"Hello! Anyone there?'' I banged against the door till my fist hurt.
"How may we help you, miss Elara?'' Someone asked as the door was opened. I almost wanted to look around, wondering who he was talking to. They regarded me with respect. Like I was a person and not a slave. But why did I feel like I was still a slave here?
my life back in our pack had been horrible. And I had lost everything when I rejected Alpha Gale's demeaning offer to become his slave. Yet, right now, I can't help but wonder whether my fate has turned out any differently.
I had ended uo a slave, only for a different man. A more powerful man. A man whose natural instinct was to kill.
"I would like to go now. I'm not staying in this room anymore." I stated firmly.
"Im sorry, but the king has demanded that no one lets you out of this room. If you need anything, it will be provided to you, how.."
"I don't care what the Lycan King has said.'' I shouted as I met the man's eyes. "I do not want t be here anymore.''
He continued to stand there, acting all confused. I hated that I was made to stay here. I wanted to be free.
"What orders did Lucas give you?'' I asked, making sure that I specifically referred to him by his first name and not his title. Over the years, the history and nature of lycans was taught to us. They made us see them as aliens. things that didn't belong in our world. One of the ugly things about the way the lycan's live their life, was how they looked down on and belittled their women. Allowed to only be mothers and nothing else. the errors had changed, and now, only one man remained as a lycan. And he was my mate.
In his pack, I had noticed that there were female warriors, which would mean that someone had broken the chains and allowed women to make their own decisions and redefine themselves in something other than their gender.
But what about a mate? Did Lucas still hold the same belief for mates as his forefathers did? What would happen now that he believed the child I carried was not his.
"Elara.'' the hoarse voice sounded in the vicinity as he entered the room, appearing out of nowhere. the guard, who I had been talking to, bowed his head respectfully before retracting outside the room, and shutting the door.
"How did you get in?'' I asked, resting my head against the door as my back was him. I understood that no matter how much I banged that door, he wasn't going to open unless Lucas gave the order.
"That's not of importance.'' he answered vaguely. "is there anything else you need?'' his question was blunt.
"I need to get out of here.'' I let out as I turned to look at him.
"You and I know that's not going to happen.'' he laughs. He slowly begins to walk towards me, making me take a step back.
"Stay back Lucas.'' I warned, as I raised my fist.
"Already on a first name basis are we.'' he let out. "I like it, though it would sound better if you were moaning and screaming my name in pleasure. ''
He continues approaching me, placing his hands on his back as he moves. He looks smocking hot. For some reason, he does not need to do much for him to be attractive. I feel as if my whole body is calling out to him. needing him to touch me. to kiss me. to...
"Tell me Elara,'' he speaks in an amused tone. "For how long do you think you'll be able to resist your desires.''
His movements, though slow, seem significant when he is finally in front of me. And I, cornered and pushed against the door, can do nothing but try to talk my way out of this.
“Please just let me go. You don't want me as a mate, I get…”
He smashes his lips in mine as he kisses me with such a passion I believe never existed. His fingers fold around my throat authoritatively, squeezly almost too tightly. His kiss was demanding, he pushed me against the door as he forced his tongue into my mouth, gaining a moan from me.
“Don’t you ever…” He whispered against my lips as he stared at my mouth. He bit his bottom lip sexily before kissing me again, with more lethal passion. His lips burn against mine, making me truly understand how hollow and empty my life has been without him.
“Don’t you ever think i don't want you.’’ He states in an authoritative voice, with darker eyes and an intimidating demeanor. It doesn't take me long to realize that this was his lycan talking.
“I just thought tha…”
“You are mine, Elara Moore. As stubborn as you are to admit that. YOU ARE MINE.’’
He brings himself toward my neck, his hot breath fans my sensitive skin, causing me to wiggle in his arms.
“Don’t mark me yet,’’ I let out in a shrieked voice.
I felt his lips on my neck, kissing and nibbling a spot, making my legs give out. Was it really this easy to get me weak?
“Oh kitten, when I mark you, I’ll be one with your body. My cock will sink so deeply into you, you’ll be afraid it’s gonna split you. Your nails will scratch my back, begging, pleading me to go faster. You will want me, and there is not a thing in this god-forsaken world that will stop me from giving you the pleasure you truly deserve.’’
