The Lycan King's Hidden Princess

Valerian's pov

I rushed into my home as the wind picked up rather rapidly and the sky was darkening quite fast; it looked like there was going to be a big storm.

"This can't be a good sign" my wife said looking out the kitchen window.

A sudden storm on a day like this is never a good sign but we had to be hopeful, the queen was in labour.

"I know love, but we must have faith in the Goddess" I said, hugging her from behind.

"It should have been you! Everyone knows it should have been you delivering that baby!" she huffed, leaning her back into me. I could feel her worry, and it took everything in me to not succumb to my own.

"The King knows best love" I said, rubbing my hands up and down her arms, hoping that was at least enough to calm her a little, but my efforts did nothing to soothe her, not even a little.

She pulled away from my embrace and took a few steps away; throwing the dish rag she'd been using to wipe the counter into the empty sink.

"The King is a fool!" she yelled, rubbing her forehead in frustration.

"It was supposed to be you Valerian; you are the best healer in the Kingdom. You would know what to do if anything went wrong! It's supposed to be you" she said, almost breathless and her eyes were telling me something she hadn't told me yet.

I felt unease pool at the bottom of my stomach as I stared into her tearing eyes. "What did you see Beth?" I asked; taking step closer to her, some semblance of panic firmly settling within me.

She cried, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth as a sob broke through. "Bethany! What did you see?!" I said, stepping in front of her and taking her by the shoulders.

"Blood, so much blood" she whispered through her crying. My hands fell to my side as I stumbled back away from her. "The baby won't make it?" I asked, feeling a sudden chill rush over me.

"I don't kno..." Bang! Bang! Bang!

A loud banging on the door had both my wife and I frozen on the spot, eyes focussed on the door and I prayed it wasn't the royal guard sent to come get me.

"Valerian!" a cry came from outside and my feet rushed to the door, my body having recognised the voice before my brain could comprehend what was happening.

I yanked the door open and almost broke down crying at the sight before me, "Queen Lyla!" Bethany gasped from behind me.

I scooped her into my arms, my eyes searching for any unwanted presence before rushing her into the living room. "Valerian put me down, we don't have much time!" she rushed out the command as she struggled to get down.

Silently obeying, I put her down, taking note of how she looked and it wasn't pretty. Her hair, that was always neatly made, looked like a bird's nest; twigs and leaves hanging from the knots. Her long white sleeping robe dirty and bloody from her waist down, she looked a royal mess; with a bunch of blankets wrapped around her upper half.

"My Queen, what happened?" Beth asked as she handed me my medicine bag.

"There's no time to explain" she said; unwrapping the blankets covering her upper body to reveal a beautiful little face that looked to be in a peaceful slumber despite the chaos.

"The kingdom is in flames, the King is dead and Narcissa is working with the witches" she said, handing me the sleeping baby.

"What?!" I exclaimed, my brain trying hard to process everything as quick as possible.

"Take her and run" she whispered, tears falling from her eyes. "If this kingdom is to survive, its heir must live" she said looking at her child, tears pouring down her face. "You have to live my love" she said kissing the baby's forehead.

I was about to ask her how the hell she'd managed to get here right after giving birth, if the blood on her gown was any indication but a shrill cry, something between a howl and a screech had everyone in the room looking at the door as if whatever creature was outside would burst through it.

"You have to go now! They're close" Queen Lyla said running to the door, she swung it open but stood, facing away from us.

I know I'm asking so much of you and I understand if you're not up to it; but please, you are the only ones that can care for her, the only ones I trust" she said, her voice cracking and hands trembling.

"We'll do everything we can to give her a good life" Beth said, taking the baby from me.

"Thank you" she whispered, the cracks in her voice telling of her breaking heart, what mother wants to leave their child just hours after they are born?

"What is her name?" I asked just as she was about to step out the door.

Turning to look at her child one last time, she smiled, new tears running down her face,

"Alari, her name is Alari" she said and took off into the forest filled with creatures only the Goddess knew to create.

Alari's pov

A sudden rush of air blew past me, chilling me to bone. And why is it so dark, I never sleep with my light off.

I looked around frantically, trying to figure out where the hell I was; only to realise I was in the middle of the freaking woods!

Did I sleep walk again? How did I even end up here? Oh Goddess, am I lost? But, why does this place feel so familiar?

"Valerian!" a woman's cry pulled me out of my thoughts, making me turn around just in time to see a small cabin materialize out of thin air.

