Chapter 16
Lucas carried Danny all the way back toward the private chambers despite Danny dramatically complaining the entire time.
“You kidnapped me from my strawberries.”
“I’ll buy you new ones.”
“They were expensive strawberries.”
“I own the farm.”
Danny blinked slowly.
“…Of course you do.”
Lucas almost smiled.
The mansion hallways glowed warmly beneath evening lights while servants quietly stepped aside watching them pass.
Most looked stunned.
Not because Lucas carried Danny again-they were already used to that.
No.
They were shocked because their terrifying king looked happy.
Actually happy.
And somehow the reason was the lazy human currently poking Lucas’s cheek curiously.
Danny narrowed his eyes.
“Okay explain.”
Lucas glanced down at him.
“Explain what?”
“The throne thing.”
Lucas paused slightly.
Danny pointed dramatically.
“And why everybody keeps calling you ‘my king.'”
Silence.
Lucas had hidden the truth carefully for months.
But after today?
Danny had literally held court inside the throne hall while wolves obeyed him instinctively.
Maybe fate was laughing at him.
Lucas finally entered their bedroom and set Danny gently onto the giant bed.
Danny immediately sat cross-legged beneath blankets.
Then pointed again.
“Well?”
Lucas loosened his tie slowly.
“My family used to rule these lands centuries ago.”
Danny blinked.
“…Like politicians?”
Lucas hesitated.
“More like royalty.”
Silence.
Then-
Danny gasped so loudly even the guards outside probably heard it.
“You’re ACTUAL royalty?!”
Lucas watched helplessly as excitement exploded across Danny’s face.
“You have a throne because you’re literally a king?!”
“Yes.”
Danny grabbed Lucas’s arm dramatically.
“WAIT.”
Lucas already knew that look.
Dangerous thoughts were forming.
“Does that mean,” Danny whispered excitedly, “I’m royalty too?”
Lucas stared.
Then despite himself-
He smiled softly.
“Yes.”
Danny screamed.
Actually screamed.
“Oh my god.”
He immediately threw himself backward onto the bed dramatically.
“I’m a princess.”
Lucas sat beside him calmly.
“You’re technically a king’s consort.”
Danny pointed at him accusingly.
“That sounds less cute.”
Lucas’s eyes softened unbearably.
Cute.
Everything about him was unbearably cute.
Danny sat up again suddenly.
“No wait.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
Danny looked deeply serious now.
“I wanna become king.”
Silence.
Lucas blinked once.
“…What?”
Danny climbed directly into his lap while talking rapidly.
“Today was fun.”
“You held court for four hours.”
“And I solved people’s problems!”
Lucas stared at him quietly.
Danny looked genuinely excited.
His sleepy eyes brighter than usual.
“I helped people while laying down.”
Lucas almost laughed.
Of course that was the selling point.
Danny continued enthusiastically.
“And everyone listened to me!”
“You told two Alp__ i mean land owners to settle territory disputes with rock-paper-scissors.”
“It worked though.”
Unfortunately-
It actually had.
Lucas’s wolf watched Danny proudly.
Mate good ruler.
Lucas studied him silently now.
Because something strange had happened today.
Danny had entered the throne hall carelessly.
Yet the wolves accepted him instinctively.
Listened naturally.
Not because they feared him.
But because Danny made them feel comfortable.
Safe.
Even ancient wolves twice Danny’s age relaxed around him.
It was… rare.
Danny suddenly cupped Lucas’s face dramatically.
“I can help you.”
Lucas’s thoughts paused.
Danny looked at him quietly now.
Less playful.
More sincere.
“You’re always tired lately.”
Lucas froze slightly.
Danny noticed.
Of course he noticed.
“You do everything alone,” Danny murmured softly. “That sounds exhausting.”
Lucas’s chest tightened painfully.
No one worried about him.
Not really.
People feared him. Respected him. Obeyed him.
But Danny?
Danny looked at him like Lucas himself mattered.
Like he deserved rest too.
Danny poked his cheek gently.
“So let me help.”
Lucas stared at him silently.
Then softly said-
“You’d really want that responsibility?”
Danny thought carefully.
“…Only the fun parts.”
Lucas laughed quietly.
Of course.
Danny grinned proudly before suddenly leaning closer.
Then kissed him.
Soft.
Sweet.
Completely unfair.
Lucas immediately pulled him closer instinctively.
Danny hummed happily against his lips.
“Please?” he whispered afterward.
Lucas’s wolf collapsed instantly.
Mate kissing us to negotiate.
Dangerous.
Danny kissed him again.
Slower this time.
Warm hands curling against Lucas’s shoulders.
Lucas deepened the kiss helplessly.
One hand sliding against Danny’s waist possessively.
Mine.
Danny pulled back slightly breathless.
“So?”
Lucas looked at him quietly.
Beautiful.
His mate looked beautiful asking to rule beside him.
And suddenly-
Lucas realized something terrifying.
Danny truly was made for this.
Not the political side.
Not war.
Not power.
But the heart of it.
For centuries the werewolf kingdom survived through fear and strength.
Lucas ruled efficiently.
Coldly.
But Danny?
Danny smiled at strangers. Solved problems gently. Made nervous wolves laugh.
Even today the throne hall felt lighter because of him.
Lucas remembered ancient stories his mother once told him as a child.
A ruler’s mate should bring peace where the king brings power.
And somehow-
Without trying-
Danny already did.
Lucas brushed his thumb softly against Danny’s cheek.
“You’re dangerous.”
Danny blinked.
“…Why?”
“You make people love you naturally.”
Danny looked horrified.
“That sounds stressful.”
Lucas laughed again softly.
Then he pulled Danny into his chest carefully.
Danny immediately melted against him comfortably.
Lucas rested his chin lightly against Danny’s hair.
“My little queen.”
Danny gasped dramatically.
“Wait I like that title.”
Lucas closed his eyes briefly.
Content.
Warm.
Complete.
For one hundred lonely years, he ruled alone.
Now somehow-
A lazy human wrapped in blankets and stealing strawberries had become the center of his entire kingdom.
And Lucas wouldn’t trade it for anything.
*****
A/N: If you’re enjoying the story please vote.
