03

SANDY: 

Rina screamed at the top of her lungs. She was not the only one who was in pain. I was too. But I did not want to stay in a relationship where I was being cheated too. 

Alpha Oswald stared at me with disbelief.  “Sandra. I am an alpha. And you just rejected me?”

Oswald was full of himself. He believed no one was capable of rejecting him because he was an alpha. He believed that I had no courage to do that because I was nothing but one of his people.

“Why not? You cheated on me, remember? Only those people who do not love their mates would do that. And don't you fucking tell me that it was because of not giving you myself as soon as you wanted. That's not how relationships work, you bastard.”

A muscle on his jaw ticked. 

“Bastard? You just moaned loudly earlier. You loved it when I fucked you and now you're calling me a bastard?”

My lips pressed a thin line.

“The world does not revolve around you, Oswald. I want the others to be blinded by what happened between us. If you insist on telling everyone, I will make sure that the Lycan King will know about it.”

I inhaled deeply as I turned my back at him.

This was the right thing. 

Goodbye, Oswald. The three years with you was one of the best things that happened in my life, but this was a goodbye.

-----------

"Sandy, where have you been? We've been trying to reach you, but you won't even answer," Mother said the moment I arrived at the house. "Prepare yourself," she added with a serious tone. Dad and her were looking at me with an expectant look.

They did not even see that I was not fine.

Right.

When did they even notice that something was wrong with me?

 They only used me because the Lycan King wanted me as his wife. Nothing else. 

Without saying anything, she sauntered towards me and her hands landed on my cheeks.

A gasp escaped my mouth. “Mom?”

“You reek of a man,” she spat. “How many times will I tell you to reserve yourself for His Highness?”

My eyes watered.

This was a normal scenario already if His Highness was already involved. Mom would get mad whenever I was with Alpa Oswald. 

“You’re a stubborn daughter, Sandra. Know that your stubbornness will lead to our annihilation someday,” Dad commented with distaste. 

“Annihilation? Who will try to kill his family?” 

Instead of answering me, Mother said,  "We received a letter from the castle. From His Highness."

Her fury was now replaced with happiness while my cheeks were still burning with pain.

No. It was not only my cheeks, but also my heart. 

My heart raced. There was only one person which made them smile like this—the Lycan King.

"What about it, Mom?"

"They wanted your presence tomorrow at the castle. Tomorrow will be the start  of something great. Who knows? Maybe His Highness will now marry you."

I never met the Lycan King or even wished in the past. My mind was already focused that Alpha Oswald was the only one for me. I wished…I  could turn back time. 

‘You did not even ask about the woman,’ Rina reminded. ‘If only we got the name. I will rip off her throat and kill her.’

‘Cheap women like that don't deserve our attention,’ I reminded. Facing Mom, I said, "I don't understand what you mean. I was also clear that I will not marry someone whom I did not like at all."

“You will marry His Highness!” Father’s voice sounded like thunder. “You will marry him if you don’t want us to see you get killed in front of you.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

They might not be the best parents, but I still loved them. 

“Dad! Why are you blackmailing me like this? I am your daughter! How could you send me off to that ruthless man?”

The Lycan King was known as BEAST KING, giving shivers to the people of his kingdom. 

"You don't understand or you refuse to understand?" Dad asked. "His Highness will kill us if you refuse.”

“Why would he kill us? What did you do in the past that he will kill us if you will be stubborn?”

My parents' lips became sealed. 

It was always like that when I asked them.

“Did you sell me off?” I whispered and sank on the couch. “You know what I did not understand? We were slaves and omegas in the past, but then we were living like this. All the omegas in the pack did not live comfortably like us.”

The two stared at each other. 

“You're still stubborn, Sandy. Why do you refuse the arrangement? Do you have a boyfriend? Don't think I did not know the rumors surrounding you and Alpha Oswald." Mom was not ready to tell the truth. 

I met Dad's gaze and answered without even blinking, "Whatever you heard, Dad, there are no truths to that. It was Alpha Oswald we are talking about. We all know he is a womanizer. He would never spare me a glance. I am only a taint on his name.”

