More Than Just A Mate

Chapter 2

Diego, the Lycan, entered the room full of noblemen and guards. "You sounded so urgent, Mart," he said immediately as he sat on his throne. "My lord, there is a serious problem," Mart said, bowing and presenting a letter to him. Mart was a beta wolf and Diego's most trusted official. The whole room waited as Diego skimmed through the letter.

"Another pack wants war?" he exclaimed, laughing in frustration. He tore up the letter in pieces and tossed it into a fire. "Then I'll give it to them quite happily! What's new about this?" He scanned the room filled with terrified men and was very angry at them.

"Is this why you all are shaking?!" he shouted, rising from his seat. "Tell me what war I have not won? Just say it."

Mart spoke up again. "Supreme Lycan King, I deeply remember the wars you have led and conquered. But this one is different. It has to do with your destiny..."

"Shut your mouth!" Diego shouted and raised his hand to strike Mart for spilling such nonsense. Immediately, an Omega servant rushed in and took the blow.

"How has this got to do with my destiny, Mart?" Diego asked, his eyes flashing blue. His Lycan wolf wanted to burst out, but Diego held it in. "I am the greatest warrior in the whole continent. The only existing Lycan king. How could a mere pack pose a threat to me?"

Mart was relentless, even though his voice trembled as he spoke. "We spoke to Azura, the foreseer, and he made a shocking revelation. A terrible curse has been placed on you by the moon goddess."

The whole hall fell silent at this; everybody wanted to know what that curse was. Whatever made Mart, a seasoned fighter, tremble this way was really serious! Even the Lycan King had stopped moving.

"Now, everybody, out of the hall!" Mart suddenly commanded. "Get everyone outside, guards. Kill anyone who tries to eavesdrop."

In a few seconds, the guards moved everyone out. They too stayed far away from the throne room.

"Now, speak," Diego said impatiently. "Azura prophecies that the curse is taking away your immortality. You shall slowly become weak and die in this battle."

For a long moment, Diego felt that this was a big, bad joke. Death? Such a ridiculous topic!

"You of all people should know me too well. I don't take jokes. What is the meaning of this stupid thing you just spilled?"

"It is true, my lord. I am as shocked as you are. This incoming war is said to be so powerful that it will take your life. The enemy pack is conniving with the greatest human army to fight you. And you know how humans badly want to have you dead. You've killed a lot of them and..."

"That's enough."

Diego couldn't understand the strange emotion he was beginning to feel. Was this how fear felt? He had lived for three centuries, and he rarely felt fear. But why was this particular news coursing a shiver through his body? He tried to hold himself together; even his lycan was silent. Something was really wrong.

"But there's a solution," Mart announced. Diego turned around swiftly. He wouldn't admit it, but the sound of "solution" was pleasurable. "Yes?" "The wise seer prophecies that you can win this battle and escape your death only on one condition."

"Which is?" Why the hell did Mart like speaking in bits?

"You must find your mate, my lord. And she must fall in love with you."

But Diego had stopped listening. "I've heard enough." But at the sound of "mate", his lycan jumped in his head, growling his approval. 'Stay down, Rizz,' Diego ordered his lycan. 'I'm not getting any damn mate. Final.'

For three centuries, Diego had resisted the idea and culture of finding a mate. On his own, he was an immortal. He was extremely powerful, skillful in war, and had many concubines to satisfy his needs. What was the need for a lifetime mate? How would he bear the pain of losing her to death while he lived on for years?

"I will not find a mate," he said to Mart, ignoring the angry snarl of his Lycan. "My lord, please listen to the seer. He has never been this accurate. He even gave specific directions. He said she'd have a mark on her left arm. So, it's easier..."

"Enough of this conversation, Mart," the Lycan king snapped. "Out." "Sir, I can send guards to bring every girl with a mark on her arm." "I said, enough!" Diego boomed. His eyes flashed blue. Blue was the safe mode; when red, nothing could be done anymore.

Mart showed him his neck as a sign of submission before he dejectedly walked out. Diego's eyes were still bluish with sparks of yellow. Showing the inner battle he was waging with his Lycan.

'Listen, Rizz,' Diego addressed his lycan, 'I know you're a beast, and you have your primal instincts, but we don't need a mate. She'll be a huge distraction to me, to us. You know how my father lost his immortality trying to protect his Luna.'

He winced, remembering the excruciating memories. "Whatever stupid curse that is," he continued, "I shall overcome it my way, without a stupid mate. And that's final. The goddess can go to hell for all I care."

The next day, however, things began to go wrong. His body system changed. He felt excruciating pain all over his abdomen. He called for his physician.

"I found nothing wrong," the old man said after an hour of intense checkups. The second day, he found nothing.

"I have not experienced something like this before," the doctor cried. "Your body is perfectly fine!"

That night, as Diego was shivering on his large bed, Mart snuck into his room.

Diego called him close and whispered in his ears, "Go find her."

"I will, lord. You have my word."

"I trust you."

Mart bowed and left.