Chapter Five: Before the entire kingdom

Lisandra

The handsome stranger pulls me back into his arms, unknowingly stopping me from doing something that I might regret.

"Lisa. That was just a misunderstanding-" I cut him off immediately.

"Leave me alone Julian. It's over between us.” He wants to say something when my supposed new mate cuts him off.

“I think you heared the lady.” Julian shrinks at the authority in the man’s voice and flees without any further argument. How pathetic.

"I didn't get your name.” I tell the stranger, turning to face him and I realize that there’s barely any space between us. This man is easily the hottest man I’ve seen in my life and it’s off putting.

“Rhience… you can call me Rhience.” I pull away from him to put some space between us.

“Okay Rhience. This cannot happen. I don’t want to be your mate and I genuinely don’t care if the moon goddess gave me a second chance. I don’t need one. Now if you’ll excuse me…” I sidestep him and and I go down the stairs towards the celebration hall. I can still feel his gaze as I enter the celebration hall and a shiver goes down my spine. Who is Rhience? And why does he have such dangerous energy surrounding him?

***

The gala is going on in full swing. Expensive dresses and tuxedos fill the room together with pheromones and auras strong enough to knock an omega down. I have been moving around trying to avoid coming in contact with my parents, sister or Julian for that matter. I have been seeing Julian prancing around with Genevieve in his arms, looking like nothing happened in his room. They’re both with my parents and his, smiling like they’re one big happy family. I’m standing by an extravagantly decorated table and thinking to myself when a loud horn interrupts my line of thought. The music douses instantly and people stand frozen in anticipation. The room quietens instantly with soft murmurs filling the entire space. All heads turn toward the gigantic double doors of the celebration hall and the pack guards strike their spears against the hard floors creating a uniform war-like sound. Then a man who looks like a royal herald appears in a red, purple and gold outfit embedded with the crest of the Lycan kingdom. He unfurls a scroll rimmed with gold and raises his voice with practice authority.

“All rise for his imperial majesty…” All the nobles who are sitting quickly rise on their feet. Some even hold their breath in both fear and excitement. This was the first time everyone was meeting the Lycan king in a decade.

The herald’s voice grows louder, carrying effortlessly to every corner of the grand hall.

“Direct descendant of the first Lycan king and our very own goddess Selene”

“Supreme alpha of all alphas “

“Guardian of the most sacred moon throne, his royal majesty…,” the doors creak open and a cold breeze sweeps through the entire room.

“Alpha King Rhience Lycaon Pendragon.” Shock courses through my body and a soft gasp leaves my lips. Could it be? Rhience , my supposed second chance mate, is really the Lycan king?

His tall and commanding presence emerges from the entrance, forcing every powerful figure to go on their knees in submission. I’m again starstuck by his presence that I don’t realize that I’m the only one in the entire room who is standing. I feel a pull on my arm, bringing me to my knees and turn to see that it’s one of my pack members. I look again at the entrance as he walks slowly to the center of the room, his gaze slowly rakes through the entire room. as if looking for something and once he catches my eyes, his eyes flash a deep golden before going to the normal grey. As he stands in the center of the room, a deep grow leaves his lips, shaking the entire room, emanating his raw power and dominance over the entire Lycan species.

“You may all rise.” And like a spell is broken everyone stands and bows their head in his direction, then the music continues and everyone goes back to what they were doing.I thought Lilah said that the king was an old and ugly beast who eats his own kind? I guess the rumors she heard were wrong.

I sit with some of the pack members instead of my family, even if they look at me like I don’t belong here. With a roll of my eyes I cut a piece of chicken and put it into my mouth.I continue eating when I hear a chair pull up beside me. I look at the person, surprised to see that it’s Rhience. From the corner of my eyes, I can see my mother and father snarling and baring their teeth at me. Genevieve looks surprised and Julian looks confused, like he wants to come to my table but is scared of the king’s presence. I ignore them and focus my gaze on Rhience once again.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were the king? I ask him.

“Would you have stayed?” He retorts and for a moment I think about lying but I don’t

"No. But a heads-up would have been nice.” He smiles lazily at my reply and I see a flash of his canines. Goddess, he’s perfect. But I’m not ready to enter another relationship just yet. Besides, I’m sure he’ll try to kill me once he finds out that I am part-witch.

"Go back to your table Rhience. You cannot be sitting with commoners.” I say facing my food and his reply leaves me astonished.

“ But you’re not a commoner Lisandra. You are my queen.” He says it so loudly that the whole hall gasps loudly. I can see my parents face from the corner of my eyes twist in pure rage and agony. And Julian… He snaps. He storms across the hall to my table and grabs my arms forcefully enough to leave a bruise.

“No! She's mine. I never agreed to the rejection!” He growls and before I can even think of pulling away, he yanks me against his chest and sink his canines towards my neck, trying to force a mark in front of everyone . I freeze in shock. Then I see Rhience from the corner of my eye. He moves faster than my eyes can follow.

One second Julian is holding me. The next, Rhience has him by the throat, lifting him off the ground like he weighs nothing. Julian’s feet kick uselessly in the air as Rhience’s eyes burn pure gold and his claws dig into Julian’s neck, drawing blood.

The entire celebration hall goes silent. Rhience then speaks and his voice is low, calm, and terrifying at the same time.

“You just tried to mark my mate in front of me.”He tightens his grip and Julian starts choking, his face turning purple.

Then Rhience turns his head slightly and looks at me, still holding Julian in the air like a ragdoll.

“Tell me, My queen …” his voice drops even lower, “do you want him dead or alive?”