DIANA
I did not concede, as I looked back at them without being the first one to look away.
This one versus four staring contest lasted for about ten to fifteen minutes until the loser finally admitted defeat. Even if winning was not the main reason why I fought with them in that staring contest, I was still proud that I won over the four of them.
But I made sure that this wouldn't be shown on my face, as I remained serious like I did before the contest started.
"Come on, help me, guys!" I called out when they remained silent.
I looked at them one by one again, but it was only Kylee who insisted on looking back at me. So I also looked at Kylee until he sighed deeply.
"I wanted to, but knowing you, D? I don't think we have to decide for you when we already know how you hate his highness. It's obvious you don't want to go," Kylee said, and I pouted.
I wanted to agree with him, but I also knew I couldn't. Not because I don't agree that I hate that person. But because I knew it was wrong for me to act and decide purely based on my emotions, I didn't want to act unreasonably and like an immature child. After all, I'm already a young adult. I should act and think like my age.
It might backfire on me once I make a wrong and impulsive decision. That man might use it against me, which was more infuriating and insulting to me.
So when I couldn't decide on my own whether to turn him down without letting him find fault, or how to agree without losing face, I called.
Unfortunately, however much I thought about it for the past two days, I just couldn't find the right solution to my problem. In the end, I could only leave my room, find my friends, and ask for their advice. That's why we are now in this fiasco.
"Another thing, girl. You wanted us to give you advice when all you did was ask for it without giving us a heads-up. How can we give you one when we don't have any idea what you're talking about?" Tania said, which made me look up to her.
I haven't told them anything yet. Did I forget to tell them the story?
It looked like Cornelia saw the look in my eyes, so she scoffed loudly and even got the chance to roll her eyes at me.
"Yes, girl, you haven't shared anything with us. The moment you came in, you only started speaking about helping you with something. We're only staring at you 'cause we're waiting for you to speak more about the matter. Yet all you spouted for the past two hours were only about how we have to help you," Cornelia instigated, her voice full of sarcasm and mockery.
I only looked at her like I was asking her if she was talking facts. And all she did was roll her eyes again at me. That made me pout.
"Did I really only do that?" I asked others since Cornelia had no plan of taking me seriously.
Everyone nodded, even Froilan, who was busy with his mobile phone. Well, at least Cornelia did not plan on playing tricks on me. Though this is really shameful.
Ignoring the warmth of my face in shame, I scratch my nape and think of where I should start with my storytelling.
As Cornelia said, it had been two hours since I came to look for them. I also felt kind of guilty when I realized how rude I was. For the past two days, I have not shown my face to them without any news. Then suddenly, here I am, barging in without saying 'hi' or 'hello' and asking for their help abruptly.
It wasn't my intention to not show myself or hide from them. I also heard from Nero that they visited me yesterday to find out my whereabouts, but because I was deep in thoughts and contemplation, I might have ignored them when Luna Michelle knocked on my door, asking for consent to let everyone in.
Since I really wanted to decide on my own, I also told Luna Michelle and Alpha Frank to leave me alone to think about it. That's also the reason I wasn't bothered for the past two days. Since even Luna Michelle, who was like my second mother, left me alone like I told them to.
I did not know that Luna Michelle also did not tell anything to my friends. From how they were reacting, I could tell they were really clueless. Now I don't know if I should applaud Luna Michelle's loyalty or what.
In the end, all I can do is put all the blame on that man! It's all his fault anyway since he and his words stirred everything up. Just like digging your own grave.
Getting back two days ago. What happened at that time was really unprecedented, shocking, surprising, and exhilarating.
Since the moment Selene left me alone with the perv, he has been bombarding me with surprises. I felt so overwhelmed up until this moment.
"Are you really…sure that I am your mate?" I asked after a long while of silence.
He nodded. "However much I wanted it to be a joke, it couldn't be."
Those words were enough to provoke me, but I could only swallow them back. This matter is really serious. Although I hated the man, mate matters are really serious and sacred for a human like me.
I might be a human now, but I really take the mate thing seriously. Especially when it relates to me. After all, this whole matter is about my mate, my mate!
"How can I be sure that we are mated when I couldn't feel the same pull as those written in books and from the stories I heard? What if you're just telling me that to bother me?" I seriously asked.
"You know how we lycans give importance to our mates. Because of our overbearing power and strength, we needed mates to balance everything. No mate means no control, and no control means we have to dië."
I immediately shut my mouth when I heard that. Because I knew he was telling the truth. I may have animosity towards the Lycan king, but I am still curious about the strongest creatures.
Since Lycans are said to be the beloved children of the Moon Goddess, they also have the strength and power that were the highest among the rest of the were– clans. Werewolves, werebears, werecats, and werebirds, while lycans were always ranked as the number one species. Either on strength, beauty, power, brains, or everything, just because they are favored by the goddess.
