Return of the Lycan Queen

Daciana's POV “I reject you.” The words slicked through the air like a blade. Gasps echoed all over the Mooncrest ceremonial grounds. Everyone was shocked at Rowan's words. My breath caught. “What…?” Rowan stepped forward, towering over me unmoved. His golden eyes locked on mine, cold and devoid of emotions. “You heard me right. I, Rowan Wolfridge, Alpha King, reject you, Daciana Greymark, as my mate.” “Alpha–” One of the elders started. “No.” Rowan raised his hand, cutting the elder off. “No one should intervene in this matter. This was a mistake. The moon Goddess made a mistake.” “The moon Goddess never makes a mistake. She's your fated mate.” Elder Thorne said in disbelief. “The mark appeared. It was witnessed by all.” “I don't accept her,” Rowan growled. “She's weak, Useless, A runt. She can't be my equal.” I breathed in. My throat was tight and I felt my cheeks burning red out of embarrassment. I had waited for this day for so long and for What? To be publicly rejected by my own mate. I took a shaky step forward, reaching for his hand. “You…you don't mean that.” “Don't embarrass yourself.” Rowan shouted, slapping my hand away from him. “You should be grateful I didn't reject you privately. At least now the entire pack can see the truth.” No. No. No. This wasn't how I imagined it. I looked to lila who watched silently from the crowd. A look of concern written all over her face. Beneath that look of concern was a smirk. “Enough,” Elder Caelum warned. “This is sacred. You can't reject your mate, Rowan.” Rowan turned to the elders. “I am the Alpha King.” He roared. “I can do whatever I choose to do that benefits this pack.” “Rowan..”Elena, Rowan's Beta, called softly. “Elena, Don't.” He warned. “Rowan, The moon Goddess won't approve of this.”Elder Thorne warns. “Then call the Moon Goddess. Let her explain why she bound me to a mistake.”Rowan said. I stumbled back. My hands trembling and my whole body feeling numb. Suddenly, the wind howled through the clearing. The sky darkened. A burst of silver light shone erupted from my back, throwing everyone back. Screams broke out. “What the hell–” “She's glowing–” “Her back!” Lila cried. “There's a symbol, some kind of ancient Mark.” My body bent backwards. A cracking sound echoed. My limbs twisted. I felt a sharp and burning sensation all over my body. What was happening to me? “Shift!” someone yelled. “She's shifting!” “No…not shifting. That’s not a wolf.” Another person said. A white beast came out from somewhere. Wait? Where was I? “She's cursed!” Lila screamed. “She's not one of us.” What? I knew that voice. Lila. Who was cursed? Then i heard a growl come out of me. What is going on? I was the beast. How? I couldn't shift so how? Rowan shifted back. “Stand down, you beast.” I growled. A low, furious sound came from me which shook the grounds. Why did I transform into a monster and why can't I control it? The Pack Guards gathered around me, waiting for instructions from Rowan. “Alpha?” Blackclaw asked, unsure. “Take her down.” Rowan ordered. “Now.” He didn't care if it was me, his mate. I lunged. I couldn't control my body. My body was being moved and mindlessly controlled. Chaos broke loose. The guards ran and attacked me, surrounding me. I tore through their middle, slamming three of them into the dirt, knocking them unconscious. “She's lost control.” Blackclaw shouted, shifting to a black werewolf. “No.” Rowan barked. “Don't kill her. Just stop her.” I turned to him. Maybe he did care a little. Then my body moved. I lunged at Rowan. Rowan dodged just in time, rolling to his feet. “Surround her! Bring her down.” T he crowd scattered. The elders and children ran, as the guards evacuated the rest of the people. Blackclaw moved closer to me. “Surrender now and you won't be hurt.” The beast growled. I wanted to speak and tell them not to hurt me but I had no control of my body. Blackclaw and the other guards shifted to their werewolf form. Then Blackclaw attacked, telling one of the wolves to hold me from behind. I felt a sharp pain behind before this beast could hold off Blackclaw. I was pierced with a long knife. The beast whined, and roared. Then it turned and lunged at the wolf, using it's sharp claws at the wolf. The wolf whined and dropped unconscious. This beast was strong. Is this really me? Then the beast shot sliver beams at Blackclaw and the other guards. I could feel the sharp pain of the knife but I couldn't control my body movements. Then i looked back. They were attending to the wolf I injured. I didn't want to do that. “Don't let it escape.” I heard Rowan yell, after making sure the children were safe. Too late Rowan. The beast bolted into the forest, as fast as a lightning. “MOVE!” Blackclaw roared. “Track her Scent! Go!” Rowan shifted mid-run, His massive black wolf leading the cause. Trees blurred past. I was moving so fast. I was hearing thumping of footsteps behind me. My senses were sharpened. Did I really shift? Rowan was behind me, I could hear his movements. Beside him, was Blackclaw and the other guards were behind them. Five in total, their eyes glowing, their teeth bared ready to spill blood. “Don't let her get away.” Rowan's voice echoed through the trees. “Surround her.” The beast slowed down. I wasn't as fast as before. The injury from earlier was the cause. A sudden sharp whistle cut through the air. They had caught up to me. An arrow, tipped in wolfsbane. I dodged it. “Daciana, stop and we won't hurt you.” Rowan shouted from behind me. I wanted to but my body won't listen to me. I kept running until I sensed them coming from my sides. One lept at me with claws out, I met him midair, slamming him into a tree. Another lunged from my left, I twisted and kicked him back but my injured side flared, slowing me now. A third wolf moved to my right and doubled back. Before I could react, he slammed into my exposed injury with his claws extended. Pain exploded along my side. I whined. A mix of fury and agony and dropped to the ground, struggling to breathe or move. Rowan shifted back, now fully human again. He stood above me. “Stand down.” He said, raising a hand to his guards. “She's—.” A deafening howl ripped through the woods. Then Silence.