The Lycan King's Forbidden Mate

28

The air inside the council room shifted with unease as I sat grimly on my grand chair, my fingers drumming impatiently against the armrest.

The lights casted dark shadows across the room making it even more eerie.

I sighed as my gaze fixed on the elders who had gathered around the long table.

"The body was found near the pack's entrance."

Elder Magnus stated solemnly, his wrinkled hands folded on the wooden table.

"One of our own, slaughtered like an animal. Our warriors say the wounds are unlike anything they have seen before."

I exhaled sharply, my own thoughts deep.

"It is the Lycan King's doing."

I declared without hesitation, my voice low and calculated.

"Him and that traitorous woman under his roof."

Murmurs spread through the council, it almost sounden like strong winds howling through the night.

Elder Victor, one of my late father's trusted council, leaned forward, his eyes narrowed.

"You speak of Brielle Fox?"

My jaw clenched at the mere mention of her name.

"Yes. That wolfless woman I rejected, my rightful mate, now plays queen under that beast's protection."

Elder Magnus sighed.

"That woman who now plays the queen was once our Alpha Walden Fox's daughter. She has the strongest bloodline claim to lead this pack, more than you ever had."

"My father was the Alpha, Magnus!"

I groweld, my temper rising like mists to the clouds.

"Your father acted as Shadow Walker Pack's Alpha when the true Alpha was killed, Alpha Aric would remain Alpha, until the rightful heir comes of age, Brielle Fox is the only daughter of Alpha Walden Fox, therefore she is the righful leader. The only reason you sit in that chair now is because your father forced the two of you together. It was his way of securing your legitimacy."

Elder Magnus Lamented.

I slammed my fist against the armrest, making the candle flames neatly aranged on the long table flicker wildly.

"And I rejected her! She is weak, useless! She cannot even shift!"

"Yet that weakness you see did not stop the Lycan King himself from taking her in."

Elder Shara who remained silnce finally countered.

"And now, she has something you never will, Alpha Alaric. The Lycan King's protection, his favor, his power. Do you think a king like Marcus would just give her back to you? Like a toy?"

Silence filled the room. The weight of the words suddenly pressed down on my shoulders, fueling the fire in my chest.

I've hated the truth in them.

Moments later, elder Magnus's once again spoke, his voice was steady but firm.

"If you wish to truly rule this pack, without hesitation from your own people, for your poeople to put their trust in you, gain their loyalty because they want to be loyal to you, not out of fear that if they'd stray they'll be punished, if you want all that, then Foxy must be brought back. As long as she remains outside these walls, there will always be those who see her as the rightful leader. We must have her back in the pack, whether she desires it or not."

My eyes darkened, I can barely contain the rage I feel within me.

"You dare suggest I grovel to that traitor, to the wolfless woman who killed one of our own?"

"No."

Elder Viktor said.

"We suggest you do whatever is necessary to reclaim what is yours. If Foxy remains with the Lycan King, your authority will always be questioned. If she is here, by your side, no one will dare challenge you."

My jaw clenched as I bared my own teeth.

"And if she refuses?"

Elder Magnus met my gaze without flinching.

"Then you take her. By force, if needed."

A cruel smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.

I liked that idea.

"She will regret ever leaving this pack."

My voice was a venomous whisper, laced with the promise of retribution.

The council exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable, but they did not object.

Except for one.

Elder Shara, the eldest of the council, straightened her frail frame.

"Had you acted with reason, Alpha, she never would have left."

She said making my head boil.

"If I remember correctly, Foxy never left on her own will, if we'd have asked her she would've stayed. You sent her away, Alpha Alaric, you threw her aside the night you rejected the poor girl."

My fingers stilled, my gaze snaped to the old woman.

"Careful with your words, Shara."

"I speak only the truth, Alpha."

Shara said boldly.

"You rejected her when she did not shift, humiliated her before the pack, and chose her best friend as your Luna instead. You cast her out as if she were nothing. And now, you speak of bringing her back?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

Instead of shutting up, Shara cleared her throat and chose to continue.

"Foxy was the daughter of our Alpha, Walden Fox, as Eleder Marcus had said, her bloodline is the strongest among us. You may sit in that chair, Alpha Alarcic, but yes, there are many who still whisper that it should be her leading us, not you."

My jaw clenched, my nails dug into the armrest of my chair.

