All Chapters of Banished By The Alpha King:Claimed By The Cursed Lycan Beast: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Elara’s POVI had never been slapped before.Not like this.The sting exploded across my cheek, sharp and unexpected, sending a burst of heat through my skin. I staggered back a step in the dimly lit servants’ corridor, the tray of silver goblets clattering against my hip. Blood bloomed on my tongue where my teeth had caught the inside of my lip.Luna Seraphine’s eyes narrowed, her voice low and clipped. “Careful, girl. Liora asked you to help the maids prepare the ballroom as your contribution to the Grand Mating Ball. If you can’t manage even that without making a racket, perhaps you should stay out of sight entirely.”I blinked, stunned more by the strike than the words. In the Eclipse Pack, I wasn’t beaten or starved. I wasn’t locked in a dungeon or forced to sleep in a broom closet. I was simply… overlooked. Given chores, expected to serve quietly, treated with the same distant indifference most gave to a low-ranking wolf who hadn’t shifted yet. Liora had always been the one to a

Elara’s POVThe corridors felt longer on the way back to the servants’ quarters.My legs shook with every step, but I kept my spine straight until the heavy oak door of the maids’ dormitory closed behind me. Only then did I let myself slump against the wall, sliding down until I sat on the cold stone floor.My chest still ached where the bond had torn. Not the sharp, ripping pain from the hall anymore—just a deep, hollow bruise that throbbed with every heartbeat. My dress clung uncomfortably to my skin, champagne and sweat and shame all mixed together. I could still feel the ghost of Darius’s hand on my waist, the heat of his body pressed against mine, the low rumble of his voice promising things I refused to let myself imagine.I pressed my palms to my eyes until spots danced behind my lids.No.I wouldn’t cry again. Not over a king who looked at me like I was dirt one second and like he wanted to devour me the next.The dormitory was quiet. Most of the maids were still working the b

Lucian’s POV (The Beast)I slammed the last report onto the desk and shoved it aside. The scribes scattered like frightened rabbits. Another day of border disputes, tribute demands, and endless complaints from the lesser packs. I had no patience left for any of it. Tonight the full moon would rise. I could already feel the curse stirring under my skin like molten iron. The beast wanted out. It always wanted out on nights like this. I left the throne room without a word and strode through the long corridors of the palace. Servants and guards pressed themselves against the walls as I passed. They knew what night it was. No one spoke. No one dared. The east wing waited at the end of the forbidden corridor. No torches burned there. No mirrors hung on the walls. Only darkness and stone. Even my most trusted Betas refused to enter this place. I pushed the heavy iron door open and stepped inside. The air was cold and thick with old magic. I crossed to the center of the room where the

Elara’s POVSoftness surrounded me first.The bed felt impossibly plush beneath my body, like sinking into a cloud of silk and feathers. I had never felt anything like it. My fingers brushed the sheets and they whispered against my skin, cool and smooth. A faint scent of fresh bread and warm honey drifted through the air, mixed with something savory that made my empty stomach twist.For one blissful second I smiled.It had all been a nightmare. The ball, the rejection, the pain in my chest, the rogues tearing into my leg, the monster that had saved me. None of it was real. I would open my eyes and find myself back in the servants’ dormitory at Eclipse Pack. Liora would be waiting to assign me another chore, and everything would be normal again.Two mates in one day. The Moon Goddess must have been laughing at me. Or maybe I had died in the forest and this was some strange afterlife. I had certainly never slept in sheets this fine before.I tried to stretch.Sharp pain exploded through

Elara’s POVThe spark faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only a faint tingling on my fingertips and a strange hum in the air between us.I stared at my hand, then back at Lucian. “It was probably the mate bond,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Nothing more.”Lucian didn’t answer right away. He simply stared at the spot on his arm where the light had touched him. His golden eyes narrowed, jaw tight. For a moment I thought he might demand an explanation, but he only exhaled sharply through his nose.Without another word he turned on his heel and left the room, the door closing behind him with a heavy click.I sank back against the pillows, heart still racing. He hadn’t acknowledged the bond. He hadn’t even asked my name. He kept calling me “little one” like I was some child or pet he had picked up in the woods. I didn’t know his name either. Only titles. The king. Your highness. My lord.I wondered if he would ever treat me like a person or if he would always act lik