Bound by The Lycan Beast King

FREYA'S POV

It's been one year since my mate left and today he'll be returning.

"Luna Freya." One of the maids calls my attention, and I snap back into reality, turning to her.

The maid held onto a flower vase and waved it. "Luna, where should I put this? All the other spots are filled up."

I gave a soft smile. "Take it out. Alpha Eric doesn't like too many decorations."

The maid did a courtesy and left. The chattering of pack members filled the room. Everyone was here to witness the arrival of my mate—Alpha Eric.

For a year, he's been on a business trip, trying to secure alliances with prominent packs and resources after the rogue attack that burned half our territory and killed more than a dozen warriors. 

As Luna of the Moonhowl pack, I spent sleepless nights organizing patrols and rationing supplies just to keep the pack from falling apart.

Now, Eric was finally coming home.

The huge doors of the arena slowly opened, and everyone’s attention turned toward them. My heart jumped inside my chest, holding onto the hem of my gown.

Guards dressed in black lined up before they parted. "Alpha Eric has arrived!" one of them announced.

I felt tears gather in my eyes, my feet starting to move on their own.

I wanted to be the first person he sees.

The guards parted, revealing Eric, and my eyes lit up and then I stopped in my tracks, the world tilting slightly.

"Oh my goodness, who's that little silver wolf with Alpha Eric? She's beautiful."

The hushed whispers were a reminder that this was real. Eric was back, but he wasn't alone.

I watched, my heart clenching as Eric held the lady with silver hair cascading down her back. Pale skin with gorgeous blue eyes that sparkled as she spoke with him.

The two of them seemed lost in their own world but stopped when they noticed me.

She blinked curiously and recoiled back toward Eric, who didn't hesitate to wrap his hand over her shoulder.

My teeth gritted, feeling my wolf grunt, but I clenched my fist, keeping her in check before she did something crazy.

"Eee, who's this? She's scaring me." she mumbled.

Eee?

Since when did they get on a nickname basis?

Eric stared down at her, rubbing her shoulders, his smile widening.

"She's the one I was telling you about. She doesn't mean any harm, I promise."

Eric exhaled and then turned his eyes lazily toward me like I was ruining his mood.

"You've been standing there since we came in. Can you at least move aside so Alyssa can sit?"

My claws dug into my palm, feeling the weight of everyone's stares on us, whispering. "Do you think Alpha Eric brought this little wolf to replace Luna Freya?"

"Poor Luna—and she's been waiting for him for over a year," another said.

I shut off my supernatural hearing and straightened my back. 

"A year apart, and that’s all you have to say?”

My wolf snarled, locking eyes with Alyssa hugging Alpha Eric tightly as she shivered.

"Who is she?" I asked.

Eric exhaled, and for a moment, I caught sight of hesitation. The way his eyes drifted away from mine. "Alyssa is—"

Achoo!

Alyssa let out a sneeze, her head snapping forward. Warm droplets hit my cheek. My stomach lurched in disgust. 

I wiped at my face with shaking fingers, the humiliation scalding my skin. My wolf snarled in my head, We are not her servant to be spat on.

"Are you okay?" Eric’s voice softened as he turned to her. His hand cupped her face as she staggered.

"You're cold. I told you to wear more layers of clothes, but you didn't listen." He hissed, quickly pulling off his suit and wrapping it over her body.

"Come on. Let me show you to your room." He adjusted her collar, and she nodded weakly.

Anger swirled in my chest. I launched my palm against his arm. "Eric, we need to talk about all of this. You just got back, and—"

Alyssa pulled away before I could even finish. She gave Eric a plaintive look. “Your mate is right. I don't want to cause trouble. I'll just wait until you're done.”

Eric was reluctant to even take his eyes off her; it was like I didn't even exist.

"So, what do you want to say?" Eric huffed, tucking his hand inside his pocket.

Eric's eyebrows pressed together, staring down at me.

"I want to know who she is and why she's all over you," I demanded.

"Don't tell me you're getting jealous. I'm only trying to help Alyssa because she's ill. She's a wolf I saved during my trip. She has no family, so I took her in." He said casually with a shrug.

The words rang in my ears, sending chills down my spine. I held onto his arm.

"How long has she been with you?"

Eric narrowed his eyes away and my heart sank inside my chest.

"She's been with you this entire time, and you didn't think to mention it to your mate over the phone?"

"Chosen mate." Eric groaned, and for a second, the color of his eyes ignited a fiery red. "Freya, I just got back, and you're overreacting. You are a Luna. Aren't you supposed to be accommodating?"

Eric had never spoken to me like this. Even though we weren't fated mates, despite being pulled together by our families, we grew to love each other.

Even my wolf grew attached to him since we couldn't find our fated mate. We both accepted him.

He swore to protect me—so why was he the one hurting me now?

"Eric, that's not fair..."

My words broke in my throat, but he didn't care. His eyes lit up when Alyssa slowly came back.

She whimpered softly, pressing her forehead to his chest. “My head hurts. I want to lie down.”

Eric cast one last eerie glance at me before throwing his arm over her shoulders and leading her away.

My chest tightened. The wolf inside me paced restlessly, furious at being left behind. Jealousy burned sharp in my gut. I fought to stay still, but she howled in my mind, her rage making my fingers tremble.

"Luna, are you okay?" I heard Chloe, one of my assigned betas, mumble beside me.

My chest heaved, forcing the tears threatening to blur my vision. I didn't answer but instead marched through the arena and went out into the hallway.

There was no sight of Eric.

If he thought he could just gaslight me without a proper explanation of his behavior, then he should dream on.

As I moved further down the hallway, an eerie sensation crawled through my skin, forcing a lump into my stomach and I fought the urge to throw up.

"Don't worry about her. I'll handle it." I stopped in my tracks when I heard Eric's voice from the corner.

I tilted my head, and that's when I noticed one of the rooms was open. Slowly, I leaned over, heart racing.

Eric was on the bed. Alyssa was coiled up against him like a little puppy, and he patted her head. "I know." She mumbled, rubbing her stomach.

My heart thundered loudly inside my chest. Alyssa’s eyes locked on mine, and her lips curled up at the corner, but I wasn't so sure because she moved upward, burying her face inside his neck.

"I'm so scared. I don't want anything to happen to the baby."

My hand slipped from the door, lips parted for air as my lashes blinked uncontrollably.

"Baby?"

*****