The Lycan King

Nikolai

Ava had invited the vampires to stay the night but they politely declined, informing her that they had rented a hotel in the nearby human town. I knew she was worried but I told her to let them be. More than being worried about them, I knew she was worried about the humans but all of them clearly had pets. When you were a high ranker, having pets was more like a status symbol more than a necessity.

I took Ava down to the beach after that, we had lots to discuss.

"Take off your sandals." I told her as I removed my own. She smiled widely as she quickly did as I said. I placed them on a rock before holding her hand and we took off for a walk.

"Lets talk about you first. I know we haven't done that much since you shifted." I told her. "How do you feel, Love?"

"I feel...alive." She looked up at me.

It was true, her blood hummed louder, her eyes glowed with more happiness than I had ever seen and there was just something different about her. "I mean, I was living before. But now, it feels like I was merely surviving then. I am truly living now." She said as she kicked a rock ahead. "At first, I wouldn't even feel entitled to kick this rock, almost as if I'm doing something wrong by moving it from its place." She whispered.

In moments like these, I realised how deep her submission ran. It had been ingrained in her for ten, long years. I made me furious that she had to go through it, but what made me more furious was the fact that my mate had been suffering through all of that silently, all alone and I had no clue.

"And now?" I asked.

"I feel like my old self, Nikolai. When I was still a kid and papa was still alive." She swiped a palm across her cheek. I tugged her in front of me and smiled at my beautiful girl. I cupped her cheeks with both my hands and wiped her tears with my thumbs. Her long, brown hair were flying all over the place because of the wind and her warm brown eyes were glassy. She was still as beautiful as ever.

"How were you when you were little?" I asked. I wanted to know more about her. All she had shared with me about her past was the dark part of it. I wanted to know how she was before that too.

"Papa used to call me firefly." She chuckled but there was nothing humorous about it. It was more of a 'I can hardly believe it' laugh.

"He said that I was like a firefly because I had fire within me and I was meant to fly. Back then, I used to be confident and strong, I didn't take shit from anybody." She bit her lip. "I had a best friend, we used to be the only girls who play with the boys. The other girls thought that the game we played would get them dirty because of the mud or something so they would stay away." She smiled, her thoughts a million miles away. "And I used to get into a lot of fights." her eyes slid to me and then widened at my smirk. "I wasn't crazy!" She palmed her mouth.

"Never said you were." I laughed.

"I only fought because I thought there was injustice happening in the situation." She reasoned, her eyes light with laughter. "So yeah, Papa thought that I needed to channel my anger so he started training me. Thats why I became good at aiming and a little at fighting at such a young age." That she was. She had a knack for learning things quickly and since she had started training everyday, she had gotten much better.

"Your Papa was a wise man." I smiled and we continued walking.

"The wisest. I miss him everyday." She whispered. I wanted to say something to make it better, but there was nothing I could say to take away her pain. So I remained silent.

We had reached the edge of the beach so we took a u-turn after that. "He was a strong Alpha. He was fair but strict. No other packs tried to mess with him you know? That's why I wonder how Emmanuel managed to kill him." I told her. I had met him a couple of times during the annual meetings and the ball I was supposed to attend with Adrik.

"You said something about the people would have told him if they knew, what was that about?" She asked me.

"The pack members are loyal to their Alpha Ava. That is unless they are forced otherwise or are bitter about something. No wolf would defy the Alpha anything if he is a happy with his life in the pack. From what I know about Alpha Javier, the people were happy in his rule. It would be difficult to manipulate wolves into accepting the death of their Alpha so easily. And even after that, convincing the entire pack that the Alpha died and he being the Beta lived isn't easy. A good beta would kill himself if that means the Alpha lives." I told her.

didn't know." She seemed deep

ask you this, but do you think your father had any pets?" I asked her. "Anyone you thought he was close to but that person wasn't a werewolf, did everything your father said and took care of you in

me, like my mother would have if

are used to have sex, Ava." I told her softly. I knew it was bothering her too much. "Maybe she was just there to fill the void of your mother. You are a girl, your father couldn't teach you everything

a good start

Javier was right, you are like a firefly." I smiled down at her. She peered up at me

made her stand in front of me.

human, shifting into an Alpha wolf at the age of twenty three, reprimanding me for a dick move, facing Vasilik, killing him and them handling his subjects like a pro, I would say you have quite

"I wouldn't say I reprimanded

you held your ground." I gathered her in my arms and kissed her forehead. "That's more than what I can say more most

angry, I understand

treat you like that. And Nikky?" I raised my

fine. Yeah, you have so many nicknames for me,

You may call me

brows mischievously. I pinched her butt. "I might just have to spank you for

her hips against my mine, grinding slowly. I groaned as I kept a firm grip

and then turned completely serious. "To be honest, I love them already and I wouldn't mind

urge to protect them." I narrowed my eyes in distance. I didn't feel like that for anyone else other than Ava. "And when Vanessa came and hugged me, I was so shocked, I know she is scared of males and has issues with touching people.

they stay with us." Ava smiled, satisfied with

I want to ask about how during the initiation ceremony, you resisted Vladimir's

all." She shrugged. "And Vladimir, I am not sure. I got an illusion. In

see anything in your mind. I don't think you had an illusion at

turn white." She said and took a lock between her fingers. When it stayed brown, I took in between mine and we saw it

she say anything?"

dream-?'Save Nikolai, lead them all

more than I originally thought." I murmured. All of this seemed cryptic. A fae would probably know what the dream was and what

say anything to that and we

you think I made the right decision by asking Vladimir to take the position as the king? What if he doesn't want it? Can we really

misses his kingdom. He is happy here but that's his home. But I'm okay with whatever he chooses. And we are Alphas Love, we were born to rule. And this

all the time was a

to have alliances, good thing you didn't say you didn't want to become the Queen. I wouldn't have allowed that either."

was thinking too. And if Vladimir denies the position, Rhazien would be the best candidate to be

choice." I said. "You are new to this but you are already good at it Ava.

tell me to go

go." I told her and we continued our walk till we reached where we had taken off our