The Lycan King’s Second Chance Mate by Sumi

REAGAN'S POV.

I understand that by delaying to claim Ashanti, by not treating her as my equal and not telling my subjects sooner that she was my mate, I committed a grave offense that warrants punishment, but I think this is too much. This is cruel and I'm starting to lose my cool. I was so confident about finding Ashanti in the Blue Diamond Pack. It took me all my courage to keep a straight face when Ashanti's mother told me Ashanti had not come to see her. I was even more dumbfounded when she firmly deciphered her aversion to taking Ashanti in if she ever showed up at her doorstep.

Right now I'm not only worried for my mate, but I'm scared that she might go to meet her mother with all confidence only to get the disappointment of her life.

I have to find Ashanti. I have to bring her back home. I have to make sure she doesn't meet her mother and find out what I just found out. It will break her!

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. I look straight ahead at the door, frowning as I let out an exasperated sigh. I'm not in the mood to see or talk to anyone, but when the thought that whoever is there could have come to give me good news crosses my mind, I give the signal. The door opens and I'm not surprised to see that it's Kyle.

"Alpha Reagan." He steps in and heads over to the table where I'm seated.

"Yes, Kyle." My voice is a raspy, tired mess. "Are you here to tell me something that'll uplift my mood? Or should I kick you out?"

"You'll probably kick me out after you hear it." I groan.

Another search party is back with news of no sign of Ashanti in whatever pack they were sent to go look for her.

know that's what he's here

I don't want to hear it." I say, waving a dismissing hand at him. His shoulders sag in dismay. I watch his chest rise as he sucks in

repeats for the one millionth time. I shake my head, denying that suggestion for the one millionth time

in my stead. If I send you two away, I will run this pack to the ground and if I dare leave and spend a single night out of here, those pesky Lycan King's who think they can overthrow me will turn this Pack into a venue for a Rogue festival.

go out there and carry out this search on my own, but that would mean me staying out of this Pack for days and even weeks.

the Lycan King does not make me free from jealousy and usurpation attempts. I have faced these before. My ex-mate died during

they will swarm in here with every rogue they can find and cause trouble.

Reagan." Kyle calls after a long pause.

"Yes Kyle."

that we've not been able to have a single trace of Ashanti's whereabouts because that's what she wants? What if she's deliberately hiding from us? What if she doesn't want us to find her? What if she wants away from all this and that's why she left in the first place?" His words leave his mouth with so much care and in the calmest tone, but when they reach my ears, they sound like harsh tones that jar in my ear like loud music, causing every hair on my head to stand erect and my scalp to start itching. Blood pauses in my veins as I ponder upon the hidden

anything to do with me

if she's deliberately

if she doesn't want me to find

have never crossed my mind and now I feel like an idiot for

she found out about Alina's pregnancy. She believed I was truly responsible for it and threatened to leave me. That's what made me lock her up in the penthouse. Another terrible thing I did was force her to have sex with me. She called me a monster and promised to leave me when she got the least chance. Then came the accusation that led to her being locked up in the dungeon. Her angst towards me must have reached sky level and

pack just like she had promised and now, she's somewhere, hiding, making sure