Chapter 8 Chapter Eight
Those eyes. I want to keep drowning in them~ Xander Vancei.
Xander
Lillyan.
Her name brushes something warm in my chest, and I just stand there, playing with it on my tongue. She’s desperate to reject us, but I can tell there’s something holding her back. I don’t know what it is though. I start to move, to draw her into my arms, but decide against it. Earlier on, Xavier was annoyed, and I knew if I pushed it, he could have started a fight right there in front of everyone. The thought of it makes my wolf growls in annoyance. We share our women—my brothers and I. But this time, the girl has to pick one of us. I don’t see myself letting my brothers fuck her. My heart pinches.
“Get yourself off that high pedestal,” I drawl, trying to act unaffected. The mating ritual has to start now, or the chance will be lost until the next full moon. She opens her mouth as if she wants to say something, then stubbornly purses her lips together. I stifle a satisfied grin. I think I’ve found my favorite pastime. Annoying the fuck out of Lillyan. Xavier leaves the arena, and I guess he’s headed for the library. Tomorrow, we’ll organize the pack, putting everything in place and making sure all is in order. And we’re going to do it even if our mate accepts us or not.
I turn back to send everyone away, when I feel a presence behind me. Her scent—lemon and a distinct scent of amber assail my senses. It’s intoxicating. Her body heat drifts off, and I know if I turn around, I can easily reach out and grab her into my arms.
“A Queen can’t get off a high pedestal. The sky itself is her pedestal.” She sneers, and stomps off. Xarius doesn’t stop her, but I can see the heated gaze he directs towards her departing figure, and those pretty curves of hers which she flaunts without mercy. He’s still seething about what happened earlier with Xavier. The latter owes us an apology.
“Members of Blackmoon,” I begin, my voice clearly floating over the night and pulling the attention of everyone present in the arena. “Congratulations to everyone who found a mate. And to those who didn’t, the next full moon is another opportunity. As your Alpha, I declare this ceremony over. You can head to the East hall where different dishes are already served to kickstart the after-mating ceremony.” I finish off with a playful smile. Everyone bows, and begins dispersing. I spot Pualin moving in my direction through the corner of my eyes, and my mood pivots into anger. I swallow down my bloodthirsty urge, and cross my arms.
“Alpha Xavier,” he gives me a curt nod. I don’t return the gesture. “The mating ceremony was partly a success.” He says.
I arch an eyebrow. “Partly?”
“Your mate is not willing to–” his words die off as I let a bit of my anger slip through, chilling the air with its might. “The Council will be ready to receive official orders tomorrow. I better get to the party.” He clears his throat and says, before hurrying away. Xarius joins me.
“There’s something about him.” He says quietly.
“He was close buddies with our father, that’s enough to show what his personality and thought process looks like.” I say, my attention distracted by a lone leaf slipping off the nearby tree branch.
“Xavier suspects that there’s something wrong in Blackmoon. Something related to the disappearance of the girls, and middle-aged she-wolves.” He lowers his voice and say. I snap my head to him, eyes narrowing.
“You suspect that the Council is not what it used to be?” I ask, knowing fully well that it’s possible.
“Well,” he shrugs. “I’m off to the party. Who knows? I can get laid by two hot chicks tonight.” He winks and I exhale in relief. At least, he’s not angry with me. I head to the Alpha’s part of the pack, my legs dragging like lead at the familiar scenery. Memories after memories hit me with every step I take into the large castle-like house. Servants are milling about, but they don’t pay me much heed aside from curious stares at intervals. I feel like an intruder. I shouldn’t be here. But I want to see her again. I hate that I still remember every corner of this place. My steps halt as my eyes catch the sight of a portrait. The stinging pain which I think I’ve buried springs its ugly head up, almost seizing my breath with its intensity.
“Mother! Do you think I’ll have a white inner wolf?” I picture my younger self questioning my mother. Her kind eyes settled on me, and I wiggled my way into her embrace, the sound of her heartbeat comforting me.
“Of course. Xander-Chan.” She ruffled my hair, and I enjoyed her touch on my head. My mother was Japanese, and I never got to ask her what ‘chan’ meant. “A white inner wolf is powerful, more powerful than other wolves, but you, my son, are the strongest boy I know. You deserve only the best.” She smiled and kissed me on the forehead. My brothers were practicing music in the piano room down the hallway.
The next day, my mother had a big portrait of a white wolf standing next to me, its head turned up in a majestic howl, painted and hung up on the wall. My father secretly beat me up for it, calling me a nuisance.
I absentmindedly trace a finger on my arm, a place where a long scar runs, a place where my father had placed burning iron on, and insisted that I remain mute and not cry and disturb his mate. Sometimes, I suspect that my mother was aware of everything that happened. Yet she chose to do nothing. Yet, she refused to run away with us that night. Yet, she chose her mate over us—her children and victims of abuse.
I turn away from the portrait, suddenly feeling stupid. Why did I even come here in the first place?
I’m about to leave, but I hesitate at the last moment, turning around to the cream-colored door a few feet away, that I knew leads directly into my father’s room—a room where my mother now occupies, waiting for her death.
“Sir, would you like to see her now?” A voice asks from behind me, and I whirl around. “She’s asking for you.” The maid—obviously an Omega—adds, and a wrenching pain clenches my belly again.
“Tell her, I said no.” I leave the castle without taking a second look behind me.
I am not Xander-chan, the fifteen year old boy who loved his mother. I am Xander Vancei, twenty-nine, and leader of the underworld. Times have changed. My mother chose her path. I am still on the way to choosing mine.
“Sir! Please. She wants to see you!”
I continue on my way.