Beneath the surface: Forbidden love

Kael

"What is it?" I ask.

"A letter."

"Another one?" Dimitri growls taking the letter out of the servants hand. The poor guy quickly scurries away once I dismiss him. Dimitri begins to read the letter in his hand.

"It's the third letter." Cory mutters in anger.

"They don't make any sense." He says throwing the letter on the table. "It's the same ol' gibberish."

The past couple of days have been pack meetings after pack meetings, and now recently, letter after letter.

The prophecy was real and a war was coming. That much was clear.

Finding a Seer is turning out to be a lot harder than what we had anticipated. We got word that there was an ancient Seer living in one of the smaller villages on the island, I had sent a few of my men to find the Seer yesterday and still, I haven't gotten word from them.

To make matters worse, there have been letters being mysteriously placed around the kingdom. So far we've only found three, and they all read the same thing.

''zua veli xjev ot puv zuast vu veli.'' A language none of us knew.

Over the past couple of days, my men and I have been working hard on finding out where these letters are coming from.

And that's not even the worst part.

Not to far away from where the letters were placed, they find a dead body.

"What does it say?"

"Same thing as always, it's not in English!"

"This is ridiculous!"

"And the bodies?" I ask.

"Two were found near the river. They couldn't identify the bodies." Dimitri replies.

"Two?"

"It has to be Sirens." Cory mutters to himself. I silently agree with him.

Growing up, I read stories about Sirens and mermaids. I always thought they were just that, stories. But now? My mates a Siren, and that changes everything.

Only now, I worry about her, more than I ever have. I promised myself that I would protect her no matter what. Prophecy or not, Marisela will always be my number one priority. I don't know what I'd do if I lost her. I just got her, I wasn't going to allow anything or anyone to take her away from me. Not now, not ever.

"Alpha, what are we going to do?" Cory asks waiting expectantly for my answer. Only, I don't have the answers because I don't know what the fuck I am supposed to do!

"Where is that Seer?" I growl, getting frustrated at the situation itself.

"Still no word from Victor." Dimitri replies. Cory let's out a low growl in frustration.

"Fuck!" I slam my fists on the desk breaking it in two. Cory and Dimitri take a step back at my sudden outburst.

"Kael-"

"Give me a minute." I say through clenched teeth.

"Alpha I think maybe-"

"I said give me a damn minute!" I seethe. Dimitri and Cory respectfully leave the room. Once the door shuts behind them, I throw an empty glass at the wall and watch as it shatters into a million tiny pieces.

I hated not having control. I hated not knowing what to do. I'm alpha for goddess sake and I don't know what I'm supposed to do!

This fucking prophecy has me frustrated. Ive been up to my neck with work, and its been taking up most of my days. Ive barely spent any time with my mate, and goddess how much I miss her.

How I crave to have her in my arms... but the princess isn't like me. She's still coming to terms with all of this herself. She doesn't have the primal urges as a wolf does, and my wolf is losing control, he doesn't have the patience to wait for her. He wants to mark her now.

Oh but the princess doesn't make it any easier for me either. She's a walking temptress and she has no clue on the effect she has on me. She can be doing the most mundane thing and I will still find it the sexiest thing ever.

It's fucking torture, especially when I have to control myself and my wolf from marking her. I promised her that I would wait for her, as long as she needed, and I wasn't going to break that promise to her, hence why I've been busying myself these past few days.

Come on Kael, get a grip.

Pulling at my hair, I take a deep breath. I've avoided Marisela long enough, I need to see her. I just needed to see her. She's the only one who can keep me sane in this fucked up situation we are both in.

With that thought in mind, I leave my office in search of my mate. After some time of searching the castle I eventually pick up on her scent leading towards the woods.

What is she doing out in the woods?

Realisation dawns on me. Because of the attacks and the letters, I wanted the princess to be able to defend herself- goddess forbid I'm not around to help her.

I wanted her to know how to fight, and even though she argued on it, she eventually caved.

I follow her scent into the woods, the stronger her scent gets the closer I am to her. I mind-link Maria, informing her that I am close. After a few minutes of walking around, I finally hear something. Laughter. Hearing my mates carefree laugh jolts my heart. Goddess even her laugh is angelic.

Eventually I spot her sitting by a creek with Maria. They were both laughing about something. I stood behind the tree for a good minute before deciding that I look like a stalker watching my own mate and her friend. Finally I make my presence known.

"I was wondering when you were gonna show yourself." Maria giggles and I roll my eyes. Marisela looks at Maria confused, before finally–as if sensing me, she turns around and gasps.

"Kael."

"Princess." goddess I've missed you- I so badly wanted to say to her.

