Chapter 4

“Border duty.” She answered simply.

“How is it that you had border duty the night before you were bound to travel?”

“The available members were either sick or had a family to look after. I didn’t want to flip anyone’s schedules upside down over this so I stood in place.” She shrugged. Her selfless answer exuded the nobility of a queen, his queen.

But something still bothered him. “Lucianne, why were you uncomfortable when your Alpha gave you credit for last year’s success? Why didn’t you just thank him and accept the praise?”

She snorted, and she looked him dead in the eye, “I didn’t do it for the praise, Your Hig… Xandar. When Alpha Juan got the request, I made it a point to my warriors that the ultimate aim of the war was to keep innocent wolves safe. I drilled this thought into their heads day-in and day-out. They were to fight to protect, to fight with honor and nobility, not for the sake of pleasing anyone of a superior position.”

He listened to the strength of her voice, and his lips curled up as she continued, “I didn’t accept the praise because I didn’t do it for that. I didn’t do it for you either, Xandar. I respect you as my king but I didn’t fight the rogues for you. I fought for those who couldn’t fight. That’s why I didn’t accept the praise. I never will, so don’t try to get me to do it.”

His animal howled internally with immense joy and pride. He and the Lycan in him could not thank their Goddess enough. They were completely over the moon that the Moon Goddess bonded them to… a goddess. Noble. Selfless. Brave. Beautiful. What pique his interest most was her confident admission that she prioritized the lives of innocent wolves that she had never met over her ruler who everyone was obliged to please.

But somehow, she still seemed unreachable. He felt that she didn’t allow herself to get as close to him as he wanted her to. Then, there was that confusion about her willingness to reject him, or have him reject her. What was that about? Why would she ask for something like that?

He then recalled that she mentioned her ‘previous mates’. Mates. So, she was rejected more than once before. But why would she think that he was like the rest of them? He was not a wolf. Surely, Lycans were more known for their unwillingness to deny the mate bond, weren’t they?

He admired her side profile in silence, taking in the most beautiful creature he had ever laid his eyes on. He hoped to learn everything about her one day, but for better or worse, he was dead certain that he would never let his mate go.

When they reached the hotel where they housed a portion of wolves, Lucianne was surprised that Xandar still insisted on following her until they reached her room. He stared at her scar with a frown as she unlocked the door. “Thank you for walking me back. Have a good night, Xandar.” Her sweet voice brought his gaze up to hers.

She took only one step into her room when Xandar grabbed her by her wrist and lifted her hand to his lips. She stiffened in shock as he planted a deep kiss on the back of her hand, sending a strong wave of sparks through her arm and then her entire body.

He was still holding her hand when he locked eyes with her and uttered, “Goodnight, Lucianne.”

She retracted her hand, and entered her room before shutting the door behind her. Xandar stood in his spot, where he heard her sigh after she closed the door. He then heard cupboard doors opening and closing before her footsteps moved across the room, where he heard a second door being shut.

After some shuffling sounds, he heard the water from the shower, and the Lycan part of him was aroused by the thought of his mate naked in the bathroom. He walked away from her door in quickly before his self-control evaporated.

He could easily break the hinges and knock down the door if he wanted to. Ignoring his whimpering animal who would rather skip the meet-and-greet and spend the night with their mate, he returned to the hall and started making his rounds.

He found it amusing when pack leaders and warriors displayed their surprise after he expressed his gratitude to them. There were several self-entitled Alphas and snobbish Lunas who tried and failed lamentably to be noble as they humble-bragged.

Xandar started taking an interest in scars which were visible on his subjects’ bodies despite their clothes. The warrior from the Blood Eclipse Pack, Gamma Raden, had a scar on his face tracing down to his neck. If the scar went a little higher, he would’ve been rendered blind on one side.

“How did it happen?” He asked in concern as he gestured to the scar.

The warrior smiled graciously as he explained, “A rogue attack five years ago, Your Highness. Our pack was attacked and we formed alliances with Blue Crescent and White Blood to eradicate the rogues.”

“Were many injured?” the King asked.

“We lost two wolves in the final attack, sadly, but the death toll was higher before our alliance. Although it’s displeasing to the eye, I must admit that this scar only brings me joy.” He said with sincerity.

The King’s curiosity was pique, “What do you mean by that, Gamma Raden?”