#Chapter 5 Be My Bride

Harper’s POV

I’ve never seen someone so undeniably handsome. Sure, there are pretty people in the world. But this man is utterly gorgeous!

His dark raven hair flows down to his shoulders. Every muscle in his back is prominent through his shirt as he defensively stands in the way. Toned legs, strong arms… and when he turns to look at me, sharp bone structure matches his piercing gray eyes.

Am I drooling?

I hurry to wipe away my presumed saliva from my lips in utter embarrassment, but the man has little time to focus on me. Although the rogues were startled at first by my savior’s surprise entrance, they’ve now adjusted themselves, and continue to press forward towards us.

“How come it’s you again?” the man finally turns to me and sneers, acknowledging my presence.

I look at him in confusion, I’ve never met this stranger, I would have remembered meeting someone so handsome. But he does not question my puzzled look, instead he turns back to the rogues that taunt him and me.

I do wonder if the handsome gentleman would be bewildered by the situation, since he is now faced with a pink furred wolf, a rogue with bangs and plaits, and a rogue with no pants!

“How dare you disgraceful degenerates stand in my presence,” he says with an imperious air. He outstretches his right hand, as if to reveal something, but there is nothing there. When he finally does look at it, I note the disappointment in his glance.

“Oh no… why now?” he murmurs to himself.

But I have little time to question his confusion, I desperately need his help, so I instead drop further to my knees before him, pressing my hands together in a plea, desperate to be saved.

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Dean’s POV

Not long ago I was standing with Tyler and the old wizard. Not anymore… I awaken from my trance along the road that leads away from my castle. More importantly, I am once again in the vicinity of Harper the useless virgin.

How?

I turn to her incredulously, watching as she crawls onto her knees, begging for my help against the rogues that clearly are attempting to grab a hold of her.

Could she have summoned me here? I wonder. How could she have such a hold on me? Her relation to the curse must be stronger than I had initially anticipated… and hoped for.

“Even if I were to agree to your plea now, it would be useless. You have ridiculous timing, plus, I haven’t worked out exactly why…” my voice trails off suddenly, realizing I don’t want to reveal to her the loss of my powers or that she has summoned me. Not until I can speak to my Beta and the old wizard about this.

However, before my irritated thoughts digress, I suddenly feel a growing strength in my body.

What the hell?

Fire blooms awake inside me, my body exuding heat as I feel the familiar sensation of my lycan powers returning. Just as I have somewhat agreed to her wish, everything that makes me powerful rushes back to me in a steady stream. My gaze darts to my hands, seeing my wolf claws.

Finally.

I smile to myself contemptuously and now turn to rogue hulks.

As a child of the royal family, I was trained by the absolute best, my father made sure I was pushed to my limits. He forced me to train with his best knights, as well as the other kids being drilled into soldiers.

People tend to think that a person with a leaner framer is weaker. However, no one dares to doubt my power. Everyone knows that the Lycan King is the most powerful man in the Kingdom.

I built muscle over time, and I never saw my lankiness as a fault. In a world filled with brutes with nothing but muscle, I saw my agility and my intellect as an advantage.

Hence the grin expands across my face as the mindless hulks enter my circumference. As I straighten my back and extend to my full towering height, the sky above us begins to swirl with darkness. Grey clouds invade the clear, innocent blue, and the wind picks up suddenly, furiously swiping left and right. I chuckle as my power overrides all my other senses in deep pleasure. 

“Ready to meet your end boys,” I taunt. Although, part of me wonders why I stand in the presence of a pink wolf, a pantless rogue, and a brute that has his hair done up like a little girl. No matter, it just makes it easier to differentiate between them.

The half-naked rogue is first to face my wrath. He bolts towards me, thinking his sudden move will catch me off guard as I turn to face him. He throws a series of blows, aiming at my chest and stomach.

But I’m quicker, like a slippery snake, I sidestep and lean, outwitting every punch he throws at me. Grinning, I smartly edge back, drawing him closer to where I need him to be. Suddenly, I dart out the way and his fist collides harshly into the bark of one of the trees.

I watch the immense pain that exudes from his face in utter glee.

Next the fancy haired one runs towards me, eager to avenge his fallen comrade. I mock him with a smug grin, waiting for the last possible moment before I suddenly crouch.

Like a graceful dancer I spin on the balls of my feet, one leg outstretched. My leg collides with his shins, and the impact uproots him, sending him rocketing upwards before landing on his back with a grunt.

With intuition on my side, I duck into a forward roll, avoiding the wolf that now leaps at me. We both skirt to a halt on opposite sides. But as the wolf launches at me again, I swoop up one of the flat rocks lying about. Rolling onto my back, as the wolf jumps on top as I had planned.

As it measly attempts to snap at me, I shove the hard material in between its jaws, devilishly smiling as the canine’s teeth painfully shatter against the rock.

It whines in clear agony as I shove the animal off me and return to stand.

I hear the men groggily grumble as they each wobble to a stand. I chuckle darkly as thunder booms up above. “You lot has done trying to give me a massage,” I laugh carelessly, “well now it’s my turn.”

In reaction to my taunt, all three rogues begin to run towards me with growing aggravation. Ready to try and take me down. I stand in the middle of this invisible circle, waiting casually for the group to get closer and closer with a formidable grin.

Just inches before they reach my position, I gather all my infamous Lycan strength, lifting my fist into the air to draw upon my power and strength. With a malicious grin, I then pull back my fist, as if winding up to throw a punch.

Just before they reach me, I switch directions, and slam into the ground with all my might. At that exact moment, lightning strikes across the sky with intimidating grace, and the wind blows through my raven hair. The ground below me shudders, ripples in the earth dispelling like a mini earthquake out towards the men, along with the wind that scatters dust into the air.

The men are blown off their feet in an instant and into the distance. Screaming in surprise or wailing in pain as they collide with trees or boulders from the formidable force.

I grin in triumph.

“Fools,” I utter proudly.

With a huff, my gaze wanders over to the only speaking individual that I haven’t knocked out.

The girl…

“Oh, thank you so much! Thank you, thank you! You saved me!” She vocalizes her appreciation repeatedly and sincerely. “I owe you my life! I promise to repay you for that in any way I can one day,” she declares.

Eyeing the gal curiously as she speaks, I realize something very significant about her in connection to my powers. Recalling how initially when I had rejected Harper’s request, all my strength was drained away. Whilst a moment ago when I granted her rescue wish all my lycan power was returned to me. 

Un-fucking believable…

Now the Moon Goddess is definitely laughing at me.

Unbeknownst to Harper, I must obey her commands, otherwise I will lose my lycan powers. The concept is ludicrous, but it now makes sense. Even if I use my own power to fight against the compulsion to comply with her wishes, I will still eventually lose all my powers trying. Plus, she’s clearly able to summon me at will to her location!

As I connect the dots, I am now certain that Harper is essential to curing my curse. Whether I like it or not, she is my fated mate and the one I must fall in love with as proclaimed by the prophecy.

Coming to this conclusion, an idea finalizes in my mind. She remains staring at me with wide eyes as it takes me a moment to gather my thoughts. But when I do, a wicked smile sits upon my lips.

“There is in fact a way you can repay me right now,” I say smugly.

“Marry me.”