BONDED TO THE ROYAL LYCAN KING

Ellie's Point Of View My breathing was rough and shallow. I could feel the beads of sweat that trickled down from my face, running blindly into the neck of my black tank top and soaking it. I have been at this for several hours now, and as usual, I was far from exhausted. My mind was sharper even after the sun had taken shade beneath the clouds for what seemed like an hour now, and my blue eyes were clearer, watching my attackers as they circled me. I narrowed my gaze at the two male warriors who charged at me with their claws sticking out and fangs extended from the edges of their lips. I closed my eyes briefly and I could feel my wolf, Nina, coming to the surface. I ditched the long silver blade on the earthly rugged ground and my claws extended from my hands as I felt them almost at me. My gaze snapped open, glowing a bright shade of ice blue. I pounced on the warrior on my left before he could attack, diving my claws into the side of his stomach, but not too deep as I used my strength to toss him aside, flinging him against the tree. Through my wolf's eyes, I noticed the other wolf swing at me. I dodged his attack, striking him down with my leg. Before his wolf could recover, I was on top of him and my sharp claws went straight into his stomach, pinning him to the ground. I took a deep exhale, feeling my eyes lose their glow, and my wolf once again retreated to the deepest corners of my mind, shutting herself away. She had been like this for two months, after my ex-mate betrayed me with another bloody she-wolf, Karen, marking and claiming her before me, a few days before our official marking ceremony. Cohen's rejection had hurt me deeply. But the past was in the past, and it's been two months already. It was time my heart and wolf healed from the betrayal, but unfortunately, Nina hadn't. That bastard betrayal had hurt me and left Nina in complete ruins. She had shut herself in the corner walls of my mind, even from me. I got off the warrior, cleaning off the trail of blood that had smeared my nose with the back of my hand. I could feel my injuries already healed as I made my way out of the training field and into the woods, taking the shortest route to the quarters, a few miles away from the Packhouse. I was almost at the door of the quarters I shared with my roommate, and combat warrior, Alina, when I got a sniff of a familiar scent, behind me. "You are not dressed yet?" I heard the voice sigh in a bored and exhausted tone. I slowly turned around to meet the piercing gaze of my best friend, and Alpha of our pack, the Night Moon Pack. "I told you, Leo, I'm not going for it," I said, matching his exhausted tone. "Can you please, listen to yourself, Ellie? You are my beta and the commanding head of our warriors. Does it make sense you are absent tonight?" He asked, rhetorically, squaring his broad shoulders and staring down at me. "Stop exaggerating, Leonardo. This isn't the first time I missed a f*****g Council's meeting," I crossed my hands against my chest. "This is different from the others and you know that. It's being held in my pack this time, and everything must go smoothly," He said, and even though I understood his point, I still didn't want to be there and he knew just why. The Council held a meeting almost every month. The Council consisted of high-ranking werewolves such as the Alphas, their Lunas, and Beta. It was more like the Supreme Court of werewolves and it was led by the King of beasts. King Killian, the Lycan King. So this meeting was a big deal to Leonardo as it was his time to host it in his pack. Though, I still didn't see the need to be there. I had successfully excluded myself from attending such meetings for years now, even though I was his Beta. So I don't see why tonight would be any different. "I'm sorry, Leo, but I'm not going," I said stubbornly, seeing the same stubborn streak in his eyes. He was not backing down from this. "I know why you are being stubborn about this—" "If you know, then why are you still insisting?" "Because this is about the pack," He paused, shutting his eyes closed for a second before opening it. "And besides, I need you there, my friend," He said, taking a step closer to me. "So please, come and I promise, if anyone or that bastard tries anything—" He began but I cut him off, feeling a familiar deep pain in my chest just as a reminder that he would be there. It was inevitable that the bastard would be there. And I didn't have the strength to put up with him tonight, neither with the stares and whispers from almost every f*****g wolf that would be present. "You don't need to do anything, I can defend myself," I said, walking towards the door, before pausing. "And I'll be there," I bit out lastly, before stepping into the house. I turned on the light in our modest living room, and from the silence from the other room, I could tell