The Lycan king’s mate

Chapter two

"Lucia! Why aren't you properly dressed yet? The King and his brothers are coming to visit and dine with us tonight," Gloria announced excitedly. "Where are your sisters?"

"I do not know where they are," Lucia replied. "They could be out fooling around again."

"Hugh!" She groaned. "Why do you girls have to disgrace me at every little opportunity?!" She fumed, storming towards the door. "You better get dressed while I go look for your sisters, put on your best! The Alpha and his brothers are yet to meet their mates, one of you could get lucky tonight!"

Just as Lucia had predicted; her other daughters; Maria and Joyce were out fooling around with the guards. She successfully dragged them back to the house and got them into their beautiful dresses, then went off to see if Francesca had finished cooking and serving the table. She looked at all the wares used and was satisfied, checked the food and every other thing before going to look for Francesca. When she entered her room at the other wing of the mansion that was reserved for the servants, she was fuming and shocked.

Francesca was dressed in a royal blue body con dress that showed off her beautiful and luscious skin and accentuated her body in all the right places. Her skin was as white as milk with a golden glow, she shone bright like sun rays kissing the surface of clear water and her blue ocean eyes complimented her dress so well that she stood out. Her red fiery hair was let down, framing her tiny face and for makeup; she had a very beautiful shade of red on her lips that made them look like fully ripe plums.

Gloria's mouth fell open, mesmerized at the beauty that stood before her. She'd never seen her youngest look as beautiful as she did; given that she never gave her any beautiful dresses as she did the others. She never took care of her, right don the day she set her eyes on her; she wanted nothing to do with the little baby.

“Mother, is everything alright?” Francesca asked when she saw the mortified look on her mother’s face.

Gloria was juggled out of her trance, her eyes instantly giving way for anger and hate. “Why are you dressed like that?” She snapped angrily.

“I am getting ready for dinner with the king and his brothers, why mother?”

“What?!” Her mother screamed like she’d just seen a ghost. “That is the most preposterous thing I’ve heard in a long time! Who would serve the guests? Who will ensure that everything goes smoothly?”

“But, mother!”

“I do not want to hear any excuses, check into your work clothes right now!” She commanded. “Make sure you cover your nasty hair before coming into the main house because nobody wants to smell your dirty hair!” She started to leave but stopped to look back at Francesca. “In all that you do, make sure to keep your eyes down and speak to no one.”

Francesca could not control her tears when the door slammed shut in her face. She felt all the emotions pouring out like rain, as she recounted all the times the whole family did not treat her like a member of the family but always like a servant. She cried until she fell asleep.

The King and his family finally arrived. Gloria went to inform her husband, while everyone rushed out to pay their due respects to their king. They were lined up at the entrance, the other three girls smiling with their whole teeth bare for the eyes to see.

Chase had come with his mother in a Maybach, while his younger brothers had come in a Bentley. He got off first then turned to the other side to help his mother down. “I don’t think this is a good idea mother,” he whispered, looking ahead at the house were were stood four women and Alpha Clinton He’d been here just a few hours ago and Clinton hadn’t mentioned anything about his mother wanted to pay him and his household a visit.

“Of course it is a good idea!” She chirped. “Alpha Clinton is the most powerful subject we have and he’s served the kingdom for a long time. His daughters are all so beautiful and have no mates yet, who knows? You might find one of them attractive enough to wife.”

He knew that wouldn’t be happening, but he wasn’t about to give his mother a heart attack by telling her that. He led the way, his mother glued to his side as they greeted the Simpletons.

“I heard you have four beautiful daughters? Where is the fourth one?” Chase’s mother asked, looking around to see if she would find Francesca.

“Oh!” Gloria faked a laugh. “Don’t you bother about her, she’ll be joining us soon!” Her cheeks were hurting from all the forced laughter and smiles. “Please come , don’t stay out for too long, the food’s get cold!”

“Where is Francesca?!” Gloria asked in a harsh tone once she got into the kitchen. The maids stopped what they were doing, giving each other odd looks. “Are you Omegas all dumb or what? Did you all swallow your tongues?”

