Mel is beyond pissed right now. She is a Lycan princess, and by the look of it, the next queen. So why should she, the strongest fighter in the kingdom, do a "diplomatic tour" to the werewolf packs? Shake hands with some sweaty, scared Alphas and smile at a few useless Lunas instead of training her warriors to deal with the rogues' attacks...
But her father left no room for discussion. A future leader means more than a warrior, so she needs to deal with this so she can learn and blah blah blah.
"Your Highness, such a pleasure to have you here." The middle-aged man in front of her says again. She was too lost in her own thoughts to hear him the first time.
Mel sighs. Her father's Beta is with her, watching her every step. If she screws this she will never hear the end of it from her brother. He can't wait for her to fail... the only way for him to get near that throne.
"It's a pleasure to be here, Alpha Nial." She answers with her best smile forward and shakes the shaky hand of the man. She is a bit taller than him, as all Lycans are, and although the Alpha is a well-built warrior, she can't help but think how easily she could shatter his fragile little hand. The poor little Luna is even worse. The woman looks like she can barely support the weight of her summer dress.
Mel shakes her head. She is known for saying whatever goes through her mind. If she keeps thinking about this, she will surely end up saying something bad.
The Alpha gives her a tour of the pack. Standard stuff. She saw four packs until no and they all look the same. But she feels something different this time... she can't put her finger on it though...
"What about that area?" Mel asks, pointing at the small alley that goes deeper in the forest. A weird smell comes from there.
"Oh, we have a few Omegas in the pack, that leads to their house." The Alpha answers.
"Omegas?" Mel is surprised. Most pups that are born Omegas die young, so it's rare to have their own house.
"Yes, Your Highness..." Alpha answers, looking a bit embarrassed. "Years ago we had an Omega female who grew to adulthood, found her mate. They had a few children, Omegas too, who ended up surviving. Don't you worry, they rarely come here so there is no chance of seeing them.
Omegas, he says... An entire family. That is unusual, but not interesting enough for Mel to think too much about it. The weird smell is probably from them.
"Your Highness, do you have everything you need?" Luna asks as she enters Mel's room a few hours later. She organized a banquette. Even more, events where she needed to make small talk with werewolves. But what can she do? Her father's Beta had already warned her today that she looked too grumpy.
"Thank you, Luna. Everything is perfect." Mel answers with her biggest smile.
The Luna turns around, satisfied, and is about to get out of the door when she stops hesitantly.
"Your Highness?" She asks, sounding a bit shy.
"Hmm?"
"Would you... If you have some time tomorrow. And it's not too inconvenient for you..." Luna continues, turning a bit red. "Participate in training sessions?"
Oh... this. Lycans don't train with werewolves. As they see them as weaker, it is laughed upon to train with them. If her brother would hear something like this, the taunting would never end.
Mel is about to give the Luna a more diplomatic form of no as an answer when the small woman suddenly takes a step forward and looks into her eyes with an unexpected determination burning.
"I am more than aware that this is beneath you. But you are a legendary warrior. A future queen. That makes you an inspiration to the young girls. I want them to see you in person." Luna sighs, looking out of the window for a bit. "Lately, fewer and fewer girls are interested in becoming warriors. They think they are weaker than men and just give up before trying. It breaks my heart to see so much potential lost."
Mel looks at the small woman. She looks so fragile, but the fire that burnt into her eyes a few moments earlier was something that Mel rarely saw. And it deserves respect.
"I will do it."
Luna's face brightens up.
Mel takes up her phone and texts her father. The old king will be pleasantly surprised by the change of heart of his daughter. After all, his arrogant Lycan princess... training werewolves, the old man lived to see it all.
As expected, he answers the text right away. I don't think many expected the king to be such a fan of the winky face emoji, but Mel smiles when she sees it.
An hour later, the inevitable happens, Alpha comes to pick up Mel. The banquette takes place outside and, sure enough, she could have found her way alone going after the laughter and the sound of glasses clinking, but people expect big entrances from a royal so here she is.
"This way, Your Highness." The Alpha says, leading her towards the garden. The entree has been decorated with a veil of roses so you can't see on the other side. But Mel doesn't need to see. It's the smell that hits her like a train. Her body freezes on the spot as the wolf suddenly bursts inside her with an excitement that she has never seen before.
"Mate!"
