Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 56

NATASHA.

‘Daisies and a hot looking Man for my Woman. How is your afternoon coming along, Nala?’

A silly grin was plastered on my face as I read through the text Aiden sent. It had a picture of him. His hair was styled perfectly just like I recalled seeing it before he left this morning for a meeting. The edge of his mouth tugged up just slightly to show his crooked seductive grin. And his eyes, oh his eyes, a deeper shade almost like darkness that always seems to draw me in. He held a single white daisy in his hand and stared into the camera. However, it felt as though he was staring at me, the heat of his gaze piercing through my soul.

It’s been a while since we exchanged text messages and I kinda missed them.

It was the morning after our convo night. Aiden and I spent the better part of last night discussing. I recalled how he stared at me with so much pride in his eyes after he twirled with me in his arms when I told him how Erin and I handled him in the arena.

He didn’t question how I was able to do it, he was just proud that I was there for him. Although he expressed his displeasure at first, according to him, it was a risky move. But I told him I didn’t mind, and would do that over and over again.

And then, I told him about the Malakari pack. Albeit not everything, but the better part of it. Told him about my first shift, when Umma and Abba died, how I had been treated in the pack down to the point I found out Matteo was my mate. I also told him about how the treatment from Matteo had worsened when he found out he was mated to me. But I didn’t tell him about the B.J. I just…couldn’t do that to him. We discussed some more and he told me he’ll discuss something with me about Matteo later today. He growled and g*****d the more I told him, and at some point, he asked me to stop for a moment. He walked to the window and stared at it for a while.

When he returned, he cupped my cheeks and gave me a slow torturous k**s on the lips. This time, he didn’t ask, and I liked it better. Because truth be told, now that I’m comfortable around him, I didn’t like him asking. I just want to feel the emotions as they come without anticipation.

Then he stared into my eyes before he spoke. “I don’t know how you were able to endure all that. And I’m even more exceptionally grateful you opened up to me after all you’ve endured, Nala. I will always, and forever cherish you.”

Yup, he twirled my heart again with just words!

Long into the night however, I drifted into sleep, wrapped in his arms. I forgot about his punishment of sleeping on the couch. I needed the warmth of his body, and that was what I got.

A night I’ll always cherish.

He left for work this morning and mentioned he’d go for training afterwards before the time for our date later this evening. I can’t wait!

I leaned back on the chair I was sitting on and began typing a reply.

‘Get rid of the daisies for today. I want the man only.’

‘Dang! That was a bold move, Nat!’ Erin teased as she wagged her tail around. ‘I feel like you’ve gotten even bolder after last night,’ she added and I felt my cheeks heat up.

‘Stop prying into my privacy, Erin,’ I mumbled, returning my gaze to the file and papers scattered before me. It was then that I remembered I was in a meeting with the team, and we were discussing our new replaceings.

I looked up timidly to replace six pair of eyes staring at me. Each with a different emotion plastered on their faces. Sherneil was the only one not looking at me, instead, she had her head down as she scribbled on the paper before her.

“Well, I certainly want to know what made your mood change instantly!” Lacie gushed. Yup! Lacie joined us today, and despite my efforts to make her understand she wasn’t part of the team, she wouldn’t have it. According to her, she has a lot to offer and there is one extra desk and chair, which means it has been kept for her.

It’s not that I do not like Lacie. I just felt like she was…too much for me to handle. She carries this air of confidence around her that makes me question my timidness. She’s never shy to voice her opinion or act whatever way she wants. She and I are polar opposite . She’s like a fashion star amongst us all, albeit Ivayne loves fashion too, but not as much as Lacie.

After the time she spent in the house when Aiden was sick, I finally realized that I had only been uncomfortable around Lacie because she was so different…from me. Unique and sweet in her own way. But definitely too much for me. As they say, too much of everything is bad. Lacie is everything. A talkative. Beautiful. Smart. Independent. Confident, and has different personalities for every occasion. She knows exactly how to handle situations thrown at her.

Today, instead of the long straight hair she had maintained ever since I got here, her hair was curly, and she had it pinned on one side, exposing the other side of her neck. She wore a red armless top and tight black trousers. Her face caked with makeup. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

“I bet that’s my cousin, right?” She continued.

I winced a bit at her high pitched tone, then ducked my head down. All of them were staring at me as though I had suddenly grown two heads. I never liked it when I’m the center of attention.

“I’m sure of that too. You should see them when they are together. What a sight to watch!’ Tiffany swooned, fanning her face with her hands. “Did you see the hug they shared on the day of the ceremony?” She added.

“That is certainly something I’d like to see!” Ivayne clapped her hands.

“It’ll be fun to see Aiden smitten over you!” Lacie laughed. “Now, if only I know who will be able to melt Mav’s icy nature,” she murmured.

It was at the tip of my tongue to ask if she knew who Mav’s mate was amongst the ladies here, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to sound too inquisitive over something that had nothing to do with me. After all, Aiden did say he was meeting with Mav tomorrow, so I was of the impression that he’d get the answer.