But they weren't perfect like they seemed. Maybe in order for the other clans to stop getting swallowed by jealousy because of the large disparity, the Moon Goddess added a small imperfection to the almost perfect lycans. And that relates to their mates.
In exchange for the great strength and power Lycans have, a curse-like thing happened. The more powerful a lycan is, the higher the possibility of them losing control until they go berserk. That gave everyone no option but to k*ll the berserker to lessen the casualties.
Fortunately for them, before they end up being extinct, their only way to fight this curse is to have their own mate by their side as a calming air freshener. Since the calming scent of their mate's pheromones is the key to controlling their berserk mode.
It was like that before, but as the world continued to evolve, lycans also created ways to give a chance to other lycans who had a hard time finding their mates. And now, only for those powerful royal lycans who need their mates to keep their wolves from going berserk.
But I also knew that this lycan king in front was also different. Everyone in the whole kingdom knew how powerful this favored king was.
Since, unlike the other past Lycan kings, only this man had the power to stop himself from going berserk. However bloodthirsty he is in a war or on an attack, he could remain as calm as the water in the pond. No matter how many ripples appeared, they would still return to calmness, no matter what.
So for what reason does he need a mate?
Then again, I remember the news from a year ago. It created a big ruckus in the whole kingdom when the Lycan king announced his recuperation after returning from the bloody massacre of the Silver White Pack.
There are many guesses about what happened for the king to end up in seclusion. So, to calm the people of the kingdom, the person in the palace announces the reason for the king's recuperation. And that was because the king suffered an attack that made him lose hold of his wolf.
Is that because the king finally became the same as the other lycans and needed mates to keep his wolf from going berserk? And since he's still a lot more powerful, those calming medicines aren't enough to control him.
"Tell me honestly, Your Highness," I said with a hint of sarcasm when I addressed him. "What do I, this humble one, need your acknowledgment for as your mate? Aren't you looking down on me for being a human? What reason do you have to accept me as your mate?"
I want to remain sarcastic with my words, but I can't continue this kind of act, so I decided to get honest and straight to the point in the middle of my speech.
"Maybe you are a human; that's why you can't feel anything. But I couldn't do that and ignore the strong pulling force I am feeling right now. Don't you know more than I do how this thing works, especially for a lycan like me?"
I gritted my teeth harshly. Meh. It looks like he did his research on me. How could he spout those things like he knew me well?
"Fine, I believe you. Let's say then that I may really be your mate. Since I am a human who was wolf-less and can't feel the pull, then tell me how you knew I was your mate. Maybe if you share it with me, I might as well accept Your Highness as my mate," I ask in a jeering way.
Well, I partly wanted to know and not only wanted to tease him. I'm just curious how a mighty Lycan king like him can find his mate. And maybe to know what his reaction would be, especially after knowing that the mate is a human.
But knowing how mighty he is, I also know that he might not answer me honestly, or that he would only speak about it in an ambiguous way.
"It was my wolf, Gray, who recognized you. I was planning how to enter without getting spotted when he suddenly became excited. He smelled your scent and recognized the familiar and also unfamiliar scent. Until he forced his way and took control of our body. The moment we first met on that lake, we already knew you were our mate."
I saw him suddenly stop, and a frown appeared on his forehead. Then it all straightened out again as his focus returned to me.
"What does my scent smell like? Can you still smell it now?" I interjected.
"Arabian Jasmine," he immediately answered. "Your scent smells like Arabian Jasmine. It was slightly sweet, like vanilla, but also fruity. That's how you smell right now," he seriously added.
And hell! I couldn't ignore how my face suddenly heated up just from those comments. I didn't even feel like he was complimenting me; he was just telling me some facts according to what I asked, but I couldn't stop feeling flustered!
Damnit. I should have just stayed silent.
Trying to calm my almost hyperventilating face, I started chanting inside my head about how it was normal, so there was no need to feel pleased or what-so-ever.
"Anyway, let's stop these nonsense inquiries. I will now go straight to the point. I can just ask your other questions once you agree with my decision."
He sounded serious, so I also acted seriously. It actually helped me calm myself.
"Since I already told you that you're my mate, let's get straight to the point. As a mate, you have to come with me and follow me. In other words, you have to live with me in the palace. You can decide not to accept me as your mate completely, but you have no choice but to follow me to help me elevate the effect of the curse. But if you want to properly and legally become my mate, then I have to mark you permanently, then marry me, and become the kingdom's queen. By the way, I also need to temporarily mark you every time you do not want to accept me as your mate."
And that imbecile? He did not even let me speak, as he also told me about my three days' deadline before I decided. With how he only left me with two choices, which was almost the same as tying me up with him, how can I still have a choice then?
