The Luna and her Alpha mate bowed their heads in unison as a sign of apology. No right-minded wolf would challenge a Lycan, let alone the King of Lycans.
The King faced his mate again, his eyes softened a little by how dainty and beautiful she looked. Why did she want to take herself away from him?
He asked in a murderous tone, "Who told you those things?"
Lucianne's eyes turned wide abruptly, "Oh no, your Highness. That's not what I meant. It's just... that's what my previous mates told me before or after they rejected me so I was just giving you an idea on what I'm talking about."
"Previous MATES?"Just hearing the word he felt uncontrollable jealousy and anger. He was the one who should be her MATE and not any other person.
His angered eyes bore into her unperturbed ones as he asked in a dangerously low tone, "Forget that for now. Do you want to reject me?"
She took a moment to think. No one had ever asked her this question.
"That's a very difficult question to answer, your Highness. I don't even know you. I admit that there is the mate bond for now, and I do acknowledge that I feel the sparks but whether I want the rejection… hm, I honestly don't know. But then again, what I wanted never really mattered. My previous mates pretty much decided it for me. That, or they made my decision easy. I do prefer an earlier rejection when there are no memories made as of yet because it would hurt much less. Does that make sense, your Highness?"
Xandar responded firmly, "No. And stop calling me 'your Highness'. You are my mate and I am yours. The mate bond is there for now and forever. The sparks will get stronger. And neither of us are rejecting the other."
There was fury in his voice but also desperation. Desperation to not lose his mate when he had just found her. Desperation for her to accept him and stay with him forever.
She nodded grudgingly once and bit her bottom lip as she dove into her own thoughts.
He sighed. His eyes were gaining back their lilac shades as his fingers reached for her chin and lifted it up gently for their eyes to lock.
"What are you thinking about, Lucianne?" His voice no longer held anger, only gentleness and guilt.
She opened her mouth to say something but closed it after a second thought. She smiled meekly and shook her head slightly before she said, "I was just thinking about the ceremony tomorrow. That's all."
"Lucianne," he reached for her cheek this time as he said, "I'm sorry I yelled at you. But don't lie to me, please. Tell me. What were you thinking about?"
Her eyes dimmed as she looked at the ground, and Xandar felt his heart clenching by her saddened look. She composed herself and muttered, "I can't understand why you won't reject me."
"Because you're my mate!" He whisper-yelled, not that it helped. In a room filled with Lycans and werewolves known for their sharp hearing, it was without a doubt that everyone heard their King.
"Okay." She said meekly and forced a smile.
No one had to tell him that she was unconvinced by how he felt about her. But why would she doubt him? The mate bond was supposed to automatically signify love and commitment. Why didn't she believe him?
His hand suddenly had a mind of its own as it began tracing her right arm in hopes of soothing her and chasing away her doubts.
When he felt the unevenness of her skin, he wasted no time taking a step to her side to examine the cause.
There was a 5-inch scar. Injuries and wounds could heal but for some brutal attacks and accidents, a scar would remain.
The King's eyes darkened again, and he growled so loudly that the werewolves around them took a step back as they held their heads low.
"What? What is it?" Lucianne frantically asked, equally alarmed.
She felt the scar on her arm with her left hand but she wasn't sure what the fuss was about so she looked at the King in confusion, whose onyx eyes were still glued there.
He pushed her left hand away gently and started tracing the scar with his fingers. Lucianne fought through the pleasurable sparks erupting from that area. With his eyes still fixed there, he asked in a low, homicidal tone, "Who did this?"
Lucianne shrugged, "It was just the rogues. Five, maybe six years ago. It's just a dried-up part of the skin, isn't it?"
His dark eyes never left the part of her flesh that was once torn so badly that its appearance never healed. He then locked eyes with Lucianne as he asked in dismay, "How are you okay with this?"
"Your Highness, I'm…"
"Xandar."
"What?"
"Don't call me by my title or my full name. It's just Xandar to you, Lucianne."