Vincent's POV
Atlas's presence felt like a storm gathering on the horizon. Each step he took seemed to crackle with tension, a warning.
His brooding appearance darkened the space around him, an unsettling weight in the air, stirring a discomfort I couldn't shake.
He stopped Inches from me, his piercing blue eyes glowing faintly from beneath the strands of dark hair that framed his face, a devilish smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Your Majesty," he greeted, bowing just enough to show respect, but not enough to hide the mockery in his posture.
"Atlas." I acknowledged him, my voice colder than I intended, though I couldn't help the surge of irritation that rippled through me.
"I'm here, as you requested," he continued, his voice low and smooth, the edges of it almost a dare.
"I know. Though I distinctly remember asking Richard to turn you away," I said, my tone sharp, a challenge of my own.
His presence was like a weight in the air. Atlas was a constant reminder of how much power could be wielded by the wrong hands.
He had always been a thorn in my side, especially with the blood ties that complicated everything.
He gave a knowing smile, the glint in his eyes never faltering. "And yet, here I am, Your Majesty. You didn't expect me to miss out on an invitation like that, did you?" His voice was thick with mockery.
He was made my beta and Duke of Estoria out of mere formality, an act of mercy after my father had seized power years ago.
"I thought I made it clear that you weren't welcome right now." I kept my posture rigid, but something in the pit of my stomach twisted. "You've got a lot of nerve, Atlas. Maybe you've come to remind me who you really are, huh?"
As a direct descendant of the throne, Atlas should have been King and I, his beta. But now, I was the one holding the throne. The shift in power had made him dangerous.
A flash of irritation crossed his face, but his smirk remained, always calculated, always the same. "I'm simply here to do what you've asked of me, Vincent," he replied, his voice simmering with something dangerous. "You should be grateful for that."
His strength was admittedly unmatched by most, as one of the most powerful lycans in the history of Estoria. He had won us every war we fought, leaving my father, and then I as well to rely on him as a tool of war.
"Grateful?" I scoffed, stepping forward, closing the distance between us. "For what? That you didn't take your sweet time, visiting your whores?" I let the words drip with disgust, watching the flicker of anger in his eyes. Good. He needed to know I wasn't afraid.
His jaw clenched for a moment as he kept his control like always. "No, Vincent. I visited an old friend," he said, his voice laced with challenge, his smile only widening. "A friend you'll never know."
I took a deep breath, pushing my frustration down. "I don't have time for you right now," I said, stepping around him. "I've got more important matters to attend to than listening to you right now. When I'm ready, I'll send for you. Until then, stay out of my way."
"Yes, Your Majesty," he answered, but his voice was thick with amusement, almost too pleased. I felt his gaze burn into me as I walked away, like a dagger in my back.
Soon enough, I hopped on the carriage that sped off into the distance, leaving the main palace behind. We ventured through a different path from the major one that led outside the capital, an unpopular shortcut through a dangerous forest where wolf's bane grew thickly in unsuspecting patches.
Despite its reputation, I knew the forest like the back of my hand, carefully guiding the driver to avoid the treacherous spots.
The journey was fast like I intended and by the end of the first day, we had reached the outskirts of the capital and inside Veldris, the neighboring state. The province famed for its masterful artisans and bustling trade hubs.
After passing through Veldris the following day, we soon reached the outskirts of Everett. Although the two provinces were generally regarded as distant, the shortcut through the forest and Veldris' southern border had drastically reduced our travel time, making the journey feel surprisingly short.
By nightfall, we arrived at the Duke's pack estate under the cover of darkness. The grand estate stood in the distance, its formidable silhouette framed by the faint glow of the crescent moon.
I instructed the driver to proceed cautiously, ensuring the carriage wheels barely made a sound against the gravel path and commanded my knights to stand by the entrance of the gate.
The mansion stood quiet and still, its grand façade illuminated faintly by the pale moonlight.
I approached the heavy oak doors with measured steps, his cloak trailing behind, blending me into the night. I raised a hand and knocked firmly, the sound muted yet authoritative.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a butler clad in formal attire, his expression neutral but alert.
The man's gaze flicked to me, and his brows furrowed slightly, as though recognizing me yet uncertain of my presence.
"Inform the Duke of my presence." I said in a low, commanding tone. "Do it quietly. I'll wait here by the entrance."
The butler inclined his head in acknowledgment, stepping back and shutting the door with deliberate care to ensure no sound escaped.
Left in the cool night air, I folded my arms and leaned subtly against the stone wall, my sharp eyes scanning the estate grounds for any movement as I felt my urged rise slowly in ma again.
