A Blood Contract With The Lycan King

Scarlett The prophecy says I’m supposed to be Alpha. To kill my twin sister and take the silver wolf soul. I’m supposed to do it with pride, power, and loyalty to the River Pack. But I don’t want the crown. I want to run. I want to burn the pack to the ground. And most of all... I want Violet to live. Violet and I were born under the same blood moon. Our mother, Lhysa Heartlock, died giving birth. She was a silver wolf and the most powerful Alpha the world had ever seen. She could heal wounds with a touch. Call storms with a whisper. But here’s the thing. There can only be one awakened silver wolf. She died thinking her powers would be passed on to her baby, but she had surprise twins. No one knew she was carrying two babies in her womb, and when Violet and I were born, something strange happened. The silver wolf was split into two. A soul forcefully cracked into two bodies. The proof is that none of us has been able to shape-shift. We smell like werewolves, but the elders think one of us needs to die in order for the other to fully awaken as a silver wolf. And they want Violet dead. She is weaker than I am and barely able to walk. It’s like her body is eating itself, like her part of the silver wolf’s soul thinks she is wrong. That she shouldn’t exist. Her time is limited, and because the pack needs a new Alpha, they want to sacrifice her to the moon goddess. Now. But I want to give her more time. Keep her living and smiling until the day naturally comes. I wring out the cloth in the basin. Here we go again. I’m sitting on the edge of Violet’s hospital bed with the smell of lavender from the water. I dab the cloth gently along her collarbone, careful not to press too hard against the bones jutting out. She flinches once but doesn’t complain. “I should’ve stolen some honey bread for you,” I murmur. “Or that raspberry tart you like. It’s way better than the pills the pack doctors are shoving down your throat.” “Scar,” she says with a lazy smile, “you already snuck me a peach this morning. Don’t get greedy.” True, but I could never spoil my sister too much. Her skin is pale from fighting with death, and when I reach for her arm to wipe it down, I can feel her tremble. I hate seeing her like this. Sick but pretending to be fine. Vanishing but actig like she is not. But even when she is dying I can see her beauty. Violet has always been the prettier twin with big eyes and soft features that make anyone who sees her swoon or want to protect her. Me? I’m not short or tall, just... there. Too lean to be considered feminine, all sharp elbows and wiry strength. I had to learn how to throw punches when we were kids, because Violet couldn’t even walk half the time. There’s no softness left in me. Only calluses, scars, and the kind of muscles that don’t look good in dresses. Violet, however, is gorgeous. But you can see that she is ill now. She is also getting worse. I hate how fast it’s happening. “You should rest,” I say, though I know she won’t listen. Instead, she smirks at me with her usual bite. “You should let them do it.” I stop. The cloth falls back into the basin with a soft splash. “Excuse me?” I ask, but I already know where this is going. Violet’s voice is feather-light. “Let them sacrifice me to the moon goddess. I mean, if one of us has to die, might as well be the one already halfway there.” “And let them take you when you still have a bucket list?” I ask in horror. Violet laughs, the sound wheezy but bright. “You still remember it?” “How can I not?” I grin as I wring the cloth again. “The first thing on the list is to kiss a guy.” “I already did.” I blink. “Wh-what?” Violet wiggles her thick eyebrows. “The guard outside my room. He’s very charming.” I gape at her. “You kissed Joren?!” She shrugs, smug. “He was standing close. I was bored. He didn’t run away screaming from the sickly werewolf, so I take that as a win.” “Oh my gods,” I groan, covering my face. “You’re out here making moves while I’m—” “Being tragically single,” she finishes sweetly. I narrow my eyes. “For someone dying, you’re awfully cocky.” She giggles, then coughs. I move to grab her tea, lifting the cup to her lips. She gulps it down. “I guess that means I officially have more experience with guys than you have,” she murmurs once the coughing eases. I