Her Safe Place

Edited✅

22 years later

King Axel Pierce

“Why the fuck are you here and not out there?” I demanded of my head warrior. “I didn’t send you to that pack to be turned away at the gates.”

“Sir, the alpha has not allowed us to enter without written permission from you.” My wolf growled at the disrespect. I was not one to be challenged. Nor was my rule of Lycaon. The kingdom of werewolves.

“And what of the royal seal on your uniforms?” I asked.

“The alpha said that anyone could have stolen these uniforms.” I scoffed. My warriors were trained for the worst of the worst. No one would be able to steal from me. I required the best of my soldiers. My training of my warriors was not to be challenged by an alpha.

“Axel,” the voice of my mother had me freezing. My mother stepped inside the office. “Hello Quinn,” she greeted the warrior.

“Luna,” Quinn bowed. As I had not found my mate, my mother was still Queen Luna. I suspected that even if she wasn’t Queen Luna, Quinn still would’ve bowed. My parents had become hero when they released the kingdom from the horrific rule of my grandfather.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk with my son.” Although it seemed like a request, no one would deny a request from my mother. Quinn offered both of us bows before he left the room.

“I don’t have time for this, mother,” I said, “I have work to do.”

“Yes, I heard.” My mother made no move towards the door or gave any indication that she was about to leave. I rolled my eyes before turning back to the paperwork on my desk. “I also heard you’ve been looking for a mate. A chosen mate.” I bit back a groan.

I didn’t want to have this conversation. Mates were sacred and a gift from the moon goddess so werewolf’s didn’t fuck up with finding someone to spend the rest of their life with. My mother had a strong belief in them as well.

“I have been looking. I need a mate.” I replied to my mother’s observation.

“And you assume you won’t find her ever? What about when you do? Do you expect her to be happy you’ve already chosen someone to replace her?” My mother leveled me with a glare.

“Mom, it’s been six years.”

Werwolves were able to find their mates when they turned sixteen. Some lucky few found them immodestly. The average amount of werewolves found their mates between the ages of seventeen and nineteen. I was now twenty-two.

“Maybe if you left this office you’d find her.” My mother looked at the stacks of paper around my desk. I had a system that worked for me, however, it looked to be a mess to most people. “Anyways, I’m sending you away.”

“What?” I asked, shocked.

“This pack you are having problems with. I’m sending you out there to fix this problem. You can’t rule from the walls of your office.” She moved to look at a stack of papers. She looked over the top one before she folded it and tossed it in the trash can. I knew what that stack was. Potential mates. “Your father and I can hold the fort while you’re gone.”

“Mom-“ I began. One sharp look from my mother had all the complaints dying on my lips.

“Your flight leaves within the hour,” she called over her shoulder as she left. I slumped against my chair. I didn’t have time for this. I had too much going on. Although I had many complaints about leaving all the paperwork, I knew my mother had a point. I truly couldn’t rule from my office and be a good king.

Sighing, I arose from my chair and walked from the office. I was hopeful to get this situation resolved and return within twenty-four hours.