Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 15

AIDEN.

I puffed some air out as I signed the last petition before me. It’s been a long morning already and I was hoping to finish earlier so I can go back to Nala. The Grand Center, where the grand hall was located, was a two hour drive from my private property along Rikkos Avenue, almost towards the outskirts of the capital.

It was one of the properties I have in my name scattered across the capital of Deshtu.

“Is that all?” I asked, shutting the file and passing it to Kane, who was standing beside me in the big hall.

I stared across the hall, eight elders from the packs sat in a semi circle alongside their Alphas. Which made it twelve people in total sitting on the round table, since every pack delegated two of their elders. The grand hall, as always, was brightly lit, from the chandeliers above and from the natural light of the sun pouring through the large windows.

“Yes, Your Eminence,” Kane replied as he took the signed petition from my hand. I watched on as he handed it to one of the retainers standing by the side before turning his attention back to me. “I suppose you’re done with the meeting here. Now, onto the next, which should be you traveling to the Kalambani pack for the induction of new warriors, that has been canceled, however, since your father requested your audience imme…”

“Cancel it,” I said through gritted teeth as I stared at my phone, hoping for a reply from Nala, which was stupid because I’m certain she won’t be replying.

‘I told you sending the picture of those daisies wasn’t really a good idea. You should’ve done something better,’ Leo grumbled. ‘Maybe a picture of me would have been better? Perhaps, if she had seen me in my full glory, she may have sent a reply already,’ he added.

I ignored him, because one, I didn’t know what to say. And two, I was seriously considering if I had made a mistake by sending the picture of those daisies.

‘If I was the one in charge, I’m certain she’d have given in already. I mean, who would reject someone like me? Especially after she sees me in my full glory to…’ he continued before I harshly cut him off.

‘F*****g shut up!’ I growled at him.

“But…” Kane began, and I glared at him.

“I said to cancel it. I’m not meeting him,” I snapped as I stood up. I had been sitting at the head chair, which overlooked where all the elders and the Alphas sat. As soon as I stood up, they all stood up as well.

Morning meetings always do a thing to me and I found I hated them every single time.

“Thank you for approving the petition Your Eminence, this will help all the packs across the Kingdom,” one of the Elders from Sambe pack said smiling.

I gave him a nod and waved my hand. This meeting was supposed to have taken place an hour ago but unfortunately I had decided to attend the orientation ceremony for the women we had chosen from the Malakari pack before they were sent to the training facility.

“It is my duty as the King to ensure that our packs continue to live in peace and harmony,” I replied, the murmurs of agreement around me were interrupted by a snort. I frowned and turned to an old man, an Elder from the Lungami pack.

“Is there anything you would like to say?” I asked, staring at the man, a brow raised.

“Well, for someone who claims to be interested in the safety and welfare of his kingdom, your choice of a mate is certainly contrary to your words,” he replied.

Leo let out a vicious growl, and it took great efforts from me not to resonate the same growl as well. Is he questioning my mate?

“What was that?” I asked, giving him a chance to rectify his mistake.

“I mean, truth be told, we all do,” another elder chirped in as he gestured between them. “A mate from Malakari pack? You know better than to accept her, Your Eminence. If at all you do care about the royal house, then you’d certainly think twice before you make her the Queen.”

My eyes darkened and a low growl escaped my lips. I could feel the loud pounding in my head, the way my fingers itched to squeeze the life out of his throat. Kane, who was near me, shifted a bit, showing how clearly uncomfortable he was with the change in my demeanor.

I knew that the words would travel about my mate, but I didn’t know it would be this fast.

“Elder Manze, are you suggesting I reject my mate?” I asked, making sure the threat laced in the question was evident.

“Of course not, Your Majesty,” he smiled. “If I dare say, I am simply worried about the consequences of your actions. While the harm might not come to the kingdom in general, the royal house isn’t exactly safe. Besides, she’s just a lowly omega. How sure are you that she has not been used by everyone around? After all, most of the omegas are used as s****l gratification slaves in most packs. She may have spread her leg to everyone willing to take her. Also…”

That’s it. I’ve had enough! My growl reverberated round the hall interrupting the Elder who stopped talking and looked up at me with wide eyes. Before he or anyone could react, I had walked over him in a flash and had his back pinned against the wall. I wrapped my hand tightly around his neck. I was blind with fury, and so was Leo. If he wasn’t an elder, I’d have snapped his neck already.

‘Elder or no elder, no one should have the guts to outrightly insult Natasha. If you can’t do it, let me!’ Leo roared.

