Everybody in the Kingdom knew of Lycan King’s favorite child – Lady Jasmine. The stories of her origins were clouded and there were many rumors. We all knew she was adopted though – not his real blood, however, we also knew that she was his heir. A future Lycan Queen. King had gone through great lengths to ensure this – normally our customs dictate that the heir must be a blood born child – that of a fated or a chosen mate. Nobody existed to King Malakai, not even his born sons or his born daughters – he had a few. They were obviously none too happy about it, but they were also not on par with Lady Jasmine. Fierce as she was beautiful, her name was a terror in anybody who dared crossed the King or even think of it. She was loyal to a fault. You wanted Jasmine as your friend – everybody knew that. And you most definitely did not want her as a foe. She could be extremely cruel too – or so I heard. The legend has it that somebody tried to poison the King – hundreds of years ago – in fact one of his born sons. She found out and had the man tortured and flayed.. When she was done with him, she had wild horses rip his body apart and killed all his family, pups included. Not many dared do anything against the King after that. Surely, not all his subjects were loyal, but they feared her. To his credit King was extremely fair and kind. She was always the enforcer, always the strategist, a calculated cold mind. I know she had no offspring or family of her own, her father was everything to her, and she to him. A true family bond if ever was one.
A melodic voice belonging to a tall, slender blonde with very long hair and gorgeous almost purple eyes, dressed to perfection simply said.. “Miss me, Roman?”. Wearing a dress that was hugging her in all the right places, her slender figure accentuated, her hair bouncing off her shoulders she certainly knew how to make an entrance.
“Ah yes, of course Princess Jasmine.. It is always a pleasure to see Lycans on my territory.. Especially unannounced”, I said sarcastically, not getting up. This was huge disrespect on my part and I knew it, but at this point, I did not care.
“Where are your guards?”, I stated simply looking around... “And Princess, as much as it is pleasure to see you, what are you doing here?”
She scanned the room briefly, and moved closer to the chair across my desk.. Maps of the north have been scattered across, to which she gave a short glance.
“I see you are busy, Alpha King”, she said with a cold smile.. War not going the way it is supposed to? People doubting your abilities? Your rule? No son yet?”, she said mockingly, with a sly smile, her eyes cold as ice, never leaving mine.. “Also Roman, it is customary to bow to a member of a Royal Lycan family, especially the Crown Princess, the future Queen”, she said.
My wolf was enraged and wanted to kill her on the spot. Her words were salt to my wounds, and her demands of bowing were simply there to humiliate me. I had no patience with her or her father to be honest, but had to play nice…
“It is nothing I cannot handle”, I simply said curtly… “And as for protocols, you are not following them – you are intruding on MY territory, without formal announcement or permission” I said, again not getting up.. “And again and much more importantly, Princess, what are you doing here?”
“Can a girl just stop by and see an old friend, she said, sitting down crossing her long legs.. Besides, I was in the neighborhood, she said looking at her long manicured nails”..
“Neighborhood???? Your father’s palace is on a different continent!!! What are you doing here????????????????”, now I started to roar, Caleb unhappy and wanting control..
“Shush your puppy Roman, she said sternly. I am not here to fight, and besides, Alpha King or not, you would lose”… she said plainly. Unfortunately, I knew she was right. Hers was the royal Lycan bloodline, and she was one of the strongest warriors her father had. Her strength and ability were legendary, she had been in command of his forces for centuries now and we all knew that she was of the reasons why King Malakai was still alive.
“You have been hiding things from father and I… her eyes were watching me intently… “Father is not pleased, she said.. And you know, how he is when he is not pleased”, she said, her eyes never leaving mine.
“I have not hid anything from neither you nor the King”, I spat out, getting more and more pissed off…
She was studying my face and expressions..
Tss. Tsss.. “You do not know”, she started laughing, arching her eyebrows, looking at me pitifully.
“How is it that you do not know?” Her voice was echoing now everywhere with mocking laughter.. “Mighty Alpha King.. it appears Alpha King Jonathan retired way too early” she said in between laughter..
“What does my father have to do with this?”.. “SPEAK PLAINLY! You are not making any sense Jasmine!!!!What I all this nonsense and what am I supposedly hiding from you or the King??”
“What do you actually know of your witch”? her cold lilac eyes now met me with force… To this I was speechless.
