Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 43

The sun hung brightly overhead, but not in a way that would cause the heat to bother us so much. It was bright and warm, and I drew in a long and deep breath as I leaned into Aiden’s arms slightly. He smiled down at me, and a funny sensation exploded in my stomach as we walked past the crowd, towards the seats which stood beside the podium in front of the congregation.

“You look beautiful,” he said for the up-tenth time since we left home.

“You too,” I replied, to which he raised an eyebrow.

“I look beautiful?” he asked with a slight chuckle.

“Yes, you do,” I said, feeling giddy. “Like a princess on her way to the ball.”

He barked out his laughter, and I could hear the vibration of his laughter through our linked arms. He looked so heartbreakingly handsome as I looked at him, and all I wanted was to melt into his touch. Erin whispered her approval, and I rolled my eyes as she growled slowly.

“You’re full of surprises, Nala,” he said when his laughter subsided.

We had reached the seats then, and Aiden took the one in the middle and I took the one on his right hand side. Mama and Baba sat on his left side, while the men I assumed were the elders sat on my side.

Mama and I hugged each other before I sat down. It was still a new experience for me having her be so welcoming and open that way. Donald, David, and Lacie sat behind us, alongside a woman that looked exactly like Mama. She had smiled briefly at me when we met, and waved her hand before she walked up to her seat.

Donald looked worse than he did the last two days I had seen him. He had a sad smile on his face, and his eyes had a deep glow to them, with deep circles around them. He looked terrible, and a quick look around told me that Phil was not here.

Tiffany sat behind me, her chair pressed to mine. I saw Ivayne and Sherneil on the other side, right behind Mama. Sherneil’s face was scrunched up and she was constantly fidgeting with her fingers. A middle aged woman sat beside her and tried discreetly to calm Shermeil down to no avail. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

Before us, the crowd sat quietly in anticipation. Thousands of eyes were on me, and I wondered nervously what they were thinking of their new queen. Would they see me for who I was? Or did they already have some preconceived notion about me that wasn’t going to change?

“Remember, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I won’t introduce you until you are ready and…” Aiden began to say, but I shook my head.

“No. I want to do it,” I said firmly, swallowing the lump in my throat, staring at him through my lashes. “I will do this with you, Aiden.”

He brought my hand to his lips and lightly grazed them. “Then never forget that I’m always by your side, Nala.”

I smiled as I shifted my gaze back to the field so I could take in every inch of its appearance.

The large, stadium-like building was packed with people. Okay, just an arena. Everywhere I turned, there were curious faces staring back at me. Different scents and languages flew by, and for a moment, I felt my panic return. But with Aiden’s hand still clasped in mine, it was easier to calm down, not let the fear take over, and focus all my attention on enjoying the ceremony.

I let my eyes wander around the arena. Twelve canopies stood all around, creating an empty circle in the middle. At first, I had thought each canopy only had their own pack members staying together by them, but as I looked closer, I saw that while each canopy had a crest of its pack, the people were mingling around with each other as though they were all one great pack, not at all divided by their differences but rather united by them. I liked that.

Sitting in front of each canopy were the Alphas and their Lunas. Surprisingly though, I couldn’t see Matteo nor Camila representing the Malakarians. Instead, I saw his father and his mother there. I chose to ignore both of them and focus on what everyone was wearing. People were dressed in clothes that represented their cultures and packs.

For example, the men from the Kahari pack were dressed in long Thawbs while the women wore Abayas. The Ngunlians were dressed differently. The women tied white wrappers that reached their knees, and white half-blouses that left their stomach bare. They tied red strings on their elbows and around their heads. The Mandalians, dressed like they always did, with the women dressed in ankara sewed in skirt/wrappers and blouses. And the men wore caftan.

Every pack dressed to represent its culture, and it was a sight to behold, the different factions all joining together in joyful harmony. It was like the painting of a famed artist, a portrait of unity and love. The atmosphere was electric, and there was a frenzy about the crowd which I loved.

My eyes settled for the briefest moment on the canopy with the Malakari crest, and I wondered what they’d think when they saw me up here. Would they react to that? Would they show that they knew me? A lot of them were dressed in the handwoven aso oke material made from cotton. The men wore the agbada gowns and the fila hats, while the women wore the wrapper called iro, white lace blouses, and the gele (a native head-tie).

This was my Abba’s tribe, and yet, I dreaded meeting them.

The loud sound of a drum brought me out of my reverie. It began slowly, a steady beat which seemed to shake the earth with a mighty roar, then soon, the other drummers joined.

“That is the opening drumming. I’ll give a speech after that,” Aiden whispered, as he removed his shades.

“And everything starts?” I asked a bit eagerly. “The pack dances and fights I mean,” I added, recalling everything Tiffany had told me about the ceremony.

