Deceiving My Mate

Chapter 5

***Axel***

The night before

The night air was thick with the scent of pine and anticipation as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my shirt. This time tomorrow, I would take my place as the Lycan King. I could hardly believe it, the weight of the impending responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders. Everything felt surreal after my father’s passing. The absence of his presence creased a shadow of doubt within my mind, one that mingled with the excitement of a ceremonial crown upon my head.

Tonight was a different kind of gathering, a secret meeting with my closest allies—Dante and Chase. They had been my brothers since birth, a bond forged through years of laughter and shared battles. I needed their support now more than ever. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the long night ahead.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. “Come in!” I called out, straightening up in anticipation.

Dante and Chase entered, their faces lit with enthusiasm, the kind only old friends could conjure. Dante flashed a grin, his dark hair falling over his forehead, while Chase, with his more slight frame, followed closely behind, ruffling through papers and notes like he was investigating a vital clue.

“Hey, your Highness,” Dante joked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. “Ready to give the speech of a lifetime?”

I chuckled, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “If you two keep cracking jokes, I’ll never take this seriously.”

Chase waved a hand dismissively, a grin plastered on his face. “We all know you’ll be incredible, Axel. Just remember to smile and avoid mentioning all the endings we’ve seen before!”

“Yeah, no pressure, right?” I replied, rolling my eyes.

We quickly got down to business, my friends helping me rehearse my coronation speech. Laughter intermingled with serious discussions. I appreciated these moments—we had worked together to protect our pack, keeping each other grounded through the losses we had faced.

“Everything will go smoothly tomorrow,” Dante assured me, flipping through a security checklist. “I’ve arranged for a perimeter check, and Chase has been coordinating with the guards.”

“Just don’t forget to leave room for your charming personality in that speech,” Chase quipped, nudging my shoulder. “The future king can’t be all business, right?”

“I’ll have you know, some charm is already in the works!” I shot back, feeling the warmth of camaraderie lift my spirits. “What do you think? Should I add a joke about the old king’s nickname, ‘Mighty Howl’?”

“How about you save that for the after-party?” Dante chuckled, the light-hearted banter easing the stress that filled the room. But deep down, I knew the gravity of what lay ahead.

As we continued running through the preparation, the laughter faded into serious considerations. “Just a reminder,” I began, my voice growing steady. “If anything happens to me during the ceremony, you must promise to protect Nova. She’s our only heir. I entrust you both with her safety.”

“Axel, nothing is going to happen,” Chase replied firmly, but I could see the flicker of worry in his eyes. “We’ve got this covered.”

Dante nodded, expression serious. “You know we’ll protect her with our lives. The pack needs you to take your rightful place, and we won’t let anything jeopardize that.”

I appreciated their loyalty more than words could convey, but the lingering doubt clung to me, the remnants of uncertainty that had clutched my heart since my father’s passing. His absence weighed heavily on my thoughts, leaving shadows in places that used to shine bright.

As we wrapped up, I felt a mix of nervous energy and excitement for the crowning ceremony. It was a moment that could define my legacy as the new Lycan King. But unknown dangers loomed in the corners of my mind—a vague sense of impending threat I couldn’t yet decipher.

“Thanks for all your help, guys. I don’t think I could do this without you,” I said sincerely, feeling grateful for the bonds we shared.

“Always, my brother,” Chase said, clapping me on the back. “Now, get some rest. You’ll need all the energy you can muster for tomorrow.”

They left the room, and the laughter faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I paced the room, wrestling with the uncertain future that lay ahead. Deep down, an unsettling feeling gnawed at my gut, a whisper that warned me of danger yet to come.

I finally settled into a chair, the night wearing on as I reflected on my responsibilities, the weight of the throne pressing upon me like a heavy fog.

Suddenly, I heard another knock at the door. “Who is it?” I called out, slightly annoyed at the interruption.

“Ryan,” came the voice of a young servant boy who I had seen briefly when I arrived. I had no idea why he was here at this hour, but the air in the room shifted, a keen sense of unease wrapping around me.

“Come in,” I said, standing up to meet him, concern etched in my features. The boy opened the door, and before I could react, he pulled out a small dart gun and aimed it directly at me.

“f**k!” was the last thought that raced through my mind as the dart embedded itself in my shoulder. Darkness consumed me in an instant, rushing in like a tidal wave, pulling me under before I could fully comprehend what was happening.

.

.

.

The sensation of consciousness fading was both frightening and surreal. My body went limp, heavy against the chair as the darkness claimed me. I felt myself falling into an abyss, a void where time and space collapsed into shadows.

I had always heard stories of the thrill and terror of the unknown, but nothing could prepare me for this. In the depths of my unconsciousness, flashes of light pierced through, moments of clarity amidst the chaos, but they slipped away with every attempt to grasp them.

Then, suddenly, I woke in a cold sweat, gasping for breath as I fought to claw my way back to reality. The sensations of constriction surrounded me, my instincts urging me to shift into a defensive stance. I sat up abruptly, my heart pounding fiercely against my ribcage.

My surroundings were dimly lit, a stark contrast to the warmth of my chamber. I squinted against the harsh light, trying to ascertain where I was. The air smelled of damp stone and stagnant water; a chilling reality washed over me—this wasn’t the safety of my home.

I strained to take in my surroundings, confusion swirling in my mind. It dawned on me that I was chained to a dank wall of what appeared to be an underground chamber. Panic coursed through me, thick and desperate, as realization crashed over me with a chilling chill: I had been taken. I was cages like a animal.

A man stepped out of the shadows as I scanned the dark room I was in. A dungeon?

“Hello Prince Axel.” The face was a pitting image of my father.

“Victor!” I shouted, the name torn from my lips. My father had told me about him on his death bed. Fear gripped me as I struggled against the restraints, hearing the clinking of chains and metal.

He laughed and walked away from me. No problem be for from him. Not yet. He would have hi fun with me that I was sure of.

As I sought to summon Lycan, I was met with silence. I heard muffled voices in the distance. The growing commotion spurred urgency within me. They had to know what had happened, had to find me. Yet the knowledge of my vulnerability settled heavily in my gut, each click of the chains reminding me how completely I was at the mercy of whoever had captured me.

My mind raced back to the passing moments—Ryan’s betrayal, the dart, the heaviness that pulled me under. I should have realized; I should have been more cautious. There was an enemy within the ranks, lurking shadowed in the corners of our home, waiting to strike when we were most vulnerable.

Fury surged within me, igniting my will to fight. Whatever was thrown at me, I would rise. I had to protect my family and reclaim my rightful place as the Lycan King.

Drawing in a deep breath, I focused on the power coursing through my veins. I had been bestowed with the strength of my bloodline. Even bound in this dark prison, I would not be extinguished. As the voices grew louder, I steeled myself for what lay ahead, prepared to face whatever awaited me behind those walls.

I would not let fear bind me; I had to get back to Nova. She was in danger too.