Mysterious mate to the lycan prince (Addison and Max) novel Chapter 18

**The Crimson Oath — Bryan Foster**
**Chapter 18**

**Max**

As I stood there, I could feel the tension in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. Tyler rubbed his hands together, a nervous gesture that suggested he was about to deliver news I wouldn’t want to hear. “Our father gave you clear instructions to change the duration of the competition from two months to just one. Can you even begin to imagine what will happen when he finds out you chose to ignore his orders?”

I shrugged, trying to shake off the anxiety that threatened to grip me. “Honestly, I don’t know. It just didn’t sit right with me to cut it short. I understand he wants everything to go his way, but reducing the time means fewer challenges for everyone involved. And we both know we need the best warriors, not to mention the whole mate-finding aspect. I need more time to observe Addison and understand her capabilities. There’s no better opportunity for that than during this competition.”

Tyler’s expression twisted into one of disapproval, his teeth gritting together. “I really don’t like this, Max. You’re putting yourself in a precarious situation, and you could get into serious trouble.”

I raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Why are you acting like I’m the only one who’ll face the consequences? We’re in this together, you know. You could always make the change yourself.”

“No way. I don’t want that kind of responsibility, and to be honest, a month feels way too short,” he confessed, a hint of frustration seeping into his voice.

“I’ll remember that when we’re standing before the king, facing questions about this. It’s bound to come up.”

His eyes widened in alarm. “What? Are we really going to the palace?”

“After everything that happened here, do you honestly think it’s wise to avoid going?”

“But… but we’re not even dressed like royalty to make an appearance before the lycan king!”

I rolled my eyes, exasperated. “That’s one of the lamest excuses you’ve ever come up with. We’ll change in Pike Hill; it’s the closest to The Palace. It’s only 1 PM, and we have until 5 PM to make it there. There’s no time to waste.”

Pike Hill was renowned for its prestigious institutions, including the Academy of Warriors. The difference in the architecture and overall vibe between Raven Mist and Pike Hill was stark, but it was only fitting. Anything in proximity to the palace should meet a certain standard of excellence.

Tyler and I had checked into the most opulent suite, designed for royal use, solely to change into our formal attire.

In the spacious bedroom, a wall-length mirror provided a perfect view as we stood side by side, donning our royal blue waistcoats that matched our trousers.

“This is where it all began,” Tyler mused, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

“What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled.

“You know, this entire journey of finding our mates. We’ve been through every prestigious school in the area and watched the competition unfold. Then we ventured out into the wider world, but the truth is, we’ve spent the most time at Blackbolt High.”

“It’s only been a week,” I retorted dismissively.

“Exactly! A whole week! The longest we’ve ever stayed at any other school was maybe four days!”

“With everything happening with Addison, we might end up spending even more time there until we figure out what’s going on,” I replied, my mind racing with thoughts of her.

“But that’s precisely the issue.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Before you even learned about all this, we were already spending too much time there. I know it’s because you like her, and let’s not forget Koa, who rarely approves of anyone. No one has ever made you feel this way before. But look at us; we’re back in Pike Hill, and Trish almost had you wrapped around her finger.”

“Don’t even start with that,” I warned, irritation creeping into my tone.

“What?” He chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Isn’t that the truth?”

“No. You’re mistaken.”

Just as he was about to launch into another round of teasing, I clapped my hands sharply, signaling the royal attendants waiting just outside the suite to come in.

The doors swung open, and six royal attendants entered, two carrying our long coats, another pair with our rings, and the last two holding our crowns.

Tyler and I stood still, allowing them to take care of the formalities, their movements graceful and careful, as none of them wanted to make a mistake.

Once they finished adorning us, they lined up, heads bowed, awaiting further instructions.

Tyler and I exchanged glances through the mirror, a sense of nostalgia washing over us as we stood in our royal attire.

His usual playful demeanor faded as he glanced down at his left hand. “Everything looks perfect, except… where’s my emerald ring?”