Staring into her eyes, everything else around us just seemed to disappear. In this moment, it was just the princess and I. It felt like hours looking into each others eyes, until we hear someone clear their throat beside us.

Oh right, Maria.

"I think I'm just going to go," Maria smiles before turning to the princess whispering something in her ear. I watch as her eyes widen and her cheeks redden. Maria laughs and begins to leave, but not before winking at me mischievously. I let out a low chuckle.

Growing up, I never had any siblings. Dimitri and Cory have been the closest I had to brothers. Cory was much younger than Dimitri and I, but he was quite mature for someone of his age.

Maria, being Cory's twin, she was always around. Unlike the other girls in the kingdom, Maria never looked at me with lustful eyes. She never saw me as a prince, but a normal person. When she looked at me, she saw me as an older brother and I , her a little sister.

They were the siblings I never really had.

However, for the past two years, Maria slowly stopped spending time with us and was always alone in the library or in the garden. I guess being around a bunch of men, Maria couldn't discuss certain things, and well, because she was always with us, she didn't find the need to befriend anyone else, and I guess that caught up with her over the years. She needed that female companionship.

I was glad to know that Maria and Marisela were getting along well and were good friends with the short time she's been here.

"How did she know you were there?" My mate asks, confusion swimming in her eyes. I give her a knowing wink and she let's out an "oh" sound as she remembers what we are.

"Got it." She smiles. After a long silent debate with myself, I couldn't take it anymore. I finally close the distance between us catching her off guard.

Don't fight it Marisela.

Finally, after long torturous seconds, she gives in. Our lips entwine with each other, and goddess how I didn't want to stop.

Our tongues danced together as one. I wrap my arms tighter around her waist and pull her closer to me. Her fingers automatically go to my hair, tugging on it making my wolf purr in appreciation.

Eventually I pull away, letting both of us catch our breaths. Looking at my flustered mate , my heart jolts at the sight before me. She's beautiful. And all mine, I couldn't help but think.

"What was that for?" She asks breathlessly, a small grin making its way on my face.

"I needed it." I repeat the same words I said to her the last time I kissed her. Marisela playfully rolls her eyes. And goddess was that not the sexiest mundane thing ever.

"I missed you." I tell her honestly. I watch as her eyes grow big in size at my sudden confession. Her cheeks turn a lighter shade of pink, and she looks down at her toes.

"I missed you too." The smile on my lips pull into a fully blown grin.

Heavens this women is going to drive me insane!

"Come on, I want to show you something." I tell her, tugging on her arm.

"Where are you taking me." She laughs as she follows behind.

"Just follow me, it's a surprise." I say to her. I couldn't see her face but I could sense her rolling her eyes at me.

"What's up with you werewolves wanting to go into the woods."

"The woods are where we are most free to do anything." I wink and she blushes.

"I'm beginning to think you and Maria set up a plan to kill me and hide my body," she says sounding a bit out of breath, "I'll admit it's a well thought out plan, but there's a fault in there."

"And what could that be?" I ask going along with her game . I stop and wait for her to catch up. I couldn't help the smile that makes it's way onto my face.

"Well for starters," she bends over to catch her breath, "we're mates. I know you can't live without me." She winks as she gets up and walks passed me leaving me speechless. I couldn't help the little laugh that escaped my lips.

We were beginning to approach the clearing after a short hike up the forest mountain. I weaved my way through the long branches, creating a pathway for Marisela. When we get to the clearing, I step aside allowing Marisela to take in the view.

''This is beautiful.'' She says breathlessly, her eyes glued on the horizon.

We were on a cliff, surrounded by the clear blue ocean. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks below. I watch as Marisela takes in the view in awe. Her small plump lips form into a beautiful smile, and I cant help but relish in the sight before me.

Goddess she is breathtaking.

Her grey eyes look almost silver in the sun light, making her seem even more angelic, leaving me breathless.

''Indeed so.'' I mumble, my eyes never leaving her face. Hesitantly, I walk closer to her, placing my large hand in her small one. Marisela removes her eyes from the view and are now fully on me. I can tell she wanted to say something, but chooses not to. Instead, her fingers wrap around my own and she relishes in this moment with me.

Her gaze falls down to my lips. I as well , couldn't help but let my eyes wonder down to her perfectly shaped parted lips and I didn't miss when her tongue damped her lips.

Slowly, she hesitantly leans in and stops. Her eyes flutter close, and a second later, my lips are moulded with hers. The feel of her lips against mine, felt so right. It was a short kiss but enough to set my mind into a frenzy. She was the first to pull away this time.

Her eyes were still closed when we pulled apart, and eventually she opened them and there was a slight twinkle in them.

"What was that for?" It was my turn to ask her.

