Rise of the Lycan Queen

(POV: ARIA) Aria Elise Vanderbilt! I read aloud as I signed my name next to my college admissions exams. Father had been so angry when he found out that I was applying for college, but I reminded him I am not just his little Lycan Princess. I am now a grown woman with ambitions. I don't know who I am! I was found when I was only a Lycan pup. 6 months old and abandoned by my parents. It was very odd because most Lycan parents have such a strong bond with their children that losing one could send a Lycan Into fits of rage where they could have no control and the ability to destroy whole cities. We weren't built mentally to withstand the loss of a child. My parents were either heartless or dead. Anyway, I was found by our Beta Dimitri Valentino. He was patrolling the borders of the kingdom and there I was. In a straw basket draped in a pink fuzzy blanket with white polka-dots, on the edge of the dock. It was as if I had appeared out of thin air, but most likely either someone had walked up and left me there next to the water hoping Goddess knows what would happen to me, or whoever abandoned me had left by boat or had been killed. Dimitri had searched for any scent of where I came from, which is the oddest part. Every Lycan has a scent. A scent that's traceable by their bloodline, back to their family but I didn't. Not one trace of a Lycan family known to the kingdom "there wasn't many they didn't know of" was in my blood. Regardless, once Dimitri brought me to the palace and my mother the Lycan Luna, Queen Leona, saw me laying there in that basket she said she felt a pull to me, a connection even. She said I had chubby cheeks, blonde curls, and big bright blue eyes. So at the urging of my mother, the King & Queen adopted me into the Royal Family. I was accepted by the kingdom as their princess and the rest is history. That was almost 18 years ago. What I do know is that I'm not content waiting around for my Fated Mate. No way I am comfortable only being A partner for my Mate & a mother to his future pups. Not that I didn't want those things of course I did I just wanted more. I wasn't a f*****g incubator. The thought had always angered me. Lycan women were expected to serve their mates, and bare their children. Simple little housewives. Not this Lycan! I wanted to see the world. To travel & educate me on all things, not just Lycan History or how to control your Lycan. Both classes we were required to take by the way. I stood up from my desk and stretched my hands over my head, stretching out my back. I had been doing college submission letters for hours. My ball gown caught my eye hanging from the door of my walk-in closet. It was absolutely beautiful. I had chosen it after searching for 8 months. When I put it on I knew it was perfect, like it was made for me. I would stand out that was for sure. It was as white as cotton. A mermaid silhouette, sleeveless, with a see-through material that looked as if it were my bare skin. It had white buttons up my back which appeared as if they were merely floating there. It was a scoop neck that accentuated my amazing breast if I didn't say so myself. It was silk with an overlay of fine lace and had a sweep train that floated behind me as I walked. Everyone that had been invited to the Ball had been ordered not to wear white. I was to stand out, & be the center of attention. Of course, you would have those who would try to outdo me but not in this dress they wouldn't. My coming out ball was to be held in 2 days. I was turning 18 which meant I was now going to be able to mate. When I met my fated I would instantly feel an immense connection to him. He would be my best friend, my protector, my soulmate, and my safe place. He would be the center of my universe. My only worry was I would mate with a Lycan who wanted to tie me down and keep me home. For me, that would be a death sentence. My Lycan needed to be free to roam and explore. To see the world and learn as much as I could about it. My Lycan wouldn't easily settle into housewife status. I finally settled myself into my huge fluffy king-size bed, which was in my opinion, way too big for one person and made me feel lonely. I clicked off my bedside lamp and let my wander. Tomorrow was a busy day. Everyone would be arriving in preparation for the ball including my best friend and childhood crush Xavier Valentino. Xavier and I had grown up together. His father was my father's beta, his 2nd in command. Xavier and I grew inseparable. We went from picking on each other relentlessly to sneaking kisses behind the palace stables. The day Xavier was sent to Warrior training my heart broke. He had kissed me and promised he'd be back for me, of course, we were only 13 years old and had no idea how Lycan relationships worked. Picturing Xavier's adorable smile I finally submitted to sleep and drifted off into oblivion. (POV: XAVIER) There she