To Wed A Monster

Chapter Two

LUCIEN VEXMOOR

I could see her.

Hiding behind a curtain, peeking at me through almond honey eyes, pale as the snow with rosey lips that looked bloodstained.

What a little rabbit!

I scoffed as she pulled back and peeked at me over and over again.

"Do we just wait?" Sera, my sccond in command asked, shuddering and breathless.

"Relax." I said. "No one wants their head on a platter, trust me, they will submit soon."

Sera heaved in, her hand tremor getting worse as she waited. It was usual for us Lycans to be hungry for war but Sera was on another level. Her hunger for chaos was inhumane and cruel, which was why I adored her.

"Time, time, time..." She murmured impatiently, her veins bulging from her skin and awaiting violence. "We should wipe them all, take all they have, leave this snowy kingdom is disarray."

I sighed. "Patience, Sera. Death is mercy to these miscreants."

"What is worse than death?" She pondered, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

A smirk formed on my face as I tilted my head slightly to meet the young princess gaze upstairs.

The little rabbit saw me. Those honey brown eyes widened, her lips parted in complete horror.

I was used to people reacting that way to my gaze, but hers had a different effect on me.

Rather than feeling irritated, my skin prickled as the thought of grabbing that dainty neck and drawing out her breath by sucking those plump lips ran through my mind.

Sera followed my gaze to the window high above, and she chuckled.

The moment Sera looked, the princess ducked and shut the window.

"I'll take away their hope, their beloved princess." I said, my eyes still keen on the window sill. "I'll take the little rabbit as my debt."

CELESTE D'ARDEN POV

I couldn't look away. I swear I tried to but there was something about his gaze; the chilling sight of it that attracted me like magnet.

He wasn't looking away either, and for that moment the world went still.

I had expected him to be a beast, a man with scarred face, scaly skin and horns, but the Lycan King was far away from that. He was the exact opposite of my expectations.

"Angelic, isn't he?" Queen Wicily whispered behind me.

I was startled by her voice and it drew me back to reality. I ducked away from the window and slammed it shut.

"Don't be fooled, Celeste." Stepmum said, scoffing at my trembling hands. "King Lucien Vexmoor might look like Prince Charming from your dream but trust me he's a living nightmare."

"Lucien Vexmoor? I have heard that name before." I whispered as my mind began to connect the dots. "He's... the... REAPER."

She nodded her head slowly and grinned. "The one who death fears."

The doors of my bedroom swung open and father's Betas marched in. They looked fierce and strong as usual but they bore no weapons with them.

"Why aren't you dressed in war armors?" I questioned, baffled by their casual attires. "The intruders are outside ready to attack us."

The chief Beta stepped forward, his eyes moistened with tears. He had been one of my trainers for years and we had a brother-sister bond.

"I failed you." His shoulders dropped and that once proud Beta looked beaten and defeated even before the battle began.

"How d-do you mean?" I stuttered, my eyes raking through the Betas behind him. They lowered their eyes shamefully and avoided eye contact with me.

"Just follow us, Celeste." He said, taking a deep breath and exhaling. "I have to do my duty."

I tried resisting but his grasp on my hand was firm and tight.

As they led me out of the castle, the hallways and passages were jam-packed with maidens and guards who waved farewell to me.

'This can't be true.' I muttered to myself. 'These are my people, they can't just forsake me. No, never.'

The wind was relentless but they dragged me out in the cold without care.

I didn't really struggle despite being pulled to my death because I could feel the hurt in them as they did their job.

The Betas and gammas didn't really have a say of their own. Whatever the Alpha ordered was what would be done.

Father was standing in front of the strange troops, his shoulders lifted high and his chest pushed forward—The stance of a dominant, fearless Alpha. But once he sighted me being pulled along, his shoulders dropped and I saw the shame in his eyes.

"My darling Celeste." He said as I approached him. "I am terribly sorry for this and I will never forgive myself."

Father was breaking down in tears and it burned my soul to see such a strong, relentless Alpha known for his dominance and power break down and wail in front of me.

They had broken him. These savages and beasts had broken every one of us.

With a heavy heart, i reach out to hold his hand and then caress them softly. "I understand, father. It's something that must be done. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I can take care of myself."

He lifted his face and turned to look at the dreadful young King behind him. Returning his gaze to me, father whispered. "Don't let them break you, Celeste. If anyone can save us and bring an end to this cruel regime of Lycans, it is you."

I really doubted that. Father was the strongest of us all and despite that, they managed to break him.

"You're stronger than you think, Celeste." He whispered to me. "You have abilities that no one has ever had. You're a blessed one of the moon goddess and only you can save us all."

I had no idea of what he was talking about but he looked dead serious.

If anyone had special abilities, it couldn't be me. While other wolves could transform easily, I couldn't even shift under the full moon.

Blessed one? More like cursed one if you asked me.

A firm hand grasped my shoulder. Father's face grew pale and he quickly kissed my forehead.

I dared to turn around and behind me was one of the Lycans. His dead was brown and coated with bones, his one eyes was bright red extraordinarily large.

Drawing in large puffs of air, I whispered a prayer to the moon goddess.

The gigantic man motioned to some of the others and they brought forward three chests of gold.

The lid of the chest was broke open and] they lifted it and poured all the gold coins in front of father's feet.

"That's what you get for your troubles, Alpha." The man said.

As I narrowed my eyes to stare at the man, it turned out that it was a woman rather who looked more masculine than the other men.

Clasping my shoulder, she dragged me away from father and towards the man on the horse.

My eyes are flooded and blurry with tears but she keeps on dragging me despite how often I stumbled.

"Transaction has been made, King Lucien." She said, bowing her head. "This puppet is fully yours now."