Claimed By The Lycan Prince

Chapter Three

Denver:

I watched as my father's lips danced and his head moved sideways, but honestly, my mind was elsewhere. The girl I was with last night had completely taken over my senses, making it hard to think straight.

"Are you even listening to what I've been saying?" My father's rough voice snapped me back, and all I could manage was a slight chuckle in response.

I nodded, putting on a fake smile. "Of course, Father." Shifting my attention to Mom, the Luna, I saw her grinning so intensely. Something definitely seemed awry.

"I'm really glad you've decided to marry Claude. Come here,son. You're truly your father's child." She approached me for a hug, but I pulled away abruptly when her words about Claude sank in. Claude?

"What do you mean? I said I wouldn’t ever marry Claude" I fumed, feeling like I'd just been handed a death sentence. Well, Claude was practically that—a walking disaster.

I noticed my dad's fist tightening and his jaw clenching, the telltale signs of his anger. He only got like that when he was seriously upset. As the Lycan King and one of the most powerful Alphas, nobody dared to provoke him.

"Dad, please understand. I'll find my mate soon, I swear." I contorted my face to convey remorse, trying to make him grasp my predicament. Yet, this same old conversation had sparked fights between us for over five years.

As a werewolf and an Alpha blood, finding a mate on your 18th birthday was the norm. I, however, was an exception. No one needed to tell me how much the moon goddess seemed to despise me, thinking I didn't deserve a mate. At 25, I hadn't found one, well, not until last night.

"How soon? Marry Claude and end this!" My father's sharp voice echoed through the room, sending shivers down our spines.

He stormed angrily towards the door, each step making the room quake. Opening it slightly, he turned back to me. "The ceremony is in a few days. Find your mate or marry Claude. You know the consequences if you don’t do either, right?" He paused, and a heavy silence enveloped the room.

I was well aware of my impending punishment; no one had to spell it out for me. "You'd surrender your position to your younger brother, and he'd take the crown of the Alpha instead," my father declared slowly, emphasizing each word. With that, he got out and slammed the door ,as it made a resounding noise, almost deafening me.

Damn! I couldn't bear the thought of my cunning brother seizing the position and becoming the Alpha. Marrying Claude was out of the question; she and her friends were insufferable, and they'd undoubtedly make my alpha reign a living nightmare.

"You know what to do. Don't you?" Leon whined inside me. Right. I sure had a wolf, but not a mate.

"I don't. Shut it!" I shifted my chair towards my laptop, attempting to focus on the project given by my Dad.

"You do, Denver. Don't act like you don't. That girl is your mate," he retorted, this time with a hint of pain.

The memories of last night flooded back. How I first met her, her arms intertwined with mine. She was so beautiful that I found myself staring at her for minutes before I abruptly passed by. Leon had purred within me, insisting she was my mate, but why didn't it seem like she felt it? Why didn’t she feel the mate bond?

"Let's find her, please. Save yourself too; this is your only chance," his voice was tinged with a little bit of pain, and I perfectly understood. What it was like to live without a mate for seven long years.

"I don't even know her name. I was stupid enough not to ask," I admitted, pausing as I twirled my chair around, facing the ceiling.

"How do I find her?" I sighed.

"Easy peasy. She's from the Silvermoon pack, right?" I rolled my eyes at his question. She was, but figuring out how to locate her was another challenge altogether.

"I hope you haven't forgotten the power I have?" He teased, and it hit me. How did I forget? How did I forget that every Lycan in our generation possessed a powerful wolf, each gifted by the moon goddess with a unique ability?

Leon could locate anyone through their scent, as long as I had encountered them before. We rarely used Leon's power, deeming it one of the most useless abilities. But right now, it wasn’t.

I jumped up in excitement, feeling like hugging Leon, but my joy was short-lived as a loud knock echoed on my door.

"What is it?" I scrunched up my face at the pack guard standing outside the door after I opened it.

"Your father requests your presence, now." I noticed him fidget as he bowed, then promptly scurried away. Was I really that fearsome as they claim? Psst.

I brushed my disheveled hair and headed to the chambers,as that was where he usually stayed. Keeping my face fixed to the ground, I strode over to where my father sat.

"Here." He extended his hand, and I noticed a piece of paper in it. No, it was an invitation card. I thought I had delivered all the cards to the respective packs just yesterday?

"Send this to Alpha Williams. It’s for the upcoming ceremony. You were so blind that you took the wrong one for him." His hoarse voice made me shiver a little, and as I examined the invitation card, 'Alpha Williams of The Silver Moon Pack' was written on it.

My face lit up with the realization that I was going to visit the Silver Moon Pack again—the pack where I had found my mate, the girl whose pretty face kept flashing in my mind every minute.

I tried to force a wide smile at my father and walked out. Glancing at the watch on my wrist, it was 5 pm. It was late,so I could still deliver the invitation tomorrow , find my mate, and make it home in time.

"I'm so ready for this. Let's begin the search," Leon purred excitedly, and I knew this was my last chance.

I didn't even know her name, and now it felt like my world was unraveling. Who was she, exactly? I was determined to find her and mark her, no matter the cost.