Chapter 7: Chapter 7

The silence of his wolf only lasted until morning. Unfortunately, he’d take the silence any day. ’Mate. Mate knows. Mate upset. Don’t want anyone but mate.’ It was a constant monologue.

Con.stant.

’Go to mate. See mate. Smell mate. I can smell mate. Want mate.’

Chris pressed his palms into his eyes. He had to admit the night before in that alleyway had been an awakening. He’d never believe it would feel that good. Never believed it would happen outside of a mateship. And certainly never believed it would happen the night before with some random female he hadn’t clapped eyes on since.

It had been a rush.

’Mate needs us. Mate hurting. Your fault.’

’Mate doesn’t give a shit about us, so shut your trap,’ he argued back.

’Stuborn, stupid human,’ his wolf snapped.

Chris gritted his teeth, his mind a torrent of hatred. He felt ill. He needed that feeling back again… the silence.

He ignored the gripe of hunger within him to hide in his room until much later in the day. He needed his wolf to shut up. He couldn’t deal with it. Couldn’t cope with the constant stream of monologue. Feeling a little sick, he finally left his room at dusk. Feeling self-conscious, he made his way to the kitchen in hope of finding some food.

“My Pr- Christopher, not seen you today.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Sandwich?” Luca asked, holding out a plate.

“I’m sure you made that for yourself. I’ll gladly make one.”

“Nonsense.” Luca thrust the plate into Chris’ hands. “I’m meeting a few friends later, it’s a group from both packs if you wanted to join.”

“Really? You would like me to?” Chris had never been invited to anything that wasn’t a formal mandated meeting or ball.

“Course, would be nice to get to know you for… well you, rather than… this.” Luca gestured to him.

“What do you mean? This is me.”

“No-one acts like this twenty-four seven. Come, it’ll be fun.”

“That would be brilliant, thank you. Is… what I’m wearing OK?” He gestured down to his tailored trousers and pale shirt.

“Whatever you’re comfortable in, everyone will be in jeans.”

Chris battled between the expectation of who he was… and wanting that level of acceptance he just had never felt before. “Do I have time to get changed?”

“Course, We’ll leave when you’re ready,” Luca replied brightly.

Chris ate the sandwich Luca had given him on the way back up to his room, “The Alpha’s son has invited me to a small get together. Will you guard the external door?” he asked oh so politely to his guards.

“We are here for your protection, I wouldn’t feel comfortable…” Matilda trailed off as her eyes glazed.

“You know it’s rude to link each other when I’m right in front of you,” he half scolded, half complained.

“Apologies, your Highness. I think if we make a quick sweep of the place you’ll be, then wait outside, that will be acceptable, but you must link or call out if you feel at all that you need us.”

“Just be discrete. It’s a small gathering of future high ranking wolves. I feel it good for The Crown to see them relaxed, they can’t do that if they feel watched.”

“I understand, My Prince. We’ll be at a distance.”

“Thank you.” Chris gave a small nod before going into his room to change.

With four sets of boots thudding the pavement, Luca and Chris made their way to the outskirts of town. “It’s one of my friend’s houses, they’re mated but still pupless so we hang out there.”

“End of the season now isn’t it?”

“As of the moon rising, yup.”

“Are they pupless by choice?” Chris asked with intrigue.

“They are. A lot of couples are choosing it now… Maybe later on they’ll choose different, but… I know if I wasn’t to be Alpha I’d choose to wait. Don’t feel ready.”

“Do you have the expectation to have a pup as soon as you find your mate?”

“Oh yeah, dad’s already on me at it… not like forcing just… you know.”

“Father was the same with Marc, he still waited a bit though.”

“You probably don’t want to hear this… but we had bets of when the royal pup would be announced.”

Chris shrugged. “I know it happens. Who won?”

“Lacy, you’ll meet her tonight.”

“Looking forward to it.”

The pair entered the house while Callum went ahead, leaving Tillie to keep an eye on the entrance. “Sorry,” Chris muttered.

“It’s understandable. Don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Don’t you start.”

