Clarity (Part Two)

Constantine Demonicus

The scent of the morning breeze was so familiar. So home.

His home. He had been away for far too long.

Beyond the thick forests was his palace. He knew every living creatures roaming his land. Knew every valley and stream.

After a century he was back. But not because of a new life waiting for him. He was here to reclaim what was theirs.

Freedom and peace.

He would do so, even if it is the last thing we would do before he joined his maker.

Reaching the clearing. Taking a deep breath, he stopped. Looked around him.

It was so quiet. Not calm. Not peaceful. Just quiet.

There were no voices of women and children. No pups running around creating havoc and mischief.

'They will pay for this.' He opened his link to everyone who was listening. He sensed four familiar scents.

The Alphas.

Constantine turned in their direction. They were standing side the side in the middle of the field.

Men. He sensed their anger, too. Their determination. Then relief.

After which, they fell on their knees, bowed in respect. 'My king.' They murmured in unison.

***

'My Lycan will no longer allow me to shift to my human.' It was better to let them know from the start. They will act as his ambassadors to the human world. 'Octavius only gave me bits and pieces of what happened while we were gone. Since the four of you were running the kingdom in my stead, I want to know everything that had happened all those decades I was gone.'

After a while, he truly regretted that he asked. His heart was thumping loudly inside his chest, his sharp nails were digging in his palms until he could smell blood, and his huge form was facing the open windows ready to leap from his library and hunt their enemy.

His poor people. Especially the children. The female infants were snatched from their cradles. His Alphas parents, sacrificing their lives for their families. All were brutally murmured by those soulless bastards.

"That was when we decided to relocate our villagers to the human world. They were also joined by the remaining mated pairs. Each one was gifted a pup. Nineteen strong warriors in training. And a she-wolf.'

The last sentence made him turn and directed his fiery gaze on Alpha East.

'A she-wolf?' His rough voice became noticeably softer. A blessing indeed. It was very rare for their kind.

"Aye, min kung. The only child of Warrior Ron and Jen."

'Where are they now? Are they safe?' He couldn't fathom the sudden interest he was feeling. However, every instinct he possessed wanted to know.

"Very safe." Alpha North, his voice just as rough because of his wolf dominating his human, assured the king.

'This pup. Does she know she is one of us? I am assuming she grew up in a human world and knew nothing about us.' He told himself that he was only concerned because he was their leader. But something was not right.

"She had transitioned to her wolf a forthright ago and she is learning our ways fast. In fact, she is excited to come here." Alpha East was seating ramrod straight in one of the high-backed chairs. Shrewd just like his father before him. Ever so serious in all things. However, his dark brown eyes gave him away.

'What is it?' He was just as serious.

Alpha West snorted. However, it was Alpha South who stood from his chair and approached the king. "I think you should read this, min kung. I found this in my mother's boudoir when a part of our pack house collapsed. It was then we found out where Octavius went and we also found out my mother was the Moon Goddess's messenger."

From a distance, with his sharp gaze, he scanned the contents of the old paper. Then re-read the words once again. And again.

He couldn't breathe.

Amidst the fog covers greatness. Of pure heart to be awakened. Of pure soul to be paired. My children, on a great Golden Moon, his she-wolf

will be born, only then my creation will see the light and claim what is right. The heat will vanish the cold. Love will replace the pain. His union will bless his kingdom. Have faith, my Children. Never lose hope. This suffering will come to pass.

A prophecy. For him. After all the centuries of agonizing wait. Finally, it was his turn. And at the most importunate time. The timing was just not right. 

It took a moment before he regained his composure. Then he roared. A searing pain in his heart.

'I am a beast!' Constantine jumped out the window without waiting for a response.

_________

Octavius

Unsurprised of their king's reaction, they watched him until his huge form disappeared in the shadows of the dense trees.

A mournful howl reverberated from the distance. And another. He winced.

"He will come around." He assured the Alphas. "I assume you have a plan, Logan?"

Alpha East relaxed back on his chair and sipped his favorite bourbon. "We do."

"And pray tell, what is it?" Their leader was in a beast form unable to shift back to his human. Even if the girl was fated to him, she would be scared out of her wits when she set her eyes on her mate. "The King in his Lycan form is not for the faint-hearted."

"A good thing then she does not possess a weak heart." Alpha Marcus said. "She may surprise him yet." Hearing those words, Octavius was glad.

"When will this happen?" This prophecy was their only chance of finding their own mates as well so Octavius will do everything in his power to make it work. Even if he would have to tie their king to a chair and make him listen.

"In less than two days. They are already on their way as we speak." Alpha West, speaking for the first time, all but rubbed his hands in anticipation.

"Fuck! The castle is not ready to receive its future queen. What were you thinking?" He was on his feet in an instant, creating a list on his head for things to do.

"Relax, Octavius. This castle has been ready for a long time and some of our servants will be back tomorrow. We have also secured the borders with our warriors. So, all you have to do is convince our king to face his mate."

Easier said than done.

_________

Constantine

A mate.

All these years. For centuries he was denied one. And suddenly, a prophecy.

He couldn't believe it. He was already a beast. His Lycan dominated his form. His thoughts were of his human but his actions were of his animal.

A monster. A killing machine.

Now, because Selene had decreed so, he was mated to a delicate woman. Even if she has a wolf, she still grew up in the human world. She knew nothing of their ways. Their culture.

He must reject her.

His heart squeezed in his chest he had to stop running. No!

The protest was not his. It came as a surprise. For he had never spoken to him for a century.

Then tell me what to do? He deigned not to answer. Just a simple no.

We might hurt her. He tried to reason to his Lycan.

Silence.

The cold air stirred at his back. He released a tortured breath. Of course, his friend would follow him to knock some sense into him.

'What do you want, Octavius?'

"To talk, min kung."

'There is nothing to talk about. She will never accept me.' Saying it out loud was painful.

He was promised a mate. Now that she was within his grasp, he couldn't be with her because he couldn't meet her halfway.

"But what if she did?" His Royal Beta insisted.

'How could she? She is more human than a wolf.'

"It's simple, Constantine. You teach her. You, as her mate, should. It is your duty." His friend knew all the buttons to push. "And you always have our support. The Alphas knew her since she was a pup. They will tell you more about her."

'We don't even know if...' He couldn't finish his sentence. It was a disrespect to the Goddess. He raised his fur-covered face to the cloudless sky. Asking for guidance. The sun remained steadfast on her duty to the earth.

"You are our only hope, min kung."

Their king was the key so that they, too, could find their mates. How could he deny his people their future? Or his future.

'How, Octavius? How?

"We need a plan. She arrives in two days."

What the hell!