[GRANT]
If ever perfection was materialized, then the man who had just walked in would definitely be it. He was everything a man like Grant ever wanted, and now that he had gotten him, he would thank the goddess later when this was done.
"The high priestess of Greroth, Criselda with her protege, Gideon," someone in the room announced but it all came off as a blank call to Grant.
All his focus was on Gideon.
The man from Greroth that all the rumors knew of.
"My fellow leaders of the midlands, we are aware of the threat looming above us. The magnitude of loss that we risk if we don't act now.
"We have all heard about the beast of the midlands for a while now, he is more dangerous than even the son of thieves, and that's because the beast walks among us," the king began, but Grant wasn't even paying attention any more.
Instead, he had set his eyes on the magnificent man before him.
Gideon.
"If the beast is a man, then we need to set up a trap for him," Grant heard Zelina say irritatedly. It was a good idea though, because no one had ever seen the beast and managed to make it out alive.
"It could work."
"The consequences are a little too much."
"Even if we set a trap, how sure are we that he will walk right in?"
"Agitating the beats just because there's many of us isn't a good idea."
"He could ruin us with one swipe of his claws."
Suggestions filled the once lonely throne room, giving it life, however chaotic it was. They all had a purpose and homes to keep safe and even though it was a wild guess for them, they had to try and make it work.
"I agree, but what do we use as a trap?" King Edison asked like he was new to the whole dynamics of the beast and his obsession with the midlands.
"Are you serious right now?" Ulrike asked, just at the same time, that the warlock protege let out a harsh scoff at the lycan king's question, getting everyone's attention. However, that didn't seem to faze Gideon.
If anything, he just stared at the Lycan king, challenging the man, while Criselda smirked.
King Edison was clearly not pleased with the response from Gideon, but he was even more shocked when the young warlock walked towards him, with a bored face like he wanted to go back home to Greroth instead of listening to the king.
"Why, your highness?" Gideon asked, his eyes full of anger. However, just as the anger had shown in Gideon's eyes, so did it disappear, something that got Grant even more invested in his mate.
Whatever had been said of Gideon in the rumor mills wasn't enough because now that he looked at his mate, Grant was sure the goddess surely took her sweet time to create Gideon and make him as fearless and ruthless as the legends spoke of.
"I saw a lizard on your robe, or is it a pet of yours?" Gideon asked, and Grant could see that there was no lizard there, but he noticed Criselda's hands moving and suddenly there was a lizard on the lycan king's robe.
'Who is he?' Grant asked himself as he watched amusedly.
Later that evening, it was decided that Ulrike would be used as bait.
So here they were, outside the gates of Acrod, hiding behind the woods, and waiting to see if the beast would make a show.
It was risky, not just because of who they were against, but because they were using children to lure the beast, not to mention the fact that Ulrike, who was the bait, was known to be scared shitless of children.
"Do you think he will be okay?" Gideon asked Grant.
'Damn, his rainforest scent is addicting as hell,' Grant thought to himself as he stared at his mate who was beside him. It took every ounce of self-control for him not to jump the protege, because who knew what the man would do?
"If you're so worried about him, why don't you go after him?" Grant said dismissively and the werewolf king growled out in warning.
"Okay, I'll go with him," Gideon suddenly said and Grant felt like he had been punched in the gut. He could see the smirk on Gideon's face, and he instantly knew that the protege knew they were mated.
However, before Grant could stop Gideon, Criselda spoke up, thankfully, making Grant release a sigh of relief; but then it all went away when they all heard Gideon's response.
Oh, but this man would be the death of Grant.
"No son. I refuse. I don't have the strength to mourn a child. Don't do this to me. How do we even know you will come back? You don't have to go there. Let the warriors go, Gideon," Criselda pleaded with her son as everyone watched helplessly.
"I'll be back, mother, I promise. I will be back. I'm your son, remember?" Gideon said as he kissed Criselda on the cheeks.
"You know I never lie, I will come back mother," Gideon said as he walked out of their hideout even before Criselda could say another word.
In silence, they watched as Gideon went away, and also watched as Ulrike and the beast fought, with the beast winning by far.
It was something that they had somewhat expected, but what had shocked them, even more, was the fact that the lycan king had fainted when he saw who the beast was.
A lycan.
"Well that was unexpected," Grant said as the lycan king fell to the ground in complete and utter shock, and the leaders watched him in wonder.
Sighing, they dragged the lycan king back home, while Criselda and Zelina went to look for Gideon.
Grant wanted to offer to go with them, but he knew his king would ask questions. Besides, he could wait a few more days to talk about the mate he had gotten, right?
For hours, when they had gone back into Acrod, Grant began feeling impatient.
They were all there seated, while there was no word of the whereabouts of his mate. He wanted to go seek him out himself and if he had to fight the beast of the midlands to get Gideon then Grant was ready to take the risk.
"He died, I made sure of that. The only lycan who disappeared without a trace from Udrad, was the son of thieves," King Edison said, right as Gideon walked in with a tired Criselda and Zelina, making Grant release a sigh of relief.
"Son of thieves? Wow, who even calls themselves that," Gideon commented before getting a smack on his head by Criselda, and shutting up instantly.
Gideon looked like he had gone through literal hell just to be here. He had survived the beast of the midlands, and even though the scratches on him were harsh, he would heal.
"No, but seriously, who are you guys talking about?" Gideon asked, maintaining eye contact with Delbert who looked so relieved to see the witch back.
There was something about Delbert that even Gideon had taken a liking to.
And Grant hated that.
"Well, the beast is a lycan and Edison here, didn't think to tell us that he had a rogue lycan walking around and harming the midlands in the name of children. He isn't really open to talk about it," King Cassius said disappointed.
"You knew him? What the fuck Edison?" Zelina said angrily, while Gideon on the other hand seemed to have forgotten that he was hurt.
Clouded by his anger, Gideon of Greroth made careful and calculated strides towards the lycan king, just like what he had done earlier in the day only this time, he wasn't going to pretend there was a lizard on the king.
When a limping Gideon reached the Lycan king, he made sure to look around the room, almost as if to confirm something.
"I believe we are all equals here, yeah?" Gideon asked with an angry smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at Criselda.
The high priestess just nodded at Gideon, curious as to what Gideon would try again. Maybe he would act all unhinged again, but was it really acting out, when he hated the king with all he had and didn't have?
"What are you thinking of doing?" Delbert asked, concern filling his voice.
Gideon just let out a laugh at the warrior's statement.
"Something a low-class warrior like you can never even think of doing," Gideon said.