Chapter 5

Freya's p.o.v

Today will be my last day at Madame Selene's manor as her maid or slave. I am now been handed over to the Alpha king. According to her, I am his mate and he will be solely responsible for my well- being henceforth. If Madame Selene can trust him enough to give me to him, I believe I can trust him too, even though I have never met him or know what he looks like.

I will soon be transported to the court where the mating ceremony would be happening. I looked at myself once more in the mirror in my room as Evelyn and Elina as well as my other human mates in the manor came to bid their final good bye.

My mind drifted back to my experience at the wild the other time as I gaze upon the satchel hanging down in my room—the strangeness and everything that revolved around that moment. I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone about it because I don't want Madame Selene feeling so sad and guilty. Thankfully, no one was home when I arrived and the other maids were busy with their chores. Thus, the opportunity for me to change my torn clothes.

"I'll miss you so much, Freya," Elina sobbed as she kissed me by the cheek, and giving me one final hug.

"I'll miss you too, Elina," I said, my eyes darting around to others whose eyes are now soaked with goodbye tears. "All of you."

~~

The sun sets and the moment finally arrived. I was carted away from the manor and after a while, I arrived at a court. Selene came to receive me as the cart stopped and I emerged. It felt like time stood still as we walked into the inner part of the court. The isle we were walking on seems to divide the room into two parts and the seats placement tend to loom beside us. There were many lycans present —plenty of them. Majority of them were elderly. But then, my gaze shifted from their roaming eyes and murmuring mouths to the shiny thrones gleaming bright ahead of me.

I swallowed hard as we approach the thrones and as we got closer, my eyes caught the attention of a tall, strong, yet young looking man. He should be in his early twenties at least. He was standing beside one of the thrones. His eyes were blue—icy blue and so hypnotizing that they had me blinking subconsciously. His hair was jet black and his jawline, a perfect chisel shape.

Perhaps, he is the Alpha king? I mean, he is obviously the only one standing beside the throne.

A strange coldness I had experienced the other time recurred as I got nearer and nearer to him on the throne. Perhaps, it's because I was somewhat nervous.

I got an up close view of him at the throne and God, never have I ever thought of meeting or seeing a Greek god while alive.

Selene bowed slightly at the Alpha King before leaving the throne.

His gaze fell on me and I knew I just couldn't hold or maintain such eye contact. I looked at him again to find him smiling while stretching his arms at me.

My brow arched in embarrassment. His hands felt so hot in my hands and I quickly withdraw due to reflex.

"Are you OK, Freya?" he asked with true concern on his face as my eyes opened wide in shock.

"I'm fine. It's nothing," I replied as my eyes met with Madame Selene who seem perplexed from afar in the crowd. "Nevermind."

He reached for my hand again and this time, it felt hotter but the short distance to the throne made be hold it in. I nearly cried after we settled on the throne.

An elderly lycan came down to the centre of the inner court and then he began to speak.

"My fellow Lycans from every corner of Luparia. This is the moment we all have been waiting for, the reason why we all are gathered here tonight. Our dear Alpha King Lucien has been truly favoured my the moon goddess and tonight, the mating bond will be initiated."

My throat kept bobbing as I feel Lucien's eyes steal quick glances at me and I began to sweat under my gown.

"Dear Freya," he shouted my name. "Do you accept Lucien, the Alpha King of Luparia and leader of the Shadow pack as your mate and protector?"

Unsure of what to do, my eyes met with Lucien's and I could tell those eyes hold a lot even though his smile proved otherwise. And that smile is just so captivating.

"Am I to say anything else aside yes?" I gathered the courage to ask him.

He grinned. "Actually, you may reject it by simply saying a no too."

I looked away and face the crowd seated in the court room.

"Yes, I do."

My eyes scanned for Madame Selene and I could see her smile at me. She seemed really pleased and that is all that matters to me.

"Dear, Alpha Lucien. Do you accept Freya as your mate and to be her protector at all time, come what may?"

A curl formed on Lucien's lips and he nodded. "Yes, I do."

The full moon shone from outside the court through the large windows in the room and I felt a strange wind blow towards me, it was cold— extremely cold that I began to shiver slightly.

Lucien noticed and he touched me, "It's the mating bond. Just...stay still."

His touch warmed out the cold , but as soon as my body temperature turned normal again, it start to feel a bit off and I felt the hotness building up again from his prolonged touch and I just couldn't understand why my body was responding that way to his touch. I slowly drifted my hand away.

"Freya, are you OK?"

"Ye...Yes," I stammered, sliding my hair behind my ear. "Uhm... will that be all?"

"That's was basically the first step..." Lucien tried to explain, but a masculine voice cut him off.

"How could you even think of going ahead with the ceremony without me—the future King?"