That one word. That one word erased her cold, composed mask and makes her knee in front of the fire that was awakened inside her.
Her legs move on their own, her body attracted by the source of the smell. The pack members look at her in shock as she sniffs the air. She does look insane, but she couldn't care less at this moment. Her mate...
A boy in the crowd stares at her, with his and covering his mouth.
Mel runs towards him and without thinking, she wraps her arms around him. The boy is still in shock, but after a second, he answers her tight hug, whispering mate... mate... mate... in her ear, like a question, a prayer.
A few minutes pass before any of them could say anything, before they could bear not to hug so tightly and take a look at each other.
Mel is taller than the majority of people as she is a Lycan. Her mate is no exception, but she doesn't mind. Looking up at her, he looks kind of cute. His face is delicate and pale, in so much contrast with his dark, messy hair and big green eyes.
"What are you doing here, Ash? I told your family to stay away while the princess..." The Alpha starts to say, breaking the spell of the amazing moment.
"Read the atmosphere, dear!" His Luna interrupts him as she drags him away.
Mel likes this woman more and more with every moment.
Ash... what a pretty name... asks Mel if she wants to talk somewhere more quietly as the entire pack stares at them right now. She doesn't mind it, she is used to people staring, but her mate is red with embarrassment so she agrees.
He takes her hand and guides her towards the forest. Surprisingly, his hands are big and he has a tight grip. Mel smiles looking at their hands together.
After a while, they come across a big willow with some benches under the cascade of green leaves.
"I am not sure what to say..." Ash says after they sit down. "... Your Highness."
"I'm Mel... Please call me that."
"Ash..."
They just stare at each other for a while, letting the realization sink in. Then suddenly...
"I am an Omega!" Ash blurs out.
Mel laughs. Yeah, she figured that much. His skin is too pale. Most werewolves are tanned from training in the sun all day or doing patrol duty. And his body looks quite fragile too. Not that she minds, she just noticed.
"Isn't that a problem?" He asks, surprised by Mel's laughter.
"I don't know..." That is a lie. She knows. The council will look down on her for having a weak mate, her brother will try to use this to his advantage and her people will see him as a weakness. There will be a lot of problems. But... her parents were so happy. Her mother was a werewolf, but she wasn't her father's weakness. No, the mate bond brings strength. This is what her parents taught her.
"I... I totally understand if you reject me. I... it sounds crazy cause we met like five minutes ago, but I love you and I couldn't leave with myself if something bad will happen to you because of me..."
He looks really worried and maybe Mel should be too, but all she heard was I love you and her mind started to spin way too much to focus on the bad stuff.
"I don't want to lose my mate..." She just wanted to reassure him, but the thought of losing him made her voice break.
Ash hugs her. People always think that meeting your soulmate means butterflies, but no... the sensation when he touches her skin is of complete serenity. Peace, that is what this bond is bringing her. She never even realized how much she needed it until now.
They talk for hours. About everything and nothing at all. About their families, their dreams, the color of their rooms, and the nightmares they used to have when they were little.
He is smart and funny and surprisingly cocky.
Only when the moon starts to shine above them, does Mel realize how late it is.
"We should go back..." She says, not a bone in her body wanting to.
"Or we could stay." Ash says grabbing her hand. "Do you like to see outside?"
Mel nods and Ash runs to grab a few things. He returns a few minutes later, out of breath and with a huge picnic basket. A blanket, wine, some food from the party. Even some candles. What more can a girl ask for?
The weather is warm, so when Ash rips her dress off, she doesn't feel cold. No, the burning pleasure of his every touch makes her body burst into flames of pleasure. He kisses her neck, with his fangs, gently scratching her soft skin. His hands explore her exposed chest, making her moan when he rolls his thumb over her n*****s. Then one hand goes down slowly, touching her belly, her hips, then grabbing her ass. Her breaths are starting to get shorter and shorter. And when his hand touches the soft meat in between her tights, she screams in pleasure.
"Shh..." He whispers in her ear, covering her mouth.
His clothes disappear quickly after that, leaving only the burning skin touching. Mel hugs him tight, desperate to feel more of him.
"In! Put it in!" She begs, but in the soft light of the moon, she sees him smile.
"Not yet."
He plays with her body, leading her so close to orgasm and then taking his hand away at the last second. She groans and protests, but it feels too good to complain.
