Fake Bond of the Lycan Lords

Chapter 7

Betty POV

The morning sun hit my face like a physical blow. I blinked hard, the glare cutting through my eyelids until the grey walls and dark blue furniture of the master suite blurred into focus. I was flat on my back on green linen sheets. Heavy. Alone.

I hauled myself up, a sharp groan catching in my throat as my skull throbbed to its own violent pulse. The hangover from yesterday’s near-shift felt like a concrete block behind my eyes.

At the foot of the bed sat a neat stack of clothes. I reached out, my fingers wrapping around the fabric. Adriel. His scent hit me instantly - thick, dark, and possessive. A sudden knot tightened in my chest. I had only met the Lycan yesterday, but the bond was already digging its claws into me. I didn't love him yet - not completely - but the raw, instinctual pull was undeniable. The rest would have to follow.

I glanced down at my clothes. Still dressed. Robert’s gown was twisted but intact. A small ripple of relief went through me. My scars were hidden. I wanted him to see them eventually, but I wanted to be fully awake, fully conscious, when those layers came off.

I stripped quickly, every muscle in my back screaming in protest. I pulled on his black shirt and shorts. They hung loose, swallowing my frame, but I tugged the drawstring tight around my waist until they stayed put.

I crept toward the heavy oak door. Lycan hearing was lethal, and I didn't want them knowing I was moving yet. But as I reached the landing of the stairs, the low rumble of voices drifted up from the kitchen. The mansion was massive, but the silence inside made every word echo straight up the stairwell.

"What will you do now?"

"If she can truly break the curse, you mean."

"Shh. Don't make hasty conclusions."

"But everyone saw it in the woods."

"She almost shifted."

"Yeah, and she is a black wolf."

"A wolf? You are kidding right?"

"There has never been a black wolf. Like, never."

"Quiet, everyone," Adriel’s deep baritone cut through the chatter like a blade. "She is awake."

I didn't stop. I forced my bare feet down the stairs, stepping into the kitchen with my jaw set. "Yes, I am. And I am right here."

The room went dead silent. Six pairs of eyes snapped directly to me. Under normal circumstances, I would have dropped my gaze, but the fire in my head was too hot for modesty. I pushed past Leonardo, my fingers ripping open the first cabinet door I could reach.

"Good morning, Betty."

Adriel’s voice was suddenly right at my ear. Before I could turn, his hand touched my waist, leaning down to press his lips against my cheek. His scent washed over me, heavy and intoxicating.

"Good morning, Adriel," I muttered, the heat rising in my face despite the pain.

I turned around, leaning against the counter. "So, which one of you is going to tell me what happened yesterday? I want the truth. My head is splitting, and I can only piece together fragments. Pain. Fur on my arms. That's it."

Leonardo didn't answer. He just turned on his heel and walked out of the kitchen.

I shot a hard look at Adriel. "Well?"

"We don't know the full extent of it yet," Adriel said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tracked my expression. "We need to take you back home with us."

My fingers gripped the edge of the counter. "To the Lycan kingdom?"

Adriel let out a low, rough chuckle. "Yes, princess. My father can help you decipher whatever is happening to your wolf."

"Miss Betty?"

Ian’s voice broke the tension. He stepped forward, holding out a glass of water. I stared at it, my throat dry as sandpaper.

"Here," Leonardo said, reappearing at my side so fast I jumped. He held two white painkillers in his open palm.

I grabbed the pills, snatched the glass from Ian, and swallowed them down in one gulp. The relief must have shown on my face because a collective amusement rippled through the men.

"Anyway, Miss Betty," Ian said, his smile fading into something tighter. "I was just wondering when the tournament was beginning. The men want to blow off some steam, and you still have your own challenge to handle."

The words hit me like cold water. The challenge. Madeline. The banishment. Luka.

My head snapped toward the back door. Luka was there, leaning heavily against the frame, staring intently at the floorboards to avoid my eyes. My inner wolf stirred, letting out a small, relieved whine at the sight of him. I let out a heavy breath.

A low, warning growl rumbled in Adriel’s chest.

Luka’s head jerked up, his eyes flashing. My wolf snapped back internally, defensive of Luka, but I reached out and caught Adriel’s hand. The moment my fingers wrapped around his, the Lycan's tension melted, his growl dying in his throat. I needed to sort this out. The connection between Luka, Adriel, and me was a powder keg.

"The tournament starts at noon," I said, checking the wall clock. My eyes widened. "We need to leave now. We have less than an hour to sign everyone up."

"Yes," Adriel said, his grip tightening on my fingers as his eyes dragged down my oversized clothes. "But not looking like that."

