Alpha's Scent

Lilac

Lilac woke up, feeling groggy and disoriented, her head pounding intensely. She clutched her forehead, whimpering at the acute pain needling inside her skull.

“H-Hello?” she faintheartedly asked, blinking around the darkened room.

A sleepy yawn escaped her parted lips as she scrunched her nose and stretched her arms up into the air.

“Ouch!” she yelped.

When she lifted her right arm, her shoulder and neck had cramped up in pain.

She gently clutched at her neck, letting out a small whimper and wincing at the tender flesh. Beneath a bandage, she could feel the deep indentations of teeth marks.

Who knew marking would be this painful? But at least it wasn’t all bad.

Her cheeks warmed at that thought.

The freshly imprinted memory of last night ran wild in her mind. She never expected herself to be capable of such promiscuity.

Although they didn’t have sex last night, the intimate moment they shared was such a surreal experience that she felt like a completely different woman than when she arrived.

Slipping out of the bed, Lilac wrapped a blanket around her body and stumbled into the darkness.

She gasped as she faltered against the nightstand, falling to the ground.

Pushing herself off the floor, she struggled to stand. Stretching out her arms, she groped in the darkness for the nearest wall.

Once her hands had found the solid surface, she searched with her fingertips until they landed on an old-fashioned oil lamp.

Beside it were matches. She lit it quickly, squinting as the room was illuminated around her.

Electricity existed in their world, but Kyril, along with many Alphas Lilac had studied in her books, preferred the ways of the old world. It was a way to remain grounded in the traditions of the past.

Once her eyes had adjusted, Lilac considered the bed. She was still so exhausted, it called to her.

She was about to lie back down when she heard it.

A light clinking.

Lilac whipped her head around to see what was causing the noise. She began to search as the sound grew louder and louder.

It sounded like something was continuously tapping against glass.

Maybe the sound is coming from outside?

Lilac walked cautiously toward the double French windows and drew back the curtains, peering out into the darkness.

She gasped. “I must have slept the whole day!”

Suddenly, she felt the temperature in the room drop, and goosebumps slowly appeared on her skin.

A shiver ran up her spine when she noticed that the tapping noise had stopped.

Everything was completely silent, unnaturally silent. Not even the house made a sound.

Her heart jumped when she saw a bush in the distance rattle back and forth. She squinted, hoping to discover what had disturbed its branches.

As her eyes cut through the leaves, she recoiled in horror.

Staring back at her were a pair of piercing red eyes. The creature’s canines glistened underneath the light of the moon.

Lilac gulped as its mouth contorted into a snarl and snapped at her.

She whipped her head away from the window and stumbled backwards, letting out a scream. Terror filled her body and her heart began to beat furiously.

What was that thing?!

Before she had time to think, a powerful roar tore through the house, almost rupturing Lilac’s eardrums.

She knew who that roar belonged to.

KYRIL

“Lilac!” Kyril shouted, shaking the walls.

Fury engrossed him. His canines elongated as his skin ripped away, and his fur emerged as he sprinted up the stairs.

As he collided with the bedroom door, it flew off its hinges, sending pieces of wood scattering through the air.

The incensed lycan prowled on his two hind legs, releasing menacing snarls while he scanned the room for threats.

A small whimper escaped Lilac’s parted lips as she took in his intimidating form.

With a quick shift of his head, he stomped over to where she stood and moved his hands to the back of her thighs, lifting her off the ground.

Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, securing the blanket that now hung loosely from her body.

Once he made another pass around the room, he turned his attention to Lilac and softly whined, nuzzling the side of her head and rubbing her back in an attempt to soothe her.

But what had made her scream? What was she afraid of?

The lycan would kill anyone who dared frighten his mate.

Lilac

Lilac knew he was more beast than man.

His primitive lycan side had complete reign, and as scared as she was by what she had just seen, the impulsive lycan that she now clung to posed a more immediate danger to her well-being.