“You are going to respect my mate, Manze. I don’t care if you’re an Elder or not, the moment you choose to disrespect my mate, I’ll certainly make you regret that!” I growled as Leo and I struggled for dominance. As always, I won, pushing him back while I glared down at the man choking before me. “DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” I thundered, squeezing my hand around his neck even more.

“Ye…ye…sss,” he wheezed, struggling to breathe.

“Aiden…” Kane called from behind me as he tapped my shoulder. It took me quite some time to subside my rage, and then I dropped the man to the tiled floor. Then I swept my gaze towards the remaining Elders and Alphas standing and asked.

“Anyone else have something to say about my mate?” I snapped.

No one moved, and no one dared to look up at me. As I stared at them, I began to wonder how Nala was going to endure all this. Truth be told, she wouldn’t be easily accepted as a queen. First, it was her rank, and then the fact that she was a Malakarian. However, I am going to fight for us. Regardless of what anyone may think, I am going to keep my mate.

I winced a bit as the sharp pain on my back pinched. Every time I get too agitated, the burn itches. For someone as powerful as me, one would think I should be able to heal from a burn I got since I was seventeen. But that wasn’t the case.

I had a large burn scar covering my back, and as the pain pinched, I thought of Nala. Does she feel pain from those silver bruises as well?

“Instead of showing concern on my PERSONAL matters, why don’t you put that energy into finding a way to get rid of the creatures in The Fiko Forest?” I snapped, my eyes darting from one person to another. “Those creatures are causing us lots of damage. And what do you all do? Wait for me to find a solution for it, while you care about my PERSONAL ISSUE! SHE IS MY MATE and no one else’s, and whatever problem she has as a Malakarian, I’ll gladly take it. So, I suggest you all think twice before you say s**t about my mate any more. Is that UNDERSTOOD!?” I thundered.

“Yes, Your Eminence,” they all chorused, their eyes casted down and their heads bowed. They can never stand up against my authoritative voice.

“You are all dismissed,” I hissed as I began walking away with Kane trailing behind me. If I continue to stay around them, I may lose it and end up hurting someone, which is far from something I want to do.

It was why I had decided against meeting that jerk-assed Nala’s Ex. I knew, Leo knew, Kane knew that if I saw him again, I’d kill him. However, I’m sure that would not please Nala, if anything, I may end up scaring her more than she already is.

I had decided to focus on her healing above everything else. And when she’s ready, I’ll help her make him and anyone responsible pay. Like she had said yesterday, this was her fight, and I’d like to see her fight it.

‘You should have snapped his neck,’ Leo hissed.

‘And risk the thought of Nala finding out about it? No, thank you. I’m trying not to be violent at everything for her sake.’ I replied.

‘We both know I’m better at doing this than you are. Do not act all ‘I’m better than you’ with me,’ he mumbled.

‘Better at doing what? Being cocky?’

‘Better at loving,’ he said.

I chose not to reply. However, just as we were about to step out of the big two winged door, one of the wolves who served in the grand hall stepped in, breathing heavily.

“Your Eminence,” he breathed, panting loudly. “The police bureau are here with a culprit charged for attempting to rape an Omega,” he announced.

A fog shadowed my face for a moment, as I took in what he had just said. I balled my fists tightly before I spoke.

“Where is he?” I grounded.

“Outside, Your Eminence. The Omega had also been brought along.”

I strolled past him and stepped into the dazzling ray of sun shining around. My eyes caught the daisies I had snapped for Nala a few hours ago and almost smiled. Almost.

My gaze shifted to the man kneeling on the ground, his hands were tied behind his back and his face held no remorse. If anything, he had a smug look plastered on his pathetic face.

A small whimper from the side caught my ears, and I found myself staring at a woman kneeling behind him. Her dress was torn. She had it clutched around her with her hair bowed down. I walked up to her and kneeled down, then carefully lifted her head up.

She had bruises all over her face and a cut scar from her left brow down to her chin. Her face was tear stricken, and as I looked down at her, she instantly reminded me of Nala, and the scars and bruises on her body.

Did she endure this as well? Had someone tried to rape her? Suddenly, an overpowered sense of rage overcame me, one I had thought I had subsided. This time however, it hit me so hard I knew I had to do something or else, I’d lose my sanity.

“It’s fine,” I whispered. “You’re safe now, okay? It’s fine,” I added, taking one of her hands in mine.

She simply nodded, more tears rolling down her cheeks. I hated this, and the thought that Nala might have gone through this filled my mind.

‘She reminds me of our mate,’ Leo mumbled. ‘Those scars…everything. Do you think she went through this as well?’ he asked while wincing at the thought.

