Prince Reagan novel Chapter 4

 

Luna Ciara backs away from the frightened Stacy, looking stupefied as she let’s go of her arm. Alpha Benson’s fists are shaking, trying to reign in his wolf as he glowers at Brad and Stacy, who had deceived him. Waves of anger rolling off of him, making everyone shift nervously due to his Alpha aura he’s emitting. Well, everyone except the two Lycans in the room.

The Prince has a blank look on his face, not showing any expression whatsoever. It’s hard to read him, and I don’t know if he’s surprised like the rest, or angry. Well, at least now he would understand that I’m not his mate since I’m Brad’s. A werewolf can’t have more than one mate. It has never happened.

“Since when?” Alpha Benson growls out the question at his son, who is looking away in shame.

I can see Brad swallow as his Adam’s apple bobs. Stacy also looks petrified, and tears are beginning to run down her pale face. Her lips wobble, and her whole body is shaking.

“The first day of senior year.”

“That’s more than a year now. Before you mated with Stacy.” Alpha Benson points out.

“And why are we getting to know about this?” He walks over to Brad, and I can see his jaw clenching as he restrains himself from pouncing on him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” My mum turns to me and asks, making me bite my lip in guilt. I had almost forgotten they were here. My parents both have worry and surprise, etched on their faces with a hint of guilt.

Why hadn’t I told her? At first, I thought it’s because Brad threatened me to keep it a secret. But later, I realized I was kidding myself.

I hadn’t told them because I didn’t want them to see what a failure I was. My mate rejected me! If everyone knew, they would scorn me for not being good enough to keep my mate. They would say I was worthless, and that that’s why he left me. This is what has happened to other she-wolves that have been rejected before.

But it’s different for male wolves. If a male wolf is rejected, they won’t scorn him. No. Rather, they would call the she-wolf a skank. So either way, the females lose.

“We love each other.” Stacy’s weak voice fills the silence, and everyone rotates their head to her. “He loves me and not her!” She points to me, her eyes filled with hatred as she regards me. “She’s a mistake!”
I feel like scratching her face at that statement, but there are just too many witnesses.

“If you don’t shut up, I’ll personally rip out your throat and hang your body outside for everyone to see what a shame you are.” Luna Ciara’s cold tone sends chills down everyone’s back. “You both have sullied the sacred meaning of the Mate bond, so don’t you start preaching about love to me.” I don’t think she ever liked Stacy.

Stacy moves back again in fright. And I didn’t think it possible, but her face turns even more white. Her lips tremble, and tears roll down her cheeks like a river.

Ladies and gentlemen, your future Luna of Lunar pack. A frightened wolf who can’t even stand up for herself and her mate. Useless. I pity the future of this pack, I really do. With an Alpha like Brad and a Luna as Stacy, it will plummet to the ground. No longer will we be regarded as the strongest.

“I see.” His majesty suddenly speaks while nodding in understanding. Everyone whips their heads to him at that, wanting to know his opinion.

He digs his hands into his pant’s pockets, and his eyes look to me, “Your son rejected this beautiful wolf for her.” He gestures to a pale Stacy. “What a pity.” He shakes his head, making me blush while Stacy got more teary-eyed. Did he just say I’m better than her?

I can feel my insides bubble in happiness at being complimented, and I try to hide my blush.

“His loss and my gain.” A malicious grin makes his way to his lips, giving him the look of a devil.

“If you don’t mind, Benson. I would like to claim my mate and be on my way.” I’m not shocked at the way he addresses my Alpha. He might look younger than alpha Benson, but Lycans age slower than we do. So he might be older.

“But your Majesty, she’s my son’s mate. You have to let them be together otherwise…”

“Enough!” The Prince orders with his aura stretched about the room. Every wolf, including, my parents bare their neck open in submission, but I still am left unaffected. His eyes are darkened as he stares back at my Alpha, and I can see his jaw clench.

“I’ll be going home tonight with my mate, and anyone who dares stop me will suffer dire consequences.” His eyes specifically lock on Brad. “I hope that is clear enough for everyone.” He smiles, wickedly like he hadn’t just laid out a threat.

“But you’re not my mate!” I voice out, and everyone eyes whip to me then. Seriously, am I the only one who knows second mates doesn’t exist?

I expect Alpha Benson to have said something now, but everyone’s just quiet about it. Maybe they’re just scared. And maybe, I am stupid for speaking against him after he just gave out a threat.

“At least my wolf isn’t telling me anything.” I try to amend as his cold eyes fall on me.

“But is she against it?” He c***s an eyebrow at me.

I’m left tongue-tied then, letting his words sink in. I can’t hear my wolf speak in my head, but I can feel what she wants or thinks. Her thoughts are my thoughts, and her feelings are mine also. She’s not a different entity from me as we’re one.

When my wolf prances about in my head, feeling restless, I know she wants to get out, so I shift. When she has her ears down and whimpers, I know she’s sad. And when she wags her tail and pants with her tongue out, it means she’s happy or approves of something. So you see, we are the same. We don’t fight or argue as we always want the same thing, like our love-hate relationship with Brad.

Right now, though, I’m not sure what she’s thinking because she also isn’t sure what to think, herself. I can feel her conflicted thoughts as she doesn’t feel the mate bond towards his Highness, but we do feel some kind of pull towards him. I don’t know if it’s because of the powerful aura he’s emitting as she-wolves are naturally drawn to power. We can’t help it. It’s like a drug to us.

“I think that’s settled.” His Highness announces when I don’t speak after a long time.

“Benson, are we still having the inauguration ceremony so we can get it done, and I can be on my way with my mate?” Guess they haven’t done the ceremony yet.

Alpha Benson looks to his son, disappointment evident in his eyes as he regards him. I can see the conflict in his eyes as he announces,

“You can be on your way, Your Majesty.” Everyone’s ears perk up at that. We all know the ceremony can not be conducted without the King’s representative there.

“No ceremony will be done today.” He announces, and Brad stiffens at that while everyone stares at him wide-eyed.

“It’s clear my son isn’t ready for such great responsibility.” Alpha Benson regrettably says with his eyes staring down in shame.

“What? You can’t do that!” All the blood drains away from Brad’s face as he looks stricken by the announcement.

“I most certainly can.” Alpha Benson narrows his eyes at him.

“Mum?” Brad looks to Luna Ciara for help, but she reluctantly looks away. Alpha Benson looks very determined on his word with his jaw clenched.

“Your father is right.” Luna Ciara deadpans, and I hear Stacy sob harder, making me roll her eyes at her.

I don’t blame them. Brad had disgraced them both today in front of a Lycan Prince. And soon, the whole pack, as everyone would get to know.

The mate bond is a cherished aspect of the werewolf community, and we all take it very seriously. But Brad has shown his incompetence by dishonoring it all for a skank such as Stacy.

It’s ironic because he once thought that marking me as his Luna would make him look weak while Stacy would do the opposite. But look where we are now. His position is being threatened because of his stupid decision.

“Tragic.” His Highness says, but he doesn’t look sympathetic. “I’ll be on my way then. Come, my sweet.” He stretches out his arm towards me, but I don’t take it right away.

I look to my parents in fear, and I can see their face mirroring mine. Their hold on me tightens, making His Highness glare at us. I didn’t want to leave with him. Yes, my wolf didn’t reject him, but she didn’t accept him either.