The Alpha’s Forsaken Mate

Chapter 2

LYRA’S POV

I woke with a tired groan, my eyes squinting in tiredness and annoyance as sunlight shone on my face. I slowly got up with a groan, my long hair falling over my shoulders and back. I dragged my hand down my face, wondering why I feel as if I’d been trampled upon by thousands of horses. A groan had me opening one eye as I turned my head to the direction it came from and I went still in shock. My eyes went wide in disbelief.

Sleeping beside me was Darius, who was roughed up and had claw marks on his back. I looked down at my hands and saw that my claws were out, the nails stained with blood. A sharp pain had me hissing and I clutched my shoulder. On it was the indent of teeth – not the first and neither would it be the last. The bed looked as if a war had been fought and the sheets were torn. With a sinking pit in my stomach, I realized what had happened. I slept with the bastard.

The New Moon festival had begun in earnest last night and it seemed I got wasted with strong wine. Yeah, getting black out drunk would definitely lead me to this current predicament.

I silently heaved a sigh before getting up – or trying to. I nearly stumbled onto my knees, my legs unable to carry me and my back killing me. With disgust, I noted the familiar feeling of c*m leaving my tender area and slowly rolling down my thighs like droplets of sin. My face squeezed into a disgusted and I threw one last glare at the figure behind me.

In spite, I grabbed his shirt and used it to clean the spunk on my thighs, before grabbing one of his robes and donning it on my grabbed my clothes on the floor and headed for the door. I was met with the calm presence of Mirai, who was already waiting for me. Darius’ butler, Adam, was present as well, looking cool like a cucumber. He gave me a small bow of his head and I acknowledged with a nod of my own. Mirai took my rumpled clothes from my hands and the two of us started making their way over to my wing of the manor.

“Well, well, well. I see the couple spent a wonderful night together.”

My brows dropped into a displeased frown at the sound of that voice. I turned my head and was met with the smirking face of Shiran. The next Alpha of the Winterbourne pack was dressed in some loose pants and a robe that was left open – showing off his toned body and the love bites on him. I fought hard to not have my lips twist in displeasure at his half nudity.

“I’m glad the strongwine I brought as a gift loosened the thighs shoulders you all had when I came.” He laughed.

“Which was foolish of you to do.” I gritted out, fighting down the urge to snap at his blatant stupidity. “Any of our enemies could have used that opportunity to attack the Alpha in his incapacitated state. How could you-”

My words of reprimand were cut short when Shiran grabbed my face, his hold tight and threatening. He loomed down at me with a glare, all amusement wiped away from his face. “Just because you’re Darius’ Luna doesn’t give you the right to speak to me that way. I am your better, Lyra. Know who you’re speaking to.”

With a snarl, I knocked his hand away. “And you should know who you’re speaking too, Shiran. I am Loran the Benevolent’s daughter, the rightful heir to the Winterbourne pack. Just because the elders ruled in favour of your father, his brother, to become the Alpha after his death does not mean I lost my status as his only child – even though I was adopted. In addition, you’re in the territory of my Mate, which makes it my territory.” I stepped forward and glared up at him with a defiant look. “Know your place, Shiran.”

I longed to rip Shiran's throat and he knew it too. Between the two of us, I have more fighting experience as Darius usually sent me out to calm down rebellions in his territory or an allied territory. I wasn’t surprised when he backed down with a scoff.

“It’s a surprise to see you so strong and willful. One wouldn’t link the whimpering and sobbing mess that was you on your wedding night to you right now.”

Behind me, I heard Mirai growled in displeasure. The topic of my wedding night was one of the triggering topics you could bring up and if she could shoot out beams from her eyes, I know for sure that Shiran would have been a puddle of charred flesh on the floor right now.

Shiran gave me an amused look, cooking his head to the side. “I wonder how you’d react to the news.”

My eyed narrowed into slits. “What news?”

Shiran chuckled, his dark brown eyes shining with mirth. “Now, that would be a surprise.”

I tried to order him to explain himself but he just walked passed me, giving a nonchalant wave goodbye. Mirai moved to stop him but I made a gesture that stopped her. We both watched as the heir walked away, whistling a cheerful tune.

“Annoying fucker.” Mirai spat out.

I heaved a sigh – and by the Goddess herself I’ve been doing that a lot lately – and we continued our journey to my quarters. We saw a handful of servants, who bowed their heads in greeting – their eyes shining with curiosity. I knew that by the end of the day word would circulate how I spent a night with Darius. Something that I haven’t done in three years, not after the fight that left me with the huge scars on my back. All the way, Mirai was glowering and I... I tried not to think about the words Shiran uttered.