~ NOX
“Wait a minute?” She said, gaping at me breathlessly. “You’re the King?”I nodded watching her closely. I understood the reason behind her skepticism. For the longest time, no one outside of my territory had seen my face unless he or she was an Alpha.Rumors had sprung up and spread that I had become a deranged beast or a psychopathic killer with an insatiable thirst for blood. I was okay with it all as long as it served my agenda.Zora, on the other hand, seemed to be going through an array of thoughts and emotions all at the same time. I could smell her fear, sense her confusion and taste her excitement. The ritual we had just performed had made me hyperaware and alert to the changes occurring within her and I knew she was experiencing the same thing concerning me too.“And now we are mated.” She said more to herself than to me like she was reaffirming something that felt like a dream.“Bonded.” I corrected.“What?” She asked, blinking out of her daze.“Bonded.” I repeated. “What we just did was meant to create a mate bond between us. For your kind, the mate bond is predestined and mild. For my kind, it is premeditated and intense. For us to be mated, we’d have to be intimate for that to happen.”By now, the darkness surrounding us had given way to shadows of light, so I watched as she blushed and quickly looked away from me. This caused her eyes to land on my naked torso, then they widened, flew back to me and immediately elsewhere. Like goosebumps on my skin, I could sense her embarrassment, so I decided to get to my feet and find my clothes.If it had been up to me, I would have stayed unmated for as long as I lived, but I was King, and that meant I had to fulfil certain obligations to my people. Obligations that had me going into the forest at sundown, traipsing the woods in my lycan form, guided by my canine instincts in search for a woman that would ‘complete’ me.I had spent hours in the woods yet my wolf was drawn to no one. It made me climb up a tree and wait and it made me watch as the fairest of maidens ran past me, cowering and hiding from other lycans who were on the hunt for their mates too.By the time dawn began to creep in, I had concluded within myself that there was never going to be anyone else who could complete me.I simply waited for the first light to shine through before I went back to my duty and my people. I wasn’t afraid to spend the rest of my life alone. I had made my peace with that decision a long time ago. Just an hour left, and her scent had hit me like a brick.She had smelt like a blend of caramel, pistachio and vanilla and my wolf had become very alert to her every movement. I would never forget the way she looked up at me and screamed in pure terror. For the first time, in a long while, I cared about the way another person perceived me and when she screamed and ran, it hadn’t sat well with my wolf.I found my clothes and quickly changed. I could feel my wolf getting restless from not being in close proximity to her. "Get yourself together." I mumbled under my breath before sighing and walking back to her.By the time, I found her, she was already on her feet, trying to get caked mud out of her hair and clothes. Her startingly blue eyes met mine and I hated the way they almost made my knees buckle especially when they roamed from my head to my toe in what I could sense as admiration and lust.I wondered if she could also feel my discomfort and reluctance.“So what happens now?” She asked. “…your Highness.” She added as an afterthought, looking unsure of herself.“Now we go home.” I said, looking everywhere but at her.I immediately turned on my heels and headed towards the path that led outside the woods. I couldn’t risk looking at those eyes of hers again. They were blue like the ocean and staring into them drowned out every thought in my head and right now, I prefer to think straight.Halfway out of the woods and I already had to wait for her to catch up five times. When she slowed me down again for the sixth time, I huffed a breath, turned around towards her and before she could speak, I bent down and carried her over my shoulder.“Hey!” She protested, pushing at my body, while trying to twist and turn in my tight grip. “Put me down!”“No!” I said firmly.“Is this how you treat women, your highness?” She huffed. “Carrying them over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes!”“First of all, quit that ‘Highness’ crap.” I said, ignoring the fact that her butt was right next to my face, which was driving my wolf crazy. “My people call me ‘Nox’, you should too.”“Okay. Nox." She said, laying emphasis on my name. "Can you please put me down?” She said in a tone lighter than usual.“No.”“Why not?!”“Because you’re too slow and I have better things to do.”She went silent after that and I was grateful for it because in all honesty, I had nothing better to do.