Idris~1

~PART 2: THE LYCAN~

Smoldering flames set ablaze a canopy of ancient trees. Fangs and claws glinted sharply under the crescent moon.

Screams and shrieks sliced through the frigid night, hurling in writhing silhouettes shrouded in shadow and smoke, unbridled rage burning fiercely in crimson orbs.

The vivid images raced through my mind, tightening my ribcage, and squeezing my lungs as the lifeless body of my best friend and confidant slumped at my feet in a splutter of blood and gore.

“Idris, when a time comes where a woman enters your heart, you’ll understand what it means to be anxious and restless.”

My eyes snapped open, jerked into consciousness by a jarring creak. “What?” I mumbled and rubbed away the sleepy haze blurring my vision. My manager’s worried face greeted me.

“The client is here, Lycan Heir,” he said, and hesitantly asked, “would you like me to invite him in or have him wait?” No doubt detecting the fatigue I’ve been fighting to conceal for the past 24 hours.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was half past 1 in the morning, 15 minutes to the scheduled meeting time with my special client. I must’ve fallen asleep while waiting.

I released a deep sigh and straightened my posture, spreading out my legs and placing my silver gun beside me on the sofa as I raked my fingers through my dark hair. A display of intimidation went a long way when dealing with people in this line of business. 

Picking up my wineglass, I filled it for the fifth time that night and nodded at the manager. “Invite him in.” 

A few moments passed before the door to the private room opened again. A group of armed men led by the most notorious gang-leader in the underground Asia marketplace streamed into the room and spread out in a ring, blocking all avenues of exit.

I swirled my wine and evaluated my last client, the Russian Arms Dealer, through half-lidded eyes, making no move to welcome him as he slumped into the sofa across from me in an unruly manner and crossed his legs.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long, Mr. Raed.” He chortled.

“I haven’t been waiting long, but I do want to return home early…” I said, earning me a raised eyebrow from him.

“I did hear you were no longer single. It seems the rumors were true." 

I smirked and set down my glass, not interested in engaging in meaningless chatter. From his attitude, my prospective partner was fishing for information. But as the Lycan Heir of the Pacific Sea, I preferred to remain under the radar when closing shady deals overseas.

It prevented conflicts of interest with foreign governments.

Interpreting the meaning of my silence, the Arms Dealer uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “So, how much are you looking to buy?” He asked, stuffing a cigarette into his mouth, lighting it with a crisp snap, and taking a long drag.

"All the silver ammunition and weapons you have to offer. Silver chains, cages, and cuffs must be included. Name your price.”

Half an hour later, I clasped my seatbelt and relaxed in my seat as the jet took off into the air from the roof of Florescent Light, the most obscure brothel in Istanbul, towards the Pacific Ocean. 

My mind wandered to my wife.

After our bonding ceremony, this was our first long distance separation. I wondered how she was doing, if she missed me, and looked forward to my return as much as I longed to return to her side.

It was the middle of winter. She had yet to adjust to the harsh temperatures of the Pacific Sea. Would she fall sick from the chill?

I couldn’t suppress the unease, restlessness, and worry that invaded my heart when I recalled under whose roof she was staying. It's only been two days since our mansion collapsed under the sabotage of a Lycan couple, and yet, it seemed years had passed since we moved in with my half-brother.

Though Einas Raed wouldn’t have the chance to do anything to her under Caira Mirza’s watch, my wife’s charm couldn’t be underestimated.

24 hours was a heck of a lot of time for the bastard to approach her if she lay thick on the charm.

“We should’ve mated with her and sealed the deal before we left!” Malko groaned in the back of my mind, mentally slapping his face and tugging on his tail.

“Yeah? And then what? Force her to love us?” I snorted. We both knew our chosen mate’s heart was dead set on her fated mate. And though we wanted nothing more than to make her ours, we wouldn’t take her against her will.

We respected her too much to stoop that low.

Saira Malivik was our Chosen Mate, both Malko’s and mine. He settled for her probably because there was no sign of his fated-mate showing up, and me…well, let’s just say I don’t buy the true-mate and fated mate bullshit. And in my opinion? I could do better than fine without it dictating my life.

