The Prince and The Prophecy

CHAPTER TWO

“What the hell are you thinking again, Lucas?!” the king’s voice boomed and echoed throughout the whole palace the moment I entered his study.

I can bet that he was even heard throughout the whole kingdom!

“Why? What did I do?” I asked, trying hard to sound innocent.

“And you have the guts to ask that! You are the Prince! And soon to be the next king and yet you behave like this?” he growled and looked at me in dismay.

“What now? Skipping class and breaching the school’s security? I expect way better than this from you!” he slammed his fists on his table, which made me flinch a little.

“Were you trying to insult the security that I put in that school? Or are you trying to insult me?” he was seething in anger.

“Of course not, Father! I just got bored in History class. Maybe you should do something to remove it from the school curriculum.”

“You got bored? Are you out of your mind?” he growled, causing me to almost jump.

My father is one hell of a scary Lycan!

“History is important. It helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be. The past causes the present and so, the future. You, of all people, should study it because you will be the future.” He explained with a frown.

I almost groaned.

I skipped class to get away from Mr. Thanasi’s lectures and now I end up having more from my father. I can’t pick which one is better or worse.

“Then maybe you could change the professor? Mr. Thanasi is really bo- I mean he's too old to still be teaching. He should retire already.”

“Stop it! I don’t want to hear your excuses, Lucas! You’re already nineteen, if you’re not aware, not some naughty kid. Act like your age. You’re dragging disgrace to our name. Go to your room. Now!”

“As you wish, Your Majesty,” I quietly said, before turning to follow his order.

I went straight to the balcony when I reached my bedroom. I took a deep breath as I relished the scene that stood before me. The view from here is rather spectacular. It always helps me to relax and calm my senses.

Outside the castle is a meticulously landscaped garden filled with different flowers in various sizes and colors. In the middle of it stands a fountain with a statue of a beautiful woman that represents the moon goddess. She’s holding a vessel where the water comes out and flows down to her feet.

Paved roads are on either side of the fountain leading to the grand entrance of the castle. They were lined with tall pine trees on the sides.

There’s a lake on the right side that seems to be sparkling as the rays of the sun hit its surface. It is a home for different kinds of fish. Water birds like flamingos and egrets are also scattered around the area, as well as other land animals and insects.

On the left, there is a large hedge maze where young children are now having fun, playing hide and seek. They should be careful; I was once trapped in that giant maze when I was a boy. Even my strong sense of smell didn’t help, as the garden maze was made from different aromatic plants that will confuse your senses.

Different sports fields were also carefully laid out around the area for almost every kind of sport one can imagine. We have fields for soccer, baseball, hockey and others. Not too far away from the stone castle, stands the most prestigious university in the land.

The Imperial University is where I escaped from earlier.

The west side is mostly occupied with vast farmlands and vineyards, while on the east lies a lush rainforest bounded by giant mountains.

In these lands, different werewolf packs reside. The Blood Moon Pack, Shadow Hunters, Moon Howler and Night Shade pack just to mention a few. All of them consisted of werewolves. The remaining Lycans, on the other hand, live here in the Capitol, the center of the kingdom.

All of these lands belong to our kingdom, which is ruled by my father, King Lucius, the Lycan king. All the remaining Lycans and werewolves in the world reside here, hidden from the rest of the world.

Well, except from rogues, of course.

Rogues are werewolves who do not belong to any pack. They are lone wolves who were either kicked out of their pack because they committed a crime or left on their own free will. Some of them left the kingdom for the human world. They were locked there when our kingdom was closed after the numerous wars.

Powerful witches created a barrier that separates our territory from the human world a long time ago. I always wonder what lies beyond those barriers.

A knock on the door awakened me from my thoughts.

“You don’t have to knock Mother,” I whispered. I know it’s her, I know her sweet scent very well. It smells warm and homey, if that’s even possible.

I heard the door open but I just continued to stare in front of me. She hugged me from behind before taking a seat on one of the chairs beside me.

“You seem to piss your father again, son.” She said, her voice had a hint of amusement.

She is the complete opposite of my uptight and overly strict father.

“Well, it seems that it’s all I ever do.” I replied in a sing-song tone before chuckling.

“Hmm, don’t be too hard on yourself. I hate history too, so there is no doubt that you took it from me.” I laughed before hugging my mother.

“I took everything from you.” Which is the truth.

We have the same grey eyes and raven black hair, even the carefree personality. The problem is, my father adores Mother’s carefree behavior, but he hates mine.

“No, you got your nose from your father. And your lips, your height, your build…” she whispered, pointing to my nose and lips before she caressed my hair lovingly.

“Please understand your father. He’s only worried about you.”

“I’m not sure about that.” Thinking about my father’s state earlier, I’m sure worry is far from his mind.

“Of course he is. You’re his only son, his only heir. He just wants you to be ready. You’re already nineteen and you will inherit the throne a couple of years from now. It’s a big responsibility,” she gently explained.