He looked into my eyes with so much intensity that I could feel the meaning and reality of his words to my very core. I instinctively clenched my thighs, afraid of the rushing feeling brought about now just by his words, but by his touch. The way he looked at me, and the way he effortlessly held me against the door.
“Were you being truthful?’’ I let out, my body still pinned against the door and my legs around his waist. “Have you really been waiting for me for four hundred and seventy one years?’’
The question is something I'd been wondering about for a while now.
“Everything I tell you is always the plain truth. I don’t lie. Not to you. Not to my mate.’’
His words sunk into me, resting between us.
“Having waited for over 400 years for a mate, had you given up hope?’’ I asked him, careful with my words. He remained quiet for a moment, he gazed into my eyes, seeming lost.
“Yes.’’
“What did the high priestess say? Did she tell you that I did not exist?’’ I asked, running my fingers over his broad shoulders, loving the way he shut his eyes and took in my actions. I loved it this way. His body close to mine, his arms around. The way he helped me up effortlessly.
“The high priestess believed that you would one day exist. But as time stretched, and two centuries were gone, I was still searching. She died. The woman you met yesterday is just a descendant. Unlike any normal wolf, a high priestess only lives about a century and a half, that one, had been graced with two centuries. The high priestess now understands that my inability to bear children comes as a curse for the grave mistake my father and I committed. However, for a moment, she was convinced that I was mated to no one. That this was also a punishment from the moon goddess for the monster i am.’’
He remained silent, the words floating in the air seemed rather detailed, unlike how avoidant he had been. The truth is, that I had judged him too quickly. Not about his arrogance or dismissal of my decisions, that was evident. But his honesty.
“So you had lost hope. And you believed that you would never find your mate. That you did not have a mate to begin with.’’
“Yes.
“When did you know we were mates? I found out the second time we met,”
“The first time.’’ He answers in a heartbeat. “I knew who you were before you walked into the bar. I felt you miles away. I felt your heartbeat. Your breathing.’’
He stares into my eyes, making me feel like he was truly the whole world to me. He was my mate. But I hated how he treated me sometimes.
“Then Lucas,” I said, looking back into his eyes. “After living more than 200 years believing you did not have a mate, then finding one. Is it not also possible that the child in my womb is yours, and not another man’s?’’
He paused, he fell silent and his beast took over.
Lucas's gaze darkened as the tension in the room thickened. I could see the primal instincts within him wrestle with the idea, a war between his human rationality and his Lycan instincts. His eyes bore into mine, searching for any signs of deception. Fear gripped me with such insteisty that i stumbled and fell on the floor. Lucas stepped back, his eyes darkened as he stared at me."Elara, you can't possibly expect me to believe that," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.I held his intense gaze, determined to make him understand once and for all. "Lucas, I'm not lying to you. When i ran from my first mate, you were the only good thing that had happened to me. This baby is yours because i have never slept with another man other than you. You were my first and only."He let out a guttural snarl, his claws involuntarily extending from his fingertips. His Lycan form was threatening to take over, and I could see the struggle on his face. It was as though he was battling his own nature,
Everywhere I run to, the doors were locked. Someone had locked the pack house, which was more like a big mansion, from the outside. Beta Joseph and the high priestess were nowhere to be seen anymore. I was alone in this house. Trapped with a monster I called my mate. Trying to run yet locked inside. In unfamiliar territory, I felt trapped and helpless. Lucas had turned into something I've never seen. All werewolf Alphas tend to have terrible tempers. Yet, even when an Alpha is angry, nothing matches the beastly lycan nature that my mate had. I hid behind the door, trying to calm my breathing. I was dizzy, barely able to see in front of me as I peeped through the hole. I could hear his footsteps, and his scent was in the air, it drew me in like a magnet to metal. He was closing in, and I knew I had to stay hidden until I could figure out how to reason with him. Was it even possible? Could anyone reason with him? My heart was beating quickly and I could hardly keep my mind away from
