Prologue- A flame

Christopher Constantinou

I watched her as she cried, holding his face. It broke my heart already, knowing that she was in pain. I knew that Eliana Tessa Castellano herself was my mate.

I cannot forget that day when I returned to the palace after hearing about the incident that took place here. I was grateful for the princess who saved the palace and lost her life in the process. At the same time, it somehow made me sad that I wasn’t able to meet this great warrior princess.

Regardless, I went to Philip’s office because I was unable to give my condolences to the King himself as they grieved the princess once again. And I also had to report back.

I was officially back to palace duty now that we had found the princess. But only to lose her again. It was my utmost priority to tighten the security here so that incidents like this never happened. Not on my watch.

I knew my mate was right outside the door when I offered my apologies for not being present at the palace when they needed me the most. I literally smelt the flames that seeped off her. Her scent was very strong. It was driving me crazy.

The Lycan in me was fighting for control. It wanted to go to her and hold her in his arms. In my arms. She ignited a flame in my heart. I wanted her. She was mine.

After I left Philip’s office, I stood outside as I inhaled the air that still smelled of her. But it confused me as to why she didn’t wait for me to be done. She should have been able to feel me too. My brows furrowed as I wondered who she was.

I inhaled deeply once more and followed her scent across the hallway, determined to find her. I stood frozen as I looked at the door in front of me. How was this possible?

The door that I was standing in front of- this room belonged to none other than Eliana Tessa Castellanos, Philip’s niece, almost a royalty. I inhaled sharply as I turned on my heels and walked away.

No wonder she ran away, maybe she didn’t want me as a mate. I mean she was like a princess and who was I?

Just a loyal servant of the palace. But who knew that I had just made the biggest mistake of my life by walking away from that door? Walking away from her.

I should have burst that door open and held her tight. I should have showered her with kisses. I should have held her tight and never let go. I should have…

That evening when my heart got the best of me and my body too acted on its own, I stood in front of her bedroom door once again. I knocked and waited.

And waited.

But I got nothing not even a ‘go away’ which would have been much better. My heart drummed as I thought of the possibilities. I grabbed the handle and it clicked open to a dark room.

A dark empty room. As I stepped inside, the cold wind swept over my body, sending chills throughout.

I turned my head towards the tall window which was wide open. The wind wafted her scent that lingered there. No. My heart sunk as I took slow steps towards it. I watched the pouring rain in the dark night as raw pain took over my heart.

I let out a loud growl as I realised what she had done. She had truly left me. And I let her. I fell on my knees in front of the window as the rain poured down heavily, a replica of my feelings right now.

Few sprinkles of rain passed through the open window and fell upon my body as I leaned back on my heels, shoulders slouched, hands on either side and head facing up to the dark sky. I felt defeated for the first time in my life. I gave up without even trying.

She was truly gone.

Heartbroken was not a feeling I was used to. My heart just shattered in a matter of seconds. It just took one female to break it. My mate who I have longed to find all these centuries.

I just sat wondering how I never saw her before as sadness seeps through my mind and my body. I had been the head of palace security for over a century. How was it that we never crossed one another’s path? But it was a fact that for the past fifty years I had been assigned to search the lost princess.

When I finally, I came to my senses, I was determined to fine her. No. I will not let her go so easily. I want to know why she left without a word. I won’t allow her to leave without a reason.

I won’t allow her to leave at all.

More determined than ever, I hauled myself up and out the room. I marched my way across the hallway and out the palace door where my car was. I jogged in the rain not bothered by the heavy downcast as it poured on me, drowned me.

I started the engine and dialled the number of the airport security. I was in charge of the security of the whole kingdom that was located in an island, far away from other creatures. Safe and unknown to all.

“Hello airport-” They pick up on the second ring, but I didn’t let them finish. “It’s Christopher. Has Elianna Castellanos booked a flight?” I asked them impatient, already making my way out the palace walls.

“Yes sir. Miss Castellanos had a flight scheduled for Paris that took off a few hours ago.” He replied quickly without a delay. The car skidded to a halt on the empty road as my breathing stopped. My hands on the steering wheel tightened as I felt my eyes go dark. “Sir?”

“Inform the security on Paris to notify us as soon as Eliana Castellanos lands.” With that I ended the call. Before my anger got the best of me, I got off the car and let the cold rain cool off my hot head and now my ragging heart. But it did nothing to calm the Lycan inside me.

That night, my mate shattered my heart as she left me without even giving me a reason as to why she left. I howled up to the dark night as I shifted into my Lycan and went on a madness which lasted for two days. When I came about, I heard that they lost her as soon as the plane landed on Paris.

Later, I found out she was on Amsterdam. I wanted to jump on a flight and head over to her, but I held my ground. My responsibility here at the palace didn’t allow me the freedom to travel across the world right now. Not when Lucas’ Lycan was becoming so unstable with each passing day.

It was a matter of days when he would go berserk. This time I wanted to be here to protect everyone. So, my pledge to the palace held me back.

But she will not be able to run away from me once I get my hands on her. So, I waited for the day when she would eventually return, or I was free from my responsibility. Then I would chase her till the end of the earth. Through heaven and hell. I promised myself that I would make her mine.

Now that she was in front of me, I couldn’t move. I was awestruck by her beauty and her elegance. Her scent was driving me crazy. This mate of mine that seemed to run off at every possible opportunity, I wanted to hold her tight.

But she looked so broken. Those blue eyes of her looked so dull. Her wet blonde hair stuck to her face as the little droplets fell down every part of her body. I growled in hunger as a desire to have her wrecked my brain. I wanted her.

She was the most beautiful female that I have ever laid eyes on. I have heard of her beauty throughout the palace but never really got to see her. But now that I was standing in front of her, she took my breath away.

I watch the scene unfold as the princess appeared from the ground beneath. Seems like the princess had been sleeping deep inside the earth. Recovering. Healing.

I watched as she took off her jacket to place it on top of the princess, leaving her own body exposed. Her long slender legs very bare as she glided across the hall, towards me. But her eyes were never on me.

Even though those eyes were swollen and the whites of her eyes now red, she still looked stunning. But my heart clenched tightly as she never once gave me a glance.

I growled frustrated at the fact that my own mate refused to turn my way and also because every one of these Lycans were eyeing what was mine. That seems to have stopped them as they looked down to the floor. But not her.

She just elegantly strides over the hallway. Away from me.

But this time I let her. I gave her time to breathe, even though my Lycan suggested otherwise.

Like before, I should have listened to it. I should have.

It has already been twenty years since then, but I have no clue on her whereabouts. I can’t seem to find her no matter where I look or how much I try. It was like she disappeared from the face of the Earth.

But that wasn’t possible. Right?

Anyway, I wasn’t going to give up so easily. I will find her even if it meant that I had to give up everything. Even if I have to sell my soul. I will find her. She was mine and only mine.