Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 9

As the strangers strolled into the room, each with a different emotion I couldn’t quite understand, I tried to pull my hand from his grip. To set it free, so I can get rid of the strange emotion at the pit of my stomach.

“Goddess! You found your mate?” The elderly woman said even before she had sat down. “It is true,” she added, a bewildered, shocking expression on her face. “Amari Aiden Dakarai, you found your mate!” she shrieked.

“Pl…” He tried to speak, while still tightening his hold around me. But the elderly woman cut him off again.

“You found her, Aiden,” she said again, her eyes suddenly misty with tears.

It was then I realized that that was his name. Aiden. My mate’s name was Aiden.

For some strange reason, knowing his name filled my heart with a new surge of emotion. One I never had. One I never knew existed in me.

‘His touch is calming,’ Erin finally spoke. ‘And also scary,’ she added.

Tell me about that! I thought, liking every bit of the moment when his hand tightens around mine.

“See! I told you I was right,” the young woman said as she closed the distance between her and the King…no, Aiden. Then quite suddenly, she hugged him.

A sense of possessiveness rose up inside me, hot and angry; it was a nail-baring, teeth-snarling possessiveness that surprised me with its undeniable force. She wore a white blouse and a tight jean that accentuated the curves on her body. She’s tall too, and had long shiny dark brown hair. Her skin shone under the light, emphasizing on how well it is taken care of. Dark like mine, but more beautiful.

Why do I keep comparing my skin with others?

“Congratulations!” she grinned.

“Lace!” he g*****d, irritation sipping into his voice. “What the f**k are you doing here?” he snapped angrily.

His sudden mood shift suddenly filled me with dread. Fear. Soul eating fear that nearly collapsed the small wall of confidence I was trying to build. Hence why I used every strength I had left in me to pull my hand away from his hold. But that did nothing to ease the tightness. Instead, he slid his gaze towards me, and those dark eyes instantly lightened.

“I’m here to see your mate of course!” the woman called Lace spoke. “I couldn’t believe it after Kane had told me, well, to be completely honest, I forced him to. He was not able to resist my charm, at least, not if he truly wanted to woo me and have me date him for a while. Also…”

“Shut up, Lacie. Shut up!” one of the men behind her snapped.

I shifted my gaze towards them, taking in their appearance for the first time. They looked identical, from the shape of their face to their hair. Blond and short. Twins. They are twins.

“I don’t understand what you are all doing here, including you two!” he snapped, pointing at the two men.

“Can’t help a good gossip from Lace,” the one who had snapped at Lace spoke. While the other shrugged. I could only differentiate them now with the way they stood, considering they both wore the same shade of clothes.

“What? I can’t come see my son’s mate?” the elderly woman said, her face crumbling.

Son? His mother?

“She’s a Malakarian,” she said, sniffing the air. “Did you find her in the Malakari pack?” she continued.

“Mama…”

“A Malakarian? It is no wonder she seems odd,” one of the twins said.

“Hmn,” his mother said thoughtfully. “A Makalarian wolf and a Lycan? What is the goddess playing at?” she mused.

The words made me do a double take on my fate. Over the years, Malakarian wolves only mate with other Malakarians. Because the Fiko dark forest stood between our pack and Kalambani pack, which is a pack isolated on the far side alone, we were always rumored to have the b***d of the ‘Mbem’ – cursed creatures that stayed in the dark forest.

The Mbem are creatures that inhabit the Fiko dark forest. Legend has it that whoever sets their eyes on them automatically becomes their slaves. Or better yet, one of them. But that was only a legend. No one really knows what they look like. Or how dark they can be. Just like over the years, no one had truly ever seen a two colored wolf.

“The least you could’ve done is wait for me,” Aiden sighed. He sounded pissed. “You could have just called me instead of coming.”

