Fated To The Ruthless Lycan King

Seraphina's POV, A little flutter of happiness snakes into my stomach. A life of happiness was never meant for me but… Richard is here and he’s looking at me like I am everything in the world. Maybe that’s why I’m doing this instead of doing my chores. If my father or sister find me here… I cringe as I think of the punishment that will follow. I feel his grip on my jaw – making the thoughts of my sister and father fall away. His grip is tender and his eyes… the hate and resentment I see in them knocks away whatever tenderness his touch might have brought. I stumble backwards, the flutter in my stomach fading away, replaced by a tight knot. I swallow, wondering what this is about and regretting that I lowered my walls. I let myself feel hope. “If you are going to reject me, Seraphina, do it the right way.” He snarls. He throws my face away, scrunching up his own so that he’s looking at me with disgust. My wolf whines, unable to take this mistreatment of me from my own mate. My ragged breath comes out in heavy puffs and my heart feels like it’s there’s a hand around it, squeezing it too tight. I hear the door groan open and freeze. I don’t have to look over Richard shoulder to tell that my sister has found me. Her scent filters into my nose before she comes to stand beside my mate and then leans closer to kiss him. On the mouth! My eyes widen in shock, my mouth falling open at the sight of my mate and my sister in front of me. I have no idea when I fell to the floor, but the sudden pain that shoots up my knee does nothing to quell the other pain that shatters my heart. “Don’t tell me you are surprised, Phina!” Kristen laughs. “I mean, you could always tell this was going on, right? Richie can never choose you. You are too…” she places her hand on her temple, pretending to think of the words. “Weak, stupid and weak.” Richard says, completing the words for her. “I’m sure this is for the best, Seraphina. I never liked you, my wolf doesn’t either. But I like your sister and my wolf has accepted her. I am going to mate her.” What?! My heart fell. If it was broken before, this time it stops to exist. I burst into tears the moment I see the disgust in his eyes when he looks at me. Why does he hate me so much? Why does he want to follow my father and sister down this road of burning hatred for me? What did I ever ?“Get the hell up and listen to your rejection.” Kristen snaps. “We don’t have time!” My brow creases, we don’t have time for what? I stand to my feet, not bothering to clean myself up. There’s no need for that. I am now nothing in the eyes of the man the moon goddess chose for me. The only hope I had.I stiffen when I hear the first words. “I, Richard Peters, reject you Seraphina Haynes as my mate. As from here on out, all bond between us no longer exists.” The second he finishes, a searing pain burns through my heart, twisting it. I grip my chest, doubling down on my knees. Tears escape my eyes and I wipe them away with the back of my hand. I’m not weak, I tell myself. If this is what he wants, then I should give it to him. Good riddance to rubbish. I stand to my feet, straightening my back so Richard can see that at my full height I am a head taller than him. My intention is to make him squirm but I am the one who squirms instead when I see the hatred in his eyes. I clench my jaw. “I, Seraphina Haynes, accept your rejection as my mate.” I tilt my chin up, trying to appear more confident than I felt. “All bond between us no longer exists, you’re free to go.” “Don’t you feel better now, Phina?” I hear Kristen say but I can’t bring myself to look at her. Not with the hatred boiling inside me. My wolf hasn’t said a word but I can feel her hurt seeping into my bones. I clench my fist and begin to turn away when Kristen’s fingers wrap around my wrist. “You are not leaving that easily.” She grins. “Father demands to see you in his study.” My broken heart skips a beat, flying to my mouth. I swallow. Why does he want to see me? Have I done anything wrong now? I have already seen my life crumble down in front of me so many time that I have lost count but still fear having to experience it – all the horrible things they do to me. The hatred in my father’s eyes. I nod my head and follow them out of the room. Kristen and Richard lead the way to my father’s study while I tow behind them like a stray dog. It’s not new, that is how I’ve always felt in this house, with my family. That I was a stray and not a part of them. Kristen doesn’t knock when she opens the door to my father’s study – instead, she just waltzes in, hand in hand with Richard like they own the place. If I had done that, my punishment would have been starvation to learn respect and my place in this house. When my father looks up at Kristen, the love I see in his eyes for her stings at my heart. His eyes travel to their joined hands and his face morphs into a proud smile. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I should have known this was his idea. When he gazing at me, the smile fades , replaced by disgust and rage. I shrink, although I ought be proned to it by now. I wipe away at the tear that rolls down my face. My lips quiver and as much as I try to hold it in, another tear slip out and another and before I know it, I’m crying. I try to muffle the sounds but it’s no use. My father despises me. My own father hates me for who I am. Kristen turns to me with a scowl on her face, nudging me in the side with her elbow. I wince and shuffle away but the pain still crawls up my side. “Stop that!” she whispers. “It’s pathetic. Do you think you can get him to pity you with those crocodile tears? You will only end up making him hate you more!” spite and irritation drips from her voice. Sniffling, I wipe the tears away. Kristen is right, crying will do me no good. Instead, I will only incur more wrath from my father. I start to look up at him when a knock sounds on the door and a man I’ve never seen before enters. My father stands to his feet faster than I can blink, knocking down a few books. “Beta Gregg!” he exclaims. “I – we didn’t think you’ll be coming here so soon. We weren’t expecting you.” Beta Gregg doesn’t even spare my father a glance. He glances at me, then at my sister. “Which one of your girls is the chosen bride?” My father huffs a breath. He was ready to ask the man to a chair but it looks like beta Gregg is in no mood for that. My father deflates but still remains on his feet. I start to wonder who this man is that he gets to pull so much respect from an Alpha like my father, when I hear my name. “It is her.” My father says, pointing to me. “Step forward, Seraphina.” My eyes bulge from their sockets. WHAT THE HELL?!