The world around me was dark. Heavy footsteps kept coming my way as I fought my natural Instinct to run. It was Lucas. he was right there and he was coming for me. I felt frozen, not knowing what to do. And then, right before I run, a sharp light invades my eyes.When I regained consciousness, my surroundings were unfamiliar. the sharp invading rays of the sun invaded my eyes as I opened them. The scent of a clean pair of sheets caught me offgaurd. I had slept on tree branches and grass over the last weeks that I'd not fully realized where I was or who I was with. I sat up from the bed and looked around. I was dizzy, like I'd hit my head or something. I slowly sat up in the strange bed, I wasn't sure what to think. On one hand I might be in danger. What if he caught me? What if he’d let his Lycan beast kill me? Is this hell?As my eyes adjusted to the surroundings, I noticed Lucas in a chair by my bedside. He fixed his gaze on me. His once-wild eyes were now back to their sharp blu
"The thing about a Lycan's claw, or their teeth, is that the damage they leave slows down the supernatural healing process of any wolf, and hieghtens the pain.'' Doctor Aisha explained, as she applied some ointment on neck before putting the bandages back on. "Does it ever kill?'' I asked, meeting her eyes for only a split second. She picked up her kit, looking through it before she picked up a scissors. "Yes it does, but not a mate.'' "What?'' I asked, tilting my head as she trimmed the bandage. She hesitated for a moment, her senses became alert, before she hurriedly got down from the bed. Suddenly i caught scent of Lucas, and the wolf inside me was excited. The large doors to our bedroom were opened from the outside, and Lucas walked in, looking as hot and glorious as ever. I swallowed loudly, trying to tear my eyes from that tonned body. Lucas made me think sinfully. Any normal thing he did would often be turned to something sexual in my mind. What the hell was wrong with me?
"You..You're, You're the Lycan King's sister?'' I stuttered, suddenly feeling a wave of fear take over me. "Yeah. I don;t get why he did not tell you i was coming. I was to come weeks ago but he said he hasn't found you yet.'' "Found me?'' I asked as we shook hands, meeting her eyes for a brief second. The resemblance in them however was not same. She did not have Lucas' eyes. I'd seen her eyes somewhere. I just couldn't put my finger on it. "Yeah, after you guys fucked he said you ran.'' She said effortlessly. "You're the first girl who's ever not asked for more or begged my brother to stay. You actually run from him.'' I was not sure what i was suppost to say. And talking about intimate moments with my mate's sister did not sound too good. I wasn't even comfortable talking about sex with Lucas himself, even though it was the only thing he thought about. "It's nice to meet you Sabrina.'' I let out as i smiled poilitely. She moved back to seat on the bed space beside me, she touc
Lucas had arrived about an hour ago, yet he'd not even come up the stairs to see me, I did not know what was wrong with me. But i missed hm. I wanted to see him. To touch him, To kiss him. After my encounter with Sabrina, i was nervous about the rest of the Morreti family. I needed all the cards on the table. Everything i needed to know about my mate's family and their traditions. Why was it such a big deal for Sabrina when she discovered Lucas was yet to mark me. It was rather confusing. However, the last words she said to me make my stomach churn. "You don't deserve my brother Elara Moore. You deserve to die before the thing in your womb sees the light of day.'' The words sounded in my heard like a resilient gong. All my life, i had grown accustomed to threats, insults and words if degradation and heartbreak. Yet, why was it so difficult for me to take this? Was it because i had another person to defend and protect? A helpless person? My child. Her life growing inside me always
