Chapter 8

The Lycan’s Queen Book 1 – Chapter 8 Series Adonis was holding Hunter by the collar, causing him to nearly suffocate with the tightness of his grip.

His other hand was placed over his chest, like he might rip out Hunter‘s heart with his bare hands without a second thought.

Just a few moments before, I was dancing with Adonis, holding him close, surprised at my own attraction to him.

But now, I saw him for what he really was. A monster: I couldn‘t believe that someone like this was really my mate. And I wasn‘t going to let him do anything to Hunter.

“ADONIS–” I called out.

I ran over and tried to pull him off of Hunter. But he was sturdy as a boulder. I couldn‘t make him budge.

“Adonis, please don‘t hurt him. He didn‘t do anything.”

“I am the King,” Adonis said through gritted teeth. “I do what I want.”

His eyes were still glowing with rage. I was certain that he would shift any second now and then Hunter would really be done for.

I kept expecting Hunter to say something, but he was silent. He knew better than to talk back to the King. But apparently I didn‘t.

“Let go of him,” I said sternly. “Now.”

Adonis‘ eyes turned to find mine. For an instant, I thought he might attack me.

But to my surprise, I saw his grip loosen on Hunter‘s collar.

“Get your mate and get the hell out of here,” Adonis snarled to Hunter.

Then he let go of the poor man, grabbed my hand, and lead us away without glancing back.

I followed him, grateful to have avoided a real disaster.

We walked outside onto the patio and before we even had a moment alone, Gave, Evan, and Lexi appeared at our side.

“I told everyone else to go home, too,” Gabe said. “It seemed like the night was over anyway.”

Adonis nodded and then said, “I have to go and check on something. Stay here.”

That last sentence was directed at me. I watched as Adonis left.

Sophia and Luke entered and looked worried. Gabe whispered something to the two of them, and they both looked at me, eyes wide with shock.

Instinctively, I looked down at my dress to see if there was a stain or something on it, but there wasn‘t.

“I‘m sorry you had to witness that,” Gabe said, “but it‘s programmed in the Lycan DNA to protect his mate at any cost.

“Aarya, that was amazing...” Sophia trailed off.

“What about that was amazing?” I asked.

“Adonis didn‘t fully lose control. Normally he needs to be physically restrained once his Lycan takes over. It hasn‘t even been a full day since he found you, yet your presence is helping him stay in control.” Sophia smiled.

Could my presence really be the reason that Adonis is managing to stay in control? It seemed unlikely, but the faces of the lycans made me think otherwise.

Was a lycan‘s mate that important that they could help their mates stay in control? I didn‘t have much time to think about it because Adonis walked in.

He had changed, and I couldn‘t help but admit how hot he looked.

My mom came up to me and gave me a big hug. “It‘s time we got going now”

My heart sank. There was no way I wasn‘t going back home with them. Not possible.

“I am coming back with you,” I stated, and Adonis‘s head whipped around.

“No, baby. You need to stay here. I‘ll pack your things and send them here for you.” My mom stroked my cheek.

I scoffed and replied, “No way. I am coming back. No offence, Mom, but my whole life is back home, and I should be the one to pack everything up.

Adonis growled, clearly not happy with what I said, but I just rolled my eyes.

He can‘t control me.

My mom looked between us both, worried. She never liked conflict anyway.

Carter walked over and winked at me. “Smiley, I know you‘re going to miss my gorgeous body but don‘t worry, I‘ll send you pics.”

I laughed and shoved Carter away. “Please, I don‘t wanna see pictures of your beer belly.”

Carter gasped, but I didn‘t let him say anything. “I am coming back home because only I have the right to pack away everything that belongs to me.”

No one said anything else to me; they were all waiting to see what Adonis would say. Not that it mattered to me. I was going home no matter what.

Finally Adonis sighed, “Fine. You can go back home, but you only have two days. In two days‘ time, I will be there to pick you up.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Damn, two days isn‘t a lot of time, but I could still escape. There was no way I was coming back here.

I didn’t want a mate, and I didn‘t want to be queen. Especially after what I had just witnessed. I had to escape before it was too late.

My thoughts were interrupted by Adonis‘s harsh tone. “I‘ll be sending two people I trust to guard you.

Don‘t think you can try and escape me.

His gaze pierced my own, and I froze. How could he have known what I was thinking? Hope disintegrated as I realized I wouldn‘t be able to escape.

Adonis looked at everyone and nodded before motioning to the other lycans to follow him.

When they left, my mom looked at me and sighed, “Aarya, what is wrong with you?”

I shrugged, not wanting to answer, but that wasn‘t good enough for my mom.

“You are the mate of a lycan. Forget about the fact he is king, but you know how important a mate is to a lycan, and you‘re still acting like this. Why?”

“What if he doesn‘t let me become a pack doctor because I have to be queen. I don‘t want to be tied down and not be able to pursue my dreams.”

Sighing, I turned away from my mom.

She turned me back around and said, “I have raised a strong woman, not a coward. We are all aware that if you want something, you will fight for it. So, don‘t give me that crap. I know it‘s hard to grow up and leave your family, but you are needed here. Think of your mate.”

There was nothing I could say to that. Obviously my mom was right. She always was. What she didn’t know is my reluctance to have a mate was because of my broken heart.

Carter caught my gaze and gave me a sympathetic smile; he knew the reason.

Luke and Sophia walked in and smiled. “We will be your guards.”

“That way I can spend more time with my family.” Sophia smiled.

Hope reignited in me; maybe it was possible for me to escape. Luke looked at me with a serious expression on his face.

“Don‘t try anything, Aarya. I won‘t let you escape; you‘ll kill my king in the process.

Just as quickly as hope came, it vanished. Not trusting my voice, I just nodded. There was no way I could try anything with Luke around, and I had no doubt that Sophia wouldn‘t let me escape either.

“Wow, I can‘t believe my Smiley is going to be queen. Don‘t forget about us commoners when you‘re sitting on that massive throne of yours,” Carter said, putting his arms around my shoulders.

UNLIMITED Rolling my eyes, I elbowed him, and Carter just laughed before grabbing Diya‘s hand and walking out.

“Right, it is time to get back to the hotel. We have to leave early Just as I was turning to leave, I felt a hand on my arm.

I turned around and Adonis was standing there.

He leaned in close, his lips hovering just inches above mine.

As much as I tried to resist it, a wave of attraction flooded my body.

“Two days, Aarya,” he whispered. “And then you‘re all mine.