was again. The woman I had been dreaming about for years. Those piercing blue eyes were the only feature I could make out. Eyes I would never forget and if I should see them would surely recognize them. As soon as those eyes pierced my very soul I hit my knees. It was that feeling again. The overwhelming feeling of love, protection, friendship, and devotion. It was the mate bond calling me to her. Sweet Torture! BEEP...BEEP...BEEP..... The sound of my alarm awoke me from the dream and I groaned loudly. My heart ached, and my Lycan whimpered. We longed for our mate, and on the nights that these dreams occurred the next morning was always physically & emotionally painful. This only happened to male Lycans. We would dream of our fated from the time we hit puberty until the day we met her. Only seeing bits and pieces of her but feeling the full effect of the bond and the loss of it once we woke up. A Lycan without his mate was dangerous. This is why once we met our mate it was for life, and if something happened to a Lycans fated they were either locked away or killed. They would go mad from the emotional and physical loss. It was as if half their soul was severed from their body. I groaned and threw back the covers. I returned home to my kingdom late last night after being away for 5 years. I had been trained to be one of the King's most powerful, skilled warriors. Those of us born from the warrior bloodline were sent away at puberty. We honed the pain from the mate bond into our strength and skill. We were trained by warriors hundreds of years old. Trained to protect our Alpha from anyone or anything, especially the rogues who would love nothing more than to kill our alpha and take over as rulers. My Lycan growled at the thought. The Rogues were growing in numbers and were now banding together to fight behind Lucian Vivaldi. The most powerful Rogue there had ever been. A rogue Lycan was the most dangerous creature you could ever encounter. Pure evil, rage, no sense of rationalization, or empathy. Rogue wolves were Lycans who had either been abandoned, cast out of their pack, or lost their fate. A Lycan without a pack could not function. Could not rationalize or even love. They turned into literal monsters. I looked at the clock. 6 AM! s**t! I was late. I had training and then I was to meet the King in preparation for the ball tomorrow. The princesses coming out party. It was to be the biggest event the palace had ever thrown so security was going to need to be doubled if not tripled to protect the Royal court. As I let the hot weather cascade over my face and body my mind lingered on the princess. I had always seen her as a strong girl. Well, now I guess she would be a woman. I hadn't seen her since we were children playing catch in the palace courtyard. She was found by my father the Beta to the King. She had been abandoned and left for someone to find her. They were all worried even at her young age she would turn rogue and have to be locked away or killed, but she didn't she flourished. She conquered every task and every test that we were given as children. I remembered the day I left for training. We had both cried and I had kissed her. I told her when I returned I would find her and we would be married. Or course, I laughed to myself, those were dreams of children that didn't know anything about how the bond worked or even what love was. I couldn't say though that I hadn't thought of her while I was gone. Her beautiful features were not easily forgettable. Her long sandy blonde hair was wavy and full. Untamed like a lion's mane. Her full pouty lips, and perfectly angled nose. Whoever was lucky enough to be her fated was going to be envied by men all over the kingdom. I could only imagine the woman she would have grown into. I quickly dressed, went for a run, and headed to the palace. I walked into the ballroom where preparations were being made and decorations were being scattered about. I could only imagine what stress the event planner was under. I spotted my father and the Alpha watching over the commotion and made my way to them. "Father! Alpha!" I bowed my head and greeted them. "Xavier welcome home." King Alexander smiled and patted my shoulder. He was a big man standing at almost 6'5. He had shoulder-length jet black hair and a beard most Lycan men would envy. Those black eyes though! They showed the royalty in his blood that went back centuries and centuries. "Thank you, Alpha." I smiled back at him. "It feels great to be back with family. Standing this close to my Alpha I could feel my protective nature over him. It was in our blood. Protect the alpha at all costs. An instinct bred into us over centuries. "I heard from Warrior Zander that you are the strongest most talented warrior he has ever seen." he bragged. "I only hope to prove him right your majesty." I bowed my head in respect. Suddenly my Lycan grew excited and