Beneath the surface: Forbidden love

Kael

This morning, one of my men was tipped off about a nearby village that had been attacked last night.

When we got to the village, there was blood almost everywhere. Unfortunately, three villagers were killed. By what or who? I really couldn't say. It was gruesome.

At first, I thought it could've been rogues, but no rogue would dare attack so close to the castle grounds.

A ten year old girl- with unusually white hair and grey eyes that looked almost familiar- had lost her parents, they were killed right before her eyes. Dimitri- my Beta- found her first, and she was a complete mess.

She was human.

Her family were refugees from a nearby island. They moved here about a month ago.

She lost her entire family in one night and had no clue as to what happened. One of the neighbours was a Werewolf, he smelt the blood and rushed over, and that's when we got the call. The little girl was moved to the orphanage immediately.

That's one of the main reasons why I wanted to take the princess there today.

Although it is a special place for me, I visit the orphanage at least twice a month if I'm not busy with my duties as King, but today, it is primarily because I wanted to keep a safe eye on the little girl.

She had lost everything in one night.

My father hasn't said anything to my mother about this, how can he? We don't know what to say, we don't understand what's happened or why it even happened. I also told Cory- my Gamma- not to say anything to his mate Layla. Dimitri, was still in search for his mate, so I knew he had no one to tell.

There is a traitor on my lands, and I will find out who they are. Though, whoever it may be, that little girl will get justice for her family.

As an Alpha, this responsibility was too much for my father at his age. I saw it taking a toll on him slowly. That's why I agreed to take my roll as Alpha now, I've stalled longer than I could. Truth be told, my focus was on finding my mate.

Flashback ( three years ago )

Our Royal jet landed in the kingdom of Greemalia. It was a beautiful island-kingdom off the shore of Greece. Not many people knew of this island.

The reason I am here is because my father- the King- had a meeting with the human king- King Nikolai- with regards to the random attacks happening in the kingdoms. The attacks started a few years ago. Unusual killings. My father thinks that it must be another kingdom wanting a war, but I wasn't really paying much attention to all the details of politics. My attention was else where.

Finding my mate.

Usually, when a Lycan turns eighteen they are able to find their mate. I'm twenty-two and I still haven't found mine. My wolf was growing frustated over the years, but my human side wanted to give up on finding our mate, and I almost did.

Since we landed in Greemalia, my wolf has been acting strange. Like he could sense something. I tried my hardest to ignore him and focus on the meeting, but as soon as we neared the castle, my wolf got excited. As soon as we got out of the car, the most beautiful scent I'd ever smelt filled my nostrils. Lavender. I couldn't help but follow the scent. I walked around the castle like a mad man, a place I had never been too- following this intoxicating scent, it grew stronger the closer I got.

Then I saw her.

Through the window- curled up on a bench reading a book, her long unusually white curly-hair cascading down her sides, her eyes focused and lost in the words of the book placed in front of her- sat the most beautiful girl I'd ever laid eyes on.

My mate.

My wolf was ready to walk up to her and claim her then and there, but the human side of me, the more rational side, had to speak to my father first, my mate was human. It was never heard of before. So I waited to speak to him after the meeting with King Nikolai.

When the meeting was over I told him. He was shocked, confused, then realisation settled upon him like a bucket of ice-cold water. I didn't understand anything at first, My heart shattered when he told us she was still yet to turn eighteen, she was still young.

My wolf didn't care, she was our mate!

But she was human too, she wasn't going to understand, so I made a deal with her father, that when she turned twenty-one, they will send her to my kingdom, he was reluctant at first but I promised him her safety as well as a new alliance between our kingdoms and eventually he agreed...

"Like he had a choice to begin with" my wolf smirked. We would wait for our mate.

*****Flashback over*****

''Your Majesties, we've arrived.'' Dimitri announces from the drivers seat. We arrive at the orphanage as the kids all wait patiently outside with excited grins on their faces .

When Marisela arrived, I quickly walked over to her door before Victor could, and opened the door for her. She looked surprised to see that I was the one waiting for her with my arm out for her to take. She placed her arm around mine and electricity ran through me from our contact, she gasped and I knew she felt it too.

Every time I'm around her, I can feel my wolf fighting me to mark her. But I can't do it now. Not yet at least.

She doesn't know I'm a Lycan.

Lycans are much stronger and larger in size than an average werewolf. Lycans are all Royals, and there are very few of us alive.

I introduced the kids to Marisela, most of the kids were shy, some of the girls were excited to see a princess. Marisela had the most beautiful smile on her face as she watched the children surround us. Watching her smile made me smile. We all made our way to the playground. There were at least fifteen kids in this orphanage. There were a few humans, and a few pups in total.

In Calarrad, both humans and werewolves live amongst each other, its been this way for years. Although werewolves live all over the world, humans don't know of our kind. Only very few humans know.

That it is why my Kingdom is very secretive.

As I was talking to one of the nuns, I noticed the girl from the village sitting alone under a tree. I respectfully excused myself and made my way towards her, but just as I did, Marisela was walking towards her as well. I slowed down my pace, none of them had noticed me yet.

I watched as she introduced herself to the girl, but she got no reaction out of her. Marisela sighed and sat down beside her. They were quiet for a moment before I saw Marisela open her mouth to speak. I wanted so badly to listen in on their conversation, but it wouldn't feel right eavesdropping on my mate. So, I watched them from a far.

The little girl didn't seem interested at first, but then I watched as she looked up at my mate and slowly a smile started to form on her face. I watched as Marisela stood up and held her hand out towards the girl, she was hesitant at first, but Marisela said something to her and she placed her little hand in my mates and they left towards the jungle gym.

