CHAPTER FOUR

SKYE'S POV

I pressed myself against the wall of the hallway as people rushed past me. Servants scrambled to take their positions and guards straightened their uniforms. Everyone moved with the kind of nervous energy that came from knowing they were about to meet someone powerful.

Someone dangerous.

Through the window, I could see three black cars pulling up to the front of the house. They were sleek and expensive, they looked completely out of place in our small pack territory. The middle car was the largest and as I watched the driver got out and opened the back door.

A man stepped out.

Even from this distance I could tell he was massive. He was tall and broad-shouldered with a face that looked like he was personally sculpted by the goddess. Stunning in an ancient, ethereal way. My stomach did a few flips. He wore all black and from the distance he radiated dark confidence. He was attractive if he was not evil.

The Lycan King. Eryx.

My heart started pounding im fear for Medora. This was the man who was taking Medora away. The man who everyone feared. I should be scared of him too.

But I was not. I was curious.

Alpha Theon appeared at the front door with Luna Naila beside him. They both bowed low and I could see the tension in their shoulders. Behind them Medora stood in her wedding dress looking shaken. My heart went out to her.

I could not hear what was being said but I watched as the Lycan King's gaze swept over the assembled group. He said something to Alpha Theon who nodded quickly. Then his eyes moved to Medora and he studied her for a long moment.

He shook his head.

I saw Alpha Theon's face go white. Naila stepped forward and spoke urgently but the King raised a hand to silence her. Then he turned and I watched from the window as his eyes swept the crowd of servants and guards.

His gaze locked on me.

Everything stopped.

He said something and pointed directly at me.

No. No this could not be happening.

Alpha Theon looked confused. He turned to see where the King was pointing and his expression shifted from confusion to shock to relief.

The King started walking toward the house, his eyes still fixated on me.

I stumbled back from the window and my mind raced. Why was he looking at me? What did he want? This made no sense.

The front door opened and I heard heavy footsteps on the floor below. People were talking all at once, but I could not make out the words over the roaring in my ears.

"Where is she?" The King's voice cut through the chatter. "Bring her to me."

"Your Majesty please," Alpha Theon said. "There's been a misunderstanding. My daughter Medora is the one promised to you. This girl is just a servant. She's nobody."

"I know what she is." The King's voice was cold. "And I know what I want. Bring her to me, now."

Footsteps pounded up the stairs. A guard appeared at the top and his eyes found me immediately. "You. Come with me."

"I don't understand," I whispered. "Why does he want me?"

"Does it matter? The King has spoken." He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.

I stumbled down the stairs behind him and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. This was not real. This could not be real. Why would the Lycan King want me when he was supposed to take Medora?

We reached the bottom of the stairs and suddenly I was standing in front of him.

Up close he was even more intimidating.

L"Your Majesty," I managed to say. I tried to bow but my knees were shaking so badly, I nearly fell.

His hand shot out and caught my arm steadying me. The moment his skin touched mine, I felt it. That same electric spark I had felt last night with the masked stranger. That same pull.

No. It could not be.

I looked up at his face and really looked this time. The strong jaw. The shape of his lips.

It was him. The masked stranger from last night. My one night of forgetting.

The Lycan King was the man I had slept with.

"You," I breathed.

His expression did not change but I saw recognition flicker in his eyes. "Me," he said simply.

"I don't understand." I tried to pull away but his grip on my arm was firm. "What's happening?"

"You're coming with me."

"What? No. I can't. You're supposed to take Medora."

"The plans have changed." He turned to Alpha Theon without releasing me. "Who? She or your daughter?."

Alpha Theon looked between me and Medora and I saw the exact moment he made his decision. Relief flooded his face. "She, your Majesty. As you wish."

"No." The word burst out of me before I could stop it. "You can't do this. I'm not part of your agreement. I'm not anyone."

My eyes searched out Medora. She looked at me, a small smile on her lips.

"You're mine." The King's voice dropped low and there was something in it that made my wolf stir. "And you're coming home with me."

"Please." I turned to Alpha Theon desperately. "Tell him he's made a mistake. Tell him he needs to take Medora like he agreed."

But Alpha Theon just shook his head. "If the King wants you then you will go with him. That's the end of it."

I looked at Naila but she just smiled coldly. There was no sympathy anywhere.

"Enough talking." The King released my arm and gestured toward the door. "We're leaving."

"I need to get my things," I said weakly.

"You don't need anything from here. Everything you need will be provided." He placed his hand on my lower back and guided me toward the door. His touch was gentle but left no room for argument.

I walked in a daze. This could not be happening. Last night I had been rejected by my mate and now I was being taken by the Lycan King. Nothing made sense anymore.

The guards opened the car door and the King ushered me inside. He slid in beside me and closed the door. Suddenly we were alone in this small space and I could feel his presence overwhelming everything else.

The car started moving and I watched through the window as the Alpha's house disappeared behind us. Medora stood on the front steps in her wedding dress. She looked like she was about to cry. I guess the reality that I would never be with her again sunk in.

I turned to face the King. "Why did you choose me?"

He was quiet so I thought he didn't hear me, but then he reached out and his fingers brushed the back of my neck. I felt him trace the edge of my dress and then he tugged the fabric down slightly exposing my shoulder blade. The mark was open and it burned as it got exposed to air.

His fingers touched the crescent moon and warmth flooded through me.

"Because of this," he said quietly. He shifted and pulled his shirt collar aside revealing his own shoulder.

There on his skin was an identical mark. A crescent moon glowing faintly silver in the dim light of the car.

My breath caught. "What is that?"

"A mate mark." He let his shirt fall back into place and his eyes met mine. "You're my second chance mate Skye. The Moon Goddess has given me another chance at happiness and she chose you."

"But I was already mated." The words tumbled out. "Rhory was my mate. He rejected me last night."

"I know." His face turned dark. "I could smell him on you. I could feel how broken you were from the severed bond. That's why the Moon Goddess acted so quickly. She knew you needed a second chance too."

I shook my head trying to process this. "This doesn't make sense. You don't even know me."

"I know enough." His voice was firm. "I know the moon goddess chose you, and you're mine.”

The word mine sent delicious shivers down my spine.

His eyes twinkle as he looked at me.

“And that's enough.”