Chapter 1 - Mate
A/n OMG! Thanks to all your support, I have just signed a contract with Galatea (Inkitt’s parent company). They are going to be editing the book before publishing it on their other platform. Hopefully out in early 2025!
If anyone wants to try Galatea now, then they have given me this 20% off code for my readers: https://read.getgalatea.com/lyramay20
I will update you when I have a link to the book.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
RL, xx
POV: Anoud
Scoping the Pack House should have been routine. I’d come to the Howling Moon pack as part of the protection detail for the royal visit. The Lycan prince was a childhood friend and he often brought me on missions and visits because I had a gift from the Goddess to feel intentions in a room. It had saved us from more than one assassination attempt.
Plus, it was easier to hang out away from his parents. They didn’t like our friendship because they thought I was manipulating him for the Luna position. The fact that I was a ‘Mutt’ in the eyes of the queen didn’t help our cause. My father had lost his mate and slept with my mother after a drunken night. She was human, human and Malaysian, which meant that I took on her curvier form and darker complexion. The wolf community tended to stick to themselves, so the women were primarily blonde, straight up amazons. I was a little shorter than most, earning me the runt and mutt titles. Prince Ralph didn’t care though, and after years of training in the most elite force we had in the US, I had earned the respect of my peers.
What the King and Queen didn’t know was that Ralph was gay. He was mated to his Beta and they were devoted. They discussed their options endlessly and finally agreed a plan to abdicate once his younger brothers come of age. The twins will make fine leaders but for the next few months we must continue the deception.
The moment that I had stepped on territory I knew that my mate was here. My wolf howled and connected to his wolf immediately. They were huddled in our minds imprinting as I was pulled directly to the Alpha’s office. Pushing past his secretary without thought I walked in. ‘Mate’ we said in unison. It was perfect. I stalked toward him in a haze and flung myself into his arms. He pulled me into a searing kiss, hard hands roaming my body desperately. Perfect. Until it wasn’t.
He’d pulled away with a loud and threatening growl that had me quaking and his shift in intention was immediately clear. Rejection.
“No, please. I beg you not to reject me.” I threw myself at my mate’s feet, head hanging low. “I don’t care what it is. Another woman? I’ll wait. My looks? I’ll change anything. Please. Please.”
‘Your looks?’ He asked it incredulously, his voice like honey to my ears. ‘How would you improve them?’ He lifted my chin up to look over my face.
Oh Goddess, so it was my looks. I’d been told I was beautiful in my own way, but I knew I didn’t look like most wolves. My dark hair, my dark skin, and my dark eyes. Damn it. Why hadn’t I prepared for this? He was still looking at me, his thumb trailing an addictive pattern against my neck. Right, he wanted an answer. ‘I’ll...I’ll train more, dye my hair, make-up, surgery, anything. Give me six months and I’ll be anything you want.’
He sighed heavily and turned his head away, his hands dropping to the arms of his chair.
***
I’d lived with the Royal Lycan pack for most of my life, informally training from the age of 6 and then training to become an Elite Warrior from the age of 16. Eight years of training, fighting wars, killing. Now 24, I had endured unspeakable torture in the name of becoming an Elite. Becoming good enough to serve and protect our future king.
Before today I would have laughed at anyone who suggested the Elite training lacked in any way. I could quite literally rip grown men apart with my bare hands. And I had. I had never once cracked during our regular torture training, stamina training, or during the actual heat of battle.
But cracking? I was now closer than I ever had been. Moments after my mate had dropped his hands from my face his eyes had glazed. The prince had arrived, and he needed to go and greet him. After a moment I had followed and completed my recce of the Pack House, reporting back that there was no threat before our Beta allowed the prince to enter. That was four hours ago.
Four hours of standing guard, back to the wall, and watching as my mate entertained my friends alongside his pack members. Well, one tall blonde bombshell specifically. Of course he had a lover, he was an Alpha and a god walking among us. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, that every brush of her hand over his arm or against his back didn’t make me want to walk over and smash her perfect little face in. Pulling myself back into the room I surveyed it again. It was close to 9pm and whiskey had just been brought out.
