Fie Wright's P. O. V

All around me I hear loud voices as everyone in the great hall bursts into whispers, some people shuffling about here and there but still managing to stay concealed within the shadows. The pack kneeling all around me too squirm uncomfortably but with dumb founded looks on their faces.

I, however, try to make sense of the situations while I feel like my head has been dunked into a vat of bubbling oil. I can barely hear anything. Sort of how when you're travelling somewhere with a change in altitude and your ears start to buzz and you lose clarity till they get blocked off completely and all you can hear is a dimmed down version of your usual hearing.

"My King. I'm afraid I must have heard incorrectly?" A familiar voice speaks up as Marcus regains his voice first.

My rhythmically normal pounding heart starts to increase its tempo as the entirety of what has just passed dawns on me. The glittering of butterflies in my stomach turn wild as a tormenting knot digs deeper into my torso. My hand rests on the cool marble floor, relishing and seeking comfort in the drastic temperature it brings to my overly heating up body.

"I do not like repeating myself." That same voice speaks up, shivers raking down my back as my eyes raise from off of the floor, only to find myself unable to gaze into the daunting man seated before me. My face pales but yet I feel like every fibre of my being is on fire as the impact of whats happening actually hits me.

That once continuous pounding in my head like an overwhelming migraine settles down to a gentle thrum till finally it fades away completely and an intense pressure erupts entirely around my head, my eyes almost turning dark with the force as I scrunch them shut completely. As soon as the overly weird sensation comes, it goes away as one single sound resounds in my head like a stuck record. Everything melting away as my breath seizes at the word coming clearer and clearer into coherence.

Mate.

That one word is all it takes for my eyes to snap open and to trail to the hooded gaze of the King on the throne, not being able to see anything except an obscure darkness. Yet, I still know it's his voice reverberating in my mind as I finally understand. Ezra's previous words making sense of my wolf calling for something.

More like someone.

My mate.

Letting out a shuddering breath, I try my best to calm my senses even though it's all in naught. Glancing around, I take note of how everyone slowly starts to stand from their kneeling positions. Copying their actions, I try to ignore the tingling sensation in my leg of being in such a peculiar posture as my head remains lowered. My hands are shaking as I clench them together, trying to take in as deep a breath as possible.

"All of you please follow me," the Minister speaks up as he throws a panic strikes glance at the foreboding man besides him before shuffling over to us. He snaps his fingers once and someone else scuttles over to him, taking the papers from him and then hurrying over to the King's side in a matter of a few seconds. The Minister then returns his sharp eyed gaze to our group and motions for us to follow.

I just about manage to do so even with my eyes turned in the direction of my-

Nope. Not possible. My wolf must be drugs. She has had to have the wolf equivalent of a cat on catnip.

There is no way possible on earth- in any of the parallel universes- where that King is my mate.

My line of sight gets blocked off by Brutus pointing forward, turning my direction to the Minister in front of me who hurries off out of sight of the King and over to another set of doors on the opposite side of where we were stood before. My throat dries as it feels like a pair of eyes sear right into my back. Even though eyes of all the people in the huge hall gaze upon us, the most important ones can be felt right into my very core leading to my soul.

The entry way is dim lighted even with the huge glass windows peeping in between slivers of bare walls. No wooden panelling or any covering of the sort just true raw stone which seems to be carved in a flurry of images and vivid depictions. The sun going down can be seen through the windows which explains the lack of light along with the frigid chill descending down the empty long hallway that greets us. Walking through it, none of us says a word nor even attempting to use the mind link as we follow the portly old man. Everyone left behind in the hall, even Ron.

I believe we're all in shock at the turn of events. The true purpose for what we came for flying straight out of my mind. I feel incredibly guilty for that undoubtedly but the happenings of just a few minutes ago reverberates through my being like a gong being struck in preparation for a ceremonial function.

The hall ends soon enough and we enter into a foyer of sorts with an elegant staircase starting in the centre and travelling up to both sides of the room above us. The foyer decorated with immaculate ornaments and towering statues of porcelain figures holding up lighted candles that cast shadows over every object in the room. The flame billowing and gleaming enough to do a good enough task of encasing the area in a warm glow.

"Just a little further." Mutters the man leading our delegation. He seems to have a way about him, both intrigued yet also putting up a farce of being utterly bored with taking us to and fro places as if he has better things to do. Taut rigid shoulders and an even tighter rigid grip on the bannister as we ascend the stairs. The area branches off into further rooms which we are lead to. The man opens the door and steps to the side, motioning for us to enter. They all enter before me and just as I'm about to pass through the threshold, a hand is placed to bar my way as everyone turns to the Minister in alarm.

