As soon as they were out of the building, Xandar asked, “Why didn’t you sleep last night?”
“Border duty.” She answered simply.
“How is it that you had border duty the night before you were bound to travel?”
“The available members were either sick or had a family to look after. I didn’t want to flip anyone’s schedules upside down over this so I stood in place.” She shrugged. Her selfless answer exuded the nobility of a Queen, his Queen.
But something still bothered him. “Lucianne, why were you uncomfortable when your Alpha gave you credit for last year’s success? Why didn’t you just thank him and accept the praise?”
She snorted, and looked him dead in the eye as she declared, “I didn’t do it for the praise, your Hig… Xandar. When Alpha Juan got the request, I made it a point to my warriors that the ultimate aim of the battles was to keep innocent wolves safe. I drilled this thought into their heads day-in and day-out. They were to fight to protect, to fight with honour and nobility, not for the sake of pleasing anyone of a superior position.”
He listened to the strength of her voice, and his lips curled up as she continued, “I didn’t accept the praise because I didn’t do it for that. I didn’t do it for you either, Xandar. I respect you as my King but I didn’t fight the rogues for you. I fought for those who couldn’t fight. That’s why I didn’t accept the praise. I never will, so don’t try to get me to do it.”
His animal howled internally with immense joy and pride. He and the Lycan in him could not thank their Goddess enough. They were completely over the moon that the Moon Goddess bonded them to… a goddess. Noble. Selfless. Brave. Beautiful. What pique his interest most was her confident admission that she prioritized the lives of innocent wolves that she had never met over her ruler who everyone was obliged to please.
But somehow, she still seemed unreachable. He felt that she didn’t allow herself to get as close to him as he wanted her to. Then, there was that confusion about her willingness to reject him, or have him reject her. What was that about? Why would she ask for something like that?
He then recalled that she mentioned her ‘previous mates’. Mates. So, she was rejected more than once before. But why would she think that he was like the rest of them? He was not a wolf. Surely, Lycans were more known for their unwillingness to deny the mate bond, weren’t they?
He admired her side profile in silence, taking in the most beautiful creature he had ever laid his eyes on. He hoped to learn everything about her one day, but for better or worse, he was dead certain that he would never let his mate go.
When they reached the hotel where they housed a portion of wolves, Lucianne was surprised that Xandar still insisted on following her until they reached her room. He stared at her scar with a frown as she unlocked the door. “Thank you for walking me back. Have a good night, Xandar.” Her sweet voice brought his gaze up to hers.
She took only one step into her room when Xandar grabbed her by her wrist and lifted her hand to his lips. She stiffened in shock as he planted a deep kiss on the back of her hand, sending a strong wave of sparks through her arm and then her entire body. He was still holding her hand when he locked eyes with her and uttered, “Goodnight, Lucianne.”
She retracted her hand, and entered her room before shutting the door behind her. Xandar stood in his spot, where he heard her sigh after she closed the door. He then heard cupboard doors opening and closing before her footsteps moved across the room, where he heard a second door being shut.
mate naked in the bathroom. He walked away from her door in quick steps before his self-control evaporated. He could easily break the hinges and knock down the door if he wanted to. Ignoring his whimpering animal who would rather skip the meet-and-greet and spend the night with their
and snobbish Lunas who tried and failed lamentably to be noble as they humble-bragged. Xandar started taking an interest in scars on
Raden, had a scar on his face tracing down to his neck. If the scar went a little higher, he would’ve been rendered blind
explained, “A rogue attack five years ago, your Highness. Our pack was attacked and we formed alliances with Blue Crescent and White
many injured?” The
death toll was higher before our alliance. Although it’s displeasing to the eye, I must admit that this scar only brings me joy.” He
do you mean by
kept taking on two at a time, the rogues took notice. All of a sudden, I found myself surrounded by five of them. One held me by my tail and its member slashed me from the side and gave me this scar.” He gestured to his face before continuing, “When the blood from my face was
scar brings me joy because it has been a long time since I knew I could count on someone from another pack to watch
confirmed, “Blue Crescent
slight bow, and added, “The warrior from White Blood is Gamma Tobias Tristan.
