Chapter 182

King Josh POV

5 Years ago...

"Why are you here? I told you, the moon goddess has chosen your path, we can't be together while you are tethered to Lewis." I was unnecessarily harsh with Iliana, whos affection towards me had genuinely grown alot over time. "Last night was a mistake..."

In the distance, on a hill, rested the royal palace, a place where my father currently had his eyes on. I understood his need for the throne, our current king was spineless, and needed to be over thown in order for Lycans to come out of hiding.

It was wrong that we had to conceal our true forms, simply because humans would fear the alternative. It's not our fault we were born this way, why should we have to withhold our nature for the sake of their phobia?

This girl currently in front of me was Iliana, my best friends mate. Very recently discovered much to her horror. Iliana had affection for me,  and I promised that as soon as I turned 17 she would be my mate. Only, she was older than us, so yesterday her 17th birthday came round, and low and behold, she was mated to Lewis.

Lewis was strong, he was powerful, he worried my father never mind anything else, we just needed a way to bring out his anger in order to penetrate the palace.

"I did it, Josh... I told him, so we can be together now right? The rejection is officially recognized by the moon goddess herself, the connection is severed, We both felt it in our hearts..." Iliana gleefully attached herself to me as she explained what had happened, her petite arms wrapped around the back of my neck lovingly, all the while I stared at the royal palace. A dangerous, calculating squint taking over my eyes.

A fortress like that was impenetrable, it would take a miracle to even get passed the outer gates.

Lewis, was our only option.

I had seen Lewis, loose control only once, and that was when he first shifted, at age 11 he was young, everyone saw power in him, even now, our sparring sessions were becoming more strenuous for me, his fighting abilities were quickly overtaking my own.

My plan was simple... once Lewis had discovered his mate was Iliana, it made more and more sense. A Lycan all but breaks upon rejection, and so, I did everything in my power to seduce this mediocre wolf in front of me.

Sure, our friend was beautiful, but in a common sort of way, she was petite and gentle, in fact, I could sort of understand why the moon goddess had gifted her to Lewis. They would have made an exceptional couple.

Once I knew I had the girl in the palm of my hand, I seduced her completely, and had a night full of sex, this morning she insisted on rejecting Lewis, It was perfect. I had manipulated her into personally suggesting rejection. My hope was for Lewis to enter a fit of rage, of course I played dumb for him. Not letting on that I had even noticed Iliana's feelings for me until yesterday.

"And Lewis?" I asked, a smile breaking out as I thought about how he could quite easily storm the palace and help my father, and eventually me, take the throne.

"He understood completely. Our love is just too great, even the moon goddess can't understand it." She buried her head into my chest, and sighed in contentment.

Shit! He understood?! What sort of wolf would understand something so heinous? How could he knowingly accept Iliana's rejection without feeling hopeless and incomplete.

"What do you mean? Is he not furious?" Her head shook and she placed a peck on my cheek while one of her hands rested on my chest.

"No, not at all. I mean, He was obviously disheartened, but even he knows our love is just meant to be. I love you Josh, I'd do anything for you." Such a kind, stupid soul.

"Would you die for me?" Her head snapped up to me with a frown resting effortlessly on her brow, she took a step back and looked me in the.

"What?" I shrugged, placing my hands in my pocket nonchalantly while turning my gaze, once again to the palace in the distance.

"I'm about to become a member of the royal family, it makes sense for me to become a target to people..." I was a master at manipulation, and I absolutely loved it. The power you can have over another person, as soon as you've instilled into their heads that they can not function without you. There truly was beauty in relishing in it. "So, would you die for me?" She gulped loudly, however I no longer made any effort in meeting her eyes, I was bored with her already.

"I told... I would do anything for you." Her answer caused me to smile. It was time to tip Lewis over the edge once and for all.

"Excellent answer..." I pulled out a silver knife from my pocket quickly, and stabbed it into the small of her back, hearing a crunching sound once the blade hit her bone, I did not even give her time to comprehend what had happened.

The girl let out a severely large scream of agony as she slumped forwards, into my awaiting body, paralyzed from the waist down.

"W... Why?" She gasped through the screaming that took over the otherwise quiet area.

"Don't take this personally, It's not about you... I need Lewis, and if your rejection didn't do anything, then maybe your death will be the thing that'll push him over the edge." Tears streamed down her face as I pulled the knife out of her back, and let her sink to the floor.