The door swung open and tall man came into view. He looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't make out his face, it's almost like his face was blurred so I couldn't tell who it was.

The man picked up the woman and brought her inside the cabin while I stood there contemplating whether I wanted to follow or not; but then again, what could possibly go wrong?

It's not like I'm in the middle of the forest with no memory of how I get here.

Steeling my heart, I walked towards the cabin, wrapping my arms around my body as the winds picked up and it looked it was about to storm terribly.

I could hear muffled voices as I reached the door but just as I was about to twist the door handle, a terrifying shriek like howl tore through the night, awakening a fear I didn't know I possessed.

"What the hell is that?" I whispered to myself, frozen still on a stranger's porch.

The door behind me opened and I turned swiftly; ready to explain why the hell I was at their front door in the middle of a stormy night; definitely not giving serial killer vibes.

Just as I was about to come face to face with whomever was at the door; everything around me changed and the next thing I knew, I was running barefoot somewhere in the forest, with no sense of direction; I just knew that if I didn't run, I was dead!

A loud growl caught my attention and caused chills to run down spine, and definitely not the good kind. I forced myself to run faster as the growling multiplied and the sound of paws aggressively hitting the earth reached my ears.

"You can't run forever Lyla" a menacing voice whispered and I felt myself run faster. My feet were aching, probably bleeding but that didn't matter, I had to get away, I had to find a way out of this damn forest!

Something caught my leg, a root maybe? It didn't matter, what mattered is that crashed into the forest floor hard; and even though I wanted to lick my wounds, I knew I had to get up.

Raising my head from the ground, I came face to face with a dark, shadowy figure growling in my face. My heart stopped and I held my breath, the nightmarish creature that stood in front of me barring its long sharp teeth just two inches from my face.

It had a long face like a deformed wolf with a mouth just as long; and multiple rows of teeth I knew I could not survive. One bite from this thing and I was done for.

"I did say you couldn't run forever" a voice I knew but had no idea how said from behind me and I turned around, coming face to face with a woman that invoked unimaginable rage from deep within me. Only for a moment did I forget the threat to my life as the creature that was now behind me growled louder; not liking my dismissal very much.

"Where is the child?" she asked with a menacing twinkle in her eyes and I felt my lips tug up into a smirk.

"You will never find her Narcissa" I said, forcing myself to stand. I noticed two more beasts, similar to the one still growling behind me but different in size.

I watched the creatures stand on either side me, successfully boxing me in so I couldn't escape them.

I felt my shoulders sag at the realisation that there was no way out of this; I was going to die here tonight.

"Why do you make everything difficult for me?" she rolled her eyes, her face couldn't even hide the frustration.

"First the man I love, then my crown and my fucking kingdom!" her voice rose to a scream by the time she uttered the last word.

"WHERE IS THE DAMN CHILD LYLA!" She screamed in my face so loud I thought I heard ringing. The creatures howled; the sound so terrifying that a shiver wracked through my body, making my skin itch and bones ache. I don't think I've ever been this afraid in my life.

"Whatever Miles saw in you, he died for it; but on my grave I swear my child will live to take back her throne!" I growled; my claws and fangs elongating as I lunged at her, hoping to take her with me.

I tackled her to the ground and we rolled twice before coming to a stop with her on top of me.

Her hands went for my throat but I quickly slapped them away and took a shot at her ribs.

She groaned and leaned to the side and I took advantage, rolling us over so I was on top.

I raised my claws, aiming for her throat when I caught a flash of black and turned just in time for one of the creatures to tackle me off of Narcissa.

I landed hard on my back, the creature

pinning me down with its large front paws.

It extended its claws and pushed on my shoulders, piercing my skin. I bit my tongue, holding back my scream as I stared daringly into its eyes. It growled angrily, not very happy with my

challenging stare and before I could think of a way to get it off of me, it went for my throat.

"Aaahhhhhhhh" I screamed, my eyes opening at the feel of hands on my shoulders.

"Alari! Baby it's just a dream!" mom's soothing voice managed to get my brain to stop speeding.

My eyes scanned my room and my lungs slowly started taking in air and relief flooded my entire being.

I'm okay, I'm in room, safe, it was just a dream. Just a dream...

I laid my head on my mom's shoulder and sighed deeply, fuck; one day these nightmares will give me a heart attack. They're so real!

"What was this one about?" dad asked, sitting at the foot of my bed, making me sigh and sit up straight, recalling what I had just dreamt.

