The Lycan King novel Chapter 84

Nikolai

A deep, rumbling growl hit my ears.

And just like mine, it had an effect on the entire pack. All of them stopped. Though they didn't kneel, all of them grew confused and began turning their heads to look at the source.

And there she was.

My Queen.

Walking towards me with and elegance and grace that was nonpareil.

People bowed and moved out of her way as she walked straight. Her hair had turned silver and her eyes electric blue. They seared into my soul.

Armed wolves flanked her sides, protecting her and providing her with a wide girth.

She didn't have to utter a single word. The Montana Pack members made way for Ava without a word like the Queen she was.

It was night time now but being werewolves, we had no problem seeing things. But one thing that distracted me was that Ava's silver hair reflected light, making them shine like...the moon. She looked divine...celestial. I couldn't speak, all I was capable of was to stare at her.

She snapped her fingers and the crowd went deathly silent. Another snap, the heads of the head wolves were off the boards and attached to their own bodies again.

I have never been more turned on by a power play.

And then she climbed up the podium and took her place next to me. I could already see it. The change of heart in their eyes. They recognised Avalyn, and even the ones who didn't, knew she was someone special, someone worthy. One thing shined in everyone's eyes. Respect. It's not every day that a female can command and make an entire pack submit like this. Especially a regressive minded pack like Montana.

"Does anyone now doubt the fact that I'm the daughter of Alpha Javier and Luna Valerie?? who was half faye-half werewolf?"

Everyone shook their heads in impeccable synchronisation.

"I am the true heir of Montana Pack. My mate, Nikolai is the Alpha and I am your Luna," she announced. "Those who do not agree, come forward." Wolves know that there is strength in numbers. But when called upon singularly, most lack courage. Or maybe, they were smart.

The wolf in the ring was the only wolf stupid enough to growl and issue a challenge.

Ava's eyes focused on him. "I can kill you without lifting my finger," she said unflinchingly. "But since you think you can become the Alpha, you will have to fight Nikolai...,"

Smirking, I walked down the podium and towards the ring.

"...and defeat him in a duel to death."

My smirk did not falter.

I entered the ring and stood my ground as I watched him circle me. It didn't take me long to size him up. He was juvenile and cocky. And with the way he had positioned himself, he was going to attack me head on. That was going to be his downfall.

"You can shift into your wolf any time you want." At that, he instantly shifted into his wolf. "Use of any sort of weapons is prohibited." Ava's command whipped in the air, "begin!"

The wolf came running towards me and I stood still, waiting for him to reach me.

His mouth opened wide as he was a couple of feet away, wanting to bite me. When he neared me, my hands shot out and grabbed both his jaws in both my hands and I whirled around, pulling my hands in the opposite directions so I tore his fucking mouth open. He cracked his skull open and I used my momentum to throw his now dead body at the bottom of the podium, beneath Ava's feet.

All of this happened in a split second.

The pack broke into gasps and dread rolled off of them.

Ava's blue eyes met mine. "Would anyone else like to challenge Nikolai?"

The pack fell silent.

"I, Avalyn Alvarez- Volkov, Luna of the Rogue Pack, Queen of Mozog," cue more gasps, "and the rightful heir of Montana Pack, strip Emilio Gonzalez, Alpha of the Montana Pack from his position as the Alpha."

Emilio howled in pain and collapsed on the floor. Being stripped from your position is mate of the worst pains a wolf can experience in life, next to being rejected by their mate.

"Kneel." Ava ordered and I sat on my one knee and looked up at her.

"Do you promise to love and cherish this pack as would a father his children?"

"I do." I vowed.

"Do you promise to feed the pack, taking the first bite of the kill and giving the pack, the rest?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to protect and rule Montana Pack fairly and justly, to your best capabilities?" She asked, her blue eyes now soft and loving. My chest ached at it's tenderness.

"I do."

"I declare Nikolai Volkov, Alpha of the Rogue Pack and King of Mozog as the Alpha of Montana Pack." Ava declared.

And I saw pride in her eyes. She was proud of me. And just like always, my best laid plans change when it comes to her, I decided to let go of my anger and do good by Ava. I'll do good by Montana.

We had gathered in the living room after I had ordered the pack to disperse for tonight and told them a pack meeting will be held tomorrow at nine am.

