Rejected by the Lycan king

CHAPTER TWO: OPHELIA

Lucretia ordered Dahlia from showing her face during the Lycan King’s stay.

“It doesn’t make any sense that I’m to be locked away, just because he’s coming around.” Dahlia was crying bitterly in my room, her face squeezed into stubbornness. She’d argued for a while with her mother and on seeing that Dahlia could not be reasoned with, Lucretia left.

“At least, you’re not being forced to marry against your will. To a total stranger at that.” I was plucking at the seams of my dress, hesitant to start getting ready. We’ve just been informed that they’ll reach the palace grounds in a few minutes.

Dahlia’s tears have dried now, as she bounces on the bed and tells me, “I heard that he’s a wicked and evil man.”

She lowers her voice like we’re not the only two people present. “And that he might’ve killed his previous mate.”

At my stunned look, Dahlia laughs, tittering back till she lies flat on the bed. “It’s probably just rumors, Fee. He’s never been married before, that’s what my mom says, so the rumors might not be true.”

But still. Having talks circulate about one person ought to have some degree of truth to it. I just have to figure out what’s the truth and what isn’t.

“My mother is so crazy. I can’t believe I’ll have to stay locked up.” Dahlia sighs again, fingering the bodice of the gown that Lucretia had lay on my bed.

I frown at her, a sudden swell of anger dousing my body in hot flashes. She wasn’t the one who had to get married to replace her ‘beloved’ sister. Her parents wanted her, wanted to keep her safe but they didn’t mind what happened to me.

“I’m going for a walk.” I say, if only to preserve the good blood between the both of us. I felt like I’d lose it soon, let her know that despite loving her as my sister, I was also aware of her faults. She was as selfish as her mother.

I contemplate going to the garden to continue tending to the flowers, but something propels me away from that direction. Soon, I’m coming close to the dry water fountain at the back of the palace, just before the clearing into the woods.

“Oh.”

I come to a startled stop when I see a man there, staring deep into the forest. His arms are crossed behind him and the jacket he has thrown over his shoulders flares out in the wind, the ends whipping around his knees. He turns back at my whispered exclamation and I gasp, louder this time.

His eyes are an icy blue, making his olive skin and dark features look so stark. I find myself stumbling back, suddenly remembering that this path is completely deserted, and I’m all alone. With a strange man.

“You live here.”

His voice is a cold and unfortunate thing, roughened like someone had taken a razor against the inner linings of his vocal cords. The sound grates across my skin, lifting the fine hairs.

He tilts his head up a bit when I remain silent and he sniffs. His face takes on a ruined appearance, like he’s found something displeasing in the air. “What’s wrong with you?”

The question has my back snapping straight. I’ve been asked that question so many times, by the pack members, by my father when he looked sad. By Dahlia even. This strange man had no right to ask me that.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

His brows raise high at that, and he smiles coldly, a smile line refusing to bracket his lips. “You’re a scrawny little thing who’s unscented. Has your wolf been bound?”

I glower at the man now, failing to hide my ire. “As I said, it’s none of your business.” I resist the urge to stamp my foot in petulance.

Like he could see my growing annoyance at his questions, he laughs quietly. “You’re related to the Alpha family. Are you the bride?”

It’s then I reason that he must be from the Lycan King’s entourage. I wasn’t aware they’d already arrived.

“Oh. Lucretia would be looking for me.” I say this to myself, turning around and running back to the palace, leaving the strange man behind me.

Lucretia is pacing my bedroom floor when I run in, Dahlia still on my bed. She sits up once she notices me run in and Lucretia turns to me.

“Where the hell have you been? The Lycan King just got here and we cannot keep him wanting.”

I mumbled an apology and let her put me in the layered gown. Dahlia twists my hair up, baring my face for the first time in a while. I suck in my cheeks, hating how bare and vulnerable I feel without my hair framing my face.

Dahlia must know this because she pulls at the side of the up do, causing some curls to unfurl and slither down my jaw. I smile at her in thanks.

Lucretia hurries me down the stairs, making sure that Dahlia is locked away with no chance of sneaking down. Father is standing by the doors, a worried look on his face. He smiles when he sees me and reaches to take my hand.

“Be brave, Ophelia. You’re about to be the savior of our pack.”

The words don’t incite anything in me as I barely have any feelings for the pack. I smile, though, and let him lead me into the throne room.

There are eight people in the room, three huddled at the head of the map table. One looks up, immediately setting down the figurine he’d picked up, and another moves away, inclining his head in my Dad’s direction.

It’s the last – when he finally glances at us, taking his sweet time – that has me squeezing my father’s arm, my eyes widening. It’s that strange man in the forest.

I look at my father and see him beaming wide as he leads me forward. “My King, it’s always a pleasure to have you grace our presence.”

The man looks at me, blue eyes unnerving. “Believe me, Kieran, the pleasure is all mine.”