped away again, heading towards a wooden chest and shuffled around in it for a moment, before he pulled out a mug.

“Do you have anything to drink?” He asked me and for a moment, I just sat there wondering if the ghost in front of me just asked for a drink, but then again, he looked so real. I instinctively felt my side in search for my bag, but then remembered that I had left it on the ground.

“I have some water,” I offered as I pointed to the hole, “but it’s up there.” His hand scratched at his jaw, his fingers digging deep into his beard as he nodded his head. He had brown wavy hair falling down to his shoulders and, along with his unkept beard, he actually looked like a caveman. He went to the table and carefully removed the candlestick along with several books and papers, before he lifted the entire table as if it weighed nothing. My eyes widened in surprise as I watched him carry it over to the hole, before he climbed upon it and literally pulled himself out of the cave. I was almost afraid that he had left me there to rot, but before I could panic, he jumped back down and handed me my bag. He was watching my every movement as I shuffled through my bag. I handed him the half-full bottle of water and watched him stare at it weirdly. Right, he probably didn’t know what to do with it. With shaky hands, I reached out towards it and unscrewed the lid before giving it back to him and nodding. He slowly took the bottle to his mouth and I bit my lips in amusement as he locked his lips around the bottle's head before he practically inhaled the water inside of it. He sighed deeply and handed me the bottle again, as if expecting I could fill it again, but he didn’t ask for more.

“That was strange, but refreshing. I thank you for providing me with water.” He said politely while he almost bowed his head and, for some reason, it made my cheeks flush again. Somehow, his voice sounded even more appealing now.

“Don’t mention it. You must’ve been thirsty.” I replied, trying to sound calm and collected, even though I didn’t feel like it. He nodded his head quickly while his golden, no, hazel eyes stared back at me in wonder.

“I would have died if you hadn't found me. Tell me, how did you find me? You smell human to me.” I couldn’t help my mouth opening on its own, as it felt like he almost insulted me. A human.

“I might be human, yes, but I’ve studied the Lycans for years and actually it wasn’t that hard to follow the clues…” I scoffed and

crossed my arms in front of my chest. He smirked and stepped closer to me, so close that there wasn't barely any space left between us.

“You’re both smart and beautiful. What can I call you?” His words made me forget that he was too close for my liking and I gulped as his large hand gently brushed my cheek in the briefest way possible, leaving small sparks behind. Somehow, his very touch left my skin burning and I was left with a longing… For more…

“I… I’m Sophie and uhm… I have to go back,” I prompted, standing up in the process, making him take a couple of steps backwards. He wore a deep frown on his face and looked at me curiously, expecting me to elaborate myself. I walked towards the table and climbed upon it, glancing up at the dark sky through the hole, trying to think of a plan. I realized that if I had found the tomb, it wouldn’t take them long either.

“You have to stay here until it's safe for you to come out.” I tried to explain, but the disappointment didn’t disappear from his face.

“I’ve been here for long enough, I want to leave.” He answered flatly as he practically jumped on the table and I held up my hands to stop him.

“You have to trust me, please. I’m not the only one searching for you, but probably the only one with good intentions.” The table was creaking underneath my feet, as his weight was testing its steadiness and his now dark eyes narrowed as they were locked on mine. He bent down slightly and wrapped his hands around my waist, only to haul me up and push me out of the hole. Once on my feet again, I looked down at him, a silent understanding between us wafting through the air and we both nodded as I left him to his own, alone in the cave he had been buried in for many years. I prayed to god that he chose to trust me and stayed in the cave, but I didn’t judge him for wanting to leave it. While on my way back to the camp, I started to make a mental list of what to bring with me tomorrow and as I thought of him and his piercing hazel eyes, a jolt of unexplainable longing filled my entire being.