"Mate." His voice booms against my heart that batters against my chest.
On the night of the full moon, the Lycan king presses me under him as his calloused hands greedily explore my body. My eyes shut in fear, I know I will lose my virginity to him tonight.
——
Elena’s POV
“Well, well, ladies! I believe you know what happens next!”
My heart stops.
The werewolf in the center raises his jeweled pointer finger and smiles luridly. “Ladies! Stand in a row!”
Not even one beat is missed, all the women in the hall rush in a line. I grab onto Sally to prevent our separation. When the lining up ends, Sally stands beside me and we follow the line.
A half hour ago, my friend Sally convinced me to wear the white slip dress she bought me for the party.
Now, Sally pulls me into an opulent massive ballroom, with golden walls and overflowing with beautiful women all covered in jewels. It is not cold; however, they are wearing these furs to look more appealing to the werewolves.
“There are werewolves here! Why are we here?!” I whisper.
“Honey,” Sally sighs dramatically, “the owner of this house is Gamma Kevin, he oversees the humans in this pack, right? So, the pack of werewolves are searching for a mate for their king. A human girl in the pack over the age of 18 is up for grabs! Once the lucky one is chosen, she can be the pack’s luna! Ta-da! Happy birthday!”
I swallow dryly. “Sally, I have a bad feeling…”
Why would a werewolf want a human Luna? Why?
To have outcast children? A weak bloodline?
We are all humans that live in a werewolf pack. This world and pack are ruled by werewolves. Due to the obvious and powerful gap of power, we humans are nothing more than tools for werewolves.
The elusive king is the epicenter of power and prestige of these werewolves. The werewolves are scattered about the world, but they all bow to this one king. The pack that rules over me is in the westernmost area.
I live in an area covered by forest. This is no fairytale, however. The werewolves, a few years ago were known to drag humans out and kill whoever they like. The howls at night were not a collective call for them to get together, but a mocking of their victims’ last drawn breaths.
This area is overflowing with wolves who have committed revolting crimes and were banished to this barren wasteland by their own kin, to be free to kill to their bloodied heart’s content.
At that time of exile, werewolves were the reigning nightmares of all.
A few years ago, an elusive powerful werewolf appeared to rule all this wasteland. He established the Dethroned pack, and reigns as the second Alpha king among the werewolves.
King Harvey, rumored for his violence and malice.
No one human has ever met King Harvey.
Under his prestigious rule, King Harvey has stopped the violence against humans, calming the werewolves from exerting their power to the degree of killing when they desired. However, there’s little peace for humans. We remain the lowly creatures of the pack.
I hear Sally whispering. “I wish I had been chosen; I know the King of the Werewolves is mega rich.”
I know Sally is always eager to make money, because the poor human group is the lowest level.
Sally is an orphan, and I lost my mom at 16. My father is an alcoholic that gambles away our money. I had to drop out of school to work and earn money for my sister’s tuition.
Human beings pay an insane price to go to a werewolf school. I do my best, but my sister’s tuition is a massive black hole, suffocating me.
“No, Sally. It is impossible for werewolves to choose a human as their luna, we need to flee!”
I don’t trust these werewolves; they look down on humans. Imagine that brutal Alpha King.
This is a trick!
"Who cares! Money is money!" Sally didn't take my words seriously.
In desperation, I stare at the table in front of us, I pocket a knife to protect us.
“Only the most beautiful women are eligible to make the great and desired King Harvey!” Gamma Kevin calls out to us as he walks down the line of us. Not even a glance is spared at me.
Behind him, are several werewolves, all wearing pelts of grey fur around their necks, called Reviewers selected by Gamma Kevin. I know that because Gamma Kevin wears the same pelt of grey fur. There are always color associations with the werewolves, they color code themselves.
It would be a great honor to wear dusty red fur, that is King Harvey’s color, so I have heard.
The Reviewers walk leisurely behind Gamma Kevin, heads held high, gazing up and down our bodies as if we cuts of meat. Low comments are uttered under their breath, and they laugh when they feel like.
“This blonde has a big butt!” A short werewolf with a shaved head loudly growls.
“What would it feel like to touch it?” The guy besides the short werewolf has long black hair, and snarls just as meanly as his friend.
“Something is wrong here,” I whisper to Sally as I try to take her hand and drag us away. Sally doesn’t move, she’s reluctant.
We are in the front row but one step back and we can sneak off.
One step…
Two steps...
The werewolves didn’t notice, but…
“Stop.” The leader of the werewolves’ commands with an open palm.
My heart races till I feel ill.
“We,” I draw in a shaggy breath. “We gave up running… can you let us go, please?” I try to be polite and convincing.
“Giving up?” The smile on his face is nothing but fake fangs, most likely shaved down to fit in with the werewolves. He likes his lips, wetly them heavily. “You have already been chosen, dear.”
How, why? I done nothing!
My chest closes in on my heart as I force breath through my closed mouth. My heart slams against my ribcage as if trying to escape. A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead.
