Chapter 19: I Can't Control My Wolf For Long

Elena's POV

After leaving the forest with Richard the Lycan, just as he said, it didn't take long before we arrived at his pack. While returning from the forest, he made known to me that his name is Richard, and that's why he named my son after himself, but he didn't inform me that he was the Alpha of the pack. I was surprised when he brought me to the front of the palace. At first, I thought that like our pack, he wanted to present me to the Alpha since I was from another pack, but I was surprised when everyone started pronouncing themselves before him, and immediately some of the guards ran out with some clothing they used to cover his body. Actually, he has been shirtless since when we left the forest.

I was still lost in my thoughts while staring at him when he tapped me, jerking me back to reality.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" He whispered to me.

"Nothing, just that you didn't tell me that you are the Alpha of the pack," I whispered to him in return.

"Actually, I'm the king, not the Alpha. Thought I told you that we don't do things like you guys?" He asked me, and I nodded positively.

"You should actually smile; everyone is happy because the king has found his mate," he whispered to me once again.

Actually, people have gathered around the palace since they saw Richard coming back with me. I don't know what makes them believe that I'm his mate, even after seeing the child I'm carrying.

"I'm not your mate," I said to him frankly, and immediately he frowned.

"I think we should go inside," he said to me while heading towards the entrance, and without hesitating, I followed him from behind.

Once we got inside the palace, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful his palace was. It looked exactly like that of Darian; possibly both of them had the same test. As I was still looking around the palace, the first thought that came to mind was the first day my stepfather brought me to Alpha Darian's castle and the inner joy I felt when I discovered that he was my mate, but immediately I remembered what I went through after that, so I immediately brushed the idea away. I don't want anything that will remind me of the hell I went through in Alpha Darian's hand, and if not for Tricksy, I would have accepted to become Richard's mate even though I don't feel the mate bond between the both of us.

Once we got in, all the guards prostrated themselves, and immediately one of the maids came out and greeted Richard and me. I don't know anything about her, but from the way she dressed and her age, I could easily tell that she was the chief of the servants.

After greeting us, she collected my luggage from one of the guards, and afterwards, Richard told her to bring me to the room. Without hesitating, I followed her from behind while holding my baby tight to my chest.

Once we got to the front room, she turned the knuckle down, opened it, and left the road for me so that I could enter inside. As soon as I entered, the scent of Richard filled my nose. I didn't need to think twice before knowing that it was Richard's room.

"Is this the king's room?" I asked her with an inquisitive look.

"Yes, your highness," she replied while bringing my luggage inside.

"Wait," I said to her before collecting my luggage from her.

"Can you call the king for me?" I asked her, and she nodded before exiting the room.

"After some minutes, Richard came back, but he didn't return with the maid. Once he came inside, he saw me still standing at the entrance, my luggage still in my hand.

"Are you okay?" He asked me with a worried tone once he got inside the room.

"Yes, of course. Are we sharing the same room?" I asked him while peering into his eyeballs.

"Yes, of course. Is there anything wrong with that?" He asked me, and immediately I gave him a serious stare. With that, he sighed heavily.

"I don't see anything wrong with both of us sharing the same room; after all, you are my mate," he said to me.

"Though we have talked about this, Richard, my mate is still alive, and there's no way I can have two mates at the same time; after all, he didn't reject me, and just as I told you, I don't feel any mate bond between the both of us, and my wolf isn't even okay with me taking you as my mate," I said to him, and immediately he sighed heavily. I could clearly see the sadness written all over his face.

"You don't have any clue of the pain I'm feeling because of what you are saying and how hard I'm trying to control my wolf; we Lycans don't find our mates easily just like you people, and when we do, we mark them immediately, whether they agree to it or not, but I don't want to do that to you because I have deep respect for every female creature, both werewolves, Lycans, vampires, and the rest of them, but I can't promise you that I can hold my wolf back for long; with time, you will either choose between allowing me to mark you willingly or unwillingly," he said to me, and immediately I furrowed my brows at him.

"Well, if it has come..."

"Don't think about it, he interrupted me immediately. I'm never going to let you out of my sight," he said to me as if he read my mind.

"You aren't going to make me a prisoner, or are you?" I asked him inquisitively.

"No, of course, but it's out of question that I allow my mate to be wandering around in the forest with a baby," he said to me before approaching me. Once he approached me, he bent his head and inhaled my scent. I don't know why I never push him away whenever he tries to do that, despite the fact that Tricksy always grunts angrily whenever he does that.

"I will tell one of my maids to show you another room where you can occupy, he said to me while caressing the head of my baby, who was still sleeping peacefully in my hands.

"Thank you," I said to him while avoiding his gaze.

"Don't mention it; I will be taking my leave now, but don't forget what I told you; I can't control my wolf for very long," he said to me before walking out of the room.