LIKE EDEN. Princes of Anon (3)

JUNE'S LAST NIGHT.

“There are two nights more before you meet your mate, sire. I am certain that instead of four stars, you have two on your wrist now.”

Those were the words Lois said to him that had the King’s heart constantly beating in his chest as if he was at war with his own body. And that was 24 hours ago. Each time the King glanced at the last star on his wrist, he found himself tethering on the edge of excitement, anxiousness, and nervousness. It was all a bit too much. Never been one for talking too much or dwelling on his emotions too much, Eldridge didn’t know what to do with the sudden overflow of emotions.

His kicks became fiercer. His punches held more power. And both of his Betas were finding it difficult keeping up with him. Even with all his Deltas and Betas attacking him at the same time, he still had too much adrenaline coursing through him. Too many emotions that he didn’t know what to do with.

“Damn it.”

Saxan hissed, clutching his sides. The shock from his Alpha’s kick sent ripples of pain through his already overworked body. He watched with a scowl, breathlessly panting as Elex, Xidorn, and, Vox pathetically got their asses handed to them by Eldridge who looked like the three hours of intense fighting were just a warm-up.

Eldridge didn’t notice the many eyes on him. The training he put his young pack members through in the past few hours was vigorous and all too consuming. It left them drenched in sweat with sour limbs and they could do no more than watch their Alpha’s movement blur as he fought with his betas and deltas.

Xidorn grimaced at the sound of a bone breaking in his body. Their Alpha was not in his right mind. He didn’t look like himself. All he seemed to want to do was vent out. Xidorn cast a glance at the others, nodding their heads in agreement, they crouch, read to attack with all the strength they had left… then pounced.

They knew that it wouldn’t be so easy to bring Eldridge down. The male almost looked harmless even with a scar on his throat and his giant build. But they knew better. They knew just how deadly he was. How wild he could be. Before they could blink, they found themselves on their backs with pain exploding in their stomachs and spines. Eldridge anticipated their attack, his powerful kicks threw them a few feet back to meet the wall with a loud thud. And Elex was left with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

“You need to snap out of it!” Elex bellowed.

Their defeated groans and them baring their necks to him finally did the trick of pulling the Alpha out of his haze. He pinched his nose, squeezed his eyes tight, and lightly shook his head. Opening them, his hazel eyes widened at the state of his friends. He didn’t remember going so far as to already see some bruises from some broken ribs and bones, and Elex wiping the blood from his mouth breathlessly with a worried frown.

“Sorry.” Eldridge guiltily apologized with a sigh, his chest heaving and his heart thumping with more than enough adrenaline to last a lifetime. “I wasn’t paying attention.” He added, feeling bad for pulling them onto the training only to mess them up so bad.

“clearly.” Elex groaned. The Alpha didn’t mind his tone. He didn’t mind some of the things that they did so long as they weren’t disrespecting him.

“I needed the workout anyway.” Saxan tried to grin, but failed miserably, wincing through the pain instead when he tried to get up on his own.

Eldridge wiped every emotion from his face then turned to the pack members who were too busy watching them to continue training, “Training is over. You're dismissed!” He bellowed, sending them scurrying out of the training ground.

“Something is wrong with you.” Vox quietly said after helping Elex and Xidorn up.

Something was worrying him, but that didn’t mean that something was wrong. The King thought to himself. A frustrated growl rumbled through his chest, causing the sweat coating his skin like a second skin to vibrate and slide down his muscled torso.

He bit on his lips when his eyes caught the mark on his wrist for the millionth time that day. The others patiently waited for their Alpha and friend to confide in them. Knowing how secretive he could be and how bad he was with his words most of the time, they calmly waited on him, bitting down their pain and the need to get themselves checked. Their mates would no doubt freak out if they went home as they currently were.

