Moonblooded: Marked for the Lycan King

Chapter 2

Sharon Miller arrived at the Evans Estate late that night after finishing her shift at the royal packhouse. She hid in the shadows beside the building, leaning against the wall with a gleeful smile.

“Wow, I can’t believe this,” she whispered to herself, almost giddy. “The moon goddess must be blessing me. If my daughter ends up with the Lycan King, everything changes. She’ll be Queen… and I’ll be the Queen’s mother.”

She grinned, then turned to glance toward the gate, wondering what was taking so long.

Eventually, the gate creaked open, and a black-haired girl stepped out, wearing a crop top and a mini denim skirt. Her steps were cautious, her behavior cold and irritated.

“I told you never to show up here uninvited,” she snapped, her voice rough. “What are you doing here?”

Sharon, looking to please, offered a smile and held out some cash. “I brought what you asked for, Aurora. It’s five hundred dollars.”

Aurora accepted the money with a frown, glaring at it like it was filth. “Five hundred? My parents give me a thousand every day. And you bring me this? 500?”

Sharon gave a sheepish sigh. “It would’ve been more, but Hanna didn’t earn much today. She had to leave work early… after she got soaked.”

Aurora’s eyes flared. “Are you saying this is my fault?!” she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut.

Sharon immediately shook her head. “N-no, of course not. In fact, Hanna deserves every bit of it.”

Aurora rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, one hip c****d in defiance. “Leave now, before I descend my annoyance on you.”

Then she turned to leave.

But Sharon quickly stepped forward, stopping her.

“Wait—don’t go yet,” she said in a hushed, careful tone. “I’ve got exciting news you’ll want to hear.”

Aurora paused, raising a curious brow as she turned back. “Oh? And what news would that be?”

Sharon leaned in slightly, glancing around as if to ensure no one else was listening.

“This hasn’t been made public yet, but tomorrow, King Blackheart will officially announce that he’s searching for a woman with a half-moon-shaped birthmark. The royal seer says that woman is his fated mate.”

Aurora blinked, surprised. “A half-moon-shaped birthmark? Like mine?”

Sharon nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly like yours! Don’t you see? You could be Queen, Luna of Moonville! This is your moment!”

Aurora’s eyes widened with disbelief, then a slow grin spread across her face. “So… I’m the Lycan King’s mate?!”

Sharon nodded again, confident. “And with that birthmark, everyone will believe it. The throne will be yours, Aurora. It’s your time.”

Aurora’s face lit up with excitement.

But then, her smile faltered when she remembered that she had just found her mate.

It was a new day and with it came a citywide buzz.

Alan Blackheart, the Lycan King, had made a public declaration across every media outlet in Moonville and beyond. He was searching for the woman bearing a half-moon-shaped birthmark, his fated mate.

Inside the grand throne room, he addressed the four elderly men seated before him in ornately carved chairs.

“I know some of you might think this was a reckless move,” Alan said, his voice firm. “And yes, with this public announcement, I’ll probably attract pretenders and opportunists. But this is the only way I can finally find the one I’ve been searching for, my soulmate.”

These men were the High Table of Moonville, a council made up of the city’s original founding bloodlines, families that had guided Moonville for generations.

Cassian. Donovan. Lachlan. Sterling.

They were once five, but the Evans family had severed ties, renouncing their position and stepping away from the council. Still, each of the remaining families held great influence and responsibility.

“Well, I would say…” began Leonardo Sterling, adjusting his seat, “…this is a mistake, Alpha King. It’s going to create unrest… chaos.”

Vincent Cassian gave a nod of agreement. “It’s also a major distraction. I believe what we should be focusing on is keeping the peace, maintaining order, upholding the laws and ensuring the city’s rules are followed. We don’t know when the next threat might come. We can’t afford unnecessary distractions.”

Alan leaned back in his throne, eyeing Vincent with a dry, almost amused expression. “So what you’re suggesting is that I abandon my search for my mate… just so I can keep living a dull life as your King and Alpha?”

Ben Lachlan cleared his throat before speaking carefully. “With all due respect, Alpha Blackheart, if you find your role as King and Alpha so dull, then perhaps you should step down, focus solely on your personal life, and leave the crown behind.”

Alan’s hands clenched tightly on the armrests, his claws digging into his palms until blood began to drip from his fists. His eyes glowed a fiery red, and as rage built inside him, his sharp fangs bared in a low growl.

“Two hundred and fifty years!” he roared, his voice thunderous, bouncing off the throne room walls and sending a jolt of fear through the council seated before him. “Two hundred and fifty years I’ve served, and you dare say that to me, you pathetic, wrinkled relics?!”

He rose to his feet, and the council members instantly averted their eyes, out of both fear and respect.

“I’ve done nothing but protect this world! I’ve shielded our kind from wars long before your ancestors even breathed. I’ve bled, fought, and led every battle to keep us alive. And now you tell me to step down?!” He yelled, glaring at Ben who visibly flinched at the sound of his voice.

Ben swallowed hard, glancing up cautiously before speaking, voice shaky. “I… I only meant that… we fear your mate may become a distraction. You’ve led us flawlessly for centuries, my Alpha and King, because your only focus has been Moonville and the packs beyond. Unlike the rest of us, you’ve had no personal attachments, no weaknesses. That, along with your powerful lineage, is what made you the ruler you are. We’re just afraid that once your mate enters the picture… everything might change, and not for the better.”

Alan let out a scoff, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wow…” he stood still for a moment, his gaze cast downward, forcing his lycan to calm.

“So… so that’s really what you all think…” he muttered. “You’d rather I stay alone forever? That I keep living for duty, never for myself? Everyone here wants me to stop searching for my mate?”

Alpha Blackheart—” Vincent started, but was cut off.

“The moon goddess gave him one,” John Donovan finally joined in. “That alone should be enough. Maybe she sees strength where you see weakness. Perhaps it’s time we stop treating him like a weapon and let him be something more. Someone who doesn’t have to face the world alone anymore. We should be happy for him. And very soon, we might all finally see his mini-mes tearing through the halls.”

Alan tilted his head at John, then his eyes moved from one elder to the next to see that they were now quiet.

“Get out of my sight, all of you,” he ordered with a displeased look and walked back to sit on his throne.