"I was in the woods, there was a cabin, and a woman, looked like she was seeking shelter or something. She called a name, I don't quite remember and I couldn't see her face either.

There was another woman, Narci... something, I don't remember and she had these beasts chasing me" I sighed, feeling a shiver run down my spine at the vivid memory of those creatures.

"Narcissa?" Mom whispered and I turned to look at her, frowning.

"Yeah, how did you know that?" I asked, watching as she looked away. Every time I tell them about a nightmare I had, she gets this look in her eyes that gives me the feeling she know something.

"Mom?" I called softly, hoping maybe this time she will grace me with answers. Her

reactions always give me the impression there's more to these nightmares than she lets on.

"Oh, would you look at the time; you're going to be late for your duties at the pack house. Go get ready and I'll make us breakfast" she said, getting up abruptly , not forgetting to kiss my forehead before rushing for the door.

I don't know why or where it came from but I just suddenly grew frustrated with her and I felt my wolf surface for just half a second.

"What aren't you telling me?!" I growled,

shocking both my parents and just as she had come, she disappeared like she was never there.

A heavy silence filled the room as I kept staring at my mother, whose eyes were as wide as saucers at my little display of anger. I'd never reacted like that to her before but as shocking as it was, I couldn't let myself fold.

She was hiding something from me and I had to know what it was.

"Your wolf is getting stronger, maybe one day you will fully shift" dad said, trying to steerthe conversation in a different direction and as frustrated as I was, I couldn't help acknowledge what my he'd said.

I have a weak wolf, instead of shifting when I turned sixteen like all normal wolves do, I didn't. I did get the super senses and strength that make me a supernatural, just not the wolf.

I feel her sometimes, when I feel too intensely but most of the time, it's me, alone with my thoughts.

"Yeah, I guess" I murmured, looking down at my hands, besides, mom wasn't going to say anything, might as well let it go.

"Alari" my mother whispered thickly and almost brokenly but I couldn't bring myself to sympathise with her.

"Its fine mother, I have to get ready" I said getting out of bed and speed walked to my

bathroom. Shutting and locking the door as a tear of frustration ran down my face.

Looking into the mirror, I saw the abomination everyone always saw in me. On top of not having a wolf, I had unusual features. Long pointy ears that I always made sure to cover with my long white; almost silver hair; my almond shaped, purple coloured eyes always had people looking at me like I was some kind of freak. And my complexion? Pale as a sheet, nothing like any wolf I'd ever met. In another world, I'd be beautiful; just not the one I was born into.

Because of my unusual looks and lack of a beast, I'm treated like an outcast by my pack, bottom of the barrel, lower than an omega.

I think the only reason I wasn't treated like a slave, is my parents. Though their treatment was bordering on slavery.

Both of them are witches but my dad specializes in healing magic, herbs and potions while my mom is a seer and also does some protection spells on the pack. Even though wolves and witches don't see eye to eye, my parents have built themselves a good name and are well

respected here.

I hopped into the shower and prepared my body for yet another day of cleaning every room in the pack house, by myself and let the omegas take credit at the end because they can.

Quickly scrubbing myself clean, I got out of the shower, dried up and put lotion on. I walked back into my room and searched my closet for something comfortable to wear.

Oh wait, my entire closet was full of comfortable clothes, clothes that made chores a lot easier!

Choosing a pair of leggings and a long sleeve shirt and sneakers, I quickly put the clothes on and pulled my hair into a messy bun, making sure to cover my ears. I grabbed my phone and left my room to get some good food, if the smell of pancakes was any indication.

"She will be of age in just weeks Beth, we have to tell her the truth" my dad's hushed words made me stop at the door just before going into the kitchen.

"You think I don't know that!" mom whisper yelled, making my heart drop to my stomach; what on earth were they keeping from me?

Not wanting to be late, I walked into kitchen with a fake smile on my face, "ooooooh pancakes, my absolute favourite" I said, taking a seat at the table.

"You are one stealthy girl, you sure your beast isn't a cat?" mom said with a laugh so fake I felt my non-existent wolf cringe; but I just laughed it off and dug into the plate she'd put in front of me.

One day... One day I will find the truth

Alari‟s pov

I quickly wolfed down my breakfast and washed my plate so I could leave the house.

As much as I hated the pack house, it was a better trade than staying here in this awkward tension.

"See you guys later" I said as I kissed them goodbye.

"Have a good day honey" dad said as I dashed out of the kitchen towards the front door. "I‟ll try" I said grabbing the door knob and twisting it open.