Aiden chuckled. “Yes, Nala. Then everything starts.” He then leaned closer and added, “And I promised a kid the game with tyres, so I have that to work on too.”

“It would be fun to see you chasing after tyres,” I laughed, just as the drumming stopped.

Everyone grew quiet, and not a single sound was heard. Aiden squeezed my hand one more time, leaned in and brushed his lips against my temple before he stood up and walked up to where the podium had been placed in the middle of the circle.

“Sarki Aiden Amari Dakarai. Yallabai me karfin damisa da baiwa kaman ta zomo, kyau kaman ba zabuwa. Kowa ya biyoka ya bada wuri. Taka lafiya dan gidan Amari yaron Victoria Talatu. Goddess Nyala ya kareka! Gaisuwa gareka sarkinmu! (Salutations!)” A loud booming voice said in a sing song voice as soon as Aiden stopped. It was a skinny old man wearing a white turban and a large, dusty robe which folded around him several times over. He was worn down by age, his face covered in multiple wrinkles which dragged down his worn out skin. But when he spoke, his voice carried a power which shook me to the core.

“Da Girman Kujerarka, Sarkinmu,” everyone chorused as they each placed their hands on their chests and bowed their heads. Even Mama and Baba stood up from their seats and did the greeting. I did as well.

The drum was hit once and everyone sat back down.

Aiden looked around the large circle made, cleared his throat before he began speaking in his deep voice that always made me swoon.

“Greetings, people of Deshtu. Today is one of the most historic days for us all. On this day, thousands of years ago, the moon Goddess Nyala blessed our kingdom with different abilities harnessed by different packs. On this same day, the first Lycan to ever descend on this part of the world was set free from the clutches of the Sisters of the Dark. Today, we celebrate our freedom, our gifts, the peace, and the blessings of our Goddess Nyala!” Aiden said.

Loud cheers filled the air once more before Aiden raised his hand and it died down.

“Before we begin anything, however, I am going to start by introducing your queen to you all,” he added, turning to face me as Tiffany helped me up, and we began to descend down the stairs that led to where Aiden stood.

I clutched my Alkyabba tightly as I took every step. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel my legs shaking. I knew everyone was looking at me, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Aiden. Because only that would guarantee my sanity.

I clasped my hand around his outstretched hand, held it tightly like my life depending on it, and stepped onto the podium beside him.

“Take deep breaths,” he whispered, tightening his hold on my hand and the other on the small of my back. “I’m right here beside you,” he added.

I nodded, swallowed hard so I could get rid of the lump in my throat before I looked up at everyone.

“The key to it is not making eye contact with anyone. Just look around as you speak, but don’t make any eye contact,” Aiden instructed.

‘Deep breath, Nat. We can do this. We are doing this,’ Erin whispered, nudging me through the bond.

“Are you ready?” Aiden asked.

“Yes,” I replied breathily. “I am.”

“Now, face your people and speak to them,” Aiden said softly as he took a step back to let me be the center of attention.

“Gre…Greetings…P…” I paused, getting panicky all over. I was messing this up already, and I could feel their collective stares on me which were crippling and haunting. I took several deep breaths to calm myself, but even that didn’t seem to work.

Suddenly, I felt Aiden’s hand on my waist. He must have slipped his hand underneath my Alkyabba because the warmth of his arm seeped through me and sent a calming sensation through. He pressed carefully, applying a bit of pressure there and I instantly calmed down enough to continue.

“Greetings, citizens of Deshtu. Today, I stand before you as your queen, albeit yet to be crowned. It is an honor to be welcomed by all of you, and a pleasure to stand here beside my mate and your king. Today, we celebrate the peace and prosperity which has reigned over this land for a very long time. Today, we give thanks to Nyala, who has enriched our lives and brought so much joy to each and every one of us. Let us show our appreciation to her, and let us join our hands together in celebration for a peace which shall last us a century and longer.”

Loud cheers erupted as soon as I finished, and I could feel my lips stretching into a small smile. I did it! My heart was beating wildly in my chest, and I was relieved that it was over. When I turned to face Aiden, he was beaming at me.

“See, you did it,” he murmured softly.

He took my hand and squeezed it slightly, a tender look in his eyes that softened my insides.

“Yes, I did it. Thank you for being there,” I smiled.

“Always,” he replied softly before he turned his attention back to the people. “Now, let the ceremony begin!”

More cheers erupted before Aiden led us back. He removed his Alkyabba and turban and set them aside before asking if I’d like to take off mine. I shook my head, loving the feel of the Alkyabba on my body. After a while,High Priestess Inna Laniya stepped into the circle and began chanting in the Zambelian language.

