Semua Bab The Lycan King's Defiant Mate: Bab 1 - Bab 10

"She's just a nine-year-old child, that fate isn't meant for her yet," Papa's voice held the low authority of our Alpha, but his hand stroked Mama's hair gently. "We've made all the emergency preparations. Let's keep her our dearheart a while longer.""I know," Mama whispered with suspiciously red eyes. "I just worry it will all happen too suddenly..."What were they talking about without me? I'm curious. After all, it was my ninth birthday—no secrets should be kept from me today! But the moment I ran into the room, they fell silent. Papa scooped me up and tossed me into the air, catching me with a laugh, while Mama covered my face in kisses. In a second, the strange words I'd overheard were forgotten.Tiny paw. Princess. Little jewel. Brat. Dearheart. The Alpha’s little girl.Everyone called me different things, but my name was Iris Graupelfyr. I loved my Mama, and my Papa. And my brothers, even though they were a pain. I was the youngest daughter in our Pack, and today was my birthd

The day of the banquet was soon upon us.I was assigned twice the workload since the palace was expected to be immaculate upon the King’s arrival. But with my escape attempt imminent, the extra rush of endless chores actually served as an outlet for my nerves.Perhaps anticipating my anxiety, Derek had assured me that he would stay by my side and escort me across the empire’s border. That he would take me as far as the distant peaceful lands to the east– where witches dwelled.If anywhere was safe from the Tyrant, it would be the witches domain. The Witches’ held a longseated grudge against the Lycans, having long ago been the very ones who rendered them Cursed wolves.I smiled, briskly sweeping along the wide corridor. Witches, curses. Eastern land. Peace.Odd of Derek to indulge in such romance. It was the stuff of pups’ tales.I could still recall the stories, and the songs. I remembered how one song started low and then wound high….“--hey. Hey! I’m speaking to you, werewolf bitch

I flinched as King Zavan used his bare hands to break the handcuffs off me. As if they were mere toys to him.“I trust that you’re grown enough to bathe yourself,” he stated.I scowled, refusing to look at him. Even while kneeling, he was large enough to be at my eye-level. Monster.The King sighed, as if he were the one who’d had the worst of it tonight. But he hadn’t been the one thrown over a shoulder, paraded through the palace like a hunted quarry.He stood up. “Present yourself to me once you’re done here.”Then the door closed behind him. I waited for his heavy footsteps to fade out, before finally undressing. Though I hated to admit it, some of the rogue's blood had splattered on me, and I was desperate to wash it off.I stepped into the bath gingerly but with a sense of nostalgia. This was the first time I’d had a private bath since coming to the palace.The omega baths were the smallest of course. There were always at least a few others occupying the space if it wasn’t crowd

I finished tying the gauze. My voice came out quiet when I forced myself to speak. “What...”King Zavan met my eyes silently, waiting.But before I could finish my question, a pounding knock resounded through the space, followed by an equally loud voice: “My Alpha!”The King turned away from me, swiftly pulling his shirt back on. He barked a single response, “Enter.”Beta Tyler strode in, and he noticed me hanging back behind King Zavan, and surprised me by acknowledging my presence with a small nod.I looked away reflexively. Growing up as an omega, being noticed had never been a good thing. Although, I sensed no ill will from the Beta.“Derek escaped,” Beta Tyler said, his full attention back on the King. “The slippery bastard has evaded all of our attempts to apprehend him.”He looked like he could have said more, jaw tense with irritation, but stopped himself. King Zavan for his part had no severe reaction. He let the information settle in the air, as if they were speaking of a pe

There was no pressure that followed.No roving hands, no lips on my skin, no crash of his weight on top of me. I peeked through my lashes to find his eyes still focused on me though.He moved my face slightly sideways, peering through the dim light.“What is this?” King Zavan asked, his thumb gliding under a sore spot on my cheek.It dawned on me only then the extent of his intention.“It’s a cut,” I said. So insignificant that I had forgotten about it until now.“How did it come about?” The King looked perplexed. “I know of no such hazards in your chorework.”Dusting.While balancing on a stool, with a bucket and a few dozen tomes upon the seat, because everything here was too damned high– I lost balance.I hadn’t fallen. But I had grabbed a curtain to catch myself halfway down, sliding against it so that an embroidered stitch had torn into the flesh of my cheek slightly.And then I had fallen.But that, I would not be telling him.Instead I pushed his hand away. “Stop touching me un