************************************As we emerged from the woods, a percentage of my people who had formed a large crowd and kept vigil with me, rejoiced, hailed and hooted. For the first time in a long while, I smiled, not because I had a mate now but because they looked genuinely happy.A rare occurrence within my pack.They bowed as I walked by, then continued to clap and cheer for me till I was out of sight.I continued walking for a quarter of a mile until I reached my residence. My home was a Victorian style manor, surrounded by large fields, farms and a lake that went on for miles.I could sense Zora trying to peek around so I gently put her down. I gripped her arm when she swayed a bit and she had her hand on my chest. For a moment, we stared at each other, feeling electricity coursing through our veins originating from where we touched.I could feel the electrons moving all over my body starting from my head and traveling fast to my groin. Before it could go any farther, I stepped out of her reach, taking my hand with me.She blinked and looked away.My wolf practically growled at me but I ignored it."Is this where you live?" She stuttered."Yes. Please. Let me show you in." I said. Passing by her and careful not to touch her, I opened the door to my house.There was something about the way her mouth dropped open and eyes rounded as she gawked at the interior of my house that made me want to puff out my chest in pride.I realized how ridiculous it was but I couldn't help it. The damn mate bond was really messing with me but I was able to school my face into a neutral expression."No wonder you're King!" She said. "You live like one."I didn't know how to answer that so I cleared my throat, getting her attention again."I really have to wash up and so do you. Let me show you to the bedroom."Her eyes rounded at that."Relax." I said. "I'm not going to pounce on you."A blush creeped up her cheeks and she looked away."Follow me". I said and turned towards the stairs. It was a bifurcated staircase that led to many wings in the manor. We walked in silence till we entered my bedroom. I heard her whisper in awe but resisted the urge to look at her again."So, this is my bedroom or rather our bedroom. I'll have my servants bring your things in. Where did you put them?""What?""Your things. Where are they?" "I don't know." She shrugged. "Where I live?""You didn't bring anything?" I frowned. She must have thought she wouldn't be mated to anyone and would be back home at her pack afterward."Believe me when I say I have no idea how I ended up here." She said and she was being sincere but I was suddenly very tired, itchy and unable to compose a single train of thought, so I nodded and began to undress.I had just pulled my black t-shirt over my head when I caught a glimpse of her in my standing mirror.She looked so awkward standing around and looking at everything. It suddenly dawned on me that she wouldn't be able to sit because she's dirty."You can have your shower first." I said, drawing her eyes to me. "There are several clean towels on the rack. Just put your dirty clothes in the laundry basket when you're done. You can wear one of my shirts till we can get your things.""Thank you." She smiled shyly before entering the bathroom.My wolf urged me to follow her in but I forced myself to move in the opposite direction.Soon, I was heading out of my room, grabbing my phone of the way out. I sent a quick text to my Beta, Roman while making my way to the kitchen."Where are you? Any luck?" I asked.Almost immediately, I received his call and picked it."Hey man." He said, sounding low on the other end."What's up?" I asked, sensing his sadness. "You find anyone?""None. Just got back home." Roman replied. "I heard you found your girl. Congratulations, my man.""I wish it was you who found yours. I have no business being mated.""Of course you do, Nox." Roman replied. "This will give our people some hope.""Fine." I sighed. "I'll try my best.""Where is she?" Roman asked. "Don't tell me you left her alone?""I came to the kitchen to make us something to eat.""Did you do that because you're a romantic or you did it to avoid her?""Can't it be both?!" I retorted.Roman laughed on the other end. "Damn Nox. You have a long way to go."Roman and I continued talking about other things until I finished preparing the sandwiches. We said our goodbyes and I sighed again. I carried the tray of food up the stairs and headed to my room.Normally my servants would do all this but I had ordered them all to take the day off. When I got to the door, I balanced the tray on one hand and opened it to see Zora standing in my white shirt, drying her hair with a towel.My eyes drank in her body from her long wet blonde hair to her slender neck and then to the valley of her bosoms showing underneath. Then my eyes caught the peak of her nipples sticking out of my shirt and it took all the restraint in me to rein in my wolf from coming out.She seemed like she was about to say something but her tummy rumbled loudly, cutting her off.Her eyes