“Fucking Goddess, Anoud you have to try this” Ralph suddenly launched towards me, surprising those in his circle and pushed a glass under my nose. He smiled at me, totally unaware of my pain. “They make it on site, and I swear it’s better than that ‘Elements of Islay’ collection you drink. Well, maybe not better but just as good. Well, maybe not quite as good given it wasn’t made in Scotland but....try it.”
Dear sweet Ralph. “I’m still on duty your majesty, but it smells delicious. I’m going on a border run shortly” I said this out loud with a respectful nod but added a plea via our mind-link. ~‘Ralph, I’ll explain later but please, please, please, do not draw attention to me right now.’~. He quickly masked his confusion with a nodded “Of course” and began to turn away.
My mate however just had to step forward, to the obvious annoyance of his date. “Do you enjoy whiskey Anoud?” Damn it, I was doing so well but I couldn’t hide my arousal as he spoke my name. I knew that my nipples had immediately hardened and felt the shudder of pleasure slip down my back.
Clearing my throat I gave another nod, “Yes Alpha, my mother’s family were involved with production in Malaysia, and I holidayed with them when I was younger. It’s a passion”
“I will have some sent to your room then, we always appreciate feedback from a connoisseur.” Although I felt that my mate’s intention was to compliment me, the rest of the room obviously felt that as a jibe. The blonde one snorted out a “Good one” and several others laughed. It made me uncomfortable, and I simply nodded again. Thankfully my replacement came shortly after, and I slipped away to run a patrol.
Howling Moon was a relatively small pack, and I ran roughly along the border in a few hours, feeling no ill-intent from the pack or any rogues that might have been close by on the free lands. Grateful that we didn’t need to explore any potential threats I reported into the team leader and clocked off. By the time I got back to the Pack House it was just after 11.30pm and I shifted back to my human form, taking advantage of their outdoor shower to rinse off the dirt I’d gathered. Looking around I couldn’t see any towels or clothes, great. Why couldn’t all packs just have easy access clothing? It was late anyway; I knew where my room was so if I was quick then I might make it without bumping into any servants. I was however, 100% definitely going to drip water all the way there. Sorry mate.
Speaking of, he stormed into the kitchen just as I entered and all but threw a blanket at me, pulling it closed around me and pulling me hard to his body. “Did you do that to get a rise from me, naked for fucking anyone to see? Water dripping down your perfect little naked body? My body mate, mine alone to see” He seethed and then began an attack against my neck as his hands once again gripped me tightly. Pulling and grabbing at my flesh to get closer. He bit and kissed, licked, and sucked up and down my neck roughly. I knew we were moving and suddenly fell back; he had pushed me into his office and walked away to click the lock shut before turning back towards me. His cheeks were flushed, and his breath was just as laboured as mine.
Arousal flooded me and I dropped the blanket, stalking towards him. His eyes flicked down and watched my body move, then in a flash I was on the ground. Pushed into the rough carpet. He pulled my arms over my head and dropped to my neck again. Shifting so that he had one hand free, it went to grope at my naked breasts. Tweaking and flicking at my nipple before his mouth sucked one in. All I could do was moan and arch against him. Lifting so that our hips collided. “Keep your hands there.” He moved between my legs and had his mouth on me before I could protest. Pleasure crashed through me almost immediately, but he didn’t stop, licking and sucking and groaning out his own pleasure until I broke again. I could only scream. I could only shake in pleasure as he lifted up and watched me. Soothed me with his hands and sweet words.
After a minute I came back to earth and pushed him over, straddling him and grinding down into his crotch. He moaned as I mimicked his kisses, marking his neck with intent. I ran my hands down his chest, his huge chest, and then trailed his abs. I spread my hands to each side and began to move down the V leading to his cock. I needed to have him in my mouth, in my hand. I needed to have my mate inside me now.
His hand jerked out and I was roughly pushed away. “Stop. Stop.” His breathing was harsh and fast. “You need to go to bed. That’s enough, this was a mistake.”
A mistake? He walked out before I could even formulate a response. Gone.