I sighed and went over the five deals I sealed earlier in the day. Two partnerships with underground drug lords, one with a powerful European politician, and another with a renowned scientist in the human world.

The Russian Arms Dealer was the most important highlight of the day's conquest.

I wasn’t purchasing weapons from him. I had formed a partnership that would help me build my power and protect the woman I called wife.

My mind drifted off into dreamland as I planned for the future. A future that would belong to her and me alone.

9 hours later, I jerked awake to the movement of the jet landing. Grabbing the suitcase that held the gifts I bought for Saira, I left the rest of my luggage with my escort, and got off the plane to find my Beta waiting for me beside a silver Mercedes.

"Did you find them?" I asked Zubair, undoing the buttons on my wrists and tugging on my tie to loosen the knot.

"Yes, Lycan Heir. They're held in the dungeon in Lycans Town."

"Good." I smirked, my mind clouding with bloodlust. Images of my mansion engulfed in flames, Saira's huddled figure, her blue eyes wide, and clear, unaware of the enormous danger surrounding her as the crimson tongues lashed her skin, flashed before my eyes. They made my blood boil, the thirst for vengeance so deep, I barely managed to hiss the words, "take me to them," through gritted teeth.

2 hours later...

The hoarse cry of a female echoed off the dungeon walls, causing the surrounding guards to imperceptibly tremble and take a step back at the horrifying sight before them. The decadent scent of black blood, burning flesh, and pieces of skin littering the floor incited waves of pained retching from all around.

I ignored the pale complexions of the guards, my gaze fixed on the writhing woman as I ripped off another piece of flesh from her skin.

"Ahhhh!"

"Lycan Heir, please...spare her..." Her mate begged, tears and snout streaming down his face as he crawled to her side in a feeble attempt to shield her with his body. "It was my idea...I...I set your mansion on fire..." He cried.

I snorted. Who was he trying to fool? Though my status as Lycan Heir couldn't compare to Einas Raed's Commander status in the clan, provoking a ranked member was no joking matter. But who was the mastermind?

I flexed my claws, then stabbed my index finger into the woman's eye. With a vicious yank, I plucked out her eyeball in a splatter of blood. Another ear-piercing howl that contorted the man's face erupted from the woman's throat. Malko cackled in the back of my mind, clearly enjoying the gruesome sight as much as I did.

There was no pity, no compassion in our hearts for those who almost caused our female's death. Even if the one we were torturing was a female herself.

"Who instigated you?" I asked, flicking away the disgusting eyeball and leaning back in my seat. Zubair handed me a tissue. I carefully wiped my hands, taking care to get the fingernails, before throwing the used tissue on the man's face.

The man blanched, hesitation flickering in his eyes. I sneered and picked a silver knife from the tray of torture tools sitting beside me. Since she was his weakness, I had no qualm breaking his resolve through her. "My time is precious, and patience has never been my forte." I drawled. "I guess we just have to end this early."

I leaned forward and dragged the silver blade on the woman's face in a sluggish manner. I was deeply fascinated at the way her skin sizzled and scorched like meat on fire, an intriguing reaction ranked Lycans didn't display to silver, and began to experiment on other parts of her body when the man's strangled cry interrupted me.

"I'll tell...I'll tell! It's Caira Mirza! She gave us the idea! Please, can you stop now? Please!"

I stopped in front of the Lycan Commander's mansion and took a deep breath to gather my composure. Her delectable scent hit me in the gut. Like green grass after a night of rain and spring fruits after a season of winter, Saira’s fresh evergreen scent beckoned me into the house.

“What is she doing in the kitchen?” Malko grumbled, bringing multiple scenarios to mind. I frowned and shook away the unsettling feeling invading my heart. Einas’s scent meant nothing. Caira’s was also there. “Obviously, since it’s morning, it’s breakfast time.” So, they must’ve gathered to eat together, a normal practice in packs and clans.

However, even as I thought this way, when I rounded the corner, Diana’s voice rang in my ears, beguiling my senses and sinking its claws into my heart.

“Idris, when a time comes where a woman enters your heart, you’ll understand what it means to be anxious and restless.”