The Lycan King novel Chapter 31

Nikolai

Ava had invited the vampires to stay the night but they politely declined, informing her that they had rented a hotel in the nearby human town. I knew she was worried but I told her to let them be. More than being worried about them, I knew she was worried about the humans but all of them clearly had pets. When you were a high ranker, having pets was more like a status symbol more than a necessity.

I took Ava down to the beach after that, we had lots to discuss.

"Take off your sandals." I told her as I removed my own. She smiled widely as she quickly did as I said. I placed them on a rock before holding her hand and we took off for a walk.

"Lets talk about you first. I know we haven't done that much since you shifted." I told her. "How do you feel, Love?"

"I feel...alive." She looked up at me.

It was true, her blood hummed louder, her eyes glowed with more happiness than I had ever seen and there was just something different about her. "I mean, I was living before. But now, it feels like I was merely surviving then. I am truly living now." She said as she kicked a rock ahead. "At first, I wouldn't even feel entitled to kick this rock, almost as if I'm doing something wrong by moving it from its place." She whispered.

In moments like these, I realised how deep her submission ran. It had been ingrained in her for ten, long years. I made me furious that she had to go through it, but what made me more furious was the fact that my mate had been suffering through all of that silently, all alone and I had no clue.

"And now?" I asked.

"I feel like my old self, Nikolai. When I was still a kid and papa was still alive." She swiped a palm across her cheek. I tugged her in front of me and smiled at my beautiful girl. I cupped her cheeks with both my hands and wiped her tears with my thumbs. Her long, brown hair were flying all over the place because of the wind and her warm brown eyes were glassy. She was still as beautiful as ever.

"How were you when you were little?" I asked. I wanted to know more about her. All she had shared with me about her past was the dark part of it. I wanted to know how she was before that too.

"Papa used to call me firefly." She chuckled but there was nothing humorous about it. It was more of a 'I can hardly believe it' laugh.

"He said that I was like a firefly because I had fire within me and I was meant to fly. Back then, I used to be confident and strong, I didn't take shit from anybody." She bit her lip. "I had a best friend, we used to be the only girls who play with the boys. The other girls thought that the game we played would get them dirty because of the mud or something so they would stay away." She smiled, her thoughts a million miles away. "And I used to get into a lot of fights." her eyes slid to me and then widened at my smirk. "I wasn't crazy!" She palmed her mouth.

"Never said you were." I laughed.

"I only fought because I thought there was injustice happening in the situation." She reasoned, her eyes light with laughter. "So yeah, Papa thought that I needed to channel my anger so he started training me. Thats why I became good at aiming and a little at fighting at such a young age." That she was. She had a knack for learning things quickly and since she had started training everyday, she had gotten much better.

"Your Papa was a wise man." I smiled and we continued walking.

"The wisest. I miss him everyday." She whispered. I wanted to say something to make it better, but there was nothing I could say to take away her pain. So I remained silent.

We had reached the edge of the beach so we took a u-turn after that. "He was a strong Alpha. He was fair but strict. No other packs tried to mess with him you know? That's why I wonder how Emmanuel managed to kill him." I told her. I had met him a couple of times during the annual meetings and the ball I was supposed to attend with Adrik.

"You said something about the people would have told him if they knew, what was that about?" She asked me.

"The pack members are loyal to their Alpha Ava. That is unless they are forced otherwise or are bitter about something. No wolf would defy the Alpha anything if he is a happy with his life in the pack. From what I know about Alpha Javier, the people were happy in his rule. It would be difficult to manipulate wolves into accepting the death of their Alpha so easily. And even after that, convincing the entire pack that the Alpha died and he being the Beta lived isn't easy. A good beta would kill himself if that means the Alpha lives." I told her.

"I didn't know." She seemed deep in thought.

"I know I shouldn't ask you this, but do you think your father had any pets?" I asked her. "Anyone you thought he was close to but that person wasn't a werewolf, did everything your father said and took care of you in his absence?"

I could see she was thinking hard. "Mrs. Maria." She whispered. "She was the human who was always there, she was close to papa. She was the house cook and always took care of me, like my mother would have if she were there." Her hands shook as she combed her fingers through her hair. It was a nervous habit of her's. I took her hands in mine and gripped it tightly.

"Not all pets are used to have sex, Ava." I told her softly. I knew it was bothering her too much. "Maybe she was just there to fill the void of your mother. You are a girl, your father couldn't teach you everything a mother could. Was there any other pet that may be alive?" I asked. She clenched her hands in mine and shook her head.

It would have been a good start but it clearly was a dead end.

"You know Alpha Javier was right, you are like a firefly." I smiled down at her. She peered up at me through her glassy eyes. She just shook her head. "Doesn't feel like it. That Avalyn is lost forever."

"And yet, a better version is standing right in front of me." I tugged her again and made her stand in front of me. This was a conversation during which I wanted her to look in my eyes, to see for herself that I was speaking the truth.

"Surviving years of torture, being able to love a possessive ass like me, killing a full grown werewolf while you were a human, shifting into an Alpha wolf at the age of twenty three, reprimanding me for a dick move, facing Vasilik, killing him and them handling his subjects like a pro, I would say you have quite the fire in you Love." I smiled and caressed her soft cheek with my thumb.

She smiled back shyly. "I wouldn't say I reprimanded you."

"But you held your ground." I gathered her in my arms and kissed her forehead. "That's more than what I can say more most people. I'm sorry for being a dick, Love."

"No, you were hurt and angry, I understand Nikky." She smiled.

"Still not good enough of a reason to treat you like that. And Nikky?" I raised my brows in amusement.

"It was fine. Yeah, you have so many nicknames for me, I wanted a few more." Her eyes twinkled.

"All of me is only for you, sweet. You may call me whatever you wish." I smiled.

"Whatever?" She wiggled her brows mischievously. I pinched her butt. "I might just have to spank you for being naughty then. You know what? Go ahead and give me another stupid nickname." I grinned.

Her blush rose further and her face turned a lovely shade of crimson. "And I might just love it." She said and pressed her hips against my mine, grinding slowly. I groaned as I kept a firm grip on her hips and pulled her back. "As much as I would love to, we still have things to discuss,?Moya Lyubov."

She nodded. "The kids." She said and then turned completely serious. "To be honest, I love them already and I wouldn't mind if they come here with us."

"Neither do I. I just wanted your opinion first. There is just something about them that's familiar, I have this urge to protect them." I narrowed my eyes in distance. I didn't feel like that for anyone else other than Ava. "And when Vanessa came and hugged me, I was so shocked, I know she is scared of males and has issues with touching people. Which is also why it meant so much more."

"It's clear then, they stay with us." Ava smiled, satisfied with the outcome.