Lycannar


    200


    “You okay?” The question came from the doorway of my bedchamber, and I looked up from where I sat on the bed to see my brother.


    He must have noticed my silence at the dining hall this morning when I came down for breakfast.


    I lowered my gaze and nodded.


    “Yes… I…” I sighed, then looked up at him. “Maybe I’m worrying too much.”


    “Come out.” He said simply, and I rose from the bed. I walked into the living room, bypassing him, and he turned to watch me.


    “Something wrong


    with


    and you


    your woman?<b>” </b>


    I raked my fingers through my hair as I tried to steady my breath. I dropped into a chair, mind spinning, the storm of emotions overwhelming me, sharp and unfamiliar.


    “I can’t feel the connection with Zephyrine anymore,” I confessed. “It’s like she… doesn’t exist.”


    “The love connection?”


    “N… not really. I… I gave her an amulet. One that binds her energy to mine. It’s like a bond. Not the same as a true mate bond, not like the one my foremother forged but close. The amulet was meant to sharpen her Alpha instinct, to keep us tethered. But now… I can’t feel it.”


    He studied me for a while before asking quietly.


    “How long has it been broken?”


    “Sincest night.” I muttered, leaning back, sighing heavily. “I didn’t think much of it at first since she was here with me but this morning she… she acted strange. And then she left for… for him. Her ex. I don’t…”


    I buried my face into my palms, trying to calm myself, to keep from snapping, to keep from drowning in possessiveness.


    I told myself to breathe, to be rational but I couldn’t. This was Zephyrine. My woman. The only part of me I could never be selfless about.


    1/4 <fndb0e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F?nd-Novel</fndb0e>


    200


    “I don’t want to choke her with my jealousy. I don’t want her to feel caged. I don’t want to be that man.” I looked up at him, and he could see the pain written all over me. “But gods, I want her back. I can’t stand knowing she’s anywhere but here or her pack. Not with him. And I swear, I’m running out of patience. I don’t know what to do.”


    Hades was silent for a long moment before he exhaled, gaze steady,


    “You think I’m too much?” I asked quietly.


    He shook his head.


    “I will never find fault in you, little brother. Good or bad, right or wrong, you’ll always be right in my eyes.”


    “So what should I do?” I pressed, but before he could answer, the sound of my uncle’s voice rang from downstairs.


    “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”


    I nearly rolled my eyes in exhaustion. Hades sighed with me, then quietly followed as I rose from the chair. Together, we descended the stairs into the dining hall.


    My uncle Dareth was waiting with the elders.


    “You are not in the meeting hall today, Your Majesty. Reports are piling up. You are needed.”


    I said nothing. My mind was nowhere near statecraft. If I sat through reports now, I would sign something I shouldn’t.


    “I am not well,” I muttered atst, leaning on the table. “Tomorrow.”


    My uncle frowned but didn’t move. One of the elders cleared his throat, ready to speak.


    “You are not usually well, Your Majesty. Should Baron…”


    99


    “No.” My Beta cut him off sharply as he entered the hall. The incident of what had happened that day still fresh in his mmd. “We wait for his Majesty.”


    The elder swallowed, his face paling. The orror of that morning’s tension still lingering. He bowed, then spoke again.


    “All reports will wait for his Majesty’s approval. We’ll deal with lesser matters in the meantime.”


    I inclined my head in thanks, and they filed out. I swallowed hard, trying to hold myself steady. Just then, a maid entered, bowing low.


    “Your Majesty… someone is here to see Lady Zephyrine.”


    My brows rose.


    “Someone?”


    “Yes, my King. She hosted your parties.”


    Her best friend.


    +10 Free Cow


    “Let her in,” I said at once, ncing at Hades, who watched curiously. “She’s Zephyrine’s closest friend.”


    It didn’t take long. She walked in and paused a few paces away, bowing.


    “Your Majesty,” she greeted, ncing at Hades, then back at me. “Is Zephyr here?”


    I paused, then shook my


    head.


    “She told me she needed to go to Hue Pack. Said she’d be back by afternoon, but she hasn’t returned yet. I don’t want to panic.”


    The woman froze at my words, her expression going pale. Her voice dropped low.


    “Why… why would Zephyr go to Hue Pack? She has no business there.”


    “She told you she was going there when she left?” I asked.


    She shook her head.


    “We spoke about her ring. Her engagement to you. Then she said she’d return your horse and check on Luna Tahlia. She promised she’d be back in a day or two. If anything urgent came up, she said we should send a fast rider. Zephyr has no reason to see Nyroth. None. I have a bad feeling about this.”


    I swallowed hard, trying to contain myself.


    “Why?”


    “I don’t know. I could be wrong, but… after Nyroth came to Ash Pack yesterday, she was… different. Normally she cries under her burdens, but this time it was something else. I…”


    “Something’s wrong,” I cut in, my voice low. My chest felt tight.


    Last night she’d cried again. Out of some strange, stabbing pain. This morning, she woke


    calling his name. His name.


    “Maybe a spell?” Hades suggested softly.


    And suddenly it clicked. The amulet around her neck… It wasn’t mine.


    420


    +10 free Going