Chapter 5: Leaving the Kingdom PART 1

[Nicholas's POV ]

I stared at the rare beauty in front of me, deep brown eyes drowning into mine like she couldn't have enough, smooth pale skin smothered with drops of water, her wet long hair clung to her skin, damn....she had only a towel on, it seemed she just came out of the bathroom. 

My eyes scanned her curtly, she looked a hell of a lot sexy in that towel that did no good in covering her boobs, they were poking against the fabric... unintentionally revealing their size. Kyle, my wolf licked his lips at the size and I cast him a wary glare. It was his idea that we follow her, even though I didn't agree, he dragged me here anyway.

Sometimes I wonder who's in control between us—him or me?

"If you keep staring at her like that, she will definitely chase us away," I growled at him.

"Can't help it," he retorted. "Our mate is so pretty," he continued staring at her with pure adoration.

The word 'MATE' hit me harder in the face this time than it did in the forest. At all times but now she chose to come into my life. I had walked into the city of Roseville with only one intention— find my parents' murderers and take back what's truly mine. 

Meeting her now was never part of the plan, and I'm not quite sure if she wants us either, her reaction at the forest was negative. Though I can feel she's attracted to us, but clearly trying to suppress it.

The next thing I knew, she slammed the window shut.

 Kyle sighed.

"Told you she doesn't want us," I muttered at him.

"I don't think so," Kyle replied, "she's broken now and her wolf is weak, maybe she can't sense us yet, let's give her some time," he continued.

Thanks to Kyle we got to know a little history about our mate. At first glance, he was able to tell her name, pack, abilities and current condition —she was just rejected by her supposed mate. It's his little gift from the moon goddess. He brags about it all the time.

"Maybe it's a good thing she's avoiding us, I'm not ready for this yet."

"But your heart says otherwise," Kyle snarled, pacing inside my chest, "She's ours. Stop pretending you don't want to hunt her down and claim her."

Yes, he's right.

I want to, so badly, canines hurts whenever the wind carries her scent.

"Let's get out of here, we've got more important things to deal with," was my reply to him. Kyle tried to argue but I shut him off and turned on my heels.

 With how fast Kyle was, we would be home in a few minutes.

***

The giant gates of the lycan kingdom soon came into sight—iron and black stone, older than anything I'd ever known. The place I called 'HOME,' where I was raised, I had spent most of my life behind those walls, on the training ground.

 I never really knew my parents, their faces appear vague in my memories. I am ever grateful to my master, Dorian, the lycan king's beta, for taking me in.

He said his car had had some issues on his way back from an assignment the king had sent him to one of the numerous werewolf cities under the lycans' rule, so he had to use his legs to continue his journey. That city happened to share a border with Roseville and there, at the border, he had found a one-year-old boy, at the brink of death, his skin almost pale from the effect of the poison—that boy was me.

A bitter smile spread across my face. 

The lycans are superior to werewolves, that's a fact and they never skip the chance to rub it off on werewolves when they are around them and werewolves dislike them for that. The lycans at the palace are no different.

Even though I was regarded as the beta's son, they will miss no chance to remind me that I'm the lesser creature here, but that was ten years ago, they wouldn't dare now. They all give me that silent respect.

I slid into the little cottage outside the gates, where I had stacked clothes to shift in my human form. I've been shifting a lot lately, hence I got it prepared.

Once dressed, I locked the cottage and strode into the gates of the kingdom without sparing a glance at the guards present. They let out an angry growl and I bared my fangs at them.

Motherfuckers!

I needed to see Dorian immediately, I needed his wise counsel now more than ever so I took a shortcut to his chambers.

Should I claim my mate now or wait after I've avenged my parents' death? Claiming her now would make her a target and also my weakness. A weakness was the last thing I needed right now. Or should I just give up on this whole revenge thing and move on, claim my mate and build a happy family together? Does she even want us?

Confusion was living rent-free in my head.

As I rounded the corner, a firm grip landed on my shoulder and the next thing I knew, I was being swiftly dragged into a room and flung onto the bed, someone's weight pressing down on me.

She smelled the same as always — expensive and floral, the kind of scent that was designed to pull you in. It used to work but tonight, it just made me tired.

"Woah Renaya, since when did you become so strong," I asked as I tried getting up from the bed and getting her off me but she had her legs wrapped around my torso.

"I missed you," she replied ignoring my question, she tugged at my jacket and leaned in for a kiss but I pushed her off. "I'm not in the mood for this," I said getting off the bed.

But she caught my arm, "Why?, did anything happen, you've been gone for three days, don't tell me you don't miss us together," She scooted closer, tracing her fingers down my torso.

'US' that was funny, as far as I'm concerned, there was never an "US"

Growing up in a place where werewolves were treated as lower creatures, I had no friends, the lycan kids refused to play with me apart from Renaya, despite being the king's daughter. That... made me like her for real, and we became best friends since then.

I caught her hands before they could go any further. "We have to stop this," I said finally getting up from the bed, a shocked expression cut across her face. She wanted to oppose it but I cut her off.

"This thing between us...has to end, tonight."

"No!" She retorted, rising to her feet and grabbed her arm turning me to face her.

"Why are you doing this Nick," Her voice quivered, I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. Renaya was never the type to cry, no matter the situation, she was strong and it almost broke my heart to see her like this but she caused this.

"Why," my lips curved into a smirk, " because I'm sick and tired of this." She shakes in disapproval as I inched closer, "and don't act so surprised, it wasn't going to last forever, this day was going to come."

The tears she's been holding cascaded down her cheeks.

 "Nick please don't—" she started but I cut her off.

"No," I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look me straight in the eyes, "you were so desperate you made rules you couldn't keep, no feelings, just sex..... You remember."

"You're hurting me," she said and I realized I gripped her chin too hard, so I let go immediately. I wanted to apologize for causing her pain but I didn't feel sorry, I just walked away.

It was never my intention to get this involved with her, I knew she had developed feelings for me since we were teenagers but I didn't feel the same but Renaya wouldn't let me be. It was after rounds of seductions that I gave in. 

Can't blame me, what can a man do when he walks into his bedroom after a shower and meets a woman stark naked on his bed, legs spread wide apart? He pounces on her and gives her what she wants. That was the first night we had sex and it has become a usual occurrence for the past five years.

"So these five years meant nothing to you," Her question made me pause in my tracks. "So every single time you had me, didn't raise any feelings," she asked, taking one slow step after another towards where I stood.

I tilted my head slightly to meet her gaze and held it, "Not even a little." Even though there was, it was gone the moment I set my eyes on her—Elena.