LIANA
Charlotte and I have a great lunch. She tells me more about what to expect at a royal lycan wedding ceremony, and even jots down some details in a notebook, although I tell her she doesn’t have to take notes. Lucian and I haven’t even figured out the timing yet, but I’m starting to agree with him that maybe the next moon is not too soon. The less fuss the better, in my opinion: I’d love it if just Kia and Char were in attendance. But if we do it that quickly, I have to break the news to Father soon, maybe even today. My stomach twists at the thought.
Char shows me around the local town, which looks as if it’s stuck in the nineteenth century, with tiny shops and cobblestone streets. Strolling around there feels like traveling back through time, but it’s the sweetest little place.
On our way back, we chat like old friends but Char goes a little stiff as we pull up in front of the palace. I frown but before I can ask what’s wrong. Lucian comes out of the front door to greet me.
“Hey, beautiful. Have fun? he says with a smile, and I smile right back..
“I did. The town is lovely, beautifully Victorian.”
He wraps an arm over my shoulder and I lean into him.
“Thank you, Charlotte,” I call to her.
“It was a pleasure, Princess,” she says politely, and hows her head before walking away quickly. I frown and wonder what just happened. We were fine while we were out. Why has she gone all cold and formal?
“It wasn’t you.” Lucian says as if reading my mind, and now I frown at him as he sighs. “I’m sure you’re aware of the council, Liana?”
I nod. Everybody knows about the council, the organization of chosen alphas who make sure that everyone, even the king, abides by the old laws. “Of course but
“They’re here.”
I tense a little, feeling the blood drain from my face. “W–why ?**
He sighs again, running a hand down his face. “I have tried, believe me, but…I have not been entirely honest with you, Liana.”
My heart stutters, then starts to beat very fast. “What do you mean?” I ask anxiously.
“That meeting I had yesterday was with them.”
I look up at him wordlessly, waiting for him to continue.
“You understand that the possibility of me meeting my mate was getting slimmer and slimmer, right? I never thought I’d actually find you, my love… But when I did, I knew exactly what they would want from me, what they’ve wanted for the last hundred years…”
“An heir…” I answer for him in a whisper, and he nods with a sigh.
“I didn’t tell them about you because I didn’t want them to try and pressure you before you are ready,” he says. “We hoped that news of me meeting my mate would be enough to subdue them for a little longer. I’m still hoping.”
My heart is pounding now, and I’m sweating.
He looks down at me and rests a hand on my check. “You’re so young, Liana, so full of life. I want you to live it first–and one day, when you are ready, then decide whether to have pups. I can admit I’ve had more than enough time to consider what I want in my own. life, but right now all I want is you.”
His honesty relieves me, and I let out my held breath and relax a little. I have my suspicions about who would go running to the council fo gossip about me….
has a grudge against me, after the way Lucian rejected her. But does she know I’m Lucian’s mate? And if she knows, does my
know too?
“Thank you,” I say. “I feel the same right now. I’m not ready just yet.”
“And I understand that, Liana. I really do. I will give you all the time you desire.”
har are they here?” I ask, reverting hack to my anxiousness.
“They wish to meet you. But my love, I swear it to you–I will not let them
pressure you. I vow it.”
I nod, taking a deep breath and looking to the front door as I smooth down my plain jeans and T–shirt as best I can.
“You always look perfect,” Lucian whispers into my ear, making me smile, as he takes my hand. “Ready“”
“Ready.”
I tense as Lucian leads me into the proper living space where guests convene. The sight I’m met with is rather intimidating.
Five council members get to their feet, gawking at me as I walk into the room with my hand in Lucian’s. One gaze in particular is very scrutinizing as I shrink into Lucian’s side a little, and he growls protectively.
“Keep staring like that, Councilman, and I may have to reconsider your invitation into my home. You are making my queen–to–be uncomfortable,”
“Lucian. Always good to see you.” The councilman looks at Lucian with obvious irritation in his eyes. Lucian cuts his eyes at him but chooses to hold his tongue for now.
“Liana. This is Councilman Alexandre. Also, Olivia, Titan, Tina, and Lorenzo.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” I respond respectfully, and they nod while looking me over.
“Now you have met my lovely fiancée, I request that you excuse her to prepare for the evening,” Lucian says. His tone is civil enough, but doesn’t leave much room for argument.
“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Olivia says calmly. She has a pinched–up face that ruins what would be beautiful features. If she relaxed. even a little, I’m sure she’d be a beautiful woman.
Turning his back to them to block me from sight, Lucian puts his hands on my waist gently and brings his lips down to mine in a delicate kiss.
“Get yourself pampered, Princess. We’ve got dinner, remember?” He gives me a small wink and I smile.
“I love you,” I whisper back, making him smile too.
“I love you, my beautiful little wolf.”
คน
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LUCIAN
Once I am sure Liana is out of sight, I turn back to the council and face Alexandre specifically.
“Is the council happy now?” I say with disgust.
“Very. Your Highness. Although…we were expecting someone of higher status to be claiming the queen’s crown.”
