3.

Evelyn

I woke up feeling like I was trapped in a nightmare. I hoped that when the sun rose, everything would go back to normal. But reality hit hard as I found myself drenched in sweat from the terrible situation Lucian had put me in. I couldn't sleep a wink, my mind racing with thoughts of his true nature. He was nothing but a horny womanizer who saw me as a tool for his pleasure. I was convinced that his motives for offering to end the war were solely driven by his selfish desires.

"Get ready. We'll be having a coronation today. And don't you dare come late. I'm giving you an hour to pull your shits together"

I didn't utter a word in response. What could I say? I felt utterly helpless and broken. He had taken away all the strength I once had, leaving me shattered. He had not only stolen my soul but also taken my virginity, leaving me feeling violated and betrayed.

I couldn't even keep track of how long I sat there on the bed, completely disregarding the time limit Lucian had given me. My body felt so weak, as if all the energy had been drained out of me. A soft knock on the door startled me, causing my body to tremble. It was one of the maids who had accompanied me to this place, and the shock in her eyes mirrored my own inner turmoil.

She hurriedly made her way toward the bed, concern etched on her face. "Lady Evelyn... what... what happened?" Her voice cracked with worry. In that moment, the floodgates of tears burst open, and I couldn't hold back the emotional pain any longer. The disheveled state of the room spoke volumes about what had taken place.

"Let me clean this up. You should go freshen up too," she suggested gently, gathering the scattered covers from the floor and delicately draping them over my body. With her support, I managed to stand up, though my legs felt unsteady and weak beneath me.

She looked at me with sympathy in her eyes before closing the door, giving me the privacy I needed. I turned on the water, allowing it to cascade over my body, hoping it could wash away the remnants of the nightmare that had consumed me.

If there was any possible way for me to shed my own skin, I would do it in a heartbeat. The mere thought of what Lucian had done to me last night made me feel sick to my stomach. My pleas and begging fell on deaf ears, completely ignored. I regretted ever agreeing to be a pawn in this twisted game for the sake of my pack's peace. I had put my life at risk, and now I had to bear the consequences.

I stood motionless in the middle of the shower, the water cascading over my body, but I felt numb, detached from it all. My mind was consumed by the horror of the night before.

Suddenly, a knock on the door jolted me back to reality, and Rebecca's voice filtered through the door. "Lady Evelyn, I've prepared your outfit. The coronation is about to begin," she called out in her soft tone.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure, and reluctantly stepped out of the shower. The events of the previous night still haunted me, but I knew I couldn't hide forever. I had to face the world, even if it felt like my spirit had been shattered into a million pieces.

I stood in front of the vanity mirror, my gaze fixed on the reflection staring back at me. Rebecca had left, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. The image I saw in the mirror was that of a different Evelyn, a shattered version of who I used to be. I knew deep down that my life would never be the same again. My wolf, Nira, remained silent, as if she had abandoned me to face this battle alone. A lone tear escaped my eye, tracing a path down my cheek.

Turning away from the mirror, I glanced at the bed where the unfamiliar outfit lay. I had no clue where it came from, but its presence served as a harsh reminder of the reality that awaited me in the Mooncrest pack.

Before I could gather my thoughts, the door was flung open, and an angry Lucian stormed into the room. Instantly, my body trembled in fear, sensing the intense anger radiating from him. "What the hell!"

It all happened in a blur, and before I could react, a sharp pain exploded across my cheeks. My head spun from the impact, and my vision blurred momentarily. With a merciless grip on my hair, he yanked me forward, causing me to wince in pain. His face contorted with anger as he spoke through gritted teeth, his grip tightening around my neck.

"What do you think you're doing? I gave you an hour to get ready, yet you're still here, sitting like a little whore!" His words spat out venomously, fueling the fear within me.

"You're... hurting me," I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. The pressure on my neck intensified, making it difficult to breathe.

"You are yet to feel more pain. I will make sure to torture your pretty pussy until you can't even think of defying me. Get dressed!" His words pierced through the air as he forcefully yanked away my towel, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.

I had hoped he would leave, granting me a shred of privacy, but he stood there, his eyes fixed on me with a chilling gaze as I hurriedly dressed. Tears streamed down my face, my emotions overwhelming me. "Why are you doing this?" I mustered the courage to ask, my voice muffled by my sobs.

A smug smile crept across his lips, sending shivers down my spine. "You don't know? You're here to satisfy me. To dance and entertain me with that little ass of yours. And above all, to bear me an heir." It took a moment for his words to sink in, and when they did, a sense of dread washed over me.

To bear him an heir? Was that the true purpose of my presence here?

"Was that the reason why you coerced my mother into your vile schemes?" I couldn't help but question, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation.

"What did you expect?" he retorted coldly. "Did you think I would bring you here and make you my wife? No. You're here solely to bear me an heir, nothing more. You have five minutes to make your presence known at the pack hall, or you'll regret it." His touch grazed my face, leaving a lingering feeling of disgust. I didn't need any further explanation to understand what he meant by that threat.

As soon as the door closed behind him, I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The room suddenly felt suffocating, and I longed for an escape. There's no way I'm going to be used as a pawn in his dirty affairs. No I can't be the woman that will bear his child. Never. Not to the wicked horny womanizer. I have to do something even if that entails putting my life in danger.

Run

My wolf voice surfaces for the first time in how many days. Giving me a sense of hope.

Yes Evelyn. Run for your life. Save yourself from the clutches of the devil Lycan king. I scanned the room for any sign of surveillance camera. Lucian can do more. The hallway was quite as I pushed open the door. My heart was beating inside my chest as I walked down the path even though I have no idea where I was going. But the determination in me is to run away from here as fast as I can.

As I continued down the path, the silence around me fueled my desire to escape. I knew Lucian would be waiting for me, expecting me to succumb to his control, but I was determined to defy him. It would be over my dead body that he would have his way.

The distant sound of a drumbeat caught my attention, signaling the ongoing coronation. I hurriedly wrapped my scarf around my head, hoping to blend in with the crowd. As I caught glimpses of people walking by, I assessed my surroundings, searching for a potential escape route. The main entrance would likely be heavily guarded, so I needed to find another way out.

My heart raced in my chest as I scanned the area for any possible openings. I spotted a narrow alleyway tucked between two buildings, seemingly unnoticed by the bustling crowd. It was a risk, but I had no other choice. Taking a deep breath, I slipped into the concealed alley, my footsteps quickening as I distanced myself from the pack hall and the clutches of Lucian.

As I sprinted away from the alley, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I pushed myself to run as fast as my legs could carry me, not daring to look back. My only goal was to put as much distance as possible between me and Lucian. It didn't matter that I didn't have a destination in mind or a plan for what would come next. All that mattered was that I had saved myself from his clutches.

However, little did I know that my escape from Lucian was only the beginning of a new and treacherous chapter in my life. Unbeknownst to me, I was about to step into a storm far bigger and more dangerous than being in the possession of a power-hungry Lycan king.