THE REVENGE OF THE CURSED LYCAN'S BRIDE

“YOU ARE STRONG, ARIADNE. YOU ARE MY LEGACY, AND I AM INDEED PROUD OF YOU.” The final words of her father continuously rang in her ears as she stared at the bloodied knife, her breath coming in ragged gasps as the pain in her wrists screamed louder than the thoughts that plagued her mind. She looked into the mirror while her blood gushed into the sink beneath her and swirled into the drain, a metaphor for the path her life had taken. She had wanted death, and she thought it would be peaceful, a silent escape from the burden of betrayal and loss that she carried. But all she felt was fear, crippling fear that threatened to snatch her ragged breath. The flailing voice of her dying father rang in her head continuously, a distant memory of the warmth, love, and guidance she once took for granted. She had failed him. As pain radiated through her, images of everything flashed through her mind. Ariadne stood at the top floor of her father's grand estate, her gaze fixed on the distant lush forest that nestled the borders of her father's great land. The once-thriving Blackmoon Brotherhood, with its mighty oak trees and complete hunting grounds, felt colder than ever. She took in a deep breath, the evening air feeling her lungs, refreshing her, and for a split second, the weight of her father's illness, the declining state of the pack, and her loneliness vanished. The Alpha-King, Anaken Morin, had fallen gravely ill, and this illness had cast a massive shadow over the pack, leaving them vulnerable and divided. A power struggle was looming on the horizon, threatening to break the fragile bond that held them together. But Ariadne made a decision; her heart had guided her, and she had made the choice she truly felt was right. That choice was Kane Riverhowl. The leader of the opposition pack. He turned her gaze to the courtyard, and she saw him and other members of his pack. His tall frame, broad shoulders, a presence that demanded fear and respect. His gingered hair and amber eyes, eyes she had looked into secretly for months—those moonlit nights, where words gave way to heated whispers and forbidden touches. Kane had promised her the world, free of the burden of his birthright, a kingdom of equals, where she could rule as Luna beside him. This dream had stirred something within her, a yearning to be more, more than the mourning daughter of a dying monarch, more than a slave to her birthright, more than the pitiful predecessor of a once mighty king. She had her father's warnings, ignored the wart glances of her pack, and had chosen Kane as her mate. Together, they stood before the Alpha and the entire pack and declared their intent to lead, opposing the warnings of the Eldenwolves. They had been joined in a beautiful ceremony. Ariadne remembered the way he looked at her, the warm, loving gaze filled with so much affection. He held her hand, and the weight of her father's disapproval disappeared, and hope for a better future for her, for Kane, for her pack flooded her mind, blinding her. She didn't see what the pack saw; they didn't want a female Alpha, but they would never want Kane as her mate. Her father saw the darkness within him, and the reality came crashing on her one grey morning. She was dragged out of bed by the members of Kane’s pack. “What is this insolence? Have you bastards lost your minds? The alpha will have your head for this.” “Be quiet!” The booming voice of the guard reverberated within her, echoing in her head. “You have been summoned to the grand hall by the Alpha,” he told her in the most abrasive tune she had ever heard. “Why? And why am I being dragged like a common criminal?” she screamed. “You will be briefed when we reach the great hall.” She was dragged, her toes scraping the floor, the shock of everything hitting digging into her soul. “ What’s going on? Was Kane right? Did something happen to him? She saw Kane standing in the middle of the great hall, her frail, sick father kneeling alongside members of the Eldenwolf council. “Sissy…” Her only brother, Fred, cried out, his voice cracking. His eyes were puffy and red. She felt her eyes stung with tears as she watched him clutch onto their Father’s arm. “What’s going on, Kane? Why….” His hand in the air cut her words short, and her heart started to pound loudly against her rib cage. She could sense something wrong. “Members of the Black Moon Brotherhood, hear me. I bring before you today these evildoers who have tarnished the image of this great pack. Their evil deeds have led to the decline of the pack, and they must be punished.” His voice echoed, and her heart flipped twice as the words sank in. “What do you…” The crowd screamed in approval, all itching for the blood of their once great leader, the one who they had styled, “The Silver Wolf,” the one who had led them to