“24 hours.” He whispered, lifting his eyes to glance at them. “That’s how long I have till I meet her.” He added, turning their frowns into shock. Elex’s blue eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. He of all people knew how much his Alpha longed for his mate. How much he needed his mate even with June taking on the role of Luna … among other things.

“This is why you’re angry?! I thought you’d be ecstatic!” Elex exclaimed, confused by Eldridge’s reaction to the news. Although he was not sure what was happening or how Eldridge knew of this, he thought he'd be happy. He should be happy, not looking so so irrationally pissed.

The others said nothing, Elex having voiced their thoughts out.

“I’m not angry.” Eldridge took in a breathe, took his face towel to wipe some sweat off himself, then turned to them.

“I’m just anxious… and nervous.” He whispers with a grim look, turned around, and left the training ground without waiting for them to say anything else. He didn’t want to talk anymore. Couldn’t stand to be around anyone. The Alpha headed straight for his floor of the packhouse, ignoring how some pack members stayed away from him. He had never been overly social with them, but they always swarmed around him, especially the kids. But this time, they all stayed away from him. Maybe they could sense his agitation and frustration, or they just saw that he wanted some space. Either way, he was grateful for it.

Eldrige let out a sigh when he smelt the female in his room even before he entered.

“It’s getting messy way too soon.” He quietly whispered to himself before entering his room.

The female shrieked, jumping in surprise at the sudden presence of her Alpha when she finally turned around from fluffing the pillows. Her heart fluttered in her chest and the surprise turned to delight at the King’s presence.

“Eldridge.”

Her voice was soft, holding the same adoration as in her eyes for her Alpha.

“How was the training?” She continued to ask, her cheeks flaming but the smile never left her lips even when the Alpha simply shrugged. Everyone knew June. Her pitch-black hair drew attention to her everywhere in the pack, but it was her kindness that made them all flock around her. Eldridge had heard his pack members discussing him and June one too many times. They thought that he would make her Luna. Everyone knew about their relationship.

The King walked around her and leaned against a couch, watching her with a sad scowl on his lips. She was beautiful. He was well aware of that. And even he had considered making her his chosen mate if a few years went by without meeting his true mate. But it wasn’t possible anymore. And he found himself shrouded in a cold blanket called guilt.

“Is everything okay?”

June asked. The concern that laced her voice was pushing the blade of guilt harder into his chest. He cared for her. But the King knew he could never love her the way she wanted him to. The way she loved him.

King Eldridge shook his head, making her go rigid.

He picked up her shirt from his couch and turned back to look at her. June was stunning. Her skin was soft and smooth. The fitness of her body was clearly seen to be a result of her time in training. Her breasts were round and big. Her curves, subtle but eye-catching.

“Come here, June.”

A shiver run through the female as she obeyed her king’s command, moving closer to him in only her lace bra and shorts. It had been so long since she heard his voice that she couldn’t stop the sudden desire that crawled through her. Eldridge quietly helped her into her shirt, the frown growing prominent with each button that he closed, covering her body with the white fabric.

His actions confused her. Usually, he would take her without question or hesitation. Usually, there was always a spark of want whenever he saw her. But it wasn’t there anymore. And she found her throat clogging with emotions.

“Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?”’

Her question drew the king’s eyes from her shirt to her face. He shook his head.

“You’ve done nothing wrong.” He answered, but she couldn’t believe him. Not when he looked at her with such regret. It angered her. Frustrated her.

“It’s my fault. And I’m sorry.” He continued.

“I don’t understand,” June whispered, clenching her hands in an effort to hold herself back from touching him. The pain in her eyes would forever torment him, and the King was ready to bear that.

“We… can’t keep doing this.” He said, his jaws ticked with how hard he held himself back when her eyes grew wide. Just a second. That’s how long he was able to see the hurt and dejection in her eyes.

“May I ask why?”

Her voice was barely above a whisper. June fought with the need to get closer to him, vent out her frustration and pain. And there was a part of her that wanted nothing to do with him for the pain he was causing her. She thought she had a chance. That the King being with her for more than three decades meant that there was a possibility that he could love her too. Such a fool she was.