As she did, the drummers started to drum slowly, as though trying to create an eerie feeling around. Today, unlike the first day I had seen her, she wore a black gown that reached only her knees. The black marks on either side of her cheeks were still intact, but she had more drawn on her legs. As she danced around the circle, the dangling objects tied on her arms and legs rattled and swayed with the tunes.

Soon, twelve men dressed in different attires that represent their packs stepped into the circle. They walked around each other with their arms outstretched and above their heads, their wrists touching each other before they backed away and spun around before coming in again. They moved to the beating of the drums, their feet moving in a frenzy which captured the crowd and pulled them in. It was a beautiful thing to witness, each man moving with a precision which seemed well-rehearsed.

The circle opened up, and two men would step into the middle and begin to wrestle each other, in tune with the beat. As soon as one of them fell, the others would close in and continue to dance, while the loser would back away slowly with his head hung. The dance continued, and one-by-one, the circle thinned until only two men remained. The drumming grew louder and faster, and as the men grappled each other, sweat glistening off their backs, the crowd cheered. The larger man was dominating the fight, but the smaller one was faster and more nimble. In a split second, he curled underneath the large man and toppled him to the ground, and a thunderous roar went up in the crowd.

Everyone stood up as soon as the dance ended. Whistles, cheers and screams filled the air and I felt my heart tighten with joy.

The ceremony stretched on. Varieties of food were brought forth, as well as many games played. At some point, I watched Aiden pull off his Alkyabba and race the tyre game with little Hanyf and other kids. Every pack presented a dance and a gift to the royalties. The Jaroians from the mountains presented herbs and tonics from their pack. The Ngunlians presented yogurt. The Banganians, yam. The Sambians, honey. The Langamians, iron. The Bunzanians, petrol, and so on.

Night came, and the moon shone from above. The cheers were much louder now. I watched as people began to strip, while Mama and Baba bade us goodbye and left. According to Mama, they were too old for this.

“It’s time to shift,” Aiden smiled. “The most exciting part of this ceremony is the run. We shift and run into the city with our mates. Those who are unmated mostly replace their mates during the run and that’s it,” he explained. “Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to shift. You and I can return home and…”

“No. I want to do it,” I smiled. “I will do this, Aiden. Erin wants to do it as well,” I replied.

But before Aiden could reply, the middle aged woman I had seen with Sherneil stopped before us, Sherneil beside her.

“We’re leaving too. You know how Sherneil is with noise. It’s been hard trying to have her stay this long,” the woman who came with Sherneil said. And I just figured they looked alike now.

“Let’s go, Ammi,” Sherneil said in a monotone voice, closing her eyes.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Aiden said tightly. “You are only making things hard for yourself, Sherneil,” he added.

“I can only get rid of it if I do this…”

“No. You only hurt yourself when you do,” he hissed a bit. “Go home now,” he added, his commanding voice returning.

The woman took Sherneil’s hand, bowed at us and they left.

“Well, I did tell her not to come,” Kane murmured.

He dressed almost similar to Aiden, but in a brown colored caftan. After we had arrived, he and the other guards positioned themselves behind Aiden and I hadn’t seen him since then. Not even during the dance.

“You should have insisted,” Aiden grunted as he pulled his shirt off, leaving him standing before me in the pants of his caftan and a white vest.

‘Yummy,’ Erin said, her tongue dangling as she grew frantic.

‘Quiet!’ I snapped, trying to rid myself of the image of Aiden’s toned muscles on his arm.

‘Stop shutting me up. He looks yummy and you can’t stop me from saying that. I wonder how my tongue would feel over those toned muscles and..’

‘Erin!!!’ I g*****d. ‘Please, not this now,’ I added, shutting her off.

“There’s only so much one can do. I was eager for all this to start so I can see if I have any luck getting a mate. Although that is highly unlikely for a Lycan,” Kane replied.

“Or maybe, your ugly face is the reason,” Aiden teased.

“Nope, I think his brooding personality has something to do with that,” I joined in, enjoying the banter between them and trying to block Erin from constantly purring in my head as we watched Aiden strip down to his shorts.

My eyes caught the sight of the wolf tattoo on his stomach, and I was reminded once more of my lineage. However, before I could look away, I saw its eyes glow, before I felt Erin stiffen.

‘Nat,’ she said quietly. ‘I feel the presence again.’

Soon, the glow on Aiden’s stomach vanished and I felt Erin relax.

“It glowed,” I said absentmindedly.

“I saw it,” Aiden replied.

“What glowed?” Kane asked, looking between Aiden and I. I had totally forgotten that we were in public and that Aiden had mentioned that only he and I could see it.