“Out there, Kyril,” she said, pointing. “I saw a pair of eyes in the bushes.”

She watched as the lycan’s eyes went foggy and he communicated via his psychic link. To who or for what, Lilac didn’t know.

But, seconds later, she saw wolves outside, scouring the premises, looking for any sign of an intruder.

He had sent his guards after the red-eyed beast. For her.

Now that she felt safe, it was her turn to be here for him.

She knew she had to soothe Kyril’s wolf in order to phase him back into human form.

Placing her hand on his chest, she began to rub gentle circles into his fur, trying to calm his labored breathing.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m not hurt... I promise.”

The lycan placed his clawed hand behind Lilac’s head and pressed her further into his chest. He didn’t know his own strength, and she felt like her heart might split from the pressure.

“You’re hurting me,” she eked out.

He responded with a grunt, continuing to clutch her to his body.

“Please, Kyril. Put me down,” she pleaded. “I can’t breathe.”

Finally realizing that he was causing his mate distress, he trudged over to their bed and sat down with Lilac, adjusting her on his lap.

“Thank you,” she replied, catching her breath. “Really, it’s okay. Your guards will find it. Whatever...it is.”

She started stroking his fur, trying to get him to relax.

The lycan released a satisfied rumble from his throat.

She knew she was close to bringing the human side of him back under control.

“Is it okay if I speak to him?” she quietly asked. “To Kyril now?”

Lilac watched as he closed his eyes and began to shift underneath her, bones snapping and dislocating back into place.

Soon, there was only a very naked Kyril sitting underneath her.

His eyes were no longer obsidian black, but ocean blue. She flushed and felt her knees turn weak.

Lilac was glad she was already seated or else she would have collapsed onto the floor.

KYRIL

Kyril hauled Lilac closer to him, placing his forehead against hers as he inhaled deeply.

“What happened?” he murmured.

His lips lightly brushed against hers due to their close proximity.

Kyril saw his little mate bite her bottom lip and shift uncomfortably, her big brown doe-like eyes swarming with tension.

He knew she was in distress from earlier and cursed himself for leaving her alone.

“I told your wolf...there was something outside the window,” she said. “It was in the bushes...watching me.”

His jaw clenched as his eyes flared with anger.

Was one of his pack members spying on his mate? That couldn’t be. No one dared step foot near his home.

“What did they look like?” Kyril asked.

“Well...I-I didn’t quite get a good look at them. I only saw fangs...and a pair of red eyes,” she stuttered, feeling uneasy at the fresh memory.

Red eyes...

It could have been a number of my enemies.

It seems my fears were justified.

Grabbing both hands, he pressed his lips to her fingers. “Don’t worry, little flower. I will handle it.”

Lilac

As much as she wanted to bombard him with questions, she thought it unwise. She could detect an unease in his voice, though, which concerned her.

Now that his lycan had been suppressed, she could finally feel at ease. She felt safe with him now and began to let her guard down.

She smiled shyly and wrapped her arms around his torso.

“I am sorry if I scared you,” he said, tenderly rubbing her back.

“You were just trying to protect me,” she answered.

He sighed and shook his head. “It’s hard for me to control my Lycan, especially when it comes to you. It’s been craving a mate for so long.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, looking up at him.

She could tell he was searching for the right words, but he wasn’t sure how to start.

“Little mate, we need to talk about last night.”

Blushing, Lilac looked away bashfully and attempted to wiggle out of his hold. “What about it?”

“You asked what you could do to help me control my lycan.”

“Kyril!” she gasped.

Feeling beyond mortified, she buried her face in her hands.

Lilac knew what he was getting at, but that didn’t stop her from feeling embarrassed about the sexual desire she felt toward him. This type of intimacy was new for her.

How can he be so forward? It’s not like I’ve done this before.

“I didn’t mean that we'd solve it right now,” he replied with a mischievous smile.

