The Lonely Lycan Alpha Queen

Chapter Five

UNKNOWN POV

What is happening to me?

I have been living in darkness for too long, yet something has changed today.

My beast, who had long since taken over the reins, had picked up a scent on the breeze and it had caused him to reconnect with me.

I wonder what it was. Was it another Baihu?

I had no idea how long I had been asleep in this darkness.

I had no strength to take back control, and I wondered if I would ever have enough strength.

Why was I here in this lonely darkness in the first place?

I shook my head in my mind and waited for the fog to clear but it wouldn’t.

Flashes of memories appeared in front of my mind’s eyes, they looked like they were being played on an old broken TV screen.

I remember the day I first saw a TV. It was such a strange and somewhat frightening experience.

Wait, what was I doing?

My mind, it’s so jumbled.

Oh, that’s right, the images. What are they of?

Chaos.

Death.

My people, my family.

Dead, they were all dead.

Men, women, children, elderly.

What killed them?

Why was I spared?

Blood, so much blood.

Turn it off. Shut the TV down. I don’t want to relive that again.

That’s why I’m here in the darkness. I don’t want to constantly relive that horror.

Why did he wake me?

Oh yeah, he smelled something.

Oh well, he’s fine, I think I’ll just go back to sleep.

Yes, that’s much better, hello darkness my old friend.

MALIKA’S POV

I knocked on the door to the King’s study. “Come” the pompous prick yelled from the other side. I turned the handle, but Ward stopped me from opening the door.

“Let me check first Mali,” he said quietly. I didn’t fear this king, but Ward was trained never to let down his guard when on duty, as were all my warriors.

I nodded and Ward opened the door. “Forgive me your highness, but I am just doing my job,” he said, as he entered the room with Ramon, and they did a quick sweep of the room.

“All clear”, Ward states, and the King grumbles about there having never been any doubt about it being clear.

I entered the office. Just like everything else, it was extravagantly decorated. Personally, I prefer minimalist décor.

King Haidar beamed at me as he stood, “Please take a seat” he said, gesturing to the plush seats opposite him across his humungous mahogany desk.

“Thank you,” I said, and took a seat. My guards stood around me, two behind me and one on either side. King Haidar looked unimpressed that I had brought my guards with me.

“I had hoped to spend some time alone” he stated,

“I’m sorry your majesty, but this is as alone as it is going to get, I’m afraid.” I plastered a fake smile on my face. He frowned and nodded.

“Very well. So how did you enjoy your run?” he asked me.

As much as I wanted to rip shreds off him for his neglect of his people, I knew I needed to handle this delicately. I didn’t really need to make the Canidae Kingdom enemies of the Felidae Kingdom.

“Yes, thank you, your kingdom is quite lovely,” I replied.

“It is, isn’t it? Where did you go?” Haidar enquired.

“Oh, we just ran to the mountains and back,” I said with a shrug. His eyes widened in surprise.

“That was some run,” he said.

“Yeah, when I run, especially after I have spent two days in a car, I like to give it my all. The village at the foot of the mountain is quite lovely, though your people were a little wary of us.”

He swallowed nervously. “Oh, you went into the village? Um well, I’m sure they were just nervous seeing a Lycan in their town…”

“Ah, but I was in my human form as were two of my guards, we shifted and dressed so we could chat with some people, yet the only people who would talk to us were a teenage boy and an older gentleman… what was his name again?”

I feigned thinking for a few minutes whilst Haidar watched me, he was shifting in his seat and fiddling with his fingers.

“That’s right, his name was Frank, Frank Felon.” Haidar visibly flinched at the mention of Frank’s name. “Yes, we had a nice chat with Frank, didn’t we boys,” I said, looking towards my guards.

“Yes, it was very… enlightening,” Ward said.

Seemed I didn’t really know how to do delicate after all.

“What… What did he tell you?” Haidar mumbled, trying to maintain his composure.

“Oh, you know a little of this and a little of that. The poor guy was talking to his mate’s flowers when we found him. It seems she was taken some time ago and she hasn’t returned. Oh, and that he saw with his own two eyes a Baihu, you know, those majestic, yet long thought extinct, white tigers. But of course, you are well aware of both these things and have or are planning to thoroughly investigate them, I’m sure.”

Haidar’s demeanour changed as he realised I was challenging his way of doing things. “Well, of course, I have looked into Frank’s mate’s disappearance and there was no further course of action that could be taken. We were unable to rule out the possibility that Frank’s wife hadn’t finally gotten sick of his nonsense and left of her own accord and the Baihu is extinct, but as I told you we will look into it soon.” Haidar was flustered and waving his hands animatedly as he spoke with me.

"Let's say you are right and Frank didn't see some men who had no scent take his wife, then you contacted Mrs Felon’s family and checked if they had seen her? You asked around the entire kingdom to find her whereabouts?” I continued my questioning and Haidar continued to get more and more flustered.

Finally, he stood, slamming his hands down on his desk. I didn’t even flinch, it was a pathetic show of his anger. “I will not have you coming into MY kingdom and questioning how I rule. This conversation is over.”

I also stood. “Very well,” I said, and turned toward the door.

“Wait… I didn’t mean for you to leave, I still wanted to discuss something with you,” Haidar said, coming around his desk. I stopped walking and turned back to him.

“And here I was thinking you didn’t like discussing important things with me,” I said, and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Please, sit back down, I’m sorry I got worked up and I promise I will look into Frank’s issues further.” I smiled internally but kept a stoic look on my face.

“Fine, I’ll stay and hear what you have to say.” He breathed a sigh of relief as I took my seat again. Haidar also returned to his seat and set his hands on his desk in front of him as he fully regained his composure.

“Thank you for agreeing to hear me out.” He started and I just nodded. He swallowed nervously and cleared his throat before speaking again.

“There is really no colourful way to approach this, so I’ll come right out and say it. I think we should be mated. I have no mate and neither do you. We could create a strong alliance through our mating and allowing our two species to inter-mate as well.”

My mouth hung open. This snivelling little sorry excuse for a king, wants me to take him as a chosen mate? Was he deluded? I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole. However, I did not need to start a war.

“Well, I see. That is very forward of you, especially since we have only just met. Will you allow me some time to think about your offer?” I asked.

“Please tell me you are not seriously thinking about this Mali?” Ward asked, disgustedly.

“Hell no, but I don’t want to make an enemy of the Felidae Kingdom either,” I replied, and I detected the slightest nod from him in my peripheral vision.

“Of course, take as much time as you like.” Haidar beamed, obviously excited it wasn’t a straight-out no.

“Great, well if there isn’t anything else? I have a lot to think about.”

“Of course, make yourself at home. Feel free to wander around the castle and grounds and we will see you for dinner at the same place as breakfast. If you’re hungry from missing lunch, the staff in the kitchen will happily whip you something up.” King Haidar said as he stood to see us out.

“Thank you for your hospitality, King Haidar,” I said as I walked toward the door. Ajax opened it for me and we all walked out.

“See you at dinner,” Haidar said again.

“You will,” I replied and took off down the hallway. I decided we could all use a snack. My guys would never complain about missing a meal, but I didn’t like to cause them any discomfort.

The staff were very friendly, though when we first arrived, they looked terrified and that got me wondering about how this king treated his staff.

Once they realised that I wouldn’t hurt them or speak down to them, they all relaxed and started to chat animatedly with me and my guards. They made a selection of snacks and happily chatted while we ate.