Introductions
1471 Words
Marcus POV
“Where the hell is she?” Marcus and his unit could hear the King grumbling. Hell, the whole room probably could. Marcus looked around the gigantic ballroom as they stood at one of the high tables enjoying a drink and talking among themselves.
His eyes moved to the press, who were sitting in the back of the room, on white couches, speaking in hushed whispers. She was definitely not making a good first impression, that’s for sure. The men had waited at dinner, waited for her to show up, so they could start the formal introductions with the press in the room. Still, after about half an hour of waiting, one of the King’s spokesman came forward with a nervous laugh, telling them they would start dinner and that the Princess was running a little late.
“Probably a wardrobe malfunction,” One of the men at the table laughed, causing part of the group to chuckle along.
“Girls and their dresses, am I right?” The mockery continued. Not one of Marcus’ men laughed along. Something else must be going on for the King not to be able to mind-link his daughter.
“She’s probably reluctant to the idea of a chosen mate,” Benjamin quietly stated. Marcus contemplated that for a while. That could be it. She was the Princess after all. Probably not used to taking orders. A spoiled brat most likely.
“Kind of rude to make us all wait,” Marcus mumbled under his breath. He just wanted to get these damn trials over with, so he could go back to his quiet existence back home. In his beautiful pack.
Marcus wasn’t sure about much in life, but he was sure about one thing. He would never have a Luna. He didn’t want a mate. Not now, nor ever. After everything he had witnessed his sisters going through because of the mate bond. Nope. He didn’t want it. It seemed like more trouble than it was worth to be honest.
He would just quietly live out his days until one of his sister’s children were old enough to take over. Probably Magnus, his sister Mackenzie’s youngest.
“But what about a breeder?” Alexander had casually asked one day, when Marcus had brought up the idea of leaving his pack to one of his nephews of nieces.
“No,” He had simply answered. A breeder would mean trouble. No mother wolf in their right mind would leave a child behind. So he would be stuck with a woman, the mother of his child, who would eventually want to become the Luna.
No. That’s not what he wanted.
“Gentlemen, may I have your attention please,” The King’s voice boomed across the room. He stood up from his seat at the Royal table. Snooty-looking men and women surrounded him. Marcus assumed they were members of the Royal Council. “Since my daughter, Sarah, is running more than fashionably late,” A few of the people in the room laughed, “I think it’s time for us to start the introductions,” murmuring broke out between the members of the press, as they raced towards the stage, ready to record everything the King was saying.
“When your name is called, please come up to the stage, address your full name, what pack you are from and your age,” The King stated, “I will begin,” He chuckled.
“My name is William Barclay, I am the last living male member of the Barclay family, until Sarah gives me grandchildren, that is,” He smiled softly. The man clearly loved his daughter, it was obvious for all to see. “I am one hundred and thirty seven years old and the Alpha of the Kinloch Lake pack here in Scotland…oh, and I’m also the King of werewolves,” he ended with a chuckle.
“He’s funny,” Alexander nudged Marcus with his elbow, laughing along with everyone else.
“He’s pretty old,” Marcus noted, though he looked to be in his late forties. He was curious as to why the man only had one heir. Surely, he could have taken a new Queen.
“Never took another after Sarah’s mother died in a rogue attack,” Noah said, as if reading Marcus’ mind.
“He must have loved her very much,” Benjamin interjected with a thoughtful look on his face.
“Word has it he was heartbroken,” Noah nodded, before continuing, “it is common knowledge that he has many lovers though, but is careful not to conceive another child. Or so it seems,”
Marcus could only imagine the urges the man must have. He had them too being a pure blooded Alpha male, but being the King must make them even more prominent.
Marcus had had many lovers as well over the years. He tended to stay away from omegas though, since they mostly didn’t have the stamina to handle an Alpha male, and Marcus had stamina in spades.
He mostly kept to the willing sisters or daughters of the Alphas he was allied to, as well as upper-ranked wolves’ daughters. He was very careful to always use protection and to make it very clear from the beginning that it was just s*x, nothing more.
He didn’t do mated wolves either, only the unmated or widowed. He’s even had a few virgins. He was hesitant at first, but the girls knew what they were getting themselves into.
Marcus refocused on the stage after his attention had wavered. Almost all the Alpha’s had already introduced themselves, but he was certain his unit had caught their names.
“Alpha Julian,” Marcus watched the i***t walk onto the stage with a charming smile on his face. He ran his hand through his blonde hair, before introducing himself, “Hello everyone, ladies,” he winked at the new anchors, asshole Marcus scoffed inwardly.
“My name is Julian St. James and I am the new Alpha of former Forest Helena pack, now known as the Forest Valley pack, I am thirty-two years old and I’m here to win.”
“Wow, he changed one word, so creative,” Christian showed up at their table, sipping his drink while rolling his eyes. Christian was the former alpha of the Helena Forest valley pack, but due to the crimes he had committed, he had been locked away for nine years, causing him to lose the title.
Soon, it was Christian’s turn to get up on the stage and introduce himself.
“I’m Alpha Christian Hatchett,” Christian began.
“The Alpha of what?” Julian called out, causing his friends to burst out in laughter.
“Yeah, what is a criminal doing here anyway,” another voice called.
“Gentlemen, I would like to urge you to treat each other with respect. The battle will be out on the field, not here,” the King spoke, nodding toward Christian to continue.
Marcus was the last one to introduce himself. An hour later, after it was clear that the Princess would not be coming, the men were asked to return to their rooms.
Marcus and his unit decided to go to bed early, so they could get an early start tomorrow and maybe get some intel on the next assignment. But Marcus couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable in that tiny bed. The matrass was thin as paper causing him to feel the metal frame through the damn thing.
After another half hour, he decided to go for a walk. He wanted to just shift and run, but the patrol might think of him as an enemy wolf an attack. It was too risky.
Marcus quietly snuck out of the castle, walking into the beautiful garden. Lights were strung up around the grounds, giving it an ethereal glow. He found a bench and sat still, contemplating everything that had happened since he got here, and thought of his family and pack.
Suddenly, the castle’s side entrance door creaked open and out stepped the most beautiful girl Marcus had ever seen. She had blonde curly hair and was wearing nothing more than a thin négligée as she walked into the garden, letting out a deep sigh.
He wondered who she was, but since she came out of the omega entrance, he assumed she must have been a servant or possibly a warrior. But then why would she be half naked? It was clear she wasn’t expecting to come across anyone at this late hour.
Marcus leaned forward to get a better look, when the bench he was sitting on cracked.
“Who’s there?” the beauty turned around, taking on a fighting stance.
Ah, so she’s a warrior.
- Writer