Dragana POVAfter my events in the bathtub, I realized I had to come up with the plan to find Alpha King his mate, as quickly as possible.. The situation I was in was no longer sustainable. I could not go living like this – and I most definitely could not allow him to capture me as his breeder. Despite my obvious reaction and attraction to Roman, I rationalized that it was fantasy and my biological body response .As a virgin, untouched by a man, it was not unnatural that after 25 years of celibacy a man’s touch could get me excited or that I would seek to masturbate and envision things I rationalized. Reality was and is that I did not want to be used and treated as trash or a breeder by anyone. The reality was that Roman needed an heir which only left me with the one option – find his mate find him his fated Queen Luna and be done with it. You have a little girl’s crush I said to myself, and you are a lonely, horny little girl, I said to myself. “Are you sure of that?” the voice said
Roman’s POVSmug look on her face, her eyes glued on me like needless told me I needed to be very, very careful in how I answer.. “I know everything about Dragana.. she has been here for over 10 years, she has grown up in the pack” I said tactfully. I was not going to reveal any of my desires or feelings to Jasmine – Lycan Princess or not… Plus I was going to keep as much of my cards close to my chest – it sounded as if she knew something and perhaps playing it cool with her, I could discover something in the process. Jasmine was much older then me, and as a Lycan Princess she had vast knowledge and various resources at her disposal. Coupled with the fact that she was centuries old, even though that was not visible, maybe this conversation can prove to be useful – maybe she can tell me something of value, I reasoned with myself. “Perhaps, Jasmine knows how to amplify Dragana’s powers, or help in some way to her seeing through the veil, perhaps we can get our mate that way” Caleb said
Coughing up I cursed the day I got to know King Malakai and Lady Jasmine. I was totally humiliated, and had to retain whatever semblance of my pride. “Silver Lycan is a fable, Lady Jasmine. I did not think that a creature as old as you would believe in children stories”, I said snickering and sipping the bourbon she poured from my drink cabinet.She was sitting back in her chair, her long legs crossed looking at me as if I were the stupidest person in the universe… “Tsss tssssk.. Alpha King, you have much to learn – you really can be an idiot”, she said exasperated.“This is the story set in a time way before your existence..” she started, looking at me in an expression I could not define…”Long time ago, in the Balkan mountains. You of course know the story of creation, and that of each of our species, of course. You know of your elder Lakota, she mused and ours, Queen Rowena”, she continued.. I simply nodded, my neck still hurting, looking at her.However, there is another story whi
Banging on my door was simply intensifying. Fresh from my dream of the white wolf and her family, I was little groggy. Somehow in my dream I managed to get dirty- this happened from time to time – I had some dirt on my feet… “Dragana, hurry up” Beta Art boomed continuously banging on the door.“Hold on, do not break my door – easy there Art”, I said, getting up and trying to put myself together… “Alpha King is demanding to see you again”.. On these words I literally froze.. I was not ready to see him just now, especially twice in one day.. “in his chambers again???” I asked, my voice slightly trembling.. “No, and please hurry. Also Dragana, we have a visitor, so please wear something more formal”.. Art retorted ..Oh just great, I thought to myself.. All I needed is a visitor where I had to pretend, be on some uppity meeting, especially after today. Today was confusing me in so many ways and I still have to come to terms with what all that was about with the Alpha King. For now, at le
His stone face told me he was pissed.. His aura was pulsating anger and all kinds of confusing emotions – fear, anxiety, intimidation.. I did not know what to make of the whole mix.. All of the day today was extremely strange. I did not need Alpha King to be pissed at me again, I did not need to be in the room with him after our encounter and after my tub. The thoughts of the tub escapades crossed my mind and I blushed – although I tried my best to control myself and now show much to him…“Perhaps this is for the best” he said getting up slowly, his voice with a strange, menacing undertone. “You have been useless in finding me a mate, despite your promises.. And with you gone, maybe I can focus and stop relying on somebody so pathetic and actually find me a mate worthy to be my Queen Luna”.. His words stung incredibly and I felt as if somebody grabbed my heard by iron fist. I did not think I deserved his vitriol, yet I was on the receiving end of it.. “He is upset with the Princess, h
Roman’s words hurt more than I thought. I realized that perhaps I cared for him also more then I was willing to admit. Putting myself together, I got out only to see Beta Art’s stoic face looking at me with unreadable expression. “Are you ok?” he asked, his eyes never leaving me..I simply nodded trying to keep whatever pride and dignity I had left. Werewolves had excellent sense of smell and hearing.. He had to have heard and known or perhaps guessed as to what transpired. The thought of Roman’s hot breath and his hands made me blush..“Alpha King Johnathan will be happy to see you”, he continued trying to maintain neutral conversation… “I can take you?”..“Fresh air will do me good.. I’ll walk through the forest by the south of the compound” I said.. Lake house is not far away”.. “Are you sure??”..his kind eyes were asking.. “Sun is setting – it maybe dangerous out there”..“Nobody dares come to Alpha King lands, you know that”, I said now laughing trying to brush of his concern and
