The Shadow Howlers
Chapter 7 - The King

Gunnar didn't want to get out of bed the following morning, but they had a busy day ahead. He and Bianca were so tired they passed out immediately after having sex. He kept thinking about the night before.

He looked down at Bianca's angelic face resting on his chest. Lying with her against him was the best feeling in the world. He rubbed his hand up and down her back, causing her to moan.

"What time is it?" Bianca asked sleepily.

"It's almost time to leave. I didn't want to wake you any earlier than I had to. How are you feeling?" he asked, kissing the top of her head.

"I feel incredible. I wish we had more time, but we need to get to Last Moon. I've never met the King. What's he like?" Bianca asked, hiding her chuckle when she heard a slight growl inside Gunnar.

"He's decent and fair. Please stay with me when we're around him. He hasn't found his mate yet, and I don't think he's trying very hard to look for her. He doesn't have the same morals we do, and the rumors are that he has no problem sleeping with as many women as possible." Gunnar pulled her closer as though the King was trying to snatch her away.

"I don't care what he's like. He can't take me from you. When will we mark each other?" She asked, wanting to switch the subject. His demeanor immediately changed.

"I'll have my parents start working on the details. If you're ready, we can do it within the next couple of days." Gunnar looked into her eyes, and she smiled brightly.

"If we didn't have this mess to deal with, I'd say let's do it now. However, having a fresh start with the chaos behind us will be nice." She leaned up and kissed him but pulled back when she felt him poking against her.

"We don't have time for that. Let's take care of our business, and then I'm all yours." Gunnar laughed but let her go when she jumped out of bed. He was glad she had better restraint than he did because he was ready to say the King could wait.

They quickly showered and dressed. When they got downstairs, Polly and Trisha were already sitting in the dining hall waiting for breakfast. Bianca kissed them both on the cheek before sitting across from them.

"You two are up early," Gunnar said, kissing each girl.

"We have something important we need to discuss with you," Polly said, holding Trisha's hand. They both looked way too serious for their ages.

"What would that be? Should we take it to my office?" Gunnar asked, trying to hide his smile. Polly rolled her eyes.

"Uncle Gunny, this is no laughing matter. We have decided we want to be sisters. We want to live in the pack house with you and Bianca. I don't want to stay with Gram and Gramps anymore." Polly looked at Trisha, who was nodding in agreement. Bianca and Gunnar's hearts melted watching the two little pups. They needed each other, and it was clear how close they already were.

"I don't know. What do you say, luna?" Gunnar asked, winking at Bianca. His parents had moved out of the pack house to a smaller one down the road once he took over, and he knew Polly didn't like being there. She stayed in the pack house as often as she could.

"Alpha, I think we should let the sisters live in the pack house with us." The two girls broke out in a fit of giggles and hugged each other.

"Thank you, thank you," Trisha said excitedly.

"How are you going to tell Gram?" Gunnar asked Polly with his eyebrows raised. She shrugged her little shoulders.

"That sounds like an alpha job to me," she said, taking a sip of her orange juice as soon as it was offered to her.

"What's this I hear about you leaving me to move into the pack house permanently?" Marisa looked down at her granddaughter, who turned around slowly, her eyes wide.

"Gram, I want to live in the pack house with my sister. We can still visit you, though," Polly tried to give her a peace offering. Marisa looked at Cyril, and they both began to chuckle.

"I think that's perfect. This will give us the opportunity to travel." She said as they joined them at the table.

Bianca and Gunnar ate quickly so they could leave for the Last Moon pack. When they got outside, Austin, Jessica, and the warriors who hadn't stayed behind were waiting for them.

"Have you met the king?" Jessica asked Bianca quietly where they sat behind their mates in the jeep.

"No, and Gunnar told me not to leave his side in the king's presence." Jessica hid her giggle.

"I met him once a few months ago, and let's just say if I hadn't already been mated, I might have been trying to be queen." An angry growl got their attention, and they saw Austin looking back at them.

"I can hear you. If you don't want me to be thrown into the dungeon for murdering the King, please stop talking about him like that." Everyone started laughing, but Bianca could tell Austin was serious.

When they arrived at Last Moon, Bianca looked around sadly. Yesterday, she and her sister didn't know how their lives were going to be flipped upside down. She wouldn't change anything that happened, but she wished she hadn't been blind to what was going on in the pack. Omar greeted them as they got out of the jeep.

"We just got word that King Zaiden is almost here," he told the group. No sooner were his words out of his mouth than there was a flurry of activity behind them.

Three large black SUVs pulled up. Bianca knew it had to be the King because lycans exited the vehicles. Bianca's eyes widened when she saw the man who stepped out of the middle SUV.

King Zaiden was at least seven feet tall with thick, wavy, dark brown hair that stopped at his shoulders. He had piercing blue eyes and a face that looked like it was carved from stone. He was wearing tight grey pants and a black button-up shirt that looked like it was painted on him. Bianca couldn't help but stare as she looked him over from head to toe.

"Do you think you can stop drooling?" Gunnar said next to her through gritted teeth. Only then did she realize she hadn't moved and was still gawking. She looked up at her mate, who was glaring at the King. Bianca took his hand and brought his attention to her.

"I love you, Gunnar." Those simple words made his face soften as he leaned over to kiss her.

"I love you too. Let's go." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her close as they approached King Zaiden.

"Good morning, King," Gunnar said formally. Zaiden looked at him and then looked at the woman next to him. He ignored the alpha completely and took Bianca's hand.

"I thought I was supposed to be at The Last Moon pack, but clearly, I have died because there's no other explanation for why this beautiful angel would be here in front of me." When he tried to pull her away from Gunnar, she removed her hand from his, taking the King by surprise.

"It's nice to meet you, King Zaiden. I'm Bianca, Alpha Gunnar's mate," Gunnar beamed at her while the King stared at her with his mouth open before chuckling softly.

"Have I lost my touch? I can tell you haven't been marked yet, so why can't I tempt you to leave your mate's side and see your other options?" Zaiden wasn't used to women being immune to his charms, even ones that were spoken for. In fact, they usually threw themselves at his feet. However, Bianca's apparent disregard for him confused him but excited him at the same time.

"We haven't marked each other, but that doesn't mean I'm not fully committed to my mate. Now, I think you have some business to conduct here, and flirting with me or any other female isn't on the agenda." Bianca stood her ground while the lycan's around the King looked at her in disbelief. They expected Zaiden to be angry at her for disrespecting him, but he just grinned at the she-wolf.

"Well, since it looks like you're in charge, I demand that you show me around Bianca. The rest of you can stay here." He grabbed Bianca's hand and pulled her away from Gunnar. She tried to stop him, but his hold was too strong.

Gunnar attempted to follow them, but one of the lycans held him back. He didn't like Bianca being alone with the King. He was usually a decent man, but he also had a weakness for women and getting what he wanted. It looked as though, right now, he wanted Bianca.

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