CHAPTER 3 (XAVIER’S POV)

     It was another cold morning in the Blood Moon Pack and the very fact that my uncle, Lartes had summoned me to the throne room was enough to spoil my day. I flashed a feigned smile to the guard that broke the news to me and I quickly wore a leather jacket. I knew I had to give my uncle and his guards the impression that I was on their side. The tiniest hint of treason would have meant my warm blood watering the fields.

My uncle, Lartes Octavian had assumed the role of the Lycan King of our pack, the Blood Moon Pack, and leader of the Council of Werewolves and Lycans after the mysterious death of my parents a year ago, and although the pack doctor had made a public announcement that their death was of natural causes, I never believed it. It was too much of a coincidence; the two of them died one night, and my uncle suddenly returned from his journey halfway across the West the next day. I knew he had a hand in their death and ever since then, I had devoted my time to secretly finding a way to prove it and take my throne, which he claimed he was keeping safe for me, from him.

As we approached the throne room, I heard the faint sound of a man screaming and I paused to listen.

“Come on, Prince Xavier,” the guard urged me on. “You know your Uncle doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

I scoffed silently and kept walking till we got to the door. The guard pushed it open and as soon as I stepped in, the throne room fell silent. My Uncle, Lartes sat on the throne, at the extreme end of the throne room and a man in chains was hanging face down from the ceiling right in front of him. A girl about my age or younger sat beside him, with some luggage on the floor beside her and from the distance, I tried to make out her face. She could not have been any of my sister’s because they had all been married out to Princes of the Island Packs. As I tried to take in the scene before me, my uncle called out to me.

“Come on, Xavier,” my uncle said. “We have a lot of catching up to do, and some criminals to attend to as well.”

As I walked towards him, I resisted the urge to unsheathe my dagger and stab his throat. Since the death of my parents, all he had done had been contrary to their wishes. Daily, he soiled the much reverred throne room, slowly turning it into a torture house for his criminals. He even changed the laws of the Council and made a new law, requesting taxes from all packs in the council. Every single thing that my Uncle, Lartes did was a mockery of the high standards that my father had managed to set.

Finally, I got to the throne where he sat, and for a split second, my eyes met with the girl’s. She looked a little pale but she was beautiful. She didn’t look familiar, like any of the faces that I had seen in our pack and something told me that my Uncle was up to something. I stared into her sea-green eyes for a while and I flashed her a smile before turning back to face my Uncle.

“Uncle Lartes,” I said bowing slightly.

“You don’t have to,” my uncle smiled at me. “One day, you would be the King yourself, and I, your subject.”

I smiled at his words and I made myself comfortable on the stool beside him.

“We have a new prisoner,” he smiled at me. “This one was caught plotting against me.”

I looked up at the disfigured face of the person hanging from the ceiling and I had to pinch myself to remain in check. Hanging on the metal chains from the ceiling above me was Harrison, one of the members of my secret community plotting to overthrow my evil uncle.

“Tell me, Xavier,” my uncle continued. “What do you think we should do to this one?”

I stared up at Harrison. For once in my life, I was afraid. I realized that I was not as smart as I thought. My evil uncle had played his cards better and won me at my own game.

“I…I…I think we can use him as an example,” I stammered. “Behead him and have his head on a spike. That would teach the others a lesson. Surely, he would have other friends plotting against you as well.”

My Uncle stared at me for a moment and I knew that the little seed I had just planted in his heart was germinating.

The logic was simple – If he knew that Harrison had other friends plotting against him, he would most likely spare him a few more days and try to get some information from him. That would buy me time to think of a way to release him.

“I must confess that you are learning very fast,” my uncle said smiling. “But killing him isn’t the best option now. Do you know what is?”

“No, Uncle,” I feigned ignorance. “What do you think we should do now?”

“I say we torture him and get more names from his mouth,” my uncle smiled. “I say you torture him and your betrothed can watch her future King.”

“Betrothed?”

I turned around and for the second time, my eyes met hers. This time, she was the one that smiled at me, and from the smile, I knew at once – she didn’t love me, or even want my riches. She had a plan. She was definitely working with my Uncle.”

“Uncle Lartes,” I started. “I don’t think….”

“Don’t keep the pretty maiden waiting,” my uncle cut in. He turned to face her. “Kira isn’t it?”

“Anna,” she replied quickly.

“Thought Faustus said her name was Kira,” my uncle grunted.

“He made a mistake,” Anna replied quickly. “My name is Anna.”