My head ached because of the new bonds formed will all of the pack members. I had already shut my link to stop the buzzing. I know I will get used to it in a couple of hours.

I held two leashes in my hand right now?? Vermin's and his father's. I needed to find a new name appropriate name for him.

I'll need extra time to have fun with the father-son duo.

Ava was sitting on one of the couches with Nat. Her hair was back to brown and her powers had simmered down. I know she was uneasy being back in the same house she was tortured in so I had told Symon to arrange for another one for us. He had sent a couple of slaves to clean up one of the cottages near the pack house. I could also feel her anxiety from being around Vermin and his father.

I let her be. I was still a little pissed at her. And we needed to talk, just not in front of everyone.

"We had the information that there were five hundred wolves who can fight in the pack. Where did the rest come from?" I asked Symon.

"Your information is correct. Now there are only two fifty wolves that can fight. The females were not allowed to train." He replied, his jaw clenched.

"Are you telling me that there is an entire generation of woman that cannot fight?" I growled.

"Yes, Alpha." He replied.

"What else?"I asked.

"A lot of people are judged wrongly and the dungeons are crawling with people who did not commit crimes grave enough to be put in dungeons. The old warriors of the pack, who were trained under Alpha Javier are strong but the new generation is cocky and weak. The security is weak and corruption in the system high. A lot of taxes are collected and the funds are not being used in the interest of the people. The bridge between the rich and the poor is too much. All those who are rich worked for Vermin and filled their pockets. The working class and the warriors are poor and have little to no motivation to work because of that. To get more slaves, more and more humans were kidnapped from the nearby cities and towns and people are getting suspicious. The human police have came up here to investigate thrice in the last year, and each time they've been paid a hefty sum to keep quiet."

I kept quiet and thought over it.

The fundamental structure of the entire pack was faulty. Many changes and reforms will have to be brought in. The rules will have to be changed. The basic way of living of every member of the pack will have to change.

But then on the other hand, this??the way the pack is right now is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to ruin the pack. To burn it to the ground. To annihilate it.

Then why do my instincts tell me to help the pack? To make everything right again? To re-establish peace and order??Because of Ava. Because this is her home.

"I will see what I can do." I told him and walked out of there.

I needed fresh air to think things through. I got Emmanuel but something doesn't feel right. Something doesn't fit. It's not... satisfactory. It feels like a piece is missing. I miss mom. More overwhelmingly than I have ever had.

I stepped out of the pack house and took a deep breath. I started walking down the road, taking random twist and turns.

"Nikolai." I heard Ava call so I stopped but didn't turn around.

She caught up to me and caught my hand in hers, making me look at her. She looked different. Her hair were tied up in a high ponytail. Her eyes were bright, her lips red and cheeks rosy. I know it was probably because of the cold weather, but in that moment, she looked happy.

Her eyes lowered before she gathered the courage to look at me again. "I'm sorry."

"I know." I said with no heat.

"I shouldn't have called you an asshole." She flinched at that word again. "Because it's not true. And I should have listened to you and came back with you. I left to come here the second I knew what you were planning. I should have known something was up when you came to get me," she ranted, "I'm sorry I didn't listen. I now know that you needed me to back you up and be by your side when you addressed the pack but I was...I was just?so?angry." She bit down on her lip hard.

"I know that too."

"I'm so sorry. I couldn't see past my anger. I??"

"Ava, I need to be alone right now." I said softly. Her eyes quickly filled with hurt and tears. "I -I'm sorry Nikolai!" A sob rose up her throat and her slid her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly.

"This isn't about you, Ava. Yes, I'm mad at you but I'm not walking away from you. I just need some time to think about somethings." I rested my head on top of her's and caressed her silver hair.

"Will you come back to me tonight?" She asked in a small voice.

"I will always come back to you."

Slowly, she released me and took a step back. Her eyes searched for mine until she realised I meant my words. "I'll wait for you." And with that, she kissed my jaw, turned around and left.

I continued making my way around the pack.

When will I finally be at peace with mom's death?

I thought that the day I will have Emmanuel, I will feel good and I will finally be able to forgive myself for being a shitty son. What kind of son can't protect his own mother? Hell, I didn't even know she was alive. I thought the attackers had killed her. But she wasn't dead, she wasn't dead until two years after that.