anxious. Howling and jumping around like a pup. What is wrong with you? I scolded him. "Father!" a beautiful voice rang out through the ballroom. That's when it hit me. The smell of vanilla, honey, and lust. This is why my Lycan was so excited. An unmated female. The princess. She approached and my breath caught in my throat. Those Eyes! I thought. I know those eyes. Big Blue piercing eyes that seemed as if they could see directly into my soul. The ones from my dream. My mate! She still had long wild sandy blonde hair. Only this wasn't the 13-year-old girl I had left behind 5 years ago. This was a woman with curves to die for. My mouth watered as she drew closer and my Lycan panted. Our eyes locked. Her beautiful pouty full lips grew into a wide smile. "Oh, my goddess!" Aria Squealed. "Xavier Aaron Valentino is that you?" I smiled and she broke into a sprint running into my arms and throwing her hands around my neck. She fit perfectly against my body and I could feel myself grow hard as my hands brushed the bare skin above her low-cut jeans. Smooth caramel-tinted skin. Snap out of it Xavier! I scolded myself and my Lycan. Could she be my mate? I wondered. We wouldn't feel the mating bond because she wasn't yet 18. Not until tomorrow at midnight could I be sure, but damn if the attraction for my fated was any stronger I didn't know how I'd contain my Lycan. "Aria it's been too long," I replied to her as she stood back from me leaving my arms feeling empty and my Lycan whining. (POV: ARIA) After having my hair colored and a much-needed blowout, as well as my mani-pedi I returned to the palace. I entered the ballroom to check on the preparations. I spotted my father at the far wall with two other gentlemen. One I recognized to be Demetri his beta but the other I hadn't ever seen before. My Lycan, on the other hand, was very eager to meet this mystery man. She was panting and howling like a mad woman. Stop it! I inwardly scolded her. "Father" I called out. As I drew closer the realization of the identity of the mystery man hit me. Goddess, couldn't be. No longer a skinny little boy but now a muscular tall and drop-dead gorgeous man, it was my childhood crush, Xavier Valentino. His features were stunning. Piercing green eyes, luscious full lips, and even the dark hair that scattered his chiseled jaw was sexy. His eyes grew wide as he saw me approaching as if he'd only realized who I was. "Oh, my Goddess! Xavier Aaron Valentino is that you?" I squealed like a schoolgirl and ran into his arms squeezing him against me. My Lycan was very satisfied by the physical contact and was panting like a b***h in heat. I wanted so badly to run my fingers through his thick short cut jet-black hair but I resisted and at the protest of my Lycan pulled away. "It's been too long." he smiled at me making my heart flutter. "Yes! Yes, it has." I stammered. "Aria Dear do you need something?" my father asked. I reluctantly turned away from Xavier and gave my father my attention. "I just wanted to make sure everything was planned and ready for tomorrow night," I informed him. "Of course my dear. Everything will be perfect." he advised me "And I assume you'll be over security." I looked at Xavier. "Yes I will princess," he answered. "Don't you dare start with that princess craziness?" I told him. "To you, it's always been Ari and always will be." he smiled back at me and bowed his head. "Of course." I cleared my throat, after all, I'd come here for a reason. "At midnight tomorrow night, I want my coming out to happen alone, on the balcony. I do not want the whole kingdom watching and whispering as I enter womanhood." I advised him. "Aria it is tradition." My father interrupted. "Then we will start a new tradition. I do not feel comfortable. This moment is for me not everyone else. " I explained and my father quickly agreed. He knew I would refuse to back down. I was the only one who ever dared challenge him "We will have a guard escort you to the balcony at 11:57" Xavier informed me. "But I must insist the guard, at least one, stays with you." he was serious. A side of Xavier I hadn't seen before. "Then that guard will be you." I smiled at him. "I'm Only comfortable with it being you." with that, I turned on my heel and left them to finish their preparations. At the stroke of midnight tomorrow night I would enter womanhood. I was to bask naked under the full moon & I release my Lycan only for a brief moment. Normally this was observed by the entire Kingdom, but for me, this was a special private moment and I'll be damned if the whole kingdom was going to glare at me naked as I shifted. Although the thought of Xavier being there with me made my Lycan pant and made me feel a warmth deep down in my core. I had to cool it. Yes, Xavier was gorgeous and had been my childhood crush but most likely he wasn't my mate, and falling for someone who wasn't my mate would only end in heartache.