My wolf sensed Iris around and stirred in anticipation, eager to go to her but I planned to do so without catching her attention.
It wasn't long before the faint sound of hurried footsteps echoed beyond the heavy doors.
The butler returned, holding the door open just wide enough for the figure behind him to step through.
The Duke himself emerged, his expression a mixture of surprise and urgency as his sharp eyes landed on me.
"Vincent," the Duke said, his voice a low murmur, tinged with disbelief. "I didn't expect you to actually come yourself."
I straightened from the wall, my piercing gaze locking with the Duke's. "When I receive the letter from you, I couldn't help it."
My voice was calm but carried the weight of unspoken tension that surged inside me.
"Where is Iris?" I asked, my voice barely concealing the excitement that bubbled inside me. I knew she was close just beyond the door, just out of reach.
"She must be in her room," the Duke answered, gesturing for me to come inside.
"Good." I stepped in, trying to remain quiet. "Show me to her room," I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument.
"And keep quiet. I don't want her to know I'm here." I continued.
As I moved deeper into the house, my eyes darted around the open space. And then I saw a woman, a familiar figure at the top of the stairs, trying to hide her presence.
I paused, my instincts sharpening. I recognized her immediately, one of the servants who had tried to stop me when I came to the Moon Palace that day. The same day Iris had attempted to hide from me.
"Stop right there," I snapped, my voice cold and demanding.
She froze, her body trembling slightly under the weight of my command.
I stalked toward her, my gaze unwavering as I stopped just a foot away from her. Slowly, she turned around, refusing to meet my eyes.
"I recognize you," I said, my voice low, tinged with menace. A knowing smirk stretched across my face as I watched her avoid my gaze. She remained silent.
"Look at me," I ordered, my voice sharp but quiet. Her eyes shook as they met mine, but she had no choice.
"Were you about to inform her of my presence?" I sneered. "So she could run away like last time?"
"N-no, Your Majesty," she stammered.
"Good," I replied, my tone satisfied. "Now you take me to her room instead."
"Y-yes, Your Majesty," she answered weakly, turning toward a small hallway leading to Iris's room.
As I got closer, the air felt thick, saturated with the scent of her skin, of her blood, everything smelled sharper, more intoxicating.
My senses screamed, overwhelmed by the pull of her scent, my vision flickering as my eyes blurred with a maddening thirst that grew inside me.
When we finally stopped before a large door, I felt my pulse quicken. The carvings on the door seemed to shimmer in the dim light as I stared at it, my hands trembling slightly.
My wolf roused me, reacting to her proximity, the ache inside me growing.
I glanced at the servant who stood watching, her presence an annoying reminder of how much I wanted this moment to be just mine.
"You may leave now," I ordered, my voice sharp. She obeyed without hesitation, and I was left standing before the door, the sound of my heartbeat thumping in my ears.
A dull ache from my own desires spread inside me as I lifted my hands to knock. There was no answer however I knew Iris was inside.
I knocked again and she spoke. Her soft voice muffled by the thick door that separated us aroused me even more, my muscles tensing again as each breath became heavier with desire.
She finally opened the door, and there she stood, more beautiful than I remembered.
The sight of her sent a shiver through me, and my sanity began to slip away.
Her scent, flowery and sweet, mingled with the sharp edge of desire. I wanted her, needed her.
She was dressed in a thin nightdress, the fabric clinging to her small frame, barely covering her body.
My eyes couldn't help but trace the curve of her figure, the way her nipples, hard beneath the fabric, strained against the material. I swallowed hard, my body reacting against my will.
Her voice snapped me out of my daze as she cursed at my presence. Her green eyes, blazing with fury, locked onto mine.
The way she glared at me stirred something dark inside me, anger and lust both boiling together.
Before I could stop myself, I lunged forward as she tried to slam the door.
My hand shot out, stopping it with a force that made the wood creak under the pressure.
My skin burned where the door pressed against my hand, but it didn't matter. I wasn't going anywhere.
She poked her head in concern and I took it as an opportunity to let myself in forcing my way through the small space I could create.
She tried to push me away, but her weight was nothing compared to mine. "What are you doing here, Vincent?" she cried, her voice trembling with a mix of defiance and something else… fear? Or was it desire?
I closed the door behind me, locking it with a deliberate click.
The ache inside me intensified, a throbbing heat that spread from my chest to my groin. My body burned with need, and nothing, no one, could ease the fire except her.
"I've missed you Iris." The words spilled out, faster than I could catch but it didn't matter. "Come here."