Alari's pov
The light was blinding and my head was pounding, opening my eyes felt like absolute horror.
I groaned, turning away from the light, hoping the other side wasn't as bright.
“Good morning love” I heard Damien's voice and groaned, why was he so loud?!
“My head hurts” I whispered, moving impossibly close to him, the contact made it a little better.
“Sorry love” he said, his voice now lowered as he kissed my forehead and I was grateful for that.
“I know something that will help but you have to get up” he whispered, gently stroking my hair and I groaned again, hating that little fact.
Why couldn't we just stay like this? This was comfortable, this was nice, this took away the ache.
“I know this feels good but it won't take the pain away for good, you have to get up” he said, making me remember that he had access to my mind.
“Urg, I hate you” I groaned, feeling him move away from me.
“You love me” he chuckled, getting out of bed and I did, I did love him. I love him completely and wholeheartedly.
I kept my face buried in his pillow, breathing in his scent a he moved around the room, making as little noise as possible.
I had almost dozed off when he tapped me awake, opening my eyes to find the room slightly dim, which I was grateful for.
“Sit up” he said and I did as instructed. He had a Woden bowl with burning herbs in it, and he brought it to my face.
“Now breathe it in” he said and I raised a brow at him.
“What is this?” I asked, not sure I wanted to inhale some unknown burning herbs.
“Just trust me” he said with a small smile that was boardering on a smirk but I sighed, feeling pain hammer at my head.
I breathed it in and immediately started coughing, damn, that was really strong, and why did it taste like lemon?
“Again” he said once my caughing fit had settled and I looked at him with wide eyes.
“Again?” I asked, my voice now a whine and he nodded, bringing the bowl close to my nose.
I inhaled, filling my lungs with the herb but my throat protested and I caughed, feeling like my throat was on fire.
“One more time” he said and I took a few deep breaths before inhaling the smoke again.
I felt a slight tingle on my finger tips and even though I coughed, it wasn't as bad as the first two times.
“Give it a few more seconds, should kick iñ soon” he said, inhaling the smoke as well.
“What is this stuff” I said, feeling my body go lax and the throbbing in my head die down.
“A remedy my mother used to heal headaches and relax my father whenever he was stressed” he said, getting back into bed and pulling me to lay on his chest.
“I feel like I'm on drugs” the giggle burst out of me.
“That's how you know it's working, but it will fade soon” he said and I hummed, feeling a gentle buzz travel through my body.
I felt like I was floating, like I had not a single worry and everything was just right with the world and I wished this feeling would last.
But alas, it wasn't meant to be. I felt myself coming down from my high and all the information I hadn't began to process came crashing down on me.
Although this time, it didn't hurt as much, courtesy of the herb and my head was silent, thoughts clear as day.
“I can't tell you how long I've wished for my parents to tell me the secrets we all knew they were keeping from me, and now that I know, I wish I'd been kept in that bubble of secrecy” I said, sighing as the story of my bloodlines ran rampant in my mind.
“It may be dark but you had to know love, you will shift when you turn twenty and not knowing who you are would scare you. A Lycan's first shift is quite terrifying and now you'll be prepared” he said and I lifted my head to look him in the eye.
“I'm gonna shift when I'm twenty?” I asked, feeling a bit of excitement to finally get my wolf… Lycan? My father was a Lycan so that makes me a Lycan too, right? Even with the elven blood.
“Yes, Lycans shift at twenty. It takes a while for our Lycans to fully form. Their spirits awaken at sixteen but are too weak for us to shift, they need time to mature” he said and I felt like crying.
It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“So, it's normal? I'm not a wolf-less freak?” My voice quivered, remembering all the times those words were thrown at me, all the times this was used to hurt and belittle me.
“Yes sweetheart, it's normal for Lycans. And you have the strongest Lycan to ever exist. You're chosen by the Goddess herself” he said, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Eight days” I whispered, joy overwhelming me as I held onto my mate, feeling the safest and most certain of myself I'd ever been.
“What?” He asked and I giggled, already anxious for the hours to zip by.
“My birthday is in eight days” I said, trying hard to suppress a giggle.
“I'll be meeting my Queen and Alpha soon” he said, his tone light and happy and my eyes widened.
Of course my Lycan would be an Alpha! My father was the bloody King!
“Oh Goddess, I'm the heir of this Kingdom, you're sitting on my throne!” I said, laughing.
“Just keeping it warm for you baby” he said, laughing with me.
“You're not mad?” I asked after a moment of silence.
“Not one bit, in fact I'm glad you're here to claim back your Kingdom, I was never meant to be King, just your mate” he said with a satisfied sigh.
