noun ~ a mental or emotional strain

I stepped inside alongside Phoenix and thanked the gentleman for allowing us entrance. He smiled gratefully down at me but avoided eye contact with Phoenix. I looked around to find the King and Queen sat in two large armchairs, both a deep red and made from what appeared to be velvet. A glass table sat in front of them, piled with some papers and a book. The room was small, not quite an office, but more like a quiet study room. Opposite the two armchairs was a velvet black sofa, big enough for three average size wolves.

The wall behind the royals was filled with tall windows, the frames gleaming white against the contrast of the green grass outside. Bookcases lined the right wall, filled with hardback copies of wonderful places. Opposite the bookcases was a large mural of the world map which upon closer inspection of narrowed eyes, looked hand painted. The Kingdom there was the centre of the map, painted a golden colour, the front of the castle the obvious landmark.

"Ah, come in! Please sit!" The Queen grinned, not standing from her seat.

Phoenix's hand had moved from my own to the small of my back and he pushed me alongside him. I wasn't sure if I was to bow but when he gave a gentle bend of his neck, I copied his gesture.

"We have many things to discuss," Phoenix stated.

"We do." The King hummed, eyeing me as I sat. "Start with the girl."

Phoenix grumbled, and I frowned at being spoken of so lowly. "Nova is my mate."

"Yes, that may be true, but you marked her without the King's challenge. How do you know she is worthy enough to sire your line, to run your pack?"

"She was made for me. Moon Goddess does not make mistakes." Phoenix huffed, his knee brushing against mine.

The King waved his hand and I noticed the Queen had a small grimace on her face.

"She obviously does." He laughed, "Reine here is not my true mate and yet she has given me a strong bloodline and looks after me well."

Was strong offspring all he cared about?

"The last I spoke to you, son, you did not disagree."

I frowned at Phoenix this time, wondering what he was implying. Did Phoenix truly agree with the taking a stronger mate thing?

Phoenix shook his head, his hands clenching together as he leaned forwards. "That was before I met her, that was three years ago."

The King smirked, glancing at me with amusement. "And this small little thing, changes all that does she?"

Can't I just tell him I was a Lycan? I asked through the bond, getting irritated.

Phoenix replied instantly, looking at me with a stern expression. 'I don't trust him with that information yet.'

He didn't trust him?

My frown turned into a look of understanding as I eyed the couple before me. He didn't trust them and despite Phoenix tending to keep information to himself, I knew he would only be doing it for a reason. So I trusted him.

The Queen seemed just as confused and upset at being spoken of but she held it well under a faux smile.

"She is made for me, Uncle, she is mine." Phoenix huffed. "I want no other."

The King laughed out loud, the Queen looking at him in surprise. I couldn't help but feel a warmth settle in my chest at his declaration. This man was doing this to me.

"We have laws, and rules, son, you cannot go against them!" He scoffed. "I will not have my blood tainted by weaklings such as her. She cannot even heal herself like a normal wolf! She is small and does not look strong enough to harbour so many pups."

I couldn't help but stare astonished at the male before me. Was he being serious? Was he that sexist and egotistical to not care about the gift that the Moon Goddess has bestowed upon us?

Cel had risen to the challenge, her defence of the mate bond was strong and she would not give a flying fuck to show him that. I felt my eyes shift as she came to my support, a low grumble leaving my lips at the same time as Phoenix.

The King barely looked at me but the Queen's interest suddenly peaked at my wolf's appearance. I shuffled in my seat, trying to hold back Celimene's aggression.

"Do not speak to her like that. To be frank Uncle, your ways are outdated and barbaric and I quite frankly think it is time you are kicked off your throne." Phoenix snapped.

The King's eyes narrowed at his threat, "Your mother's love turned you soft, boy. I told her she needed to be stricter, your father listened to me but my sister was harder to convince. Did you learn nothing from your lessons?"

"Lessons? Lessons?" Phoenix snarled, his canines snapping together. "Beating a child until they are automatically conditioned to your ways is not a lesson, that is barbaric torture. It will never happen again, not whilst I am around. How someone could do that to their own pup, is beyond me."

The King let out a resounding growl, moving to the edge of his seat. "You shall not speak in such a tone boy, just because you are top Alpha does not mean you cannot be stripped of your title and left without a pack."

"The same goes for you." Phoenix challenged.

I looked towards the Queen who caught my gaze and found that she was just as shocked as I was. She fiddled with her dress sleeves as she glanced between the men and me. I watched her with scrutiny, keeping my face level and hard as I studied her. Her wolf was itching to speak, I could sense it; she wanted to rise and seek out the curiosity in her nature. I knew she could sense I was different, and I knew she was old and wise.

