Heart Of A Lycan King

4.

AIDEN.

I hate mornings.

There's just something about the dreariness and sluggishness which accompanies it that really irritates me. I always find myself waiting for the moment when the spell would be broken and everyone would spring to life some time around midday.

But I particularly hate the mornings where I have to carry out official duties. Mornings like today.

"How much longer until we arrive?" I groaned as I stared at the iPad in my hand.

"In the next thirty minutes or so, Mai Martaba (Your Majesty)," Kane replied. The car jerked as we drove over a bump, and I groaned again as I adjusted my seatbelt.

"Remind me why I agreed to do this?" I muttered, setting my tablet down and staring out of the window. Tall lush green trees swept past us as the car droned along silently. I couldn't help but admire the scenery out there, and recall just how much I enjoyed driving through the winding snake-like road whenever I felt like it. The sky was a brilliant blue, with very little clouds overhead and the cold was not too bothersome.

There was just something about nature that excites me.

"Because you are the king?" Kane replied with a smug smile.

"Wipe off that smirk before I help you do that with a punch," I mumbled, returning my gaze to the tablet sitting in my lap.

"It's not as bad as you think it is. I know you dislike the idea of taking she-wolves for us, but it is your duty to the Lycans as much as it is to the wolves. Besides, the main reason you are going over today is to check on the business they handle," Kane explained.

"I know that," I tapped away unbothered. My attention was not on what he was saying, not really. I was more interested in the upcoming match I have. "I see that the coach has decided to bring Braine in. He's going to replace Badr in right central defense."

"Badr messed up in the last game. I'm sure that angered the coach even if he didn't show it. You played your part well and saved the day. Two goals is not an easy feat against such tough opponents," Kane smiled.

"But Jarmain scored three goals against them in their last match. I should have more. I have just one golden boot and I plan to get more."

"You are too ambitious for a king," he teased.

"That is why I am the king," I replied. "I didn't train today just so I could do this. I hope it is worth it." I sighed.

I slid my gaze towards him and took in his appearance. He wore a clean brown suit, and maintained the same hairstyle he had on his hair for the past five months. Cornrows on top and faded underneath. Kane was my Alpha Beta. My second in command. Something the humans would've called a secretary or a deputy. He was also my best friend, as well as my childhood friend considering the fact that we grew up together. This was why he was able to talk to me so freely and mock me without me getting too angry at him. Who can stay angry with their life long friend?

"I've heard that the Alpha is a bit of a jerk. But he does know what he is doing. We earn more income from the glass his pack produces every year," he said. "They also bring more income through clothing. They have the largest fashion houses in the country. Besides, I know you and Alpha Matteo have never met. You took the throne three years back, while he took the Alpha title two years back. "

"I do know that. I know everything about my kingdom, Kane. Stop making it look like my only interest is football," I said with an annoyed sigh as I rolled my eyes.

"Isn't it?" He smiled as he brought out a bunch of papers from his briefcase. "Everyone knows you love football more than anything."

That is true. Football is my life . It is the only thing that keeps me sane from losing it all…

"Not more than my mate who I still haven't found. And whom I have no hope of finding." I mumbled.

Thick silence stretched in the car. I knew I shouldn't have said that. But that was impossible. There was not a single day when I didn't think of the possibility of having a mate, even if I knew that was nearly impossible. But I wished. I yearned for a mate to call mine.

I leaned more into the seat after staring outside for a while before I closed my eyes. Every day, I go to sleep with a single wish in my mind. To find a mate. Because it was nearly impossible for the Lycans to get one, we relied on mating with the female wolves from different packs but it has never worked. No one had succeeded in procreating.

It wasn't just the prospect of having someone to call mine that I wanted. It was the purity of the union, the love and adoration which we would share. Every wolf craved that, and mine was like a lovesick puppy every time it came to the thought of finding our mate. For too long I had waited and searched, and for so long it felt like my search would be futile. The very thought of not having a mate clawed at my heart, and it made me want to punch a brick wall.

My mother, the former Queen Talatu Victoria, and her twin sister Ladi Vivian, my cousin, Lacie, alongside three other female Lycans that survived the curse were the only female Lycans we've had in the past eighty years.

Every three years, we choose female wolves from the twelve packs in the country. I never chose one for myself, despite the numerous times Mama had tried to make me choose.

I will wait for my mate. Who knows, I may be able to find her someday.

"It sucks, right?" Kane suddenly said quietly.

"What?" I asked.

"That we have to rely on the wolves every time. You hate it, don't you?"

"It just makes no sense. Why does it have to be this way?" I furrowed my brows.

No matter how many times I tried to make sense of why this was happening, I couldn't. We Lycans have always been known to be stronger and more powerful than the werewolves.