“Oh yeah?” I laughed and he kissed my forehead.
“Goddess yes, I can't wait to give you the reigns and be a trophy mate” he said and I almost choked on my laughter.
“A what?!” I could almost see it, me doing all the work while he cheered me on.
“A trophy mate! I'd give you massages when you're stressed, make you nice meals and love you right” he said, sounding like he could almost see it.
“Listen to you! Cook for me like you even know the inside of a kitchen!” I couldn't control my laughter anymore.
“Excuse you my Queen! My mother made sure I could make descent eggs” he laughed and I swear I couldn't breathe.
“At least I can make you breakfast” he said, his laughter settling down.
“Yes my love” I said, kissing his cheek.
He smiled at me, his eyes twinkling as he carressed my cheek. “I love you Alari” he said, melting my little heart.
“I love you Damien” I told him, knowing he could feel it through our bond.
“And as much as I want to lay here, listening to you tell me you love me, I need to feed you. You didn't eat last night” he said, kissing me before pulling me out of bed.
It was only then that I took notice of the room and damn! I didn't know such luxury existed!
The room looked twice as large as the Alpha apartments back at Silverlake. The bed on the far right side of the room, with a set of couches and a table in the middle of the room.
A large window leading into the balcony and what looked like a mini kitchen on the far end of the room.
Damien led me to the bathroom and my jaw almost hit the floor!
Everything was white with a touch of gold. A large jacuzzi tub on one end with a rainfall style shower on the other.
Two basins with mirrored cupboards on top and the cleanest toilet I've ever seen.
We stripped and showered, lips locked and bodies tangled, I wondered why we hadn't had sex yet. All this making out surely should have led us to bed by now.
We got dressed and went to join the others for breakfast, listening to him talk about how we had to go shopping for both me and Pearl.
Mate didn't like that we had such little belongings, plus our phones were outdated and as much as I tried to argue that it was the best my parents could do for us in that pack, he insisted we get better.
“You are the Queen afterall” he said, shutting me up real good.
We passed a large dining hall into a smaller, more private one, where Pearl, my parents and a guy I didn't know were already eating.
“I was wondering when you were going to join us” mom said as she saw us first, making the others notice.
The guy stood up quickly, bowing his head to Damien. “My King” he said, not once raising his head.
“Mason, you don't usually eat on my table” Damien said, his face hard as he looked at the guy.
“I'm so sorry, I invited him, I had no idea I had to run it past you first, I'm really sorry” Pearl said, standing up as well.
Looks like she made a friend.
“I think it's okay, your friend can join us for a meal” I said, squeezing Damien's hand so he would let it go.
“Mate actually, he isn't my friend, he's my mate” Pearl said looking at me, blushing tomato red.
My eyes went wide, and I bet I was smiling like an idiot, bouncing on one spot trying not to jump in joy.
“Oh, well in that case, congratulations to the both of you” Damien said, now smiling a little.
“I can't believe it! You found your mate!” I squeaked, unable to contain it and I rushed forward to hug her, making her giggle as she squeezed me tightly.
Goddess knows how much she's been longing to find her mate! Yes, she had me, mom and dad but she always felt lonely and I believe this is the connection she needed to finally be happy.
“Thank you” she said, blushing even harder, the smile on her face too contagious, everyone was smiling now.
We sat down and she told me how they met and that they'd already accepted each other but were taking things slow.
Everyone at the table knew it wouldn't be long before they'd be marked and mated but we just smiled, happy she was finally, truly happy.
“And please prepare yourselves for a little trip to the city this afternoon” Damien said, making everyone at the table look at him.
“What for?” Mom asked, concern marring her face.
“Oh just to get a few things for the girls” he said and I saw understanding dawn on her.
“Yeah, they do need a couple of things” she said, nodding as she kept eating.
“Can Mason come?” Pearl asked and I saw the poor guy look at her before looking down at his plate.
“Of course he can, I'm even thinking of reassigning him to the Queen's guard, that way he'll always be around” he said, smiling at Pearl and Mason, who looked up at Damien.
“Thank you so much my King” he said, bowing once again before smiling at Pearl.
“And of course the more important issue of informing the council about Alari” dad said, making me pause.
I didn't think we'd have to tell others about me yet.
“I'm on it, I'll make sure they're here for her shift” Damien said.
“And also her training, she needs to learn how to fight” mom said, looking at me sternly telling me with her eyes that I didn't have a choice in the matter.
“That's my first priority” Damien said, making me shift my gaze to meet his his.
This man already planned to train me??