Alina wasn't in. Each ranking warrior had quarters given to them with assigned roommates. Alina and I had been roommates for six years now since the time I became Leo's Beta at eighteen. I headed straight to my room, and stripped naked, racing to the bathroom for a quick shower. I wasted no time, and soon I was out with a white towel around my chest. I went to the wardrobe, picking out black jean trousers, a gray tank top, a black leather jacket, and my favorite gray scarf for the evening cold. I dried my hair with my towel and got dressed quickly, placing the scarf around my neck and wearing my black boots. I left the quarters, ambling into the darkness that had settled around. The evening breeze was cool, and satisfying as I made my way to the pack's mansion where the Alpha and ranking officials in the pack resided. We were using the large hall by the side of the mansion for tonight's event. As I approached the mansion, I could hear several voices coming from the mansion and some from the large hall. Guests from various packs both far and wide were already trooping in. I made my way to the hall instead. The place had been dolled up nicely with several chairs all arranged neatly around a huge circular table and at the head of a table was a striking seat, taller than the rest of the chairs. It must be for King Killian. I shifted my gaze around. The place was crowded with at least more than a hundred wolves for now and from the intimidating aura that danced around in the air, I reckoned some Lycans were present as well. But I doubt the King was here already. I didn't know him, and since I barely attended any meetings, I had no idea what he looked like as well. But he hasn't arrived yet, otherwise, we would have felt his powerful aura and would be cowering in fear. Lycans, unlike us, could stand on two legs in their beast form if they wanted and were more gargantuan in their actual animal forms. So in a gathering this big, full of werewolves and Lycans, there was no way such a powerful aura and dominance could be hidden. I sighed, turning for the door, since the meeting hadn't begun yet. I would be better off outside. I made my way out of the hall, ignoring the heavy stares that were sent my way. Some were pity looks while others were gruesome glares. But honestly, I couldn't give a double f**k. I had stopped caring two months ago when the scandal between Daniel Cohen and I had traveled far and wide and beyond California. He twisted the story of his betrayal and in short, he became the pitiful Alpha who was cursed to be fated to a mere lowly Beta like me, and I, the lowlife she-wolf who couldn't even keep her mate, and betrayed him with another. It was unbelievable how easily people believed a lie. Sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder what crime I might have committed in my past life to be given such a harsh fate. "Ellie," I broke out of my thoughts at the call of my name. I turned around to find Allen hastening towards me. "You came," He said with a smile on his lips as he caught up to me. "Seeing as Alpha Leonardo didn't give me much of a choice," I balanced my hands on both sides of my waist, staring at the bulky guy in front of me. Allen was Leonardo's younger brother and was also the Alpha of a neighboring pack, the Redwood pack and he was also a friend. "Well, I'm glad he didn't. It's good to see you again, Ellie," He muttered with a smile and I couldn't help but push one forward as well. "Yeah," "I heard about, uhm, what happened between you and Alpha—" He started, clearing his throat and I could see his intended words already in his eyes. I felt my insides tighten and my wolf recoiled deeper into my mind, releasing a painful howl that reached the depth of my soul, crushing me. I shook my head. "Don't," I voiced. "I don't want to talk about it," I said. "I know, f**k, I'm so sorry," He blurted out, and I simply chuckled, hiding my pain, which thankfully I was extremely good at. "Were you leaving already?" He asked, curiously and I shook my head. "Just going for a stroll, I'll be back," I said, turning around to leave. "I'll see you around, Allen," With that I took the path into the forest, feeling the growing pain in my heart. It had been two months already, and each time, the pain only hit me harder. I felt my wolf howl again. I was out in the middle of the woods, backing against a tree as I swallowed in some deep breaths to quell the pain in my bone. It was working, but everything fell into ruin the instant my nostrils got a whiff of a familiar scent, one I loathed to my bones. Soon, I heard the sound of a twig snapping, and heavy footfalls approached me. I closed my eyes, clenching my jaw hard, as the steps stopped right opposite me. My gaze pulled open and it held nothing but rage, pain, and hate. "Hello mate," He muttered, sending sick shivers down my spine. "Cohen!" I spat venomously.