"Elara!'' Lucas called out. He walked in, ordering the guards to leave. " What?'' I asked, clenching my fist."My sister tells me you two met.''"Is that a question or a statement!'' I answered, meeting his eyes in defiance. His gaze grew darker as he walked towards me. I decided not to give him the advantage, and i stepped off the bed and down the the floor. My hieght compared to him was relatively short, and it made me look up at him like a thing stuck on the ceiling."Don't take that tone with me!'' His command was swift as he looked down at me. He brought his fingers towards my neck, and i snapped them away."You don't get to match back here and act like everything is okay. You're not a fucking child. Stop throwing tantrums and j..."Suddenly i was picked up off my feet and pushed against the wall gently, yet in a way that scared me. His hands were tight around my neck as he forced me to look at him. His body pressed up against mine, causing me to invaluntary borrow some of that b
I've always heard that mates are able to connect telepathicly. In a way that needs no words or actions. No eye contact. I always thought it was crap. It did not make sense, and no one ever talked about it. Even the mated wolves. Over time, it is believed that this ability died when the moon godess dissapeared and left a high priestess as a messnger. Alot of things are believed to have been gone when the moon godess went missing. More than a thousand years ago, she walked among the wolves. It was only a century after we were all created. Wolvs began to exist only two thousand years ago. And for a thousand years, the moon godess lived with the wolves and blessed our lands. When she dissapeared, chaos errupted, visions and curses were placed on werewolves and the worst beast known to us came to existence: the lycans. Till date, alot of the information known to us wolves about lycans is speculated. No one has met one and lived to tell the tale. For five hundred years, the Lycans terrori
Elara’s POV"We want to make this right," my mother begs. "Let us help you."I cross my arms. "There’s nothing you can do to erase years of pain and suffering.”"We can free you from Amaris," Aunt Isabella cuts in. "A ritual to expel her spirit completely."I look at them, breathless for a moment. If Amaris was gone, I could feel my wolf again. I wouldn’t be worried about my baby. I could go back to Lucas, given I won’t be worried about Amaris taking over and hurting him. I’d be free. I study their faces, looking for any sign of deception. "Just like that? You want to help me after admitting you orchestrated my entire life?""It's the least we can do," Matthew says. "Let us try to fix what we broke."My mother steps forward. "Please, Elara. Let this be our apology."I consider their offer. Part of me wants to refuse anything they suggest, but another part... "Fine," I say finally. "Do it.""We'll need time to prepare the ritual grounds," Aunt Isabella says. Hesitant, I ease up. "Fin
I have lived in many cages. Some with iron bars. Some made of illusions, some built from my own hope, crumbling when I realized no one was coming to save me.I thought I had finally escaped. That with Lucas, I had built something real. But it was all another illusion, another carefully constructed lie.Now, I stand on the edge of another choice—run, as I always have, or turn around and face the ghosts I spent my life running from. My mother, my aunt… they claim they have answers. But why should I believe them? Why should I listen?Because of the baby. Because of the life inside me, the only thing that is still mine.I have no choice but to turn back.I walk into Matthew’s pack house again. My mom is standing over Matthew, reciting incantations to try to heal his burn wounds. When they see me, everyone stops. “I only came because I want to know the truth. It’s the only way to protect my baby.’’ The quiet part I hadn’t said out loud was why. Because I was all alone now. Lucas kicked
Elara’s POV"You need to understand where it all began," my mother starts, while she helps apply ointment on my aunt's wounds. She mutters some incantations under her breath, stretching her hands over my aunt's chest. Yet again, like magic, her wounds disappeared. “Beautiful, isn’t it?’’ My aunt asked. “Scary’s more the word.’’ I admit, setting down the book. “Elara, you don’t have to be afraid of magic.’’ “I don’t want it.’’ I snapped. My mom looks back at me. She approaches me, coming to hold my hands gently. “Don’t!’’ I let out. “I don’t want to hurt you again.’’ “Elara, you’re part wolf, part witch. You’re a reincarnation of Amaris, and you’re carrying a Lycan baby. If you want, you can be the most powerful creature to ever roam this world.’’ “I just want a simple life.’’ I admitted, leaning back against the chair. “My baby deserves a simple life. Can you take the magic away? I don’t want to be cursed like this. I almost killed you for crying out loud.’’ “But you didn’t!’