Werewolves shift only during the full moon, unlike us, who have the ability to shift at will, whenever and wherever we please. Werewolves can easily be harmed using silver. Silver does nothing to the likes of us. Some say we and the wolves have almost the same physical power despite us being more muscular. But that isn't true. We are smarter and more powerful.

Both physically and in the powers gifted by the goddess. Before the curse at least.

"We should go to one of the human countries and see if we can find our mates there," I suddenly said.

"Aiden..."

"What? We go to human countries every time we have a match."

"That is different. We can't just go there simply because we think we are going to find our mates..."

"It is possible though." I refused to relent.

"You want a human as a mate?"

"Does it matter?" I looked at him. "I just want a mate. That special part of me."

"Aiden..."

I sighed, closing my eyes. It always feels like I'm empty. Alone. As though the better part of my life is missing. A mate is everything; it is one of the greatest gifts anyone could ever have. Right now it feels like I have nothing. Not even the title of King helps ease the pain or the desperate need I feel.

"It's fine. We don't have to talk about this now," I sighed again. Lately, I seemed to be doing that a lot. "What is my schedule for the next four days like?"

"You have a match on the tenth. It will be played in Belinco. This time, make sure you do not end up injuring another human, Mai Martaba," Kane scolded.

"It was an innocent mistake last time. Stop making a big deal out of it." I grumbled. "Besides, why do I feel as though you only address me with my title when you want to mock me?"

"If you insist," he replied, tucking the papers in his hand back into the briefcase. "And I'm not mocking you. I just think you might listen a bit better when I use your title. I think we are here. I'll continue the briefing when we are done."

I simply nodded.

As the door on my side opened and I stepped out into the now hot sun, I couldn't help but feel as though there was something off in this place. I suddenly had a feeling that something big was going to happen. Good or bad, I have no idea and no choice but to wait and find out.

***

"Barka da isowa (Welcome), Mai Martaba (your majesty)," the four men standing before me all chorused. From the looks of it, the man in the middle was Alpha. And weirdly enough, just by looking at him, I felt strong emotions towards him. There was just something about him, but I just couldn't figure out what.

"I am Alpha Matteo. It is a pleasure to have you visit my humble pack," he said as he stepped forward, moving closer to where I stood with my men.

It hit me then. The faint scent I had inhaled the very moment I had arrived at the packhouse. It was not strong, but I took it in more than I did a few minutes ago.

What was going on?

"I've heard great stories about you, Alpha Matteo. It is a pleasure to finally meet you as well," I replied, stretching my hand towards him for a shake.

He wiped his hands on his coat as he chuckled. He was nervous, that much was evident from the way he kept chuckling.

He finally accepted the shake and dropped his gaze. "You flatter me, Mai Martaba." Then he pulled back, and gestured for the woman standing behind him to move forward. "This is my mate, Camila."

My heart sank as I heard him say that. And as weird as it may seem, I hated him for that. How could he have a mate when I don't? Was he trying to shove it in my face that he has one and I don't? I supposed that was ridiculous, since no one but Kane really knew about how badly I wanted a mate. But still, that didn't stop me from feeling some kind of resentment towards him.

"Welcome to our home, Mai Martaba. We prepared a little welcome party for you before we start with the meeting. I hope you enjoy yourself here," the woman, who was referred to as Camila, said with a smile on her face.

"Thank you. You look lovely today," I replied with a fake smile. When one is in a position like mine, it is hard to not learn to be fake.

"Thank you so much." She giggled. "We have everything ready to welcome you."

I smiled again and nodded.

As we began walking to the door, Kane leaned in and whispered. "Are you that disturbed over a mate?"

"No. It's just been a while since I last did any of this. I just feel uncomfortable."

"It'll pass once you settle in with everyone. Just keep yourself in check."

"If they do nothing to piss me off," I said as the doors were pushed open.

Truth be told, the hall was exquisite and beautifully decorated. Chandeliers hung above, their bright light illuminating the hallway and bouncing off in several places. There were flowers littered all around as well as the tables decorated with white clothes and vases full of flowers as well. Several frames hung on the walls, bright and captivating as I stared up at the closest mural.

"This is beautiful," I murmured to acknowledge their efforts. "I appreciate this."

"Thank you, Mai Martaba. This way, please." Matteo gestured to the right, where a chair taller than the rest was set and the decorations there more beautiful.

As we made our way there, I couldn't help but notice that the scent here was getting stronger with each passing second. I raised my head up and sniffed, and it filled my nostrils.

What was that?

"What are you still doing here? Goodness! The water is still there!" Camila shrieked, her voice disrupting the peaceful moment I was having with the scent.