Uh, why am I so obsessed with knowing who Mav’s mate was? But I knew the answer. It was the way Mav had reacted to the knowledge, with so much hatred, pain, and anger that made me desperately want to know. After our meeting with the priestesses, I had thought he’d stay back but he didn’t. Something told me he hates mingling with people, or perhaps, he hates being around people that clearly didn’t want him. It also seems like talking about him was a sensitive topic, as though no one wants to discuss anything about him. And it got me wondering just why.

“I mean, it will mean anything to finally see a crack in that almost stoic face all the time. Argh! If only someone will tell me who this mysterious mate of his is,” she added, turning to look at the women in the room.

“His face wasn’t stoic when he was around me,” I said. “He was friendly and nice.” Which was true. He treated me like a sister, not just like his brother’s mate. He made me feel comfortable around him, and that was what mattered the most right now.

“I was surprised to see him talk to you. He left home over eight years ago, yet he acted like he never knew any of us. Well, we did the same thing too, at least, most of us did.” She sighed and sunk deeper into her chair. “It’s just sad seeing my once bubbly, most lively cousin turn out this way,” she added, a sad smile on her face.

“You guys are too loud,” Sherneil’s small voice floated across. She looked at us with a straight face, her lips puckered as though she was annoyed. Her short Afro hair secured with a band. “We should be working right now not chatting over men,” she added, returning her gaze to the papers before her.

It was as though she wasn’t the one that spoke. She said nothing more and neither of us could. Tiffany took small steps towards me then whispered. “She’s the odd one here.”

I didn’t know if to agree with that or not. But I always replace Sherneil to be interesting.

“She’s right, Ladies. Enough gushing about my man and back to work!” I commanded, fixing my gaze on the file. They grumbled and began flipping the papers in front of them.

However, the beep of my phone stopped me and I quickly looked up to see if anyone was looking at me. No one.

‘This man is already yours. All yours to do what you want, Nala.’ He added a wink at the end and I smiled.

A throat cleared beside me and I turned to see Lacie grinning at me from her seat. She winked at me then turned her attention back to her papers.

“How about we go for a ladies date tomorrow? Just us, no work?” Lacie asked. “I’m very sure you guys only meet for meetings and nothing for fun. Just a day off would help give the brain a break.”

“By break, do you mean shopping, manicure and pedicure, hair care and spa? If yes, then I’m in!” Ivayne screamed happily.

Sherneil winced, before glaring at Ivayne.

“I’m in too!” Tiff joined in.

“Me too!” Lacie said. “Three against one. You two are joining us as well!”

I laughed softly, before I stood up and walked to the large screen overlooking us. I pressed on the small remote in my hand and cleared my throat.

“I’ll be giving a summary of our investigation. We now have all the files ready, including the ones Kane delivered this morning. We now know who was responsible for the attack, but still can’t replace the motive, or why the red wolves from the Jaro pack were included,” I began. I had told them I’ll be the one to give a report today and I liked it.

“The woman, as we already know, is Elder Manze’s sister. Her car had attacked the other car first, but then, surprisingly, she was the one injured. There’s no traces of the red wolf involved in the accident as well, till now, no one has been able to replace anything about that.”

“It states here that the motive is to get to you.” Sherneil mumbled, flipping through the papers. “According to a witness, who was not mentioned here, the goal was for the explosion to happen with you there.”

“Makes no sense. Why would anyone go that length to hurt you?” Ivayne asked.

“Not when she’s the King’s mate. She’s an easy target to hurt Aiden so it makes absolute sense,” Lacie replied.

I nodded. Exactly what Aiden had told me yesterday.

“The young boy with the pregnant woman seems odd,” Sherneil said again. She walked up to the screen and pressed a button on the remote.

“Here, he looks so young and innocent,” she pointed at a picture of the young boy I had rescued from the accident. He certainly did look young and innocent. “Here, he looks like someone different, although the face is the same,” she changed to another picture. Both were taken from the hospital. The first one when they had first gotten there, and the second before they vanished.

I looked closely at both pictures, and truthfully, the boy looked different. But how? While he’s a boy in both pictures, the second picture had him looking older, like he was wearing a mask.

“Is this what I’m thinking it is?” Lacie asked thoughtfully. All the ladies were now standing before the screen.

“Those were only rumors…”

“But it can be true. This boy may not really be a boy,” Lacie cut Ivayne off.

“If that’s the case…”

“Then this boy isn’t really a boy…” Sherneil provided.

“But a shapeshifting dark goblin!” Ivayne and Lacie said together.

“Wait, what? A dark goblin? How? I thought they lived in a different realm? Why will they be here? And why would it want to harm me?”

“They take up tasks if given,” Sherneil said. “It may not be here to harm you per say, but maybe it was hired for the job. Now that we’ve figured out what that is, capturing it won’t be hard. I know just the way to capture a goblin. Give me three days, Ladies.”

For some reason, I trusted her with that, and that seemed to put my heart at ease.