THE LYCAN KING'S UNCLAIMED MATE

Episode 2

The whole pack seemed to have caught wind of my hybrid identity after I returned to the house in the morning. My father blamed me, as usual, for disgracing him in front of the whole pack and called me unworthy to live in his house. Then he asked me to leave and never return.

I took a deep breath, expecting him to say those words ever since he had stopped taking care of my needs, and I silently went to my room to grab my things.

Because of the shame of having people stare at me, I waited until night fell before making my way out of the house, holding the money Damien had given me tightly. The money would be enough to rent a small place in a human town, so I swallowed my pride.

The road out of Moonstone Pack was silent under the dark night and farther than I thought. My feet ached from walking so much, and just as I stepped outside the Pack’s border, I suddenly felt light-headed, and my vision blurred with exhaustion and hunger.

I watched the moon’s reflection ripple in the water before collapsing beside a tree. Then I heard footsteps approaching.

Fear clawed at my throat as I tried to jump up on my feet and run, but my body refused to obey. A low growl rumbled through the trees and I saw him emerge from a distance.

He shifted back into human form upon seeing me and brushed his long dark hair backward, his emerald eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

“Who are you?” his voice demanded, deep and commanding. Then he crouched before me, studying my bruised arm.

“You are hurt,” he muttered.

I tried to speak, but only a sob escaped my throat. He scooped me into his arms with effortless strength. The fresh cedar and earthy warmth filled my nose, wrapping around me like a protective blanket.

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured as my tears wet his shirt.

“You are safe now.”

When I woke, I was in a warm bed with soft blankets cocooning me, and the scent of burning firewood filled the room. My eyes fluttered open to find the man from earlier sitting by my bedside, his elbows resting on his knees, watching me with quiet intensity.

“You are finally awake,” he said softly.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat and turned my head around the room slowly.

“Where am I?” I asked.

“This is Greenwood Pack House,” he answered.

“The name is Austin Green.”

Austin Green. Alpha of Greenwood.

My heart clenched as I stared at him, and I sat up quickly, wincing as pain shot up my side.

“Please forgive me, Alpha Austin. I did not mean to trespass…”

“Don’t apologize,” he cut me off, his voice firm yet gentle.

“You were half-dead by the border. What is your name, and where did you come from?”

“Sofia,” I whispered, and my voice cracked at the mention of the name of the father.

“Sofia Taylor."

"I was leaving Moonstone Pack,” I told him. Lying wasn’t an option since I had the mark of Moonstone on me.

His gaze darkened slightly, as if recognizing my surname. He said nothing afterward but just reached out to brush a stray hair from my cheek. The gesture made my chest tighten painfully.

“Why did you leave Moonstone?” he questioned.

Tears welled up in my eyes again upon hearing his question, and I wasn’t sure how exactly to answer it.

Memories of Julian’s rejection flashed before my eyes and Miranda’s cruel smirk. Damien’s indifferent gaze as he told me to leave after claiming my innocence.

“I have nowhere to go,” I simply said, hoping he wouldn’t ask for more answers. I heard him sigh.

“I will have someone bring you some food."

"The doctor said you are weak,” he said, and turned to leave.

“Wait!” I stopped him, curious to know my fate after that.

“Are you going to kick me out?” I asked, but he shook his head.

“As long as you are willing, you can stay in Greenwood."

"You are safe here,” he told me, and I smiled with relief.

Days passed in Greenwood Pack, and Austin arranged new clothes for me, food three times a day, and even a small room in the Pack House to stay in.

The wolves there stared curiously at me but kept their distance, respectful of their Alpha’s protection over me. I didn’t really see much of him, but a few times at night, he came to my room to check on me and left.

After a month, he came to inform me about getting admitted to Greenwood College, and I was excited and relieved at how lucky I was to meet such good fortune as Austin, until the nausea started.

I woke up every morning clutching my stomach with bile rising in my throat. At first, I thought it was the change in the environment and food, but when I realized I hadn’t seen my period since that night in Moonstone Pack, dread coiled around my chest like a tightening rope.

Could it be that I’m pregnant?

I thought, scared, as I stared at myself in the mirror, my hands trembling over my flat belly. Memories of that night with Damien flooded my mind, hot and shameful.

I secretly got a test kit which confirmed it, and I trembled in fear of what Austin would say when he found out. Would he cast me out too or have me abort the child?

When he came to my room later that night, I decided to tell him and watched his quiet reaction, as always.

“I will get the doctor,” he said, and soon a doctor arrived.

After the test, she confirmed it, and I wrapped my hands around my body, wishing I could do something to make the baby go away. I just couldn’t believe I was carrying the Lycan King’s child.

“Who is the father?” Austin asked me as the doctor left us alone in the room, and I remained quiet.

There was no way I would tell him the Lycan King was the father of this baby, or he would never allow me to continue to stay in Greenwood Pack.

“Was it your mate or boyfriend?” he questioned further, and I shook my head quickly. The thought of Julian infuriated me more than the pregnancy itself. If he hadn’t done what he did that night, then none of this would have happened to me.

Silence followed between us, and I watched Austin slowly turn his back to me, looking through the window for a good moment before returning to my side.

“Marry me, Sofia,” he said.

My eyes widened like I had just heard the strangest words.

“What?”

“I want to get married to you,” he repeated, his voice steady and resolute.

“But… but I’m pregnant,” I reminded him, even though I was sure he knew that, and I wondered what on earth he was going on about.

I had heard a lot of things from people, but marriage was a foreign word to me and that too, with an Alpha.

Austin took a deep breath, his hand reaching for mine before he spoke.

“I’m impotent. The doctor said I can’t conceive a child. If you are willing, then I will become the father of your child and protect you two forever."

"No harm will ever come to you both,” he said, and I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

I stared at him, bewildered and at a loss for words. I had no idea he had such an issue, but then, giving another man’s pup to him seemed inappropriate.

“Do you not care who the actual father is?"

"You don’t even know anything about me,” I asked, contemplating whether to tell him it was the Lycan King’s child. But I didn’t want to return to Moonstone Pack.

Austin suddenly cupped my face in his large palm, his thumbs brushing away the tears I didn’t realize had fallen from my face, and the tenderness of his touch warmed my heart.

“I don’t care about your past, Sofia. As long as you want to, I am ready to become your everything.”

With trembling lips, I nodded in agreement to his proposal.

All my life, no one had treated me so kindly, and here, an Alpha was willing to marry me and take care of my unborn child.

What more could I ask for?