4 "Mate!"

"Boom"

Something fell from the sky. It was in form of a thunder. No one knew what it was.

Until a loud growl escapes the queen mother's chamber. Her Lycan had been murdered. The curse has been fufilled.

Her chamber is in a disarray.

The queen mother had died. Yet no one knew what caused it. But only one person. Crown prince Ares. He was the reason she had to die.

"Oh such a great soul she was." one of the maids mummurs, as she passes the court lady , whose name is Ylvia a gold scarf then it was used to clean the last strand of sweat from queen mother's face.

"How do we announce this to the princes"? The same maid asks trembling. No maid dares to walk inside prince Ares castle. Infact, no maid has been serving him. Except his mother.

"I am unsure of what to say. It is a pain that such a great soul leaves us". No one responds.

"Call in the princes". Ylvia tells the maids staying at the front door. And the maids only bows reluctantly, not leaving their spot. They knew better than to visit the crown prince chamber.

Ylvia walks to the prince castle to announce the tragic news herself. But the crown prince was not there.

She was then told by prince Dorian who had heard of the news too that his highness was outside in the garden when the loud thunder fell from the sky. That he was well aware of what happened. He just didn't want to visit her chamber.

Things was getting more complicated, Ylvia didn't want to go to the crown prince alone she didn't know what his mood is like.

"I think I better bring you along with me. Prince Dorian. He has a soft spot for you."

"Why?. He knows already." Dorian asks, lifting his eye brow as he notices she had something to say.

"What! Did mother say something before she passed?"

"Yes your highness. I would love to tell it to the three of you." Ylvia said.

"Then I would tell Derrick myself. He is not back from his journey. He would return tonight once he hears of this for sure.And you know what happens if both of them are in the same room."

Dorian responds. Ares and Derrick are like fire and ice. They both hated each other's guts.

"Your highness. May I speak with you?" the Court lady announced.

No response at first, but the burning rage the prince gave off was not unnoticed. He knew why this had happened. The curse from when he was born had befallen her.

His mother would also pay for his own curse.

It hurts so much. He was a cursed prince. Cursed right from his birth. And within him, darkness liveth. Yet he has to survive. And people keeps dying for him to live.

*We would be left alone. Once again* Ashter whimpers, Ares Lycan said in his head. But prince Ares didn't want to show weakness. Not in this time. He just couldn't bring himself to believe her

"Where is she?" Prince Ares asks coldly.

"In her chamber your highness."

"So why are you here? Go clean her up" he said trying to sound haughty but failing, his voice betrayed his. That woman, she was his weakness. He loved her greatly. And he was her only son. Prince Dorian and Derrick were the sons of his father's concubine.

Which means he is the rightful heir to the throne. All this kingship activities bores him.

He never once craves to become king. But now that she is dead. There was nothing to do about it. It had always been his mother's wish that he becomes the king and that he finds his mate.

"All those they have done. She said her royal highness left us a message before she passed" Dorian cuts in.

"A message?" Ares asks seemingly interested.

"Of course your highness. Her royal highness had said that the crown prince mist ascend the throne as the rightful heir. And that I should hold a bride selection day for you your highness. That you may ascend the throne with woman on your side" Ylvia informed. "Did she not say anything else?" King Ares asks a rush of panic flitted over his face. Until he notices the look on prince Dorian and the court lady Ylvia's face.

"She also said that you find her sooner or later" That was it. He had been cursed to be mate less since he was born. That curse,his mother had tried to reverse because he was born half Lycan_half wizard. It was weird, because non of his parents were witches.

And he had come to accept it.

He needed a bride, a woman by his side. A woman to understand his pain. But he was so ashamed to want to accept it. He was cursed, a lot of lives had been lost because of him. He was not yet ready to take in a woman.

She would hate him because of his darkness.

"Prepare everything for her burial. I bury my mother tomorrow" Ares responded.

***

After the burial.

In a dense forest. It was a snowy night.

The caravans was going back towards the palace.

It was dark already, both princes in their own caravans as the sound of swords clashing caused the caravans come to an halt.

"What is happening?" prince Dorian asks no one in particular, getting down form their caravans, their attackers are dressed in all black. Their faces hidden.

Prince Ares cursed beneath his breath as he quickly unsheathed his sword too. Jumping in the battle ground.

Who had sent them.? They looked like they were trained for assassination. But Prince Ares is a great sword man too.

Prince Ares notices that prince Dorian has been injured so. He quickly ordered the royal soldiers to accompany him back to the palace.

"You have to go now. Dorrian!" Ares, growled. Ashter, his Lycan was taking over his whole being. He was about to transform.

It had been over a century since he had transformed into his Lycan. Ashter was a very large Lycan.

Pitch black in color. Blending the color of the night. As his green eyes stared back at the terrified assassins before him. They looked like they were about to shit their pants.

The reason Ares couldn't control him is what he could not understand.

Ashter didn't even Inform him before he took over. Ares was trying to take in the pain as he fell on snowy floor.

The assassins took it has their cue as one of them found it's way towards him and his swords slashed his paws.

A loud deep growl escapes Ashter's throat echoing through the thick forest.

He then luched forward at the assassins. He tore them apart in a blink of an eye.

Everything was silent for a moment.

Then he begins to run in the forest, as he caught her scent. The scent was like that of pine and cinnamon. It was alluring, rendering him restless, Ashter whimpers as his paws keeps hurting.

The scent was getting near. Ashter was oddly defenseless.

What was happening? Why was he uncomfortable.?

Untill a tiny figure dashed towards him.

"Mate!" He whimpers in pain.