Elara’s POV“I promised myself I’d never come back here,” I muttered as Matthew helped me up the stairs leading to the packhouse. “After you banished me, I had no home. Now everyone who used to bully me somehow calls me Luna. Not just that, but they think I’m some witch.”“We have much to talk about, darling,” Matthew said, smiling. “For now, you need rest.”We reached the top of the stairs, and standing at the entrance were faces I never thought I’d see again.“Elara! Oh, darling!” My mother and aunt rushed toward me, their arms outstretched.They hugged me tightly before I could react, their sudden warmth startling me. My body tensed, the touch setting off alarm bells in my head.“Easy there,” Matthew chuckled, stepping in. “She’s pregnant. Don’t crush her.”They laughed, easing away but not letting go completely.“Sorry, dear,” my mother said, brushing my hair back like she used to when I was a child. “I’m just so excited to see you again.”“Me too,” my aunt chimed in, her smile si
"Please don't do this, Alpha!" Sarah drops to her knees before Lucas. Her tears wet the ground. "She's our Luna!"I watch more pack members fall. One by one. Begging him. Pleading for me."Alpha Lucas, we need her," Michael's voice breaks. "The pack needs her."I feel their love wrapping around me like a warm blanket. But it's not enough. It's never enough.Lucas stands before me. Towering. Rigid. I search his face for any trace of the man who held me last night. Who whispered promises against my skin."I love you," I whisper. The words scratch my throat on their way out.He looks at me with empty eyes, my words mean nothing to him. He slams the door in my face. It is the final disrespect, the very thing that makes me regret knowing him. I’ve never had a place I called home that truly felt like home. Back in Matthew’s pack, it was anything but home. My parents left me a tiny house all to myself but the people around it made my life hell. Here, in Lucas’ pack, I had nothing of my own
Elara’s POVI used to catalog my heartbreaks like others collected seashells. Each heartbreak was unique, adding to my growing collection. The silent heartbreaks haunted me most. Like watching other children walk home to loving families while I returned to an empty house as an orphan. Then came the loud heartbreaks. Fists connecting with flesh, my face stuck into mud. Jeers echoing through hallways. Gum yanked from my hair piece by piece.After finding my first mate, Matthew, heartbreak came with rejection. It wasn’t after he called me to his room that night and propositioned me to become his sex slave that I felt insulted. But still, it didn’t come close to this. Standing here now, listening to Lucas speak, I understand something new. All my previous pain feels like gentle rain. This moment is the hurricane that teaches me what it truly means for a heart to break.I realize now, I’ve never known what heartbreak truly feels like until Lucas.He stands in the center of the room, look
Elara’s POV“I used to scrub these floors. Back in my old pack, they'd make me clean the hospital wing after battles, after accidents, after anything that brought real wolves in for treatment. I'd mop up blood and bandages, listening to them groan in pain while nurses rushed past me like I was invisible. Sometimes I'd hear them whisper - *stupid omega, worthless omega, don't waste medicine on her kind*.” Aurelio looked at me, really looked at me. He had nothing to say. “I remember the day I broke my arm. Three younger wolves had caught me alone, wanted to teach the omega her place. I'd dragged myself to the hospital entrance, blood dripping onto those clean floors I'd just mopped. The nurse had looked right through me, told me to clean up my own mess. I learned to set my own bones after that. Living in Matthew’s pack as the bullied omega taught me that services like health care were only available to wolves who mattered. For years, even when seriously sick, I’d clean the floors and
Elara’s POV“You’re nothing,” Mary spat, coming at me with a knife. “An inferior creature. You don’t deserve my son. You don’t deserve to live.” I tried to speak, to defend myself, but the words caught in my throat. I touched my stomach, afraid for my baby.“Oh Goddess, please help me.’’ I cried out, looking above. Mary laughed. “The goddess won’t help you. She abandoned you wolves centuries ago. She grew scared of us. How mighty Lycans had become.’’ My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, but it felt distant. It felt like she was retreating into the shadows of my mind. “Mary, please,” I managed to whisper. “I love Lucas. I would never—” “Silence!” Her roar echoed through the garden, and I flinched. Why wasn’t anyone coming to save me? Where were the guards, the warriors, the maids? Anyone. “Your love is a stain on our bloodline. You’re a mistake, one I intend to correct.” Before I could move, she lunged at me. The dagger was aimed straight at my chest, and I froze. My fight or f
Lucas’ POV“This isn’t possible. You’re dead.” The words came out before I realized I’d spoken them. “Surprise, Alpha. I’m very much alive.” His grin was wide, almost too wide, like he’d been waiting for this moment. “Do you feel it yet? Has the magic kicked in?”The air was tense, everyone held their breaths. I knew what Matthew meant, I just didn’t think the other Lycans did. The sheer number of wolves around us was too much. None of us was at full power. The forest is pumped with witch magic, which in turn weakens us. Each of us can handle fighting about 50 wolves, even while weak. That’s the power of a Lycan. However, something else was off. The magic got stronger and stronger. “Sabrina…” My father cried out. I turned to see my sister slumped against a tree, her hand pressed to her side. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow. She was slipping away, and I couldn’t do anything about it—not yet.“That’s right,” Matthew said, his tone mocking. “I laced my arrows with the same poi