"The King will want to talk to her in private." That's enough to cause the frayed nerves to erupt once more as my eyes connect with that of Marcus in the room who shakes his head.

Go. You'll be safe. Don't worry. We'll wait here for you.

The words are meant to be comforting but they're anything but considering I'll have to meet the man alone. The mere thought of anything like that happening causing my hands to shake once more. I'd like to just jump into my bed back home and pull the comforter up over my head so that I can hide in a cocoon of warmth and my own personal safety.

Everything about this trip is pulling me out of my comfort zone and yanking me- quite literally- into a world of the unknown.

I follow the man a little ways down the corridor till we reach a room right at the end, he doesn't make a move to enter the door and with a loud sigh from me, I turn the door handle and step over the threshold and into the room. The room itself was fit for a Royal- no pun intended- with every object more expensive than the next. It looked to be a sitting room with crème sofa's strewn about and a light golden toned coffee table laying in between. A large rug lays strewn underneath it all and a raging fireplace is situated besides it with various figurines stack on the mantle just above it.

I turn back to see the door is closed and instead of making a run for it like every fibre of my being wishes for me to do so, I stand my ground and instead focus my gaze on the windows opposite of the wall to where I stand. Moving closer to them, I take in the manicured gardens with the idillic hedges filled to the brim with flowers, some in their beds while others formed into shapes and patterns in flower pots. Fountains situated in the middle with water trickling out into streams from the spouts and gliding towards the rest to shoot out of the top in one big burst.

"Mate."

The word resounding through the room makes me jump in my spot and my hand clenching into a fist as I only now notice the presence of an intimidating person. Gulping, I brace myself as I turn around. Not wanting to disrespect the King in front of me. The King who claims I'm his mate.

My lips pull together till they settle into a thin line as I try my best to not react in any way that might not appease him.

It's not like the man will hurt is supposed mate. Right?

The King stands there right before me, still encased in that damn cloak as it drapes from his head down to the floor, teasing the wood as he steps towards me and the cloth glides against it. His figure looms over me and I take a step back, my alert mind making me take notice of the wall behind me which I'll need to side step out of the way in case I'm on the defence. My heart, however, scoffs at the thought of running from the person in front of me and then and there I know my wolf is in cahoots with the organ as the damn animal practically lays down on her back for the King's own wolf.

I dart my tongue out to wet my lips but just as I do that, I can nearly feel his concealed eyes focusing on it causing me to slip it back into my mouth.

"Is this some kind of a mistake?" My voice is a whisper and I know I shouldn't have even uttered the sentence as he stiffens, spine going rigid and a growl tearing passed his lips.

"You are my mate." The rough voice speaks firmly, his tone almost guttural and completely animalistic causing me to clamp my mouth shut.

I do not want him to shift in front of me. I'd rather not die of a heart attack just two minutes after being alone in the presence of my mate.

"What is your name, wolf?" The man murmurs. Parting my lips, I close them before opening them once more. It's almost like I'm at a loss for words even though he's only asking me what my damn name is.

It's just three litters woman, you can do it.

My thinking ceases to a halt as he lifts the only visible part of his body; his hands. He trails them over to the clasp that binds his cloak together before undoing it. The cloak does a great effort at its job because even though he undoes it, all I can see is black due to the vibrant colour of his clothing.

My sarcasm might a little too into play.

It's almost as if in slow motion that he raises his tan hands to the hem of the hood, slowly tugging it down as if he's teasing me with the tantalising moment. Everything halts into place and I barely notice how he grabs ahold of the damned cloak-that kept his beauty hidden from me- and throws it onto one of the smaller tables besides us.

Breath taking is too a loose used and ill fitted word for the man in front of me just because he is so much more. The towering figure was apparent to me even when wearing that article of clothing but now I realise how truly glorious the man in front of me is. Thick cords of muscle encasing not only his long lean legs but also his bulky arms and menacing torso. The muscle not overbearingly too much but just enough for one to tremble at the sheer sinew he holds as his stance dictates power and force with thick broad shoulders to match. Jet black hair frame his statuesque sculpted face What with the sharp angular jawline and high placed cheekbones casting shadows over the rest of his face, plump luscious red lips and a straight nose leading to his hard set eyes. The very eyes that peer into my soul with their deep and dark alluring shade of blue that resemble the night sky before a storm strikes ready to unleash its pain onto the ground before it with its sheer torrent.

