6: Iris
I looked around at the shocked faces. And my eyes fell on the Cursed Lycan himself and I gulped. His earlier expression of shock had been wiped away, and now be gazed upon me with heavy scrutiny. His red eyes lad morphed back to their dark color.
“You are immune. His voice was low and enough to induce fear. Then he tumed to his still stunned men. “Strip her. Search for a charm, an amulet, anything!” He barked out orders that made the men snap out of their trance.
Mys stomach dropped. I did not want to be stripped bare before all of these strangers. These men. These enemies.
I wrap my arms around myself as though that will protect me from their prodding fingers,
“That will do nothing to save you,” The Cursed Lycan snickered.
His men approached seemingly fearless, ready to carry out their Alpha’s command. But I could see the question well in their eyes.
Just then, more people entered the throne room and by their attires, they were Lycanroyals. The Cursed Lycan’s family.
An older woman came forward, in an elaborate gown. Moving toward the Alpha but not quite as close as he was to me. She looked between her son and me, confusion marring her features. “Is this the trespasser? The one immune to your touch!” She questioned. “But no one is immune to it. It’s impossible.”
But the Alpha’s gaze did not leave my face. He terrified me to the heavens. But for whatever reason, I could not look away from him as though our gizes were permanently locked.
“Yes, mother.” He replied.
Then another woman came forward, towards the Alpha. “She needs to be thoroughly searched. She might have charms.”
“Please don’t.” I begged, trying to reach into his humanity. The same one I was sure he did not have.
He raised a dark brow. “You do not wish to be searched?” He questioned, his voice deceptively soft
I nodded.
“Then.” His eyes took on their terrifying red hue again. “Strip” He commanded
As though he had control over me, my hands moved, and I began to do what he commanded. But it was an involuntary action. It was as though be had taken over my body. But only the Alplu of the park I belonged to could do that. Only Kavriel had control over me, just as he had over the rest of the pack members. It dawned on me at that moment just how powerful the Cursed Alpha was.
I took off my clothes, despite how hard I fought his hold on me to no avail. When I was done, my face was wet with tears of humiliation. They all gued upon my naked body, my scars on full display. Then the Alpha came forward. Instinctively, I backed away.
“Halt.” The Alpha commanded, and once again my body obeyed him
He moved closer enough that I could smell his scent. He reached for me but stopped, everyone watching. It was as though the room had held its breath
red in his dark eyes. “Bow!” He commanded.
Something glimmered
My body obeyed. As I did, there was a gasp. From the older woman. “That mark.” she muttered, her voice filled with horrified awe.
Her eyes were right on me, and they widened with horrar. The band mark..” she gasped.
Was she saying that I had a bond mark? That would be impossible if I accepted Kavriel’s rejection, our bond mark would automatically be erased by the moon goddess
“Cassian’s mark,” The younger woman gasped in horrified awe. “It’s on her.”
Unable to hold back my curiosity, 1 tried to look at what she was speaking about. I turned as best as I could until I saw part of the mark. Part of a mark that should not have been on my back. My mind was whirling with the revelation.
I was as confused as everyone else in the room. They all stared at me, eyes bulging. The only person who wore a calm facade was the Lycan Alpha himself. His dark eyes raked my body, slowly and deadly. Like prey to be devoured. Yet, I detected a hint of something underneath his expression Something akin to hope that lat his features.
“You bear my mark.” His voice came ragged and contemplative.
1 gulped, focusing wholly on him. I might have survived his touch, but he was an Alpha, a Lycan. The strongest creatures who would ever prowl our world. He would not need to call upon his wolf to tear me to ribbons
“I come in peace,” Imuttered, my voice more stable than I thought possible.
His eyes left mine momentarily to fall on my blade that was laid at my feet,
“Please, spare me,” I begged.
He said nothing as he came even closer, deaf to my pleas
This was it. He would end me without his touch. I was resigned to my fate, tears filling my eyes. When he was within a hair’s breadth of me, his finger came down to pull my face up. His touch was as cold as ice.
“Mate.“a grow escaped his lips. I did not need to be told that his wolf had been the one that spoke.
My eyes widened, and my blood slowed to a crawl. His mate?! I thought in panic. I could not be a cursed Lycan’s mate. But the bond mark…
“You wish for mercy, do you not?” He asked me slowly
Inodded.
“My mercy comes at a steep cost,” he wamed. “Are you willing?”
Iswallowed. I nodded again.
“You would do anything for my mercy, little wolf?” There was a sinister twinkle in his eyes.
“Anything. Alpha”
“You would even become my wife!”
My breath caught in my throat. My heart lurched in my chest and earlier lightheadedness took me over again. “Your wife?” I stammered, hoping than had heard wrong
His features hardened at my question. “I don’t think I stuttered.”
1 continued to look up at him, unable to form a coherent answer. I could not marry him. I could not leave one monster to end up wed to another. The moon goddess would not be so cruel to me.
“Answer me.” He growled, but this time it was all him and not his wolf. “Or I slit your throat myself.”
“No,” I blurted. There was no escaping this. I had no choice. If I had a chance to save those that I loved, however slim, I had to take it. “I will be your wife. I conceded.
7: Kannel
7: Kavriel
