4: The Lycan King

Elara Moonstone

The car was eerily quiet. Rowan sat beside me, I tried not to acknowledge him and I looked out through the window, watching the city pass in a blur.

The gala was everything I had dreaded and more.

We finally arrived, and the grandiose facade of the building stood before us, an intimidating monument to wealth and power. People in elegant attire, their eyes gleaming with excitement, milled about. The scent of perfume and wine was all over the place, and something darker too… power. The werewolves and lycans were all gathered in the guise of celebration.

We stepped into the grand hall and my eyes traveled across the room, I wasn’t entirely comfortable but I suddenly felt Rowan nudging me and I tilted my head to look at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice low, but there was no real concern in it.

I nodded stiffly, not trusting myself to speak. What could I say? That I was angry? That I was heartbroken? That I wanted nothing more than to leave this place and never come back? Instead, I forced a smile, but it felt as fake as the people who surrounded us.

"Let's go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

As soon as we took a step inside, we were offered champagne, I took one with a smile, and suddenly I heard laughter and a man approaching us.

“Alpha Rowan of Moonfang pack! I heard about your success in your latest mission, it proved you were fit to be the alpha, congratulations,” Alpha Liam of FrostMoon pack said as soon as his eyes laid on Rowan he was with his Luna, and soon other alphas gathered to congratulate him, I stood there like his shadow without saying a word.

“Please can we welcome the latest alpha to the stage, Alpha Rowan of the Moonfang pack,” the host said and they were hands in the air clapping, I saw the smile on his face before he excused himself.  I watched Rowan walk to the stage and I tried to look away.

"I feel honored. I can’t help but thank every one of you here today, even though I became the alpha less than two months ago, your support has meant everything to me, and thank you for congratulating me on my success on the mission.”  A round of applause followed, and I fought to keep my face impassive, even as the crowd cheered.

"I'd also like to take this opportunity to announce something very important, during the course of the mission, the moon goddess has blessed me with a mate, she is currently at the moonfang pack and I have decided to make her the Luna of the moonfang pack, her name is Lyra and I hope to get support from you all.”

Lyra. The name felt like a slap in my face. As if he hadn't already torn my heart to shreds, he had to remind me, in front of all these people, that she was the one who held the title of Luna now. And as he spoke, my mind was already racing. I could feel the anger building inside me.

"And I want to thank Elara, too," Rowan said, his voice turning mockingly sweet. "She's made everything possible for me to get to this point. I appreciate all her hard work."

My breath caught in my throat as I watched Rowan and the stupid words that just came out of his mouth, it was better if he hadn’t mentioned me at all, I knew what he had just done, it was a calculated insult. My hands dug into my skin as my body trembled due to anger.  Rowan had made me part of his humiliation. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him how wrong he was, how everything he had done was cruel and cold-hearted. But I stayed silent.

The crowd erupted in applause, all eyes were on me, what a humiliation! I barely smiled and I turned away from the stage,  just then I heard some women move closer to me, talking loud enough for me to hear.

"I always knew something like this was going to happen,” one of them chuckled. “She's been nothing but a spoiled brat, thinking she had everything, her father made her feel so full of herself and now she is left with nothing. Rowan will kick her out of the pack, mark my words."

Another woman chimed in, "Where will she go? She has nothing left. No one is willingly going to help her but wait… my alpha mentioned we need more maids in the pack house, who knows she might get lucky." They both burst into laughter.

They didn’t try to hide the fact they were mocking me, I felt hot tears brimming at the side of my eyes, threatening to fall at any moment, I didn’t want to humiliate myself more than I already was, without another thought, I turned on my heel and walked toward the exit, my heart pounding.

Just as I stepped outside the grand ballroom, ready to scream my lungs out and ease my pain, I felt a palm around my hand, I froze as every muscle in my body tensed, I furrowed my brows angrily turning to see who had the audacity to stop me.

The man before me was tall, his presence commanding. His dark hair framed a face that was both striking and regal. His eyes, a piercing blue, locked with mine, and I felt a strange sensation, a spark that shot through me, making my skin tingle. My breath caught in my throat as the pull of his presence overwhelmed me.

"Let go of me," I snapped, trying to pull my wrist free, but the man didn't budge.

"No," he said, his voice deep and calm. "I know you're angry. I know he had humiliated you in the presence of everyone and I am here to ease your pain, help you with your revenge on those that had trampled on you.”

I scoffed, was this another form of mockery? What does he know about me, that made him think he could help me revenge on those who had offended me?

"Let me go," I repeated, my voice shaking with frustration.

“Listen Elara, you need to calm down…” I stopped him mid-way at this point overly angry.

“No, you’re the one that needs to listen. Walking up to a stranger and saying that rubbish! I don’t want your help or anyone’s help, I will do everything I want on my own without you or anyone meddling in my affairs,” I let out a deep breath and a tear escaped my eyes. “I have become so pathetic that even strangers have a thing to say about me,” I said in a low tone and I saw something in his eyes.

He let me go immediately and I angrily walked away,  just when I moved a few steps, I heard a voice from behind me, addressing the man with a respectful tone.

"King Luca," someone said.

King Luca? My mind snapped into focus, and the name sent a shiver down my spine. Was this the same Luca Blackthorn? The Lycan King? The ruler who controlled the entire kingdom, the one everyone feared?

I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him, our eyes locked and it was obvious his eyes were on me as I walked away, I stared at him dumbfounded, my eyes wide with disbelief. Was he really the Lycan King? My mate? The one my wolf Isla had felt before, in that strange moment when I had been drawn to the unknown presence?

I stumbled back when I realized I wasn’t cursed, I had a mate and it wasn’t just anyone but the lycan king that ruled us all.