Have We Met Before?

Lazarus was heading for his favorite mistress room, his eyes blaring with fury over his friends’ insulting words. He was so deep in anger that he wasn't concentrating on his front until he bumped into the lost Daniel.

Daniel had just taken a one-way corridor, and his eyes were looking at the back, trying to check if he was being followed or watched. Before his wolf could warn him of the danger ahead, it was too late and he had bumped into the angry king.

Lazarus' eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backward, his hand instinctively reaching for his cheek. The sound of his own ragged breathing filled the air, and Daniel's scent - a mix of sweat and something earthy - wafted up, making Lazarus' head spin. Although the scent was alluring, he still couldn't help but wonder who dared to hit him.

“You uncircumcised pig-” Lazarus suddenly paused in his words, it wasn't just from the sudden hit, but from the piercing blue gaze that seemed to bore into his soul.

They both stared at each other with furrowed brows. Daniel's jaw clenched, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity as he took a step closer to Lazarus, thinking about how he would kill him for taking his brother hostage.

Lazarus' gaze lingered on Daniel's face, searching for answers. He couldn't explain why he felt an inexplicable pull toward this stranger, but he couldn't deny the spark of attraction that flared to life within him.

While Daniel's human side seethed with anger, his wolf couldn't help but admire the way Lazarus' muscles tensed beneath his royal robe, the way his eyes flashed with surprise.

Lazarus' anger simmered, his fists clenched, as he stared at Daniel. But as their eyes met, something shifted. Daniel's piercing blue gaze seemed to bore into his soul, and Lazarus felt his rage falter. He took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging, as he tried to process this sudden change.

"Why do I feel...?" Lazarus trailed off, his thoughts jumbled. He looked at Daniel, searching for answers. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice softer now.

Daniel's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, but he didn't move. Lazarus sensed a tension between them, a spark of attraction that he couldn't ignore. He took a step closer, his movements fluid, and reached out a hand.

"Let me see..." Lazarus whispered, his fingers brushing against Daniel's temple. He wasn't trying to read minds, just sense the emotions beneath the surface. But as he touched Daniel, he felt a jolt, like a door slamming shut.

Daniel's eyes flashed with a warning, and he pulled away, his face pale. "Don't," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Lazarus withdrew his hand, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He sensed that Daniel was hiding something, but he couldn't quite grasp it. Their eyes locked, the air thick with tension, as Lazarus struggled to understand this strange connection between them.

Lazarus' face burned with embarrassment as he realized his attraction to Daniel. He couldn't explain it, and he didn't want to acknowledge it. So he did what came naturally, he turned his embarrassment into anger.

"How dare you," Lazarus spat, his voice low and menacing. "You think you can just walk in here, bump into me, and...and..."

He trailed off, his anger faltering as he met Daniel's calm gaze. But he refused to back down, refused to admit his true feelings.

"Who are you?" Lazarus demanded, trying to sound authoritative. "What are you doing here?"

Daniel's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, but he didn't flinch. "I'm just a man, Your Majesty," he thought of saying, his voice dripping with sarcasm. But he knew that type of answer would get the proud king angry, so he decided to keep quiet.

“Answer me?” Lazarus demanded.

Daniel was caught off guard, and he prayed that Lazarus didn't remember. He secretly scoffed at his late father for introducing him to the king at the princess's ball yesterday.

“Huh…” Daniel hummed softly, unsure of what to say. Lazarus' piercing gaze was making him feel uneasy, and in a twinkle of an eye, he shook his head to say no.

Lazarus' expression faltered, his anger dissipating as he gazed at Daniel. He was supposed to be angry at the strange young man, but instead, he felt interested and amused by those piercing blue eyes. And something else - a glimmer of recognition.

"Have we met before?" Lazarus asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt a shiver run down his spine as Daniel's eyes locked onto his. "Your blue eyes look familiar."

Daniel's gaze never wavered, but a hint of a smile played on his lips. "I don't think so, Your Majesty," he said, his tone neutral.

Lazarus' mind raced, trying to place where he'd seen those eyes before. But it was more than that - he felt a connection, a sense of familiarity that went beyond mere recognition.

He took a step closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "I could swear..." he trailed off, his eyes searching Daniel's face.

“I am a new guard here, Your Majesty. This is my first time in this kingdom, so I doubt we have met before,” Daniel lied in between gritting teeth, trying to suppress the anger and curiosity he felt towards Lazarus.

Lazarus' skepticism was evident on his face as he opened his mouth to press Daniel for more information. But before he could utter a word, Princess Maria, his younger sister, swept into the room, her royal gown rustling as she curtsied deeply. "Your Majesty!"

The distraction was perfectly timed, and Daniel seized the opportunity to make his escape. "If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty," he said with a swift bow, before turning to disappear into the shadows like a phantom.

Lazarus' eyes narrowed, his mind racing with unanswered questions, but Daniel was already gone, vanished into the night like a seasoned thief.

"The full moon will reveal your destiny, Lazarus," the witch's haunting words echoed in his mind, "but it will not be a woman who claims your heart... Instead, a bitter man, driven by a thirst for your downfall, will be the one to seal your fate."

As Lazarus watched Daniel disappear into the darkness, the witch's curse sent a shiver down his spine. Fear crept in, like a chill on a winter's night, and he felt the weight of the prophecy settling upon him. The moon, once a symbol of power and strength, now loomed like an usher of doom to Lazarus.

Lazarus turned to Maria, his mind still reeling from the encounter with Daniel. Maria's concerned gaze met his, and she reached out to touch his arm.

"Lazarus, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft with worry.

Lazarus hesitated, unsure of how to explain his emotions. His thoughts were a jumbled mix of confusion and desire for Daniel.

Maria's eyes searched his face. She drew closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "You can tell me, Lazarus. I'm here for you."

Lazarus' instincts urged him to push her away, but his body seemed to move of its own accord. He leaned in, his lips meeting Maria's in a gentle, comforting kiss.

As they broke apart for air, Lazarus' thoughts drifted back to Daniel. He felt a pang of guilt and confusion, unsure of what he truly desired.

Maria's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "Maybe we should stop pretending to be siblings," she whispered, her voice husky.

Lazarus' heart skipped a beat as he considered her words. But his mind remained with Daniel, and he knew he couldn't shake off his feelings so easily.