Chapter 4

Ellie.

My brain was in overdrive.

I could hardly believe that in one simple moment, I had just met the Lycan King and Vito was no longer my mate. I rejected him and freed myself from his torture. I once thought that if there ever came a time that Vito was not my mate anymore, I would escape the pack and become a rogue, probably join the humans and live my life under the radar, and now that thought was within reach... or so I thought.

"I'm taking her with me."

I blinked when I heard the words, unable to believe my ears.

I had returned to Vito's house with him, His Majesty, and His Majesty's beta, and I was forced into a room while they talked in the living room, but me being me, I opened the door a little, peeking through the small space to see and hear clearly.

His Majesty had said the words simply like it wasn't my death wish. My heart thrummed loudly in my chest as my eyes darted from wolf to wolf, trying to confirm if what he said was real or just a fragment of my imagination.

"But, Your Majesty—"

"It's not up for debate, my decision is final!" His Majesty returned firmly. An awkward smile appeared on Vito's face as he scratched the back of his head.

"I am aware, Your Majesty, but I only believe taking a wolf like her will only tarnish your image. If you allow me, I will be more than pleased to provide a better and stronger slave for you. Ellie will only bring bad luck as she's cursed,"

"Is she?" His Majesty raised a brow, turning his gaze toward the door I was perched behind as though he could tell I was right there, before returning them to Vito.

"For a mate, you claimed you love, you sure are eager to talk shit about her. I don't believe this is your way of showing love?"

"No, Your Majesty, but my loyalty to you supersedes my love for her," Vito answered quickly.

"That's enough from you. You heard His Majesty say his decision is final." His Majesty's Beta stepped forward with a threatening stance which shocked me because despite the fact he was the King's beta, Vito was an Alpha, who was in charge of two packs, having conquered the other, meaning he was of a higher rank, but Vito folded his lips, sitting upright.

"You must understand it is hard for me to see her leave whether or not she betrayed me," Vito muttered but neither His Majesty nor his beta responded to him.

Vito must've sensed he wasn't getting any response and cleared his throat, clearly annoyed at His Majesty's decision for reasons that weren't lost on me.

"A feast is ready for you and your entourage, Your Majesty," Vito bowed and all three wolves exited the house. I let out a deep breath and rose from my crouched position, but I wasn't awarded the liberty of sitting on the bed as the door was violently pushed open, revealing an angry Vito.

"I know you were eavesdropping, 'cause that's your specialty, you fucking rat!" Vito grabbed me by my shirt.

"I know you framed me!" I fought back, but it was the wrong decision, as Vito pushed me back with such force I fell on my bum. pain shot through my head, and I winced.

“Shut your mouth!” Vito threatened.

“No!”

“You must think you’re free from me cause His Majesty is taking you away,” he spat, and i gulped as I watched him fold his sleeves, a habit indicating he was about to inflict pain on me. I tried to move backward, but there was nowhere to run.

"Do not think for even a second that he will believe anything you say, so you better keep your filthy mouth shut when you leave here," Vito inched closer to me, lifting my face with his thumb.

"And if I don't?" I didn't back down. I couldn’t give Vito the satisfaction of seeing me cower, especially after everything he'd done to me.

Vito threw his head back, chuckling darkly, and then I met his hateful eyes.

"I'll make sure everything that belongs to your parents burns, especially that box," he smirked, and my chest tightened.

"You wouldn't dare—"

"Wouldn't I?" he stood up, dusting off imaginary dust from his pants.

The sole reason I couldn't reject Vito of my own accord was because he told me he would do away with everything my parents owned, and when didn’t believe me, he proved he wasn’t bluffing by breaking down my parent's house, slowly as if to taunt me. I immediately heeded his warning because there was a box I was given by an elderly mother-wolf, on my eighteenth birthday. She had taken care of me after my parents died and left when I was old enough to care for myself. She had told me it was my parent's wish that I opened it on my twentieth birthday, which was now three months away. I could never forget the stern warning she gave me about taking care of the box, claiming it would bring a great disaster if it was damaged. I did not understand her then, but I tried my best to care for it when she left, that was until Vito forcefully took it, as well as everything my parents owned away from me.

He could only threaten me now because he knew just how important that box was to me.

“So it’s up to you,” He drawled a triumphant smile—knowing he got me where he wanted me—on his face.

“I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

At that moment, the front door was pushed open, and from the sweet scent that infiltrated my nose, I knew just exactly who it was. I held my breath and counted to three before he reached the room.

“I believe you no longer have any business with m… her,” he shit Vito a deadly glare. Vito smiled awkwardly and nodded, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared, leaving me alone with the most feared lycan king.

I was still perched on the floor as I watched his movements in silence. He looked around the room, then sat on the edge of the bed, before his eyes landed on me.

“Mine!”