RISEN: THE LYCAN PRINCESS

Angela D´Angelo

When I heard what had happened, I was dumbfounded. I couldn´t believe my brother had asked him to do that. Matei, my oldest brother and King of All, the fucking GOAT, asked Roger to take a dangerous position all over again.

Not content with risking Roger in an undercover mission to unveil an Order that wanted to hunt Talia, my beloved cousin. Not happy with the risks he made Roger take, he now asks him to be the bridge between the supernatural and the human.

Humans are scared of us. They believe we will hunt them and end them. We are not monsters, at least not without a reason, and they are building a fucking strong case to turn us against themselves. I am livid! I slammed the door of my bedroom and huffed. I need to speak to him... I must make him understand that he will be strained and in danger...

I love him! Damn it! I love him beyond rhyme or reason, beyond understanding... and in the upcoming Moon Ball, I pray to our Goddess to grant me my wish... to make him my mate.

“Honey, may I come in?” Mom knocked on the door, and I huffed when I realized her head was already inside. What was the point of knocking if she would sneak in anyway?

“You are halfway in, Mom...” I said, and she smiled.

“I know. It was an unrequited, unnecessary courtesy on my end,” Mom said, and I had to fight with all my strength not to roll my eyes at her comment.

“Hey, do you think your brother would have asked him that if he didn´t know he could achieve the impossible?” Mom said, and I sighed.

“Yeah, but why risk him? He is not supernatural; he is human. If he gets hurt, it will be game over. Don´t you see?” I said, pacing the room.

Mom gave me a condescending smile, one of those that get on my nerves. “Honey... he has the support of all of us.” Mom said, and I took a deep breath.

“Mom, how did you feel when Dad went out on a fight? On a mission? How do you endure the possibility of losing the man you love?” I asked, and Mom bit her lower lip.

“It is different, your father is my mate.” Mom pointed out and pressed her finger on my open wound.

I was utterly in love with Roger, a human, a man older than me. I loved him and he loved me, fated bond be damned. I didn´t know why it was so hard for them to accept. My father was silent every time the topic came up. Mom sighed in frustration, believing fervently that the mate bond never makes mistakes. At the same time, my three older brothers were a pain in the ass.

Matei kept asking Roger to go on dangerous missions. Stavros, the other GOAT in the family, who randomly inherited the title of Lycan King, was not fond of our age difference. He still believes I am too young to know what love is, and with the Moon Ball on our doorstep, the only way to find out is to attend the ball and let fate take its course. He is another sucker for the mate bond, just like Mom. Then there is Grecco, the most laid-back of the three. He has no real responsibility, or special charge... but he is a Lycan Seer, mixed with his Angel Side... If you ask me, he is the most powerful of the three, even considering Mat acquired Iris´s powers and became a Red Angel-Lycan. Grecco inherited our grandfather´s powers, which made him almost invincible. Grandpa Maurice was a Lycan Seer, while Grandpa Engelbert was an Ultimate Angel; it is said that among his powers were the power of creation and destruction.

Grecco and Lia have been supportive of me, but Grecco always advises me to be careful where I set my heart or who I trust my heart. Ever since he became a Seer, he speaks in code, and I fucking hate it.

“Alright, I will give Mat a break, but so that you know... I am livid!” I said and stood up, grabbing my keys and handbag.

“Where are you going?” Mom asked, and I looked at her.

“I am going to speak to Roger... where else?” I said, and she sighed.

“Honey, it is getting dangerous to travel back and forth from the Lycan Realm to the Human Realm...” Mom said, and I huffed again.

“I am going to see him... Maybe I´ll ask him to meet me in Central City... if that makes you more comfortable.” I suggested, and she nodded.

“Thanks, Honey...” She said, and I gave her a dry smile.

“Honey?” Mom stopped me when I reached the door.

I turned around, “Yes, mother?” I said,

“Just remember that above our desires is our duty, and as a Princess, you must keep your people safe.” She said, and I gave her a slight nod.

I knew that one already, and that tore me apart. I was torn between my people, duty, obligation, keeping them safe, and our realm thriving, and the man I love, my happiness, and my future. Because I am sure that he is mine, my mate... I have felt the pull; my Lycan adores him, but we need the blessing of our Goddess at the Moon Ball to complete the claim.

Three weeks...

I picked up my phone and dialed his number. “Hey,” he answered, his voice tender and loving. No matter what he is doing, where he is, or what he has done in the past, he is always tender and affectionate with me.

“Hey...” I sighed,

“You´ve heard,” he knew me so well.

“Yeah...” I said, and he chuckled.

“Meet me in our spot, in an hour...” he said, and I felt utterly giddy inside.

“I´ll be there,” I said, and we finished the call.

Roger and I had a secret spot. A small cabin close to the Central City forest. It was our sacred place, where we met and shared stolen moments that will remain etched in my soul for an eternity. That small cabin he slowly fixed with his bare hands was our sanctuary, my haven.

It was where he stole my first kiss, where we stole kisses, and where we had forbidden caresses. We haven´t been intimate, but we have explored each other. I wouldn´t mind, but he, like my mother, somehow believes the mate bond is sacred. He is confident that we belong together, just like I am. And despite that, he has not taken advantage of me or forced me to be intimate. So, reluctantly, I have remained a virgin far too long.

Three weeks... I sigh, and then a mischievous smile forms on my lips.

It took me ten minutes to reach Central City, and then it was a good forty-minute drive from the portal to the cabin. That´s why Roger said one hour. It was the standard time we took to meet there.

I parked the car on the gravel road leading to the cabin. The lights inside told me he was already there. I slowly walked towards the cozy place—the place we considered ours. I slowly opened the door and was greeted by the fantastic aroma of pasta.

Yummers!

I made my way to the small kitchen, and he was facing the stove. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek on his back.

When he felt my arms, he jumped in surprise, saw me, and relaxed.

“I was expecting you a bit later.” He said, and I shook my head behind him.

“I was on my way,” I said, and he chuckled.

He closed the gas on the stove and turned around to face me. He wrapped his arms around me and locked eyes with mine. Instantly, my eyes teared, all the pent-up emotions streaming down them.

“I am scared,” I mumbled, while he caressed my hair protectively and tenderly.

“I love you, my Princess...” he said, and I bit my lower lip.

“Kiss me...” I mumbled, and his lips curved tenderly, and softly he lowered his lips onto mine.

I loved him so much that I couldn´t lose him.