Lycan's Affection

Eleanor sat sat the bed, her hands clasped in front of her, her face turned to the open glass windows. The fog had started to clear up a little, offering a view of the sunrise. She gave a small sigh.

Probably the hundredth in the span of the night she had sat there, everything going through her mind.

She turned slowly to the door as it opened shortly after a small knock. Brandon walked in, his eyes solemn.

"Good morning," he said, keeping his distance.

"Is Conaan back? When is he coming back?"

Brandon shrugged. "He mostly takes a week on these trips. You will need to wait."

She sighed. "Does he know it was a lie? I am not pregnant."

"I do not know if he does. You know he wouldn't say."

She brought her hands to her forehead, rubbing a little. "Do you perhaps know where he is, exactly?"

Brandon's brows furrowed, as she suddenly flipped the covers off her body, then started to climb off the bed.

"I am going to him. I can't stand this lasting a) week. I can't.

Brandon sighed. "He will kill me if I let you go out."

She walked up to him, her eyes set in a determined stare. "We both know he wouldn't."

Brandon sighed, but still said nothing, his hands clasped behind him.

"Please. Please, Brandon. I need to go."

Brandon gave a small sigh. "He usually goes to the Grand city first as it is only an hour away, then the neighboring villages. Since he left after sunset yesterday, he would still be at Grand city."

She nodded. "I need someone who knows the place well enough."

"Wouldn't be hard. But please..."

"I know. I will make sure to stay safe."

Brandon sighed and without a word, he walked away.

Conaan turned the food in his spoon, his eyes fixed on the plate, his mind wandering. He was in a local eatery, his eyes squinted against the early morning sun.

"Guess what?" Someone said behind him, and he turned to the person.

There were two lycans playing a game of wolves, a popular game that was the human equivalent of chess.

"What? Not something with the market again because I am tired of it."

The other laughed. "The Luna came back."

"Luna? When did we ever have one?"

Conaan turned a little, dropping his spoon.

"Have you forgotten the king has a mate? She ran away with the alpha of Polaris, that is why there was almost a war with Polaris back then. Now she is back. I heard she has the king wrapped around her little finger."

The other seemd majorly disinterested, but he shrugged. "My mate has me wrapped around her little finger too. What is bad about that?"

"I know, but she has him so wrapped around her finger, I heard because of her, he wouldn't be doing his usual trip anymore. He doesn't even care about the city anymore, just her. I even heard they both left the city."

Now the other looked up, his bushy brows furrowed together. "Out of the capital? To where?"

The man who had been speaking all through leaned forward, his eyes quickly scanning the entire place. "I hear that the king does not want the subjects to know, but she is no longer pure for him. She already was with the wolf."

"You know, if I love my mate enough, it wouldn't matter."

"Well, she just might be carrying a child! A wolf's child for that matter!"

"What if she isn't?"

"But what if she is?"

Conaan gave a small sigh, drowning out the rest of their talk and turned to his food once more. He never really had any appetite, but from all of his trips, he knew the eateries were the best places to find gossip.

He shook his head a little, then grabbed the glass of wine and brought it to his lips. He only let it lightly graze his lips before he sharply turned to his side, his eyes scanning around.

"Eleanor?"

She gave a small sigh as she finally came in front of him, then plopped on the seat opposite him. "I was hoping to surprise you."

He swallowed. "Why did Brandon let you come here?"

"I threatened his life," she said simply, then leaned forward.

He said nothing, as she reached for the glass in his hand. Her fingers slowly traced his, and he held her gaze, never letting it drop.

"Conaan, I..."

"I don't care. I don't care if you are carrying his child or not. It is still the past."

Eleanor swallowed. "I am not. I swear, I am not. I was...it was complicated, but I swear..."

He gently removed her hand, using the other hand, then finally gulped the wine. "I take it you are here to assist me. Let's be on our way, then."

Eleanor watched him, a little stunned as he walked away.

The grand city was the second largest lycan city after the capital, and Eleanor found it to be just as beautiful. Maybe a little less with the attractions of the grand palace, but there was a pup village in the grand city where the lycan pups were kept for the first seven years of their lives.

It was an attempt to breed unity, and of course, get them used to the way of the city.

"Are we staying here?" Eleanor asked as Conaan removed his outer robe and handed it to the servant, then walked into the small shed.

"For a night, yes."

"Why? I thought you'd be on your way to other places."

"I usually spend a night here. There is a warm spring that no one ever uses." He turned to her, then gave a small shrug. "It's private...and I like to go there..." his voice trailed off a little suggestively. "To be alone and...."

Her eyes widened as he bit down on his lower lip, then shook his head.

"Anyway. I like to be there."

She swallowed. "Well, you have company now."

"Are you sure you would want to be with me there?"

She blinked rapidly, feeling a little trapped. "Well, it's not like you are going to do anything to me, are you?"

He smiled as a servant came in. "The spring is ready."

He nodded at him, then turned to Eleanor. "I guess we will find out...soon enough."

His voice was dark and deep, yet smooth, like a caress, like the whispering wind. She could feel her skin tingle even as he walked away, and he was no longer watching her with those eyes that promised of little blooming flowers of burning, overwhelming passion.