LYCAN KING; ALPHA SHANE POV
"You will do as I say or your family will be the one to suffer for it," I threatened her, glaring at her nose and gritting my teeth intentionally at her.
My mother tried gesturing to me from where she sat to manage my anger but she wouldn't believe that I'm not angry, that I'm just feigning it.
The woman I'm in love with is very stubborn and I need to act like this almost everything I'm with her to make her do my biddings.
"Don't glare at me like that my flower, you are up on the tall hill and everyone is plastering their eyes on you now, they are curious," it was mainly to tease her.
The meeting today is to let everyone know that she's mine. I have heard all the talks and rumors about our wedding and now I want to make it official.
"You didn't tell me about this, I was having a beautiful nap when you sent Cecilia and my mother to drag me out here, to meet millions of people staring right into my soul, what are they looking for?,"
She asked the same question in my head, since I called her up for my pack member to see, I held my breath somehow and that's not because they were staring at her with so much curiosity.
But because the priest and elder council are communicating with the moon goddess to see if she's good enough to be my mate.
"Look here, you don't understand some things Tessa. As much as I called you out here to make you upset, it's also necessary to show you to the people, they have to take a look at you"
"You will be their Luna in the nearest future, but most importantly a very important first rite is going on, it's not like I care about the outcome but my mother is very worried about it,"
My mother chose that very moment to reach where we stood, the people started murmuring at once, they dare not say anything before she alighted the tall steps.
This is because they know she won't let me do anything to punish them. I love my pack members and I rule well. They love and respect me but I have intentionally instilled fear in them. It's very risky and dangerous to be a Lycan king and I'm not just one.
I'm a rare breed with so many enemies and competitors, my power and special abilities is a huge asset and many Alphas want them, they want to rule many packs like me. Some of them do not want to be subject to my power but they have no choice. Therefore I must remain strong and hard.
"How are you feeling my darling, don't be bothered about the rite that is going on there, it will be over soon," she rubbed Tessa's arm and stood by her side.
"You can relax mother, I won't bite her or take her here in public, She's safe. For now," Tessa beamed at me when I added the last part, for once in her life since she entered my life she actually smiled genuinely
It seized my breath at once because I felt a very deep connection with her at once, like a heavy weight has been removed from my inner soul. My mother saw the confused look on my face before I hid it almost immediately, she knew at one that Tessa had an effect on me with that smile.
"You are going to do very well as our new Luna, the crown is too heavy on my old neck and I need to let it go to the right person, " my mother grabbed Tessa's hand and told her.
Indirectly pleading with her to be happy with what's going on, to give us a chance, it made me happy to have someone on my side.
Of Course my mother would kill for me, it's been me and her ever since the tragic incident that took my younger sister away, since then we haven't spoke about it or tried to relive the moment, it's still very deep in our hearts.
"Thank you elder queen, I will try my best to keep my family alive, I know what I need to do, until maybe he's tired of me," Tessa was throwing the words directly at me but she spoke softly to my mother
One thing I love about her is her ability to fear me and yet stand up to me. All of my other women are like puppets, always swaying to the direction I place them. But this particular woman would always have something to say.
My mother's eyes widened in respect and adoration at Tessa, she was about to say something when the group of five old priests walked toward us slowly.
"We have the news and it's a very clear and direct instruction," the oldest, who's also a man announced, his voice is very frail and old but the people went quiet immediately just to hear what he had to say.
They've all gathered since dawn to hear this particular news. The rite has been going on for hours, even before I informed Tessa about it.
I noticed my people discuss quietly among one another, fear and uncertainty on their faces, mine is in my mind, I can't let it show. They all look up to me.
"Will the curse let me have a woman in my life now or it's still the same result, I'm asking you to be direct and straight to the point!," I became hot tempered and angry at once.
The last time I tried with Dorren, when I decided to marry her because of the connection we shared in the bedroom, it backfired because the moon goddess rejected her at once, I gave up and become more dark and brutal.
"This curse, how did it end up with you? Isn't your mother the one it was meant for? I mean, the sinner. Why do you have to suffer for it?" I would have been very happy if there was any ounce of sympathy in Tessa's question.
But my special power informed me at once that she asked because she's so confident about the curse stopping our marriage, she just heard what happened when I tried getting married to Dorren.
"The moon goddess pick the both of you as the most suitable partner in the next one thousand years, she says you can go ahead and have a never to be seen love story, that was how she described it."
The old man announced with a huge smile on his face, he must have been hiding the joy all to scare me, the whole hall was filled with jubilation and cheers at once.
"You are getting married! Yes! Congratulations Tessa!" Cecilia screamed from where she stood below from us, waving with so much energy, I noticed that Tessa had frozen on her feet. The shock of what just happened must have entered deep into her blood.
"I'm surprised too but I would have married you even if the moon goddess disagreed to this union!," now it's my turn to tease her just like she did a few seconds ago when she was trying to tell me goodbye with her questions about my curse.
"I will get the bath ready Tessa, the maids will bring you once the Lycan king is ready to release you," my mother stated deep into my eyes when she mentioned the part about me releasing Tessa, begging with her eyes that I met her for today.
"I won't bite her mother, you can go easy please, I will make the announcement official and you can have her for whatever bath you plan," I teased my mother. Pushing her softly to exit the tall podium.
The drums and songs moved into my ears clearly, just as my eyes fell on Tessa's tears, it was the first one to drop, with so many eyes watching and waiting for us to say something.
All my wolf could think of to make things right was to pull Tessa in and punish her with a deep and erotic kiss, she didn't fight it or try to push me away. Instead she broke into a quiet sob and leaned into my body frame.
"You will be the end of me Shane, so you know what you are doing to me? How am I ever going to be able to carry this weight, I'm just a very young and frail girl, you are too much for me," she murmured into my mouth, I didn't want to hear anymore.
"I have another announcement to make," pushing the crying Tessa behind me to cover her disheveled state from the prying eyes, I announced again, the sudden silence urging me to go on. Tessa fingers pierced into my upper arm. I could feel her seize her breath in anticipation as well.