Walking Through Memories

LUCIAN

Fuck, I don’t think anyone has ever been able to make me feel even half of what Liana can. The woman works some serious magic on me. All she had to do was clean me the way that she did, so gentle and caring with her long, soft tongue, and I instantly got hard. Any flicker of pain vanished in that second, and all I could think of was her tongue licking more than my stomach.

Nothing feels better than burying yourself in a woman after fighting, but that was pretty damn close. There was just something so animalistic about it that it would drive anyone crazy.

She’s honestly perfect, everything she took from me made me so proud.

I thought grabbing her throat may have been going too far, but she thrived on it, letting her inner beast out and claiming what was rightfully hers for the taking. She was incredible, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.

“You okay, beautiful?” I ask, and she hums happily and nods against my chest, where she’s been resting. “Ready to head back?”

Lifting her head, she smiles and nods, then glances down at my chest and traces a finger over my sealed but still angry-looking wounds.

“Are ~you~ okay?”

“I’m fine, Princess, don’t worry about me.”

She gets up carefully and I clamber to my feet, rolling my shoulders and stretching the aching muscles along my chest and abs, checking myself. “All good, see?”

In answer, she reaches up on tiptoes and brings her lips to mine sweetly.

I absorb every little tingle her kiss leaves behind, then take her small, soft hand in mine. Wrapping my arm around her neck, I pull her into me as we start walking. I can feel a slight hesitation in her steps, and it makes me chuckle.

Most of us don’t feel self-conscious about our bodies, but I’m guessing Liana finds it hard to walk around naked.

“Sorry…” she says when she almost stumbles, “guess I’m too busy thinking to watch where I’m going.”

I squeeze her shoulder. “Don’t be, you know you can ask me whatever you want.”

So she seizes the opportunity. “Thank you… So, uh, what can you see?”

“I can see outlines of things if they’re up close. Just very blurred.”

“Okay…so how are you not tripping over right now? There’re hazards everywhere.”

I chuckle at her use of the word~ hazards~. “I know these trails ~very~ well. I also have you beside me. I can feel your steps from the way your hip moves beside mine.”

“That’s kind of impressive.”

“It took a long time and some awkward interactions with Kia, but we got there.” I smile at the memory.

“Will you tell me about it? While we walk?”

I take a moment but nod. “Okay…what exactly do you want to know?”

“About Kia. How did you meet him?”

“Well, my father hired him when we were children. I’d been struggling since I could walk. They never really noticed until then, but when I started bumping into things…my father thought it would be a good idea to hire someone around my age to be my ‘friend.’ Really, I think it was more my mother’s doing… She knew I was lonely. He kept me away from the pack and hidden within the palace for most of my young life. Claimed it was for my safety but, if I’m honest, I think he was ashamed of me… Ashamed of having faulty offspring.”

I scoff a little at the memory. I know it’s true, but I have no proof.

“I’m sorry,” Liana whispers, but I shake my head, pressing my lips to her crown.

“Don’t be. Anyway…after years of trying to be my friend, and me constantly pushing him away, Kia finally told my father he didn’t want his money. He somehow just genuinely wanted me to be a friend. I never understood why, after everything I put him through, but he never stopped trying—and after some time, I actually let him.

“He took the time to get to know me, and in truth I was genuinely lonely. I had no friends, nobody who cared about me other than my parents, so I reluctantly accepted his help. I’ve never regretted it. He simplified my difficult life and gave me the eyes I needed until I had my first shift.”

“How old were you?”

“The usual age. Ten. When we found out my lycan had sight, it did make things easier. I spent a full five years completely shifted after that night. I had to explore everything I never could before.”

“Wow… I don’t think I’ve ever shifted for more than a day. I can’t imagine what that was like.”

“It was strange… The longer I stayed in form, the more like a beast I felt. I knew I had to come back in time, come back to the kingdom I was destined to rule. My father was patient and gave me those years, but I knew my luck would run out eventually—so I came back. After that, it was all systems go. I was regularly practicing how to appear ‘normal.’ Obviously, it took a long time, but Kia never gave up on me. When the time came for me to take my throne, there was no person better suited for the job of beta than he was.”

“He is definitely a good guy,” she confirms, and I nod.

“None better.”

“Can you remind me what happened to your parents? I should know, but…”

I nod, hugging her a little tighter to me. She’s only twenty-five. The fate of the last king and queen is ancient history, to her. “My mother died of old age when I was young. She was a lot older than my father, which is why she could only have one pup… She was just simply past it—she was lucky even to have me. I think she blamed herself for my blindness; her age likely affected it. I never blamed her, myself; she was always good to me…even though I was damaged.”

“Don’t say that…You’re not damaged, Lucian,” she says softly, and I shrug a little.

“I’ve come to terms with what I am, Liana, damaged or not—but thank you, all the same.”

Her fingers stroke my knuckles gently, and she hums. “Your father? I know he was assassinated—they taught us that in history lessons. But I don’t remember how it happened.”

“He was attacked while out hunting. Rogues managed to get the drop on him, and there were too many for him and his beta to handle.”

“ Oh, Lucian I’m so sorry…”

“They were unlucky, though, those rogues. You see, no one knew I even existed, and they thought that by killing the king, they stood a chance at taking the throne. They were surprised when I found them.” I smile, remembering the pride I felt when I tore them apart and avenged my father, as duty demanded. Strangely, I didn’t blame them for going after him. He was a shitty king—but my father, all the same.

“Thank you…for telling me.”

“You deserve to know.” Of course, my father’s fate is in the history books—but the stuff about Kia…very few people know about that. I smile warmly for my sweet little mate. “Can I ask ~you~ something?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Your mother…” I ask gently. I should remember what happened to her, but there are many alphas and lunas in my kingdom. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of everybody.

She sighs and nods. “She died having me.”

My heart sinks. So she never got to meet the woman who gave her life. I only met Alpha Zayne’s luna once, and I remember now that she was a green-eyed stunner. It’s clear where Liana gets her beauty from.

“I met her, just the once. She and your father spent a day at the palace with several other high-profile alphas and lunas. We were in endless meetings together—it was soon after I came to power and there was a lot to sort out. I glimpsed her that afternoon, in my lycan form, just before she shifted for the evening run. She made an impression on me.”

“Really?!” she asks, and I nod. “What was she like, Lucian? Father never talks about her…”

“She was a lovely woman, and a brilliant luna, by all accounts. I remember her beautiful voice. She was respectful in the meetings—but not afraid to speak her mind. You have her eyes, that same beautiful green. I’m so sorry you never knew her.”

“Thank you. I’ve always wanted to hear about her.”

“I can understand why it may not be easy for your father to speak of her… I would likely feel the same in his position.”

Time has gone so fast while we walked and talked that we are soon on the soft grass of my estate once again.

“You want to see something?” I ask her as we pick up our clothes, and her blurry outline nods. I dress myself quickly and hold my hand out once more. “Come with me.”