Her Cursed Alpha

CHAPTER 15 - CORALINE'S POV

"Merin, I want her to relax all morning. If she even tries to escape to train or sneaks off to pack, link me immediately."

"Yes, Alpha." Merin bowed, while I exhaled.

"I know how to relax, but this is pointless. I don't need a spa day."

"Go," Was his only response as he handed more gold over to Nolan, before he kissed my forehead.

Once he walked off with the others, I turned to Merin and Nolan.

"How much can I bribe you both with to get me out of this spa day?" I asked them sneakily, "That whole gold sack could be yours."

"Just get moving, Luna." Merin pointed down the hallway.

I exhaled in frustration, "I'm the Luna, you're meant to listen to me, not give me orders."

"We'll both work on that then." She laughed and linked her arm on mine.

I glared at her but allowed her to pull me along.

"The Princess needs every treatment available," Merin declared, as we entered the spa resort. "Every silk wrap, the mineral scrub, the lavender soak... everything."

I stomped my foot onto the polished marble floor. "Merin, no. Just a massage is fine."

"Don't listen to her, it's King Derick's orders," Merin told Lea, the receptionist.

I turned to dash toward the exit, my shoes squeaking against the marble, only to skid to a halt. Nolan was leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his broad chest, a smirk playing on his lips. He didn't move an inch, effectively blocking the path like a barricade.

"Turn back around Luna, or I'll be forced to contact the King." He warned me.

"Fine!" I threw my hands up in defeat, glaring at him. "But I still think it's a waste of time."

Three hours later, the world felt significantly less jagged. We were submerged in the large, basalt-lined thermal baths, the steam rising in lazy, fragrant curls toward the ceiling. My muscles, usually tight from hours of training, had finally surrendered to the heat.

Merin leaned over, her eyes dancing with mischievous curiosity. "So, Princess," She whispered, lowering her voice as if sharing a state secret. "Do you want to know anything about the wedding night? It can be a little daunting your first time, especially if it's with an Alpha."

My face burned instantly, the heat of the bath suddenly feeling far too intense. I splashed a bit of water toward her, sputtering. "Merin! Absolutely not. I know everything I need to know, thank you very much. And what I don't know, I'm sure Derick will... Teach me."

She giggled, undeterred, but I firmly turned the conversation to packing and how is give her money to get a new home.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," She said as she closed her eyes, "Beta Noah told me that as your personal maid, Lathan and I will be given a suite connected to the royal one, who I have better access to you."

"Really. Oh, well, that's good." I relaxed.

After lunch, I stepped out of the spa feeling like a different Lycan. The knots in my shoulders were gone, and I felt at ease.

As I emerged into the bright afternoon sunlight, I saw them. Nolan was still there, but he was no longer standing alone. Derick was beside him, his eyes scanning the crowd until they locked onto mine. A slow, genuine smile spread across his face, and my heart gave a strange, fluttery kick.

I honestly couldn't believe it. Only a few days ago, I had been running from him, terrified of the tether he represented. Now, seeing him waiting there, he was the only one I wanted to be near.

"How are you, honey? Did you enjoy yourself?" Derick asked as he brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear.

"Yes," I said reluctantly, and he gave me a smug smirk.

"See, you should always listen to me. I know what I'm talking about," He said smugly, "Merin, take the rest of the day off to pack, and be ready to depart the morning after the wedding."

"Yes sir."

"I want you at work early tomorrow to get the Luna ready for the ceremony."

"Yes, sir." She repeated and bowed before walking away.

"Take the rest of the day off," He now addressed Nolan, who bowed.

"I'll see you tonight, Alpha."

As he walked away, Derick took my hand, and we walked towards the garden that joined the forest around the capital.

"Where are you drinking tonight?"

"Just one of the taverns," He shrugged.

"Is Damien and Ryker going?"

"Yes, but I'm sure it's just for appearances sake."

I nodded, "I can't believe I'll be leaving here in two days."

"And you'll never have to come back," He smiled and kissed my hand.

That thought was so welcoming that I could cry in joy.

"Are all the peace talks done?"

Derick scoffed, "Yes, though Damien wanted more than he deserved. We'll just get through the wedding, and we'll head home and never look back."

As we walked towards the forest, a new daunting thought struck me. I had no real clue what the future held, and that was scary. The life is been planning with Eric was one of always wanted, and I'd planned everything. Where we'd live. My career. When we'd get married. How many children. That life seemed so far away now, and even though I was falling in love with Derick, I still felt a small twinge of mourning for the life that could have been.

I was still thinking everything over when Derick stopped, and I realized we were deep in the woods.

"We'll shift here," He announced, ever the control freak, and started to undo the back of my dress, "What's on your mind? Why are so quiet?"

"Just worrying about the future," I admitted as I slipped out of my shoes, "I don't know what to expect."

"My mother and I will guide you. Don't worry too much. Besides, you're an Alpha's daughter. You have more of an idea as to how to lead than most women do. You'll be fine."

"What if... What if I can never give you a son?"

Derick slipped my dress down, and I stepped out of it, before he pulled me around.

"I'm the cursed one. If we can't have a son, that's on me, not you. Just... Please promise me that if it all gets to much that you'll ask for the rejection," He pleaded and I saw pain in his eyes, "Don't betray me like Victoria did. I couldn't stand that kind of humiliation twice."

"I will never betray you." I told him with conviction, as I touched his cheek, "Not ever."

He smiled and kissed my forehead before stepping back and removing his clothes.

I pulled off my skip and underwear, and shifted and Derick froze in shock.

"Clara... You're... Silver." Derick gasped as he touched her fur.

"No, I'm light grey!" Clara linked him in response.

She and I had argued over her coloring for years. She insisted she was light grey, almost white even, but I said silver."

Derick frowned as he examined her, "You're right. It's very light grey. Perhaps it's because of your white Lycan ancestry?"

Clara shrugged and wagged her tail, "Who cares? I want to run with Dash!"

Derick laughed, kissed her cheek and stepped back. Once he was far enough away, he shifted and a large black Alpha, who stood at least a foot over us, stood there with his eyes glowing golden and his tail wagging.

He circled Clara, sniffing her everywhere before he rubbed his massive body against hers, and gave an odd purring sound I'd never come from an Alpha, and then he nipped at her and shot off playfully.

Clara, hating to be outdone, ran after him, showing off her speed, and shocking Dash, who sped up to catch her.

Our Lycans ran and hunted together for the rest of the afternoon, until Derick told us it was time to return for his man's only night, so reluctantly we returned to our clothing and shifted back.