Kept Secret

chapter 42

Lucas~

A deafening chorus of roars and growls echo through the room we moved the meeting to and it takes me a moment before it registers that the loudest one of all ripped from my throat. Camille's hands fly to her mouth while my mother stares at me with a proud look in her eyes, "Luc, your eyes..." Nicole's voice trails off drawing my attention to the mirror she hands me. My eyes, instead of a dull green now glow a deep emerald, almost black color.

I look towards my mother for answers but catch her and Evangeline sharing a knowing, almost sly look. They both turn to me in unison and bow, "You're majesty." I turn back towards the rest but one by one they all bow to me, Nicole, Lumeria, Maddison, Dylan, Dominic, and even Henry bow deeply, "My king."

The confusion must show on my face because my mother places her hand on my shoulder,  smiling at me, "Your wolf is making itself known and we can all feel it. You are the true king of werewolves in the same way that Lia is the true queen. You may never shift because you're half-human but that doesn't change who you are and who you are meant to be, our king."

I catch Henry's eye, a look of understanding passing between the two of us before a look of acceptance settles in his eyes. He knows Lia is mine and he's finally come to terms with the fact that she'll never be his. My mother's eyes sparkle with a delight I haven't seen in a very long time, her smirk causing one of my own to break out onto my face, "So what's the plan, King Lucas?"

"Let's get our queen back!"

***

3 weeks later

The last few weeks have been spent planning, strategizing, and figuring out the best course of action. Our armies have been training tirelessly and I've been training with them and by now I'm stronger, faster and my senses are so much better. It sucks that I'll never be able to shift but that won't stop me from being the king these wolves deserve.

"Okay team, not much further. We should see a break in the treeline up ahead and when we do we'll know we're close." I roll my eyes but stay silent nonetheless. Dylan, being the self-appointed map master has decided to take the lead for the time being but the dude can't even tell North from West.

"Um Dyl, the map is upside down." He shoots Nicole a nonchalant look before taking a look at the map again. His eyes shoot wide and nonchalance is replaced by befuddlement. I throw my arms up in frustration while Dominic shakes his head in amusement.

The plan was for Henry, Cammie, Nic,  Dyl, Dom, Maddie, and I to scout out the territory and get close enough for Maddie to teleport the army waiting back home. That was the plan but this dimwit lead us down the wrong path. The closer we get to the castle the stronger I feel the pull of the mate bond, but there's something wrong, actually not wrong, but different about Lia and I can't place my finger on it or get in contact with her to find out. Whatever it is, is stirring something inside me and I know for a fact I have to find her, and soon.

A rustling in the bushes breaks me out of my thoughts. We get into defensive positions, ready to attack but whatever it is whirls past all of us in a flash of black and red. A strange smell overwhelms my senses and a snarl rips from my throat, vampire.

In a second I have the vampire pinned to a tree, struggling against my grip. He hisses at me, clawing at my arms but I tighten my hold around his neck growling right by his face.

He freezes in place, showing his neck in submission to me. I take in his scent, a vampire, so why is he bowing to me? "You're highness."

The others stare at me in bewilderment, all except for Maddie who's staring at the vampire with a calculated look, "You're a hybrid." His eyes shoot to her in amazement, but there's something else, some like fear.

"How did you know?" Something hits me and I ignore his question, a snarl escaping me. All eyes shoot to me as I stare at the vampire in my hold, his black eyes reflecting my glowing green ones.

"Why is my mate's scent on you?" He starts trembling in my hold, the sheer dominance in my voice causing him to submit to me. I feel a hand being placed on my shoulder and my head whips around, my furious gaze meeting Nicole's somber one. My grip around his neck loosens but I don't let go, not yet, "I'm going to ask you again and I'm only going to ask one more time, why is Lia's scent on you?"

"Because I've been assigned her personal guard." He chokes out. His words register and I drop him to the ground in a wheezing mess. He takes a moment to compose himself and when he does I realize how close in age he is to us. He looks barely a decade older, really young for a personal guard if you ask me, but the stoic mask on his face makes him look so much older than he is. We all stand in anticipation, waiting for him to continue. He finally clears his throat and addresses us, "The King brought Queen Amelia about three months ago and assigned me as her personal guard. At first, I was confused but followed orders nonetheless. I soon realized that the queen was not here under free will so I asked around and found out that it was a kidnapping. I knew the king was cruel but to kidnap a woman in her state-"

"Wait, what do you mean in her state?" He gives me a confused look before realization seems to dawn on him.

"You don't know, do you?" Now it was my turn to be confused. What was he talking about? Before I can respond we hear a shout from far away, closer to the palace, "We need to get out of here or they'll find us and then there'll be no way to get to her."