“Not a chance!” she snapped, as she walked to my side. She had black hair that had been tied into a simple braid in the middle of her head. Few strands were grey. Her eyes were warm and kind, and she had a small smile on her lips. “I know you’d have told me not to come. And I wouldn’t listen. Besides, I didn’t know I would be meeting a Malakarian.”

“Mama…”

“How are you?” she asked me.

Before I could reply however, Lace had rushed to my side, where Aiden stood and pushed him away, ultimately breaking the only contact between us. His hold. I felt relieved, as much as I felt disappointed at losing his touch. “What happened to you? Why are you in the hospital? Did you get into an accident? Are you hurt anywhere?” She threw the questions at me once.

I felt the walls closing in. As I looked around, I couldn’t understand what they all wanted from me. Why did they all want to see me? It didn’t feel right, and because I was never used to this, it became too much to handle.

“Can’t you speak?” Lace asked, furrowing her brows. “Are you mute? Did you hurt your vocal cords? Oh no! Don’t tell me my cousin already pushed you to your limits? Is that why you’re at the hospital? No! That can’t be! Don’t tell me he’s already mated with you!” she shrieked, then gasped. I couldn’t understand what she was saying. I had no idea what she was bobbing at. “Was it painful?”

“For goodness sake, stop overwhelming her with all those damn questions!” Aiden snapped, his voice rising a bit. He had his hands balled tightly, his nose flared, while a vein on neck jutted.

Angry. He was angry.

My heart thundered in my chest, pounding so hard I feared my ribs would crack. My ears rang loudly, and I covered them with my hands to block out the awful sound of the rage in his voice. I closed my eyes as well to save myself the torture of watching try to hit one of us.

Not daring to breathe, I leaned back against the bed.

“No. Please,” I heard his gruff voice close to me. And then his faint touch on my hand that was on my ear. “Not again. It was not you. It had nothing to do with you, Nala. Please.” The touch jolted me back to reality and I quickly pried my eyes open.

“St…ay…ba…ck…” I managed to whisper, raising my hand towards him. “Pl…ease.”

His shoulders sagged, but he didn’t move again. Instead, his look darkened even more, causing my insides to twist. In my daze situation, I thought I saw his eyes flicker golden before it disappeared.

‘I feel his Lycan. I feel him, Nat. He’s calling to me,’ Erin panted in my head.

Almost as though I was imagining it, I felt as though I was being caressed through the air. The feeling instantly calmed me down.

“What is going on?” his mother asked, her voice a slow whisper.

“Can’t you see for yourself?” Aiden snapped, tension rising in the air. “You are all overwhelming her with your presence!” he thundered.

I shifted nervously, my breath quickening as I tried to calm the raging in my heart. I locked eyes with his mother and she smiled sadly at me.

“Stop yelling!” his mother snapped back. “You are scaring her!”

He turned to face me, his lips parted, and his eyes a bit darker. Why was he this angry?

“We will leave now, and we can talk when you get back home. Stop being nervous and handle things the right way!” she added, then pulled Lace’s hand towards the door.

“I am sorry, Mama,” he said softly.

“It’s fine. I understand,” she smiled softly. “We’ll talk later.” She then turned to Lace and pulled her to the door. “Let’s go.”

“No, Aunt. I want to stay with her, please.”

“Just go, Lace,” Aiden growled. “Now!” he added, pointing to the door. “Mama,” he called his mother.

“I won’t let him find out till you return home. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you,” he said with a sigh. “I’ll see you at home.”

She simply smiled and left with Lacie, dragging her along. I could hear the faint voice of Lacie trying to argue with Aiden’s mother, while the latter didn’t answer.

“We’ll leave now too. No need to bare your teeth at us, your Eminence,” one of the two men said.

“You came with Kane?”

“No. He said he needed to get some things you ordered him to before he came.”

“Fine. You may leave now,” he grumbled.

“We’ll see you at home, Coz.” They both parted his shoulders and left.

I was left alone with him once more. And the walls were closing in on me again. He was too much. The pull was too strong.