The statement seemed to pacify him. “You are right. He is a womanizer. Someone saw him being cozy with a woman who was not even his mate. Men like that are assholes. Marry the Lycan King. He will treat you better than the other assholes you met.”

It felt like a knife was plunged on my chest.

I know there were rumors like that, but I was blinded by my love for him. And because this was a secret relationship, I could not even show I was in pain. I could not show that I was mourning for my failed relationship. Every fucking single day, I had to go on with my life without anyknown knowing what had happened to me.

“I had nothing to do with him. I did not want to associate with him. I am not his type,” I said with a straight face. 

If he loved me, he would not cheat on me with a woman with whom I had the same birthday. Funny how he did not even remember it. Not even great for me. 

“Alright. Let’s stop asking her,” Mom declared. “Let her rest for tomorrow’s event.” Leaning in, she whispered, “We don't want to be late, Sandy. Do not run away or you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

A shiver ran down my spine. 

-----------

I felt like I was going to my death. While I was drowning in pain in silence, we finally reached the castle. It was already broadcasted in the whole castle that we were coming while the rest of our pack did not know where we were heading. 

Alpha Oswald? He never texted me or attempted to call me. 

Maybe he was that happy that I rejected him knowing he could choose any woman that he wanted.

Enough of that bastard. You focus on what is the present. You focus on the Lycan King who would probably become your husband. 

The Lycan King. He was notorious for having lots of women, but none of them was able to marry him. Others said that they all left him because he could not satisfy them in bed, but I doubted it. The reason was too shallow. 

Your mate cheated on you because you did not fuck him for three years, the other part of my mind stated. 

The hallway was empty.

This was not what I had expected. But I was also not surprised about it.

There was nothing extraordinary about our family and I did not know why I was arranged to marry the Lycan King. I mean why me?

“You badly wanted to know the truth?” Mom asked, realizing that I blurted out the question on my mind. “You tell your daughter,” she ordered my dad.

Dad heaved a long sigh. 

“You were already offered to the Lycan King when you were young,” Dad explained, as we continued walking. “We made a grievous mistake in the past. I killed someone. A noble. He was about to abuse your mom. Molested her, but I saved her. I forgot myself and killed him.”

Why did he have to tell it while we were walking?

“When your Dad was about to be hanged as punishment, I pleaded to the Lycan King and asked for his help and forgiveness. Seeing the bulge on my belly, he asked if I was carrying a boy or a girl. 

“I said it was a girl. Then he gave me choices. To save my husband or not. If I want, I should marry you off when you reach the legal age. And not only that, he also showered us with luxury saying he wanted his future wife to live in abundance.”

“You took his conditions,” I mumbled and felt my knees weakening. 

“What choice do I have? If your Dad will die, I will die with him, bringing you with me. I want you to live and…” For the first time, my Mom who was always cold, almost broke down. 

“How old was His Highness, that time?” I inquired. I am now twenty years old. 

“He was twenty years old when your Mom was pregnant with you,” Dad continued as if he did not realize what was wrong with that statement. I was only a baby and the Lycan King announced that he wanted me to be his? A child of two omegas? Why would he choose me? Were we mates or not? It would only be known to us if we were mates if we happened to reach eighteen years old. That was also the time when we first shifted into our wolf form. 

“I was only a fetus.”

“What was wrong with that? He never touched you indecently. He only told us that he wanted you.”

“That include me preserving my virginity and never getting in a relationship?”

“He never said anything about that,” Mom clarified. “The Lycan King only said that when you reached twenty years old, you should be living here in the castle and get married to him.”

They both did not understand the danger that I would meet.

After a long walk, we finally managed to reach the Great Hall and saw a figure waiting for us. He looked dignified and commanded attention. 

The air around us is still being face to face with the Lycan King. His dark eyes bore into mine. 

On both of his sides were two men who looked sharp as ever. His securities?

My mouth gaped open. 

This was the first time I saw the Lycan King. His clothes were simple, but enough to command his attention. My wolf whimpered as she looked up. 

‘Mine.’

My steps faltered. 

He is my second chance mate?