"It already seems that for you my mate, I am making exceptions." The deep masculine voice tears me out of my blatant staring as I finally gaze into his eyes properly. The doubt I had before of the man in front of me being my mate now evading me as a connection between his and my wolf sizzling together.

They say the eyes are the windows to our souls yet it is known that our wolves are the pure embodiment of our kind.

Tilting my head to the side, I manage to speak up even with the bundle of nerves within me, "What do you mean?" My voice is hesitant but not as quiet as last time.

"I asked for your name." He states simply as he takes another step towards me. For once, I stay rooted to my spot as I find no point in running away from the person in front of me. No feelings of terror or anything of the sort coursing within me except a hesitance from my side at the newness of this all.

"Fie. My name is Fie." I barely mumble, confidence not wanting to aid me as my mate finally steps before me. He raises a hand and I stay rigid, not being able to relax if I even compelled myself to do so. It seems as if he has magic in his hands because as soon as his fingers stroke my cheek, my body melts and I find myself leaning into his soft touches. My eyes want to so desperately close and the rest of me wants to launch into his arms till I turn into putty and I can know longer hold myself but I stop that line of thought as I stare into those eyes of his.

"A fitting name." He says almost in amusement as he cups my face.

I open my mouth to question his words but instead find myself asking him something else entirely different.

"What's your name?" The powerful laugh I get in return nearly causes my knees to buckle as those plump red lips tilt up at the sides, a half smirk as his eyes light up in amusement.

"You do not know the name of your King?" The blush on my face is something seemingly out of my control as I evade the man's eyes. I should definitely know the name of our ruler yet for some reason unbeknownst to me, I never thought to have asked why. Back home, no one spoke of the King unless it was for official business such as the one which we are here for and hence no bringing up of the King's name was required. I ponder over whether I should tell this information to him but stop as I thing he might take offence to the lack of topic that he is.

"Malleus, my little Queen. My name is Malleus." I could listen to his voice on repeat like my favourite song as it sounds so unbelievably appealing. Malleus.

Wait.

My eyes widen as they dart up to his own.

"Queen?" I whisper in a rhetoric question even though I know the answer to my badly phrased question. It seems that common sense has evaded me at such a crucial time like this.

Why oh why.

"You are my Queen. Just like I am your King." His words aren't as serious as can be and that's all it takes for me to rip myself from his arms and to stumble over to the three seater sofa. Flopping down onto it, I cradle my head in my hands as I place my elbows on my knees. Completely ignoring the King in the room along with the manners that one has to showcase in front of royalty.

Oh to hell with that shit.

A thousand different thoughts scatter my mind and it'll take me eons to figure them out before I even attempt to put them into correct order.

The shadow looming above me suggests that the King isn't very tolerant on personal space even when it regards his mate as two strong hands latch onto my arms and pry them away from my face. Finally lifting my head, I stare into his own passive expression as he kneels before me.

"Remember, I will have you with me if you wish for your Luna to be healed." The words are simple and I find myself gasping at his audacity as my mouth falls open.

"Are you bribing me?" I practically spit out to which the man raised his eyebrow in a nonchalant manner.

"Of course I am."

Standing up, the King barely has any time to avoid being knocked flat onto his ass even though I severely doubt he didn't anticipate my moves before even I thought of them. Running my hands through my already messy hair, my mouth falls open and closes a few times as I turn towards him again before pacing up and down the rug.

"How do I know my Luna will even be treated? What if I stay behind only to find out you've murdered the rest of the people with me and damned my own Pack to the very depths of hell." I know I sound dramatic even for me but the whole situation of having a mate is difficult for me to wrap my head around let alone that I have to stay with him in this castle like a twisted version of the Beauty and the Beast.

"Are you saying that I'll go against my word?" Is all he questions while I pause in my relentless pacing, giving him all my attention as I cross my arms over my chest.

"King Malleus, I don't-," my words are cut off as he steps up till there's barely any space between the two of us. Our bodies practically pushed up against each other as he takes a firm hold of my chin.

"Malleus, my mate. You will call me Malleus."

His words process through my brain but along with that, so do endearingly familiar others.

Those of my mother's back at home as she would tell me multiple times during the day;

You never know when you'll find your mate.

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AN: My dumbass took half an hour trying to figure out the correct word for dong was actually gong. I swear I need to sleep earlier because I'm turning stupid. Anywho's thank you all so so so much for hitting 1k reads. It means sooo much to me and trust me I read all of your comments and they all put a smile on my face!

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