Roman POVWhat an absolutely weird fucking day, I thought to myself .. The smell of fresh cut roses was still lingering when Dragana left.. She always smelled like that and I was yet to meet any other creature who had that freshness, yet opulence and sensuality of smell like her. Give it to father to create new set of blue balls I though.. Lady Jasmine certainly threw the wrench in my plans, without any consideration. She never told me she will be taking her. This was not part of the discussion – likely for purpose. She likely knew I would not agree to it willingly, and being put under the command of the Royal Lycan family – I had no choice. Had she broached the subject, perhaps I could have negotiated something. She indeed was a very shrewd woman – very dangerous one, I thought to myself. How will Dragana help me find a mate now that she will be gone? More importantly, how if I do not find a mate will I have an offspring if Dragana was not there. I was unaware of her full lineage unt
Dragana’s POVTwo dead bodies in the flowery meadow, a Lycan princess covered in blood of my enemies.. I stood frozen in the spot… Lady Jasmine, covered in blood, her eyes glowing looked majestic.. And scary. Yet, I was not afraid of her.. There was familiarity with this woman, her aura tangible to me. She was open to me and I felt safe with her. There was something abut her and I could not place it, but for now, I knew no harm would ever come to me with her around.. She felt familiar. “You could have handled that yourself Dragana”, her melodic voice reasoned.. “I have no wolf – I gave that up when I opted for a witch existence”, I said in small voice.. “Thank you for saving me..” I said tears slowly coming to my eyes, the full gravity of the situation finally hitting me... She snickered and wiped her mouth off, still bloody though.. “As I said, you could have handled them yourself.. You do not need anyone’s help, least of all mine..”.. Her eyes were exploring me with curiosity as she
Beta Artemis POVAs we sat by the willowy tree in the ever-encompassing darkness, I started to feel…. Well… different, would be the best explanation. There was something here… Something an eye could not see, something that devoured your very soul. Emir whimpered, and this was strange – my wolf was a warrior, unfazed by anything. Roman was chewing on his food, looking at me strangely, his eyes flickering between him and Caleb, something happening, something he did not share. “Can you reach Caleb?”, I asked Emir and the definite answer was no. Our wolves could not communicate to one another and that was a huge red flag! I did not know what was happening. The darkness around us started moving and through the shadows I heard her voice… Faint at first, but then I felt her. I felt her calling to me, I felt her presence, her scent, her ever-present light… I opened my eyes, and there she stood before me, my beautiful Dragana, smiling at me, in flesh.It had only been moments since we left the
Roman POVWe sat down in the darkness that enveloped us. It was not like anything we had ever seen, it was permeating, ever dark, ever shadowy. It almost all felt unreal, as if we stepped into a realm unseen, something made of the darkness itself. Although I was initially reluctant to have Art join me, I was grateful for his presence, for his stoic aura and his support. Still chewing on a piece of beef jerky, I set up a temporary camp. We had moved far, and I knew we did not have a lot of time, but I needed to talk to him. Events back home did not allow us a conversation, and I needed to speak to the only other man Dragana loved. I needed to come up with a plan. Just in case. Just in case I did not make it out of here, I needed to know that he would love her as she deserved to be loved. In truth, I already knew that, but somehow, my heart was heavy, and I simply needed my friend.I knew he was restless seeing the dark waters. In truth. I was too; however, I did not want to admit it. I
Artemis POV When Dragana opened up the portal, I did not know what to expect. I knew we were going into a treacherous situation – by all accounts. What I read about the Yamuna River, coupled with what King Solomon said, did not look promising or encouraging. Surely, we were walking into danger, but none of that mattered. I loved her. I loved her with every breath I took and would gladly lay my life down for her, as I would for Roman. My connection to him was different, but there was love in my heart for him too, love, loyalty and friendship that only came from years of shared life like we had. We live in a strange world, one that to humans, at least most, would be incomprehensible. When I was young, I thought about their ways, the way they love, the way they live. I wondered what my life would be if I were born a human. I observed them, read about them, and thought to myself. Imagine having to work so hard, continuously on the verge of injury or death, struggling for most hours of you
