The Prince's Guard

Chains dragged across the rough stone floor, he coughed, his throat dry. His ribs were sore but not as bad as the day before. The fear chilled him more than the damp cold air. He wanted his mother, his father, his brother. He wanted his sister to be OK… where was she? He was so scared. Be a good little boy, that’s what the man had said… he just needed to be good. The creek of the cell door swinging open made him scuttle back to the far wall as far as his chains allowed. Clouds of terror fogged his mind.

Deep cognac eyes floated into the fog, he felt warm, he felt safe. He looked around, the dark dank cell had made way for a cloud of golden light, he was floating. Beautiful silky auburn hair tickled his neck as lips caressed the sensitive skin. No one had ever kissed there, it felt so good. Large hands roamed over his chest and abdomen, his whole body tingling. He squirmed and moaned, the hands were warm, protective.

‘Jaxson,’ he murmured.

’Yes, my Prince?’ He sighed, the voice sounded so much like him, he stirred under the soft cool sheets. ’My Prince, is everything OK?’

Chris’ eyes shot open. He frantically looked around, trying to work out where he was, he wasn’t at home.

A knock sounded on the door, “My Prince,” his deep voice floated through the door in a whisper, “Are you OK?”

“Err…” Chris was completely disorientated. “Yeah, fine. Sorry.”

There was silence on the other side of the door but he was still there, Chris could sense him just beyond the wood barrier.

Jaxson rested his head against the wood. ‘Mate’s hurting,’ His wolf whined.

’I know.’

‘Help him.’

‘I can’t. I’m not what he needs.’

‘The Goddess has spoken.’ Jaxson shook his head. He wanted to run in the opposite direction, he wanted to crash open the door and help… granted the way his name had sounded through the link…

’What’s up?’ Adam’s link came through interrupting his thoughts.

’I thought I heard something. Mind playing tricks.’ He sat down where the Luna had kindly placed soft chairs for them in the wide corridor. ’Understandable, The King’s words were… persuasive.’

‘Persuasive? Think that’s putting it mildly. Didn’t think they’d still be so overprotective of him.’

‘He’s the youngest, of course they are. It’s the first time he’s been allowed off their land since he was ten.’

Jaxson chuckled to himself, that was true. He scrubbed a hand over his face, wondering what the fuck the Goddess was thinking.

’Adam?’

‘Yeah, bud?’

‘You ever heard of wolves getting with the same-sex?’ he asked his tone through the link airy and nonplussed.

“What do you mean? Casual or mating?’

‘Either I suppose.’

‘Mating, never. True mates are always the opposite gender… you know that.’

‘Yeah, course. But our human sides?’

‘There’s been a few rumours. But I doubt it.’

‘It’s natural for humans. Seems quite common now.’

‘Oh yeah. See it in their media. Why? Got the hots for someone?’

’No, nothing like that…” He trailed the link off, unsure how to broach the topic. He couldn’t admit it, that was for sure. He opened the channel again. Having an idea, ‘Isn’t it odd everyone is finding their mate later?’

‘Don’t worry. I’m seeing this tour for us too. Find our mates, she’s gotta be out there now.’

‘Yeah, we’re not on shift for the balls though,’ Jaxson replied.

‘Ah, we’ll just do it in our own time. Twelve hours off, plenty of time. We’ll go to the balls as guests. Training fields are a great place too.’

‘Gotta sleep too ya’ know,’ Jaxson grumbled. Looking for a mate that was already right in front of him? No thanks.

‘Yeah, yeah. I know you need your beauty sleep. Can’t let you get any uglier or no one will have you!’ Adam teased.

’Pfft. I’m way hotter than you, so shush.’

‘Only in your dreams.’ Adam smirked at him.

‘Bet I can bed a she-wolf before you,’ Jaxson challenged. His wolf growled at him, hackles rising in displeasure. He ignored him.

Adam rolled his glazed eyes. ‘Aren’t we a bit old for that now?’

‘Chicken?’

‘Never! Just don’t want to hurt your feelings when you lose.’

‘Sounds to me you think you’ve lost your touch.’ Jaxson goaded.

‘I’ll be honest, bud… I think my mate’s out there. Doesn’t your wolf grumble when you think of getting with someone else?’ Adam asked. Jaxson frowned a moment, to his friend he’d appear to be contemplating… for him, he was displeased with the truth.

‘No.’

‘Maybe mine’s closer.’

‘Maybe.’ Jaxson sighed, cutting off the link.

