His Hybrid Queen

Chapter 19

Claire

My mind started racing with all the possible reasons for my current problem. The how and why we ended up in this situation. It was far from the happy ending I was picturing and wishing for when we finally got together. It was never a matter of if but of when. I never had a doubt in my heart that we were meant to be together despite all of my fears. Fears that turned into reality as I tried again to free myself and winced at the pain.

“Baby, relax.” Victor’s voice was soothing as if he sensed my struggle. “We shouldn’t separate forcefully, or you might get hurt.”

“What should we do then?” I was on the verge of tears after the mating euphoria had ebbed away.

“It might take some time, but we just have to wait.”

“Why is this happening?” I inquired hoping that my mate had the answers I was looking for.

“It’s a rare occurrence but it could happen during mating.” His arms tightened around me as if to prevent me from trying to escape his hold again. “It’s to make sure that the seed takes root.” He added whispering, his breath hot against my ear.

“Oh...Oh!” The first sound was low as I took in the information. The second was high-pitched as panic left the place to embarrassment and I really understood what that meant. When I was learning about werewolves mating, my tutor talked more in hints and allusion rather than in explicit details.

“Is that a problem? I can’t pull out or use a condom or else the mating process would be incomplete.”

“I don’t know.”

It was all I could say before I was struck by silence as I considered his question. Not for the lack of words, but because I genuinely didn’t know. Having a family was the only thing I wished for whenever I saw a shooting star or blew a single candle on a cupcake celebrating my birthday. I guess making my own little family would be the only way to make that wish come true. All the relatives from my mother’s side were dead. Also, I didn’t have a clue about my father’s identity except for the vague details my mom wrote about him in her journal.

I tried to relax in my mate's embrace and leaned my head on his shoulder. It was difficult to do so because of the way our bodies were still connected, and hard to ignore the feeling of him filling me. Victor was nuzzling on my neck and kissing leisurely the mark he gave me, sending jolts of pleasure down to my core. He grunted as I clenched around him, and I wondered if he was ever going to deflate if he kept doing that. It was like a vicious cycle.

“How did you find this place?” It was a question as good as any. As long as I managed to deflect our attention from the heat simmering between us. 

“It’s something I learned from my time in the Kiona Tribe.”

“I never heard of them.” 

“It’s a small tribe hidden between the mountains.”

“Is that where you got these tattoos?” I asked as I brushed the dark lines on his forearm.

“It’s a long story.”

I twisted to look up at him and narrowed my eyes at him.

“Time is all we have right now.” I deadpanned.

The conversation flowed easily between us like we knew each other for a lifetime. Victor answered all my questions, despite being brief. I didn’t use the no-secrets card because I didn’t want to pressure him on talking about a subject that he wasn’t comfortable with. I felt him tense when the subject of his father came up and I didn’t prod further.

I lost track of time as we talked. It must have been after 30 minutes or an hour when I finally felt the pressure subside. I almost reeled at the empty feeling in my lower region after he pulled out. Victor helped me out of the water and I clutched his arm as I took careful steps, afraid I might slip and fall.

“We could get back faster if we shift.” 

“I don’t think I can. I feel exhausted.” I sighed. 

The events of the day have taken a toll on me and our intense mating left me sated but depleted. All I could think about was a warm soft bed.

“Then I will shift and you can ride me,” Victor suggested smirking. I didn't miss the hint of naughtiness in his tone. 

“That would be nice,” I replied matching his expression.

Victor picked a velvet robe from the floor and draped it on my shoulders. Then he shifted to his Lycan form. My heart swelled with pride at how strong and powerful my mate was. It was in contrast to how scared and betrayed I felt hours earlier when I saw his beast for the first time. Suddenly, I felt silly for being adamant about protecting him and I understood why he felt hurt by it. I couldn’t help it either way. It was a need driven by instinct and love. I felt at peace for overcoming the hurdles in our relationship and being able to work it out.

Victor dropped on all four and lowered to his belly so I could climb on his back. Before I straddle him, a different kind of worry took place in my mind. I wondered if the pack would accept me back as their Luna or would they shun me as a fallen Alpha. I shook my head and I settled on his back. 

“I wanted to do this for a long time.” My mate’s voice sneaked in my mind. 

