Mate

Hazel.

It hurt but it was over before I knew it. He tattooed his initial on my neck. I thought the werewolf bond to be a beautiful thing. Imagine being bonded mind and soul to a person for the rest of your life?

At that moment, there was a knock on the door and I stepped out to have my dinner. Ylva and Ash showed me around the mansion and introduced me to the other maids.

We bumped into the men drinking in a cellar that was big enough to hold a party. Just how rich is Lucian, I wondered?

"Oh, it's the Luna!" one of the men announced and I saw Lucian turn back, our eyes locked for a moment.

The man who spoke beckoned to me and I walked over to them.

"I'm Henry, the Lycan's beta." he introduced and I smiled and shook his hand.

The rest of the men introduced themselves but I took recognition of the beta, Henry and the gamma, Louis.

I refused to drink and excused myself to the room, leaving the men staring at me like they wanted to eat me up.

Henry turned to Lucian and said, "She's beautiful."

Louis joked, "Don't you see he's marked her so quickly? Couldn't even wait for a day."

The men bursted out laughing but Lucian simply scoffed.

"I thought you never believed in the moon goddess and mates?" asked Louis.

"I bet he changed his mind the moment he set eyes on the Luna!" Henry said sarcastically, throwing the room into another state of laughter.

They maintained decorum when they felt the chill coming from Lucian.

Then Lucian spoke, "What did you get from investigating accident?"

"Track's been covered, Lucian." said Henry, "No single trace. The car is an old model, definitely not what's in use now. The murderer acted smart."

"Don't you think it could be Michael?" Louis suggested, "I mean, since you're back now you're a huge threat to him. He'd do anything to eliminate you."

Lucian shook his head, "It can't be. He would not do that."

Henry and Louis exchanged look. Michael is Lucian's elder brother and the next Alpha of the Royal Crest pack. Being the eldest, everyone expected that he would be the next Alpha and even the most powerful however, Lucian, the last child, wields more power.

For this reason, everyone thinks Lucian was banished from the pack due to his father and brother's insecurity but Lucian does not think so.

He trusts his father and brother wholeheartedly and would never see wrong in them. Henry and Louis knew better than to try and convince him so they remained mute.

"Retire to bed," Lucian ordered, "We're going to see the pack tomorrow."

: : :

"Anastasia said he's cute!" Kelly said over the phone, "She's been talking about it all day!"

"Aren't you supposed to take some rest?" I replied, "You're speaking with so much energy."

"I'm quite alright now, Hazel. I'm happy you're finally away from these monsters." she heaved a sigh "Tell me, how's it over there?"

I just finished having breakfast and was walking through the courtyard of the mansion speaking with my sister.

I told of what I knew, "It's really beautiful out here. There are servants and..really handsome men."

Kelly giggled, "I should love to get married to a werewolf too."

"Enough now, you should get going to school already!" I said as I checked my watch.

"Okay, okay..don't be nervous. Your father-in-law will be a nice man."

I rolled my eyes and ended the call. Lucian told me that we'll be going to see his father. I preferred mother-in-laws to father-in-laws and so I had asked about his mother but his face immediately became dark.

Without answering me he had stepped into the bath. I wonder what I did wrong? I left the room and came down to the courtyard that was filled with beautiful flowers and spoke with my sister.

I'm relieved to know she's alright. After a few minutes, Ash came to me.

"Luna, you're here!" she shrieked and my heart skipped a bit, did something happen?

"The Lycan has been waiting for you! He doesn't like lateness, Luna."

I hurriedly left the courtyard and arrived at the convoy waiting in front of the mansion. Henry greeted me with a warm smile and Louis helped me into the car.

Lucian was already seated in it, his head on the headrest with his eyes closed. It was unexplainably cold in here. I glanced at him, could it be that he was mad I delayed?

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," I apologized as the car began to move, "I was talking with my sister."

I expected his reply but he kept mute. Did I overstep? What if he didn't need my explanation? I looked through the tinted window, embarrassment eating me up.

"How's Kelly?" his deep voice resonated so deeply that I felt it in my head.

I turned to him, his eyes were still closed, so I took in his features, admiring them for minutes.

I replied, "She's okay."

And he said nothing more. In an hour we arrived at another stately mansion. The convoy stopped and we alighted.

Lucian unexpectedly took my hand in his, causing me to yelp.

He gazed at me and said, "Relax,"

I wish I could. This side was less accommodating than Lucian's mansion. No one was smiling, or happy to see me. There was no referring to me as Luna and I saw the maids and guards and even beautiful women, half naked, speaking in hush tones while pointing at Lucian.

It was like we stepped out of our safe zone to a dangerous one because it was obvious that we are not welcome.

We came inside the mansion where a mean-looking man was seated with more half-naked women around him, pleasuring him.

I irked at the sight, and maybe Lucian felt it too for he held me even tighter.

"Dad," he spoke when we stood in front of him, "I have finally found my mate as you ordered. Can I come back to my pack now?"

Lucian's dad stood up from the chair he was seating on and came down to me. He assessed me with his eyes shamelessly. I gripped Lucian's hand even tighter.

The Alpha of the Royal Crest pack raised his hand and brushed my hair behind my back, propably looking for the mating mark.

He nodded satisfactorily, and turned back to his throne.

"You never believed in the mating bond but you had to just so you can be a part of this prestigious pack again." the man said, "Well, it's yours now."

I felt Lucian tension reduce and restored by relief. He smiled, a beautiful and soothing thing to see.

The Alpha said to his son, "You're welcome to the pack. Freshen up, there will be a party tonight."

We were taken to our rooms and I could see dissatisfaction on the faces of Henry and Louis. It seemed that, just like me they were not happy to be here.

Only Lucian was.

I didn't see him for the remainder of the day until the party began. I was dressed up like the women here and I could not complain. I did not bring any of my clothes along and most of all I didn't want to attract the anger of anyone.

Although Lucian got accepted into his pack again, the members of the pack still hosted hostility towards him.

I was by myself during the party, praying for it to be over when an uproar broke out. I craned my neck to see a man, with little resemblance to Lucian walking up to me.

I realized at that moment that everyone's eyes were on me. What's going on? Then I heard him say,

"Mate."