It was and elderly lady that spoke. “We haven’t seen the child since after she went out to prepare for diner,” she said.

Gloria groaned in annoyance, leaving the kitchen and storming over to the winery. She had no doubt that Francesca would be somewhere getting ready to serve the guest, because she knew better than to disobey her. Francesca wasn’t in the winery either. By now; Gloria was fuming with rage as she went towards Francesca’s room. She violently pushed open the door, ready to tear Francesca to pieces when she found her sound asleep on the floor.

“Get up you fool!" She yelled, hitting Francesca with her heels. What are you doing here when you were supposed to be in the mansion serving the guests?!”

Francesca groaned in pain, struggling to sit up. “I am sorry mother, I didn’t mean to disobey you. I had no idea that I slept off.” She finally got on her feet, hot tears brimming her eyes. “I’ll go now—”

“Shush,” Gloria snapped, interrupting her. “I no longer need you down there, the other servants will do the serving while you,” she said threateningly, going to ring the bell on the wall. She grinned wickedly when she saw the scared look on Francesca’s face. “You shall be punished for being disobedient!”

“Please mother,” Francesca fell to her knees looking mortified. She was yet to recover from the pains of the lashes she’d received just a few days ago and now…she knew I’d be worst this time! “I’m sorry mother, I promise never to disobey you again!”

Two guards marched into the quaint room, one grabbed hold of the hands, while the other; her legs. Gloria instructed them to flog Francesca until her skin came off. She also reminded them to concentrate on the back and buttocks, she couldn’t let her husband know what she’d been putting the young girl through for many years.

Dinner went by quickly, much to Chase’s relief. His mother kept try to match him with one of the daughters, while the girls kept flirting with his brothers. He didn’t say much during the whole time. Truth be told, he’d secretly been hoping that maybe one of the Alpha’s daughters was his mate. He wasn’t ready for a mate yet for as long as he was concerned; he wasn’t yet ready to give up his womanizing ways. He had planned on rejecting her there in front of the whole family, if it ever turned out that she was his mate.

He was getting all bored with their talks about marriage and mating, that he excused himself to take a walk. Alpha Clinton offered to take the walk with him but he declined. Then Gloria tried to make her eldest daughter accompany him, but he also refused the offer and went out on his own into the cold night air.

Francesca was left bleeding and sobbing; hands and legs both bound. The upper part of her body was bare and her back was covered in large cuts and bruises, both old and new. She had gotten so used to it because it’s been years since her mother would order the guards to take her into the forest, been her up and leave her there until the next day before sending someone to sneak her back home. The first time it had happened was when she was seven, only but a little child. She had been scared all night that something was going to come out of the dark and harm her. No matter how hard she thought about why her mother hated her so much, she couldn’t get an adequate answer. She couldn’t remember when her mother started hating her, she just remembered that she grew into that hate and maltreatment. The last seventeen years of her life had been hell spent on earth.

Once Chase got outside, he started to unbutton his shirt. It had been a while since he let his wolf out, since he took over his kingly duties, it’s been one problem or the other and he hadn’t had time to shift. Maximus has been a good boy, so yeah, he was going to let him run. He strolled to a nearby tree and put up his shirt, then proceeded to take off his trousers and put them up. He was only left in his boxers when he broke into a run, his wolf happily howling as he leapt in the air and shifted into a huge black wolf.

Lycans were the largest form of werewolves. They were born kings and leaders by nature, they possessed many privileges that normal wolves never had and that was the reason they were always kings over the rest. Maximus wasn’t any different, he was a large intimidating wolf with deadly red eyes. It was dreadful and only a fool would encounter it and not quiver in fear.

It took to the forests, picking up speed. Suddenly it stopped, taking a different direction. I sense something…

What is that? Why did you suddenly change direction? We were supposed to go straight!

Relax…I can sense her…

Who?

The person from the morning…I perceived her in this forest. She’s here, I can feel it!

No! Shift, right now! Don’t go to her Maximus, we don’t need her in our life!

