Alarick's POV
I went into the private room to check on Esmira once more.
She had slept through the entire 13-hour flight. It was understandable, since her angel was weak and she's probably been running off of fumes for the past couple of days.
We were landing soon and it was important that she was buckled up before we landed.
Deep down it hurt me to hurt her earlier, but it was necessary. I can't have her walking around thinking it's okay to disobey me.
She's such a sweetheart, I know that this will probably be the only time she'll ever need punishment.
She is a quick learner.
I leaned over her sleeping body and gently shook her awake.
"Come now Esmira, we are about to land. Let's get you into a seatbelt."
Her eyes blinked open as she rose from her slumber.
Taking a moment to stretch, she swung her legs over the bed and followed me to her seat. Suddenly a noise pinged in the air. It was the captain.
"This is your captain speaking, we will begin our decent in T-minus 7 minutes. Make sure to buckle up, and brace yourself for mild turbulence. Windy conditions in Greece today, but other than that expect perfect weather on this beautiful afternoon. The time in Greece is 6:47 pm"
I buckled Esmira in first since she didn't know how to secure it herself, and then mine.
The pilot wasn't lying about the turbulence. Wind jolted us side to side and for a split second I saw fear spread across Esmira's face. She instinctively grabbed onto me out of fear.
I wasn't worried since this wasn't abnormal for me. She's never been on a plane before, so her fear was expected.
I comforted her by putting my hand on her thigh and shushing her gently.
Once we had safely landed, she quickly retracted her hand from my arm. I noted her coldness towards me.
I looked out of her window to see that another black truck was already ready for us.
I quickly unbuckled the both of us grabbed the small suitcase with my work computer in it. I usually keep one here on the jet, but I was working on so many things on this laptop while we were in the air, that I didn't want to lose my progress.
I guided Esmira by the small of her back out of the plane, I was ready to get settled in Greece as soon as possible.
________________________________________
Day had turned into night, and we had finally made it to the mansion that was safely hidden away in the hills of Palaio.
Not a lot of people know that I own land in this area, since it's surrounded by humans.
Which is good, since my plan to keep her a secret would have to work for a little while until I could crown her as Queen.
Hiding in plain sight.
Esmira's eyes have been wide as quarters ever since we hopped off the jet.
The scenery, people and architecture had her extremely curious.
I could tell she was also too shy to say anything.
Once we made it inside, I guided her straight up the stairs to the master bedroom. It was nice to see everything in order with the house.
The marble flooring was slick and clean, no dust littered the grand chandelier that hung from the 12 foot ceilings nor the pictures that adorned the walls.
I only got to glance at the kitchen, but everything seemed to be in tact in there as well.
The furniture looked well taken care of as well. The people I'm paying for the upkeep of the house are doing an amazing job.
I took a mental note of giving them some kind of bonus in their next paycheck.
Once we reached the room, I motioned her to sit on the bench that sat at the foot of the bed.
"Sit. We have something important that we need to talk about."
She obeyed and looked up at me curiously.
"I understand you will miss home. I also understand you will miss what your life used to be. However, I need you to understand that you have a greater purpose to fulfil than running wild in the forest.
I need you to understand how vital your role is by my side. You will soon be crowned Queen over the Sosta Empire and it is vital that you play your part. You are not prisoner here Esmira. I want you to understand that.
You can have and do anything you want, as long as it doesn't put you in danger or disrespect the Throne. I hope sooner than later you will realize this and become comfortable with your role as Queen."
Tears pricked her eyes once more. Every time we have this conversation, she cries. But I needed to confirm that we were on the same page.
"Stop fucking crying." I growled.
I didn't mean to get upset, but my patience was running thin with this girl.
She wiped her eyes clean and silenced her whining.
"Now. Let me show you around. This will be your home until I settle tensions between neighboring territories back home. It wasn't safe for you there."
She continued to pout with her head down.
"Perk up mi amour, don't you understand that I am here to cherish you? I have gone decades without you, and now you pout in my presence. In time, you will get your way. Just not now..." I explained.
Esmira POV
I could tell he was trying to please me in the only ways he knew how. He was just so... abrasive.
I don't think I've ever met a man so rough.
I didn't want to admit it, but I guess in a way, I did feel safer when I fell asleep in his arms.
Having a Lycan King or whatever mythical creature he says he is – It's nice. I still have red flags for him though. Like what had happened on the plane...that did nothing but instill more fear in me than anything.
It's all just a jumble of mixed emotions that I don't know how to process...
I decided on taking a quick shower in one of the bathrooms that were in the house.
This place had 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Not as big as the castle of course. This was a lot more modest compared to that.
Not that it mattered, I was extremely grateful to have a roof over my head.
i'm glad i don't have to worry about poachers…
These bird people find a feather longer than their forearm, and they go completely nuts.
Now my only stressor in life from now on will be the King…
Its just- We will have to eventually start sharing everything together.