“My mate.”

The word. That word mocked her for years. She hoped she wouldn’t have to hear it from his lips. It was selfish and she knew it. She had a mate once. She knew how the bond was. And she was selfish for praying that he never met his mate so that she could continue being with him. That he never had that bond with anyone.

“oh… y... you found her.”

Her heart clenched in her chest. Her eyes burned with tears, but she didn’t let them fall. She kept her eyes on the floor, too scared and hurt and pained to look at him. But it was her fault for how she felt. She knew it. She knew that there was still a possibility for him to find her no matter how long it took. But she let herself love him. She gave so many years of her life to him. She let herself harbor the selfish hope of him never meeting his mate. But it was all over now. And there was nothing she could do about it.

“No, not yet. But soon.”

“when? How do you know that?” The question leaves her lips as fast as hope rushes back in her, only to be completely evaporated by his answer.

“In less than 24 hours… The Goddess herself told me” He explained. He owed her that much. Every time that he had s*x with her he knew that her feelings for him were growing, but he couldn’t bring himself to let her go and sleep with multiple females. He couldn’t bring himself to sleep with more than one female.

They stayed still, letting the words sink in. The goddess’s words were final. There was no changing it. Less than 24 hours. That’s all she got. Knowing Eldridge as much as she did. He wouldn’t touch her even with the few hours left. And she desperately wanted to be with him. Just once. She wanted to feel him inside her. Just this once she wanted to feel his skin on hers whilst lying to herself that he felt for her just as much as she did him. But he won’t.

“Can you do one last thing for me?” She whispered, the agony too much for her to speak clearly. Her voice quivered. Her heart ached and she wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

“Anything.” The king replied with a sad smile. He cared for her. That much was true. But he could never love her. He could never adore her the way he wanted to. And it’s not from not trying. He had tried so much. He thought that with time, he could. But it has been over three decades. And he still couldn’t feel more for her.

“Kiss me.” She laid her request before him.

Eldridge nodded without hesitation.

“Not the cheeks. On the lips.” She added. Never had she felt his lips on hers throughout the years. Was it selfish for her to want at least that? Probably. But she couldn’t care about it now. She wanted that. Just once. To feel his lips on hers.

“Okay.”

The king whispered, moving to stand just an inch away from her. Her heart thundered in her chest when his large hands cradled her face. She leaned into his touch, a whimper leaving her lips while he placed his forehead against hers.

Her heart wept when his lips caressed her cheeks softly. Then moved to hover above hers. She fisted her hands against his chest.

Then his lips gently touched hers. So soft that her tears run free. Through the heartache and the knowledge that that was going to be the first and last time she felt him like this, she pushed for more, slowly moving her lips against his with a pained whimper. Her tears run down her cheeks like a river with no intention of stopping. Her tongue pushed past his lips, and he allowed it. He let her take what she wanted. It was the least he could do for all he put her through and the pain he was causing her.

They pulled apart, breathless, and June was still in soundless tears as he caresses her cheeks with his forehead against hers. His lips were soft and he was as gentle as she thought he would be. But there was no passion. No yearning. No burning desires. At least not from his side.

“I’m so sorry, June.”

The king murmured, placing a kiss on her forehead. That was all it took for her cries to leave her lips and accompany the tears running down her cheeks. She wailed like a pup. Clinging onto him whilst her cries saturated the room. The king pulled her into his embrace, comforting her as much as he could. Her cries were full of pain. Her wails, heart-wrenching. She shamelessly wept her heart out. Wailing with a desperate clutch on the king.

He wasn’t hers. It has never been clearer. And now, his mate was coming. She felt like her world was crumbling.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Eldridge kept apologizing as her cries became louder until she was wheezing. Until she had no more tears left to cry and was left exhausted in his bed, clinging onto him even in her sleep. And the King let her.