Fated To The Cursed Lycan King

Seven

Marissa

With my chin held high and my chest thrust out, I felt proud that I managed to resist Justin. The bond between us pulled at me, undeniably strong, but I wasn’t about to let him control me. No, I would never allow that.

I made my way down the hallway towards the workspace assigned to me, my heels clicking against the polished marble. Just as I rounded a corner, my eyes caught sight of Justin’s fiancée leaving one of the nearby offices. She moved with that same irritating arrogance, her gaze set straight ahead as if no one else mattered. The secretary stationed at the door she exited didn’t even receive a glance. Her designer stilettos—most likely Jimmy Choos—clicked down the hall, making it hard to ignore her presence.

“What a diva,” I muttered under my breath, not realizing anyone could hear me.

The secretary at the desk looked up, her lips twitching into a smile. “She’s not just a diva, she's a bitch.”

I almost laughed, biting back the response that sat on my tongue. Lycans could be tricky to read, and trusting one too easily could come back to bite me. So, I kept my thoughts to myself.

The secretary, unfazed by my silence, gave a shrug and continued, her ginger bangs bouncing as she spoke. “She’s always like that. Trust me,” she said, leaning in as if sharing a secret. “Nobody here likes Wendy. Not even Justin.”

I didn’t respond, but I could feel a small smirk tugging at my lips. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as miserable as I thought. But I knew better than to be delusional—Justin hadn’t acknowledged the bond, and he preferred Barbie perfection over a chubby, thick thighs.

Without thinking, I blurted out, “Are they really serious?”

The secretary nodded, balancing a stack of files on her hip as she moved towards the printer. “Oh yeah, they’re definitely serious. Supposed to get married in under two months.”

A chill settled over me. Two months. My heart felt heavy, weighed down by disappointment. They were an actual committed couple. If that was true, then why had Justin flirted with me?

The secretary looked up from the printer and offered me a sympathetic look. “By the way, I’m Anita,” she said, extending her hand. “The Lycan King’s secretary. I used to be Justin’s until Wendy made life a living hell.”

I shook her hand, feeling a strange kinship. “Marissa,” I replied. “I’m Justin’s new assistant.”

Anita’s brow arched, and a knowing smile spread across her face. “Oh boy, that’s rough. Especially with Wendy in the picture.”

Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked, “Did Justin ever flirt with you?”

She shrugged, acting nonchalant. “Yeah, we f****d once. But afterward, he acted like it never happened, so I did the same. Wendy wasn’t having it, though. She made my life miserable.”

My stomach churned. It was worse than I’d imagined—my supposed mate preferred multiple women, and to him, I was just another v****a. The Moon Goddess had played a cruel joke on me, giving me a mate who refused to recognize our bond.

Seeing my face must have triggered something in Anita because she offered a small smile. “Look, Justin is... well, Justin. He’s got looks, money, charm. And yeah, I won’t lie—he's a good kisser and f***s like a stallion. It’s hard to say no.”

“I can,” I snapped, annoyed by her casual attitude but more at myself for letting Justin get under my skin. “Sure, he’s got money and looks, but I’ve got self-respect. Not every girl has to fall at his feet.”

Anita laughed, holding up her hand to show a sparkling engagement ring. “We’ve all done dumb things when we were single. Thankfully, I’ve found my mate now and plan to stay loyal.”

“Good for you,” I replied, forcing a smile.

The conversation ended, and we parted ways. I returned to my desk, exhausted but determined. I went over Justin’s schedule for the day, organizing meetings, calls, and errands. It was a packed agenda—clearly, Justin was determined to make me run myself ragged. He wanted me tired and broken, but I had no intention of giving him that satisfaction.

Thank goodness I knew how to deal with people like him. My father had done the same, piling on ten-hour days when I interned at his office, trying to punish me for not playing along with his expectations. If Justin thought he could break me, he’d have to think again.

