5

KING LEONIDAS POV

My head throbbed as the world slowly materialized around me. The memories of the previous night remained blurred. My limbs didn't feel like mine for a brief moment but underneath the confusion, a deep feeling of satisfaction thrummed through my veins.

It took a moment but I regained control and I rolled to my side, expecting to see the mangled body of yet another woman at my side but it was empty.

I jolted upwards and scanned the area. There was no woman or sign of blood around me. And for a simple moment, the insidious thought that I'd spent the night alone filled my head.

But it was impossible. For years now, I've spent every single full moon without fail with a woman in my bed. And every time, the woman became a victim of the beast. I was used to it.

What I wasn't used to was waking up with no sign of a woman and no blood painting the grass, yet I felt a satisfaction that I hadn't felt in years.

My beast was silent. The rage he dwelled in was gone. I felt better than I had in years and for a moment, it felt like I was normal.

I had to find the female that my beast rutted last night. It was imperative that I did. I scanned the area with my eyes and then I sniffed. No scent, just the wet grass and morning dew.

I prowled the area, sniffing and hoping I would pick up on any unusual scent. But nothing came up.

I moved further into the forest, combing every inch of it. On most occasions, my beast moved away from the scene of rutting.

The full moon was always hazy for me so I usually had no recollection of the face, place, or scent that my bed partner had. It was all dependent on whether my beast could remember but the chances were even lower.

The full moon forced him into his most primal state. No thoughts or rationality. Just the base instinct to rut and kill.

I heard the sounds of feet running and smelled them before they appeared.

"My lord" one of the guards greeted, holding out black pants. I took them from him and pulled them on.

"Where is Richard?" I asked impatiently. My beta was the best choice to handle the search for this woman.

"Here" Richard ran forward.

"We searched through the forest but we couldn't find you."

"I was searching for someone" I looked around.

"Who came into the forest at night?"

"No one my lord. Everyone is warned to steer clear of the forest at the full moon. Nobody would dare to disobey you"

"Well, somebody did."

"I didn't find anybody, I believe... you must have spent the night alone"

I stared at him, my brows raised in question. 

"My beast tells me I did. Is he lying?"

"Not at all. Forgive me for insinuating such. It's just that. The woman who ought to have spent the night with you was found in the same spot she was dropped off. Untouched and unharmed"

My brows furrowed. The woman who had been kept for me was untouched?"

"Yes my lord"

"Bring her to me" I ordered as I walked past. I needed to see for myself.

The servants shifted out of my way as I arrived at the castle. Conversations stopped, eyes locked to the ground, they bowed as I walked past.

I don't ask for ot or acknowledge it.

I continued on my path, heading to find out something very important to me.

I found the drink cabinet as soon as I entered my office. The servant who had been cleaning mumbled an apology and scrambled out. I frowned. I hated to find them in my office.

I poured myself a drink as I waited for Richard's arrival. I was about to pour a third glass when the door opened.

He trudged in, a young woman trailing behind him, her posture submissive and eyes cast to the ground.

"My lord" Richard stepped out of the way and I studied her. I felt nothing. Nothing, not even a spark of recognition. My beast didn't stir.

"Look up" I ordered and her head snapped up.

"What is your name?"

"Melanie" she answered, her voice soft and breathless but still, it stirred nothing with me.

"You were in the forest at night?" She nodded.

"Words" I snapped.

"Yes my lord"

"What did you see?"

She glanced at Richard, fear coming off her in waves. She probably thought she had seen something she wasn't supposed to and was going to get into trouble because of it.

"Think carefully before you respond" I murmured and she swallowed. My words did nothing to calm her raging fear.

"N-Nothing" she stuttered.

"And what did you hear?"

"Sounds. Loud sounds but I didn't see anything" Her fear had worsened, the smell nauseating.

It was an emotion the beast fed on but today, he was silent. Unmoving and uninterested, just observing.

"Give her some gold. I want her for the next full moon" her eyes sparked but she said nothing.

"Yes my lord"

The girl bowed once and then she walked out the door. Richard followed closely but I stopped him before he crossed the doorway.

"I was with someone last night" I said to him.

"I couldn't find her scent in the forest. I want her found"

"Yes my lord" he bowed and he walked out, leaving me in the silence again.

I poured myself another drink and stalked to the window, looking outside and watching the grounds alive with activity.

Life was temporary and so was the power that came with it. For years, people had bided their time, waiting for the curse of doom to overtake me. It was unavoidable so the witches said. They wanted the power as soon as I was lost to the darkness.

I heard the whispers and plot but I never cared. I was always one to disappoint people and yet again, I was going to do it.

I just needed to find that woman.

The end of my doom.