I tuned back into the conversation when Phoenix had leapt to his feet. I blinked rapidly but Cel had surged forward at the sudden tension change. I had jumped to the side of the table in surprise as she pulled through to scour the threats. Phoenix was shaking, holding himself back as he battled his wolf. The King was merely smirking at him and I wished I had tuned in so I knew what was going on.

"You dare to challenge me, boy?" The King rose to his feet.

Phoenix was massive compared to him and I studied him as he gritted his teeth together, the sound making my ears hurt.

"You force people in power to mate those who killed their own mate. Lyra is being forced to mate this weekend to a man who killed her moon mate, do you not realise how awful that is?" He growled. "Reine, do you not feel any ounce of regret for your true mate?"

The Queen's face dropped into sadness and her wolf finally disappeared.

"Oh please, her mate is dead." The King scoffed.

"But at least it was natural causes and not by murder. How can you live with yourself knowing the woman who was meant to be perfect for you, was killed out of hunger for power?"

Reine had winced and I cocked my head at her reaction. I thought she would be fine with this, after all, she was the one who had taken part in the battle and killed every wolf for the position. But she seemed regretful, maybe the hundreds of years she has been in power have finally settled in her heart.

"She was a worthless Gamma born, she was not fit to rule this Kingdom!"

"And neither are you!"

"Is that a threat?" The King snarled.

My eyes widened as Phoenix took in heavy breaths, he was stepping on a thin line right now. Challenging the King, despite being his blood, was a risky move.

"Maybe it is." He grunted.

The room fell silent, nothing but the rapid breathing from the two males filled the air. I looked towards the Queen who was staring down at her lap, deep in thought. Cel felt her sorrow, sensed her wolf's unhappiness and it confused us.

"What has brought this on?" The King spoke first. "Is she poisoning your mind? Are you a witch? Why do you not heal, what power do you have over him?"

I shook my head as he took threatening steps toward me. I wanted to sink into the sofa but I made myself stand, my hands out in front of me in defence.

"N-no. I just heal slower." I shook my head. "I was captured too and I've not quite recovered from my wolf's loss."

The King's eyes narrowed, scrutinising me. His gaze travelled along the length of my body before focusing on the mark on my neck.

"She shall fight and prove herself worthy of my father's blood. It is the way." He growled.

"Over my dead body, she will." Phoenix snapped.

"Want that to be arranged, boy? Leave your mate without you?" He grinned, a cruel glint in his eye.

Phoenix paused his counterargument, his attention finally focusing on me. I stood a little to the side of the sofa, nearer to the Queen. His eyes were dark with his wolf and Ares stood to attention as he held my gaze. I could see his tension, and feel his unease. I could feel the mate bond fluttering with his nerves and anger; he had too many emotions he couldn't settle on just one. He was acting out and needed to calm down.

"Ares, it's okay. I'm right here." I whispered. "Let's calm down and talk without wanting to kill each other."

We don't want another war right now. I added.

The King scoffed, crossing his arms as he remained standing. Ares deeply inhaled before a small growl was sent in the King's direction. He nodded, licking his lips as he stepped back to the sofa. I sighed quietly and felt my body relax as he sat himself down. I glanced at the Queen who was staring at me in quiet disbelief as I went to sit down next to him.

Ares seemed to not agree with that and I was soon dragged into his lap. A small yelp left my lips and my hands grasped at his forearm across my midsection. I sat sideways, my back to his chest and arms encased around my waist. I blushed furiously, going to curse at Ares but was surprised when Phoenix's honey eyes blinked down at me.

Oh. So...not Ares.

"Don't get too attached, she could be dead by the end of the week." The King chuckled.

"She will not." Phoenix snapped, his fingers clenching on my skin.

"I will not cancel the fights, I have already linked my second to send out the invite that you are eligible for mate-ship." The King sneered.

Phoenix snarled, about to leap out of his seat again but I squeezed his arm in panic. It snapped him from the angered haze and he sat down to refrain from killing the man before us. Thankfully.

'Unfortunately...' Cel growled. 'But I am prepared to fight, Nova. He is ours.'

I licked my lips, my head swimming with a thousand thoughts. But one settled in my mind, and that was that this unruly beast before me, was mine. And I would be damned if anyone was going to take what I had earned away from me.

"I accept the challenges."

....

Hello! Good evening wednesday goers.

Here is todays second  update, just to treat you all

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2021 © XDeafening_SilenceX on W a t t p a d