By the end of the day, my back ached, my legs screamed, and my eyes burned from staring at my laptop. I longed for nothing more than to collapse. When I finally made it to my room, I threw my bag to the floor, slumped into my chair, and let my eyes drift shut. Sleep must have overtaken me because the next thing I knew, knocking jolted me awake.

I blinked against the darkness, groggy and disoriented. I grabbed my robe, tied it hastily and made my way to the door. Opening it, I found Hector standing there, holding a pizza box and a bottle of soda.

“I didn’t see you at dinner, so I figured you’d be hungry,” he said, flashing a smile. “That spoiled brat worked you to the bone, huh?”

“You could say that,” I replied, sighing. The smell of pizza hit me, and I realized my stomach was empty—I hadn’t eaten since lunch, and it let out a growl.

Hector stepped inside and took in my room with a nod. “Nice place. Looks like you’ve settled in pretty well.”

Ignoring his comment, I moved to the small table. After a quick handwash, I sat down and opened the pizza box, savoring the aroma of the classic pepperoni. I took a bite, enjoying the melted cheese and the perfectly crisp crust. It was exactly what I needed after such a stressful day.

Hector dropped into the chair across from me, and a smile tugged at his lips. “How was your first day?” he asked, watching as I devoured the slice. “We missed you in legal. You’re one of the best.”

I swallowed and placed the pizza down for a moment. “It was exhausting,” I admitted. “Justin’s schedule is insane, and I think he’s trying to punish me.”

The real reason why—because I’d refused his advances—stayed unsaid. Hector leaned forward, giving me a sympathetic look.

“Hang in there, Rissa. Things will get better. Our pack’s economy will improve, and we’ll be out of this mess.”

His positive words nearly made me laugh. “If only it were that simple,” I muttered. The truth was much bleaker—our leaders were too corrupt, our resources too drained. Honest werewolves struggled while the Alphas lined their pockets.

I took another bite, trying to focus on the present instead of the mess our pack was in. My thoughts drifted back to Justin. Maybe if things were different, I wouldn’t have ended up here. Maybe I could have avoided this f****d up bond altogether.

“Earth to Rissa,” Hector’s voice broke through, pulling me from my thoughts. His eyes searched my face. “Are you okay?”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, just tired.”

He nodded but still seemed unconvinced. I finished the slice, washing it down with soda, and realized he hadn’t taken his eyes off me. It made me uncomfortable.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked with a causal tone, but Hector hesitated.

“You’re beautiful,” he said quietly. “You always have been.”

I let out a forced laugh, brushing the compliment aside. “Thanks.”

He looked like he wanted to say more, and after a moment, the words came out. “Maybe one day, we could...I don’t know, try something. I’ve always liked you, Marissa.”

A stunned silence settled between us as our eyes met. Hector had always been my ex’s best friend, someone on the sidelines.. My response came in the form of an unrestrained laugh, bubbling up from my chest uncontrollably.

Hector’s face turned red and embarrassment replaced whatever confidence he had. I tried to stop, really, but the absurdity of the situation had me laughing until tears formed.

“I’m sorry,” I gasped, pushing myself up. “I don’t mean to laugh, it’s just—”

“Are you a lesbian?” Hector blurted out.

I froze, staring at him. “What?”

Hector shrugged, avoiding my gaze. “You don’t seem interested in men. Most werewolf women settle down by now. I thought maybe... that’s why you’re not interested.”

If only he knew. I couldn’t tell him about Justin, about the bond that pulled at me despite everything. How could I even think of anyone else?

Hector leaned closer, and his eyes softened. “I care about you, Marissa, and I want you to be happy.”

I looked up at him, forcing a smile. “I know, and I appreciate it, Hector. Really, I do.” There was a pause, a heavy silence filled with things left unsaid. “But I can’t give you what you want.”

He looked at me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “I understand,” he said, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He got up, moving towards the door. “But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”