Snapping her head up, she looked at him in shock. She was sure her thoughts hadn’t left her mouth.

“They didn’t...” He smirked at her shocked expression. “But I can hear them anyway.”

“H-How is that possible?” Lilac stared at him with curiosity.

“I have advantages others do not, remember? Reading another’s thoughts is one of them.”

“Will you always pry into my mind?” she asked with suspicion, narrowing her eyes at him.

“I wouldn’t dare,” he lightheartedly replied, laughing at her attempt to look intimidating. “If it makes you feel better, one day I will teach you how to mask your thoughts.”

For now, this answer would have to suffice. She engulfed him in another tight hug.

“How do you feel?” he asked. “Does the bite still hurt?”

Lilac felt him lightly grip her chin and tilt her head back in order to meet his gaze.

“Earlier I felt a little dizzy, but I’m fine now,” she reassured.

“Are you positive? I could have someone assess you. Fetching a healer would be no trouble,” he mumbled, concern filling his eyes.

He still felt unease over his mate’s health. She was so petite, and a lycan mark was no trifling matter.

“I’m okay, really. I think all I need is a shower,” she awkwardly said.

“We can take one together,” he said, smirking rather brightly.

“I-I...t-that...” she stuttered in utter shock.

Kyril threw his head back and let out a burly laugh. “I was only pestering you, little one, relax. Go ahead and freshen up.”

She shot him back a wicked look and went into the bathroom.

It was obvious to her now that his sudden mood shift was an attempt to distract her from what happened earlier. And although it wasn’t completely effective, she appreciated his effort.

“Would you like something to eat after you finish your shower?” Kyril shouted from the other room.

“Yes, I am feeling very weak,” she replied from the bathroom. “Some food would help, I think.”

“I agree. After you finish, I will take you to the Pack House and we will eat. Besides, it’s time you meet my council.”

Meet the council?

That was the last thing she wanted to do. If it was anything like her father’s, it would be a group of crusty old werewolves telling stories about the triumphs of their youth.

She didn’t have the energy to endure all that, not after almost fainting then having to calm her own mate before he pressed her to death.

Between red-eyed spies, a borderline feral mate, and pack politicians, her life as a Luna was quickly becoming more than she had bargained for.

***

Kyril had one arm wrapped around Lilac’s waist as they stepped out of the house.

After he’d taken her hand, they began walking together in a comfortable silence.

She noticed that no one was outside, despite the extensive community that sprawled out around her. In the distance rose the impressive facade of the Pack House.

“How should I act?” Lilac asked her mate. “What should I say?”

Back home, seclusion was her forte. She rarely interacted with her own pack, and the prospect of meeting so many new people at once frightened her.

“Just be yourself. You don’t need to say anything if you don’t want to.”

Easier said than done, Lilac thought.

“I know you don’t like meeting new people,” Kyril continued. “I caught onto that pretty quickly... but I promise you no one will make you feel uncomfortable. I’ll make sure of it.”

Finally reaching the front steps of the three-story building, Kyril pushed open the front door and proceeded to walk in.

To Lilac’s surprise, no one was downstairs.

Walking toward the dining room door, she straightened her back and prepared to meet Kyril’s council.

“Are you ready?” He looked down at her.

Lilac nodded her head. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

He grinned at her brave expression. “You’re quite adorable when you’re so serious.”

Placing his hand on the doors, he began to push them open.

As the gap between the doors widened and the scene of the dining hall came into view, fear and hesitation flooded Lilac’s mind.

Turning to Kyril, she whimpered anxiously, regretting her decision. “W-wait! I’ve changed my mind!”

But it was too late. The chattering from inside the dining hall had ceased, and a group of wolves stood from their seats, turning their heads toward Kyril and Lilac.

Her eyes widened as she leaped behind her mate.

A slight tremble vibrated throughout her body as her pale cheeks flushed with emotions.

This was a mistake.