fell to the food on my arm, stared at it longingly and then went back to my face.I came in and gave her the tray of food.With a 'thank you', she collected the tray from me, immediately balanced on my bed and began to wolf it down.She seemed like she'd been starved for days which is normal for a werewolf who just passed through a mate bond with a lycan."This is really good!" She said, in-between mouthfuls."You're welcome." I said, turning from her and removing my slacks.Immediately, I felt the heat of her stare on my body and I cursed myself for forgetting she was there. When I turned, I saw her frozen in motion with a piece of sandwich about to enter her mouth and her eyes glued to my lower region.In that moment, something feral passed in her eyes but in a blink it was gone."Sorry. Next time, I'll undress in the bathroom." I mumbled and went in for my shower. I made sure the water was icy cold. Seeing her look at me like that stirred some things in me that I wanted buried.If I was going to spend the rest of my life with her, I had to get my shit together. I am King of lycans and werewolves. I make life or death decisions everyday so why does the idea of being mated with a girl make me nervous and shy?Why am I fighting what could potentially be a happy relationship in the long run?No. It's weakness!A few hours in and Zora is already making me weak. I've done what my people wanted. I've gotten them a Queen. It doesn't mean I have to be vulnerable with her. It doesn't mean we have to get close. She'll stay on her own and I'll stay on mine.Starting now.I got out of the shower with renewed vigor and determination to ignore my mate and prevent the bond from having any other effect on me.My bathroom led to a walk in closet which opened to my bedroom. Dressed in a clean pair of slacks, I opened the door ready to go to bed and ignore Zora.What I saw next had all my resolve melting away in a flash.~ ZoraThe moment I finished the sandwich Nox gave me, I immediately felt a fatigue so intense, I could barely walk the few feet it took to keep the food tray on Nox’s desk table and back to the bed. I suddenly realized I had no idea if Nox wanted me in his bed or not. Besides, if he wanted me in his bed, did that also mean we would have to get intimate?I had no idea if I was ready for that. Based on how he had acted towards me since we left the woods and the feelings of reluctance and discomfort that I sensed from him, I decided it would be best if he invited me to join him rather than assume. Summoning the last bit of strength in me, I grabbed a pillow and a blanket and got comfortable on the floor next to his bed. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was out. By the time I woke up, I felt well rested and renewed. Reluctant to get up, I snuggled in deeper to the musky scent of citrus, sandalwood and cedar. It smelt so delicious, I basically moaned out loud. Something moved and ti
~ ZoraI had no idea how long I sat there being interrogated by Roman. Being completely enveloped by darkness made me lose sense of time and place. Only Roman’s voice tethered me to the present. He asked about the pack I was from, what I did as an occupation, if I was a spy. Then he asked how I fell from the cliff and something in me began to struggle against his hold on me. I didn’t want to relive the trauma of what was done to me so I tried to shake his hold. It felt like I was glued down but I knew my body was still moving.“Shhhhh. Calm down. Relax.” I heard Roman say but the effect of his voice was no longer soothing on me. “Let me out!” I shouted. I continued to tug against the mental hold keeping me pinned until I felt a hand on my shoulder and delicious warmth course through my body. “It’s okay.” I heard Nox’s voice whisper in my ear. “You’re here now. You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”My body seemed to relax at that and my breathing evened. Roman continued
~ ZoraMy head. There was a bounty on my head and the only thing I could do was blink. Then I felt my legs move, one after the other till I was walking out of Nox’s office, down the passageway and out the main door. By now, the moon was high in the sky lighting my path. I kept walking with no plan of where I wanted to go. Someone may have called my name but I couldn’t hear anything else. I couldn’t hear past my own thoughts and raging emotions. What if I hadn’t shown up on Nox’s territory? Would I have been executed by any of the packs I stumbled into? Did my family know about this? Were they worried? Was Tyler also in on it? Did Emilia say I did something?“Zora!” Nox’s voice thundered through my thoughts. I jumped and turned around to look at him. He looked worried. I could sense his concern settling around me like a blanket. “Are you okay?”“What do you think?” I said in barely a whisper. I tried to feel something but it was like I was numb. I could only feel what Nox felt f