My hand moved up before I could catch the movement with my eyes, saving me from getting hit in the face.

"Oh goddess, I‟m so sorry" Pearl, my best friend, well, maybe my only friend; shrieked with eyes wide open.

I sighed, letting go of the hand that almost hit me. "I swear I was just trying to knock" she rushed out almost panicked, making me smile at how cute she was.

"Don‟t sweat it babe" I said with a small chuckle, watching her exhale in relief.

"How did you even do that?! That was some quick reflex action!" she practically yelled as we walked away from the door, fascination replacing the panic.

"For a wolf-less girl, you sure are fast, how do you do that?" she said with a little pep in her step, making me laugh at her silly, careless attitude.

"That's something I'd also like to know" I said falling in step with the peppy red head.

I admired her, in such cruel world; she was always smiling, happy. Pearl had lost her parents as an infant to a rogue attack and instead of the pack treating her like the gem she was, they made her an outcast, like me.

"Ooooooh aren't you excited too Lari? I hope he hasn't found his mate, maybe I'm his mate. Then I'll be Luna and make sure you're treated right" she squealed with a giggle, snapping me back to the present.

"What was that?" I asked, making her raise her eyebrows at me. "Is it that hard for you to not wander off into that little head of yours?" she asked, twisting her lips up. I rolled my eyes and looked ahead, trying not to get lost in my thoughts again.

"I'm back now, what were you saying?" I asked and watched her face light up. "Xavier silly, aren't you excited about his return? I'm so excited I could scream!" she screamed, laughing at the end but I just groaned.

"Not if it means double my workload" I muttered, feeling my bones ache at the thought of the hell I was about to be put through today.

"You won't be alone and when I'm Luna, you'll never lift a finger ever in your life. Everyone will do their own share and no one will be treated bad" she said with a nod, her face as serious as a heart attack.

That was just Pearl, optimistic as ever; she always did see the bright side, the good in people.

She was hopeful and that alone was enough to make me hopeful for better days. She made me hopeful for a kind and loving mate that would take me away from this place.

Even though I was nineteen and almost everybody got their mate at eighteen.

"Who said you‟re going to be Luna?" I teased with a laugh, making her flip her red hair back and point her nose to the sky like the snobby cartoon royals she liked watching on TV.

"I can feel it, Xavier is my mate!" She said, squealing the last part out and I just laughed.

"Well, I really hope you're his mate, maybe you'd bring a little change to this place" I said, feeling all the happiness get sucked out of me as the pack house came into view.

"And you'll always be happy" she said taking my hand and giving it a comforting squeeze.

As much as I hated the pack house, I couldn't deny its beauty, even from the back.

A beautiful garden of a variety of rose bushes that I spent my days taking care of led up to the four story Victorian style mansion that was painted a dark royal blue. It had a large terrace that the Luna used when she wanted to read or admire my garden.

Yes, this was my garden.

The back was nothing like the front though. Yeah the back was more colourful but to me, the lush green grass contrasted beautifully with the grey drive way that circles a water fountain with a mermaid statue in the centre.

"You're late!" Luna Adele said the second we stepped into the pack house, her frown making us bow our heads in submission. One thing we never did, was make her angry.

"Sorry Luna" we said in unison, hoping she would accept it and let us get on with our work.

"You're lucky my son is on his way home and absolutely nothing can ruin my mood" she said, her voice sounding anything but pleasant.

"The warriors are done with their breakfast, Pearl, you go clean the kitchen so the cooks can start preparing lunch. Alari, make sure to scrub the entire house spotless, the next two days are going to be extremely busy and I don't want to see even a speck of dust. Pay extra attention to the Alpha and Beta floors, the King is

also on his way, got it?" she said and we nodded.

"Tsk, can't even use your words, I knew an education would be wasted on the both of you" she muttered before turning to leave.

I sighed when she was finally out of sight, clenching my hands at her harsh words. What Luna even says that to their pack members? A Luna is supposed to be a mother figure to the pack; she's supposed to be kind and loving, not hateful and ruthless. And certainly not a grumpy bitch!

"I promise I won't be so careless with my words when I'm Luna" Pearl said with a sniffle and I turned my head to see her wipe away a tear.

My heart broke for her, as loving as she was, Pearl was also so fragile and quick to tears. Sometimes, I truly wish she had thicker skin, and no one would ever make her cry.

"You'll make an excellent Luna" I said pulling her to me, giving her a kiss on the top of her head. Yep, her short 5'2 form gave me every opportunity to give her comfort when she needed it.