"You stupid witch!" Matteo thundered as he made his way towards where Camila's gaze was fixed. I followed his direction with my eyes, and the first thing my eyes settled on was the hair of the woman addressed as a witch. So dark. So thick. And so was her skin, which I noticed was the most beautiful skin I had ever seen. Her skin was a bit darker than the rest, and I realized it has the same shade as mine.

She had her back turned to us and was holding a mopping stick. Dressed in a yellow dress that was torn from the back, showing off an abundance of scars that I could see even from where I stood.

"I... I'm... sorry..." her small voice drifted across, causing something unimaginable to stir within me. Something I never knew I possessed. A certain urge to see the face of this woman filled my senses, and I had to ball my fists to remain calm, else, I would bolt towards her.

Something wasn't right.

"Shut up!" Matteo yelled. "What were you doing? There's still water here and the King is already here," he hissed.

"I..."

"I said to shut up!" he snarled, raising his hand as though he wanted to hit her. Then he briefly looked at me and dropped his hand. I wanted to rip his arm from his body. Do they hit women here? I asked myself angrily.

"I'll deal with you later," he murmured, then took quick steps towards me. "I'm sorry for this, Mai Martaba. It seems she still isn't done here. Would you perhaps like to start by seeing the females we have chosen before she's done?"

"No, it's fine," I waved my hand carelessly, still keeping my eyes pinned on her. The urge to see her was still there, even though she had turned towards us, but had her head down. There was this certain feeling, as though I was being compelled to go to her. It's like a voice was screaming in my head to do that, to move closer to her and find out who exactly she was. That was all I could really think of.

My hands itched to reach out, to caress her, to linger and savor, to learn every bit of her, to anchor her against me, ensuring she'd never disappear from my life. Weird as it may sound, that was what I was longing for.

Suddenly, I found myself walking towards the woman who was still holding the mopping stick and still stood in the puddles created by the water.

There were only mere inches left before I reached her, when my shoes decided it was the perfect time to slip. I made weird noises as I tried to steady myself, but it didn't help.

My hands flaid around, knowing that I would certainly kiss the wet floor and perhaps even break my nose, when a hand unexpectedly caught mine. Rough and hard. But frail and small at the same time.

I looked up to find the most perfect set of brown eyes I had ever seen stare at me, and just for a moment, just for a teeny weeny moment, I thought I was floating in the sky, and that time had suddenly stopped. Only to suddenly feel my weight pulling me as I held tightly onto the hand of the woman.

Soon enough, we were both down on the wet floor.

"Mai Martaba!" I heard voices as we tumbled across the slippery floor but I paid no attention. I wrapped my arms around her, not caring what was going on around me, as we remained sliding across the tiled floor. I became her shield, careful not to hurt her or have anything do that as well.

A moment of clarity suddenly enveloped me, and deep in my heart, an ancient feeling stirred.

As fast as it happened, it suddenly stopped. And I laid there, in a pool of water with the woman in my embrace.

It hit me then. The scent I had been smelling for a while was from this woman. The sweet scent of lemons and pines? Or was it coffee and jasmine? I had no idea. And I couldn't figure out the exact scent emanating from her. But I loved it.

She shifted once, which I ignored, and then again and again, as though wanting to move away.

I slipped my arm from her waist and removed the one that held her head in place on my chest. She stayed unmoving for a moment. I didn't move as well. I simply waited. Just like I felt when I wanted to see her face, I felt the same urge to look at her eyes again. I wanted to see those eyes again, just so I could maybe understand what was going on.

As though she knew what I was thinking, she looked up at me, and I found myself staring at her brown eyes again, so deep and beautiful that I felt lost in them. And then, I knew what it meant. I knew what was happening.

This woman, this wolf, was my mate.

To say that joy exploded in my heart would have been the greatest understatement ever spoken. I felt my heart soar, and it was as if I had been asleep my entire life, and this was the moment when I finally woke up. It was joy unlike anything I had ever experienced, and in that single moment of pure ecstasy, I knew that I absolutely would die for this woman.

In seconds, this beautiful woman had become essential to my well being. For the first time in my existence, and that was what I had been doing until just this moment, existing without really living...I was finally living. I was becoming whole.

"Oh no. Not again, please Nyala, please no," she whispered in despair, shutting the eyes I was getting lost in as she quickly sat up. Fear was rolling off her in waves. Why was she shaking like a leaf?

It was then that I noticed the bruise on her cheek. Another one along her right eye, and the split on her lips.

I sat up quickly as well, and despite seeing the fear that crossed her features, I didn't stop. I calmly placed my hands on her cheeks and lightly grazed the bruise that was there. Then ever so slowly, I voiced the command.

"Who the f**k did this to you?" I said in a barely controlled rage.