CALIFF
Shadow looked ethereal- stunning, in her black floor-length gown. I might have to put a massive effort into my self-control tonight, and being possessive was a part of who we were-our natural instinct towards our mate.
“I want you to wear this.” I put a tennis diamond necklace around her neck that I bought last week to accessorize her dress.
“A family heirloom?” She traced her fingers over the jewelry. “It’s beautiful.”
“No. A gift.” I kissed my mark on her neck as I looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Not as beautiful as you, baby.”
“You’re not bad yourself, Alpha.” She turned around, fixing my tux. “You look dashing. I’m afraid I have to gorge a lot of women’s eyes tonight if they keep on fantasizing and ogling what’s mine.”
I lifted her chin with my finger. “Look at me, baby.”
She met my gaze. Her eyes filled with joy mixed with lust. “I’m serious, Califf.”
“I know, but I only have an eye on you. Let me prove it to you after the party.”
“How do you plan on proving it?” She cocked her perfect brow.
I leaned in, whispering to her ear, “I’ll fuck in the pool. Real hard and fast.”
She shuddered, letting go of a soft moan. “Is that a promise?”
“Yes, baby.”
A soft knock interrupted us. “Come in.”
“The car is ready.” Zack peaked his head in a half-opened door.
“See you down.”
Zack nodded before he closed the door. Shadow held my arm before I could put my hand behind her bare back. I suddenly sensed her anxiousness.
“Don’t make a scene, okay? That dick is going to provoke you. Please, I want you alive and safe. We have a pack to run, and a lot of them are depending on us. Sebastien is going to find your weakness to hurt you through me.”
“If he tries to hurt you, I can’t just stand there and watch. Do you expect me to do that?”
“At least consider walking away.”
I clenched my jaw hard, nodding even if I completely disagreed. “Okay, baby.”
“Thanks.”
Alpha King Sebastien Locklear’s castle reminded me of an old castle in Turin. It was massive and grand. As we arrived, Zack and Lyon were our bodyguards for tonight. Lyon gave our invitation to the security at the gate before we could get into the castle.
The dinner was what Zarah had described, an affair filled with people of different kinds- classical music played in the background. The massive ballroom had an elegant and royal interior, and the enormous crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Humans wouldn’t even figure out that this was not just a dinner.
I smelled vampires in the air. As I lifted my gaze, I saw at least two from the first floor. Fae always had their glittering aura and runes on their skin.
Zarah and another witch with Asian roots as young as Shadow were chatting in the corner. She must have sensed our arrival. She and her witch companion walked in our direction.
“Alpha Califf, Luna Shadow, this is Aira Elowen, one of the good witches.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” Shadow offered a handshake.
“I heard a lot of wonderful things about your mother.” Aira took her hand for a handshake. “And you will have a beautiful life ahead of you.”
Shadow smiled. “I take that. Thank you. My mate, Califf.”
“Alpha Califf.” She also shook my hand. “Life will be much easier. Just keep your feet on the ground and keep that courage be your guide.”
“Thank you.” I looked at Zarah. “You’re right. Should I be worried?”
Before Zarah could reply, a man in a beige tux called our attention, “Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for coming for this wonderful evening. Allow me to introduce our host, His Highness, Alpha King Sebastien Locklear.” Gesturing his hand, he went on one knee and bowed.
“Should we also bow?” Shadow asked.
“No need. That man is his omega,” Aira said.
Then, an intimidating, dark-haired man in his late forties in a human age sauntered towards the grand stairs. He carried so much power in his stance.
“Good evening. I’m happy to see you all here in my humble home. This dinner is very special to me. You are invited because I want you all to leave the misunderstanding between us for a while as I introduce you to my daughter.” He gestured in our direction.
“Shit.” Shadow opened his link. “This man is shameless.”
“My daughter, Luna of Night Stalker Pack, Shadow Raven. And her mate, Alpha Califf Stone.”
His guests clapped, and I had no choice but to acknowledge everyone. After that short introduction, we were called to be on the long table that could fit one hundred guests.
Shadow sat next to me. Zarah and Aira settled next to her. Then another lycan arrived, older, in his late sixties, but he could be five hundred years old or older, with long white hair, but I instantly felt the power radiating through him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my father. High Lord Alexander Locklear.”
Everyone stood up in respect to the former Alpha king.
“He still has a father. My grandfather,” Shadow, communicated through our link.
“Looks like this is a family reunion, after all, baby.”
She snorted. “You, Kent, our pack are my only family.”
We settled on our seats. Alpha King fixed his gaze on Shadow.
I ignored other kinds surrounding us. All I wanted was to protect and stay close to my mate. If things went wrong any second, it would take time for Zack and Lyon to get inside with all the security we passed through earlier.
I could sense more Lycan in this castle that didn’t need to appear. The food looked appetizing enough, but I wasn’t here for that, nor to chitchat with guests. I wanted to meet the asshole, the high and almighty, who looked at himself as a god.
“I’m glad you made it, Shadow.”
“Thank you for inviting us.” Shadow didn’t hide the bitterness in her tone.
