~4~ WORSE PRISON

BELLA

A startled sound slips out of me, swallowed instantly by the warmth of his lips. My mind goes blank. His kiss is not rough like I expected.

It's slow. Almost like he's memorizing me.

My fingers curl into the fabric of my dress as heat settles low in my belly, my lady parts stirring. His tongue does wicked things to me, arousing me in ways I didn’t think was possible.

My heart slams wildly against my ribs, my wolf stirring in restless confusion.

Skye whimpers. ‘Mate...'

My head spins as realization kicks in. It explains why I feel inexplicably attracted to this man whom I cannot even see.

No.

This can't be right.

His thumb brushes gently along my cheek, tilting my face upward. His lips linger a little longer before he finally pulls away, but he doesn't go far. I can still feel his breath fanning across my mouth.

"My queen," he rasps, his voice laced with pleasure.

My knees tremble.

"I... Your Highness..." My voice shakes embarrassingly. "You may be mistaken—"

A soft chuckle vibrates from his chest.

"You tremble," he says, almost thoughtfully.

His fingers slide down my jaw, tracing the curve of my neck. My breath catches as his thumb brushes lightly against the rapid pulse at my throat.

"And yet... you didn't pull away."

Heat floods my cheeks. I open my mouth to protest, but no words come out. Because he's right. I didn't pull away. Not even once.

He exhales softly. "I missed you."

My heart skips a beat. Missed... me?

My lips part, confusion swirling in my chest.

"Y-your majesty... I think you—"

His fingers slide into my hair gently.

"You still smell so good, butterfly," he comments, sending my pulse racing.

"I... we've never met before," I whisper, my voice barely steady.

"You wound me, little one. We had lunch together, don't you remember? There's no way you forgot that."

Oh gods...he must be talking about Betsy. Is he blind?

Why can't he tell the difference between the both of us? We're both clearly different.

His thumb brushes slowly across my lower lip.

"We stay apart for a while... and you forget me already. That is deeply offensive. But I'll let it slide because it's you."

My breathing becomes uneven.

This doesn't make sense. Oh dear, he really is hopeless, isn't he?

"My king," my father speaks nervously, "there must be some misunderstanding. This is Bella. She is blind, and—"

A low growl vibrates through the king's chest. The air instantly turns suffocating.

"Choose your next words carefully," he says.

My father goes silent immediately. The king's hand slides down, settling around my waist and pulling me closer against him.

"You've grown a little thinner," he murmurs softly, his thumb brushing gently along my waist. "Have they not been feeding you properly?"

My throat tightens.

Why does he sound... angry? For me?

And for goodness sake, I am not thin! This is mortifying!

"My king..." Steven's voice cuts in stiffly.

The warmth around me turns cold. The king speaks again, his tone calm.

"Alpha Steven."

Steven swallows audibly.

"Yes... your majesty."

"You struck her."

How did he know?!

My breath catches in my throat, my heart going out of control.

Steven quickly responds, "She attempted to escape. I was disciplining—"

"Chop off his arms."

The words fall out casually, as if he just asked for wine.

Gasps erupt around us. I feel sick to my stomach. Steven deserves it. But how can he just blurt out words like that? This is madness!

Steven chokes. "Y-your majesty—"

"Both of them," the king adds softly.

Panic spreads instantly.

"My king, please! I didn't know—"

"You touched what belongs to me."

His voice remains calm. Gentle even. But beneath it lies something terrifying. A cold fury.

"Please!" Steven falls to his knees, scrambling forward. "I beg you! Mercy—"

The king hums softly, as though he’s considering Steven's pleas. Then he speaks again.

"No."

Heavy footsteps move, and I hear Steven struggling and shouting desperately. The sound of heavy steel slicing through bone and flesh fills the air, and a horrifying scream tears through the courtyard.

I flinch, clutching onto the king instinctively.

He tightens his hold on me immediately, his hand sliding up my back soothingly.

"There now," he murmurs near my ear, his voice soft again. "You always did hate loud noises."

My breath trembles.

Why would he know that?

He sounds...so gentle. Like he's comforting an old lover. Steven's screams echo in the distance before fading into groans.

The king's thumb strokes slowly along my arm.

"My queen," he murmurs softly, his lips brushing near my temple, "did you truly think I wouldn't come back for you?"

My heart pounds wildly.

Come back?

Back from where?

Who... is this man?

And why does it feel like... my wolf already knows him?

Skye shifts inside me.

'He's... ours...'

My knees weaken completely.

Oh goddess. It must be the love potion! He’s been charmed. What do I do?

….

“I have to say goodbye. My mother…she’s sick. I have to see her,” I tell his majesty a while later.

We’re in his car. At least, that’s what it seemed like when he had me seated in it. His fingers are wrapped tight around mine.

I’m trying not to freak out.

“You can go see her another day. I fear you will try to run and leave me again,” he says, pulling me close.

He’s so warm, plus his scent makes me want to snack on him. I’m appalled by the fact that the silly thought even crosses my mind.

This is the feared Lycan King!

What if he’s only lying to me? What if this is a facade and he just wants to eat me like he did with his brides?

He suddenly leans in, his lips brushing my ear.

“You’re right about my desire to eat you. But it isn’t in the way you think of. It’s more like a hunger to keep revisiting my favourite food,” he whispers in that devilish deep voice.

My toes curl, my face burning hot.

What is wrong with him? Saying inappropriate things like that—

Wait… He read my mind just now, didn’t he?!

He bursts into laughter right then, the rich sound making me shrink.

“My dear, it appears that you do not like my filter either. Fine. I will be direct with you,” he says, cupping my face.

I badly want to see his face. Damnit.

“I want you, butterfly. I want you in the filthiest, most unrestrained ways possible. You ran from me once. But this time I won’t let you go,” he rasps, brushing my hair away from my face.

A shiver runs down my spine.

He presses a kiss to my forehead, humming softly.

“I’ll brand you inside out. You will learn to crave me and be craved. From this moment on, there is no escape for you.”

I swallow hard, trembling from the intensity of his words.

Oh god, I was right, wasn’t I? This is a worse prison.