prosperity and respect. Swallowing what was left of her voice. Kane's voice was smooth and confident as he spun a tale of betrayal and treachery—her father, the alpha king, and the entirety of his Eldenwolf council were accused of crimes against his kind. The words hit her like a physical blow, each accusation more outlandish than the last. Embezzlement, deceit, and conspiracy with their enemies. Lies upon lies, each one twisting the truth into something beyond recognition, so a fraction of a second, she genuinely did not know what to believe Ariadne’s protests were drowned out by Kane’s voice, louder and more convincing with every passing second. She turned to the pack, searching for a familiar face, a sign of support, but found only skepticism and fear. Kane’s rogues had spread their poison well, whispering doubts and feeding on the Brotherhood’s fractures. Her father, frail and bewildered, was dragged before the pack; his eyes met hers in the crowd, and pain traveled through her the moment his bruised lips parted in a quivering smile. “Father!” Ariadne screamed, pushing forward and switching to her werewolf form. She would spill the blood of those who stopped her from reaching her father; she would end anyone who stood in her way, but strong hands held her back. Kane was powerful beyond her imagination. He did not have to shift to overpower her. Kane’s fiery amber eyes locked in on hers, and in them, she saw no remorse, no affection, the affection she once felt, only cold calculation. He had planned every inch of this, every lie, every deceitful move, a masterstroke that would cement his power. Kane’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “For his crimes against the Brotherhood, the alpha king, his son, and his council of Eldenwolves are sentenced to death.” The pack erupted in shock, gasps and murmurs filling the hall. Ariadne’s heart threatened to rip out her chest, and she was choking as she struggled to wriggle out of Kane's powerful grasp. “Sissy…” Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and she turned around to plead with him. “This isn’t you, Kane. This isn’t….” He clenched his teeth as he pulled her aggressively, his face an inch from her. “This is the real me. I lied.” He quieted, then slowly, his lips spread in a thin smile. Her breathing became haggard. A heavy pain settled in her chest. The execution was swift. Ariadne could only watch, her screams muffled by the chaos around her as the sword fell. Her father’s body crumpled to the floor, lifeless, and a silence more profound than death settled over the hall. The world blurred, the walls closing in as Ariadne’s legs gave way. “Sis….” Fred’s voice faded the second his body hit the group. Memories of their happy and sad moments flooded her mind. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she reached out, her fingers brushing the cold stone where her father and brother had lost. The scent of blood hung heavy in the air, a brutal reminder of the price she had paid for trusting Kane. Kane stepped forward, his face a mask of indifference. “The Brotherhood deserves a strong leader,” he declared, his voice ringing. “A leader who the mistakes of the past will not hold back.” He turned to Ariadne, his expression darkening. “I reject you, Ariadne Morin, as my mate. You are a reminder of a desperately evil alpha and a disgrace to this pack, unworthy of the title of Luna.” The rejection struck like a physical blow, the severing of their bond ripping through her with an intensity that left her gasping and clutching onto her chest. Kane’s eyes bored into hers, devoid of the warmth that had once drawn her in. She saw now that he had never truly loved her. She had been a means to an end, a pawn in his quest for power. “As of this moment,” Kane continued, his voice cold and final, “You are exiled from the BlackMoon Brotherhood. You will never be welcome here again.” She had been cast aside, her father’s legacy tarnished, her name reduced to nothing. She had lost everything in the span of moments—her family, her home, her place in the world. The man she had thought would stand by her side had revealed his true colors, and now she was alone, a broken daughter of a fallen king. As she was dragged from the hall, Ariadne’s mind whirled with a mix of sorrow and rage. Kane had played her perfectly, using her love and trust to seize the power he craved. She felt nothing but the crushing weight of her guilt. She had failed her Father and failed her pack. And her father's last words rang in her head like a bell: “You are strong, Adeline. You are a part of me.” Ariadne was forced back to her present reality by the sound of her tap washing off her blood. Her strength wavered slowly as a smile caressed her lips. Now, she would reunite with her parents. This was what she deserved for loving a monster. For daring to love.