Eternal

Chapter I - Peripeteia

Peripeteia – (n.) A sudden turn of events, a sudden change.

Origin - Greek

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Hazel eyes stared into the mirror as princess Adelaide Martinez pinned a piece of her hair up. Her mind replayed the conversation that took place in the morning, causing her brows to pull in deep and her wolf to move uneasily in her head. It was also the reason she was currently preparing herself impeccably. She was due to meet the king of the Lycans, after all.

Their annual meeting was coming up in two days, and princess Ada and her brother, alpha Demetrius, were the only werewolf royals in attendance. Her parents, along with Diane, Demetrius' mate, were back at their homelands.

Adelaide shouldn't have been the one who accompanied her brother on this journey, but due to Diane's pregnancy, they couldn't take the risk. The Lycan king was called, and an agreement was reached. Ada was to come instead.

Fast forward three days, here she was, sitting in her appointed chambers, preparing herself to meet the king a day after she arrived. Her heart was beating uncontrollably. She was nervous, and it was understandable. They say he's ruthless, that he accepts no mistakes. And yet, all the Lycans seemed to love him, to worship him, unlike the werewolves. They feared him more than anything. A Lycan was a werewolf's worst nightmare, and Theodore Jones was even worse.

Ada could only wait for the day she was done with her duties and could leave the northern grounds to return to her homeland.

Her sharp senses caught the scruff of feet outside her door, and seconds later, Amelia, her personal helper, entered the room.

"The king will see you now, princess Adelaide," Amelia said.

Ada nodded firmly and stood up from her dresser. Her nerves were frayed, and her heartbeat was going crazy, but she was determined not to show the Lycans any fear. So, with her mind set, she schooled her features and faced the Lycan servant.

"Let's go."

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Her senses were tingling.

Ada could feel that something was not right. Her wolf was anxious, and the princess could only hope that her brother did not get in trouble. She didn't know what she might do if she lost him, and neither would his family. He had a mate and two beautiful children. Their third pup was on the way. He can't leave them. She won't let him.

Ada was nearing the study, where their meeting with King Theodore was taking place. Her wolf was getting even more anxious, projecting those feelings through their bond. Her breathing started to get heavier, and when she reached the doors, she couldn't breathe. Adelaide had to stop a few meters away from her destination to gather herself.

She could distinctly smell a scent that her wolf was reacting to, and she could faintly hear some voices behind the study doors getting louder. She couldn't make out what was being said as her hearing got fuzzier, and her vision became hazy.

She could hear the blood flow whooshing in her head, and she could feel her lungs aching to take a breath.

'What is happening?' Ada thought desperately.

Her answer came in the form of a very terrifying growl, and an even more frightening figure engulfing her body as she surrendered to the darkness.

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Birds.

It was the first thing that Ada heard. It was soon followed by the sound of deep breathing. And suddenly, Ada could no longer ignore the tingling sensations spreading from her fingers and affecting her whole arm.

Her eyes drifted towards the source of feelings only to be met with the body of a large man, resting his forehead on their joined hands. Ada frowned.

Who was the man? She sensed the strong aura he was radiating, and it almost made her wolf want to submit, but she resisted. He must be someone of high standing to be emitting such a thing. But who was he?

Ada tried to remember what happened, and her memories crashed down on her; the strange sensations, the way her body reacted, the muscled figure that held her as she lost her consciousness.

It all came back to her, and when it did, a large gasp escaped her lips at the realization she reached. But it couldn't happen, could it? She wasn't sure if it was even recorded in their history. She couldn't be mated to a Lycan, right? The man currently staring at her with deep green eyes cannot be her mate, right?

She didn't know what to do, as she stared at the man, the Lycan, with an open mouth. Her eyes studied his features, noting the crooked nose and the faint scar across his left cheekbone. He was beautiful. Handsome.

Could it be?

The tingling sensations left her arms as the man suddenly stood up, vacating the chair he once occupied. He turned to face the window, clearing his throat roughly.

"You're awake." He stated, still facing away from her.

Ada stared at him, his voice sending shivers across her body and her wolf purring softly in her head. What was she supposed to answer his statement? Yes? No? Stay silent? She decided to go with the last option.

It was somehow the correct response because she was awarded with his body facing her, a dark eyebrow raised in her direction. She gaped at him before the haze suddenly cleared from her mind, and she sat up straighter. Only then did she notice that she was back in her chambers, resting on her king-sized bed.

"Yes," Adelaide cleared her throat, "I'm awake."

She watched his green eyes darkening further, his beast pushing towards the surface, but their staring match was interrupted when a knock sounded from the door.

Another Lycan entered the room, his head bowing slightly towards her mate. Bowing? Only two people are bowed to in this place.

Either the beta or the –

"My king."