Lady In Red

5

"She is weak, fragile, and had never been involved in politics. Her studies were only based on geographic and history subjects. She might just be the worst wife and Queen in history."

I never realized how I stood there like a defeated girl with tears around my eyes realizing that I never accomplished anything in my life.

" A king will always choose his people over his loved ones. And as I do that I ask of you to not expect much from her but treat her well. She only had us to speak for her and now she has no one."

My tears started rolling down my eyes as the king said his last words.

"I understand your words quite well Alexander. You are making sure I don't send her back."

That hurt even more.

"But one thing we do not do in our Kingdom-" He leaned forward keeping his elbows on his legs and staring at the King, "- is let another man speak for our wife. We believe she has her own voice-" He said standing up and so did The king and Queen.

He proceeded to light a cigar and puff out the smoke glancing down at the dancing crowd.

"And this is the last time I shall tolerate any man speaking for my future wife because from tomorrow she is going to be the Queen of my kingdom. And I do not like anyone berating my Wife, not even her prior King.

"But one thing we do not do in our Kingdom is, let another man speak for our wife. We believe she has her own voice-" He said standing up and so did The king and Queen. He proceeded to light a cigar and puff out the smoke glancing down at the dancing crowd.

"And this is the last time I shall tolerate any man speaking for my future wife because from tomorrow she is going to be the Queen of my kingdom. And I do not like anyone berating my queen, not even her prior King."

Tomorrow? But the wedding is next week-

I stare at King Xerxes as he looked at me. My eyes were still filled with tears as he walked towards me. My legs felt weak as I hold on to the head of the couch and look down, something I found myself doing when he came closer.

"I hope I see you in something better than just plain white my wife." He whispered as his face came inches near me. I could smell that musky scent as his beard lightly rubbed over my cheek and his lips laid on my ears for mere seconds before he pulled away. He nodded once at the king before leaving us be.

I fell on my bed the minute that dress was off me and my hair had been freed from the tight pins and clips. I could only think about what would happen to me as I left this kingdom. King Xerxes was not a man one would even speak around and here I was, going to be in his bed and around him. And If I was hated just enough, I would be locked up and never to see the light of day again.

And as I closed my eyes his face suddenly flashed across the darkness making my heart suddenly race.

[Xerxes Lycan]

As I heard about the Duke's daughter I wanted to hang that man by his throat. Trading a human to be my wife so my soldiers don't invade their forests? What cowards. I had little knowledge about those royals, but I never thought they would put their women at such low trades.

"We will not engage in a fight but we will have our reserves build up on our sides of the land," said Andrew on my behalf. The duke bowed his head and left. I thought of breaking the treaty quite many times. This was why I paid a visit to King Alexander, to break off a treaty with no foundation or basis and have a fair fight or surrender to me if they wished to cherish their mere ten thousand soldiers.

It was afternoon as I walked into the private chambers of the castle. I stare out to the gardens and notice her. I could not take my eyes off her. There was the reason my wolf suddenly pounced up and growled at the man behind that girl. She was making haste towards the inner court holding up her maroon dress.

My jaw clenched as the glass in my fingers suddenly broke.

"My King." Andrew walked to me. I could feel him sense my glare and move his eyes to where I stare.

"It can't be"

"Find out about her. I need to answers, now!"

I ordered him as he ran out.

I could not let go of the constant urge to break all and everything in that chamber and run toward her but I was holding myself back. If these people should want their limbs intact then the King better give me what truly belongs to me. And she did.

I tap my finger on the glass of scotch as I wait for Andrew and as time passes by my anger and frustration could not be held back. What if my mate was married? My wolf growled in anger. Then there was nothing to be done but kill that man.

"Sir." The doors slammed open and I stare at him waiting for him to speak up.

"Well!?" My voice echoed through the walls.

Andrew grinned, "Ruby Diego Williams, youngest daughter of Duke Aiden Williams. She is the one the duke promised."

I stood up, the amount of happiness through this small coincidence was through the roof. I could not imagine letting her be with anyone other than her mate, Me.

"You should know Sir, that she was apparently engaged, To Prince Edward. Their engagement was canceled after our treaty was made."

She was to be another man's wife. It infuriated me. To think, these 35 years of my life I never had a mate and now, she was nearly taken away from me. No, absolutely not.

"We are agreeing to this arrangement."

Andrew bowed, "I will do the necessary." and he left.

To think my mate was innocent, beautiful, so far away from me but a human, gave me more reason to keep her protected.

As I wait to be introduced to my queen I make haste towards the library. I could see the struggle of these humans keeping up to our long strides. I laugh in my mind as Andrew chuckles at one scared guard who held the door. As they opened, there she was, in my presence finally.

I could feel her fear and sorrow. I wondered if it was because her previous engagement was broken, it angered me too much but the thought she was be with me soon help me take my frustrations back. She was my soulmate, she would understand soon.

While Humans did not have as much sixth sense as we did, in terms of a bond, they find out soon enough. Especially if their mate is the Alpha.

She was scared, bowing down the minute I entered, I suppose she felt the bond the minute I walked in. The way I could feel her heart beat fasten its pace, I knew she already submitted herself to me. However, the lack of jewels in her neck exposed her beautiful milky skin. My hands clenched with absolute furry as I realised most men could see her exposed cleavage. When she bowed to me, my eyes fell on her heaving chest. He hands were trembling and she was flushed red. Her beautiful milky white hair hung down to her waist covered with pearls.

I appuad the ladies for dressing up my mate in red, a colour which looked so beautiful on her. I bet she refused to wear the pearls I sent her in order to stay elegant. I smirked in my head.

I couldn't wait to touch her, feel her, kiss her, run my fingers through her beautiful hair and most importantly mark that pretty bare neck first so no human could ever look at her in the eyes again.

When she walked away to use the powder room I couldn't help but worry. This was something I feared the most, letting her be free and leave without a guard I trusted and heavily worrying. After a couple of minutes had passed I couldn't help myself but leave to go talk with her.

I needed to hear her voice. I needed to see her eyes which she so smartly avoided showing me.

And when I saw her guard Fredrick standing at the doors of the gallery I couldn't help but feel as if I should dismiss him. But she could get scared easily. People run to the only hope they have if scared. If I dismissed the man who had been accompanying her since the start of this agreement for her own safety then she would find it cruel.

When I entered the dark halls of the painting gallery my heart stopped as I saw my queen's laces undone, she stood quite staring at a painting and I was ready to kill anyone who had done something. I was ready to command Andrew when I saw her little hands trying to let lose her laces herself. She huffed closing her eyes with a little frown on her face as she kept her hand on her chest breathing slowly.

----

When she looked at me, I could swear I felt my blood rush down where it wasn't supposed to. Those indecent thoughts of her in bed, my hands over her, and just us. I held my neutral posture as my shield to avoid letting loose and grabbing her.

No...Back off..she is far more elegant and innocent than I thought.

I sigh, making sure her dressed was tied up again before we walked out. And when she danced with me, I couldn't help but feel the pressure of everyone watching us. Not just the men, but the women too. They thought of me as a beast and I was, but for her, never. And it was a shame my mate would take some time to understand why we are like this, possessive, protective, far too dangerous than humans. But if she accepted me, I would spare nothing. If she didn't I would have no other choice than to claim her forcefully.