Luca chuckled while Callum came back, “All clear. Have fun.” He smiled brightly, gesturing for Matilda to go ahead of him back outside.

Entering the living room showed a group of six, “Luca you made it!” a male with dark blonde hair announced enthusiastically, waving a bottle.

“Hey, Kev, brought an extra.”

“Can see, Your Highness.” Kev bowed his head before turning to bare his jugular.

“Please, Chris, it’s Chris,” he insisted, waving his hand. “You’re the future Alpha of Celestine?”

“Yeah, but… well, if we can’t call you Your Highness, let’s leave rank at the door, eh?”

“I like that.” He found a smile on his face as the group beckoned him to sit on one of the leather sofas and pressed a bottle into his hand.

Careful questions were directed his way until the group settled and grew comfortable around Chris. He was glad it didn’t take long, he wasn’t really sure what he was expecting but the group broke out cards. “Know how to play Kings?”

“Yeah, course,” Chris replied easily.

“Cool, but this time, if you get any royal, you have to take a swig.”

“Oh, OK. Still the same that you don’t want to hold the King?”

“Yes.” Luca replied, swiping through the cards and removing all but one King.

Swapping cards, and placing matches down, the group chatted easily.

“Harvey, how was your trip?”

Chris glanced at the light-haired male who had been asked, wondering which trip they were referring to.

“Oh, yeah, was fine. No issues. They asked if I wanted hard water, some new shit.”

“Hard water? What is that… solid water?” Kevin asked.

“They put alcohol in it. I didn’t think Alpha would be happy me getting extras that weren’t on the order.”

“Did you pick up that chocolate?” Luca asked, taking a sip of cider.

“Course, it’s on every order just for you. Swear no other pack orders Double Deckers, chocolate is sweet enough.”

“But Double Deckers are amazing! They’re not just for me! Lacy has them too!” he protested.

“They are good, did you understand him this time?”

“Oh, no. I still can’t work out his accent. It’s so strong! Nothing like the border where we used to live.” Harvey gulped a large swig of beer after picking up a card from the centre deck.

“What does he sound like again? Chris, you’ll love this,” Henry’s mate, Felicity announced.

“Och aye laddy, d’ya want owt else?”

The room exploded in laughter at his terrible attempt.

“So bad!”

“He can’t sound like that,” Chris said.

“It’s as good as!” Henry protested.

“So you go through the barrier a lot?” he asked.

“Yes, once a month on average to get a few supplies we can’t make ourselves. I do it for both packs to make it a little safer.”

Lacy and Kevin traded cards as the conversation went, Harvey picked a card and his face said it all that it wasn’t a card he wanted.

“Are humans truly dangerous?” Chris probed, leaving the wolves’ land was something he had never done… and never would. Royals were strictly forbidden from ever going through the protective barrier to human land.

“Not really, they’re friendly. Have some strange opinions, but I’m sure if we were honest we’d be strange for them.” Harvey picked a card from Luca.

“And they truly have no idea about the barrier?” Chris asked, it was something he’d always wondered.

“Nope, they go right through it. The witches did a good job!” Harvey replied

“What if that barrier ever disappeared?” Kevin asked theoretically.

The group sat back in thought. It was something that had always been in their lives, and their grandparents lives and their grandparents. It had been a protection all wolves had always known since the first pack.

“Chaos,” Chris murmured. “The border was put there for a reason. Humans kill what they fear.” That’s what his tutor had told him.

“I think the humans of a thousand years ago would have… now? Not sure,” Luca said.

“Are there any covens left?” Felicity asked, peering at her cards intently.

“Disappeared centuries ago.” Chris shrugged.

“I’m not so sure. Wouldn’t the barrier disappear if there were no more witches?”

“Nah,” Kevin replied, “Isn’t it like crystal-based?”

“All coverns came together to make the barrier…” Chris trailed off, realising he’d never learnt how they had done that. “Well… it would have taken a lot of witches, it’s tail to tip of the island.”

