The Lycan King’s War Prize

The crowd hushed with dread at the warrior’s words.“What did you just say?” Alpha Greg demanded.“The pack is under attack, Alpha!” The warrior stammered, “The lycans have come for war!”The words rang out in Esme’s ears but she couldn’t understand it. Lycans? What were they doing here? After the Great Supernatural War that had occurred, a thousand years ago, there’d been a tentative peace between all the supernatural species.So why were they attacking them now? What did they want?“Esme!” Alpha Greg barked, dragging her from her thoughts. “Don’t just stand there like a dummy. Follow Rory and get to the underground tunnels now!”Esme frowned, confused. “But father isn't mother and Isabella coming too?”“Your sister and I are staying back.” Luna Catherine answered impatiently. “But you must go. The tunnels will lead you out of the pack where you’ll be safe.”Esme raised her chin stubbornly. “If you guys are staying here, then I’m staying too. I won’t run away like a coward. I won’t!”

Sizzling hot sparks erupted wherever their flesh came into contact and Esme gazed at the king in sinking horror.No… no… this couldn’t be happening to her. How could this man be her mate? The man that had killed her father in cold blood, destroyed her entire pack in one night….Esme’s hand slid on the king’s chest and for a moment her head was swam with pleasure, her body humming. Her eyes strayed to his lips.Startled at the direction of her thoughts, Esme shifted, while the king pushed her away from him like he had been burned.“What the fuck? This better be a joke!” The king growled. “You are my mate?”Hearing the truth spoken out loud made Esme want to scream. This couldn’t be happening to her.“Of all people, I’m mated to a fucking banshee.” The Lycan cursed.His words made Esme open her eyes in anger. He was so arrogant. “I don’t want to be mated to you either! You might think you’re the best thing to ever happen to any woman, but to me you’re nothing but a wretch. A lousy, crue

CHAPTER SIXEsme buried her face in her hands and wrapped her arms around her body tighter.How had she found herself here? A few days ago she had been preparing herself to see her sister marry her fiancé. How had things gotten so wrong? Now here she was, chained to a monster who wanted to humiliate her in the slowest and most painful way possible.But it didn’t feel like humiliation when you were in his arms now, did it? A slimy voice in her mind taunted.No, Esme buried her head further in her arms hoping to block out the voice but it was persistent. Against her will, she could still feel the ghost of his lips touching hers, claiming her in a way that Michael’s kiss never had.It was pathetic the way her heart had leaped at his touch. How could she feel such a way about the man who had killed her father in cold blood and held her mother and sister hostage?She was a fool.Angrily, she jerked up, putting on her clothes, unmindful of just how far she’d run in her haste to be as far

As Dorian led Esme to the castle, despite her attempts otherwise, she found herself enthralled by its pure majesty. It was all black stone and vines, gleaming in the pale sun. And the inside, if possible, was even more enthralling. With its high ceilings, mile high crystal chandeliers, wide sweeping staircase that spanned several floors, and its sharp oil paintings, it looked like something out of a fairy tale.“It’s really something, huh?” Dorian noted, catching Esme’s wide eyes.Esme tried to pick her jaw up from the floor. “Yeah it is. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before,” she answered honestly. “Does everyone live here? How do you get used to it?”Dorian chuckled, leading her up the staircase. “No, the castle is big but it isn’t that big to contain all of us. We’re a rowdy bunch. We’d all be at each other's throats if we were all cooped up together in the same space.”Esme nodded, even though she didn’t really understand. Werewolves were pack creatures, they like

When did I fall asleep? Esme thought as the last fog of sleep cleared away from her brain.She remembered last night as the Lycan king had left, leaving her all alone in his suite. She had been determined to not share a room with him. So she had sought his room and chose a bedroom as far away from it as possible.She remembered urging herself not to sleep off in case the king came to carry her off. But she must have failed and the lycan king must not have come back yet because she was still in the room she had chosen.But Esme was in for a big shock when she walked in the kitchen because there he stood, in all his shirtless glory, wolfing down a piece of toast like it was his last meal.His eyes slid to hers but he made no mention of her coming out of a different room.“I see you’ve gotten some sleep. Good. Maybe that’ll make you less testy.”Esme wanted to curse at him but she wasn’t in the mood. It was still evening and all she wanted to do was lay down and forget that her life was