When My Mate Chose Another, the Lycan King Chose Me

Natasha's POVMy throat felt extremely dry and it was hurting.My head was pounding. My eyes stung. Everything smelled clean—too clean. Like fresh laundry mixed with coffee.I sat up slowly.This wasn’t my bed.The sheets were soft—too soft to be a maid's. And the air, cooler. Not the natural coolness but most definitely from an air conditioner.I opened my eyes slowly, hoping to exit my expensive dream. But instead, my eyes opened to an unfamiliar scene.Where the fuck am I?I blinked severally, clearly disoriented.I'd lived in the maids quarters for over a decade, and even if I was high on something strong, I could clearly indicate that this wasn't the maids quarters.Rather, it looked like somewhere prepared for a royalty.My heart raced with questions popping in and out.I scanned my environment to get a better picture of what was going on. And then I saw him.A man.An Unknown man, sitting by the window, sipping coffee.On him was a white shirt, with the first three buttons undo

Natasha's POVThroughout the rest of the ceremony, he sat quietly by the side of the stage, where the other dignitaries were seated. But his eyes—his eyes never left me. Heavy, intense, like they were stitched to my skin. Every time I looked up, they were on me— Unblinking.I forgot how to do everything.I missed three names being called before I realized they were already ahead in the program. Lani nudged me, whispered something, but her voice sounded far away. I couldn't focus. My palms were sweaty, knees a bit wobbly. I smiled when I needed to. Walked when I had to. But it was all muscle memory, not me.Even when I sat down, the weight of his stare followed. It crawled down my back, wrapped around my arms, settled in my stomach like a knot. I tried to look away. Pretend he wasn’t there. Pretend the Lycan King— wasn’t in the same room as me. But that was a lie, and I knew it.I was supposed to feel proud today. I had five plaques now. I was the talk of many families and the pride of

Natasha’s POVThe walls were thick, made of something colder than stone. The kind of cold that seeps into your bones and lingers. There were no windows in the cell, just one weak lantern on the far end of the corridor casting shadows that didn’t move. I sat on the floor with my knees pulled to my chest, dress torn at the hem, arms wrapped around myself like that would hold me together. My mother sat across from me, back against the opposite wall, her shawl draped over her shoulders, but even that couldn’t hide the way she shook.Neither of us spoke for a while.The silence wasn’t peaceful. It was loud, heavy, echoing with what-ifs and regrets. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. My mouth was dry, my lips cracked from crying, from screaming when they took me down. When they shoved her into the cell behind me and slammed the door. I’d begged them to let her go. Told them it was me, only me. But they hadn’t listened. No one ever really did.She looked at me, eyes red but dry now. She’d crie

Natasha’s POVThe room was too big, too bright and too soft for a girl like me.The door shut behind us with a quiet thud and I just stood there. Still barefoot. Still unsure. The two maids walked in ahead of me like it was nothing. Like this kind of room didn’t swallow you whole. They didn’t glance back at me as they opened the tall wardrobe, setting down the folded clothes they brought. Another set of hands dropped a small towel on the wide bed. The bed alone looked like it could fit five people. The sheets were white and clean, the kind of clean that smelled like flowers and money. I didn’t move.“This is your room,” one said without looking up.She didn’t need to add “for now.” I already felt it.“Freshen up. The King will send for you soon.”That made my stomach twist. I stayed quiet. Just nodded a little, hoping they’d leave quickly. They didn’t wait around for questions. They turned and walked out, soft shoes brushing against the marble floor, skirts swaying gently with each st

Natasha’s POVStaring at the file in his Beta’s hands, I didn’t know what to expect.The way he held it, firm and tight against his chest, like whatever was inside had weight—real weight. Not just paper. Like it could change something. Maybe everything. I didn’t even reach for it. Just stared. And waited.The King said nothing. He didn’t move either. He just stood there beside me, quiet but sharp, like a sword held inches from my throat. His presence filled the entire space, and somehow, I felt even smaller in the room that already wasn’t mine.The Beta took slow steps forward and placed the file carefully on the table in front of me. His eyes met mine for a second, and I couldn’t tell what they meant. Pity? Warning? Or just obedience?I didn’t touch it yet.I just kept my hands where they were, curled slightly on my lap, and stared down at the black file like it might explode if I opened it wrong.The silence was thick now. It pressed into my skin.Still, I didn’t reach for it.I did