It made me very nervous. I never had to share a bed with a man before. I was so glad that he was sleeping elsewhere. Or at least I assumed.
Now don't get me wrong.
I've got to give credit where its due…
His dark loose curls, strong facial features, the tattoos that cover his left arm, and those hands... They were so big. A smile crept across my face, and I blushed thinking about him. He looked very built as well.
He practically seemed to burst out of the suit that I saw him wear earlier.
I couldn't help but sigh at how dreamy he seemed to be. I hated myself for liking him. Afterall, he took me away from the one constant thing in my life. I'm supposed to hate him, but I don't...
I finally hopped out of the shower once I was finished and made myself comfortable in one of the shirts that he gave me.
The shirt fell all the way down to my knees.
Ugh, nothing to brush my teeth with. I spotted some mouthwash on the counter. It would have to do for tonight. Way better than chewing a stick.
Gross, I know, but it did a great job keeping the plaque off my teeth in the wild.
i couldn't help but laugh at the memories of my granddaddy.
Lessons on surviving in the wilderness…
i thought he was being funny when i first saw him chew on the stick.
i remember how much that tickled me.
Turns out- it's extremely effective.
After I was done showering, I quickly put my hair up in a bun and got comfortable in the large King-sized bed.
Oh wow, it's been a long week, and it's not even over yet!
I rolled over and tucked myself in. This was the best sleep I've gotten in a long time, plus these mattresses did wonders for my back.
It never took long for me to fall asleep.
________________________________________My body jolted up out of the deep sleep that I was in.
A thin layer of sweat covered my forehead. What a weird dream....
I looked around the room for a clock. It read
5:34AM.
It's so early.
My sensitive ears picked up some commotion going on downstairs. It sounded like the King was arguing with someone.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and crept down the hallway to investigate. I know I shouldn't be eaves dropping, but I can never help myself.
I needed to know.
Alarick POV
A knock sounded at the door. I looked up from the paperwork I was working on and sighed. Looking down at my watch, I grit my teeth together in frustration.
Who the hell bothering me at 6 o'clock in the morning?
It's obvious that it's someone from the family. They're the only people who even know that this place exists. How did they know I was here?
I looked out the peephole just to make sure.
It was my father.
Of course, he's the only one crazy enough to fly across the ocean to give me shit.
There he was, standing in a grey and white suit, with his hair perfectly slicked back and his hand stuffed in his pocket.
He looked like he had just come from some kind of conference.
I instantly became even more irritated at his presence. He can never just mind his own business.
I knew he was here to instigate.
That's all he does anyway.
Once I opened the door, he immediately pushed past me as he made his way to the kitchen area.
I grumbled as I shut the door behind him.
"I miss you too son!" He yelled out from the kitchen.
"What do you want." I let out.
I rolled my eyes as I walked back to the living room to organize the paperwork that I had laid out on the coffee table.
I didn't want him seeing anything confidential.
"I want you out of this hell hole and back in the kingdom where you belong." He continued as he poured himself a drink.
He made his way back towards the couch as he sipped on the bourbon that he had helped himself to.
"Its six o'clock in the morning, geez." I mumbled.
It was no doubt that my father was a functioning alcoholic. At the rate he drinks, he constantly needs to be sauced up just so he doesn't experience withdrawal.
The alcohol mixed with his personality- overall, it makes him an enormous prolapsing asshole.
"If I wanted to be chastised about my 'drinking problem', I would've listened to your mother. Now, why are you here?" He questioned.
"Michael is sorting everything out while I'm gone." I said, dodging his question.
He gave me a questionable look.
"Mhhm. Well, whatever the reason, once council finds out- they won't be happy to hear that the Lycan King is busy catching whatever new strain of the clap there is to catch here in Europe."
He raised an eyebrow at me.
I scoffed at his remark, "When was the last time I gave a fuck about what council said."
My ears picked up on a small creak coming from upstairs. I looked over at my father, he heard it too.
He took a quick whiff of the air and grinned. "Who's here?" He questioned.
"How did you know I left the country? Why did you come looking for me in the first place?"
I asked trying to change the subject.
He downed the rest of his drink and stood up from the couch.
"You really need to teach the folks who dispatch the Jets a few lessons in interrogation. Those men folded like lawn chairs. They told me exactly where you'd be, plus extra information... The CIA couldn't waterboard me enough to tell me what Pedro told me."
He chuckled
"You ever have kids, don't let them around Pedro!" He laughed.
"Why are you here? " I asked, trying to guide him on track.
He became a bit more serious as he sat on the couch.
"Alarick, rouges were caught camping right outside of your territory.
They were trying to study our protocol, Likely so that they could report back to Roman. Lucky for you, I was there to handle it. You have a real issue on your hands, but it doesn't seem like your too worried..." he gestured at me with a refilled cup of bourbon in his hands.
I mentally noted the things that he told me.
Although I didn't have the patience for his antics, I couldn't be too mad. That was important information.
