His Firebird: Obsession of the Cursed King

Chapter Two

Alora.

"Alpha Maverick arrives today to take your hand in marriage." Amelia, the head of the maids says to me as though it's the most exciting thing to happen in the pack.

At first, I didn't believe it until she showed me the news. It's spreading like wildfire, and that's only thing assured: my life is going to be ruined.

How could Father do this to me? My legs are in a sprint as I run towards his study room, heading for the pack house. He mustn't know I had gone to the field again to train myself in archery.

"A no shifter has no reason to train. Without your wolf, you're nothing." He would say. Even an omega wolf is better than me, apparently. I'm the lowest of the low in this pack, except being his daughter makes it all less painful.

Arriving at his study room, I barge in as I am unable to hold back my frustration. "Father. Father, please tell me it's not true." My words hitch in my throat at the sight before me.

There they are. Alpha Maverick and his adviser, Beta Adonis. The sight of them frightens me even more, making me believe the rumours.

"And here I thought she wasn't in the pack. Your words, Alpha Aaron." The Lycan King, Alpha Maverick, questions my father, who shoots daggers at me through the eye.

"She wasn't. Unless she's gotten herself busy again." Father's voice is tight. There's anger beneath that stoic expression of his.

Alpha Maverick chuckles, brushing his lower lips. The dark tints of his brown hair leaves him dangerously alluring, the flops dropping on one of his brows, almost covering an eye. I drop my gaze from his sharp ones. I can sense the intense Alpha Aura dropping off of him. Indeed, I'm f****d up. "A daughter who doesn't listen to her father. I like that. Consider this deal done. I'll come at the said date for your daughter. Make her the best bride of the day."

He still has that ghostly smile on his face as he walks close to me. "And lessen the wrinkles on your forehead, Luna-to-be. We wouldn't want you getting freckles at a young age, would we? Your wolf won't be there to rejuvenate your body system." He finishes before he turns to my father. "I'll take my leave now." Did he just insult me, indirectly calling me a wolf-less She-wolf if that even makes sense?

I watch as his presence distances, and then I hurry to Father's desk. "Please, father, tell me this is a lie. You can't arrange a marriage for me. I haven't even met my mate. How could I...? Please." My heart is leaking with pain, my palms are sweaty, and my body is shivering.

"What's her name?"

I frown. "What?"

He rolls his eyes. "Of course, your situation is still the same. You still don't have a wolf, Alora. It's time to accept that you have a bigger responsibility to this pack and that involves protecting everyone with everything you have and through many sacrifices. You will marry the Lycan King of the West."

Father finds his way out, ending the conversation there. I stand in his room, unable to process it all. He can't make this decision for me. It's unfair. I can't continue to be that silent and obedient daughter he wants me to be. I didn't ask for this, so I ran to stop him.

Tears flow down my eyes as I pull at his shirt. "You can't make me do this, Father. If anything, I know the Lycans not to care about us. You said it yourself. During the Great War, they neglected us. They didn't care when the dark magic took over, and now you want me to marry one of them?" I look into his eyes. There's no change there, so I persuade more. "I swear to you, I'm training to be better. All I need is time. I can protect our people after you. I can be the Luna of this pack just like you want. I'm training to become stronger. Give me time, please."

I fall to his knees, but he picks up my face as he states his mind. "I've been a good father to you, Alora. When I asked for a male child, your mother gave me you, yet I didn't hate you. I loved you with my entire life. Then, your sister came too. I still didn't mind, but then you weren't just a girl but a non-shifter. BlueMoon Pack needs a strong leader, and unfortunately, you are not one. I'm doing this for you, to protect and keep you on the royal bloodline, so you don't have to suffer. You've seen what happens to wolves who can't change. And time? I gave you enough. You're twenty-one now. In a week from now, you'd be mated to Alpha Maverick. You have no choice." I wanted to say something even when I didn't know what to say, and he snapped at me. "End of discussion."

I remain there on the ground, not knowing what to do. I can't change his mind. With each passing day, I'm made to blame myself for everything that has happened to our people. Father is growing older. He can't keep track of all the responsibilities, and if only I could shift. I fall into greater despair as I remember his expectations when I turned eighteen. It was everything for me too. It was all I had to prove to him that I could be more than the son he wanted.

"I can't let this happen." I'm not the type to give up easily. "Mother." The thought reels in, and I pick up the race again.

By the time I reach her room, I am sweating profusely. "Mother." I call as I head for the balcony. Her warm smile fades off as she sees the worry on my face. "Please stop Father. He's...he's." I pause to catch my breath. Of course, if I had my wolf, I wouldn't be so weak to losing oxygen over such sprint, would I?

"He wants me to marry the Lycan King of the West. Alpha Maverick. I've read a lot of things about him, Mother. They call him Rage of the West. They say he's battled the legendary Cursed King, and I've heard that he has Werewolves as slaves in his kingdom. Please, stop, father." I'm tugging at her gown as I plead with her, urging her to go now and talk to Father, but she wouldn't bulge.

And then I see tears brimming her eyes. She blinks and laughs, as though to hide it. "I'm sorry I brought this upon you, Alora. I shouldn't have punished you by bringing you to this harsh world." But I don't need this pity. I need her to stop father. I'm not useless. It's like they wouldn't even see my existence as long as I have no wolf.

"Your father is saving you, Alora. Did you remember the last time we had a Lycan come to this pack?" She asks further, and I affirm it with a nod.

"Of course. Father wouldn't stop scolding me all day for offering the stranger a drink. I recall precisely."

Mother sighs, as if there's something heavy on her chest. "I know you believe the Cursed King to be legendary, a fiction, but he isn't. He was the Lycan. He had come to strike a deal. He wanted to overthrow our land like he's done in every other territory. These Lycans don't care about us, but if anything, Alpha Maverick is much better. The world out there is cruel, Alora. You have no wolf to protect you except the royal bloodline your father is creating for you."

I stand up and shake at her words. It's not possible. The Cursed King is a mystery, a story to frighten pups that there is the cruellest of all Lycans, the most barbaric and cold-hearted of them all.

All of a sudden, my memory jogs to a strange letter I received about two weeks ago. "The letter. It's from him?" My entire body shudders, my words split between a question and baffle. Cold instantly shadows my skin, making it itch and leaving me frozen.

"What?" Mother asks, but I'm too shaken up to say anything.

The letter I received. The stranger who sent those words, who said he would come for me when the time is right, who claimed to taint my heart as I had done his, is the Cursed King? I can't wrap it all around my head. I'm doomed. Not only am I forced into a marriage with a maniac of a Lycan king but also a target of the Cursed King. What have I gotten myself into?