Marked By The Demon Lycan King

EXCERPT * "You are careless female" Alpha Cullen growled in anger as his eyes stared at the wounded woman in contempt. Coming to the club on a friday night was all Degar's idea. He never wanted to step his foot in this filthy place but Degar insisted that he needed to let off some steam after all the work they had done the whole week. This is why you never let Degar talk you into doing anything. He had the mind of a child and it always seemed to put him in compromising situations. He wanted to have a peaceful weekend but now his night has been spent fighting wolfhunters to rescue a drunk, rude and wounded female. "Let me go" Adria groaned trying to push herself away from this giant of a man. Damn it. She's drunk out of her mind. Why did she sneak off with Aria to come here? And the useless girl left her for dead. Adria raised her head to look at the face of her rescuer. Her eyes are blurry so she cannot make out his facial features but for some reason, her wolf is delighted. Why is she excited to meet someone as rude and demeaning as him? Is he her mate? And why is he here of all places? Cullen can't ignore the fact that for the first time in thirty years, his wolf his excited which only means that he has found his mate. And he can't believe that it's this crazy woman standing in front of him. He scoffed "Foolish female" Adria slurred and fell to the ground. Cullen looked at her in disdain. Yes, the woman is undeniably beautiful. She had long brunette hair and her lips are oval shaped. Staring at her is tempting and for some reason, he is already tempted. He ignored his already agitated wolf and proceeded to pick up the dead bodies of the men that he had killed to dispose. When he came back to the spot that he had left her, he found out that she was no longer there. He was supposed to go out there and look for her but sadly, he wasn't interested. He doesn't want a mate and he most definitely doesn't want any woman in his life. . ___________________* MANY YEARS AGO, . "I do not want another daughter Althea" His voice thundered heavily as his wife winced in pain. Her water just broke and she was on the verge of delivery. "It is either you give me a son or you die while trying to do so" he commands. "I cannot dictate, neither can I question the goddess about what I shall bring forth into this world. We can only hope, my Lord" she spoke in shortness of breath as she tried to convey her feelings to her ruthless and tyrant of a husband. "Save your breath my lady" Moira who has been watching the exchange for a long time now, shushed her as she tries to rub Althea's back while she took deep breaths to relieve the pain. "I married you for a son Althea." He tells her coldly. His voice sent shivers down the spine of the other maidens present in the room "And if you try to give me anything other than what I asked for then consider yourself dead to me" he said with an air of finality before rushing outside the room. Althea was the daughter of Alpha Orlando of the Silver pack. She was sold to her husband by her ruthless father because Lucien had promised her father an entire wide range of land. Her father who was greedy and sought after power, accepted the proposal and that was how she landed here, in the Zivando's household. She would've denied the proposal if she had known the kind of man her husband was. But she was clueless. She never knew what a man is to a woman because all her life, she has been locked up from the entire world. Her existence in the world is to mate and bring forth children. Lucien used her gullibility as a weakness and managed to sweep her off her feet so that she had eyes for no one else but him. When she finally got married, everything changed. His true colors began to show like the stripes on a zebra skin. She found out that she wasn't the only wife that he had married. He had tricked her and married her as his fifth wife because the other wives couldn't reproduce a son for him. Something that he longed for to continue the Zivando's legacy. She tried to talk to her father but he waved her off and running away wasn't an option because Lucien would easily sniff her out and the repercussions would be deadly. When she finally fell pregnant for him after many years of trying, his attitude towards her changed drastically to the point that it became an envy to the other wives who was angry that she took their place. Zelphaba, the fourth wife was the only person who stood by her side along with her handmaiden, Moira. They both had helped her get over the troubled times that Lucien has caused her and now today, has finally come for the big reveal. Althea was as nervous as a kitten caught for trying to steal milk. The immense pain she was going through can't be compared to what she would face if Lucien's wish doesn't come through tonight. "Argh" she screamed out in agony as she held moira's hands for support. She looked up to the ceiling as she said a silent prayer. "Please goddess. Whatever happens tonight, give me a son. I do not want my child to go through the wrath of his father. Please" she whispered to herself but Moira heard her completely. For her sake, the lady also wished that her prayers are answered because no one would be safe should in case something goes wrong. "I brought the water as you asked" Lady Zelphaba, voice sprang through as she made a creek and let herself inside the room. Moira walked towards her in haste. "How is she?" Zelphaba asked the Moira who graciously took the warm water that the lady was offering. "Worse my lady. She is loosing blood and I pray that she survives the