And even though his remarks are quite irritating. I remind myself to keep my cool for Esmira.
I sat across from him in a chair that was seated across from the couch and ran a hand through my hair.
"I appreciate the help. I will be back as soon as possible. I came here to finish paperwork away from everything. You know how it is..." I sighed.
He looked around and squinted his eyes at me.
I knew he could sense her. Her scent is unlike anything a wolf has ever smelled.
"Who is here?" He asked once again.
There was no fooling him or insulting his intelligence any longer. He knew.
I stood from where I was sitting and leaned against the railing of the stairs. I knew she was eaves dropping anyways.
"Esmira, I know your there. Come down here." I demanded.
Esmira's POV
I jumped in fear as I heard my name being called. A shot of adrenaline pumped through my veins as the King called me down.
Never eaves dropping again!
I might have officially learned my lesson.
Fear caused my little heart to race as I cautiously made my way down the stairs.
I was met with a well- dressed Italian man.
He was just as handsome as the King, but his aura was more mysterious. His energy made me extremely uneasy and the way he was staring at me did not help. His eyes shot through my soul. It sent chills down my spine.
It was extremely hard to read him…
I hid myself behind the King as the strange man looked down on me.
This man radiated off standish energy . His eyes just continued to pierce through me. If looks could kill, I'd be slaughtered.
I kept my head down and embarrassingly looked away. My long curly hair covered my face.
Why am I always last on the totem pole? I thought.
"Esmira, this is my father. Father, this is my mate- Esmira..." He introduced.
The strange man's eyes widened as he continued to just stare at me. He looked up at the King, briefly before looking back at me.
The King watched him cautiously. I could tell the King was nervous of the interaction, but I could also tell he trusted his father.
He took a few steps towards me and reached his hand out to shake mine.
Making little to no eye contact, I shakily reached my hand out, and softly shook his hand.
Suddenly, he firmly grasped my hand and brought it up to his nose. All in a blink of an eye, he took a deep whiff of my scent without any shame!
"What are you?" He curiously asked.
"That's enough." The King growled as he pushed his father away from me.
Embarrassment flooded through me as the strange man continued to ask questions about me. I tried to stay strong as tears pricked my eyes.
Once again, I felt violated.
I wondered if I'll always be treated like a circus animal during my time here.
Alarick's POV
I quickly pulled my father outside, so I could speak with him in private.
"She so...Alien. She's far from human. She's not fae, nor any shifter I've ever come across in my two-thousand years of living. What have you become mated to?" He rambled.
It was becoming hard to keep my temper in check. My fist clenched as I tried to regain some of my patience.
His reaction is valid, but it was just irritating to listen to. I placed my hand on his shoulder, he looked at me for an answer.
"She's an Angel. Her spirit was created by the Moon Goddess herself. She's literally heaven on earth." I explained.
"No." He said in disbelief.
I crossed my arms and watch him process this information.
"I've seen her shift with my own eyes. She even tried to 'kill'me when we first met." I reminisced on the moment she first saw me.
No woman has ever been brave enough to challenge me the way she did and live…
She has so much courage , something that will make a great Queen out of her.
My father motioned towards the gauze that was on my forearm.
"She did that?" He asked.
i nodded and pulled the gauze back so he could examine the wound.
He hummed curiously…
"You realize this needs stitches right" he stated.
Looking at it now, I didn't realize how deep the puncture wounds were. A smile crept up on my face without even realizing it. I couldn't help it, I was proud of her.
"It will scar nicely." i mentioned.
"She is feral. I mean that in a literal sense. She has been by herself in the forests my men found her in , ever since she was seven."
He ran his hand through his hair, disheveling the once neat hairstyle.
"How will you explain this to the people? What will you say to council?" He asked.
"I'm still figuring that out. Its why I'm here. You're the only one who knows about her." I stated.
My father paced back and forth as he continued to think.
"Alarick, the blood line...It's been kept pure for thousands of years. My father is still a ruling member on council. Forget the people, you'll have a bigger issue proving that your relationship with her is legitimate.
They won't approve. Are you sure she's worth the trouble-"
"Of course she's worth the fucking trouble." I yelled as I cut him off.
Something about that comment made something snap within me.
"I'll slaughter anyone who had an issue with Esmira , she's mine to protect."I growled.
"That's a lot of people buddy. Don't go full rampage on me yet. I need you to stay a free man so i can attend the party you host at the end of every year. Your mother will be there."
I hated how unserious this man was…
I knocked the drink out of his hand.
"Well isn't that just great!" he yelled.
He rolled his eyes and sighed.
putting his hand on my shoulder, he began to put things in perspective.
" I know you're not going to like what I have to say, but we have to stay rooted in reality.
How are you going to get the people to take her seriously? Not only is she alien to us, but she's black.
It won't take long for counsel to find out after the people do. You did right by bringing her here, but you need a plan. You can't hide here forever." He explained.