The attendant responsible for placing the rings stepped forward, visibly shaking. “Please forgive me, My Prince. I’ll fetch it immediately.”

“I’ll let it slide this time,” he replied, his tone softening slightly. “You’re excused, but hurry.”

She nodded quickly, rushing out while maintaining an air of grace.

The remaining attendants stood in line, their hearts racing, clearly anxious about what had just transpired. It was evident they feared a similar fate could befall any of them.

I couldn’t help but scoff internally at how Tyler transformed in the presence of those who recognized us. I could only imagine the shock on the faces of those who saw him as just a dorky high schooler when they learned about his true identity. My own experience was different; I had never had to put on a façade like he did.

Once he received his emerald ring, it was time to head to the palace. Outside our door, the royal guards awaited us, ready to escort us for protection. I found it unnecessary, as Tyler and I were more than capable of handling ourselves, but there were rules we had to follow as royalty, and this was one of them.

As the grand doors of the royal palace swung open, a fanfare of trumpets heralded our arrival.

The royal guards flanked us, creating a path as we walked through, and we were greeted by Beta Farris. He was just as stern as my father but had a soft spot for us, which made the atmosphere slightly less intimidating.

The grand welcome, complete with trumpets and cascading flower petals, made me chuckle as we entered. “Isn’t this a bit over the top? This isn’t our official return.”

“You’re both home after such a long time, aren’t you?” Beta Farris chuckled warmly. “Prince Tyler, the last time I saw you, you were shorter than me. Look at you now. Everyone’s been eagerly awaiting your return. Right this way.”

“Take him away.” My father waved his hand dismissively, as if the matter were already settled.

As Murphy’s pleas echoed through the throne room while he was dragged out, I found myself grappling with a mix of emotions. Part of me believed he deserved his fate, yet another part questioned why the thought of it left me feeling slightly uneasy.

Tyler and I had never been present for any of our father’s judgments, and witnessing this for the first time left a profound impact on us.

I glanced at Tyler, who couldn’t hide his shock; his eyes widened as he gripped the sides of his seat tightly.

“Let this be a lesson to the rest of you,” my father proclaimed, his voice echoing in the silence. “Anyone found acting in a manner that contradicts what is expected will face similar consequences. There will be no second chances. Now, Alpha Jeffery, ensure your daughter receives the punishment she deserves. Otherwise, I will take matters into my own hands.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Jeffery bowed, his demeanor shifting to one of concern.

I could tell this was a twist he hadn’t anticipated. He had likely planned to deal with Ruby in his own way, but now that the lycan king was involved, the situation became significantly more complicated.

Once everyone was dismissed and it was just the four of us, my mother rose from her seat and hurried over to Tyler and me, her embrace enveloping us with warmth as she chuckled.

“My boys. I feel so short now. Just look at both of you,” she said, her voice soft and affectionate.

We exchanged awkward smiles, aware of the distance that had grown between us during our time apart. My mother had been restricted from communicating with us, a decision made by my father as the years passed. He believed her softness would interfere with our mission to find our mates.

“Max,” my father’s voice rang out, breaking the moment.

“Yes, Father?” I replied, my heart racing slightly.

“I remember instructing you to shorten the competition’s duration. Why haven’t you complied?”

I glanced at Tyler, relieved that the question had landed squarely on my shoulders.

“I chose not to shorten it because there’s something I need to address. It wasn’t my intention to defy your orders. I want to maintain the current timeline for a specific reason. Something unusual is happening with her. Please trust me; I’ll show you once the competition progresses to more challenging rounds.”

Though he still bore an expression of displeasure, he asked, “Who is this girl?”

“Her name is Addison Hunter, the same one who was wrongfully accused by Murphy and Ruby.”

“Hmm, so that’s the girl,” he mused, his interest piqued. “And which pack does she belong to?”

“Moon Frost.”

“What?” His voice rose, and he shot to his feet, disbelief etched across his face.