“Well Anna,” My Uncle was beaming with smiles. “Enjoy the show.”

I stood up from the stool and faced Harrison thinking of the best way I could torture him and still maintain our friendship.

“Sorry buddy,” I muttered to myself. “But this is gonna hurt.”

I plunged a dagger through his forearm and he could have screamed if not that he was gagged heavily.

“Yes?” I mocked. “Are you trying to say something? Oh, I forgot that you’ve got something in your mouth.”

I plunged my dagger again, deeper this time and I watched as his eyes bulged out of their sockets.

“What would come next would be worse if you don’t give me the names of your friends,” I said eyeing him.

I pulled the rags out of his mouth and he coughed loudly for about a minute before speaking again.

“Martins,” He coughed again. “He is one of us. Please bring me down now. I’ll tell you more.”

I turned to face my Uncle and he gave me a nod of approval. Heaving a sigh of relief, I turned back to Harrison.

“Lucky you,” I muttered. “I owe you one for the act.”

I caught him a wink before I dragged the chain down from the ceiling. Harrison fell to the floor with a loud thud, the crimson red blood from his battered body, staining the sparkling white floors of the throne room.

“You have impressed me, Xavier,” my Uncle said, giving me a gentle pat on the back. “Slowly, all who don’t want to see us reign would fall.”

Us? I scoffed at his remarks and just then, I remembered that we were not alone. Anna was still there…my supposed mate. There was no way I was going to allow him to bring in his minion to keep an eye on me.

“About Anna,” I started, my eyes fixed on her. “Uncle, could we talk in private?”

“Come on. She’s pretty,” he pressed. “A little thin. Nothing a good meal for a few months can’t solve. What do you say?”

“I can’t, Uncle,” I shook my head. “I don’t want her.”

“You have someone else in mind?” he frowned.

“Not exactly,” I replied. “I don’t think I’m ready for it.”

“You need to get yourself prepared, Xavier,” my uncle said. “One day, you would be King. What would you tell your subjects? That you are not ready?”

“I would know when the time is right,” I replied stubbornly. “But for now, I’m sorry. I, Xavier Octavian reject you Anna as my mate.”

My Uncle stared across the throne room at her and then dragged me to a corner.

“Are you mad, boy? You can’t just reject her like that!” he whispered in my ears. “She is royalty as much as you are.”

“Royalty shouldn’t be that thin,” I grunted. “But that’s not the point. I barely know her, Uncle.”

“You don’t need to know much about her,” My Uncle frowned. “I’ll tell you what’s important – she is the daughter of Alpha Faustus. You do know that their lands have had a famine for almost a year. That can explain why she looks pale. This marriage would give us access to the river packs. You know Alpha Faustus is very much respected there. It would be a great alliance. And what does he need from us? Just our food!”

“I have always obeyed you, Uncle,” I said through gritted teeth. “But I would not do this one thing. I would find my mate in due time. She is not the one.”

I expected him to use brute force as usual. I expected him to command me to accept Anna as my mate, but he didn’t. He smiled at me and patted me on the back.

“Very well boy,” he said. “You’re growing up to be a man now, making your own decisions and all.” He turned to face Anna. “I’m sorry for the little show here, but my nephew has refused you as his mate. Accept his rejection and I’ll have my best guards accompany you back to your father’s pack with a carriage filled with food and wine.”

I frowned at my Uncle, wondering what his plan was. Why had he given up so easily? Didn’t he want her spying on me again?

“It is not about the food, my King,” Anna sighed and bowed gracefully. “I do not have a place at my Father’s table. I am of age and I believe Xavier is the right man for me. Permit me to stay here a couple of months and win his trust?”

I stared at her in disbelief and then turned to my Uncle. So that was their plan? To have her here and watch me? There was no way I was accepting that.

“No,” I bellowed. “You would go back to your father’s pack by daylight tomorrow. You are not welcome here.”

“That is not your decision to make, Xavier,” my uncle cut in. “I have decided that she would be here for the next six moons. If you still don’t see her as a worthy mate then she would be on her way.”

Turning to glance across at Anna, I saw the mischievous smile that danced across her lips, and I knew at once that the next six moons were going to be the worst. Before I could object any further, we heard a loud thud from outside.

A guard burst in immediately, panting and sweating, and the very fact that he did not bother to knock first was enough to tell us that there was trouble.

“My King!”

“What is it?” my uncle boomed.

“An invasion,” he managed to splutter. “Our enemies have breached the walls of the city!”