blush, putting down the cup. “Sh-shut up.” She leans back against the pillows. There’s a sigh, like holding herself up is hard. “It’s true, though. The balance of power has shifted.” “Oh, please! I could kiss someone anytime I wanted.” “Sure, but you don’t. Because you’re waiting for some big, epic, moon-blessed love story.” She pauses, then adds, “Maybe he’s waiting out there for you, too.” I don’t answer right away. Because I’ve heard the stories. About how certain werewolves have fated mates and how that love can’t be compared to anything else in this world. But I can’t think about that now. My sister is more important than some chiseled man. “I don’t need a mate,” I grunt. “I just need you to stay alive.” “A man would be good for you. If you got laid, you would be less uptight.” My face is practically burning. “Violet!” She giggles. “I’m just messing with you, Scar.” I don’t giggle with her. I frown. “I know, but…please understand that now isn’t a good time for me to date anyone.” Violet hums, eyes fluttering shut. “Yeah, yeah, but…once the time comes, promise me something?” “Anything.” “If you ever do meet your big, epic love, don’t let him make you choose between him and yourself.” I blink. “That’s... a weirdly insightful thing to say.” “I’m dying, not dumb,” she smiles. “My big-hearted sister needs someone who takes care of her after I’m gone because she won’t take care of herself.” Something in my chest cracks. I take her hand, squeeze it. “Don’t say that.” “Scarlett…” “No,” I choke out. “You’re not going to die. I won’t let anyone take you! Jasper wouldn’t let it happen either. He would fight for you too!” She lifts an eyebrow. “Our dear old adoptive dad?” “Especially him! He sees us as his real daughters, Vi. Even if… he’s been distant lately. Always in meetings. Always looking over his shoulder.” Violet squeezes my hand back. “I think you’re my fiercest protector.” I wipe under her eyes, my vision blurring. “Maybe. I mean... I would burn the whole pack to the ground before I let anyone take you. But I’m not Alpha. I have no political power. That’s why we need Jasper. He is the Alpha.” She doesn’t answer. Her eyes flutter shut again. After a long pause, she mumbles, “Can you get me more water? I’m thirsty.” “Yeah. Be right back.” I step into the hall. There’s a snack machine down the corridor, and right when I’m about to round the corner, I hear Jasper’s voice. Deep. Familiar. Safe. A smile spreads over my lips. I’m about to shout my hellos and thank him for coming to see Vi. But then I hear him speak. “Tonight. Take the girl to the pyre by moonrise. Make it look like she was kidnapped by rogues.” My breath stills. There’s a second voice. One of the warriors. “You sure? She’s just a kid.” Jasper’s reply is instant. Cold. “There have been a lot of rogue attacks lately. Even vampires have been seen on our territory. They know we are weak, and if Scarlett doesn’t awaken as a silver wolf soon, there will be no one to protect the pack when they attack. We all have to make sacrifices.” My stomach lurches. I press myself against the wall, hands shaking. No. No. I must’ve heard wrong. He raised us. He tucked us in. Called us his daughters. He used to carry Violet when her legs gave out. He used to sing lullabies to calm my nightmares. And now he’s going to murder her. Tears sting my eyes as the truth crashes into me like a blade to the gut. Jasper, the man I loved like a father, has already given the order. And he didn’t even flinch. Something breaks in me. Something that can’t be put back. I back away slowly, a scream rising in my throat that I barely manage to swallow. Somehow, I do it because I can’t make a sound. I have to make it back to Violet and get her out of here. Even if it kills me. If the River Pack wants to kill Violet, then the River Pack no longer owns us. We will run. West, if we have to. To the city ruled by the Lycan King, whom every supernatural creature whispers about in fear. They say he is cruel. Cold. Possibly more fearsome than death and more beautiful than life itself. He hates werewolves. People too. But I heard he is a businessman. Rhodes Lumineer runs the Storm pack like a CEO. He offers his protection for those who prove useful to his pack and city, and I’m willing to sell him my own goddamn soul if it means protecting my sister.