I rolled my eyes. "Possessive Lycan."

Before I could step back, his hand came down in a sharp smack against my trousers.

"Don't roll your eyes at me, princess," Adriel warned, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips.

My wolf growled loud, but I forced a shrug. "I will mind-link my mother and ask her to bring me something proper then."

"No need, Miss Betty," Leonardo interrupted, nodding toward the front hall. "Your parents were here at dawn. They left your bags in the foyer."

I pulled my hand from Adriel’s grip and walked out to the hallway. I unzipped the top bag, pulling out a black training bra, a tight tank top, leggings, and a hair tie.

"I am going to shower and change," I said, pointing toward the stairs.

"We will wait for you, princess," Adriel said, giving me a slow wink that sent another flush straight to my neck.

I bolted up the stairs, locking myself in the smallest bathroom. I stripped, turned the dial until the water was scalding, and stepped under the spray. I scrubbed hard, desperate to wash away the confusion, the fear, and the mixed scents clambering over my skin. When I stepped out and wiped the steam from the mirror, I froze.

My eyes were still glowing a distinct, vivid purple.

"Betty! Hurry up!" Adriel’s voice boomed from downstairs.

I threw the clothes on, ignoring the dampness of my skin. My hair was a disaster - a massive, tangled bird's nest from yesterday’s chaos. I spent five minutes fighting it with my fingers before giving up entirely.

I jogged down the stairs, but as I hit the bottom step, Robert caught me by the arm, a knowing smile on his face.

"What about a braid for today?" he asked softly.

I let out a breath. "Yes, please."

He led me into the kitchen, pulling out a chair. I sat, holding myself rigid while Robert began to untangle the knots with practiced ease. He was careful, his fingers barely skimming my skin to avoid triggering Adriel. Ian walked in a second later, handing Robert a heavy paddle brush.

"Your hair is incredibly long, Miss Betty," Ian remarked, leaning against the counter. "I hadn't noticed before."

"I wanted to cut it short," I said, wincing slightly as a knot gave way. "But my mother insisted I look better with it long. I kept it out of pure fear."

Robert paused, the brush hovering. "You are afraid of your mother? Why?"

Ian let out a short laugh.

"Have you spent more than two minutes with her?" I asked, looking at Ian through the reflection in the microwave door. "She is warm until you cross her. If you make her angry, you can run until your lungs burst, but she will still catch you and make your life a living hell."

"I can cut it for you if you like," Robert offered, his fingers twisting the strands into a tight, neat braid.

"Yes, please. But it will have to wait until I am officially out of this territory." I let out a dry laugh. "Where did you learn to do this, anyway? The makeup yesterday, the hair now."

"School," Robert said, finishing the braid with a quick snap of the band. "And I practiced on my mother and aunt for years."

"Robert handles almost every formal style for my mother," Adriel said, stepping into the kitchen with his arms crossed over his chest.

"You are ready, Miss Betty," Robert said, stepping back.

I turned in the chair, looking up at him. The relief of being presentable was enough to make me forget myself. I stood up, threw my arms around his neck, and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."

Robert’s face flushed a deep, bright scarlet.

Adriel froze in the doorway, his chest heaving as he stared at us. He didn't even growl; he looked completely stunned.

I pushed past them before the storm could hit. "Shall we go now?"

I walked out the front door into the bright morning air.

"No shoes, Miss Betty?" Leonardo asked, standing by the silver SUV parked on the gravel.

"Not allowed in the arena, Leonardo," I said, keeping my eyes fixed ahead.

Adriel, Robert, and Ian came out a moment later. Leonardo looked between the three of them, his eyebrows raised, but I kept my gaze locked on the car door. The kiss had been pure gratitude, but the sudden shift in the air was palpable.

"Miss Betty?" Leonardo called out as I reached for the door handle.

I paused. Something heavy settled in my stomach. "Ian? Can I talk to you for a second before we get in?"

Ian nodded, his expression turning serious.

I walked around the side of the house, away from the prying eyes of the Lycans. It wasn't about hiding; it was about respect. Ian was a friend, and he was caught in the crossfire of my mess.

"I know this is hard for you," I said, turning to face him against the brick wall. "This challenge with Madeline. It is brutal. The law says I have to make her submit so she accepts your rejection before I kill her. If she doesn't submit, I still have to kill her. And if she dies without accepting the rejection, the backlash will tear through your bond. It will hurt you."

I looked down at his boots. "I don't want to break you, Ian. I don't know how to handle this cleanly."