“If it were crystals, wouldn’t we have found them? And what if someone picked them up? There would be no more barrier, it can’t be crystals, Kev,” Luca theorised.

“Well, I’m glad for the barrier, I for one, never want to go to human land and don’t want a human to roam in our land,” Lacy announced, placing her cards down. “No Kings!”

“I always lose!” Harvey cried slamming his cards down in frustration.

“Bad poker face, mate.”

Chris laughed and excused himself for some water.

Leaning against the kitchen counter, he sipped at water, pleasantly surprised how relaxed he felt amongst the group. ’Mate’s outside.’ He huffed to himself, yes, his wolf did not need to pitch in; he could smell him.

“Oh, good idea,” Lacy announced coming through the door. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard, filling it to the brim. “How have you found tonight?”

“Good, it’s been nice to have a laugh.”

“Can imagine there isn’t much laughter at the palace.”

“Hmm, can be lonely. It’s the persona, I always have to be… a Hunterson.”

A warm body leant against his side. “It’s a double-edged sword I suppose. You get everything, want for nothing… but comes at a cost,” she theorised, her hand landing on his stomach.

He peered down at her splayed hand, caressing his shirt gently. “I… er… I suppose.”

She giggled, “You’re cute.”

“Thanks?”

“I mean… it’s just you don’t know what to say sometimes… it’s actually refreshing, we always think the royals know everything and know how to deal with it all.”

“My brother does… my sister’s pretty good at it all… it’s just me. I’m not a very good royal.” He shrugged.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re adorable.”

Scrunching his nose up, giving her a slightly disgruntled look.

“Oh, I meant it in a good way! I’m messing this up, aren’t I?”

“What exactly was your aim…?”

“Get in your good books?”

“I don’t have anyone in my bad books. You’re fine.”

Her head landed on his shoulder, nuzzling against the soft fabric of his shirt. “You smell good.”

He should say something similar… reciprocate the compliment. That was the normal thing to do, right?

“Your hair is beautiful, it catches the moonlight showing gold.”

Another giggle escaped her. “I don’t think anyone’s said something like that to me before. So sweet.”

“It’s true.” He found his arm slipping around her shoulder, remembering the silence of his wolf the night before. He wanted that peace again. His wolf grumbled and growled in his head, but he managed to keep it in his head only. Forcing the wolf back, he twisted to face her, clasping her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Rising on her toes, she pressed her lips to his. A growl of displeasure ripped from his chest but he ignored the side of him screaming this was wrong, instead of pulling away, he cupped her head to pull her closer.

With hands fisting his shirt, they began moving, and Chris went along with her. Their kissing became more ferocious as they climbed the stairs, tongues crashing and fighting each other.

Chris switched their positions when they entered a bedroom, lifting her onto the bed before crawling over her.

He didn’t really know what he was doing… but it should be easy enough. Right?

Tugging at her t-shirt, he chucked it somewhere within the shadow of the room before licking and biting at her chest and bra. Her moans supported his instincts were right. Her fingers fumbled at the buttons on his shirt, but he swiped her away, not feeling the wish to be undressed. Pinned her hands to the bed, he nuzzled at her skin, running his nose down her stomach. She struggled out of his hold to undo her own jeans, bucking her hips to shimmy them down.

He undid his belt and trousers, tugging them down just enough before her bare legs coiled around his waist. He wasn’t really sure what to do as her warmth touched him. She reached down between their bodies and grasped him, his hips instantly bucking with the feel. She guided him so he soon felt surrounded by her. While it felt better than a mouth… an uncomfortable roll squirmed in his stomach. Pushing it to the side, he thrust his hips.

Soon he found himself rolled onto his back with her astride him. Rocking above him, his head flung back, his eyes closing. With his eyes closed… he could imagine someone else. His short nails dug into bare thighs, feeling that rush of release beginning to grow.

Gripping her hips in a bruising hold, he smashed up into her, slamming her down at the same time. He was selfishly taking without caring for the female above him. In the morning he may hold some regret for that, but in that moment he chased his own pleasure until his battling mind was silent and his wolf disappeared for a few hours.

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