Chapter 1
POV: Lucian
Slamming down the phone into the cradle, I growl and start pacing my office as I count my steps.
2,3,4…
I hate these celebrations. They're the worst part about being what I am. The bright lights make it harder to see, everything is moved around and no longer in the places I remember them to be. I don’t need the added pressure from the council right now.
5,6,7…
All the scents of wolves and Lycans become so overpowering having them so close and crammed into one room. It's almost suffocating and now they want me to do a lineup?! A fucking lineup!
2,3,4...
Everything is made worse by the fact I cannot show my weakness. It's added stress that I do not need along with the heavy weight of responsibility crushing down on me. These fucking balls. Bringing all the packs together for the blood moons. Drives me fucking insane.
5,6,7...
I have done everything possible to try and please them by searching for her over my years. The one meant for me. The one who’s touch I live for. The one who may bring me the slightest reprieve in my hell. The only thing I really need… my mate.
2,3,4...
The knock on the door that I knew was coming brings me back to the present.
"Enter." I call.
"My King." My Beta, Kia. He is one of the only people aside from my family who is aware of my affliction. How could anyone else know? I move normally with the help of my Beta and his link telling me in which directions to move when I am in crowds and meetings. My eyes are not cloudy but as I've been told they are the brightest of blue, I've seen them slightly when I stand very close to a mirror but it is still not clear. Besides, no one could ever know. The risk it poses would be too great. I would be "unfit" to lead.
Pft, load of shit. I have ruled better than any full sighted King before me and I will continue to do so until I die in the next couple hundred years.
"Are you ready?" He asks drawing me back and I chuckle, shaking my head.
"Am I ever ready for such gatherings Kia?."
"It's only one a year, your majesty." He teases and I laugh.
"Don't fucking call me that, you know I hate such words." I can see him nod and the white of his teeth from his smile. From his frame I know he's tall, not as tall as I but still tall. I can make out the dark hair on his head and face from the short beard he has, he’s broad and whenever I have touched him I know he's muscular too. He met his mate not long ago. The man has turned soft since.
I nod following him out of the room and counting my steps. I know my way around my own home but it's when I get to that ball room I will have issues. All the tables and chairs just blur into one big blob and I can't tell which direction to head in. Turns into a nightmare. I sigh and try to distract myself.
"How is the lovely Charlotte?" I ask and can feel the happiness radiating off him. It almost makes me mad as he starts to ramble but I can't listen all that much.
I want what he has. The one thing I've always wanted. The one thing I will never have.
A mate.
I was clearly cursed to live in this suffering so why in the Goddess I would ever be granted such a gift was just impossible for me, I knew it would never happen.
I was 306. If it hadn't happened now then I doubted it ever would.
But still, I could dream. Dream up what her beauty would look like, what she would feel like. Would she be a curved goddess soft and supple or slender and petite or full and delicious. Oh how the mind wondered. Curvier the better in my opinion. I wasn't all that interested in the slim athletic type, it didn't appeal to me as much as having something nice and thick to grab onto. The more flesh, all the more to love.
The thought made my mouth water.
Would she accept me? For all I am? Blindness and all?
I have my Kingdom. I have my Beta and a healthy, strong pack of mighty warriors both male and female. I never discriminated, if they were strong, they belonged with my pack.
But even they couldn't fill the empty void within me. Nothing else ever will.
"Sir?" I snap back to reality realizing we've stopped walking and are standing by the doors that lead into the vast ballroom. "Mate?" He questions and I nod. He knows where my mind goes. "I shall arrange some company for you this evening if you would like, sir?" I nod again, it fills a small part of me to bed someone but it will never be enough. "You just have to get through the evening sir."
"Thank you Kia." I sigh and straighten myself up as he checks over my clothing to ensure I have dressed myself ok. "Guide me."
"Always."
I nod once and the doors open, the scent of wolves and Lycans already an assault on my senses. I hear the chatter stop and know eyes move to me as I take my first step into the ballroom.
He must stay behind me when we enter such events as that is his place but he guides me nonetheless.
'Left. 10 steps. 30 degrees right. 20 degrees left. 5 steps. Up 4 and turn.' He directs me from his mind into mine and I follow his directions flawlessly. We have done this for a long time and move as a well oiled machine by this point.
I talk the same talk as always and welcome all the packs into the palace before commencing the start of the meal and celebration.
I can use my senses to eat and you’d think I could see perfectly unless you knew the truth but I never miss a beat. Flawlessly executed for many a year that you would never guess by looking at me. Although it can be made harder by the surrounding scents, I manage effortlessly.
"My King."
A strong masculine voice interrupts my thoughts and I turn my head to the sound in front of me.
'Alpha Lyle’ Kia links me.
"Alpha Lyle, good to see you." My own words almost make me laugh.
"My King, the honor is all mine. Thank you for the invitation." I nod once and he continues. "I don't believe you have met my Luna, Ashley and my heir, Theo." I see a bow from the two other shapes standing beside him.
'Wife is ugly. Son looks strong.' I almost laugh out loud again hearing Kia in my head once more but manage to hold a straight face.
"A pleasure." I respond politely and he heads off with his family.
Alpha Lyle is one of our closest pack allies. Although only a wolf, he has his purposes. His main talent being to find the lost or rogued wolves and Lycans. Ones who have been hidden away from our world in hopes they may never turn but they always do. Pack or not. Blood is blood and they will always come home. I once used his skills to try and hunt down my mate but how can one find someone they have never met?
'Oh fuck...'
'What?'
'Stand. Alpha Zayne is approaching.'
'I will not stand for him.' I laugh back in my head but hear him disagree.
'You would for the she-wolf he came in with.'
I stand as Kia suggested as Alpha Zayne approaches my throne and takes a knee.
"My King. I thank you for the honor." He says in his old Alpha voice. I know he must be getting on now.
"Alpha Zayne. Thank you for joining us."
"Of course your majesty." I cringe internally at the words. "I was hoping to introduce my daughter, Liana but unfortunately she seems to have slipped my net." The mere sound of her name makes me shiver involuntarily. Interesting…
“It is not a problem. Although, I do hope you find her in time for the lineup.” I mutter quietly and feel Kia looking at me. I haven’t told him yet.
“M-my King?” He stutter’s.
“All unmated females are to be presented before the shift this evening.”
I don’t divulge any more. He doesn’t need the details.
“O-of course. Your majesty. I will ensure she is there.” I nod once and dismiss him as he dart’s off into the crowd, no doubt in hunt of his wayward daughter.
‘A lineup?’ Kia’s voice enter’s my head as I sit back down with a sigh.
‘Yes Kia. A lineup. Of all unmated female’s from the pack’s and out of which I am to choose one to bare my heir.’
I can feel his unease and he’s not the only one.
Goddess, let this night end quickly.
