Chapter two

Valerie

I felt my heart begin to race. Was he here because of my father? Could this finally be the moment things changed for our family?

My father was the Alpha of our pack, but ours was hardly a powerful pack. We were among the weakest at the bottom of the Alpha and pack hierarchy. For years, Father had tried desperately to gain an audience with the Lycan King, hoping he would be willing to offer us his assistance, but he had never been given the opportunity.

Perhaps today was finally his lucky day. I quickly made my way inside the house, eager to see what was happening, but the moment I stepped through the door, I came to an abrupt stop.

There were several armed men occupying the living room. A man sat in one of the chairs with his back turned toward me, while my parents were kneeling before him.

“There she is.” My father said, pointing toward me.

Before I could ask what was happening, a guard pressed the cold barrel of his gun against my back. I immediately stiffened as he nudged me forward.

I walked toward the seated man until I stood directly in front of him.

“Kneel.” The guard ordered.

I lowered myself onto my knees, my confusion deepening as I looked toward my parents, silently searching their faces for an explanation.

A throat cleared, drawing my attention to the stranger seated before me. He was breathtaking, his features were flawless, his sleek hair perfectly in place, and his broad, powerful frame radiated an intimidating strength. There was something about his presence that immediately told me who he was.

There was no doubt in my mind, this was the Lycan King. His aura alone seemed to consume the entire room, leaving no space for anyone to forget exactly who held the power there.

Then I noticed the man standing beside him, my  eyes widened. It was the man I had almost kissed the previous night. His eyes were filled with unmistakable hatred.

“I see you recognize him.” The king said, his voice deep and commanding. “That certainly makes this much easier.” He paused. “Now, tell me, why did you kill her? What exactly did she do to you?”

I blinked several times, utterly bewildered. If there hadn't been a gun pointed at me, I might have laughed at the absurdity of the accusation. “I'm sorry, but whom are you referring to? Who exactly are you accusing me of killing?” I asked.

A heavy slap struck my face from behind, the impact sent me crashing onto the floor, and the sound of it echoed throughout the room. My vision blurred for several seconds as pain spread across my cheek.

That was the moment I realized this was no misunderstanding, I was in serious trouble.

“Why did you kill my fiancée?” The king demanded, his voice filled with fury.

I stared at him through the tears streaming down my face, still struggling to comprehend what was happening. “I don't know your fiancée. I've never even met the woman.” I said, clutching my ear as tears continued to fall.

“Last night, at the club.” He said slowly. “My Beta was there with her to celebrate her birthday.” He gestured toward the man standing beside him. “She stepped outside to  call me. You deliberately distracted him while you sent your accomplices after her to kill her.” He said.

I gasped in disbelief. “I have absolutely no knowledge of what happened. I didn't send anyone after her. I was with him.” I said, pointing toward his Beta. 

A tablet was suddenly pushed in front of my face from behind. My eyes immediately fell on the screen, it was CCTV footage from outside the club the previous night.

I could see Angel and Olivia arguing with the woman who had been with the king's Beta. The confrontation quickly became physical. Angel grabbed the woman's hair roughly and pushed her away, she stumbled backward and struck her head against the glass of a car. She collapsed onto the ground, her body went completely still.

Angel and Olivia then got into their car and drove away, I  stared at the footage in horror.

I hadn't known any of this had happened, I slowly looked back at the king. “I had no idea this happened. I didn't send them, and I certainly never instructed them to hurt her. I was with him.” I said, pointing toward his Beta.

“Exactly. You sent them to attack her because you wanted his attention, and they ended up killing her in the process.” He said. “Do you have any idea what you have just cost me?” He asked.

I shook my head desperately. “I didn't send them. We were only playing a game when everything happened…” I tried to explain, but he cut me off before I could finish.

“First, you took your minor sister to a club without your parents' permission. Then you manipulated her into killing someone simply because you wanted her man. How despicable can you possibly be?” he said.

I froze, Minor sister? My eyes widened, hold on. Angel was a year older than me, she might have been smaller than me in size, but she was older. 

I slowly turned toward my parents, neither  of them could meet my eyes. Something inside me sank. They were sacrificing me to protect their precious daughter. They were making me take the blame for everything by pretending that I was the older sister.

“I am not older. Angel is the one who is—”

My father immediately interrupted me. “Please, spare my younger daughter, my King. She didn't even want to go out that night, but her sister convinced her to come along. She is an innocent girl who had no idea what her older sister was planning. Please, my King.” Father cried.

I stared at him in disbelief, I looked toward my mother, hoping thar  she would at least speak the truth but she remained silent.

The Lycan King looked at my father with undisguised disdain. “Your younger daughter will not escape punishment. When she comes of age, she will serve her sentence as well.” The Lycan King said.

He turned his attention directly toward me. “You are going to prison.”

I opened my mouth, desperate to defend myself, but I wasn't given the opportunity to say another word. A guard seized me roughly and dragged me out of the house. I stumbled behind him, struggling against his grip, but he was far stronger than I was.

I was thrown into the back of one of their trucks like I was nothing more than a criminal who had already been convicted. There was no trial, no investigation.

That same day, I was taken to the deadliest prison in the territory, a place reserved for the most dangerous criminals. Just yesterday, I had been celebrating my birthday. I had spent the entire day hoping that perhaps this would finally be the year I found my mate. Instead, I woke up the next day accused of murder and ended up behind prison walls for a crime I hadn't committed.

Days Later

I sat curled into the corner of my prison cell, weak from hunger and covered in bruises. I had barely been given enough food to survive. My body ached constantly, and every movement reminded me of the days of harsh treatment I had endured.

The prison door suddenly opened, I lifted my head weakly as a guard entered. He grabbed me and dragged me out of the cell. He shoved me onto the floor, and I landed heavily on my hands.

I slowly lifted my head, then I saw him the  Lycan King's Beta was standing directly in front of me.

“Hey, murderer.” He said, shaking his head. “I still can't believe the Moon Goddess could be so cruel as to make someone like you my mate.”

My eyes widened. Mate? Everything suddenly clicked, the  strange connection between us. The reason his reaction had seemed so personal.

I had found my mate that night, I just hadn't known it because I didn't have a wolf. My heart pounded painfully as I stared at him.

“I am here to reject you, and I don't want anyone to ever find out that we were mates.” He said.