Romane von Badalee

“You are?” I asked again.“The Alpha King's best friend, Astra," she introduced with a smile, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.“Oh.” I pressed my lips together. Why did I think she was his lover?The Alpha King and I were not in love. We were only getting married because he needed an heir, and Dad had pulled some strings. Could it be possible that he had another woman?Her, perhaps?“The dress looks good on you,” she complimented.I smiled at her. Before I could open my mouth to say thank you, she spoke.“Too bad it's being worn by a person who doesn't deserve it.”Her smile fell.So did mine.She walked closer to me and gently patted my shoulder.“Lyra, right?”I nodded.“Well, I feel bad for you. You are so young. You could have married a man who actually loved you, but you were picked up by the Alpha King.” Her eyes narrowed, daring me to respond.Her eyes moved to the dress. I noticed her jaw tighten.“Are you happy to be marrying him?” she asked, her hands still fondlin

I sat in the back seat of a black car, my eyes fixed on the road as the car sped by.The car smelled of flowers, ironic because there weren't any in here. My bags were in the trunk, and I was dressed in a blue dress, my blonde hair braided into pigtails.I looked away from the road, and my eyes met the rearview mirror. My eyes were red with tears, and underneath them were eye bags.It was afternoon. The sun was unfriendly, the trees waved as we drove past, and angry drivers honked at each other.But all I could think of was the mystery man.I shut my eyes and pictured him, his hair, his eyes, his nose. They were all magnificent.His body, oh God, he was fit. He must work out.My mind reeled to the time he kissed me. I could still feel his lips on my neck, his fingers on my body. I sucked in a deep breath. His fingers touching me down there seemed to change something within me.I had never thought of a man like that before.Nor had I ever craved one.Even when I was given photos of peo

The Man’s POVI watched her body tremble as she cried.It was strange. All my life I had been around people I couldn’t trust. I had taught myself not to care about anything so that I would never get hurt, but for some reason… I couldn’t teach myself not to care about her.Under the dim light of the moon, I saw the shocked look on her face. “You said you would leave,” she sniffed.I had planned to. I needed to go back home and handle the people who had attacked me and left me to die in the woods.But being around her felt as if I was tied to her by a string. When I heard her screaming in pain, anger rose inside of me. I wanted to go down there and save her, but that would mean letting people know I was here. I wanted it to remain a secret for my plans to work.It was a surprise Lyra didn’t know who I was just by looking at me, but at least it worked in my favor.I tried to leave, but all I could think of were her loud cries.I moved to a candle on the side of the room and lit it. The r

“Those pictures…,”“It doesn't concern me,” he cut in, “You can look at whatever you want in your free time, I'm sorry I looked at it,”I quickly sat up, “I don't look at things like that I swear,”His head turned to me, “Go to sleep,”I wanted to,but I couldn't let him think of me in that manner, “My aunt gave them to me, they are supposed to teach me how to have sex,”I couldn't read the look in his eyes, I wasn't even sure he cared about what I had to say.“I'm getting married in a few days,” I said in a low tone as I adjusted myself on the bed, still sitting. “Congratulations,” he looked back at the ceiling. “Aunt Nerrissa says I have to be able to bear his children, so I have to learn what sex looks like,”He looked at me again, seemingly interested in what I had to say, “You are a virgin?,”I nodded.“Pictures won't help you, your lover should have to teach you,” he said. “That's the thing I'm not in love with him, I have never even met the guy, I have no idea what kind of pe

I lifted him up and helped him sit against a tree.*If only I had just slept by the river instead of looking for a soft place.*His head flung back against the tree, his teeth clenched tight. He let out a pained groan.I couldn’t see clearly. Nerrissa didn’t let me touch the torches in the house, not even a lamp. I could only use candles, and they were back at home.I quickly reached for his shirt and unbuttoned it. The wound on his body was a claw mark. It seemed he had been in a fight with a werewolf.I looked behind me, squinting to see if I could find the herbs I used on myself when I got hurt. There was no way I could get my hands on real medicine. I couldn’t afford it when I had never had money of my own.My eyes soon adjusted to the darkness and now I could see better. I tried to stand, but his hand grabbed mine again. I looked back at him, watching as he struggled to breathe.“Please… don’t leave me,” he begged.I shook my head. “I’m going to get herbs.” I pushed his hand away

Lyra’s POVThe smile on my face fell as Nerrissa said those words.“Your father wants you back in the city. You will be marrying the new Alpha King of Silver Howl.”Me?Marriage?“But… I do not want to get married. I want Father to take me home to be with him. I do not…”My words were cut short by a resounding slap on my cheek. My hand flew to my face as tears streamed down my cheeks.“Your father has ordered it! Do you wish to go against him?” Nerrissa shouted in a harsh tone. Wrinkles formed at the corners of her eyes as she spoke. Her brown hair was up in a high bun, but some strands stuck out.“You are lucky your father is giving you the chance to marry an Alpha. After you killed your own mother, you deserve nothing but suffering,” her eyes blazed with rage as she spoke.My whole life I had been raised by servants, far away from my family’s home. My father was a very influential man, respected by many—even the late king—all for his wisdom.But Father was not as the people perceive