The Prince and The Prophecy

PROLOGUE “She is mine!” Giovanni growled and I hid Cassiopeia behind me. She is Giovanni's, my brother's friend. They have known each other for a long time and he fell in love with her. But I only met her a few weeks ago and immediately knew that she was my mate. I haven’t marked her yet but we all know that she is mine! Giovanni despised me more for it. Not that he liked me before, but it only added fuel to his anger towards me. “I’m so sorry brother, but we are mates. We are fated for each other, you know that.” I tried to reason out with him but his mind was clouded by anger and jealousy. “I met her first! We are in love with each other.” he shouted, his voice full of agony. “Giovanni please, we are only friends. You're aware of that,” Cassiopeia said in a calm voice. I didn’t notice that she stopped hiding behind my back. Now she's beside me, her eyes pleading with my brother. “I’m so sorry, but I love Lucius, he’s my other half.” She added, her tears were already streaming down her face. I know that this is also hard for her because he is her dear friend. I want to comfort her but I know that it will only add up to my brother’s unreasonable fury. “Why do you keep taking everything from me?” his voice cracked when he said that and I felt his pain. I shook my head in disagreement. I never wanted to hurt him, even the Moon Goddess can attest to that. “I didn’t take anything from you, Giovan.” It’s the truth. “Stop calling me that! First, you took our parents, then the throne and now the only woman that I loved!” he cried and it almost broke my heart. If only I could do anything, but both are beyond my power. “I didn’t want to be the King, you know that!” I yelled in frustration, but it's the truth. I should have been crowned a long time ago but I keep on delaying it, trying to make our parents see how Giovanni wants the throne more than I do. I didn't want to have a rift with my only brother, but it seems that fate has other plans. I felt Cassiopeia’s hands on my arm, trying to calm me down. “Then how come there will be a coronation for you on the next full moon? You're a liar! You're enjoying this, don't you? Watching me suffer while you take everything that I ever wanted.” he said in spite. “I am the firstborn and it is my birthright. I tried to argue with our father and the council because I know how much you wanted to be the King but they did not agree. It will be against the law…” I explained, but it only fell on deaf ears. He won't listen to reason. “Stop it! Just stop it!” he growled harder, his voice echoed through the woods. I wonder why nobody has noticed yet. Aren't they going to come here to stop this ruckus? “I despise you, Lucius! You’re no longer a brother to me. You’re nothing but a traitor!” he spat. “Giovanni, please, stop this. I’m not worth it. You will find your own mate and only she can give you your true happiness, not me.” said Cassiopeia. "You're wrong Cassie, I already found her but what I felt for her was nothing compared to how much I love you. I already rejected her! Because I know that you were the one for me!" he shouted, leaving my mate and I both in shock. "How could you do that?" Cassie whispered. "I love you Cassie, please run away with me. I can give up the throne, but not you." he pleaded. It hurts to see my brother like this. I wish I could do something but I can't when I am the cause of his pain. "I'm sorry Gio. I can't do that. I won't do that." she said with a determined voice and it infuriated him more. “Then you left me with no choice. I will be the King and you will be mine. I will kill you Lucius!” he growled, then shifted into his Lycan form before pouncing his way to me, but Cassiopeia quickly stood in front of me. “No!” she screamed. “If you kill him, then better kill us both.” Her voice was firm and I suddenly felt proud of her, but this is not the time for that. “Get out of my way Cassiopeia!” Giovanni got more furious. “Don’t do that, Cassie. Just run and let him do what he wants with me. If that will make him happy, then I will happily oblige.” I am the only one who knows about my brother’s struggles. I love him so much and I understand him. Way better than anyone else, even our own parents. He has been hurting since we were little. Most of our parents’ attention was on me while growing up because they wanted me to be ready for my future responsibilities while Giovanni quietly stood in a corner, longing for our parents’ affection. Goddess knows how I tried my best to let our parents be aware of it. I even asked them to let him join my lessons and training but they won’t allow it. We used to be close but he slowly drifted away from me after he gave up on getting even just a little of our parents’ attention. I still tried to look out for him but he just kept on pushing me away. “What?! But he wants to kill you and I know you won’t fight against him. How about me, Lucius? What will happen to me when you’re gone?” she cried, and I am suddenly torn. “I know how strong you are, my queen. You can make it without me.” I gently said, hoping that she would understand. But my head suddenly turned halfway after she slapped me. She slapped me! And goddess help me, but I was in awe. I think I fell for her more if that’s even possible. There must be something wrong with me. “Let’s finish this, Giovanni! We both know he won’t hurt you, so I will fight for him! I will fight for us even if it means killing you!” she growled when she turned to my brother. Her sharp canines and claws came out. “You are willing to do that?” he whispered. It’s almost impossible to hear if not for our Lycan senses. He laughed. He laughed but his tears wouldn’t stop from falling. My heart is breaking for my brother, if only I can do anything for him. But I can’t give him the crown as it is not my choice. And I definitely won’t give him Cassiopeia! Well, if she chose him, maybe I would give way, but that is not the case. “We’ve been good friends for years and you only met him! How can you choose him over me?!” he shouted. “I’m so sorry Giovanni…” she sounded torn. I'm sure that she cares about him. They were friends after all. “You will both regret this!” he growled before running away. After a while, we heard a long howl. A howl that’s full of agony. I embraced Cassiopeia into my arms. “I’m sorry.” I whispered and she hit my arm again and again. “You stupid mutt! I hate you!” she cried in my arms. “You don’t mean that.” I kissed her tears away, hoping that it would also wipe away the pain that I caused her today. I nuzzled my head into Cassiopeia’s neck, breathing in her scent like my life depended on it. Then I snaked my arms around her waist and stroked her protruded belly. She is now pregnant with our first child. Finally, after trying for decades. “I love you so much,” I whispered. We are on the castle’s balcony, admiring the view of the kingdom. “I love you too, my King.” She gently answered while turning her head to me. I met her enchanting grey eyes before I gently kissed her. This woman in my arms is my world. She turned her body to face me while kissing me back. Everything could’ve been perfect if only Giovanni had still been here. But he never came back after that night. I don’t know where he is now and I still feel bad about it. “Ah!” she broke the kiss and clutched her round belly. “Why, what’s wrong?” “I think our pup is on his way out.” “What?!” I stood there in panic until she slapped me. “Stop standing there and bring the doctor now!” I woke up from the trance and did what I had to do. “Aaahhh!” Cassie screamed while holding my hand tightly, breaking my bones in the process, but I just let her. She seemed to be in so much pain, I don’t think I can bear to see her like that. “Push your Highness!” one of the royal healers instructed. “Aagh!” she cried out in pain. “You can do this, Cassie.” I kissed her at the top of her head before she gave one final push and our son finally came out into the world. The moment he landed on the healer’s arms, her eyes rolled at the back of her head and she started shaking. The other healers immediately took my prince from her hands. We were shocked when her eyes opened again. It was white and glowing! We didn't all know what to do, but everyone went back to their senses when my son’s cries pierced through the silence. Even the possessed healer went back to her senses! “I had a vision from the Moon Goddess,” she suddenly announced, and we all looked back at her. “The most powerful Lycan will come to save us. A child of royal blood and his human mate!"