"Let's start with the kitchen then take care of the cleaning after" Pearl said, squeezing and breathing in my scent before letting go.

"Pearl, cleaning is my task, you go do the kitchen" I said, making my way to the storage closet to get my supplies but Pearl grabbed my hand yanked me towards the kitchen.

"This house is massive for one person and we get it done faster when we do it together" she said, sounding like a woman on a mission.

Sighing because there was no way I could convince her otherwise, I let her pull me into the massive kitchen.

I felt something burn inside me when I saw the mountain of dirty dishes and pots that the Luna had expected Pearl to do by herself. It would take her the whole morning to get all of these done!

Not wasting even a second, we jumped into washing and drying the dishes and pots while Pearl day dreamed about the changes she would make once she became Luna and honestly, it was quite entertaining listening to her imagination run wild.

We were done cleaning the entire kitchen just in time for the cooks to come back and make another mess that needed us to clean up.

But we didn't have the luxury of rest as we still had the house to dust and mop.

Deciding to start down going up, we quickly got the ground floor cleaned up because it didn't have as many rooms and then decided to split up. The first and second floors were the messiest because those rooms housed the unmated warriors and I swear on my life not a single one of them knew how to keep their living space neat.

Pearl took the first and I took the second, picking up clothes from the floor, dirty underwear that I knew I'd be washing when the weekend was over. Some rooms even had used condoms on the bathroom floors, making shivers wreck my body every time I had to pick one up; even with gloves on.

Pearl and I met up on the Beta floor to clean it together so we could do the Alpha floor together as well because she wanted to get a good look at the apartment style living quarters she would be sleeping in when her 'mate' finally arrived.

"I wish you'd found your mate when you turned eighteen" she said with a little sadness in her eyes and I just rolled mine.

"This pack is short on good men" I said with a dark chuckle, making her burst into

uncontrollable giggles.

"Don't forget dirty! Goddess the men in this pack are filthy" she laughed and I shivered in disgust.

"And the fact that they don't care to keep themselves for their mates? Goddess no!" I said, feeling my non-existent wolf shiver in disgust; at least we agreed on one thing.

"The number of condoms I picked up or found in the trash is astounding!" she gasped with a shiver, while my stomach twisted in disgust; the hunger I'd been feeling now just bile ready to exit.

"Looks like we're finally done!" Pearl exclaimed, wiping the sweat off of her forehead with a smile on her face and I only felt bad. She was too good a person to ever let me do all this work by myself but it was too much and I hated putting her through all this.

"Let's go get some food, it's well past lunch time" I said, hoping we could get some food before being ordered to clean after the kitchen staff and the warriors again.

"Goddess I'm starving!" she exclaimed, pushing her supplies out and I followed closely behind her.

We weren't offered much to eat in the pack house but I guess it was enough to keep the hunger at bay until we could get home and get some proper food.

Putting away our cleaning supplies, we made a bee line for kitchen only to find two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches left for us.

With a heavy sighed, we sat down and ate the sandwiches and washed them down with water and then began cleaning up the kitchen all over again.

We were just wiping down the counters, ready to call it a day when two omegas came into kitchen carrying two full baskets of sheets that needed to be washed. I swear I almost cried when they left them there and went about their way but as usual, Pearl was there to lift my spirits. Telling me that we'd be done in no time would be able to go home and shower and

eat.

I felt like I'd been hit by a truck by the time I made it home but I couldn't even drop dead because I felt filthy and was so hungry I could eat a whole cow!

Throwing myself into the shower, I scrubbed my body as best as I could before getting out and drying, not caring to put any lotion on. I put on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top, then a pair of socks.

I rushed down the stairs when I heard the door open and a knock follow shortly after. "The most amazing person in the world is finally here" Pearl called and I heard mom laugh from the kitchen.

"Hello darling, how are you?" mom asked just as I walked into the kitchen. "I'm alright ma'am" Pearl smiled.

"You girls sit down and enjoy a drink while I set the table, I know you must be starving" mom said playing with Pearl's red curls.

She gave us each a glass of grape juice with a little alcohol inside. She always did this when we'd had a long day at the pack house and honestly, I was grateful.

"Hey girls, how's it going" dad said taking a seat next to Pearl, putting his wine glass on the table.

"We're good sir" Pearl answered, making dad frown.

"Pearl, I've told you time and time again, there's no need for formalities" he said sternly; which was the beginning of their

usual banter.