“I’m finally happy to meet my granddaughter,” the old man said. “Shadow, what a unique name for royalty. Didn’t your mother give you a name, Raven?” Royalty.
I inwardly groaned as it became more apparent now. My mate was a fucking Lycan Princess.
Fuck.
“Well, you just have to get used to it because I prefer Shadow now, Alexander.”
“It’s High Lord Alexander, Shadow,” Alpha King said, correcting his daughter.
“So, I should also call you Alpha King or Father, or do you prefer just Sebastien?”
“She’s my granddaughter, Sebastien,” said the old man. “She can call me however she likes.”
“However you like it, daughter.”
I held her thigh because I felt her anger boiling in her blood. As Lycans, they had the same blood running in their veins, they had more control than us werewolves, and their emotions and senses were more heightened than us.
Judging by her emotions, Shadow was unimpressed and mad. How could she not? They had known she existed, but they never came to meet her and show her who she really was.
I would feel furious if I were in her shoes. Hell, I would never give them a fucking chance. Now that she was an adult, they needed her to extend their fucking clan. This was just a fucked up family.
She drew a deep breath and smiled. “Alpha King it is.”
“How are you finding Italy so far, Alpha Califf?”
“The history is rich. I always enjoy learning about other cultures and food. I guess those things made me come back, aside from their leather, Alpha King.”
The tension rose and rose between Shadow and her father, and she barely blinked while the other kinds enjoyed their dinner, and I could barely stomach to eat.
Shadow didn’t mind being in front of her family from her father’s side. She had a good appetite tonight as she and her father barely blinked, exchanging glares. She was either hungry or enjoying pissing off her father for her ill-mannered. I bet for the latter.
After dinner, the music played again, and most guests went to the dance floor. The wine was served for the second time.
“That went well,” I told Shadow.
“Don’t jinx it. The evening is still young,” Zarah said.
The omega came. “Alpha Califf, Luna Shadow, the High King is expecting your presence in his study.”
Shadow looked at Zarah as if telling her I told you so.
“Good luck.” Zarah subtly nodded.
“We can’t let the high king wait, Alpha,” she said sarcastically.
I groaned as I put my hand on her back. “Behave, Lycan Princess. We need to make it through the night.”
“If you call me princess again, you will get blue balls like Zack.”
I chortled. “These are your balls, too, baby.”
As we went through the crowd, everyone’s eyes were on us, maybe curious about how in the hell they hadn’t heard of Shadow. At the same time, it was a clear message for them to fuck off, and she was off limits. This was the daughter of the Lycan King- untouchable, or blood would be shed.
Should I expect Keane to back off? I didn’t think so. I was sure he wasn’t aware of who Shadow was and how valuable she was in our world.
The double door to study opened wide, revealing the Alpha King and his father.
“Why are we here?” Those were her first words. Great. She didn’t hold back.
“Father wants to meet you in person,” her father said.
“I’m here now. The dinner is over. Can my mate and I go home?”
“You’re filled with anger. Is it about the truth that your father kept from you?” Alexander talked.
“Which father? I am confused right now. The rapist or the man who raised me as his?”
“Shadow,” I called her name to warn her.
“You can’t talk to me like this,” Sebastien growled, eyes narrowing at my mate.
She faced her father. Her eyes glowed. “And why is that? Because you feel almighty and that you are better than everyone around your castle?”
“I made a mistake, but you are not a mistake.”
“You should have come to me and raised me if you care.”
He sighed. His jaw clenched. “I care, Shadow.”
“You care because you want to expand your kingdom and use me as the breeder. Well, guess what? I have a mate, and my pups will only come from him.” Shadow held my hand. “Good to meet you, grandfather. I wish we met under different circumstances. I would have loved to have a grandfather around.”
Shadow dragged me out of the study. Before we could reach the door, he called my name.
I turned around. “Your Highness.”
“If you want my alliance, you should prove your worth to my daughter. I heard Alpha Mason has joined Alpha Keane’s alliances.”
My stomach twisted. I didn’t know about it. “What do you mean?”
“You broke his daughter’s heart. And Alpha Ryden of Crimson Heart Pack is already doubting your leadership after the news broke out at the party and your father is still alive. They don’t like how you handle a murderer left unpunished.”
I clenched my jaw. “I did what was right.”
“For you, for saving your father. And I couldn’t help but notice the white strands on my daughter’s hair. It’s not common for a Lycan like herself. My father has the same gift as she does, but he broke a law of nature many times, saving my mother until the goddess took her life as my father’s punishment.” He drifted his gaze back to Shadow. “So be careful, daughter.”
“Is it true?” Shadow asked Alexander.
“Yes,” her grandfather answered right away.
“Mother Nature made me pay and took the love of my life, the same woman I saved.”
Shadow looked at me before she turned to Alexander. Her gaze filled with worry and pain, making my chest ache. “Why didn’t you embrace your gift?”
“I couldn’t give up the throne.” If he had the power as hers, meaning…
“So your mother was also a witch?”