Taming The King

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I thought when the day of ceremony would come, I’d feel different. Excited, to be exact, but I didn’t. Everything still felt so normal and ordinary, except for my granted liberty to pour my bowl with as much cereals I want.

Tucking a few strands of my unruly auburn hair, I licked the stain of milk on the corner of my lips. Cereals, they said, were made for kids, but my seventeen-year old ass begged to disagree.

“Can I have more?” I asked, my eyes tried to do its magic although I knew mum had always been the hardest to trick. I realized my grant had expired the moment I put the box down earlier.

“Those puppy eyes ain’t working, honey. Get your ass up already and bring these to your father.”

I groaned and with a heavy heart, looked at the box of cereals. Maybe tonight I’ll succeed on sneaking in the kitchen. I swear I’d kiss that box.

“Don’t even think about it,” mother warned as if she just read my mind.

I pouted and grabbed the basket of freshly baked croissants dad loves. I wasn’t sure if he was just messing with me when he said he realized mum was the one when he tasted her croissants. It’s cheesy but I guess love makes people weird. Nonetheless, I knew they love each other so much, with or without the pastries.

My heart almost jumped out when Aidan suddenly ran towards me, aiming to startle me, again. The wide grin on his well-sculpted face was supposed to annoy me, but everytime I see those perfect set of peal white teeth, I still find myself getting mesmerized by the future alpha. It’s a secret of course. With almost every lady in the Sigil Pack crushing on him, admiring his sparkly pair of protruding forest green eyes, aristocratic nose, strong jaw, and playful thin lips, I would never stand a chance so yeah. I decided to just stay in the friend s***h bully zone. That’s the safest place for me anyway.

“Zup, Slo? Can I have some?” he asked, but his hand was already reaching for the piece of bread.

I almost smacked his face before he could take a bite but Aidan immediately dodged my fist. “You really got the nerve to steal that bread after what you did, huh?”

He raised a brow while biting almost half of the croissant. “I think I do,” he replied, trying his best not to chuckle.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Sometimes I really wonder how you became Alpha Adriano’s son. Are you sure you’re not adopted, hmm?”

He swallowed and then laughed softly while brushing his fingers onto his shoulder-length blond locks. “Ouch. You know, you’re the only person here who bullies me. Don’t you think that’s rude? I mean I’ll be your alpha soon.”

“Yeah, I know, and I’m not sorry you’re gonna have to endure me and my mouth for the rest of your life because, you know?” I grinned. “I’m about to be the oracle and you’re gonna need me so much?”

Aidan licked his lower lip before he pinched my nose, his green eyes almost smiling. “Silly girl.”

“I’d take that as a compliment.”

His lips curved upward to a smirk before he straightened up his back. “So, you heading to the workshop?” he asked, referring to my dad’s cabin sitting at the foot of the mountain.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I wanna come along. Dad’s temper ain’t that great today. I don’t wanna do guard duties, in case I’ll piss him off. Besides, I wanna see your dad’s new swords.”

I sighed. “As if I got a choice.”

He grinned wickedly. “Exactly.”

“So what did you do this time to piss him off?” I asked as we took the trail leading to dad’s workshop. Sunlight can’t pass through the huge canopy of leaves above and truth be told, I wasn’t pleased at all. Sometimes I’d walk almost a kilometer, up to the higher part just to feel the blistering sun and the heat against my skin. I had always envied Aidan’s tanned skin. Mine was pale with freckles and it actually get sunburned easily. Nevertheless, my love for the majestic sun didn’t fade.

“I tried to hide inside the truck, trying to sneak outside the village to see the football field. Of course he got mad. He thinks I’m still playing around instead of trying to mature already.”

“Can’t blame Alpha. You really are still childish,” I said, grinning.

Aidan made a puff sound as he rolled his eyes at me. “As if you never wanted to see the market yourself. Worse, the whole downtown.”

He was right. I always wanted to see the world outside the woods but, I knew it wasn’t my destiny to embrace normal life. Not that ours wasn’t normal. It’s just too far from ordinary.

The village was located deep in the woods of Carpallego, a county in the outskirt of Waychester. I’ve never set foot in the downtown. My dad said it’s dangerous that’s why only the deltas make the trip to the market for supplies. The rest of us, we stay hidden, keeping us from getting exposed. Besides the hunters who still consider the werewolves savages, vampires were after not the weres, but us, the oracles.

"I've heard pops had to send some deltas to the neighboring pack. Vamps paid them a visit. Two oracles were taken this month."

I sucked in enough breath. That's something that's been bothering me since last week, when Alpha announced my proclamation date. Those bloodsuckers would probably plot an attack to take me, too although Alpha made sure Sigil Pack was strong enough to handle them just in case they would really crash at the ceremony.

"They just won't stop, would they?" I asked, kicking the dry leaves covering the green vegitation.

Aidan anchored his heavy arm across my shoulder then gave my cheek a little squeeze. In his pools were nothing but a promise I wish I could hold on to tonight.

"I'll watch your back, Slo. Can't let anyone else annoy me for the rest of my life."

Forcing a smile, I jerked my head up. "Thanks, Aidan."

I hope we're really strong enough against those vampires. Because if they'd take me, they'd surely use my powers against my will and I don't like that.

They were so eager to find out the future even when Gods already banished them. But sometimes I still wonder if that’s the only reason why they want the oracles. They were, after all, nothing but a mystery to me.

A mystery I never knew would unfold before my eyes after the village bid its goodbye to the fading sun.