He sounded human and warm, unlike his Lycan’s voice. It was proof of our newly formed mate bond. Though it didn’t feel new, but different. Though I didn’t know what it was at first, our bond was always there. Now, it felt stronger, more solid, and tangible. 

I held on to his fur as he walked down from the elevated cave. When we reached more even ground, Victor started trotting and I had to lay on my stomach and I wrapped my arms around his neck. The warmth of his body and the sound of his huffing as he ran distracted me from the cold and gusting wind.

Before long, we reached the palace gates. Guards were stationed as usual. They seemed to freeze when they saw us. After a beat of silence broken by a low snarl from their new Alpha, they got the message and let us pass. Before going inside, I pulled on Victor’s fur to stop him. 

“No wolves allowed inside!” I told my mate and he huffed. “You’ll ruin the carpet! It’s a custom Persian rug.” I scolded him.

Alphas didn’t like been told what to do, but Victor listened and allowed me to climb off before he shifted to his human skin. We made our way through the entrance hall where we found our welcoming committee formed by the members of the Beta Family.

Severin and Gardenia were standing in front of the triplets as if they were the true leaders. A hint of a scowl appeared on their faces. They were clearly displeased at seeing me well and alive, and by the side of their new Alpha.

“What are you doing here? I fired you!” I reminded my former counselor that he was not welcome in my court anymore.

“I believe that decision is up to the new Alpha.” If I didn’t know any better I would have been fooled by his calm expression.

“Her words are as good as mine.” Victor declared and pulled me in front of him, sneaking an arm around my waist. “If she says that she doesn’t want you here, then neither do I.” 

He pulled my hair to the side, revealing the mating mark that he gave me earlier. The mark that meant that I will be the Queen and Luna once my mate is crowned Alpha King. The look on the older couple’s faces was priceless. I wish I could’ve snapped a picture to immortalize the moment. They may have thought that Victor had spared my life, or brought me back as a prisoner. Since I kept our relationship a secret, this turnout of events was a total surprise to them.

Severin exchanged a look with his mate, and they seemed like they were communicating silently before he excused himself and exited the castle. 

“Do you have anything to add?” Victor questioned the remaining members.

Gardenia opened her mouth and closed it. She most definitely wasn’t thrilled by this outcome or that the dismissal of her mate was still standing.

“We think we can organize the coronation within  three days if that’s alright with you.” Garret spoke. I could tell the difference between the three of them now.

“Good. Unless there is an emergency, we don’t want to be disturbed.”

After he said that, a gasp escaped my mouth as Victor scooped me up in his arms. He was still very much naked and I nuzzled his chest while he climbed the stairs toward our bedroom.

*****

As I was getting ready, I thought about how the double coronation ceremony went flawlessly yesterday. I was anxious at first that Nikolai would show up and renew his claim, but he didn’t come. Neither did the other royals who came to my first coronation. They send their ambassadors instead. 

Though Victor was a rare Lycan, I was a female Alpha. The first of my kind in a male-dominated shifters world. That must have sparked their curiosity. Even though my reign was short, I was proud that I defied the patriarchal system, and I hoped that it would encourage more female Alphas to take the lead.

Victor hugged me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts. He monopolized my attention whenever he was close. Which was the case for the past couple of days. We couldn’t keep our hands off of each other at all, and he wouldn’t let me out of his sight. 

“What did you do to your skin?” He asked, looking at me through the mirror's reflection.

“Just moisturizer,” I replied, raising an eyebrow at his question. 

“You’re glowing.” 

“It’s because you’re making me happy.” I left out the part where he worshipped my body, bringing me to completion over and over again. I was reminded of the sinful sensation he gave me when he started kissing his mark on my neck.

“If you keep doing that, we won’t be able to leave this room.” I made a weak reprimand.

“That sounds like a good idea.” He mumbled. “You smell amazing.”

“I’m serious. Work is piling up for every minute we spend here.”

Another day alone with my mate would feel like heaven, but we were Alpha and Luna of the largest pack. With the titles came duties and responsibilities. One of the first things I learned when I took the lead was that I had to put my selfish needs aside and that the pack always comes first.

Today was our first day leading the pack after being officially crowned and I was intent on continuing the work that I had started before the challenge. I had a gut feeling that I will have to tie up some loose ends.