“I-I think this might be a misunderstanding…” I whisper between my clattering teeth.
“Misunderstanding?” The blind wolf laughs heartily. “If you want to be the king’s mate, you must serve us well.”
When I gasp, he smiles.
“After all,” he whispers hotly. “If your sex skills are not good enough, what will you do when King Harvey blames you?”
Unable to breathe, I take a step back and swallow dryly. Is that why they want us?
To be sex slaves?
Gamma Kevin shoves a crooked sausage finger in my face. “Be nice! So, I consider being gentle with you.”
As my heart races, he reaches behind me and tries to get to Sally. Brandishing my knife and courage, I jam it into the right side of his face, down to the cheekbone and twist.
Pulling the knife out, I blindly grab for Sally from behind me with my free left hand.
“Run!” I yell as the two of us break off and rush to the front door.
The last thing I hear is the leader wolf whimpering and cursing. He punctuates his pain with a bellowing, “Damn you, bitch!! I am going to kill you!’
Hot breath at my back freezes me, a malicious wave of heat slams into my back and I have no time to twist my neck to see. Furry werewolf claws grab me from behind and throw me to the ground.
A burst of blood in my mouth awakens cold unending fear. Exhaling wisps of my blood, I stay down my body heavy.
My hot blood mixes with the wine cabinet I have been thrown into, and glass and blood scatter across the floor.
The women scream and scatter in panic.
A sudden sharp pain claws up my back, as the wolf’s claws rip through my flesh and blood fills the white dress, I am in.
“Go, just go!” I yell at Sally.
The copper taste of my blood awakes a desire to stay alive, and the tears rolling down Sally’s face as she tuns away make it worse. Clawing my way through my blood and wine, I do my best to stay.
“Gamma Kevin, is that what you should have done...? After all, King Harvey doesn’t allow…” A wolf to the right of him asks quietly.
Gritting my teeth, I spit out blood as I manage to stand on unstable legs.
Fear flows through all the werewolves’ eyes at mention of King Harvey. By his slight trembling, I can tell the fear that overtakes him over the mention of King Harvey.
“Shut up!” The werewolf yells in a rage. “Seal all the doors! No one is allowed out!”
The women all begin to panic further, running for their lives to the front door. The werewolves jump over the women and stand at the front door, all growling lowly.
As I gasp to breathe and pain flames up my back, all the women dissolve into soft sobbing and whimpering.
Cold claws suddenly rip at my dress and for a moment I black out. Pure fear overtaking me.
“You bitch,” a snarl awakens me harshly. “I’m going to kill you!”
It is a leader wolf threatening me in my ear, and when his sharp fangs close around my neck, I shut my eyes.
Silent tears drip down my face as I continue to taste my blood.
The door swings open violently as a whiskey baritone asks with defined authority:
“What are you doing?”
The wolves scatter like scared kittens.
“King Harvey! Why are you here?!”
King?!Managing to raise my exhausted eyelids, I blink once. My vision fails and blurs all at once.Awake! Awake, stay awake, stay awake.Shaking my head, I manage to blink and keep my eyes open.Gamma Kevin throws me to the ground harshly. He scrambles to his knees in front of me, trembling in pure horror in a puddle of my innocent blood.“King Harvey.” Gamma Kevin’s voice shakes with his body. “I know I am in the wrong, please forgive me!”In his bone-chilling fear, Gamma Kevin has reverted to his human form. He pants in fear. All that bravado is long gone.A massive figure stands in front of him. I only see the endless muscular expanse of his back. The telltale sign of his dusty red cloak adorned with black fur makes me freeze. He wears a silk black suit underneath to match.Slowly, the figure bends down and with practiced elegance grabs Gamma Kevin by the front of his shirt. He had picked up Gamma Kevin as if he weighed nothing.“I have not authorized any acts of violence.” The fi
Elena’s POVUnable to sleep more than 40 minutes I awake to my pounding heart.King Harvey will take my virginity in three days. I have never even had a boyfriend!According to every rumor I have heard, King Harvey is ruthless and cold. How could I feel comfortable to just let him… give him my virginity?Exhaling heavily, I try to calm my thundering heart and empty stomach. Lying down, I force myself to breathe through my mouth and try to remember breathing exercises.Nothing comes to mind.I can just picture my sister crying over the phone to my dad, wondering where I am.Between the threat of my virginity being taken from me and worrying over my sister, I know I must escape. When I try to get up out of bed, it feels as if my skin peels off my back.“Damn it.” I whisper to myself and grimace at the disgusting feeling.Literally sewn back together like a doll.I place my hand on my back carefully and feel a patch of bandages. Warm, harsh, yet dry. That is a slight relief.One final br