"The woman you speak of having the stongest bloodline and claim to leadership is weak. She may be Alpha Walden Fox's daughter, but right now, she nothing more than a wolfless disgrace."

"And yet, the Lycan King found value in her."

Shara countered.

"She is under his protection now. If she were truly worthless, a wolfless disgrace, why would he take her in?"

Not wanting to hear more, I finally shot up from my chair, my eyes flashing with unrestrained fury.

"Watch your tongue, old woman."

I took a menacing step forward, my claws grew sharp as I raised my hand and prepare to strike.

But before I could land a blow, the heavy doors burst open.

My beta, Lycarus rushed inside, his face pale.

"Alpha, we have another problem."

I turned my rage-filled gaze onto him.

"This had better be important."

Lycarus swallowed hard.

"Another body was found. A warrior. Killed brutally, just like the last."

The council tensed. I narrowed my eyes.

"By whom?" I growled, my eyes flickered with fury.

Lycarus hesitated, yet still forced to answer.

"It was…They made sure that the body was enough to send us a message, the Lycan King seemed to be watching us as well as we did them."

I and my warriors crouched in the dense foliage, careful not to be seen by anyone as we watch the Shadow Walker Pack.

The commotion had started a few moments ago when Alpha Alaric's warriors discovered the body of the wolf we had slain just a few minutes ago.

My warriors managed to discreetly deliver the corpes near their borders. I was hoping that it would somehow be enough to send a warning, as testament that challenging the King was a grave mistake.

"Beta Serio."

One of my warriors whispered, his eyes narrowed as he observed the enemy's warriors surrounding the corpse.

"They're furious. They know this is a warning."

I smirked.

"Good. Let them stew in their fear. They should have known better than to test the King's patience."

The Shadow Walker Pack's warriors growled among themselves, their tension seemed palpable.

Then, a sudden shift in the air announced the arrival of their Alpha.

My smirk grew even wider as the scent of dominance and rage rolled off him in waves, and his warriors instinctively straightened as he approached.

Alpha Alaric, the cruel leader of the Pack, emerged from the shadows, his golden eyes burning with fury as he glared at the lifeless wolf at his feet.

"Who dares bring this filth to my pack?"

Alaric snarled, his voice like a blade slicing through the silence.

One of his warriors stepped forward, bowing his head.

"Alpha, it was found near our borders. We suspect it is from the Lycan King."

I saw how Alaric's expression twisted into something darker.

"That damn Lycan King thinks he can intimidate me?"

His growl was deafening, and the warriors around him flinched.

"He will regret this!"

I stiffened as I listened, motioning to my warriors to remain silent.

We had to hear every word.

Every plan.

Then, to my disgust, Alaric's rage took a different turn.

"And what of the woman?"

Alaric snarled, silencing his warriors.

Alaric's snarl was vicious.

"That woman belongs to me! She was mine to claim, and I will not let that beast take what is rightfully mine."

My jaw clenched as I barely restrained myself from intervening.

I don't need to hear the woman's name.

I knew.

The woman Alaric spoke of was no longer his to command. Far as I learned, he had rejected her, cast her aside like she was nothing. And now, knowing she was under King Marcus's protection, he suddenly wanted her back?

I scoffed.

He's a typical weak-willed Alpha who only saw value in what he lost.

"Send warriors immediately."

Alaric ordered, his voice cold and unrelenting.

"Bring her back. If the King stands in your way, you take her by force. And if she resists-"

He paused, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

"I will kill her myself. And when I'm done, I'll go ahead and f**k her corpse."

Hearing his filth made my blood boil.

I exchanged glances with my warriors, who were equally seething.

I had heard enough.

"You two."

I whispered to the warrior closest to me, Elias and Bryan.

"Return to the Kingdom. Inform the King Alaric's continious treachery."

Elias nodded.

"Right away, Beta Serio."

Bryan, however, hesitated.

"And what of you?"

I smirked, my eyes gleamed with deadly intent.

"I'll stay and watch. If Alarcic dares move before the King acts, I'll make sure he regrets it."

Elias and Bryan nodded, swiftly disappearing into the darkness. As they raced back to the Kingdom, I turned my sharp gaze back to the raging Alpha Alaric.

"Let's see how bold you truly are, Alarci."

I murmured as I settled in for a long, dangerous night.

My warriors copied, while the others remained attentive.