"Ple... Plea... Please..." She asks again, her voice breaking with every movement his fingers make inside of her.
He kisses her on the lips as he positions himself, and after a moment of pause, when he looks in her eyes and whispers... I love you!... He penetrates her. Deep, fast, over and over again, as he licks, bites, and kisses all the right spots.
She wants to moan, but her body gave up, all lost in pleasure. Out of voice, out of breath, she can only let herself close her eyes and explode inside.
She finishes, but he is not done with her. He claims her over and over again until her entire body feels numb.
One last kiss until he finishes too, filling her with his essence, making her be his.
That is the last thing she remembers before opening her eyes to see the soft light of the morning shining through the branches. She turns around and the sudden movement wakes Ash too.
"Mornin' beautiful." He says with a sleepy smile, not opening his eyes, but warping his arms around her. She melts in his hug.
"Good morning!"
But the blissful moment is cut short by a voice in Mel's head. Her father's Beta...
"Mel..." She stands up immediately. Something is wrong...
"Yes?" She answers through the pack link. Ash looks at her confused, but she signs him to wait a moment.
"I have some news." So many years since she has known this man, and he has never sounded so broken.
"Tell me." Mel answers but she is not too sure that she actually wants to know.
"I think we should meet..."
"Tell me now!" She orders.
"Your father is dead..."
Silence falls over the link as Mel takes the time to comprehend what he just said. She wants to deny, after all, her father was fine just last night. She texted him, she had to tell him about meeting her mate. He can't be dead. But he is. Through her bond with her pack, she can feel the void that the death of the king left.
Silent tears fall on Mel's face. They slowly become rivers to sorrow until the pain takes over her and she screams. Again and again and again.
Ash tries to calm her down and his touch is taking away some of the pain, but is simply too much, she is drowning in it.
The next few hours are a blur. She returns to the pack house, the bags have already been packed, she says her goodbyes, receives some condolences. Ash rushes to pack some things and in less than an hour, they are in a plane, returning to the kingdom's capital... Her home.
Ash holds her hand without saying a word. He knows. Words mean nothing now. But his presence is calming and she appreciates it.
When they land and the door of the plane opens, a bit of her hopes that all of this was a joke or a misunderstanding and her father is going to wait for her with a huge smile. She even hopes that he will scold her for finishing her trip early for such nonsense. And then she hopes he will meet Ash and they will get along perfectly and everything will be perfect under the Moon.
But hopes are just that... hopes. Waiting to be crushed.
Instead of her father, her brother greets her. He wears black and looks like he's been crying.
Without a word, they hug each other. They were in a forever competition since the day he was born, but they are still family. And she needed him right now.
"When?" Mel asks, her composure hanging on a thread.
"A while ago..." Her brother answers. After that, he notices Ash. He smells the air, realizing fast what is going on and that he is an Omega. A sparkle that Mel can't quite understand passes her brother's eyes. He is very fond of his status and his image, he believes that for a king, appearances are everything, so Mel expected him to be reluctant to accept Ash, but no, he surprisingly shook his hand almost like he was excited to meet him. Did the death of their father shook him so much?
Meldosn'thave time to think about this. Her father thought her what to do in case of something like this, and although Meld didn't want to listen because she thought of his death as something impossible, he forced her. Such a big kingdom just lost its head and the rogues will smell that. They need to act fast.
A meeting is called with the Lycan Council.
"I could be there for you." Ash insists one more time, but Mel doesn't have time for this.
"Ash, after this whole ordeal you will meet them and deal with the mate thing, but now they will see you as a weak point for me and I really can't have that today..."
"Wow... Good to know."
"Ash... I didn't mean it like that."
"Don't worry, I was aware. I just didn't know you were too." He says and leaves the room.
Mel almost runs after her, but her brother calls her to hurry. She knows she was a bad mate, but she promises herself to make up for it.
Once in the Council Room, something feels terribly off. The Beta is not here yet and it's not like him to be late. Also, more than half of the Council is nowhere to be seen.
"Are we early?" Mel asks, hoping she may have some time to go find Ash and apologize.
"No." Her brother responds, but he seems very distracted. Mel never saw him like this. Maybe he cared about their father more than he let anyone know. She puts an encouraging hand on his shoulder.
"We will be alright." She says.
"I will be, sister." He says, taking her hand off his shoulder. "But you won't."
