Marquée par le Roi des Dragons : Liée aux flammes

I can't believe I'm going to sleep with my boyfriend tonight. I can't believe I'm going to give my virginity to my soulmate tonight.

Standing at the edge of the great hall, these thoughts kept looping in my head. The Moonlight Festival seemed to grow in scale each year. The full moon, heavy and majestic, dominated the temple, flooding its open roof with silvery light. The air was thick with the goddess's power. She sends shivers down your spine, raises your temperature; on nights like this, soulmates gathered. Couples whom fate hadn't destined for each other could still unite if they surrendered to one another under her light. The packs believed she would bless their union.

Nearly every pack in the region was represented. Silverstone. Moonclaw. Even the smallest packs, from the border areas, were present. The temple was filled with people, laughter, music, and the strong scent of desire. Torches burned along the stone paths. Deep within the temple, drums beat a deep, steady rhythm.

Jason was the one who brought me here.

Jason, the Alpha of the Silverstone pack. My boyfriend. He was the one who said he'd love me even if I was an omega without a wolf. He swore we'd seal our bond tonight. No soulmate connection existed between us yet, but he said it didn't matter. "He said he chose me. I believed him. I had no choice."

Life hasn't been kind to me.

My mother was Alpha of the Moonclaw pack, along with my father. After his death, the council pressured her to remarry to consolidate her power. She chose Richard. Before she died, she wrote a will. I was named her sole heir. All the Gammas and Betas in the pack swore allegiance to me, and to whomever I would one day choose. Then she died. That same week, Richard proclaimed himself Alpha. He married Cassandra in front of everyone and took her, along with her daughter Nora, to the pack house. We discovered the truth later: he was already secretly married to her. Nora was his biological daughter.

Overnight, I went from heiress to Omega, while Cassandra became Luna. Richard made it clear he wanted me eliminated. He never said it in front of the pack, but his eyes spoke volumes. The others' behavior said even more. And Jason came to my rescue. He was my protector. He proposed. He offered me a future. Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of that future.

I stayed a little apart from the main festivities, on the lower terrace. The air was fragrant with wine and night-blooming flowers. My hands were constantly drawn to the soft fabric of the dress Jason had sent me. Pale blue, almost silver in the moonlight. It was too beautiful for a guy like me.

A waitress approached with a small tray. On it, a bottle of champagne and a small folded note.

"For you, Miss."

I picked up the bottle and read the note.

My love, wait for me at 203 upstairs, I'm coming.

My heart leaped. Jason. He must have tidied the room. I smiled inwardly and set off. The champagne was already uncorked. I took a long sip and climbed the stone steps leading to the private apartments of the temple inn. The liquid was smooth and cool. It flowed gently. I drank and continued my walk.

Room 203 was at the end of a quiet corridor. I opened the door with the key found on the note and went in. The room was large and warm, lit by candlelight. A large bed took up almost the entire space. Silk sheets. The full moon filtered through an open window. I placed the bottle on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting.

Another big one. Then another.

My head began to feel heavy. The outlines of the room blurred. The candle flames flickered and danced. I blinked, but the world continued to tilt. A warmth rose to the back of my neck and flowed down my arms. My limbs moved slowly, as if they didn't belong to me. I tried to stand and almost fell. I slumped back onto the mattress, gasping for air.

The door opened suddenly.

Seven men walked by. I didn't know them. They reeked of cheap alcohol and tobacco. One of them smiled when he saw me.

"Well, look what he left us."

I felt a pang of sadness.

"Get out of here," I said in a weak voice.

They laughed softly. One of them closed the door behind him. The other approached, drawing a line on my arm.

"Don't do that, Omega. I'm just here to have a little fun while I wait for your big Alpha to arrive."

I pushed his hand away. My arms moved slightly. Whatever the champagne was, it had taken its toll on me. My body felt like an inert, useless mass. They pinned me to the bed. My wrists were immobilized. Other hands began to tug at the straps of my dress.

"Stop," I whispered. "Please."

They kept going. Laughter reached my ear. A shoulder ripped my dress. A cool breeze brushed my face. Panic gripped my throat. I struggled, I kicked, but my legs felt numb from the water. Tears stung my eyes. Tonight wasn't supposed to be like this. This wasn't Jason. This wasn't the connection I'd been waiting for.

One of them leaned over me, his breath hot and acidic.

"She's pretty, for something that doesn't have a wolf."

I turned my face away and tried to scream. Only a muffled sound came out.

Then the door suddenly opened again.

A man entered the room. Tall. Wide open. His presence overwhelmed me like a tide. The very air seemed to be sucked in. He roared. The walls shook. Loud and… brutal. Not human. Not quite a wolf either.

The seven men stopped. Some of them even took a step back.

The newcomer's gaze met mine for half a second, then the gazes of the others.

His voice was hoarse and menacing.

"Leave him alone, for fuck's sake."