The Lykos Chronicles

6 - On the wrong side of the King

Ronan

“Father, you cannot be serious?” I gasped.

My father had just informed me that we would be leaving in the morning. I had one night to get to know my mate, not including the party the previous night. We hadn’t had any alone time then because too much was going on around us.

We were to attend the Alpha’s son’s mating ceremony, which seemed to be happening rather quickly. But according to the Alpha, his son had waited long enough to be with the woman he loved. He also expressed what an honour it would be to have the King in attendance. That was wonderful, but I hadn’t yet convinced Moria to leave with me.

I knew she was undecided. I saw it in her eyes the night before. I understood why Moria would be afraid to leave her home behind. I had been there myself when I left England for America. But I could not deny that my heart ached with the thought that Moria wouldn’t return with me.

How would I be able to walk away from her?

In one day, I had fallen so deeply in love with my Scottish beauty that there was no way back for me. I did not want to force Moira’s hand. If she was unsure and told me without a doubt that she wouldn’t leave her family, then I would give up the throne and stay with her in Scotland. I could not give her up, and I wouldn’t walk away.

“I am deadly serious, Ronan. We leave tomorrow. It’s wonderful that you have met your mate, but we stick to the plan. You knew we would not be here long, and nothing has changed. We celebrate the Alpha’s son today. Tonight, I will speak with Alpha Duncan and tomorrow, we will leave.”

“But Father,”

“No buts, Ronan! This is not up for discussion.”

I sighed because it seemed that I was getting nowhere. Yes, my father was Lycan King, but I was his son.

Surely, he could listen to me just once?

“I’m not sure that Moria will return to America with us. What will I do if she doesn’t?”

Father smiled slightly while taking my shoulders in his hands. “My son, I wish I had the answer to your question, but I do not. You cannot force Moria to leave this place if that is not what she wants. Yes, it will hurt. But it will not be the end of the world. You will reject Moira. You will not die because you are Royal. You will take a chosen mate and then ascend the throne.”

Because it would be that easy for me to forget the love of my life. He had no clue because he had never been in my position. Father had his soul mate in my mother. He would never know the pain of losing the one he loved the way he expected me to.

“I will never reject her, Father, and I will not take a chosen mate. Because if Moira does not want to leave, I will give up my claim to the throne and stay here with her because I do not think I could go on living without her, Father.”

My father’s eyes flashed with his Lycan. I could see him trying to force Rohdan back. I could feel his claws growing, pressing into my shoulders, and I winced as Father breathed deeply through his nose. He tried to contain his Lycan, but I could see that he was failing. If Rohdan broke free, he may just kill me for being so disrespectful.

“Father!” My brother James yelled. “You’re hurting him!”

“He’s bleeding!” My youngest brother Richard began to cry. The boy was no more than twelve at the time, and he was frightened. Richard had never seen Father angry because it took a lot to make that happen. “Father, please!” Richard begged.

I gritted my teeth as pain ricocheted through my body, but I stood my ground. I knew not to fight back or try to get away. It would have only made things worse. Lucian was going crazy, trying to talk to Rohdan down. I would not fight my father; I had more respect than that.

“What is going on?”

My eyes widened when I heard Moira’s voice, but I dared not take my eyes off my father. Moria should not have been there. The King would not take kindly to it. But I had forgotten she said she would meet me that morning.

“What are ye doing to him?! My King! Please, you’re hurting my mate!”

‘Moira, stay back!’ I told her through the mind link.

I could not have borne anything happening to her. If she got too close, my father might have snapped, and then Moria could have been hurt. Father would not have meant to hurt her, but it could happen.

‘No,’ She replied. ‘What could have happened for ye father to hurt ye like this?’

‘Moria, please,’

“Let go of him!” She screamed so loudly it shook the foundations of the stone house, shocking everyone in the room.

Father shook his head as if shaking away the fog. His eyes widened as he looked at me. His claws retracted, and he stepped back, mouth agape. Father had never hurt any of us before, and it shocked us all.

I hissed in pain as Moira ran to me. “Are ye all right? Oh, Ronan. Look at what he did to you.” She touched my already healing shoulders. As a Prince, my Lycan healing was accelerated. I would be just fine in a moment.

“I’m fine, Moira. Do not fuss.”

“Do not fuss?” She narrowed her eyes and stepped back. “Your father just attacked and injured you, and ye say do not fuss? Are you insane?!” She turned away from me and looked at my father. “Are you insane? You attacked your own son! Why? What did Ronan do to warrant such treatment from his own father?”

James groaned while my other brothers made a quick exit. They did not want to witness what my father would do to my mate for her insolence. I would not allow him to harm her, but my father didn’t hurt women for no reason. Standing up to him would not be a reason to harm Moira, but that did not mean he wouldn’t have her father punish her.

I took Moira’s hand, but she snatched it from me. “Moira,” I sighed. “You cannot speak to the King in such a manner.”

“Right. I see. It doesnae matter what he does to you. I am supposed to stand by and let it happen? Is that how mates work in your Kingdom, Ronan? Because I’ll not stand back and watch anyone hurt ye, so dinnae ever ask me to.”

‘Wow,’ Lucian mumbled inside my head. ‘She’s a feisty one, Ronan.’

‘Lucky me, huh?’

“I mean no disrespect,” Moria addressed my father. “But I’ll not stand by and say nothing when anyone, including you, harms my mate.”

I held my breath, waiting for my father’s reaction. What I didn’t expect was for him to burst out laughing!

“Oh, my son, you have yourself a feisty one. Your mate is not afraid to stand up for what’s right. A woman like that does not come along often. Hold on to her with all that you are.” He moved to leave but hit me with a hard stare. “But you will not give up your place as King for anyone. Is that understood?”

I breathed deeply before nodding. There was no arguing with my father when he set his mind on something. He would never allow me to abandon the Kingdom of Lykos, and I wouldn’t do that for anyone other than Moira. But I could not leave this place without her.

“I am sorry I hurt you. It will not happen again.” Father said before he walked out of the stone house.

“What was he talking about, Ronan?”

“Nothing,” I shook my head.

“Dannae say nothing, Ronan. What did he mean about giving up your place as King?”

“Let’s talk and walk. You promised to show me around. Remember?”

Moria playfully rolled her eyes, smiled, and nodded. “Come on then, my Prince. I will show you my home.”

And that is what we did until we had the most challenging conversation of our lives…