He took small strides towards me. Small purposeful strides.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, feeling the need to apologize. “I am sorry.”

I shuddered, wishing he would just back off a little and give me time to recover. Time to think. I didn’t want him here. I didn’t like that he was too close. I didn’t like him…no, I didn’t want to like him. Which was just stupid considering the pull I felt towards him. Considering he was my mate. And one who constantly tells me he wants me.

“For what? For enduring that hell? For being scared of your mate so much because of what you endured?” he lashed out. Or maybe, I thought he did.

True. So true, I grimly acknowledged, for living hell was exactly where I had been. Somehow, having him openly say that made me feel bad. Not that he did anything to me, or that he was wrong. But I had always been the one to acknowledge my situation without anyone else doing that. So I honestly didn’t know what to make out with this right now.

Maybe he realized how his words had affected me, because he pushed back, giving me the space I wanted and just stood there literally pulsing with a sizzling tension. He was tall, over six feet…and the room suddenly grew smaller. He seemed to dwarf everything, and not just with his physical presence. The man possessed a raw kind of energy that seemed to be sucking up all the oxygen.

Then he let out a harsh sigh and muttered something that sounded like a curse beneath his breath. As he did so, some of the tension eased out of the atmosphere.

“I’m not managing this very well,” he admitted, looking everywhere but at me.

No, he wasn’t, I agreed. But then, neither was I. I was letting my fear lead me on. Completely scaring me more than letting me lean on to the bond. But for all I knew, I was simply saving myself from another harsh reality that I may turn out to be unwanted in a matter of seconds.

It was perhaps a good point for a woman with white hospital gown to step in. She had black curly hair and a skin that shone through the light. So beautiful.

“I see you’re awake. Why was I not informed?” she asked, sweeping her gaze towards Aiden.

“Mama came, Phil,” he simply said, sighing.

Phil? How close were they for him to address her with a nickname?

“How did she know? Did you call her?”

“Of course not. Kane blabbered about it to Lacie and that is it,” he grumbled.

“To be honest, I saw them and had one of the nurses usher them in. The therapist I want to work with your mate suggested I let that happen so she can figure out something. Don’t know what exactly,” she explained. Although she was speaking in a hushed tone, I could still hear her.

She slid her gaze towards me and then smiled. “How are you feeling?”

‘Like crawling your eyes out!’ Erin snapped in my head. ‘Get away from our mate!’

This was not it. This shouldn’t be happening. But I felt the exact same rage Erin felt as I looked at the woman standing before Aiden. How close were they? And why do I feel this possessive towards him when I don’t want him? When I want nothing to do with him…

“Are you okay?” she asked, snapping her fingers in front of me.

I blinked then nodded, the rage already subsiding. “Water,” I said softly.

She poured some into the glass I had used before and passed it to me. I gulped it in a single dawn and held onto it. She didn’t say anything, instead, she adjusted the drip overhead and added a yellow liquid in from the needle she held.

“Did you do something to her?” she asked, turning towards Aiden.

“I’m not sure, Phil. Everything is just so confusing,” he admitted softly, his eyes fixed on me.

The doctor, Phil, walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. A pained growl escaped my lips, and for some weird reason, I was reminded of the time Matteo had been with Camila in my presence. I was reminded of the pain I endured. Of how he wanted her not me.

Would Aiden do the same thing?

“You’ll get through it. You just need to be patient.”

Maybe he noticed the look on my face. Maybe he noticed how my eyes were fixed directly on where her hand laid on his shoulders. Whatever the case may be though, he removed her hand from his shoulders and moved back a bit. If that bothered her, she didn’t show it.

“Can she eat something? She has not eaten anything in hours.”

“Of course. Since we already know the cause and are doing what we can to tackle it, she can eat. I suggest you meet Doctor Lilyanna before you leave. I will be discharging you in two to three hours and she can spend the night at home.” The doctor explained. “I heard she’s a Malakarian. Do you think your Ba…”

“Thank you. I’ll have Kane bring her something to eat,” Aiden cut her off quickly.

