Phoenix

Chapter 4

Keiran

The day

I am awoken with a sense of urgency. The last two days were a blur. I have kept myself buried in my royal duties, and spent the nights drinking and in the arms of a new woman.

But no matter what I did, I felt an emptiness inside. My wolf kept pleading me to see her, again. One last time.

But of course, I couldn't. A prince, and especially an heir, couldn't just drop by at anyone's house without cause or announcing it first.

All this power in the world, but no freedom, I thought bitterly. I couldn't tell anyone about her, because I knew what my father would do and say. There is nothing more important to him than his rule.

But my wolf didn't understand, he wouldn't let up.

I knew an easier way was to just reject the bond, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, either. I kept putting it off for another day. I knew this made me a coward, but I didn't care. I just wasn't ready to let her go.

Tonight was no different. I got drunk and grabbed the nearest woman I could find. I can barely recall her face, and I think I passed out halfway through drunkenly attempting to f**k her.

I am dreaming of her again. She is in my room, calling my name. I love the way she says it. I feel a wave of pleasure pass through me as she breathes my name.

I don't answer and let her call me again.

" Keiran, " She says again, her voice is soft, almost syrupy with a hint of huskiness.

I wonder if she tastes as sweet as she sounds. I start walking towards her to find out. My heart is pounding, just anticipating our kiss.

I am near her enough to smell her delicious scent, it surrounds me almost in a hug.

I lick my lips, and lift my hands to draw her near me.

"KEIRAN!!!" She shrieks suddenly. I jump back in surprise.

Her beautiful face is contorted in pain now, and her hand is clutching her chest.

I am about to ask her what's wrong, when I see the blood oozing through her fingers. I look on in horror, as her knees give way and she drops to the floor.

" Help," she says faintly, her face deathly pale now. Even her beautiful ruby red lips have turned white.

And then she slumps lifelessly to the floor.

I wake up howling. My whole body bathed in sweat, all my senses on high alert and I look around to see my fingers have turned to claws, shredding my sheets.

My heart is beating so fast, it might tear out of my chest any minute.

I hear a weak mewling sound, and turn towards it, growling.

It's Olivia. My companion for the night. She is clutching a pillow to her naked torso and looking at me with her blue eyes wide with fright.

I look to the giant mirror in front of me, and see that my eyes are glowing red. I'm starting to turn.

I am about to take a steadying breath to calm down, when I hear my wolf.

"Our mate needs us," it growls urgently.

I can barely control myself now.

Olivia whimpers again, as she sees me shaking. Dark black fur is taking over my skin.

" Go," I barely manage to get out and she doesn't need to hear it twice. She continues clutching the pillow to her chest, opens the door and scampers away into the dark hallway.

The urgency to turn is growing and I stop fighting it.

I give in to my wolf and let out a howl. My wolf is finally free.

I shake my fur and bound off the bed.

" We need to find her," my wolf says and I agree.

Something is not right.

I bound into the hallway at full speed. The guards stationed outside my room, look surprised and startled. One steps forward as if to stop me but seeing my bared teeth, he changes his mind. His wolf is already cowering inside him.

I know the consequences my actions will most likely bring, but I am beyond caring, right now.

I run towards the palace's exit, and all the guards scramble to get out of my way. The palace gates are opened without question.

Rules or no rules, they can't do anything to get the heir to the throne on their bad side.

An alarm sounds in the distance.

Someone shouts something urgently.

But I ignore it all.

I run into the forest, my wolf instincts guiding me to my mate.

Please keep my mate safe until I reach, I pray silently.

I am almost halfway there, when I feel like I am being followed.

A horse neighs, and I hear it's hooves clopping behind me. A group of wolves howl.

" What the heck," I think to myself.

" Keiran," I hear my father's booming voice not far behind me, and the blood freezes in my veins.

I look back, and sure enough it's his Majesty himself, following me on his black horse. His eyes ablaze with fury.

I can see the disappointment and worry, etched in his arrogant features, clearly.

He must be wondering what has gotten into me.

I can't tell him. At least not right now.

In front of him, about five to six wolves are running to follow me.

Their eyes glowing in the night.

Its like I'm being hunted. By my own father.

But I cant stop. I have to reach her.

I keep running but the voices are nearing me.

"Your Highness, please stop!" It's the minister of state security, bounding behind me in his wolf form.

I pick up pace to loose him.

I can't stop now. I have to reach her.

His voice seems further now.

I would surrender myself to the king after I have ensured her safety.

I would accept any punishment my father deems appropriate.

I am close enough to pick up her scent now.

But I sense something else.

She is desperate, frantic and scared...

Why?

I ignore everything, and will myself to run faster. My wolf paws flying over the forest floor, barely touching it.

I'm close to her now.

Her mansion is close.

I see light ahead and voices.

What's happening?

But I don't care, I will tear apart everything in my path if it means to harm her.

I am just at the edge of the forest.

I recognize her silhouette. She is on her knees and that prick is kneeling in front of her. Their whole pack surrounding them.

I almost call to her.

Something hits my ribs from the side and I am thrown sideways. I hit a tree which splinters and breaks in half.

For a split second, I feel my breath whoosh out of my lungs and my vision blurs.

I shake my head and try to regain my bearings. I see the wolf who hit me from the side.

Its fur is a dull brown with streaks of black running all over his body, and it has matching pair of brown eyes, glowing in the dark. I can almost see a triumphant smirk on his wolf face. It takes me a second to recognize him.

The Minister of Riverstone.

I snarl loudly, and bare my teeth.

I'm about to rip him to pieces when something whizzes in the air towards me.

I feel a sharp pricking sensation in my left shoulder. I look towards it and find a red dart poking through it.

I look back to see my father holding a gun, as his horse comes to stop not far from me.

Somnolar, I think.

A chemical to render us unconscious.

"Please father, let us reach her. Let us keep her safe." My wolf pleads silently but I know he can hear my thoughts.

Surprise spreads across his face, as realization dawns on him.

He quickly hides it. There is a firmness on his face that tells me he won't allow it.

I look back at the direction where she is and try to drag myself to her.

My left forepaw already going numb.

My father shoots again and several darts hit my back.

As my vision clouds, I feel a sharp pain searing through my heart.

"She is dying," my wolf cries out.

I hear her howl for one, final time and it's as if someone has taken a blunt saw to my heart.

I can't die but I can't live now.

I howl with her in unison, and I feel something shift in the air.

Before I slip into unconsciousness, I regret not being able to see her one, last time.