''I like her.'' I hear my Mother speak beside me. I didn't hear her walk up to me. I turn around and find her watching my mate with a look in her eyes I couldn't quite decipher.

''How long were you standing behind me?'' I ask.

''Long enough son.'' she replies. She links her arm with mine as we walk around the playground watching the children play.

''She's beautiful," she says with a smile growing on her face, "there's just something about her that makes you like her,'' she laughs. I know immediately what she meant.

There is this light about the princess that you cant really put a finger on.

She's different.

''I'm just really happy that she's finally here.'' I say and she squeezes my hand in understanding.

''You've waited for her for a long time son, I am so proud of you.'' she places her fragile hand on my cheek, ''Your father is too.''I give her a kiss on her forehead and we continue our walk.

''How is it going with Marisela.'' she asks. Just hearing her name gets my wolf excited. "I had the pleasure of speaking with her this morning."

I look at her surprised and a little uneasy. My mother tends to enjoy meddling quite a bit. She looks at me waiting for an answer to her previous question. I sigh and nonchalantly roll my eyes.

''Hard.'' I admit after a long silent minute, she gives me a sad smile.

''You have to tell her what you are son,'' she sighs, ''I see your wolf trying to fight you every time you're near her.''

''I know mother, I just don't want to scare her.'' I watch as the kids run around the playground, playing some sort of a game, watching them brings a small smile to my face.

'' She's your mate, Kael, she will come around, but the longer you keep putting this off, the harder it will be for the both of you.''

''I will tell her,'' I sigh, ''hopefully soon.'' she places her small hand in mine in comfort.

I see Marisela and the little girl walk towards the dining hall. My mother notices them too and smiles as she pushes me to follow her and I did.

When I get there, I am surprised to see my mate wearing an apron and the little girl holding up a spatula. When she turns around, she is surprised to see me.

''Kael.'' she says breathlessly.

''Princess,'' I nod, ''what are you doing in here?''

''I could ask you the same thing,'' she smirks, ''but I had offered to help serve lunch, and Lilly,'' she looks down at the little girl beside her smiling, ''offered to help me as well.''

''Hello there,'' I kneel in front of Lilly, ''my name is Kael.'' I greet with a friendly smile. "I am the king of Calarrad." She gave me a little wave and hides behind the princess.

''She's a little shy," I hear Marisela speak with sincerity. "She said she only got in today."

Oh, if only she knew.

I nod in understanding. I offered to help them set up, which both were surprised. Marisela hands me an apron and I put it on. They both start to laugh. I immediately look down at the Apron and roll my eyes.

You have got to be kidding me.

I look absolutely ridiculous. I wanted to take it off and burn it, but hearing the princess laugh made it all so worth it, bringing a sort of warmth to my heart.

A bunny in a pink tutu was printed on my apron. I'm pretty sure the princess gave me this particular apron on purpose.

''You look funny.'' I hear the little girl giggle. My mate laughs and looks at me, ''well your Majesty- or should I call you Queen Kael?'' she teases and I roll my eyes, ''we better get started and feed the little ones outside,'' she says.

We sat in the kitchen sorting out the food when Lilly excuses herself to go to the bathroom. Marisela and I were left alone.

''How are you finding the island?'' I ask, making conversation.

''It's beautiful, everything about the island is just magnificent.'' her eyes sparkle with interest, making me smile.

''That's good to know.'' I reply. She accidentally drops the spatula on the floor, I quickly bend down to pick it up as did she, simultaneously resulting in both of our heads to bump into each other.

''Ouch!''

Our eyes meet in the midway of getting up and for a moment there, all I could do was stare into her eyes. I've never seen such beautiful eyes before. They were a unique grey colour with flecks of blue. My eyes wander to her parted lips and I didn't miss it when her tongue dampens her lips. I let out a low growl taking a step closer to her.

''Kael!'' she gasps, ''Your eyes!'' I close my eyes and try to fight my wolf, but he isn't backing down. I was losing control and he wants to mark her now.

He wanted nothing more than to grab her and feel her, taste her, and touch every inch of her body, marking her.

It's not normal for Lycans to wait this long to mark their mate once they have found each other. My wolf found his mate a few years ago, and now he can't hold back anymore knowing that she is finally right infront of our eyes.

I don't know what came over me. I push her back against the wall, my wolf in control. My face hovers inches from hers, I could hear her heart beating fast as her chest rises frantically. I let out a low growl.

Get a grip Kael!

I place my nose in the crook of her neck, taking in her scent, I close my eyes again, fighting my wolf once more. Her scent calming me down. Finally I was able to gain control. I look into her eyes and see the one emotion I never wanted to see from her.

Fear.

With abnormal speed I quickly push myself off of her and find myself across the room, giving her and myself a much needed distance.

''Princess-'' I begin to say once I processed what just happened.

Fuck!

''Kael?'' she takes a step back, ''what-I -I need to go.'' She says frantically, and then, she's gone. She ran out the door. I slam my hand on the table almost breaking it in half.

Fuck! I need to go after her. Just as I was about to follow her, I hear a gasp.

''You were there this morning.'' I hear Lilly speak behind me. I turn around and notice how startled the little girl is.

''But you were one of them, a wolf.'' she says quietly, taking a step back.

''Í am a Lycan,'' I tell her, ''I will not hurt you.'' I slowly kneel down in front of her, trying my best not to look intimidating.

She looks at me with a tear stained face and something in me broke for this little girl...

she was alone.

''The thing that killed my family,'' she stutters, her eyes fill with tears as she recalls the memory, "it- it wasn't human." She whispers to me.

What?

Before I could finish processing what she had just said, she runs away. I got up and quickly ran out the door, I needed to find Marisela.

I need to find my mate.