Chapter 09: Mine

*Kael*

Lilac. Lilac Hirav Aspen. My wife and my fucking Fated.

Mates are a figment of our imagination, they do not exist or so I thought. My mother thought she had found her Fated with my father, well that was until he accused of her of treason and killed her, bringing in his mistress and his fucked up children. But still, I can't deny it.. The beastly part of me keeps crawling to set free. She is my Fated, I can feel it like the thrumming of blood in my veins. I had known since the first day I had met her.. Dressed in that goddamned wedding dress and a veil over her face, and then when I pulled it off, I could feel my breath constrict and my heart fucking raced. The banging in my head persisted, undeterred, with only one utterance, "Mate."

This is wrong. She is but a mere human. Weak and innocent.. I am no good for her, but yet she is mine. I wrap up all my unfinished work, blowing out an harsh breath as anticipation ripples through me. She is my wife. She is my student. And still she is mine.

I told her her to wait after her classes. The fear in her eyes when I had stated it says she will, or maybe not. I guess I'll find out. There is a knock on the door, and I don't need to know who it is before he comes in, my half brother. His annoying scent filling my office as he steps like he owns the damn place, well technically as the crown prince, he does own the place.

I cock my brows to a side as I watch him close the door behind him, already knowing why he is here. "What dirty work of yours would you want me to do this time, brother?" The irritation I feel is clear as day in my tone, but I will do it still.

"You benefit from the dirty work too, Kael. Don't go about making me a bad guy." Bullshit. He lies. I don't gain a goddamn thing from selling Wolfsbane and Pixie dusts to the human mob. He gets all the money, not like I want it anyway, the only thing I get is feeding off the fear of the dealers. Wrong. But I revel in it.

"Who is it this time? What are we trading?"

"Same old.. They want a truckload of the stuff, money's huge."

I roll my eyes in disgust. Money, as if he doesn't have enough. "Who is the buyer?"

"Chevronski.. He is well known in the streets of Lyria. Rumor says he and his boys break the law without the human feds sniffing up their shit. He will be a good buyer, obviously."

"Meeting place?"

"At Skol.." Skol, The stupid bar slash club he built downtown.

"You sure they won't try to play dirty like the last time?" The last time, the buyers had tried to run off with the stuff without paying. Fucking humans forgot they were on Lycan territory.

"You will handle it, won't you?" Talon grins and I tamp down an irritated snort. Asshole.

"We are done here then." I am not asking, it's a statement. I make a grab for my phone on the table, stick it into my back pocket and then sling my bag over my shoulders.

"Hey, are you that eager to go meet your human? Father says you requested moving from the palace, can't wait to have her all to yourself huh?"

My anger is brewing. No. Rage. My stomach churns at the suggestive hint in his words. How dare he talk about my Fated in that manner? I want nothing more than to give in to my beastly side and tear him apart, but I don't. Instead, I clamp my fists against the handle of my bag, relishing in the fact that at least I won't have to see his disgusting face everyday, since Father already approved of my request to leave the palace.

"Are you leaving or not, Brother? I need to close my office door." I tell him.

"A Lupin professor who sells cracks, you had better be discreet." He replies, a knowing smirk dancing on his lips. He is threatening me, but he won't get the satisfaction of seeing me falter. I mirror his smirk, dangling the key above his head.

"I need to lock the door, Talon."

When he finally leaves, I breathe in a sigh of relief. Thank fuck the idiot left so fast. My hands tremble and I grip them tight together. My nails dig into my flesh until they draw blood. I can't control my rage. It builds inside me, growing hotter until it threatens to engulf me. I slump down into my seat in front of my desk. He was trying to rile me up, and he nearly succeeded. Closing my eyes, I try to stay calm. It wouldn't do for her to see me like this, would it?

When I am calm enough, I make my way out of my office to the parking lot, ignoring several greetings as I walk past, the low mumbles of "Your highness" from both students and teachers irritates me. I hate the title. Well there a lot of things I hate in this life, courtesy to my bitter soul and my cursed self.

I scent her before I see her, fresh raspberries with a mix of cedar and mint. I feel the Fated bond tug at my chest. Does she feel it too? Of course not, she is human. She is standing by Isabelle's car, her chestnut brown hair cascading down her shoulders. She isn't talking just staring at Isabelle as she rambles on. Isabelle. The main reason why I tolerate her mother and brother. When her mother had come to the palace, she had stuck around me even though I mostly ignored her, following me everywhere I went. It's no surprise she grew on me, although sometimes I get tired of her chattiness.

"And there he is, the man of the day" Isabelle exclaims upon sighting me. Lilac doe eyes widens immediately as she takes in my presence. Fear. She reeks of fear, and something else I can't quite place.

"Why won't you let me take Lilac in my car, Kael?"

My gaze hardens. My voice stoic. "It's Professor Aspen in school, Isabelle." Her face contorts to a frown. She hates being called Isabelle, I know what she will say before she does;

"It's Issy, damnit" On point. I stiffle a smirk. Lilac is watching me through hooded eyes. She tries not to meet my eyes. Her scent becomes stronger, and it makes my mouth water. Her body heat radiating from beside Isabelle. Is it her nervousness? Is she nervous? It must be...

"She is coming with me. Case closed" I tell Isabelle. Her lips press to a grim line.

"Talon says you are leaving the palace."

"True." I try not to give too much meaning to the soft gasp that escapes Lilac's lips. Right. She does not know I have my own suite.

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"You know now, don't you?"

"Really Kael?"

"It's a better option for Lilac" I say. Isabelle rolls her eyes with a scoff, "You think she would want to stay alone with you when all you do is scowl around like a stick is up your ass?"

I blanch at a statement although I don't let it show. My Fated will stay wherever the fuck I stay, either she wants it or not. The said scowl is back on my face, and I give Isabelle a glance of it. "We will take our leave now, say hi to Father for me."

"You are an asshole Kael, a big fat one."

"You say that a lot of time, Isabelle."

"Fuck you!" She mutters and then turns to Lilac, a warm smile crossing her face. Lilac seems relieved, her shoulders dropping ever so slightly and she leans into Isabelle, resting her head on Isabelle's shoulder. She seems relaxed, almost content.. My gaze softens, looking away in defeat. Isabelle looks down at Lilac with amusement, then glances between us both.

"Oh, before I forget.. Lilac and I are going out this evening.." My scowl returns and my fists tightens.

"She is not going anywhere." Lilac gasps again and I almost slap myself. Isabelle is right, I am an asshole. So with a frustrated sigh, I add; "Unprotected.. She is not going anywhere unprotected."

"Of course she isn't, I have that under control." She doesn't, but I don't say it, instead I grab Lilac's hand and march towards my car.

"Don't forget to wear something sexy, Lilac!" I hear Isabelle scream with a chuckle underlaying her words. The rest of her sentence is lost in the wind as I open the passenger door and allow Lilac into it.

Fucking Isabelle getting on my fucking nerves.

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