#Chapter 2 12 Hour Countdown

Justin POV

Heat raced through his veins with every beat of his heart; Alpha Justin of Lone Wolf Pack, known as 'The Devil' and as The Last Lycan, fought for control inside the chains binding him.

His father -Alpha King Juden- had kept him in chains since he was a boy beginning to age into adolescence. His body was scarred from years of bondage, years of whips and chains and cuffs meant to subdue the monster inside of him.

Every full moon brought more torture as the Alpha King insisted she-wolf virgins be offered to Justin.

His body wanted the she-wolf virgins. His body craved their tender flesh and soft, wet sex, but his beast rejected their fear as unworthy of his interest.

Justin had no name for the beast inside himself. The Lycan part of his mind was pure animal instinct rather than a coherent consciousness of its own. He never wanted to hurt the she-wolves offered to him, but the beast couldn't tolerate their tears, their screams, their fear which was as bad as a slap to the face.

None of them ever recognized what an honor it would be to feel him fuck them.

Until she came in and said "Hello."

Her scent was moonlight, rain, and a flower Justin couldn't name. Gardenia maybe? He didn't know -hadn't left his room in years, much less been allowed in a garden- and didn't care except she smelled so good he couldn't resist her.

'Mate.'

The monster moaned inside his mind and Justin knew he couldn't let this one leave soon. He had to have a taste of her. Just a taste, wouldn't hurt, would it?

'Mate.'

Justin shook with the effort it took to hold himself back from her---then the beast spoke again in his mind and he stopped resisting.

'Mate.'

Running his hands down her body, Justin marveled at how every curve seemed to fit perfectly in his hands. His beast had never spoken words before. True the monster was only repeating the same word over and over, but it was a word nonetheless and any words were better than the violent feelings the creature usually communicated using.

He didn't even notice when he said the word aloud, moaning the word into her ear, "Mate..."

Her breasts, her waist, her hips, her ass---Justin shoved her away from him as his heat cycle crested, trying to force him to give in, to tear her dress off, to fuck her until his lust was sated.

Thrusting her away from him with the last vestiges of his self-control, Justin growled at her, "Get out."

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Helen POV

Pain exploded from my shoulder as I hit the solid oak door. My body was tingling all over from the rough exploration of The Devil's hands. He'd been thorough as he'd groped and grasped and groaned over me, but I didn't feel violated the way I thought I would.

I felt---hot. Heavy. Sticky even where my own wolf had started to react to the powerful Lycan male laying claim to my skin.

Why had he stopped?

All the stories claimed the last Lycan needed to mate with a virgin she-wolf to tame his beast during the full moon. He was supposed to get control out of the exchange while the she-wolf gained power of her own from mating with him.

No one had ever warned me about how being rejected by a mate would hurt. I'd been warned males couldn't control their need for sex. I was the one who was supposed to be careful to protect my virtue. My mother had never said anything about how it felt for a male to throw me away rather than mate me.

I realized I wanted Justin to want me, to take me, to have me just as he roared at me again.

The sound The Devil made was pure animal, no words involved, and it chilled me to the bone. I fumbled for the doorknob, grateful when it turned under my hand allowing me to open the door and stumble back into the hallway where I was met with stunned stares.

"I---"

Words failed me as I realized I didn't know what I was supposed to say in these circumstances. Was I meant to apologize for not pleasing the Lycan? Be angry he hadn't chosen me? Cry?

Tears felt too close to the surface for me to think of them for long; I was grateful when an astonishingly good-looking wolf stepped forward to introduce himself.

Offering me his hand, he said, "I'm Randy. I'll be Justin's Beta when he's ready to take over the throne as Alpha King. You want to tell me what happened in there with him?"

Curiosity colored his words clearly enough for me to tell he was genuinely interested.

I found it hard to believe the day would ever come The Devil would be tame enough to rule over wolves as the Alpha King.

"Nothing. He touched me. He called me 'mate' and then he threw me out like all the rest."

I shrugged a shoulder as if it didn't hurt, as if it didn't feel broken---as if my heart didn't feel more bruised than my body.

Randy looked me over from my messy hair down to the scuffed toes of my shoes. I didn't want to think about how I looked to him in my rumpled wedding dress and doubtlessly ruined appearance from tears, sweat, and being dragged around all night.

Whatever Randy saw in me, he must have liked because he reached down and removed the rope tying my ankles together. He stood up with a smile before gesturing for me to follow him.

"We're taking a walk. Keep up."

I lifted my skirt so I wouldn't trip over the material and followed as fast as I could. We wound through so many halls and stairways I knew I wouldn't have been able to find my way out if I tried.

Randy held open another heavy wooden door -even more impressive than the one guarding the last Lycan's room- and waved me in, "Please step inside. The King will see you now."

The King? The Alpha King?

I was stunned into silence as I hesitated in the doorway.

Randy grasped my arm at the elbow and then pulled me through the doorway. He led me forward until I was standing before a huge desk where the Alpha King sat waiting.

I recognized the Alpha King from his public appearances. Even a human would know our King. He was famous! What was I doing standing in front of him looking like a disaster survivor?

I waited for the King to speak. I had learned how to be seen on command and heard only on request. My family had taught me to know my place.

"My son called you his mate. Is this true?"

I nodded, "Yes, your majesty. He said 'mate' and he touched me, then he made me leave."

"Touched you? Touched you how? Did he want to have sex with you or was he pushing you away?"

I didn't know how to answer. Justin had wanted me from the passionate way he'd explored my body with his hands, but he had pushed me away. My shoulder felt like a giant bruise from how hard he'd pushed me away.

"Both? He was passionate and then he pushed me away. Told me to 'get out.' He didn't hurt me."

The King considered me before saying, "That's good. My son needs his mate. His heat cycle starts every full moon and continues to get worse the longer he goes without a partner. You have twelve hours before this full moon ends. You will mate with my son, give him your virginity, and you will live to become his Luna."

I had only twelve hours to convince the Lycan to have sex with me? Impossible! I didn't know how to seduce any man much less a wild man.

"I don't know if I will be able to do---that. What happens if I can't?" I asked, adding, "Your majesty."

"You'll die."

The King didn't blink as he stared at me, his eyes dark with a hint of glow from the presence of his wolf. I couldn't believe what he'd said.

"What? How?"

"You'll die," the King said again, "I'll kill you."

I looked from King Juden to Randy and back before nodding.

"It's up to you, little wolf. Go be a good mate to my son."

The twelve hours I had to seduce the Lycan felt like twelve seconds as Randy walked me back to the ornate door guarding Alpha Justin.

I was thrust back into the dark room as soon as we reached the Lycan's room. The growl coming from Justin was warning enough for me to sink down to the ground right at the door.

Conversation was impossible to make when every word I spoke resulted in growling, rattling chains, and an increase in tension in the room.

As I smoothed my skirt over and over, I suddenly started to cry.

My first mate had rejected me on our wedding day -choosing my sister over me- and my second chance mate was a monster! What kind of curse was I under?