"You... said... you loved... me?" She gasped through her pain while I crouched down to be able to meet her torment filled eyes, not only was she physically hurting, but emotionally, I had fucked her over big time.

"Oh, Iliana, Ive never once said that! Did you actually think I would take you as my mate?" I quickly stood up and mindlinked one of my closest warriors, a guy named Warren, to bring me the wolfbane that had been prepared, personally by me. "I need my true mate, not some whore fated to someone else. My intended, needs to be someone who was chosen by the goddess Luna, someone destined to be my queen... you're just a pathetic, pawn in my meticulous game of chess... you have only ever been allowed to make one move at a time. Whereas my goddess given mate, will have the entire board to navigate. She'll be a stronger Lycan than you could ever hope to be." I tore at her clothes and left her lying naked face down on the grass below. Her back pouring blood out of the single stab wound as her devastated head turned to me.

"Please... please.... Josh I..."

"Be quiet..." I stated watching as Warren came quickly, bringing a large barrel full to the brim with liquidized wolfs bane. I smiled smugly, taking the barrel and opening it. "Be proud, Iliana, it's your death that will bring about a new world, for all Lycans..." Without another thought I began pouring the substance all over Iliana's smooth back eliciting a scream of pure terror which shook the trees near by. However my actions never ceased.

The wolfsbane burnt her flesh beyond recognition while her haunting cries never failed to fill the air. It was only until her screams finally stopped that I realized she was dead.

"Take all the evidence with you... then inform Lewis... actually tell both Lewis and Oliver that hunters have once again, struck." He nodded his head, stepping over the burnt body while carrying the barrel away from the crime scene.

Warren was as loyal as a dog, if he was a stronger Lycan, he would definitely have taken on the role of my royal gamma. My beta role however was destined for Lewis.

I waited, and I waited patiently for someone to come. All the while I stared at the body of the girl I had held so lovingly the night before, and felt nothing. The only person I could ever hold affection for, would be my future mate, and she would never be as pathetic as this wolf was, she didn't even attempt to struggle...

Actually, looking at the scene in front of me, there were no signs of struggle at all. It wouldn't make any sense for me to claim a hunters attack, when it was clear a fight didn't even break out.

I shifted quickly, and pawed at the dirt below me. Creating tufts and skid marks to show signs of a scuffle. While I was doing so, I heard a growl of pain from the distance, Lewis instantly sprung to mind and I shifted back. I knelt down and pulled the body of Iliana onto my knee, breathing through the burning that took over my arms.

I had to at least make it seem like I was devastated.

"Lewis..." I called out and watched as he came into view, charging up the grass and over to me. "I'm..."

"Where are the men that did this?" Came his reply, his claws were out, his teeth were bared and his eyes blazed with pure rage.

The plan was more effective than I first thought.

"They got away... I'm so sorry. If the law didn't stop us, then I would hunt those humans down myself." It was of course illegal to hunt humans, whether they were hunters or not. The current alpha king had created that law. "My father was right..." I played on my sorrow, manipulating the situation once again to have the outcome I so desired. "If we didn't have to hide who we are, then hunters wouldn't have all the power. Iliana would still be..." I cut myself off with a fake sob, and watched as Lewis clenched his fists.

"Your father is ready to attack soon, right?" I nodded my head forcing tears to gather in my eyes.

"He has packs of followers, all tired of hiding." Lewis nodded and shifted on the spot. His wolf looking even larger and much more intimidating than he usually was, in fact, I found myself a little bit taken a back by how demanding his presence was.

It was hard to believe that this man wasn't even alpha born. Sure his grandfather was, but it was his uncle who inherited the title, and then his cousin a year or so ago. For a man with such diluted alpha genes, his aura screamed dominance.

My lineage was pure alpha, all the women in my immediate family were born of alphas, and the men had the title passed down from generation to generation, each stronger than the last, except me.

I was strong, i knew that. I held power beyond that of an average wolf... but it was nothing compared to the Lycan that stood two feet in front of me.

'Then tell him to meet us at the palace... the humans have gone too far now.'

He took off in a run before I could even throw Iliana's corpse off my knee. My plan worked better than I had intended. Although, now both myself and my father had to make sure that Lewis wasn't the one to kill the king. If he did that, then the title would go to him, I intended it to be my families right. We were the last pure alpha line alive, my father would take the throne today, once I turn 18, the title shall be mine, and soon, after my mate has become known to me, my future son, will know all about the struggles I faced to gift him the throne...

Lycans from all over will shout... Love live the king.