That j*rk! He did not only let me have a proper choice; he also wanted to pressure me with the deadline and the responsibility and consequences he forced on me. Why didn't he just decide for me?
"Right? He's a j*rk right, guys? How can he do that to me in one blow? I am just a human for goodness' sake! How can I take those responsibilities? I am just a human. I myself can't accept the fact what more the other lycans and the entire kingdom? How can a mere human reign a whole kingdom? He might not have specifically said that, but I know that he's implying that it would be my responsibility and the consequence of my decision is all up to me. He's a lycan king! A king! Just being named as his mate, it was already a fact that I will be a queen whether I acknowledge him or not. And he ambiguously enunciated that!"
I was pacing back and forth while finishing my story. Because I just realized how heavy this responsibility is, I no longer care about their reaction to all those bombs I pulled.
"And what's with that deadline? Two days have already passed. And later at midnight, it was his return to listen to my decision. How can I decide with him pressuring me with that deadline? Can't he give me a week to decide?"
I was getting dizzy with my actions, but because of my nervousness and the unknown anxiety, I did not realize that. Until I felt Kylee's hands holding me on my shoulders and keeping me steady.
"Calm down, D," he gently said.
I looked up at him and saw his slight shock before sighing. I felt his warm fingers brushing under my eyes and my cheeks.
"Oh come on! Diana? The strongest human is crying?" Cornelia said as they all hurried over me, surrounding me in the middle.
Upon hearing from Cornelia, I also used my fingers to see, and it was dampened with tears. Am I really crying?
"What are you crying for, D? Don't tell me, with that simple pressure the king left on you, you're crying like that? Are you getting weak now? Then it would be Lee's turn to usurp the throne of being the luna in our group," Tania jokingly said, which earned a snort from Kylee.
"No thanks. I prefer my alpha position."
And I also chuckled with everyone. Kylee really hates it when he's being treated like a she-wolf for being an omega. Well, a male omega is really rare since they also have the reproductive organs of a female wolf. And not that he's generalizing every male omega, but Kylee hates himself for having a unique ability to get pregnant.
Anyway, I smiled widely when I realized that they had just made me smile. I really am lucky to have friends like they are.
"Thank you guys, really," I said in gratitude.
"Welcome, D."
"No need. We're friends; that's given."
And I could only smile at them.
"Now, do you still want our help and advice, D?" It was Cornelia who opened it up again.
And who am I to disagree? Since they have now wanted to help, then I will gladly listen.
"Let me go first. And I will make this short. What I advise you D, is to accept this responsibility whole-heartedly. Not because I want you to suffer the great responsibility, but to take this responsibility as your way of showing what you are. Didn't you say you wanted to show the world how humans are mighty beings too? Take this as your biggest step on realizing your dream, D. And it will be the biggest first step before you make your goal happen. With you being the queen, you can start first with the lycans. Prove to them that you can be a queen even when you're a human. Then once you actually do that, others will follow. That would be great, right?" Tania spoke, and the whole time she spoke, my smile became wider and wider.
"It was also your dream to be written in history, right D? The hero of the humans, the queen of humans. That would be great!" Cornelia added, and I really laughed.
It even sounded greedy with all the thoughts about the future that appeared in my head.
"Also, D, I know you also dreamt about finding your mate. Might as well enjoy those feelings while reaching your other dreams. Don't worry, we are always here for you, guarding your front, sides, and back," Kylee added.
I don't even know if I would smile at being touched or grimace when I really thought of being lovey-dovey with that man. Before it could corrupt my field of imagination, I shrugged the thought away.
"Why don't we also come to the palace with D? We could act as her own personal guards. For sure, his highness would assign some for D once she lived in the palace. So to not burden his highness, I will volunteer myself!" Cornelia excitedly exclaimed, even raising her hand.
And my eyes widened with her suggestion. Before I could reprimand her to take her words back, Kylee also seriously nodded and raised his hand.
"I'll go too. I will be your beta, D."
"Then I will go as well, to ensure the queen's health," Froilan said.
Then we all look at Tania, who also seems taken aback by those three. When she sighed, I already knew her decision without hearing it.
"I won't stop you from it because I also wanted to ensure D's safety. Unfortunately, I can't leave my mate here. I hope you can understand me."
It was I who immediately ran over and hugged her tightly. Even if she couldn't come, I was still happy to know how great of a friend they were.
"It's okay, Tania. We will always contact each other. We will never forget you!"
"Yes, that's right! I will also always update you about the progress of D's love life with his highness for sauce," Cornelia said playfully.
"Anyway, I will also heed your advice when I can no longer handle these three," Kylee added, and that made me, Cornelia, and Froilan groan.
"Wah! I love you guys!" I shouted as I engulfed everyone in my bear hug.
I really love my friends. They're great.