King Harvey carries me back to the castle. He says nothing and I know his stone face is proof that I insulted him by running away.The moonlight softly highlights his sharp high cheekbones and stone jaw. A soft smattering of stubble dances across his face. His brown eyes glow a soft gold.His brown hair is well combed and clean, short, and contained.The rumors of his ugly appearance must have had to do with his cold heart.King Harvey is rather handsome and if he wasn’t a werewolf, maybe… I’d like to have a relationship with him.The truth stands, he could kill me in a glance with the hand he is using to hold his wine glass.All of this is because of the mess Gamma Kevin put me in yesterday.I have been reduced to nothing but a living, breathing tool to relieve his heat.I didn’t expect my escape to be thwarted by King Harvey himself. Nor did I expect him to take me so lightly into his private chambers.The white walls are pristine, but the immense queen-sized bed covered by red velv
“Your wounds will not heal quickly, human.” King Harvey frowns as he stops ripping my dress. He takes ointment and helps me apply it to my wounds. “Your wound is already glued to your clothes. You must remove it, or it will be inflamed.”“Thank you.” I whisper.My heart skips a beat and kills all the pain I feel.King Harvey remains silent, but I can feel his dissatisfaction. His voice leaks it.I know why he is unhappy. My stomach turns.I will not be able to have sex with him in three days to relieve him of his agony. Will I be killed by the others for my lack of use?If I die, my sister will be left alone, and no one will take care of her. Dad would sell her in a heartbeat for a shiny case of whiskey.“King Harvey,” I breathe through my pain uneasily. “I will be fine to help you, I will do anything, please let me go, please. I must take care of my sister…”Turning to face King Harvey, I allow tears of pain to roll down my face. Not the physical discomfort I feel but of a broken hea
Elena’s POVI awake to the morning sun, gently caressing my face.What day is it? And where am I?A look around the room shows me I am in the same room I had passed out in. Feeling my forehead, I feel no fever. My body no longer aches.I slept all day.Counting on my fingers, I conclude that tomorrow night is the night of the full moon. Time is short again and my heart begins to beat irregularly.Am I ready to be mated with? In two days, there is no way I can escape.“Human. There is a visitor for you.” Another maid appears to the right of me, and even though her tone is cold, it is not malicious like the last two maids.She is new to me with soft brown hair and a very gentle voice.Did King Harvey speak to her? Did he threaten everyone here?“She is just some lowly human… nothing…” She mutters as she walks out of the room.I sigh, placing my face in my hands.I shake it off with one deep breath, deciding to focus on the fact that if I wasn’t needed, as the only human here, King Harve
Elena’s POVKing Harvey nods at my words but says nothing.My heart freezes. Unable to breathe, I shut my eyes. To say I am surprised is an understatement, my knees are weak and almost buckle.King Harvey takes a long look at me then silently opens the door to my room, ushers me in and closes it. Throwing myself on my bed, I find myself unable to cry. I bury my face in my pillows and have no courage to scream.King Harvey is aloof. Why would he care what a weak human pleads of him.I close my eyes against the fear surging through my body. I am going to be sick if I keep replaying my morning over in my head. I take a sip of the lukewarm water left for me at my bedside.My stomach lurches at the water slipping down my throat and I rush off to the bathroom to puke.What a beautiful mate I will make…King Harvey’s POVWalking into my red study, I pull out my cellphone. The cellphone weighs nothing in my hand and for a moment I stare at it. What an odd piece of technology. I know I don’t n
Elena’s POV At least, at least I can beg him to keep my sister safe. No matter what happens to me here. I nod to myself; my mind is made up. I am taken to King Harvey’s room by the pale maid. She has only given me a crème thin nightgown and lace underwear. I can’t help but blush, the feeling of the underwear against my skin is odd. I am not completely covered, but it feels sensual. I stand by his massive red bed and wait, unsure of what to think or how to feel. I draw in one slow cold breath to calm myself but still shiver in fear. Time passes slowly, as if by dripping water droplets. Finally, the door opens and King Harvey walks in mutely. I close my eyes against his presence, fear climbing up into my throat and sealing it shut. “Open your eyes and look at me.” King Harvey commands me as he picks me up as if I am his bride. The heat from his body brings me slight comfort. Yet, his hot breath in my ear makes my heartbeat faster. He gingerly places me on the bed and I inch
Elena’s POV Clear as my fear, I still feel King Harvey as he finishes. He exhales heavily, dropping his face into my neck. Freezing entirely in his grasp, he brushes his nose with my bare shoulder, then presses his face there. I shiver, and still feel the need to be with him and satisfy him. My fear kills that. Along with his long fangs that just barely kiss my bare shoulder. The slightest feeling of being bitten burns on my left shoulder but I stay quiet. The soft sting of breaking skin and blood follows, but I ignore it. I don’t want to think about what has happened. Slowly, he detaches himself from me and walks off to the bathroom. Exhaustion blankets me. The stress of worrying about this for three days, my life, my sister’s life, my dad, and my wound. We didn’t have sex because of my back, but once it heals, I am all his. The thought both thrills and paralyzes me with terror. When King Harvey returns, he wears dark shorts and a black tank top. He gingerly rolls me on my st