“I am well aware of that fact, but I don’t know if I will ever be ready, Mother.”

“Why won’t you be? You’re our son, you were born ready.” I just sighed and did not attempt to argue anymore. I just enjoyed the feeling of her warmth and love.

I groaned as the light hit my eyes. I squinted my eyes as I searched for the one responsible for it.

“Good morning your highness, it’s time to get up now.” said the owner of the voice who opened the curtains to my windows.

“Ugh! Leave me alone Minda.” I groaned at the Omega servant before covering my head with my large pillow.

“Breakfast is already served and you know the king. He won’t like it if you keep them and the food waiting.” She said after pulling the pillow from me.

“Okay, okay.” I dragged myself out of bed and went straight to my bathroom.

Minda has been taking care of me since I was little. She’s like a second mother to me. That’s why she has the guts to order me around.

I went down to the dining hall as soon as I finished dressing up.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.” I even bowed a little when I saw my father, then I went up to Mother to kiss her cheek. I settled down in my seat and the servers immediately took care of my food.

“How was your sleep, son?” mother gently asked.

“It would have been wonderful if not only for Minda, who disturbed my deep slumber.” I teased.

“Then get up on your own next time. That way, Minda doesn’t have to bother herself just to wake you up!” the king snapped at me.

Hmm. Seems like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

“That’s enough, you two. Let’s just eat.”

We started eating in silence. Mother tried to change the atmosphere by telling some funny stories about what she did yesterday. I remained quiet but my father responds to her sometimes.

“Rameses and Nasir will escort you to the university today,” father declared after mother finished telling him about her ventures yesterday.

I almost choked on the meat that was inside my mouth when I heard it.

“What?!”I exclaimed in aghast.

“You heard what I said.” He sternly answered.

“But why?” I yelled.

“Really Lucas? That’s all you can say?” my wolf taunted me. I think I’m having a speech problem now.

“You’re seriously asking that?” he raised one eyebrow while looking at me over his cup of coffee.

“That’s enough boys.” My mother calmly rebuked me before

I could say anything else. “Lucas, be a good boy and just listen to your father, okay?” she looked at me with her pleading eyes and I just heaved a sigh.

“Very well.” I can’t say no to her. I love my Mother so much.

I stood up when I realized that my father wouldn’t say anything anymore, I just lost my appetite.

“Are you finished?” she asked.

“Yes mother, I have to go now.” I went to kiss her again before storming out of the dining hall without even throwing a glance at my father. The two warriors immediately went after me.

My wolf is howling in my head, he wants to throw a fight, but I defied him.

I boredly walked inside the gates of the campus, with both Rameses and Nasir tailing behind me. All eyes immediately turned to my direction, mainly from the she-wolves. I almost groaned at the unwanted attention that they were giving me.

I hate those looks in their eyes, it looks like they’re eyeing some kind of delicious meat in front of them. Along with those looks are whispers that sound like buzzing bees to my ears.

I wanted to shout at them to shut the hell up but I knew that would just infuriate my father more. So I have no choice but to ignore them as usual.

Actually, I was used to it. Because aside from the good looks that I’m sure I possess, I am also the heir of the kingdom. That makes me the main target of all these power-hungry shewolves who want to be queen someday.

I enjoyed it for a while. In fact, I even took advantage of it most of the time when I was younger.

Who would reject a free lay? Well, not me. Before.

But I eventually got tired of it. Hopping from one shewolf to another isn’t as exciting anymore. It’s more than annoying, especially when they start to talk about their future plans with me after just one steamy night.

Then I noticed that they were now looking at the two Lycan warriors behind me. I walked briskly to find some place hidden from everyone’s prying eyes.

“Are you seriously going to follow me everywhere?” I turned to my guards as soon as we were out of sight, keeping my voice low but threatening.

“My apologies, Your Highness, we are just taking orders from the king.” The other man explained with his head bowed down. I assessed their physical powers, contemplating silently with my wolf if there was a chance for us to take them down.

“Of course we can take them down!” Ryker, my wolf growled in my head.

“Shut it. They have been heavily trained warriors since they were young. We won’t stand a chance.” I also train almost every day, but for a limited time only, because I also have a lot of things to do aside from it.

“You dimwit! We are of royal blood. We’re undefeatable!”

“Ah, you’re so full of yourself mutt! Do you take my father as stupid? Do you think he will send someone that I can easily defeat?”

“No, the king is certainly not stupid, but you certainly are!” he growled, and that’s it. I shut him out.

I went to my first class and when I went inside, the two guards also came in! I shot them a furious stare before I went out again.

“What, are you two going with me inside?”

“Apologies your highness, but we’re just- “ I quickly cut him off.

“Following orders blah blah! Can’t you just stay out of the door? You will distract other students!”

They just looked at each other, probably mind linking to talk about what they’re going to do.

“There’s no other way out of the classroom aside from these two doors. You can guard each door. I don’t care, just stay the hell out!” I grumbled, then stormed inside the classroom, fighting the urge to turn it inside out...