Slave to the Lycan Prince

Chapter one: “You lied to me.” Elias' voice trembled in anger as he stared at Nikolai across the room. Rain battered against the windows of the cottage and the distant rumble of thunder filled the silence that followed his accusation. Nikolai stood by the fireplace, his expression irritatingly calm. “What exactly did I lie about?” He asked, his tone indifferent. Elias stared at him in disbelief, stunned by how unbothered he was. “Our marriage! You let me believe you wanted me. You made me believe what we had was real.” Nikola almost laughed, amused. “This marriage is an alliance, Elias. You knew that." “I knew our families wanted the alliance, I thought—" Elias paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I thought you loved me." “Then you were mistaken." The words landed smoothly like it was the easiest thing Nikolai had said all night. For months, Elias had cherished every secret meeting, every conversation stolen away from their families and every moment Nikolai had made him feel special. He had believed that beneath the prince's cold exterior was a man who actually cared about him. Now, standing in the cottage where they shared so many private moments, Elias realised he had been in love with someone who could never love him back. "You're a lair.” He whispered, his eyes burning. "I should have known better than to trust you.” Nikolai's jaw tightened but he made no attempt to stop him. Elias stormed out of the cottage and into the rain, leaving Nikolai alone near the fireplace. Neither man noticed the figure working late in the nearby woodshed. Lucien had been carving a wooden chair when he heard hurried footsteps outside. He glanced through the window just in time to see his older brother disappear into the darkness, his shoulders rigid with anger. “Perhaps they argued.” He told himself and returned to his work, his father had already complained about the delay, and he had no desire to give Victor another reason to punish him. ********** The next morning, the Lannister house was in chaos. Servants hurried through the corridor carrying flowers, decorations and trays of refreshment. The garden was being prepared for the wedding celebration and the central hall had been decorated with the colors of the two families. Lucien had little time to admire the decorations. He was in the front yard, struggling to finish the chairs he had been ordered to make for the couples. Sweat trickled down his forehead despite the cool morning air, and his fingers arched from hours of carving and hammering. “Are you still working on those chairs?” Lucien flinched at the sharp sound behind him. Victor stood a few metres away, his face twisted with displeasure. “The wedding is today and you're still not finished?" He demanded. " How long does it take to make a few chairs? You are painfully slow. Useless, just like always.” "I'm almost done, father." Lucien replied quietly, keeping his eyes on his work. “Will the guest sit on almost-finished chairs? Is that what you intend to offer to our guests?” Victor said with a scoff. Lucien gripped the hammer tighter. He had been working since the previous evening, barely stopping to rest yet nothing he did ever seemed good enough for Victor. “Im trying my best.” He murmured. "Your best is never enough!” Victor's sudden shout startled him. The hammer flipped from Lucien's hand and struck his fingers. "Ah!” Lucien dropped his tool, clutching his injured arm against his chest. Blood welled from the wound, trickling down his fingers. His mother spotted him from the doorway. She hurried towards him. “Lucien!” Victor frowned. “Let him be, woman!" He snapped. “Go and get Elias ready, the Stark family will be here soon, and I won't have my household looking incompetent." Tima hesitated, visibly troubled. “He's not healing victor, at least let me—" “I said go!" She lowered her eyes and reluctantly walked away. Victor glared at him one last time before walking away as well. Lucien walked them go, disappointment settling in his chest. He tore a strip from the edge of his shirt and wrapped it around the injured hand. The wound had already begun healing already, but his omega body offered him no such comfort. He tightened the makeshift bandage and picked up the hammer. The chair still needed finishing and no one else would do the work for him. ******** The stark family had finally arrived. Their carriages rolled into the courtyard, and servants rushed forward to welcome the lycan prince and the family. King Magnus stepped down first, followed by his wife and their son, Nikolai. Nikolai wore a dark ceremonial suit that emphasized on his broad shoulders. His expression remained unreadable as he surveyed the household. Then his gaze settled on Lucien. He had been carrying the finished chair towards the hall when he noticed the prince watching him. He paused briefly, his injured hand throbbed beneath the cloth. Nikolai's eyes dropped to the bandage. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Still finding ways to hurt yourself, mouse?” He remarked as he passed. Lucien's expression hardened. “Still finding ways to make yourself unbearable, Your highness?” Nikolai stopped. For a moment, the two stared at each other. Then Nikolai gave a quiet, amused scoff. “Careful. I'm about to be your brother in law, Elias wouldn't like that, would he now?" "Then stay away from me.” Lucien replied before carrying the chair away. Nikolai watched him go, his amusement fading into irritation. Ever since Nikolai had begun courting Elias, he had made a habit of tormenting Lucien. Sometimes, it was a cutting remark. Other times, it was finding an excuse to blame Lucien for something that had gone wrong. Whatever the reason, the two had never got along. Lucien wanted nothing to do with him, he had no intention of pretending otherwise simply because Nikolai was going to become his brother in law. He retreated to the back of the house, where the remaining wooden pieces waited for him. At least, the woods didn't insult him. ******** Inside the house, preparations continued but the uncomfortable delay was beginning to draw attention. The priest had arrived, and the guests were gathering in the decorated hall. Yet the groom was nowhere to be seen. Tima stood near the staircase, glancing anxiously toward the upper floor. “Where is Elias?" Victor asked, approaching her. She leaned close to her husband. "Victor, I haven't seen him since morning. He's not in his room and the servants haven't seen him either.” Victor's face tightened. “What do you mean you haven't seen him?" "I thought he was getting ready, but—” "Find him,” he cut her off. He turned to the guard on standby. "Check the woods. He may have taken his wolf for a run to calm his nerves.” Minutes passed. Nikolai grew restless, his father's patience began to wear thin. “What's going on Victor, where's Elias?" Alpha Magnus asked. Victor chucked nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "He went for a run, we can't always control the beast inside, can we? Alpha Magnus nodded and went back to his seat. When the guards returned without Elias, Victor's stomach dropped. They searched the house, the stables, the woods and surrounding grounds. Elias was gone.