Chapter 3

Lyra’s POV

The weird feeling I had all morning is happening now. My heart is beating fast because I remembered how mean he was to me before. He tried to hurt me and wanted me to br submissive to him. But I'm not going to be his plaything. From what happened today, I can tell he's indeed a monster and incapable of loving anyone.

“Sit down and hold your tongue,” Luna Ophelia snapped at me.

“Excuse me, what did you just say?" my father asked, shocked by my protest.

"I said no! I do not want to marry him. I want to marry someone who loves me, my fated mate. I won't marry anyone else, especially not him!" I looked straight at the Lycan, my voice firm. The people around us gasped in surprise. They didn't expect me to be daring.

“Who asked you to speak? You have no say in this. I will do as I please with you. I own you,” my father shouted, attempting to slap me, but Logan intervened, stopping him. I was surprised at his action but that didn't stop me from replying.

“You have controlled my life from the beginning. I won’t be used for your selfish desires this time. You do not own me.” I said, clenching my fists. The crowd gasped again in surprise.

“You dare defy me and question my authority?” He growled. But a loud clap sounded in the hall.

“That was quite the performance. You are quite the actress,” Logan said, laughing. “Not what I expected, but entertaining nonetheless.”

The hall fell silent as everyone observed Logan’s outburst. He was known for reveling in others’ suffering, living up to his reputation. Despite this, I stood my ground, ready to be heard.

“Lycan Logan, she is just distressed,” my father began, but was interrupted.

“It’s fine. She’s feisty, and I love that. I will enjoy taming her, putting her in her place,” Logan said, caressing my face as if it fascinated him.

“Are you willing to risk the lives of your pack and your father for your childishness?” he questioned, his gaze piercing into me. “What a joke,” he sighed.

“We Lycans take our vows seriously. Going back on your word means war.” He declared, turning to the frightened Alphas.

“And we are committed to fulfilling our promise to your Highness,” an Alpha responded, bowing to the Lycan.

“Take her upstairs and prepare her for the ceremony,” my father ordered. Two guards grabbed my arms, dragging me out of the hall against my will. I gasped in horror, struggling to break free from their painful grip. For once I wished Luna Ophelia will come to my aid, I looked at her, she smirked, finally she's getting rid of me.

They pushed me into my room and locked the door. I sat on the floor, hugging my legs to my chest, finding it hard to understand why my father was giving me away to the ruthless Lycan. I feared the horrors that awaited me in his hands.

“Mother, why did you leave me in this cruel world? You should have taken me with you,” I cried, feeling lost and alone.

The soft turn of the doorknob made me freeze, my heart skipping a beat as I prepared for another confrontation. The door opened, and Kayla, an unfamiliar Omega, entered.

“I was instructed to bring this to you. You are to wear this dress for the wedding,” she said, handing me the clothes.

“Thank you,” I whispered, resigned to my fate. I changed into the gown, accepting my role as the sacrificial lamb. I would never believed in such a short period of time my fate was about to get worse. I wished it was all a bad dream that would go away once I'm awake.

I didn’t bother to freshen up. I simply wore the gown, embracing my destiny. As I waited for my father’s minions to come for me, I took deep breaths, preparing myself for what was to come.

A few minutes later, one of Kaida’s minions burst into the room, commanding me to get up. “Your fate is about to change, and not for the better,” she sneered, dragging me out of the room.

“You’re about to marry the brutal Logan, given away like a gift? Ah!” she mocked. I rolled my eyes, resigned to my fate. I followed her to the wedding venue in the pack’s backyard, where the ancient nuptial oak tree stood as the altar. The moon goddess had blessed the first mated couples under this tree while she was on Earth. There, one of the Frostbite Pack elders and the Lycan king awaited us.

My father, who was already waiting for me by the door, didn’t hesitate to take my hand in his arm as he led me down the aisle. He didn’t bother hiding his relief at finding a potential buyer; I suppose he’s just as eager as the others to send me away. When we reached the end of the aisle, I stood in front of Logan as the elder instructed us to repeat after him. I said, “I, Lyra Darko of the Frostbite pack, accept King Logan as my chosen mate,” which I did. The king was then asked to do the same, saying, “I, King Logan of the Stormbringer Pack, accept Lyra Darko of the Frostbite pack as my chosen mate,” and to mark each other under the full moon.

The mark is a bite on the neck that completes the full mating ritual, creating a link between chosen mates and binding them together. It is irrevocable; if they were to reject each other, they would experience the same pain as fated mates do, which is why marking during the mating ceremony is mandatory.

As soon as I heard the word “mark,” panic set in, and my body shook uncontrollably with sweat. The word lingered in the air as I looked down at the crowd, expecting my wolf to emerge and complete the mating ritual. But I couldn’t, as I had no wolf. I vividly remember my 18th birthday when I waited in my room, expecting my wolf to speak to me. Calantha had always told me that I would hear a voice in my head that morning before transforming into a wolf at midnight, but that never happened.

At first I considered informing the Alpha that I hadn’t transformed, but I decided against it out of fear of severe punishment or being cast out to the mercy of rogues. Rogues are lone wolves who have lost their humanity and become feral, killing anything in sight. I thought they wouldn’t care, so I kept to myself the fact that I was wolfless with an Alpha’s blood.