"Wha...?" Meldosen't get to say another word before the Council members around jump at her, transforming in middle air.
Mel looks at her brother in disbelief after she manages to dodge their first attack. His smirk says it all.
"You!"
"Only one can be king, sister." He answers as Mel takes her wolf form and answers the attacks. But they are too many... To save herself she has to kill them. Members of her own clan.
But they were the ones that choose this.
Her brother's smirk slowly disaprears when he sees her talking them down one by one. No more cheering in the background. He takes his wolf form too.
The battle of the heirs is bloody and although not at strong as her, the members that are still alive help him, attacking her from all directions. Her brother snaps his fangs so close to her neck that she can feel the air moving... He is ready to kill her. But that's not what shooks her the most. The scent of their's fathers blood in his mouth is what makes her freeze.
Mel looks at her brother thinking it's impossible, but the shimmer of madness in his eyes confirms her worst fears.
Taking advantage of her confusion, the Council members jump on her, pinning her to the ground. Her brother approaches. Is this the end?
No. A small shadow jumps out of nowhere and stumbles on the mountain of wolves on her back.
Ash? Mel is shocked. He transformed... But they don't have time for questions now. The Council members jump toward Ash and that fear, that need to protect her mate takes over Mel's body. In less than a few minutes... they are all on the ground.
Only her brother left.
He is back in his human form and looks satisfied at Mel, in her wolf form, with blood dripping from her mouth.
In this scenario walk the rest of the members of the council.
"Stop, Mel!" Her brother shouts, with a mask of horror on his face.
Mel hurries to take her human form and asks him what was wrong with him? Why would he do that?
Then her brother starts to spit his lies and she stays there, naked and dumbfounded.
"She tried to kill me! Me and every member that supported me! She told us to come earlier and she started butchering us!" Her brother cries and the members look at Mel in a combination of disbelief and disgust.
"You were the one!" She tries to argue.
"Why would I try to kill you? I know I can't. You are too strong for me to try something so stupid!"
The rest of the members look at each other and then at Mel. They believe him...
"Why, sister? Why? Is it because you found out that your mate is an Omega and you were afraid they will choose me to be king because of that? Because they will fear he is making you weak? You proved it! You are strong enough to kill anyone in your way!"
The Council members rush by the prince's side to tend to his wounds, while throwing Mel the dirtiest looks.
"I didn't! It's a lie! He tried to kill me!" Mel shouts. "He killed our father!"
With that, the members look at her brother in shock.
"How dare you accuse me of that? Do you have proof for this blasphemy?" He shouts back. But Mel doesn't... She could barely feel the smell of her royal blood and now that it's mixed with the scent of her own blood from earlier, she can no longer feel it herself. Her brother had everything planned...
Except from Ash.
"I have!" Ash says from a corner and all eyes turn to him.
"Shut up, Omega!" Her brother screams.
"Yes, you are indeed right. I am an Omega. Do you know? The lowest rank? So low that if another wolf orders us to tell the truth we can't fight that order even to save our lives?"
Mel watches as all the blood drips from her brother's face.
Ash smirks. As almost no one is interested in what Omegas do, this is a power kind of forgotten.
"I propose a trail. The one guilty of this will be killed. Or, brother. You can agree to be exiled now and save your life..." Mel proposes to her brother that is frantically looking around. The council members nod in approval. They want the trail.
Her brother jumps on his feet and curses Mel and her mate. He leaves the council room and is never seen again.
Mel is devastated for a while. She wasn't close to him, but he was still her brother... But devastation pales quickly in Ash's arms.
She is named queen and has a lot of things to do. Of course, one of her duties is producing an heir and she is very diligent in that. Almost as diligent as Ash.
The bond with a Lycan princess makes him stronger every day and after a month, he was able to join battles.
And their morning started to look something like this...
Mel opens her eyes as she feels the familiar smell of Ash's body next to her. She smiles as she looks at him. He is already awake, looking over some documents.
"Good morning gorgeous!" He says kissing her forehead.
"Mornin'. We have a busy day today." She complains as she sneaks a peek at the paper in his hands.
"Not that busy..." He says, throwing away the blanket that covered Mel's body.
"It is!!" She tries to protest his hand finds its way in between her legs, forcing them to spread open.
"Shhh! Let me enjoy my breakfast!" He answers with a naughty smirk.
.