The Den

“What the hell is this place?” I whispered gliding the torch around the ominous room.
The walls were made of red dirt. I looked for tunnels or objects on the wall that could open a passage for me to escape. I walked to the throne. I expected a wolf to come to life and snap at me. I reached out to touch the throne but drew back as if it were made of razors.
“Enough playing with the creepy throne how the hell do I get out of here?” I said to myself.
Whoever used this place had to have gotten out somehow. Maybe this was a fallen palace or something and this place sunk and there was no way out. I shuddered. I needed to be more positive.
Movement came from behind me and a familiar scent filled my nostrils. I turned around and shone the light but there was nothing there but dirt. I marched to the spot I dropped and lifted the light to the opening. Nothing but roots.
Another rush of air came and then a thud sounded. I shut my eyes and my heart slammed forward. Please don’t let this be the home of a blood thirsty monster. I turned around slowly keeping the torch on the ground.
Slowly with a trembling hand, I lifted the torch. I was a wolf with special powers but could I take a monster that was eight feet tall?
“Why did you have to come looking, Layla.”
“Dean?” I gasped.
My mate leaned forward on the throne with his arms resting on his knees.
“H-how did you know I was here?”
Silence.
“That is you right, Dean?”
He rolled his eyes and stood. I stumbled back.
“It’s me.”
“Why won’t you answer my question?”
He stalked forward.
Did this place belong to Dean? Why hadn’t he mentioned it? More importantly, what did he do here?
I stumbled until I hit the dirt wall. He stood inches from me, growling but it didn’t sound like him.
“Why did you come here?” He demanded.
“I-I fell in here.”
“You expect me to believe that? It was that guy who led you here, wasn’t it? The one who pretends to be your cousin?”
“Eight? No!”
“He’s had it out for me for a long time. He always wanted you not to trust me.”
“Eight had nothing to do with this but you have some explaining to do. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I made sure of that.”
He turned around and strolled to the throne. He reclined on the throne and stared at me. I knew Dean had a past one that I assumed was a string of lovers and broken hearts but my mind couldn’t concoct a tale to tie this cave to.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“My den.” He stared at the ceiling where the crown was etched into the rock.
“What’s it for?”
“I come here to feed.” The corners of his mouth lifted.
I swallowed. “You like wild deer?”
“I never told you why I was cursed by the Moon Goddess.”
“I thought it was because you killed your Father.”
“I was cursed before that. I’m a monster, Layla. I’m a—”
“Don’t say it. Keep quiet.” My heart slammed forward.
Dean wasn’t wild uncontrollable. He wasn’t like the wolves that attacked my pack. He was dangerous but he was kind. He has my heart. He protects his pack and loves his brother. He wants to have babies with me. He couldn’t have been hiding a hybrid part. He closed the distance and I shuffled away.
“You don’t want me anymore? You won’t let me explain?”
“I don’t want to hear it…” my voice cracked.
“You think I’m like them? I was born this way Layla!”
My breath caught in my throat. “Born hybrid?”
“What? No. I’m not a hybrid. My Father tried to make me one but I’m not.”
My hand flew to my chest and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was born cursed. Gabe wasn’t. He got cursed all on his own but he doesn’t have a ticking clock on his ass.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you dying?”
He nodded the retreated to his throne. He stared at me rubbing his thigh. Did I go over and sit with him? He was my mate and I loved him. I’d been in a position where I almost lost him it turns out I was always going to lose him.
I walked over and hesitantly settled on his knee. He pulled me closer and nuzzled his nose into my neck.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“No one knows. I didn’t want anyone to think I was weak.”
“You’re not weak.”
“I won’t have a long reign, Layla.’
“How long?” I demanded.
“Little Wolf—”
“Dean, how long?”
“A year okay? Thirty’s my limit.”
“What? Are you just going to die suddenly and you think it’s okay not to tell me?”
“I wanted a normal life. Kids before the lights go out,” he chuckled.
“Have you tried looking for a cure?”
“Of course I have. I was born with this shit. I’ve seen everyone and they all say the same thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Forget it.”
I stroked his chest and ended up connecting with his wolf. He was a powerful and majestic specimen. There was always a way out.
“Tell me.”
“It doesn’t matter because I’m not going to do it. I’d rather die. I have to kill my fated mate to break free. I thought it would be over when I was told you died. I got the dark mark but I’m still cursed.”
My heart nearly stopped. Crap.
“The second I saw you I couldn’t go through with it. I felt things I never felt with any woman.”
“Are you sure?”
“Hell yeah. I choose you every day I wake up. I fucking love you, Layla.”
“There has to be a way out.” I tried to get up but he yanked me back. “You believed I died?”
“I think your power was so strong you didn’t die but you should have. The mark vanished right?”
I didn’t want to know but it was better to know that wreck my mind wondering.
“So… what do you feed on? When do you come here?”
He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and exhaled. “Since you’ve been here it’s been difficult to feed. I only came out here when you were locked up and when you disappeared. I feed on anything. The curse gives me a wild craving for blood. Eventually, I won’t be able to control it. I’ll turn into a beast and lose contact with my human self but I’ll die before then.”
“No,” I said.
“I’ve known for a while.”
“This is why you didn’t want the mating ceremony. You think your curse will pass on to the pack.”
He nodded yes.
“I want to be joined with you but I won’t infect my pack.”
I came up with an idea. We were alone and the pack was miles from us. What if he did it down here? I wasn’t wearing a white dress and friends and family weren’t here with us but I had Dean that was enough.
I took his hand and pulled him close.
“What about here? Now?”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. Dean took my hands and locked them together with his. He chuckled but stared into my eyes.
“I, Alpha King, Dean Decker, take you Layla Regan as my fated mate and my Luna with the Moon Goddess as my witness. I’ll cherish you with every breath that I take. You and our offspring are my priority for as long as I have you.”
“I, Layla Regan, take you Dean Decker as my Alpha and my fated mate with the Moon Goddess as my witness. We’re going to be together for a long time, Dean. A curse won’t stand in our way.”
A felt the bond between us tighten like two ropes coming together to form a knot no man could undo. I enveloped him in my arms knowing our mate bond was solid and good.