~3~ BREWING MADNESS

BELLA

“If he’s not here for Betsy, who’s he here for then?” Steven demands through gritted teeth.

My heart starts pounding so hard, it feels like I’m about to slip into cardiac arrest.

“He keeps saying the other one,” the messenger blurts out, and Steven growls in fury.

“What other one? He’s not talking about Bella, is he?”

Fear sinks deep into me. Everyone knows the Lycan King. His infamous reputation speaks for him. And from what I’ve heard, he’s a mad man. There are rumours that he’s cursed. Every single bride he’s had has died within a week of arriving at the palace.

Some say his bloodlust makes him eat his wives. Others say he gets possessed and murders them in cold blood. Either way, marrying him is a death sentence.

And if my poor sister is supposed to marry a monster like that…

No.

That can’t happen.

“I’m sure he doesn’t mean Bella. Let’s go. I’ll speak to him,” Steven says.

"B-but he has killed three people already.”

Blood drains from my face. K-killed?!

“What?” Steven gasps.

“Two guards and an elder who tried to convince him that he’s mistaken.”

Steven is barely breathing now. I can hear him pacing.

“Shit,” he curses.

My head is spinning, my body suddenly too cold. I can’t marry the Lycan King.

I’ve never even met him before. So why would he want someone like me?

The sound of a monstrous growl rumbles through the walls, and cold sweat slides down my temples, the hairs on my body rising stiffly.

Oh goddess.

“Grab her,” Steven commands, and a pair of sweaty hands haul me up to my feet.

I stumble, feeling sick to my stomach.

“Make sure she’s cleaned up. Ask the omegas to hurry.”

Oh no.

I’m dragged out of the cell in no time, the cold night air making me shiver.

Am I really doomed to die? If not at Steven’s hands, then in the hands of the Lycan King?

I won’t accept it.

‘We have to run,’ Skye urges.

Before I can change my mind, I drive my elbow into the messenger’s rib, slam my foot against his and take off running.

Heaven help me. I don’t even know where I’m going.

I just know I have to run. I have to survive.

The shift happens unconsciously. Skye takes over.

We race into the night, Steven chasing after us. But my wolf is still weak. We don’t make it far before we’re tackled to the ground by Steven’s large wolf form.

He knocks his massive paw against our ribs, and we howl in pain.

‘Try anything stupid again and your entire family will pay for it,’ he forces his words into my head.

I whimper, trembling.

He means it. This vile monster would punish my family in my place if I decided to run.

I can’t let that happen. So I cave in.

My life is truly over, isn’t it?

…

The door to my room opens suddenly, startling the omegas attending to me. It’s Betsy. I can feel her familiar gentle presence and her soothing scent.

“Bella,” she sobs. “I’m so sorry.”

She throws herself into my lap, and I smile, placing a hand on her face. She holds my hand, exhaling shakily.

“I don’t know where it went wrong. I’m certain the love potion worked. But he keeps saying I’m not his bride,” she whispers.

I frown.

“Love potion?”

She sighs. “Father made me do it. For some reason, he’s desperate to get me married to his royal highness. We had lunch together and I slipped the potion in. It worked. He stared at me like I was his whole world. I don’t understand—”

“Don’t you know how dangerous it is, Betsy? He’s a monster!” I cry and she starts crying again.

“I’m so sorry for dragging you into this, Bella. It’s all my fault. Forgive me,” she says to me.

I shake my head and pull her into a big hug.

“I know you had no choice. You still have a bright future ahead of you. Better me than you. I’m dying either way.”

Betsy clutches at me tighter. “Can’t we just run away?”

“I already tried that,” I mumble, and she holds me even tighter.

“I can’t… I can’t live without you, Bella. Mum can’t do it either. I don’t like this,” she cries.

“Don’t cry—” I start to say.

But then, I hear the thunderous growl again. My throat goes dry.

Heavy boots pound on the floor, the door flying open again. It’s Steven again.

Guess he’s here to say goodbye like the shameless bastard he is.

“Everyone out,” he orders.

The omegas scramble out immediately. Betsy doesn’t leave right away. I feel her squeeze my hands gently for a moment. Then she pulls away.

The emptiness she leaves behind is haunting.

“Don’t think you’ve escaped death,” Steven says, and I scoff.

“Why? Does it make you sad that you might miss my funeral, you sadist?” I ask wearily.

He’s in front of me in an instant, grabbing me by the throat.

“You’ve grown wings, I see. Talking back at me has become second nature to you, hasn’t it?” He demands, and I flash him a smile.

“What else can a blind, powerless omega do to you, Alpha Steven?” I ask.

I hear the grind of his teeth as he tightens his grip. He’s definitely going to leave a bruise.

Steven leans in to whisper in my ear. “Remember this, Bella Mayweather, you are simply disposable. You are weak and pathetic, that’s why this is happening to you. No man would want someone as worthless as you are.”

I burst into laughter, tears stinging my eyes. My body hurts, but I ignore it, throwing my head back.

“Look at you go. Poor Alpha Steven trying to validate his pathetic actions. Karma will get you real good, real soon,” I beam.

He backhands me, and I see stars for a moment.

Just then, I hear the frantic knocking on the door, which makes him pause.

Steven grabs me by the arm and drags me out with him. My stomach is tight with nerves, but I’m fully resigned now.

He doesn’t give me time to catch up with his longer strides, inconsiderate of the fact that I can’t see.

The noises outside are growing louder. I can hear my father’s voice. He’s pleading with someone.

Suddenly, my bare feet touch gravel, and a wave of cold breeze floods my senses with the scent of caramel vanilla. It smells like dessert.

There’s a sudden heavy silence. My pulse is drumming wildly at this point. I clutch the fabric of my dress with a trembling hand, my lungs struggling to expand.

Eyes.

I can feel them on me. And I’m not talking of several pairs. Just one pair.

The stare takes my breath away, sliding over my body so sensually it feels like I’m being stripped naked. Except… it’s not physical.

I can feel my skin flushing, my nipples tightening.

“Kneel before your king!” Someone cries.

Panic-stricken, I attempt to go down on my knees.

That’s when I hear it. A menacing, seductive purr. Majestic in its intensity. It has me shivering instantly.

“Don’t.”

Only one word, but it makes my knees go weak.

Steady footsteps walk up to me, graceful in its frequency. My whole body begins to shake harder as the mouthwatering smell of dessert grows incredibly stronger.

“Your majesty." Steven drops to his knees, leaving me standing.

My body wants to submit before my mind can understand why.

“My bride,” he literally hums, that voice twisting something inside me.

Skye is stirring inside of me, perking up.

“Betsy,” he says, and I stiffen.

Betsy? He thinks I’m—

“Y-your highness, I am not Betsy—”

I hope he doesn’t kill me for this.

“You’re not?” He croons.

Heat rushes through my veins. I feel like I’m on fire.

“Y-yes, your highness. I’m Bella.”

“You don’t like your name, Betsy? Fine, Bella it is. Anything for my queen.”

Oh goddess. He’s not listening to me—

A warm, large hand cups the side of my face, and I nearly moan. What is wrong with me?

I part my lips to tell him he might be mistaken about me. But I don’t get the words out…

A pair of soft lips crash onto mine, and my eyes bulge in their sockets.