BONDED TO THE ROYAL LYCAN KING

3

Ellie's Point Of View

I didn't stop running until I reached the quarters. I shifted back to my human form, butt naked since I had destroyed my clothes from the abrupt shift.

I hurried into the house, jamming the door shut. Thankfully, Alina still wasn't in. I raced into my room, donning the white robe that was hanging on the bathroom door.

My heart was still drumming hard in my ears as the last few minutes replayed in my mind. I couldn't believe it. Just when I thought the goddess had finally had enough laughs at me, she sent another f*****g mate. I didn't want it. I didn't want him.

I was tired, and I knew deep down Nina couldn't handle another betrayal, even worse rejection. She had receded to the darkest corner wall of my mind already. This was a complete shock to her, and to me too.

I sighed, plopping on the bed with my face buried in my palm. This was bad. Second-chance mates were rare especially when one was still mated to another.

I couldn't help but wonder what pack he was from. He wasn't an Alpha or a Beta. I knew that much because he didn't reek of power. He must be a warrior. But that didn't matter. They were a bunch of the same lot, and yet again, I was going to be an object of ridicule and mockery once everyone found out I had been cursed with another mate. And trust me, they would.

I got up from the bed, pacing, sanity finally kicking in and I knew without a doubt I shouldn't have run the way I did. I should have rejected him right there at least that would save me from further complications.

I grabbed a fresh top and jeans from the closet, got dressed, and stepped out of the quarters, heading straight back to the hall hoping I could get this over with. It was better now than much later.

I ignored Nina howling in my head. It was obvious she was against what I was about to do, but I didn't care. I couldn't afford to get tangled in another baseless scandal just like Daniel. And it was even unheard of to have two mates at the same time.

As I reached the hall, I found my roommate Alina waiting nervously in front of the double doors.

“What's going on?” I glanced briefly inside, returning my attention back to her.

“It's the King, he's here. But he suddenly asked to speak with Alpha Leo and Kira. I really don't know what it's about. It sounded serious. The King looked so serious. Do you think we are in trouble?” Alina asked and I wasn't sure exactly what to think.

If something serious had happened, I should have heard of it by now. I tried mindlinking Leo, and his mate, but unfortunately, their link was blocked.

I tried not to get worried but something was off. I glanced back at Alina. “Let's head inside first, maybe we can find Allen. He might know what's going on,”

The second we stepped back into the large hall, I felt it instantly. The disturbing sudden silence at my presence, and silent stares of disdain, anger, and hatred thrown my way.

“Okay, what's going on here?” Alina leaned over to whisper in my ear, but it was completely useless, not when everyone could hear her.

I tried hard to ignore the whispers, even if most of them were about me, glancing around for Allen. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the hall.

I was about to turn around when I heard Karen's familiar voice, which subconsciously made my legs halt.

“Such a disgusting w***e!” She scoffed, her voice holding her usual hatred.

She got up from the chair she'd been sitting, surrounded by a few Lunas from other packs.

“Such a disgusting w***e!” She repeated again, marching towards me in her six-inch heels. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I could only guess.

Involuntary I cast a glance at Daniel and immediately I felt the anger in my bones. He was at the far end of the hall, surrounded by his usual clique of Alpha friends with a sick, disgusting smile on his stupid lips.

He must have fabricated some farfetched lies against me as usual.

I shifted my gaze back to the fury-filled Karen, my lips parted to speak but they instantly slammed shut at the harsh impact of Karen's hand against my cheek.

The silence in the hall broke with Alina’s shocked gasp and a few laughs and chuckles.

I froze for a second, before bringing my gaze back on her.

“Karen—” I started again but my sentence dried up as she landed another slap on my face.

“It's Luna Karen Cohen to you, b***h,” She spat in my face, gripping my chin to meet her eyes.

My jaw clenched hard and my hands balled tight. Gone were Nina's sad howls, I could now feel the heat of her anger, just like mine. I wanted nothing more than to grab Karen by the hair and slam her makeup face against the wall. She wasn't even that strong, she was nothing but a spoiled Alpha's daughter who'd been raised like a Barbie doll in a dollhouse.