“See me in my office when you are done so we can sign the therapy papers,” she said as she turned to leave.

I didn’t like her. But I also didn’t want to be left alone with him. Because every time we are alone, the pull gets stronger. Besides, what was that with the fact that I was a Malakarian?

The new silence was cloying. And I was sleepy. My eyes were heavy.

I didn’t move a single muscle as I watched him with his back to me as he tapped away on his phone before slipping it into the pockets of his pants.

Turning slowly to face me, he stood watching me for a few more tense seconds. Then he seemed to come to some kind of decision and strode over to sit himself down again on the chair he sat on a while ago and gently reached for the glass.

His fingers brushed lightly across mine and a fine frisson set my pulse racing. Sliding the glass away, he further disturbed me by taking hold of one of my hands as he set the glass aside then turned back to me.

“Look at me,” he urged.

My eyes lowered and fixed fiercely on our clasped hands; the command locked my teeth together. And for the life of me I couldn’t move a muscle. The frisson became a deep inner tremor that vibrated so strongly I knew he could feel it.

“I know I’ve come as a shock, but you have to start facing this, Nala…” he told me quietly.

He was right, and I did. But I still didn’t want to.

“So begin by at least, looking at me while we talk.” He pleaded.

Oh, dear Goddess, I thought as I tried to swallow. It took every bit of courage I had left in my eyes to look directly at him.

He’s so beautiful, was the first unbidden thought to filter through me like a lonely sigh. His neatly styled hair was straight and black. His skin was warm and dark. Sleek black eyebrows, long black lashes, eyes the color of dark bitter chocolate. And a scent so fulfilling. Sandalwood.

Seeing him so close now made it seem as though I didn’t look at him carefully when I first laid my eyes on him back at the pack.

“We can get through this. We will get through this together, I promise,” he said softly.

Desperate to release the tension in the air, I decided to speak.

“Was that your mother?” I asked carefully.

He nodded. “I am sorry your first encounter with her had to be this way. I…”

“And the twins?” I continued, cutting him off. I feel guilty every time he apologizes.

“My cousins. Donald and David. And Lacie as well.”

I nodded, not knowing what to say again.

“And my name is…”

“Aiden,” I said with a smile. “Your name is Aiden.”

“How…”

“You didn’t tell me, and I thought I’d never find out the name of my mate.” I said, wondering why I had addressed him as ‘my mate’. Weird enough, my eyes slowly start to drop. I was sleepy.

“Yes. Yours, Nala. Yours only,” he drawled, the possessiveness in his voice catching my attention. He was staring at me intensely, causing my insides to churn continuously.

“Now that you know, will you …”

“Reject you?” I smiled. “Should I? Would you accept it if I did?” I asked, my eyes closing.

“Do you want me to?” he asked, leaning closer and brushing a lock of her off my face. He had a tortured look on his face, and he looked scared as well.

Did he want me that much? Was the idea of me rejecting him that terrifying?

For the first time since I had met him, I began to agree he truly wanted me. For the first time since the death of my parents, I felt wanted, and the walls around me slowly crumbling.

I wanted my mate, despite the fact that I was scared.

I stared at his eyes for a moment, while my gaze slowly dropped. Somehow, I didn’t want him to accept it even if I did. Somehow, I want him to hold onto me for as long as he can. I wanted him to help me heal, because I deserved it.

‘No. We don’t want him to. We deserve to heal,’ Erin whispered brokenly.

“No,” I simply said as I closed my eyes, slowly embracing the darkness that called to me. “I don’t want you to.” I finished, slowly drifting away.

His hold tightened. And through the sleep threatening to take over me, I heard the door open and a deep voice floated across.

“You have to let her go. Reject her.”

And I slept off.