In Love With The Twin Lycan Kings

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Shamed in the Mud

POV: Elara

I couldn't move, I just stood there in the center of the circle, staring at Cane like he had become a stranger, my heart was pounding so hard it hurt, and my hands were shaking at my sides.

"Cane, please," I whispered, my voice breaking, "Don't do this, we've been together for years, you know me and you love me."

He looked at me with empty eyes; there was nothing there, no love, no warmth, nothing at all.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said loudly, turning to face the pack, "This crazy girl has been following me around for months, I've never touched her."

The pack erupted in laughter, the sound was sharp and mean, cutting through me like knives, and I felt my face burn with shame.

"That's not true!" I shouted, my voice cracking, tears were streaming down my face now, "This morning! We were together this morning in the cabin, you said you loved me, you promised to protect me!"

Cane's face twisted into a disgusted sneer, "You're delusional, Elara. I would never be with a wolfless freak like you."

More laughter, louder this time, I could hear people whispering to each other, calling me names, someone threw a rock that hit my shoulder, and I didn't even feel it.

"Please," I begged, stepping toward him, my legs felt weak, "Just tell them the truth, tell them about us, about our plans, and about everything we talked about."

"Get away from me," Cane snarled, shoving me back hard. I stumbled but didn't fall, "You're embarrassing yourself."

I looked around desperately, searching for anyone who would help me. My eyes landed on Selah. She was standing near the bonfire, her beautiful face lit up by the orange flames. She was my sister; she would defend me.

"Selah!" I called out, "Tell them! You know, Cane and I have been dating, and you helped me get ready for my wedding today!"

Selah looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, then she shook her head slowly.

"I'm so sorry, Elara," she said softly, her voice full of fake pity, "I helped you get dressed because I felt bad for you, I didn't know you actually thought Cane wanted to marry you."

My world was shattered completely; even my own sister was turning against me.

"No," I whispered, "No, this isn't real, this can't be happening."

Heavy footsteps echoed across the ground. I looked up and saw my father walking toward me. Alpha Silas was a huge man with cold, dark eyes. He looked down at me like I was dirt under his shoe.

"You are a disgrace to this pack," he said, his voice booming across the clearing, "You are a disgrace to me."

"Father, please," I sobbed, "I'm telling the truth, Cane is lying, he's my mate, we were supposed to be marked tonight."

His hand came out of nowhere, the slap was so hard my head snapped to the side, I tasted blood in my mouth, and the pack went silent.

"You will not lie to me," he hissed, "You are nothing, you have no wolf, you have no power, you are worthless."

Before I could react, his boot connected with my stomach, the air rushed out of my lungs, and I fell forward. My hands hit the cold, wet mud first, then my knees. I was on all fours in the dirt, gasping for breath, and my white wedding dress was covered in filth.

"Look at her," my father announced to the pack, "This is what happens when you forget your place."

The laughter started again, louder and crueler than before. I could hear them calling me names, mocking my purple eyes, saying I deserved this, I wanted to disappear, I wanted to die right there in the mud.

I tried to push myself up, but my father kicked me again, this time in the side. I collapsed completely, my face pressing into the cold. I had never felt so alone, so broken, so utterly destroyed.

"This is where you belong, Elara," my father said, standing over me, "In the dirt, with the rest of the trash."

I closed my eyes, wishing I could just stop existing. My life was over, everything I had believed in was a lie, Cane had betrayed me, my own father hated me, and I had nothing left.

Then suddenly, the air changed.

It became thick and heavy, like a storm was rolling in. I could feel pressure building in my chest, making it hard to breathe. The laughter around me stopped, replaced by confused whispers.

I opened my eyes and saw that everyone was looking toward the edge of the clearing, their faces had gone pale, some of them were backing away, and fear was written clearly across their features.

Two figures stepped out of the darkness beyond the bonfire. They were impossibly tall, much taller than any normal werewolf. Their bodies were built like warriors, all hard muscle and brutal power; they moved with a grace that was both beautiful and terrifying.

As they came closer to the firelight, I could see their faces; they were the most handsome men I had ever seen, but there was something dangerous about them, something that made every instinct in my body scream at me to run. Their eyes glowed in the darkness, one pair silver, one pair gold.

The Twin Lycan Kings.

They stopped at the edge of the circle and looked down at me, still lying broken in the mud. Their expressions were cold and hard, filled with something that looked like hatred, but also something else, something that made my skin burn.

The one with silver eyes opened his mouth, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and rough; it sent shivers down my spine.

"Mate."