Fated to the Werewolf King novel Chapter 23

That woman still amazes him. After the speech she gave this morning, she was the talk of the city. Mostly good, some are still a bit confused and angry that it's a Human that turned out to be their Luna instead of a She-Wolf. They'll get over it in time after she shows them she can handle the position flawlessly. A few whispers reached him about her situation. Did they believe her? What proof did she offer? The only proof she had was currently covered up with makeup from his mother. No matter. Fate already decided things, and he'll flow with it.

"My King." Someone called to him, making his Wolf growl. He turned to see a short, round man approaching him, his hair thinning. He wore a business suit with a crimson sash strapped across.

A royal councilman, great.

"Mr. Helson, always a pleasure." Jayce said distastefully. He reached his car when the councilman stopped him. Damion flanked the passenger side, looking displeased as well.

"I was hoping to have a meeting with our future Luna." He smiled up at him.

"Her day is booked." Jayce said bluntly, trying to leave.

"Perhaps you can arrange a time for her." He said to him. Jayce growled down at him.

"I will arrange nothing for her. Lily will enjoy today just like everyone else is. Now, if you excuse me." He said, opening his car door, but Mr. Helson pushed the door shut.

"My King, it's important that she take her role seriously." He said to him. He wasn't wrong, but Lily didn't need Jayce to ride her ass right now.

"If all you plan on doing today is running me down until I cave in, it won't work." He lifted the corner of his lips in a snarl as he opened the door once more. Mr. Helson backed off a bit, but he didn't back down completely.

"Perhaps you should reject her as your Mate." He suggested. Jayce slammed his door shut, turning toward the now shaking councilman.

So this is what it was truly about.

"I give you credit for having the balls to even say such a thing to me." Jayce towered over him. Mr. Helson stammered, but Jayce raised his hand to stop him. "I think you should re-evaluate a few things. Starting with your daughter who hired the man that violated my Mate." He growled, letting his Wolf breach the surface. His claws sharpened, and he exposed his fangs.

"Beta Damion, get him to calm down." Mr. Helson called over to him.

"Sorry, I'm overruled." Damion called back before getting in the car. Jayce signaled security over to him as he sheathed his Wolf, adjusting his tie.

"See that Mr. Helson and his daughter are escorted out of the city." He told them, a single finger turning into a claw as he reached over and sliced through the sash Mr. Helson wore.

"Wait, your majesty!" He called after him as he got into the car.

Two headaches were out of the way.

"So, we'll have to start at the beginning with the parade..." Damion was already going over the list as Jayce drove off. The audacity of that man. Reject his Mate. Even if the option arose again, he'd slam it back down. He didn't think about it before, he didn't want to think of it now.

He drove carefully through the crowded streets; the sun rising higher into the sky. He slipped off his jacket and unbuttoned the first few buttons, and rolled up his sleeves. Food vendors lined the sidewalks with different varieties of food. His stomach growled. Aside from the coffee, he had eaten nothing since yesterday.

"Sounds like we'll be stopping for food first." Damion commented, even though his eyes were on his notes. Jayce pulled into a parking lot, finding a spot near the back and stepped out. The heat hit him hard, making him grumble a bit. He couldn't wait for winter. To feel the snow beneath his paws and the cold in his fur.

"It's a lot more crowded than I expected." Jayce said as they walked down the street with the food vendors. Different smells filled his nose, making his Wolf drool. He didn't know where to begin.

"With Erica having thrown the invitation outside the community about the book signing, they lined the gates with cars as early as six this morning." Damion told him. Jayce stepped up to a vendor that was offering ribs.

"I didn't know it would blow up the way it did. I hope she's alright." Jayce vocalized out loud as he paid for his food. Damion ordered the same and continued their walk. Civilians nodded to them as they passed, inclining their necks to him. Some even stopped him to ask about Lily.

"I'm afraid if you have questions, ask her personally." He informed them. They looked at one another.

"That might be hard, then. The book store is swamped with people." A man told him.

"There's a line wrapped around the block. Most of them are even in costume." A woman said, looking curiously down the street.

In costume?

"She's referring to cosplayers." Damion told him. Jayce still felt a little lost, but now he had an excuse.

"Perhaps we should check it out." He said, changing direction to the bookstore. He caught Damion looking at him, "What?"

"You can just tell me you want to see her. I can relate, you know." Damion said to him as he dug into his food. With Erica's temperament, it was difficult to see their connection, but from what he's seen and heard, Damion was head over heels for the woman.

"I'm glad Lily has someone as strong as Erica in her life." Jayce said. Damion chuckled.

"You should hear her after they part for the day. I practically have to tie her down so she didn't trespass in the middle of the night." He finished his food.

"She looks like the type of woman that likes to be tied down." Jayce joked, but Damion's evasive eyes spoke the truth. "It's been a week."