The Lycan King's Broken Luna

Chapter 4

Warning! Graphic Content!

When I woke up, I was on a hard, stone floor. My head was throbbing. I gingerly touched my face. It felt swollen and bruised. The memories of last night flashed through my head. Tyra... He killed her. She's gone. What am I going to do now? Where does he have me? My thoughts were racing. I have to find a way out of here. I looked around the room. No, it's not a room, he's got me in a cell, like I'm a prisoner. I gingerly attempted to stand. My head was killing me. I think I have a concussion.

A loud clank pulled my attention from my thoughts. Heavy footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Footsteps I'll never forget. I retreated to the back of the cell and watched as the monster that will haunt me for the rest of my life, what's left of it, came to a stop in front of my cell door. "You're awake. Good. I have someone here to meet you", Jaekob said. His voice was devoid of all emotion. I was so focused on Jaekob's footsteps that I missed the other man behind Jaekob.

"This is James. James is a Lycan. He's going to turn you. You're not worthy of becoming a werebear. To make a witch a werebear... It's sacrilegious", he scoffed. I glanced at James. He seemed to be indifferent to the shade Jaekob threw his way. I returned my attention to Jaekob, and glared at him. "And if I refuse? What will you do then, Jaekob?" I asked indignantly. Jaekob's lip curled up in a snarl. "It's Prince Jaekob", he said through gritted teeth. I threw him a wicked smile. "You're hardly a prince. Besides, you're planning on killing me, so I don't think I'll be doing anything you say. Not willingly anyway", I spat at him.

A snarl ripped from his lips. "You're right about that, I do plan on killing you. But it will be slow and painful. A fitting end for a disgusting creature such as yourself", his voice dripped with venom. It doesn't make sense. Why does he hate witches so much? He pulled an old iron key from his pocket and unlocked the cell door. The heavy iron bars swung inwards with a loud creak.

Jaekob stepped inside and moved towards me. I felt for my magic again. I still couldn't feel anything and my panic started to set in. All I could hear was the rush of my own blood in my ears as my heart rate picked up. Jaekob could hear this and his face twisted into a wicked grin. James stepped in behind Jaekob. I did my best to calm my panic and reached for my magic once more, in a last-ditch effort to protect myself. I felt it, it was weak and wouldn't last long, but I could feel it!

I raised my hands and saw soft silver tendrils of magic surrounding my hands. This surprised Jaekob and James long enough for me to throw what little magic I had in their faces. Between the surprise that I had some magic back and the pain in their eyes and nostrils, I had just enough time to slip out of the cell and pull it closed behind me. I knew it wouldn't last long, he had the key after all, but maybe it would buy me some more time, especially if he's having trouble seeing. I ran down the long corridor and up the stairs.

I heard a roar come from the cells and knew I didn't have much time before I was caught. If I could just make it outside, I might have a chance to at least hide. I thought. I could hear them stomping up the steps just as I made it to the front door. I threw the door open and my heart sank. Standing before me was Kit. He lunged at me and I tried my best to dodge it, but he managed to grab my hair and painfully yank me back to him. "Where do you think you're going, little b***h?" he snarled in my ear.

I reared back and head butted him in the nose. With a roar, he let me go, just as a murderous Jaekob came through the door. He snatched me by my hair and pulled me up off the ground so I was at eye level with him. "Listen here you b***h! If I hadn't promised James here a bride, in exchange for his support, I'd tear your throat out!" He screamed in my face. I fought against him, though it was futile. He back handed me, when I managed to land a blow to his face, and threw me into James' arms.

"I delivered her, I held up my end of the deal. I don't know why you didn't propose marriage yourself, but I expect your full support when I over-throw Lucious", he said in James' general direction. "If you don't want her trying to escape again, I suggest you go ahead and mark her so she's bound to you", Jaekob advised as we walked away. I was still fighting against James' grip when he jammed a needle into my arm. He drug me back through the palace and down to the cells.

The key was still inside the lock of my cell as James pulled me through the door and threw me on the bed. I drew my legs up and sat against the far wall, starting coldly at the man standing before me. He had dark brown hair and golden brown eyes. He wasn't quite six feet in height, but he was built like a linebacker. "I don't want to hurt you. It won't be as painful if you submit, but I've wanted this for a long time. I've been watching you for a long time. You'll be mine, regardless", he said. He paused to see if I was going to say anything. When I didn't, he signed and walked back out of the cell, locked it and pocketing the key.