I didn’t answer, I didn’t want to think that Nala went through this, that she endured being violated. Because help me Goddess, if she did endure this, I would forget waiting for her to heal, I am going to pluck the prick’s rope like object dangling between his legs and feed it to the dogs!

I stood up, swallowed the mole that had blocked my throat, ran my hand through my messy curly braids, which I had successfully managed to tie back before I had left home, but which were now mostly out of the bun I made, then sighed, before I walked back to the culprit.

“Do you plead guilty?” I asked quietly, trying to contain my rage.

“She’s just a bloody Omega!” he hissed. “Why do I have to answer to anyone just because I wanted her?” he glared at me.

Great. This one knows nothing about the mess he’s getting himself into.

“Do you plead guilty?” I asked again, slightly more tense this time.

“Of course not, your Eminence. As a ranked wolf, whose father is a high ranked Elder of the council, I believe I have every right to take any Omega I want…”

“Even without her consent?” I asked, dropping down on one knee to make him look at me. “Even if you forcefully take her? You don’t care?”

“Should I?” he snickered, although I could see the fear in his eyes before sweeping his gaze towards her. “She’s just an Omega. There’s no time to waste asking for her consent…”

I didn’t hold back. This time, I raised my hand and struck him hard across his face. Soon enough, my fingers were imprinted on his right cheek. I could feel Leo pouncing in my head, looking for a way out. He wants to take over, but knowing Leo, that would do more harm than good. So I held him back.

“Listen and listen well, you fool,” I spat. “A woman is a woman regardless of her class. And every woman deserves respect. I don’t give a damn if you are a ranked wolf or who your father is, and she an Omega, you both are my subjects, and I won’t stand any sort of injustice. Women are to be respected!” I roared, feeling the loud thumping in my head increase.

“I need an Omega’s consent before I take her? That isn’t fair. I am ranked higher than Omegas!” he coughed, then spat out the b***d in his mouth.

That did it. As I looked at him, I couldn’t help but remember Matteo, or the scars Nala had. I couldn’t help but imagine how she had been treated, simply because she’s an omega. Simply because she’s a woman. To top it all up, the Lycan before me does not look a bit remorseful at what he did. He didn’t care.

I clicked my fingers and Kane was beside me in a matter of seconds.

“Let me have my flask, Kane,” I commanded, stretching my hand.

“Excuse me?” Kane asked, confused.

“My flask with the hot water for coffee, Kane, let me have it,” I commanded again.

“But his father is…”

“Damn his father!” I hissed. “The flask, Kane!” I snapped.

The young Lycan’s eyes widened as he realized what I was about to do. But even before he could attempt to move, the guards standing on either side of him held him down, while I stepped on his right leg and held the flask above him.

“Let’s see if you’ll decide to get a woman’s consent next time after this,” I said way too calmly with a small smile.

“What…what…what…” the words died and a loud scream filled the large open space. Thankfully, he wore only a short, and I was sure that would allow the hot water to penetrate through his body even more.

I didn’t stop, until I had exhausted all the water from the flask directly onto his member.

“Now, let’s see if you’d have enough strength to try assaulting another woman next time,” I said to him, watching him whimper on the ground. “Take him away and lock him up. He’s not to be fed till I say otherwise. I want him tortured with silver and wolfsbane for three days straight.” I commanded the guards.

“Yes, Your Eminence,” they replied before they took the limp figure of the Lycan away.

I stared at the woman. I was suddenly filled with a single thought. To see Nala. Seeing this woman reminded me of the pain my mate was going through, not that I had forgotten. But seeing this woman now made me realize just how broken Nala might be.

Leo howled in my head, the frustration eating at him as well.

‘Let’s go see her,’ he panted. ‘Now!’

“Take her to any nearby hospital while I make a call,” I said turning to Kane while I pulled out my phone.

I had gotten a message notification from Phil telling me the therapist was ready to meet us.

“Kane, don’t bother. Bring her to the car, we’re going to Phil’s hospital. The therapist is ready to see Nala.”

“Won’t your mother be taking her? Since your trip to Kalambani pack has been canceled, you have a training session with the team and…”

“I’ll do that after Nala sees her therapist,” I replied, dialing Mama’s number after deliberating if I should call Nala’s.

“Uhmn, Hello?” A soft voice said. Instantly, all the rage I felt vanished, suddenly replaced by a sudden urge to see Nala. To be with her. As I listened to her voice floats through the phone, I couldn’t help but close my eyes and suck in a deep breath.

“Hey, Nala,” I breathed.