"How did Ezekiel Naples, the hybrid vampire, breach our pack lands?" my thoughts raced with a mixture of skepticism and concern. Described as devious yet dependable, Ezekiel's enigmatic aura often veered too close to secrecy for my comfort, yet his presence remained oddly familiar and tolerated. As the reigning king of the vampire realm, his cunning charm belied a storied lineage - sired by a Lycan warrior and the esteemed queen and crown princess of the vampire dynasty. Ezekiel, celibate for centuries with no mate, exuded a calculated charisma that confounded and intrigued me.
In a paradoxical twist, he was one of the few individuals outside my family whom I deeply admired, a sentiment I guarded closely, lest Ezekiel exploit such vulnerability for his amusement or gain.
"A little birdie informed me of your newfound interest in a human girl," Ezekiel's teasing tone laced with amusement drew a nonchalant eye roll from me, unaffected by his jest. Echoes of laughter from Asha and Alex filled the air, their knowing smirks further fueling Ezekiel's playful banter.
"Quit prying into my affairs, Karl El," I stated icily, my deliberate use of his reviled nickname causing him to recoil visibly. My brief smirk conveyed that the tables had turned.
"What brings you here?" I brushed past him, striding into the living room, wary of my mate crossing paths with the master of flirtation who dared ruffle my feathers.
"I bear a message from the King," Ezekiel answered, adjusting a stray strand of hair. The cryptic nature of his words set my senses on edge, an ominous premonition clawing at my gut.
"What message?" I inquired, straightening my posture, a foreboding knotted in my core as Ezekiel divulged the impending threat from the dark faes, plunging the kingdom into chaos once more. His unwelcome presence only signaled trouble on the horizon, disrupting the fragile peace I had fought to establish.
Suppressing the impulse to wipe the grave expression from his face, I weighed my allegiance to my family against the kingdom's needs. Every fiber in my being urged me to protect my mate and daughter, yet duty called me to safeguard the realm from impending danger.
"The kingdom is in peril, and your family's safety hinges on your actions. Turn the tide, protect your loved ones," Ezekiel implored, placing the weight of the realm's fate squarely upon my shoulders. The crown and Ezekiel's steadfast belief in my pivotal role rattled me to the core. I grappled with my internal turmoil, uncertainty and apprehension clouding my resolve.
"I'll deliberate on it. You may leave. I will reach out to the King in due time," I dismissed him, my reluctance apparent as I harbored reservations about abandoning my family in their time of need. Yet Ezekiel's next words shattered any hope of evading the impending summons,"I can't, father demand I come with you," his assertion of the required presence of myself, my pack, and other key leaders propelling us into a high-stakes meeting with the Alphas and next in commands.
As Ezekiel's declaration settled in, the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on me. I resigned myself to the unwelcome fate dictated by the king, dreading the forthcoming upheaval that threatened to disrupt the fragile balance of my life. Amidst it all, a storm of conflicting emotions raged within me, the enigmatic vampire's presence proving to be a harbinger of turmoil and uncertainty. Controversial royals indeed, their influence casting a shadow over the fragile peace I had fought so hard to preserve.
Entering my mate's room, I found her peacefully asleep with our newborn cradled on her chest, both in deep slumber. Her dark locks cascaded over one side of her face, an enchanting sight that held me captive. Quietly, I fetched a white blanket from the closet, covering them with a smile playing on my lips.
They are a sight to behold, utterly perfect for me. Discarding my shoes, I eased into bed with them, delicately placing Aura between us after gently lifting her from Excel's embrace. As I settled my head on the pillow with a sigh, a faint sound of distress stirred me from sleep, prompting my eyes to open.
YOU ARE READING
BLACK MATE
WerewolfSYNOPSIS Imprisoned her entire life, she was expected to be subservient to her leader, but her spirit refused to be tamed. Behind the strongest walls lies a heart that beats with defiance. An order was given, but she would not yield, for beyond the...