He was frustrated by the pull he had to the door in front of him. He was glad his wolf wasn’t completely incessant. He’d heard of some mates being unable to sleep without their mate by their side. Or growing dizzy and unwell until they had marked. In that respect he’d got off reasonably lightly… what he hadn’t got off lightly with was who his mate was.

Well, it wasn’t really who… Prince Christopher was a kind, caring and generous prince like his family. On the surface, he liked what he saw, not that he’d ever given another male a second glance. But he had certainly given him a closer look at the ball while he danced with his sister. Deep golden walnut hair fell to his jaw, unlike usual, the thick hair had been waxed back, otherwise, it always fell into his face. His sharp jaw and golden eyes the carbon copy of his father.

But he knew of the Prince to be someone who enjoyed solitude. There was a certain tension of discomfort coming from him as soon as he entered the hall. He had never paid much attention to it before, but thinking back, if he was out of the palace he always trained alone. If he was not alone, he was only ever escorting his sister, his mother or the Queen.

The Prince came out of the guest room a few hours later, Jaxson wanted to check he was alright, ask why he’d called his name over the link. But he didn’t even glance in his direction before sweeping towards the stairs. Jaxson sighed silently before rising and following along with Adam. They only had a few hours before Callum and Matilda would take over for the day.

The Prince turned suddenly as they reached the bottom of the stairs. “You don’t need to follow me around. It’s ridiculous.”

“We’re doing our job, Your Highness,” Adam replied mildly.

“Then… just go get something to eat. You don’t both need to be on my heel.”

“The Kind has ordered-”

“I will talk with Marc. I don’t need two of you following me. When I’m out of the house… that may be different. But nothing is going to happen while I’m eating breakfast.”

Jaxson took a breath before speaking, “With all due respect. It could do. We are not within our packland now-”

“I am well aware I’m not at the palace!” The Prince hissed, his calm demeanour disappeared before Jaxson’s eyes. “I’m not an idiot. But this pack holds high loyalty to The Crown, I am in no danger here.”

“There is danger everywhere, My Prince. I can understand your frustrations and we hope it does become unnecessary for us to be by your side. But if the worst was to happen, I would never forgive myself if one of us weren’t there to protect,” Jaxson replied calmly.

“At least get yourself some food,” he snapped before sweeping towards the dining room.

‘What’s got his knickers in a twist?’ Adam asked.

’No idea.’ But he had an inkling. ’You go with him. I’ll stand outside the door. Give him a bit more privacy.’

‘Very well.’

Jaxson leant by the wall of the dining room, able to hear the conversation and watch the front door at the same time. Maybe it wasn’t the worst shout for him not being on the Prince’s shoulder. Control had always been something he was commended on… now, however? He didn’t much feel like control.

He was in a small battle of wills, his wolf wanting one thing, he wanted another. Being different wasn’t ever something he wanted. He liked to blend in, he liked to do his duty then go home. He liked to keep his head down. He wanted a sweet low ranking wolf like himself.

Not Royalty.

If he were to be mated to a Royal his whole life would be turned upside down. Now sure, some would want that, would want the Kingdom watching their every move, have the finest clothes the tailors could sew. The balls, the grandiose luxury.

That wasn’t him, none of that was him.

He never wanted people to look up to him apart from maybe his pups. He just wanted to be him, Jaxson.

Then there was the other elephant in the room.

Their genders.

No wolf had ever, to his knowledge, ever declared the same gender as their mate. The matehood was to produce pups, that was what the Moon Goddess declared. So why when he smelt the most precious decadent scent in the woods, the source was a Hunterson wolf and the only Hunterson wolf of age and unmated… was Prince Christopher?

He’d been in complete shock, knowing it was his coming of age day. The whole Kingdom had been buzzing for the day, no one would have been able to know anything different. Then his voice had punched into his head. ’Never.’ That tiny little word was a knife through his chest. While the wolf had given him away, his voice had made him sure.

The King had requested him personally to go with the Prince… he wished he’d asked twenty-four hours later. He’d have found a reason to refuse. But he’d already accepted… so now he had to watch someone he didn’t want while his every fibre was screaming for him. He had to watch him ‘find’ a mate…

A mate that was already right in front of him.

He’d been waiting to feel the bond as soon as he turned nineteen… like so many others. He was worried he didn’t have a mate out there… But he did. After six years of waiting his mate had fallen into his lap.

And now he was thinking of ripping that exceptional gift away?

As his rotation finished, he had no answers for the questions pummelling his mind.

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Thank you to -

Michelle

Amanda Pfister

Lucia Crumpton

Sarah Meek