~ TylerI had no peace. Ever since I rejected Zora and claimed Emilia as my mate, everything within me had felt wrong. My wolf had gone restless, seeking the familiar scent of my rejected mate and the pleasure of her warmth. She had trusted me and I had betrayed her in the worst way imaginable. The thought alone haunted me as I stood beside Emilia and received congratulations and well wishes from people. My eyes had scanned the crowd for Zora but I knew she wouldn’t be there. Not coming to wish my chosen mate and I well was an act of disrespect but I hoped my father would let it slide. I could barely stay on at the party afterwards so I retreated to my bedroom. At some point, Emilia had asked to borrow my phone and I was so uncomfortable around her, I simply agreed so she could go away from me. I had no idea when I slept off but when I woke up, Emilia was in my bed as she had been for the past couple of weeks, but that morning, her scent had repulsed me. Everything about her annoye
~ Zora Roman took me to the dining room to have dinner and after that, he led me to another bedroom just as Nox had ordered. My new bedroom was on the same level as the previous room I stayed in, maybe five or six bedrooms away from Nox. I also noticed that this room was almost identical to Nox's except there was a Queen-size bed in my new room instead of a King-size and the color of my curtains and beddings were lavender instead of gold. The first thing that had occurred to me the moment I stepped in was the fact that I couldn't smell him. It felt like living in a world full of color one minute and then suddenly being ripped from it and thrown into a room with monochromatic features. How could I have only spent a day with this man and he already has such an effect on me? More importantly, how could I desire a man who has been known to be ruthless and dangerous? Still contemplating my thoughts, I noticed a blue nightgown had been laid on the bed for me and when I got closer, I re
~ Zora Nox withdrew his hand from the brunette’s touch just as his cold gaze roamed my body. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and chose to ignore him. After all, I had something to prove to myself. Roman, soon appeared by my side with his hand outstretched for me to take. In other to spite Nox, I gave Roman the brightest smile I could muster, before taking his hand. As Roman led me to the left side of the dining table, we both said our greetings. I had no idea how seating systems worked so I aimed for a chair farthest from Nox but much to my disappointment, Roman, pulled out the chair closest to Nox. Sitting at the table, I could feel Nox’s eyes on me, like fiery heat, but I refused to look at him. Instead, I focused on dishing myself a balanced meal. “I don’t think I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with you,” Roman said to the brunette as he took his seat beside me. I felt displeased that he was even speaking to her at all but then again, I reminded myself to put my
~ Nox From the moment she walked into the dining room, I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. It was like as if her very essence called to me and this way, nothing else mattered but her. Her delicious scent made my mouth water for a taste of her large bosom, her curvy hips and the treasure that lied within them. Before my mind could go astray, I looked away but then, my traitorous eyes found my way back to her again. I was able to control my lust for her until Mabel began to say spiteful things about her person, and our bond became assaulted with waves upon waves of her sadness and pain. The fact that she kept calm and gave Mabel a false name right when Roman and I were still contemplating how she would be introduced made my wolf and I feel something we hadn’t felt for someone in a while - Pride. Maybe, it was the bond between us, but I instantly became aware of her need to be comforted. Somehow, I just knew she needed physical contact and I had been right. It was fascinating the way
~ Zora It took a while before I could muster the will to get up from Nox’s desk and walk out of his office. I felt numb and unable to comprehend my feelings. One minute, I was mad at Nox for entertaining that Mabel brat, and the next, I am kissing him and spreading my legs, willing to be marked. What the hell is wrong with me?! If Roman had not come in, would Nox have marked me completely? Would he have regretted it afterwards? Would I have regretted it too? Earlier on, I had sensed a bit of wariness and relief from him before he shut me out again. Of course, we just met, it made perfect sense for him to be wary of me. But I still couldn't shake the feeling that his wariness was a result of something else - something that might later become a problem in the future. I made a mental note to talk to Roman about it. Instead of going to my room, I decided I needed to take a walk. So, when I came out of the hallway that led to Nox’s office, instead of veering left and climbing the st