Alari's pov
I could hear the whispers but I just couldn't bring myself to care, this scent was all I could focus on and so I kept breathing it in.
And it kept getting stronger, like it was getting closer!
I heard a few gasps and felt my wolf push forward, it was only then that I opened my eyes and came face to face with perfection.
Who was this Adonis standing before me? Clad in a black suit and white shirt, filling it out with his muscular build. He had the body of a warrior!
His silky looking hair was combed neatly to the side, putting his face on display. He looked like a model, straight off the runway with a perfectly symmetrical face.
Thick eye brows and lashes to match, his brown eyes had specs of gold which sparkled as he kept his gaze on me.
Wait, why was he looking at me like that? Why was I looking at him like my world started and ended with him?
“MATE!” The scream nearly left me deaf and it took me a moment to realise it was my wolf!
Saying I was in disbelief would be an understatement! This all felt a little too… unreal!
This couldn't possibly be happening in real life. Did I die from the rejection? Am I in a coma? Because there's no way I would get another mate right after getting rejected!
“You better start believing it because he's right there!” My wolf purred, her lust for this gorgeous man too obvious and I almost laughed at her, if not for the heartache that suddenly struck me.
What if….?
He took a cautious step forward, as if afraid I would run from him all while maintaining eye contact.
I flinched a little but forced my body to still, I didn't want to run away, he looked so strong and his aura was something only an extremely powerful Alpha could possess. I couldn't possibly run from such an Alpha!
Who is this man?!
I felt my mind go wild and my body vibrated subtly as he took another step, then another, until, he stood towering over me.
My body grew ablaze and I felt my desire pool at the bottom of my stomach, his scent the only thing that existed in my world.
His desire for me clear to see in his eyes as they dilated with lust. Why does it feel this good to have someone want me this way?
“You're my… mate?” I whispered the question and I couldn't help the wetness that pooled in my underwear when he growled.
“And you're mine” he responded with a low growl, making shivers run up and down my spine.
I heard gasps and everyone else suddenly existed again, but my gaze stayed on him.
His words broke through the haze of lust in my mind and I felt something twist within me.
“You want me?” I asked, hoping my voice didn't crack as I felt thickness gather in my throat.
“With every fibre of my being” he said, bringing his hand up to cradle my face.
Warmth rushed through me the moment he made contact and I couldn't help leaning into his hand.
His touch soothing all my pain and fears, he made me feel safe, wanted… loved!
My eyes fluttered shut when his touch caused a slow burning hum to travel through my body, making me want him in ways I've never wanted anyone before.
“That's not possible! She already has a mate!” I heard Xavier growl and I opened my eyes to see he had stepped forward, glaring daggers at my mate, as if ready to challenge him for me.
The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees and a chill went through me. I knew it was my mate, I could feel his aura coming off of him in waves, he was livid!
“No! He didn't mean that, it was a joke!” a stranger screamed, jumping in front of Xavier when my mate turned around to face them.
“What did you say boy?!” my mate asked, completely ignoring the guy. The power of his aura intensified, so much that the people around us were struggling to stand.
Just how powerful is he? And calling Xavier a boy?
“Damien, we didn't come here to spill any blood!” The guy said, not hiding his panic but he was ignored yet again.
Damien, that was his name!
I could see Xavier struggle against Damien's aura but finally gave in, with a whimper, he hung his head, proving Damien was the better Alpha.
He growled, the act of submission seemingly not enough to quell his anger.
Suddenly, the blood in his scent made sense and I worried about what he would do.
“Damien” his name rolled off of my tongue just as he was about to take a step and he stopped, turning to face me.
I watched his anger melt away the moment our eyes made contact, his heavy aura lifting.
I opened my mouth to say something but my mind abandoned me, and I closed my mouth, having nothing to say. My nerves getting the better of me.
“How about you take me to a place we can be alone” he said, holding his hand out for me to take.
I looked at it for about a second before placing my much smaller hand in his big one, feeling his warmth spread through me.
I led him out of the Kitchen, feeling everyone's heated stares on me while I avoided them.
“Rooms were prepared for all who are coming for the Alpha ceremony, we could go yours?” I came out as a question as we stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“Alright love” he said in that deep voice while I blushed like an idiot.
It felt like we'd been walking for hours before reaching the beta floor and when we did, I chose the first room that was for the visiting Alphas.
Walking inside, he closed the door behind him and stood there, looking into my eyes like he was trying to see into soul and I wanted him to.
“What's your name mate?” He asked.
“Alari” I told him, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Alari” he repeated, my name rolling off of his tongue so effortlessly.
“Sit with me Alari, let me know you” he said, pulling me towards the bed and I let him.
I planted myself in the centre of the bed cross legged while he sat with his legs straight, back leaning on the headboard.