night" she speaks silently so that Althea won't hear what they are conversing about. "She cannot die Moira. Please do everything you can" she pleaded and Moira could see the tears that had formed in her eyes, threatening to fall. "I'll do my best my lady" she said with a slight bow before joining the others at Althea's delivery bed who was still groaning and screaming out her lungs in pain. Outside Althea's delivery room, in a large courtroom that resembles a hall, which is richly embedded and decorated with fine stones to match the class of the Alpha king is Lucien and his council who are seated, waiting patiently to hear the good news. Lucien thoughts are scattered and his mind is restless but looking at him, seated on that throne-like chair that is built for him, you would never know that he is as restless as the other members of the council because his face is devoid of any emotions. While most of them are tirelessly hoping and praying that his wish is granted tonight, because they might not hear the end of it, the rest are plotting new ways in their head to dethrone him should in case he doesn't father an heir tonight. But all the same, one group must carry the trophy tonight. *.*. "I need you to push my Lady" Moira begged while Zelphaba held onto Althea's hand as the only way of offering her moral support. "I cannot do it Moira. I am...I am tired" Her breath came out in pants as she whispered shakily while one of the maids cleaned up the sweat on her forehead that was formed out of the odeal that she was going through. "The baby's head is almost out. Please, I want you to think about everything that has brought you here. You can do it my lady" "Please" Zelphaba had already started to cry. "Just one push Althea" "If I should deliver this child today then you must promise me one thing" she whispered to her co-wife who held onto her for her dear life. "Anything Althea. Just say the word" she pressed "Promise me that you would look after my child as if it were your own. You won't let anything happen to him or her. Promise me" she requests with eyes that only scream out pain. Zelphaba looked at Moira and back to Althea. "You will birth this child and we will look after it together. Do you hear me?" She uttered empathetically. Althea nods her head and gave her final push. Her screams tore through the entire room that everyone felt it shook as it almost brought it down. That one push gave birth to the tears of a little changeling. "It's a boy" Moira giggled excitedly as she handed the baby over to her mistress. She did a silent prayer, thanking the goddess for yielding to the young mistress prayers. "He is beautiful. He is worth everything" Althea whispered to herself as she handed the child over to Zelphaba who took the little infant into her arms in delight. "You did well" she compliments Althea who gives a weak smile. "Please take care of him Zelph. And tell Lucien that I have finally given him a son" she whispered tiredly before closing her eyes shut. Zelphaba could almost see the blood drained from her co-wife's face. "What's wrong with her Moira" Zelphaba asked in horror as Moira tried to see if her lady was still breathing. She turns to look at Zelphaba and her eyes confirmed the news that she was too afraid to accept. "We have lost her" Moira announced sadly. Zelphaba almost collapsed to the ground but was immediately held up by Moira. Seconds later, the door burst open and Lucien walks inside the room with a huge smile on his face. "I heard the baby's cry from the courtroom. Where is my son" he inquires but everyone is too stunned to speak. A great calamity has befallen on the land. The death of the fifth wife. Moira took the child from Zelphaba and handed him over to his father. "Congratulations Alpha king" she tells him with a bow. "I have a son!" He yells at the top of his lungs and victory shouts could be heard coming from outside. "Why the long face?" Lucien finally asks after noticing how sad and gloomy everyone is. "This is a great day and we're supposed to be celebrating this joyous occasion so why the sad faces" Zelphaba broke down completely as she cried her eyes out. That one question was her undoing. "Sadly my Lord, your wife did not make it" Moira broke the news to him. He didn't flinch, neither did his countenance change. It was almost like the news didn't penetrate the hard walls that he had built up for himself. If they didn't know better, they would say that he was happy for his wife's passing but Lucien never cared. He didn't before, so he wouldn't now. "She has served her purpose and will get a befitting burial to honour her sacrifice" Zelphaba threw up her face at him in anger "Sacrifice? We just lost a soul. How can you be so cruel and heartless?" She screamed at him with all her might. "Watch your tongue my lady cause I will not tolerate your disrespectful attitude in my household. My son is here so I will forgive you today but do not make the mistake of repeating your actions again cause the next time might be brutal" He cautions her with a deep voice that made her inner wolf shiver in fright. "I am sorry my Lord" Moira said on her behalf before turning to her mistress "My lady please calm down" Moira tried to put her in place because she cannot afford to loose another mistress tonight. "Make sure that everything is arranged for my deceased wife Moira" he ordered "Yes my Lord" Lucien took one look at his son as a smile found its way to his lips. He never smiles so this is new. "Welcome to the household of the Zivando's baby Cullen" he voiced out, with pride laced in his voice. "Only greatness awaits you"