The Lycan King novel Chapter 65

Avalyn

Nik and I had breakfast together in his office but then I realised that he was working on something important so I left him to it and stopped distracting him. He had also told me that we would talk about this tonight and I was eager for that. Maybe I can talk and change his mind.

The entire house was empty, only the usual guards here and there were present. Maybe they all were out. Or maybe they were working. Who am I fooling? I know that they all are working. They are preparing for the war.

Having nothing to do, I decided to go out for a run. It had been a while since I had let my wolf out anyways. I walked to the backyard and shifted into my wolf.

My eyesight got sharper, my hearing got stronger, I could smell better and I felt a lot stronger. But my wolf felt a little weaker than before. I knew I wasn't an Alpha wolf like I was when I first shifted.

As my powers were getting stronger, my wolf was getting weaker.

Deciding to mull over it later, I took off for a run. My eyes fell on a bunny and I licked my lips.

I wanted the chase. I wanted the hunt. And my wolf was ready for it.

I slowly creeped up behind it, unnoticed and when I felt near enough, I pounced. But the little rabbit saw me and made a dash for it. I ran behind it, my feet thudding on the soft soil of the forest.

After half a minute, the rabbit disappeared in a burrow beneath a tree and I let out a low growl. I want to catch it.

Next time.

I trotted further ahead, trying to find something else to amuse myself but a wolf ran up to me and I stiffened. But I smelled that it was a pack member and I was in no danger here.

The wolf bowed his head in front of me. 'Good morning Luna.'

'Good morning.'?I don't recognise him but he was clearly a patrol wolf. The question is why is he in the middle of the pack, guarding some area instead of just the pack border like all the patrol wolves do?

'I'm sorry but no one is supposed to go beyond this line, as per Alpha's strict orders.'?He told me.

I tilted my head. 'Why?' This is a part of the pack land and I've ran in the area more than a hundred times. Most of the times, Nik was with me!

'I don't know, Luna. We do not question Alpha's orders, we just follow.' He kept his head lowered with respect.

'Right. Good job.' I nodded. 'Have a nice day.' I told him and turned back around, running the rest of the way to the house.

I hid behind the tree in the backyard and changed into my clothes before walking back inside. I caught someone entering the dining room and I followed, hoping to get some answers.

Nik was being too tight lipped. That, and a part of him was still upset at me, I didn't want to pester him more.

It was Mikhail.

"Hey Avalyn." He said, picking up a banana and leaned against the cabinet.

"Hey. Where were you? Where is everyone?" I asked directly, cutting to the chase. The house was way too bare in the morning to be normal.

"I was out for some work. And the rest are working too." He answered without any hesitation but then he frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be training right now?"

"What's the use? I'll be using my magic all the time anyways." I shrugged.

"Its better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war." There was something in his eye when he said that.

I bit my lip. "Speaking with experience?"

"Always." He gave me a small smile and bit into his banana.

"Were you the warrior or the gardener?"

His eyes snapped to mine and darkened as he got lost in his thoughts. "None. I was the spectator."

Huh?

He opened his mouth but closed it and pressed his lips tightly together before finally deciding to speak. "My parents were killed in an invasion. My father was the pack doctor and he didn't believe in violence so he refused to learn how to fight too. Got him killed in the end. Along with my mother."

A gasp left my mouth. I never knew...

"I'm so sorry."

"It's fine. It was a long time ago." He shrugged, brushing it away.

"You don't have to hide your pain for the sake of others, Mikhail. It's okay to say that... it's not okay." I know that now.

He seemed troubled now. Like he had never thought of even thinking that it can be 'not okay'. It didn't shock me. The males of this house had the tendency to squash down everything that they thought was a weakness. But being hurt is not a weakness. It's a sign that you have been strong for too long. Its a battle scar. And there is no need to hide it.

"How old were you?"

"Nine." He whispered. "My mother forced me to run away from the back door. She— they sacrificed their lives so I could escape." He sounded bitter about that.

"Your parents were very brave." I said softly. "Don't resent them for loving you more than their own lives. Any decent parent will put their child before themselves. So instead of... resenting them for their choice, respect them and their decisions. Honour their memories."

He remained quiet for a while, taking it all in.

"Thank you." His voice sounded thick. "You would make a good mother."

My heart cracked at that. I'll never be a mother, even if I birth the child, I'll never be able to?be?a mother. And I can never do that to Nik. I can't leave him alone, especially when it is his greatest fear.

"Thank you." I forced myself to smile. He doesn't know, I reminded myself. He means well.

He gave me a warm smile.