Our bodies weren't touching, which I wasn't happy about but we were close enough that I could feel heat radiating off of him.
“What would you like to know? And I have to warn you, there isn't much to tell” I said, hoping he doesn't question my appearance.
“He said you already have a mate, what did he mean by that?” He asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
I shifted a little, gulping as fear rose, overtaking me. Feeling reluctant, I started playing with my fingers.
“It's alright if you don't want to talk about it” he said, putting a hand on my fidgeting ones but I sighed, knowing I had to tell him.
“Xavier was my mate” I said, not once moving my eyes from our hands.
“Was? He rejected you? Why?” He asked, my mind going back to the previous night.
“Oh come on, look at me, I'm not exactly Luna material” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady.
One Alpha had already deemed me not good enough, a much stronger Alpha is more likely to cast me aside as well, especially since I'd already been rejected.
“I agree with him” he said, making me snap my gaze up to his.
“What?” I whispered, feeling my world stop. Did he just….?
Am I getting rejected? Again?
“You're Luna Queen material” he said leaning forward to scoop me up like I weighed nothing and put me on his lap, my legs on either side of him.
“What?” Another whisper left my mouth as my mind began to race.
What did he mean by that? Luna Queen? Only the Lycan King's mate can be the Luna Queen…
Realisation knocked on my door but I refused to believe it, it couldn't be!
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice somehow even lower and shaky.
“I think you've already figured that out love” he said, smiling for the very time, his eyes teasing. My heart warmed, momentarily forgetting the chaos in my head but it didn't last long.
“H.. How?!” My voice suddenly started working and I screeched, making him laugh, the sound of him making me want to kiss him.
“A crown, couple vows and a blessing from the council and Goddess and boom, I'm King” he joked but I didn't share the sentiment.
He was a King! The fucking King of the entire werewolf Kingdom!
My mate, me, a nobody, a fucking slave, mated to the King?!
Is the Goddess kidding me?!
His eyes clouded, the telltale signs of a mind link. I've always wondered what that was like, having a weak wolf meant I couldn't mind link.
I have a weak wolf, and he doesn't know. What will people say when they find out the King's mate is so weak?!
“Lunch is being served, how about we go eat and continue this conversation later?” He asked, making me look away.
“Uhm…” I hesitated, how do I tell this man that I don't eat with the pack? That I'm literally a slave here.
“Are you not hungry?” He asked and my stomach decided at that moment that this is her time to shine.
He chuckled while my cheeks grew heated and I wished for the ground to open up and swallow me.
“It is settled then” he got up with me still on him and I quickly wrapped my limbs around him in fear of falling.
“I like you clinging on to me like that” he growled in my ear, making me moan and hold him tighter.
“Fuck” he growled again, kissing my ear.
He planted a soft kiss on my neck, right on my marking spot and I felt my body unravel from the pleasure that shot through me.
“I'd take you right this second if I didn't have to make sure you've eaten” he said against my neck, making me wish he'd just take me, make me his!
I'm not quite sure how but we made it to the dining hall, where everyone was already seated but none were eating.
One chair was left vacant at the head of the long table, and we both knew it was for him but he pulled me along.
Everyone stood as they noticed us, bowing to their King.
The pack’s heated stares and gasps only confirmed that they'd noticed the freak was walking hand and hand with their King.
We reached the head of the table and Damien looked at the seat before sitting down and pulling me on his lap.
“Are you comfortable?” He asked after shifting me around a bit and I just nodded, keeping my red face down.
“Are you sure?” He asked and I nodded again.
He didn't seem to believe me because he lifted my head and looked straight into my eyes and asked, “are you sure?”
My heart warmed, no one beside Pearl and my parents has ever shown this much concern over me, is this what it's like to be loved?
“Yes” I said with a smile and he gave me one back before looking at everyone else there.
“You may sit!” he said in a powerful voice and everyone sat down. It hadn't even registered that they were waiting for his permission to sit down.
All while he was attending to me!
“You do know that it's disrespectful to us Alphas for you to attend to your escort while we wait?” a strong, foreign voice said moments after everyone had gotten comfortable and I heard Damien growl low.
“You really need to learn to keep your mouth shut Drake” the guy that had stood between Xavier and Damien earlier said, sitting next to us.
“It's Alpha Drake to you beta!” The Alpha growled, making the guy, who I now knew was definitely Damien's beta, roll his eyes.
“I outrank you” Damien's beta said with a smug look and Alpha Drake looked like he would explode.
“You should keep your beta in check your highness, just as you should keep your whores in the privacy of your chambers!” Alpha Drake growled and the hall went silent.
Damien took his attention off of the plate he was fixing and focused his gaze on Alpha Drake, who shrunk a little but tried to cover it up by shifting in his seat.
“What punishment do you think is worthy for insulting my mate and your Queen?” Damien asked, his voice so cold I shivered.