“It’s nothing. It’s the glow of the mate bond which you don’t exactly have,” Aiden replied quickly with a sassy tone, turning it into a joke and I couldn’t resist laughing.

Kane tsked, then turned away and pulled his shirt as well. “Goddess Nyala, please bless me with a mate as well,” he pleaded, his head raised to the sky.

Aiden laughed and so did I as Tiffany stepped beside me. She looked ready and eager to shift as well while dread filled my heart.

“The king and his queen shift first,” Inna Laniya yelled and everyone quieted down.

“Remember, we can go home now and you don’t have to…”

“I will,” I replied with determination, pulling my Alkyabba away and handing it over to Tiffany.

“I’ll go first,” he smiled.

“I’ll watch you first,” I replied with a smile, glad that he would shift first.

However, instead of moving back alone, he took my hand in his and took me to the middle of the circle, the moon shining above us brightly. His eyes danced in between his dark gaze and the golden gaze, while my treacherous heart, despite its pounding in fear, kept reminding me of the feel of his hand on mine.

“Leo says he has something to say before the shift,” Aiden murmured. “To both you and Erin.”

I swallowed, while Erin’s frantic pacing increased. But when Aiden’s hand squeezed around mine, reminding me of where I am and what I should be doing, I nodded.

“It is going to be fine. I warned him not to get all over himself,” Aiden said with a smile.

After a while, his eyes glazed over, replaced by the golden eyes that felt as though they were pulling me in its swirls.

“Hmn. Are you both shaking because my touch is different or because you are just eager to meet me?” a deep, slightly husky voice from Aiden’s normal voice said.

Erin scoffed, and so did I. “Is this what you wanted to say?” I asked.

“No,” he shook his head, then moved closer. “Whatever happens today, know that I’ll always be there for you. When you shift, keep your gaze fixed on me and forget about everything else. You’re still nervous, I can feel it. But that is okay. Just know that whatever happens, if someone dares to say something rude to you, I’m ripping the pieces of s.hits to pieces,” he growled lowly.

My eyes widened as I listened to him say that, while Erin purred in sheer excitement. In a sense, hearing him say that calmed her nerves, and she was back to pacing around excitedly.

A small gasp escaped my parted lips when I felt his thumb lightly graze my lower l*p. I was used to having Aiden asked before he does anything, but Leo seems to be different.

“Remember, Kamla, eyes on me only,” he grinned, moved back a little and positioned himself in the middle, just a few inches from where I stood. “You’re about to see me in my full glory,” he smirked and I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled softly then opened his hands wide, as though embracing the moonlight before his bones began to crack. His shoulders widened to an unnatural level, and his eyes glowed as his fingers turned to claws and his leg grew longer. His entire body was slowly covered with fur, and a tail began to protrude from behind. I watched in awe as he crouched down on all fours, and a split second later, Aiden was gone.

I stood mouth agape, staring at the gray colored wolf with golden eyes. Unlike the normal size of the Alpha’s wolves, Leo was big. Huge. Powerful as he stood on all fours and simply stared at me. He looked so powerful that I couldn’t even breathe as I looked at him. He was absolutely magnificent, and he moved with a strange elegance which seemed to only come from him.

‘That’s my man right there in his full glory, Nat,’ Erin purred as she licked her mouth. The anxiety and fear was still there, but the moment Aiden shifted, she was different. ‘Nat, that’s mine. He looks so…hard. So perfect. So yummy!’ she added, rolling around as she threw her legs up and kicked with her paws.

‘Would you stop saying he looks yummy as though he’s some sort of snack,’ I grumbled.

‘Well, isn’t he? He looks like one yummy snack ready to be devoured,’ Erin said with a wolfish grin.

She was a complete mess!

I watched as Aiden – no, Leo, took several steps towards us before he stopped. I simply stared, couldn’t move, and so did Erin. Soon though, he tipped his head up to reach mine and nuzzled his nose over mine. My insides turn. My stomach tightened. Erin m****d and rolled on her back. I lifted my hands and carefully ran my fingers over his fur, loving the feel of it beneath my fingers.

‘Erin, are you ready?’ I called her.

She paced around a bit more, mumbling ‘I can do it, I can do it!’ a few times to herself, before she stopped and shut her eyes, growled a bit and with reassured determination pushed forward. I let go and let Erin take over everything.

The painful crack of bones, the nudge in our bond, and finally, the transformation.

Erin had shifted. For the second time.

Silence descended, and I began thinking if the reason was because of Erin. The two colored wolf. Head kept down, tail slowly falling to the ground, we didn’t dare look up, afraid of the reaction from Aiden…Leo. From the people. Our heart beat started to go faster and faster as the seconds ticked. We waited for a reaction, yet, nothing.

But the silence stretched more, and it was all I could hear.