It takes everything in me not to bite his throat out. I have no idea what my face does in response, but it prompts Olivia to reframe Alexandre’s statement.
“I think what Councilman Alexandre means to say is…who is she, exactly?”
“I don’t know how you can get higher than a princess,” I spit, and they show various degrees of surprise and approval.
“That info
“That information is welcome, but…unexpected. You know, considering her…appearance.” Alexandre says with distaste.
I growl and launch myself at him, gripping him by the throat and smashing him into the wall. I pin him there, snarling, my teeth bared. My lycan comes through and holds the transition as my claws elongate and spike into his neck.
“How dare you! I am your king!” I snarl looking down at him.
“Your Majesty Olivia squeaks, but right now I don’t care. No one insults any mate!
“I should rip your fucking throat out! You smug, arrogant cunt!” I seethe, and my lycan growls a terrifying threat.
“Lucian…” Liana’s sweet, soft voice somehow penetrates through my rage, and I look over my heaving shoulders to the silhouette of my little mate calmly walking up to me. She puts a delicate hand on my lower back. “Leave him be, lover. His mind is too small to understand what we have
I relax slightly at her touch and drop Alexandre to the floor. The council members rush around to help him up. Liana holds my gaze although I know she’s scared. She lifts her hand to my muzzle, stroking it gently. My eyes close and I drop down to my knees at her feet.
“I’m sorry, he
–
“I know. Their opinions of me do not faze me, Lucian. It is only yours that matters.”
Her words and her touch bring me so much calmness that my shift stops and I retreat back to my human form. Shifting has never been physically painful, but the emotional pain it causes when I lose sight of my mate…hurts more than anything,
Her hand holds mine and I feel her straighten beside me. “Council, as you can see I am a healthy, worthy male to our king,” she states calmly. “I do not require your approval and I do not take your disrespect lightly. Please leave my home at once. Your welcome has been revoked.“”
All around us, the council members are gasping. Her tone of quiet authority takes even my breath away. “Let’s go, my love,” she says. “I’m sure they remember where the door is.”
With a savage grin at Alexandre, I follow her lead out of the room, toward the stairs.
I’m struck silent as we walk. I didn’t expect her to be able to take control so well. It takes me aback a little. Not in a bad way, at all…no, in a very good way.
Entering our room, she takes me by surprise once again, pushing me back against the door with considerable power and growling a little. My lycan mentally wags a tail in happiness.
“Fuck me! I want you! Now!” she demands and starts pulling off her clothes. I don’t make her ask me twice. I growl back and rip my own clothes off my body, pulling her soft flesh to mine, instantly aroused by her demands.
mouth moves to her neck, nipping and pulling at the skin with my teeth. She moans loudly, throwing her hend back to give me
Taccess.
“Fuck!” she gasps when I bite a little harder. Venom leaks from my canines and runs down her chest. I need to bite her so badly.
“Baby…” I growl, lifting my head back to get some distance. I have to control myself, but it’s hard.
“Lucian. I’m ready.”
1:11 PM C
I stop breathing and look down at her. “Wh–Liana…the moon-”
“Lucian!” she says, snapping me back to the here and now, and my rambling stops. “I don’t care if the change takes a week. I don’t care about a fancy wedding. I’m ready, I want you.”
I can’t stop the feral snarl as I feel my body shifting with a will of its own. Everything grows as muscles pop and every vein is pushed to the surface. I look down at myself, and even I feel a sliver of fear at the way I look right now. The only word that springs to mind is deudly.
The beautiful gems of her eyes twinkle in the light. She looks at me without an ounce of fear.
Stepping closer, she curls her soft hands over my talons and up over the lengthened hair on my arm. With me at this height, she can only reach my bicep before skimming her fingers across my chest and down my stomach, humming softly as she does.
She’s pushing me further and I can barely contain myself–but then she steps away. I watch as she gets onto the bed and drops to all fours. The way she holds her legs open, just letting that scent out, is killing me. Especially when she looks over her shoulder with a smile before laying herself out in the center of the bed, like a meal.
My excitement grows wild. She yips and howls softly from the bed, calling me to her, and my control snaps. Growling low in my gut. I stalk toward her and she whimpers sweetly, rolling around a little with excitement.
“Ready?” I ask quietly and she nods, a soft sheen of sweat breaking out on her skin.
“Mmm, yes. I’m ready. Claim me, Alpha,” she pleads, writhing around on the sheets. I prowl onto the bed. It bends and groans under my weight as I move up to tower over my little wolf.
Her erratic panting reveals her thick canines, bared and ready in her soft, human mouth. My own tingle with the venom they are leaking. Reaching between us, she grabs my thick, pulsing length and spreads herself wide to accommodate the extra growth. Her eyes flick wide and meet mine before she quite literally stuffs me inside her. She cries out loudly and I almost buckle with the feeling. I’ve never fucked in this form before, and it’s wildly intense.
I pull back and thrust again, and she screams out at the fullness. Then I look down at those teeth and nod. She returns the nod, and I lower my head down to her, sighing as her teeth sink into my neck
Heaven. She is pure heaven.
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