"I needed it." She winks back. I laugh at the fact that she used my own words against me.

With my hand still in hers, I carefully pull her in close and turn her around so her back is to my front, I wrap my arms around her once more as we watch the sunset.

Perfect timing.

The sunset paints the sky in hues of gold and crimson. The sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm, soft glow that gently kisses the earth. The world felt suspended in a tranquil, fleeting moment of breathtaking serenity.

A few minutes pass and the sun is almost down, Marisela inhales deeply before exhaling as if preparing herself to speak.

"Are you okay?" She asks catching me off guard. I turn her around to face me.

"Of course I'm alright, is something-"

"I meant are we okay, Kael?"

"Why would you ask such a question?"

"Well....." She begins looking away, "you've been distant lately."

"I..." I sigh, "I know." She looks down at the ground avoiding my gaze, a look of sadness crosses her features.

"Princess," I place my fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at me, "I wanted to give you space that's all, if I had it my way none of this would be happening, there is so much going on and I don't want to pressure you into anything."

"What do you mean?" Her brows lift in confusion, "what's wrong?" I let go of her and make my way over to a nearby log and sit, taking a deep breath of my own.

I haven't been completely honest with her, well I haven't lied to her either... I just haven't told her about what's been going on around the kingdom lately, especially with the letters.

It's really hard sometimes to not keep her in the dark. Keeping her in the dark, means keeping her safe. And keeping her safe is all I want. But she deserves the truth, this prophecy is about the both of us.

"My men have been finding these letters around the kingdom, near the villages." I start, Marisela takes a seat beside me, listening carefully.

"We don't know what they mean, they are in a language that we don't understand. But that's not even the worst part. " I tell her getting a bit frustrated again as I recall what's been going on.

"Wherever we find the letters, there's always a dead body not too far from it," I tell her, "it's a message." I don't look at her yet, it's only when she places her hand in mine that I eventually look up to her.

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" She asks sounding genuinely curious and not at all upset.

"I was trying to protect you." I admit.

"Kael, this prophecy involves the both of us, we're in this together. We protect each other. If you're protecting me, whose protecting you? " Stunned by her response I am left speechless.

"Do you think the letters are from-"

"Sirens?" I finish not looking at her. I feel her tense beside me. "Yeah I do, I mean who else would send a message?" I tell her. She takes a sharp intake of breath before releasing it.

"Kael," she begins looking deep in thought, "what do you know about Sirens?"

"Other than the fact that you can grow a tail and sing a sailer to his death?" I joke which she did not take kindly. "Sorry, bad joke."

"I'm serious Kael."

"Nothing really, its like I told you, all that I know is what I've read in story books as a kid, you know, like the little mermaid." I admit shamefully.

"That's what I was afraid of." She sighs, "you have no idea what we're up against."

"I don't understand."

"On land, we don't have much power, but in water, we are very powerful." Marisela let's go of my hand and stands up, walking towards the cliff, but not too close for me to worry. Her back was to me as she looks out into the ocean.

"I don't know much about you're kind, I am still learning, but the little that I do know, werewolves are very strong, but that is only On land."

"Marisela, you're confusing me." I stand up and walk towards her, standing a foot behind her, waiting for her to continue.

"Werewolves are strong on land, Kael. Sirens are strong in water. But sirens also possess a particular kind of power that is much more powerful than physical strength. I don't have that power, I was never able to unlock that part of me because I'm only half a siren."

"Power? What power?"

"Compulsion." She says finally looking at me, a look of worry and fear evident on her face.

Compulsion?

"I worry, that the Sirens have an upper hand in this Kael , they can easily manipulate men into doing things without them knowing."

"We will figure something out." I tell her, trying my best to control my thoughts.

"Do you mind if I see these letters?" She asks looking at me.

"Princess, I know you want to help but the letters are not in English."

Marisela rolls her eyes at me, only this time it was not in a playful manner. It was as if she was annoyed.

"Kael, since I told you about me being a Siren, have you at least tried to do some research on what I am." She asks seemingly irritated.

"Of course I have princess, there's just not enough books that have that kind of information." I tell her defensively.

"Books?" She repeats, "are you-" she inhales deeply to control herself before looking at me. "I am a siren Kael, has it not occurred to you to- I don't know- to ask me?" She throws her hands in the air.

Damn it, I knew I should've listened to my mother. I just thought I would be protecting her by not getting her involved in this. She was right.

"You know what, never mind." She sighs, "you will probably stumble upon this in one of your books, but Sirens are fluent in just about any languages Kael."

I felt like a total asshole right then. I had no words to say nor did I have anything to defend my actions. She was right, I should've just asked her.

"Just-show me the letters Kael." She sighs before walking away into the direction we came from.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.