His wolf ignored him, picking up velocity as he ran towards where he was sending their mate. They were now in the middle of the forest when it came to a halt and howled.

Chase could feel his pain and instead of asking what he already guessed, he forcefully shifted back to his human form, standing in all his naked glory under the moonlight. He took in the dainty little figure that was sobbing quietly in the dark, his whole body alerted and tingling from being so close to her. “Mate,” he muttered reluctantly, when Maximus wouldn’t stop muttering the word into his mind. He slowly started walking towards her, his heart beating like it was about to burst into flames.

“Please,” she whispered pleadingly. “Don’t hurt me, please.” Francesca pleaded, her weak body quivering in fear. She’d seen the huge wolf with red scary eyes and when he stared at her and howled so angrily, she thought it was going to eat her but then, it shifted into a tall man. She couldn’t see his face clearly but he had blue glowing eyes, which seemed to turn darker as he stared down at her. She could tell that he was naked but the moon only permitted her to see as much as that. She noticed how he was checking her out and growling, then he reached out to touch her and she flinched.

She doesn’t recognize us, what’s happening? Chase retracted his hand. He noticed how battered she was and he could tell that she had been beaten to a pulp. The blood in his veins were boiling and badly wanted to know who could have done that to her, so he ripped off their heads. Why doesn’t she recognize us?

Maximus let out a low growl. She’s yet to be eighteen and with what I see, she hasn’t shifted yet.

That’s strange…

She’s an Alpha wolf but her wolf end weak, it’s been poisoned. We need to get her out of here! We need to claim her, she’s ours!

He didn’t reply his wolf, only kept looking down at the frightened little girl in front of him. “Stay still, I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, slowly squatting down to loosen the robes that bounded her legs. After her legs were freed, he took off the cuffs around her wrist.

Francesca was still wary of the strange man, so she tried to get away from him but ended up falling backwards and he caught her in his arms. Her breath hitched as she stared into his eyes. It seemed like an endless dark hole, drawing her deeper into it.

“Do you like what you see?” He asked, a lopsided smirk gracing his lips. He watched how she studied his face, the urge to plant his canines on her neck and claim her as his. He wanted to kiss her so bad and her innocent green eyes made him imagine things he didn’t want to. He imagined how she’d feel under him, with his c**k buried deep inside her— f**k!

She moved away from him like he’d been the one that bitten her arm. She started staggering away from him, praying that she’d get home safe and he’d leave her alone and go on his way.

“Little b***h,” he cursed under his breath. He couldn’t believe how sharp her teeth were, him arm still stung from where she’d beaten him a few seconds ago. He watched her sway from side to side as she struggled to run, making him angrier by the seconds. Whoever could have done that to her? His mate, their queen! He gulped hard when he realized his thoughts. It’s not like he planned on accepting her, he was actually going to reject her once she turned eighteen and identify him as her mate. Whatever was the moon goddess thinking when she gave him a child as a mate? He was a solid fifteen years older than her and besides; he had always preferred older women.

Getting tired of watching her trying to walk without any success; he sighed, going to her side. “Look here; just tell me where you live and I’ll take you home. I don’t care to know why you were left in the middle of the forest to die, but you must have done something really terrible for that to happen. You’re no one important to me, but out of the kindness of my heart; I’ve decided to help you,” he blabbered on.

A soft smile graced her worn out face. “Mansion Simpleton,” she croaked out. “I’d appreciate if you informed no one about me and leave me at the back door. I’ll find my way in.”

He studied her for a few seconds, the veins in his jaws straining as he controlled himself from showing his anger. He kept making a mental reminder; much to his wolf’s displeasure, that the little child in front of him was not worth his time and energy. “Once I shift, you hop on my wolf’s back, got it?!”

She slowly nodded, doing just as she was told. With the little strength in her; she held tight to the wolf as it sprinted through the forest, taking her home. She felt so much comfort that her eyes started to close and she fell asleep while thinking that the heavens had finally listened after all these years, they finally sent her a helper…