Rejected by Her Family, Marked by the Lycan King.

Eleanor "Are you okay?" Charlotte asked, walking up to me. She is my twin sister. I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I scanned the crowded ballroom, my eyes searching for Nathaniel, my boyfriend. The loud music, the chatter, and the bright lights made my head pound painfully, but I forced myself to stay calm. Tonight was important. It was almost time for wolves to mark their mates, and Nathaniel was nowhere to be found. My chest tightened with fear. I bit my lower lip hard and finally looked at Charlotte. “Do you think… do you think he changed his mind about marking me because I don’t have a wolf?” I asked in a shaky voice, struggling to hold back my tears. Charlotte quickly grabbed my hands, squeezing them gently. “Of course not,” she said firmly. “Stop letting your stupid nerves get the best of you. I just saw Nathaniel a few minutes ago.” My heart skipped. “You did?” She nodded. “Yes. He said he wasn’t feeling well. He told me to tell you that if he stayed away too long, you should come check on him. He’s in room 302.” I let out a deep breath of relief. Nathaniel hadn’t left me. He was still here. He was just unwell. “I should go check on him,” I said softly. “The Lycan King will arrive soon.” Once the Lycan King arrived, every wolf who had chosen their mate would step forward and seal their bond. Nathaniel and I would stand together. At least, that was the plan. Nathaniel and I had fallen in love two years ago when I was still at the Academy. Unlike me, he had a wolf and was already training to become a Gamma. He is the most promising warrior in our pack and the most eligible to become an Alpha in the future. Even so, he chose me. He said he didn’t care about waiting for a fated mate. Just like the other wolves who had come to the annual mating ball organized by the Lycan King, Nathaniel and I had decided to choose each other tonight, to mark each other under the full moon and be bonded forever according to tradition. “Here,” Charlotte said, pulling me out of my thoughts as she handed me a glass of champagne. “This will help calm your nerves.” I hesitated, staring at the glass. I wasn’t much of a drinker. “Come on,” she insisted, pushing it into my hand. “You need your confidence tonight.” I finally gave in and drank it all in one go. “I need to go check on Nathaniel,” I said, handing the empty glass back to her. I walked through the crowded ballroom, passing laughing couples and excited wolves, and headed straight for the exit. Just as I was about to leave, an announcement echoed through the hall. “Anyone who has found their chosen mate should move forward so their bond may be sealed forever.” My heart raced. I rushed out of the ballroom, pulled out my phone, and opened my map to locate the hotel rooms. It took me about five minutes to find my way. My steps were quick and my chest heavy with both hope and fear as I made my way toward room 302. My steps grew unsteady as I walked down the quiet hallway. The further I went, the heavier my body felt. The champagne Charlotte gave me suddenly burned in my veins, and my vision began to blur at the edges. Something was wrong. I know I am not much of a drinker, but this is beyond intoxication. I pressed a hand to the wall, breathing hard as heat spread through my body, deep, intense, and unfamiliar. My skin felt too tight, too warm, like it was on fire from the inside. My p***y was on fire and my n*****s were as hard as pebbles, burning for attention. “Please… not now, please,” I whispered as I rubbed my thighs together. I stopped in front of a door, squinting at the numbers, but they refused to stay still. My eyes refused to focus. Was it room 302… or 305? My head throbbed violently, and another wave of heat crashed through me, stealing the strength from my knees. I couldn’t think straight anymore. All I knew was that I needed Nathaniel right now. I don’t think I can make it back to the mating ceremony. I pushed the door open and stumbled inside. “Nathaniel?” I called out weakly, my voice echoing in the quiet room. There was no answer. The room was dim and empty. Panic crept into my chest as I took a few steps forward, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. “Nathaniel?” I called again, louder this time. Still nothing. My breathing became uneven as another surge of heat ripped through me, stronger than before. My body trembled uncontrollably, sweat breaking out across my skin. I staggered toward the bathroom and pushed the door open. It was empty. Tears burned my eyes as fear and confusion mixed together. Whatever was happening to me was getting worse. My whole body felt like it was burning alive, my thoughts scattered and hazy. “I need… water,” I muttered desperately. Without thinking, I rushed back into the bathroom and turned on the shower, not bothering to remove my clothes. Cold water poured down over me, soaking through my dress, but it barely helped. The heat refused to fade. I leaned against the tiled wall, gasping, my knees threatening to give way. Then the bathroom door opened suddenly. I froze. “Nathaniel?” I called out, squinting hard. My vision was so blurry that everyone looked like a tall shadow. “Nathaniel, is that you?” My heart began to pound wildly as slow footsteps moved closer to me. The person stopped right in front of me. I blinked. This person is definitely not Nathaniel. Even with my terrible vision, I could tell this man was huge and broad. The kind of dominating presence that made the room feel smaller just by standing there. I still couldn’t see his face clearly, but his scent hit me immediately, warm, rich, and ridiculously good. I frowned slightly. “Wow,” I muttered under my breath. “Either you smell amazing, or this drink Charlotte gave me is trying to ruin my life.” Another wave of heat crashed through me, and I groaned dramatically, grabbing the front of his shirt without thinking. Desperation completely overpowered dignity at this point. I tugged him closer, resting my overheated forehead against his chest. “Please,” I said breathlessly, my words tumbling out in a rush. “I am begging you, help me quench this heat before I burn, please.”