Dragana POV“Regina Dominum???? You are not the Luna Queen yet, Alice!!!” I heard a strong booming voice of Alpha King Jonathan as strong as a command almost, his eyes piercing and blazing at her. I could tell he was none the more pleased with her invoking the ancient rite. “My son has not marked you, nor mated you from what I can tell from your scent… You do smell… well.. different… in some way, that I must admit… But you do not smell of my blood!!! You do not smell of Spieta line!!” he now all but growled, his hazel eyes turning almost crimson. I had never seen him that mad, nor did I know that his eyes had such a deadly hue to it. He looked quite intimidating, in fact.“Ah… ah.. no matter old timer”, Alice snickered.. “Roman and I will be mated and marked in no time, as soon as he is back from whatever idiotic and self-serving trip this betrayer, this murderer sent him to. In fact, how do we know that she is not planning to overtake the pack itself???? She must have sent Roman to h
Dragana POVGamma Aldar’s wife, Rose, looked bewildered and her face was a river of tears. A petite brunette with beautiful, amber-colored eyes, she held his body as if it were a baby, her sobs piercing my very soul. I knew they were fated mates, and I knew they had children. In fact, I remember delivering one of their sons many years ago, a chubby blonde boy with his mother’s eyes. I could not imagine or fathom the pain she was going through, and my heart went out to her. I was still in shock that somehow the dead man’s hand had the piece of my dress, covered in blood, but that was not my main concern. It should have been.“IT WAS HER!!!! SHE KILLED HIM!”, came the screeching voice of Alice, storming with purpose from a corner of the circle, her eyes flaming with fury, her hand outstretched and pointed at me. Everybody’s eyes turned toward me, confused and insecure, doubt in their eyes, yet nobody said anything. Rose lifted her eyes up to me, puffy and red, looking between me and Ali
Dragana POVMy aunt and her husband excused themselves to go meet with their children. It was just yesterday that they all arrived, and I was excited about meeting my relatives. I understood most favored a witch gene, although a couple of them were hybrids, so we had a lot to discuss. Fluttering emotions were overcoming me every time I thought of them. Having a family also made me feel stronger, and an anchor if you will, albeit a little insecure. For somebody who did not even know I had a family, I now swam in family relationships, magic, lovers and everything in between. My whole world had been tossed upside down and I was still adjusting to it.My great-grandfather, the sage of old times, looked at me with tenderness. “My sweet child…. A new day, a new dawn is coming into your life… The question you need to ask yourself, is are you going to allow it to control you… Or will you step up and control it?”, he asked, as we made way toward the packhouse. My stomach was grumbling, and I o
Dragana POVWatching both of them getting ready to go to Yamuna, to risk their lives for Jasmine, tightened my heart and nearly made me breathless. The weight of what I asked of them weighed heavy on me, and while I appreciated their bravado and their honor in making sure that I understood that none of this was my fault, none my responsibility, deep down I knew better. I also knew that no matter what, I could not choose between them. I knew in my heart that I loved Roman, in spite of all the past, in spite of fear that he would never see me as an equal, never see me as somebody worthy. Many years of solitude within the pack, many years of cold shoulder and downright emotional abuse, did not disappear simply because he confessed his love. I did not know if they ever would and if I ever would fully make peace with this. However, right now, at this moment, as we stood there, on the cusp of change and on the cusp of their departure, I could not allow such a burden to be placed on either o
Roman POV“Yamuna River…..” I heard Solomon’s strong voice echoing around our odd gathered group, snapping me from my thoughts of my night with Dragana and her revelation of truly being my mate. I was ecstatic and apprehensive all at the same time, as even though Aisha and Caleb had acknowledged and recognized each other, Dragana did not accept me, nor did we mate, nor was she marked. I did not know how to feel about it all, but one thing was certain. At least I was not crazy, well, not as crazy as everyone thought anyway. I knew I had seen the beautiful white wolf; Caleb and I knew she was our mate. What sorcery Alice was playing at and why to fake mate bond, I did not know. Both Dragana and I also thought that perhaps there would be a possibility of her being an unwilling victim of a larger force at play. We had a plan. A plan I was going to discuss with Art and Gamma Aldar when I returned. Dragana had promised to discuss this with Solomon and the Slavic Coven, her uncle, Lord Samue
Roman POVWe made an odd crowd standing under the blue-blooming tree. Dragana, Lady Asma, Lord Samuel, King Solomon, Art, and I. Odd crowd indeed. It was the early morning hours and we only had two days left until we had to return with the Blessed Blade, the only way to save Lady Jasmine from certain death. Dragana stood there stoically in a white gown that in the morning sun made her look etheric. Her silver, sparkling eyes stood out more than usual and I could see a gentle smile whenever she gazed at Art or myself. I had a lot of emotions raging within me, a lot that I was trying to understand after my night with her.Flashback*****************I had to know. I had to ask her, even though somehow, inexplicably, even though she claimed I meant nothing to her, I could feel that she was lying. I knew that her body melted into mine as I had into her, a feeling unlike any other in my life. I knew she felt it, I knew she felt some type of a deeper connection. I could see I had put her on