The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music recommendation: Through Falling snow by Johann Johannsson

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When King Laurence started to leave the open grounds of the castle, Lady Samara didn't want to stay near the wolves that looked less like pups and more like grown wolves. The woman quickly followed her husband, wanting to discuss further regarding the wild creatures staying in here, in the castle.

"You have some nerve to bring these things into this place," Morganna's words were low, and she glowered, looking at Calhoun.

"Nerve?" Calhoun looked at the Queen with an oblivious look on his face. "I don't think there's anything wrong in bringing things that belong to me to the castle. They are my pets who need to be looked after. Unlike others, my mother taught me to not abandon things that I once took interest and cared for."

The taunt that Calhoun threw at Morganna didn't go undetected, and the Queen stared at him. He spoke more than what was required for a young man, and as she thought, he was like a serpent.

"What do you think you are proving by bringing them here? My son might have agreed to your terms, but remember this boy, he is still my son. Your mother didn't know where to draw the line and when to stop. One word and it was enough to throw her out of the castle, don't think it won't happen again," she threatened, glaring at the four wolves that stood next to Calhoun.

Calhoun smirked, and it was enough for Morganna to turn more annoyed, "You must be mistaken if you think I am like my mother. She was too kind and innocent for your world. Don't mistake that I am like her," he offered the woman a smile, "The more you try to regain control, the more you will see it slip through your fingers that much faster."

"This will cost you, boy. Mark my words," declared Morganna, and at the same time, one of the wolves growled, making her take a step backwards. She turned around without speaking another word and went inside the castle.

Calhoun stared at the older vampiresses back, who disappeared behind the pillars and walls of the castle. All these years he had waited for this time, and now that he was here, he was going to turn every single person's life into Hell, for the actions they had bestowed on his mother. He will return it in twice the value, he thought to himself.

When the grey wolf continued to growl, Calhoun hushed it, "Shh, not yet. You will soon be allowed to roam in the castle corridors later on and you can hunt for meat," saying this, he bent down, sitting on one of his knees while patting the grey wolf's head.

"Brother Calhoun!" Lucy quickly loped to the place where he stood and she paused her feet from approaching the wolves that growled at her. "Where did you get these wolves from?" there was a hint of astonishment and excitement in the young vampiresses voice.

Lucy had never seen wolves this close. In the past, she had gone hunting with her family members, but she had never found the opportunity to see any wolves in this proximity. Not to forget, her family preferred for her to stand behind and not let her hunt anything.

"They are mine," replied Calhoun, "Do you like wolves...Lucy?" he asked, and he caught the girl beam.

"I am not sure, but they look lovely!" exclaimed Lucy, and one of the wolves that had brown and white fur, moved near her. It was the same wolf that had growled at her and it sniffed her. "I thought wolves bite are fatal."

"They are," affirmed Calhoun and Lucy's eyes widened. "But it is the werewolves bite and not the wolves. If you treat them with love and care, even the wildest beast will turn tame in your presence."

Lucy couldn't shift her gaze away from the wolf that was near her, and she asked Calhoun, "D-do they have names?"

"Yes, the grey one is Myster, the one with a mixed color coat is Lark, the white one near me is Scar," introduced Calhoun that had a reddish coat, "And the one next to you, that is Howard."

Calhoun could tell Lucy was eager to touch, but at the same time she was careful because these weren't tamed wolves. The wolves had grown in the forest that he and his mother lived in front of. They looked small right now, but in time they would grow bigger.

But Lucy was not like other people in the castle or like her family members. Within the next second, she sat down to lower herself, meeting the eyes of the wolf that looked straight at her unblinkingly. The wolf had deep yellowish-orange eyes that she found herself to be mesmerized with.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Howard. I am Lucy, it is nice to meet you," she whispered to the wolf, and the wolf for a moment opened its mouth, showing its ferocious-looking teeth to her. "I don't think he likes me," there was a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Wolves take time to warm up to a person, Lucy. Especially with people like us because they find our kind to be very distrusting and cunning," stated Calhoun, he walked to where she sat, and he rubbed the wolves neck. "It took me a long time before I could feed and get close to them. You have done wonderful so far. It takes courage to get close to a wolf, especially when you are a vampire."

Lucy looked up from the wolf to look at Calhoun. She then smiled, "Thank you, brother Calhoun. I think I like Howard the most," she confessed.

"I would have never guessed," came the bland words of Calhoun as he patted another wolf that came near him. "Why not grey or white ones? They are more handsome," said Calhoun, his hands scratching the wolves ear before the wolf decided to playfully bite Calhoun's hand.

The smile on Lucy's lips didn't fall, and she watched Calhoun interact with the wolves that sat around him and some walking around. She found it to be fascinating because a person like Calhoun, who didn't talk much, had wolves that loved him. In Lucy's world, it only meant one thing, Calhoun was a good person, which was why the animals cared about him.