He gave me one last look, before walking back down the corridor and up the stairs. I let out a sigh. I was alone for now. My cheek stung where Jaekob back handed me. My head throbbed from being pulled around by my hair. I gingerly touched my scalp. It stung and when I pulled my hand away, there was blood on my finger tips. The headache this will bring is going to suck. I whined to myself. I felt a throbbing coming from my arm where James jammed the needle in. It must be a magic suppressant. That's why I couldn't feel it. I wonder what that stuff is? And why the hell does Jaekob hate witches so much?

My stomach growled, pulling me from my racing thoughts. I got up from the bed and started looking for possible escape routes or weapons. I need to get a plan together. I can't just willingly give in. If James is going to mark me to turn me, I'm going to put up a fight.

I don't know how long I was switching between searching for weapons and pacing, trying to come up with a plan, but footsteps coming down the corridor sent me running back to the back of the cell. I stood there, looking as defiant as possible, when James came into view and stopped in front of my cell. He was holding a tray of food. It smelled delicious and my stomach, against my wishes, growled loudly in response to the smell.

James smiled. "I thought you might be hungry, and I guess I was right", he said, reaching into his pocket for the key to my cell. "I am going to open this door and give this tray to you. Please don't do anything rash. I don't want to hurt you", he sounded like he was pleading with me. I narrowed my eyes at him. "You had no problem hurting me earlier", I spat. His eyes flashed black. Hm, he has anger issues too. Or at least his Lycan does. I made a mental note of that. "I apologize about that. I was surprised and let my anger get the best of me", he said, visibly trying to control himself.

He unlocked the door and walked over to the bed. He set the tray down on the end of the bed and hurriedly retreated back through the cell door, closing it behind him. I waited for him to leave and when he didn't, I sighed and grabbed the tray of food. It smelled amazing. Roasted chicken, with roasted veggies, green beans, and a couple of rolls. There was a small bottle of water also. James stood outside and watched me eat.

When I was finished, I slid the tray through a gap in the bars and retreated back to my spot on the bed. James sighed. "I don't want you to be afraid of me", he said with a frown. "You're going to turn me against my will, which will take away the only me I have ever known. I could lose my magic. For me to lose my magic would be like you losing your beast", I said matter-of-factly. He winced at the analogy. "Do you know how you ended up with King Linus?" He asked suddenly. I frowned. What does that have to do with anything? Why is he changing the subject?

"Yes, my mother was killed by a Lycan, and I just happened to stumble across a scouting party of soldiers while I was running away. He and my mother were good friends, and that is why he took me in", I stated. James nodded. "Do you know why your mother was killed?" He asked. My heart rate picked up. Does he know something? What if he was involved? He did say he had been watching me for some time. "No, we never did find out any information as to why she was targeted", I said, hesitating on saying anything further.

James unlocked the cell and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him, locked himself in with me. I didn't move, I just watched. What is he doing? Without warning, he shifted. The sounds of his bones rearranging and snapping into place was deafening in the quiet cell. When the transformation was complete, my heart dropped. Staring back at me was a huge Lycan. A Lycan I recognized. The same Lycan that killed my mother.

Rage took over me and without my magic, all I could do was throw myself at him. I punched him in the face and he roared in anger. He swung his claws at me. I dodged, but I wasn't fast enough. His claws sliced into my shoulder. I cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground. James' Lycan turned and snarled at me. I scrambled backwards towards the bed. He stalked towards me and stood over me, snarling in my face. "Since James it too weak to claim you himself, I'll do it", his voice gravely and otherworldly.

"I don't want this! I don't want you! I don't want any of this! Kill me if this is your plan! I won't live as your mate, your anything! If you don't kill me, I'll do it myself! I refuse to live as the beast that killed my mother!" I spat at him, while clawing at his nose. I broke the skin on his nose and saw a few beads of blood come to the surface. He growled and grabbed me, pulling me up into his arms. He hugged me to him and I could feel his breath on my neck. I felt his fangs pierce my flesh and hit bone as he sunk his teeth into my lower neck and shoulder, marking me as his.

The pain was so intense that I felt my vision fading. I heard some laughing and glanced up to see Jaekob laughing outside of the cell. James' Lycan withdrew his teeth and placed me on the bed. The pain was so intense I couldn't move, I could barely breathe. My vision kept fading until all I knew was white pain. Endless pain. Please let this kill me. I can't take it anymore, was the last thought I had before oblivion took me.