Ian stepped in, his hand coming up to catch my chin. He forced my head up, his thumb brushing a stray tear from my eyelid. "Don't worry about me. Your only job today is to win. Kill her if you have to. It will sting for a second, but you forget - Lycans are built to survive worse than this."

He gave me a tight, sad smile, then dropped his hand. "Let's go."

We walked back to the car.

"Car or running?" Leonardo asked, holding the rear door open.

"Car," I said flatly.

The guys chucked, but the mood remained heavy as we piled into the seats. Ian took the wheel, the tyres crunching over the gravel before hitting the smooth tarmac of the main pack road. I stared out the window, watching the familiar trees of the Blue Claw territory flash past. Every corner held a memory, but today, it all felt foreign. I turned my head back, my eyes landing on Adriel’s steady gaze.

The car slowed, turning into the gravel park outside the pack arena.

"We are here, Miss Betty," Ian said, cutting the engine.

"Yep." I slid out of the seat, my bare feet hitting the rough dirt.

Adriel was out a second later, his large hand clamping around mine. He didn't ask; he just locked his fingers with mine and let me lead him toward the registration tables in the corner of the grounds. My parents were standing there, sorting through the entry forms with Delta Shimon.

"Hi, honey," my mother said, stepping out from behind the table to wrap her arms around me.

"Hi, Mum," I murmured, pulling back to look at the Delta. "How is the list looking?"

"It is full, Betty," Delta Shimon said. He kept his eyes strictly on the paperwork, completely avoiding Adriel’s massive, imposing frame next to me. "You did a thorough job organizing this. Do you want the tournament fights or the challenge first?"

"The challenge," I said without hesitation. "I am not wasting my energy beforehand. And I need to add some names to the tournament roster."

"Which ones?" Shimon asked, his hand hovering over the parchment with a pen.

"I will do it myself," I said, reaching for the quill.

Shimon looked visibly relieved to hand it over. I quickly wrote down the names of the men who had agreed to fight before we left the mansion.

Ian

Luka

Leonardo

Jeremiah

Micah

Jonathan

Colten

Arthur

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, then added my own name at the very bottom.

"I wish you all the luck I have, Betty," Delta Shimon said quietly as I handed the paper back. "The pack will be different without you."

I gave him a tight nod, hugged my mother one last time, and then turned toward the arena gates. Adriel walked closely at my side. As we entered the main thoroughfare, the crowd of wolves parted like a wave. At first, I thought it was Adriel’s terrifying presence, or perhaps the new, strange scent rolling off my skin. But as I looked into the faces of the pack members, I saw the truth.

Pity. And intense curiosity.

"There you are, rogue," a sharp, venomous voice barked from the side.

Madeline stood by the weapon racks, her eyes fixed on me.

I didn't give her the satisfaction of a reply. I walked straight past her to my designated corner and began stretching my hamstrings. I needed my mind clear. I couldn't shift into my wolf form under pack law for this stage, and Madeline was naturally heavier than me.

"Don't be nervous," my father’s voice came from behind me. He stepped into my line of sight, his face grim. "Focus on your breathing. Keep your weight on your toes this time. Do you remember the weak spots of a werewolf in human form?"

I stopped stretching and looked up at him, a small smile breaking through my nerves. "I know them by heart, Dad. I am ready to show them what I can actually do."

I stepped forward and hugged him hard.

"That's my girl," he whispered, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. "It is your turn now. Go out there, show them your true self, and we will handle the rest later. Go."

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and pulled away. I closed my eyes for a split second, reaching deep inside for the violet strength of my wolf. She was clawing at the surface, desperate for blood, especially Madeline’s.

I watched as my dad guided Adriel, Ian, Robert, and Leonardo up the stone steps toward the VIP balcony overlooking the dirt.

Madeline and I walked out onto the grass at the exact same time.

The Blue Claw arena was a massive, circular pit carved into the earth, surrounded by towering stone bleachers. Usually, it was filled with training hurdles or maze walls, but today it was nothing but flat, trampled green grass.

Delta Shimon and Beta Kennedy were already standing in the centre point. I stopped five paces away, turning to face Madeline.

"This is an official challenge between the daughters of the Alpha and the Gamma of the Blue Claw Pack," Delta Shimon announced, his voice booming across the stone walls of the stadium. "The stakes are the mate bond. The loser will formally reject their mate and die by the winner's hand. The only rule is absolute isolation - no outside interference. Are both challengers ready?"

I dropped my left shoulder, sliding my right foot back into a low, defensive stance.

Madeline bared her teeth, her arms coming up into an aggressive, offensive guard. "Ready."

"Ready," I spat.

Delta Shimon raised his hand high, then dropped it in a sharp arc. "Ready. Set. Go."