THE LYCAN KING AND I

CHAPTER THREE: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Ralph, being the wealthiest amongst the alpha, was given a special seat duty at the meeting which also awarded him some respect from other members of the council. According to him, it had been scripted on the walls of prophecy that Sonia was his fated mate. Athene had been the happiest on the day of the announcement because he foresaw a good life for Sonia, the one with abundance he had said, but unlike Sonia’s objection towards it, she didn't have much of a choice.

Within the hallowed walls of the council chamber, a sense of prestige hung heavy in the air. As the wealthiest and most respected Alpha in the council, Ralph carried himself with a confidence that spoke of centuries of power and influence. But beneath the assured exterior lay a belief that fate had interlaced his path with that of Sonia's, a conviction that echoed in the hallowed walls of prophecy.

As Ralph sat in the special seat duty, a smirk of satisfaction graced his features, for he could already see the union of their souls written in the stars.

Ralph walked past her as he headed towards the podium.

What is he doing? Sonia thought feeling a bit out of place.

“Hello everyone please can I get your attention here please?”

The movements and voices from all side-talks as everyone prepared to leave suddenly stopped and everyone turned towards Ralph.

“Thank you,” he cleared his throat and then began.

“As you all know, we had a rather strange guest in our midst today. A female non-alpha who claimed to have come to assist her sick uncle.”

“Oh God Ralph,” Sonia muttered.

“...and her name is Sonia, she is the one seated over there,” he pointed towards where Sonia was. She bowed her head from having too many eyes on her.

“She is not a free bride. I am glad to say that we have been fated to even mate in a fortnight under the blood moon. I know you all might be wondering why I came up here to tell you this but I needed to, to clear the air. I have noticed that some of you have eyes on her and I am specifically referring to our dearly and beloved alpha king, Lucas. He had his eyes all over her all morning, and I must say, she isn't for you, she is mine and belongs to me.”

There were some murmurs amongst the crowd.

“Ralph c'mon man, I was only admiring. Indeed, she is a very beautiful lady,” Lucas chuckled.

“Well, keep your admiration for all the women you have or perhaps your fated mate that's if you have any.”

“What? Ralph, are you out of your mind?”

“Yes, crazily in love if you know what that means. Maye that's the reason why the walls of prophecy didn't assign you a mate.”

“Damn with the prophecy!” Lucas roared as he tossed his robe aside, “You claim to be in love with this woman but you treat her like you are doing her a favor.”

“Of course, I am doing her a favor, a very huge favor.”

Sonia looked away as tears flowed freely from her eyes, Athene walked closer to her but she took his hands away from her shoulder.

“I'm sorry princess,” he whispered, “Ralph has always been a punk, but I didn't know he would go this far.”

“It's okay, it's not your fault. I think we need to go; I have heard enough.”

She set to leave the hall before Lucas spoke again.

“You dare me Ralph, you really do. But I am going to let this slide,” Lucas said as he turned to leave.

“Yeah, you better, she isn't one of your w****s. I bet that's the only kind of woman you can get.”

Lucas turned back furiously, his eyes already blood red as he gasped in rage.

“Since you claim to love her so much then I guess you'll be able to fight for her.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Ralph asked.

“I challenge you to a duel in a fortnight the day you are to be mated under the blood moon. If I lose, I'll accept your words and you both can go ahead and get married on that day but if you lose, I'll take your girl and do to her as I wish and as I said, damn the prophecy.”

“Alright, challenge accepted.”

“What? Ralph no, Ralph no, please! How can he do that to me?” Sonia cried out.

The word spread like wildfire as soon as the duel was struck. And it became the talk of the town.

●●●

It had been two weeks since the announcement of the duel. Sonia and Ralph's mating process had been suspended as they awaited. Sonia had taken her yearly leave as she could no longer face the customers who stopped by the shop. Their words pierced through her chest like a stake. A pawn in the hands of the Alpha one of the ladies said as she overheard them behind the counter on one of her grocery shopping.

“Serves her right, maybe next time she won't attend a forbidden meeting meant for the alpha's.”

“But she is lucky though, at least she has been fought over by the Lycan King and another powerful and wealthy alpha, every lady's dream.”

“Oh please, and if the Lycan king defeats Ralph in the duel then what happens to the prophecy about a fated mate? She would only bring a curse into the land.”

Curse into the land?

It sounded like a folklore but she knew that breaking rules always came with a price and Lucas being the Lycan King would always have his way, after all, they make the rules. Sonia couldn't bear the words anymore. Her throat had gone dry and the zeal to continue shopping evaporated. All she wanted was to lock herself in her room and never come out. All she wanted was for Ralph to win and then everything would go back to the way that it used to be. She had missed her job and Arya as well. She was subjected to a phase of life where she lived in regret, perhaps she would have listened to her uncle and not followed him to the meeting. She returned home and walked past her uncle without saying a word.

As she entered the house, her gaze fell upon Athene, but she was beyond words. Silence hung between them, a chilling testament to the chasm that had opened up between them.

“Sonia! He called out but she ignored him and she rushed into her room locking at herself in. Tears flowed freely down her eyes now. She took off the hoodie and tossed it far away from her. In a town where she was among the freeborn, she now lived like a fugitive avoiding any eye contact from the people on the streets. It was like the world was against her and she was powerless. The duel was just a day away as she crashed into the bed squeezing the duvet in her grip. Hot tears flowed down her eyes.

“Sonia please open up,” Athene knocked for a while but she didn't leave the bed.

“Just leave me alone.”

“I know that you are going through a lot and I feel like somehow this is also my fault. I don't want you to blame yourself for anything. You didn't do anything wrong.”

“I did everything wrong. I could have listened. But I didn't, instead I followed you there and now I am in this shit.”

“Please just open up so we can talk.”

“I just want to be left alone and cry till my eyeballs fall out.”

“No, dear. I am here for you. We are in this together, remember? Please just open up.”

“Can you just let me be alone for a while? I promise I won't do anything stupid.”

“Okay. I'll let you be but I'll be right here waiting for you until you are ready to come out.”

“Okay, thank you,” she said, her voice buried in her sniffs.

And just then, there was a knock again.

“Pa, I told you that I am fine.”

“It's me, Ralph.”