I could take her down in the blink of an eye, and I knew I'd enjoy every second of it. But unfortunately, I couldn't do anything. She was a Luna, and I was just a Beta. And if there was anything the Council took seriously was order and respect. The Council was like a pyramid where everyone was treated and respected according to their ranks. Unfortunately, in a group chaired by the Lycan king filled with other Lycans and alphas, Betas ranked the lowest. Any disrespect towards Karen or worse hitting her would only put Leonardo and the pack in a difficult situation.

“Twice. You slapped me twice for what, Luna Karen,” I gritted the last words out, hard to keep my rage out of my face.

She was about to hit me again when I held her hand, “What the hell is your problem?”

“You. You are my problem, shameless w***e. Why can't you just leave Daniel alone? We're chosen mates now and he has marked me. You lost Ellie. Daniel doesn't regard you as his mate, you're nothing to him. The only reason he hasn't rejected you is because he's an Alpha. The consequences of breaking the mate bond will be disastrous for him and the pack. So stop seducing my mate,” She screamed at my face, lifting her hand to hit me again when suddenly, a powerful growl vibrated through the walls, making everyone freeze.

Karen's eyes widened, dropping her hand as she looked past me to the door. I didn't need to turn around to guess who it was. We all could feel the powerful intimidating aura forcing everyone into submission. I almost did the same when suddenly I sniffed it. Even Nina was now up, pacing restlessly. It was him. He was also here. My second chance mate.

I almost cursed at the goddess for this awful luck. He shouldn't be here, at least not now.

“My - My King,” Karen stammered, lowering her head, and soon I felt the intimidating presence behind me.

“What's going on here?” The voice said behind my back, and a shiver rocked through me.

“My King, I… It's all her fault. This she-wolf is nothing but—”

“I wasn't talking to you,” He silenced Karen and I felt my heart stop as I could feel not just the heat of his intense gaze behind me, but of everyone else in the hall. “Turn around,” He ordered.

And at once, my legs began to move on their own accord. I turned around with my head down in respect.

I didn't pull my head up, instead, I kept on staring at the flat shoe I had worn in a hurry to get here.

I felt him take a few more steps closer. The more the footfalls approached, the aura got stronger and there was an earthly masculine scent in the air mixed with an expensive cologne, and the combination smelled so heavenly that I couldn't help myself but breathe in more.

Soon, a shiny pair of Oxford shoes stopped right before me, with an intimidating and overpowering aura dancing around. I could hear the Alpha wolves around whimper the more in submission, and even the Lycans. No one had their head lifted, and for a mere wolf like myself, it would be such a disrespect too. But something in me just had to.

Slowly, I pulled my head up and the first thing I saw was the most beautiful pair of golden-brown eyes and matching golden hair. Smooth skin, and— I froze once again as Nina rose to the surface.

It was him. The stranger from the woods. My second chance mate. He was… the King?

His gaze was penetrating and unreadable as I noticed my scarf in between his large fingers. Slowly, he walked around me, before stopping behind me.

I felt my temperature rise, as his fingers brushed back my hair from the left side of my neck, leaving it bare. His fingers grazed my skin, making me shiver at his touch, still helplessly frozen on my spot.

I could feel the heads, and stares that were sent my way, but that was the least of my concern now. I felt more shivers run down my spine as I felt his breath suddenly fanned the spot he had left open on my left neck. I heard him inhale deeply before he stopped and moved back, walking around to stop before me.

I couldn't tear my gaze from his. It was not only hard too, but most definitely, impossible. I felt my palms become sweaty as his penetrating gaze hardened, and fear crawled on my skin at the words I could almost see on the surface of his lips.

No. Please, no! Don't say it, please.

"Mate!" A possessive growl rumbled through his chest as I felt his lips at the shell of my ear.

Before I could recover from his possessive growl, a loud voice roared abruptly behind us.

“No!”

Instantly, I felt the King stiffen against me. Even I stiffened for a second, recognizing that voice.

It was Daniel's.