The Werewolf King’s Mate
Chapter 26

Austin's

POV:

Ever since the king arrived, nothing good has happened. And now, this! King Lucas made her run ten lapses around the arena. She mind-linked me and asked me to talk to the king to forgive her. But how?! The king had already given his warning. I would be doomed if I did not heed his warning. I looked around to see if Chloe was OK, but my eyes found someone else - Cory. She looked better than the last time I saw her, and I felt relieved that she had recovered quickly.

I have to admit, their entrance a while ago surprised me. I didn't expect they would "announce" that she and the king were mates. When I saw them holding hands, I sensed a pang of regret.

If you did not rush into rejecting her, then we would still have our mate! My wolf, Kapil, said.

I told you...

No matter what you say, what you did was stupid!

He has been angry at me ever since I rejected Cory. He seldom talks and shows himself. The few times he would appear were when Cory would be near, or we talked about mates. One of the reasons why I haven't officially appointed Chloe as the Luna was also because of Kapil. Without my wolf, I could not hold the Luna ceremony. This has spread rumors and was being questioned by the council.

"We should hold the Luna ceremony already. It will be a full moon soon." One of the elders brought it up last time.

"I

I agree. Having a Luna would strengthen our pack." Another elder said.

"And to hold the Luna ceremony while the king is here would be perfect! What seems to be the problem, Alpha?"

"Nothing, council. My wolf was just..."

"What do you mean your wolf?"

"Nothing to worry about, elders. I will make the arrangements for the ceremony."

I lied to get away with their questioning. They have doubts about whether Chloe is my mate. That was when I thought about having this training for the pack. It was a distraction for the council while I was thinking about resolving this. The full moon was over a few days ago, but the next one will be in a couple of weeks, so I had better think fast.

"Whatever thoughts you have in your mind, Alpha, I suggest getting rid of them now!" A low growl came from beside me.

"I-I wouldn't dare, your majesty."

Without saying anything further, he left. I continued with the session, and by 3 in the afternoon, we were done for today.

"Alright, let's have a cool down, and you are free to go! Good job, everyone," the king announced.

I quickly headed back to the packhouse to take a quick shower and change clothes. Although we just had the basics, the way they trained was intense. A couple of the pack members were "punished" for being unruly. The king's fighters made them run ten lapses, 100 squats, and 50 crunches. Chloe did all of those thrice for complaining and whining the whole day.

"Austin!" Chloe entered my office with a scowl on her face. When I finished taking a shower, I went to my office to think of a plan for the Luna ceremony. "What?"

"I will not attend the next sessions." Oh, goddess!

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you see what they asked me to do a while ago? I was humiliated! I am one of the best fighters and the Luna, yet they treat me that way!"

"You are not Luna, Chloe." I was irritated. I had enough of her whining, complaining, and all of that!

"But I am the soon-to-be Luna! Everyone knows that! And what was that show?"

"What show?"

"The omega flirting with the king? She's desperate. Tss"

"Chloe! You better be careful with what comes out of your mouth!" I growled. If anyone hears that, I can do nothing to help her.

"Didn't you hear what the king said? Did you catch the suggestive remark he made about your previous actions?"

"Just because that sl*t f*cked him doesn't mean she is his mate!"

"Enough! Do not call her a sl*t!" I stood up and held her neck in the palm of my hands.

"A-Austin..."

"Dare to say or do anything else to the king's mate; you are good as dead. I would not be able to do anything anymore. You are on your own." I removed my hand, and she dropped to the floor. "S-she is the king's mate?! Therefore, she is the future q-queen?!"

"Yes. I am glad that it is starting to sync in. It was wrong of you to pour that coffee on her and act that way in front of the king's men."

"How...how can an o-omega be a queen?! That is unacceptable!"

"I told you! Watch your mouth, Chloe!"

"No! No! No!"

"Leave! And heed my warning, Chloe. Stay away from Cory."

She scurriedly left my office. If she doesn't listen to me, I don't think this pack will have their Luna soon. We would be in crumbles and weak.

You have no one but yourself to blame! I tried to stop you that night! If you just listened to me, we would have our mate in our arms! This pack would have their Luna!

I KNOW! I KNOW!

Tss. A good-for-nothing Alpha.

What have I done, moon goddess? I left my office and went to the woods. Everything is suffocating and infuriating. I shifted into my wolf, but it got harder every time. With the way Kapil and I are, I am losing my strength and power. He was trying to resist coming out. This can't go on. What will happen to the pack if their Alpha is weak and powerless?

Get her back. Try to get her back!

How?! She is now with the king!

You think about it! You do everything on your own, kid. Until she accepts being our mate again, karma is all you have.

And it might be all I will ever have.