“Mm.” the King nodded.
his leaders again, who both have doubtful expressions. He cleared his throat, and with
King obliged with
“I wasn’t standing very near where you were when you met Gamma Lucianne, so I’m not sure if what I heard was…what I
the tint of
I’m about to say, your Highness. But as I said, I owe her my life, so I think this is going to be a fair trade.”
Lucianne’s mate, couldn’t take care of her? Who the hell did this wolf think he was?! The King tried his best to keep his
been an honour to meet you, your Highness.” Gamma Raden
enjoy the rest of the evening.” He walked away in quick steps as he felt the jealousy overtaking his body when Raden expressed so much concern for Lucianne. If he stayed any longer, he
to a Luna who was running her pack after the death of her husband the previous month, Xandar felt a hand run down his arm seductively, making him turn
in a dangerously-low tone, “What the hell are
was the daughter of his Defence Minister, Sasha Cummings, who smiled coyly at the King, making
father called out as he
growled again. “Should your daughter interfere in one of my conversations
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CZjn9uTLT74aXxGFhfD9Qki9zdTVZdThkQP9Qz28+TuZTiLudR06VEJ1xJCM9YtIInBT98RfylA1yPl5JbJ5NJne5KYtJcqFvvHkCm7pTVY5k1eOwh7PuNkfNXL5B9zNy49O9+acPTy2VKUW9hjxnTimyczRxbsYPTE0M2jHUEWzAPrUos+ckiFw6yYyAGUN7Grlb9YKtpBAWD48yrwgrqEd6F0AaIGQEHNyR9fCq5j1DFj2w4BLyRaDQs24djG7Tgjrt7aCG7P6jjrWdn5zK5rURbJ2KpAYroY9HogXZrwiAJQ3yTewa+EqLpebJfqthpNisfphXZOt2bALx1oTry7Wx1xNkcu6bZCHPH5EVWbhAfXwjWd3mL/dJGttMK/4W4S547UO2kqQ3Wbw/Nw/DpxMNFgRvipL6FQ3rP2pdgrzGI1rvMJpVg+QWxQqvIhXuD7dzwF9J+IFyr+E5z6d8S0sHP76Y0EUupO9fgaCmJ4QLg6io3NEt8e+R/WfDthraRUd2TK9rmzJkANYLBCb96HXa9MhDAfyfWOKUdu5wjDUwTnjvy8pgxqLdtkPaf2Nde8qtfn3WReabX5ClendOmkjbQ48YrZp7JMUXz0j06D6mcChTG4M/ysys3PFjVMO6XRlOZLXsGlti+/YmTYkM96HMJz3z1bk2920EL10q6v6L9dDYjtumSvxYSM08FYTL8b17Ta+EY61fowQ0yi1mVTfC6+F+4WAoW5Ji1FhUJddSRJ7ah9WtQWM62ZEB4zyIOQUyWVI2hQUEQ2l4FC2lgujegJtLWXJV1fcq7s2gnq7pAF4wLQ6hCNiA5s6IkIsF3ACRMk0HUTMJItolquEeG5QbvGf5QVnfcFNRqvDs2zWlH3k72ME4lTK3/9UftaDz8G1OjMs+E3ubyEok4iN8WVD2KJYL7OTlhOWmoJVgs6BUxtkg6XYcPPgMBTkDdOPhivuO5fbJ41dI78jK9/Roa/nsERfXoDsO/dhawRJsv2szHchfIKriwzNrEc2VdeFA01tWQV/EB9qT8lJbtel+PHH+TutmTv055u6lq5GqYrlV1fXjnUs1jmykCtGNr5b4mx3BHPipIbI2XR+TkXjL9/CiklfMFZ+J2b44fHxefaan3T/fwIfPZkOA91CYXKAQE6mvK45iWWWzr9uSUWPBDKXShiBXl4jWHeNUbTpYzozwA2VNrqgzhPeUsNDFLHnT1lP+SjONJ7aMjotGBI3wQrqRJ1k+sOXeBTHyHCWRfrQNnKbPw0n2I/qp9SbENQR/+QPtKh9xeMvUtL1PLmK519ZC1bbYDU5Ru8cPODphjuCzRz47RZTp9wDBXD0IrSjkGQR3OeAxz1BWm75o4I2O/GMOPHheI2VL0BuIwpDT4Bne/j9doo0uPYeek0X22WextCKS1Zn+1NOepsxd9qnksC4i8TK146lNenphLexNe6y/OFbF5VmGSJTuueGEHPir9/IPP9dwSTAETc6CPDeG639nf1VXzSz/orm3taUJG3V1cYlLxdT16QFMXnLv1OZKDezpjeqyBU/GauJQGJIbaUSuzEQRtyai6V1MNbo6bgWX4YFjeP/MAOn7w7EfP3XBi9VBswakxyZ/MG6hJMzCCI2IexQ6NWNoVDop0uTsNIjKyWyFuo83RDgi5EBJwwC2zpQ4H+Z+ZyUxkru+ysHzRitWhXuq+tnY2Y6oe83N3WWeD1k4ZNM9qK7lllP3Uz2vQny3GeyOiFZdBnAR+QJIEAr5tG1BI7FZ0mDupV2f/OPCoOUD7E/jLPXE9X6F4ph5Svl8c2QreSG6U22YqYr0VZ/kReRXiVM2pXulDygHc5ntG2Li8l89GMNltFWAIpxB9ObLqkXc01+6CFIXtELE9WeUDmu/DOu26yGxXdBLPE7QVBzKdmjVNWJUR27wG4+Lldb/tI48lZJz3IIcdCVIsT1mH2Q4a0slsc1Z0iPIbp4rtegGVvCFLb4qIA+vejGDh4+TN0sVLlWAuBCrtU5mlnc1F0YyFb9eq0kElDt/AT19QpFNGNi07zfW6KwEFL8Rm5fppDxTJzlIq/5Xoy/vntoe1wdESONzkURbWdb/ezx7CEurMDp867TyxEPscdMiLmgvkFxx6l4A0M6QpDXqk+uk8A/fXV9WssrxnHbQdoRg7JRke/IbbJIMqpC6Gh0KpdFvlxtPQKejzFusc42iBPfvlqwURL7YjIG/hOq+EYmL7JUNiMEXt2rHvZ46xqHCjBRI39LDKE9PkQjo21c+5gAO21NlMj07LRs2840xiaqbtNbKPV5Qlm71bQQDxQiOeS0j0RY9Z9fC54O92kFo0Tg59dU9b92FKJc4uFw/8ub2GJ5J4tPYcpY0emobgQgULIXWxapnmCDTRZNTIwYQiiGXh3pAIh/dynuluEfY+gG96HCgIAUpAgHQb+oEmxuwjHPh8NcfeK6wccMsF4XpXtfgPGwLhbrNOqI44rbrdGIBBACXyLOL3wxj/S1sDVtgqKL3Q+4nitNmZMr1LZuFCx9EXbt2qbv24sB4+1Wj8PLxsb5l4aDVJ3I/PmQLG1CYSJfrfDIjiriOn72YaV/g1AcLDlBFpJvbcyZt6egGeTu+ckCwcsedoyS2Wo5lD9uxhgcfiB/hqc/ZfSIXsWKpyBzfHoC0jPhBBjOIxBY8pLdnKUk53R/ckzwmXT9Y7CAVB/nLh0hhI9xma135hH8wZaqAO2guPxK2/1fPDyE5ib91JXCpB0MvNmmgt96Stl34PhqKZDiEQGZrXM=
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