My Cursed Prince

Three

Lyra

His smell of his sweat was suffocating and I kept twisting trying to release myself but it was as if I was trapped by hands I couldn’t see.

“Answer me,” he growled, pressing his thumb harder into my mouth until my lip split.

“N-neither,” I whispered shakingly. “I just… I just want to go home.”

He chuckled and I could feel the rumbling of his chest pressed against mine. "Home? You are very far from home, birdy."

Before I could reply, the door opened to reveal a royal attendant. He bowed low fixing his eyes to the floor. "Your Highness, the King and Queen require your presence in the dining hall, immediately."

Asher didn't pull away at first instead he gave me a look as if I was just a bug beneath his shoes. "Duty calls," he sneered, finally dropping his hand. "Don't keep them waiting, Lyra. It's rude to be late for dinner."

He walked past me and my knees buckled. I had to lean against the sink for support.

I turned on the tap and splashed freezing water onto my face. My hands shook so badly that the water spilled over the edge of the sink.

Get it together, I told myself. Just breathe. You can do this.

By the time I went back to the dining hall, the tension had become worse. The table had been cleared, and my father’s hands were wrapped around its edge so tightly it looked like he might break the wood. I had no doubt my mother had already reminded him, more than once, that hitting a king would be treason.

Asher slouched in his chair, looking uninterested, but his hazel eyes followed me until I took my seat.

“Now that we are all present,” the King began, “we can finalize the terms of our new alliance.”

My father removed his grip and cleared his throat. "The oil rights... we have agreed to the transfer of a part of the Northern fields."

"A wise choice," the King replied flatly. "But land and resources are temporary. We need a bond that ensures the loyalty of your pack in times to come."

What exactly was happening? Why was Dad transferring oil rights to them? I looked at my mother, but she wouldn't meet my eyes.

"The Moon Priestess has divined the path," the Queen added smoothly. "To unite our interests and bring balance to the Great Pack, a union is required. Lyra, you are to be betrothed to my son, Prince Asher."

The room went quiet. Wait, what?!

Betrothed? To him?

No. No, they had to be talking about someone else. Another Lyra. A different girl who wasn’t standing here with her hands locked uselessly in her lap.

"f**k no!" Asher said, standing up abruptly "You’ve got to be joking. You want me to mate with this?"

He pointed a finger at me, his face filled with disdain.

"She is just a worthless and powerless omega! She would be a disgrace to our lineage. I won't have my bloodline tainted by a girl who can't even stand up to a common bully!"

I flinched at that, trying to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Watch your tongue, boy." My father growled.

"Asher, sit down," the King commanded.

"No! I don’t care what the Moon Priestess saw in her tea leaves! f**k the Moon Priestess and f**k this 'divine' match!" Asher said quietly, his eyes turning gold to show his wolf was to the surface. "I am the future King! I will choose my own mate, and it will not be a pathetic little mouse who crawls on the floor at my feet!"

He didn't wait for a response. He stormed out of the hall, slamming the door with a loud bang. The King rose, his face twisted with rage.

"Asher! Get back here!" he bellowed, but the only response was Asher's footsteps disappearing down the hall.

The King turned to us,"Forgive my son. He will learn his place. The contract stands. The announcement will be made to the public tomorrow."

The drive home passed in silence. I stared out the window, looking at nothing in particular. My mother kept glancing back at me through the rearview mirror from the front seat but I wouldn't look at her.

They had sold me. That's what this was. They'd sold me to the royal family like I was some piece of property to be traded for oil rights and peace between packs.

My father tried to talk to me a few times. "Lyra, we should discuss..."

I ignored him and kept staring at the window.

He gave up after the third try, and the rest of the drive passed quietly.

When we finally pulled into our driveway, I didn't wait for the car to fully stop. The second my father put it in park, I opened open the door and got out, heading straight for the house.

"Lyra!" my father called after me.

I kept walking.

"Lyra, wait!" he called again, his voice louder now.

I ignored him and pushed through the front door, heading straight for the stairs.

"Lyra Marie Ashwood, you stop right there!"

Something in his voice made me pause. It was rare for my father to use my full name. I stopped at the foot of the stairs, my fingers curling around the banister tightly but I didn’t turn around.

“Lyra,” my father said again, his voice imploringly “Please. We need to talk.”

I turned to them, “Talk about what?” I snapped. “About how you just handed me over to those people? About how you sold me like I was some kind of cattle?”

My father's face fell. He looked tired and older than I had ever seen him. “It isn’t like that, princess” he said.

“Then what is it then? Explain it to me,” I demanded, my voice rising higher. “Because from where I’m standing, that’s exactly what it is!”

My mother took a step forward, her face filled with worry. “Lyra, honey, you have to try to see...”

“See what?” I cut in. “That you planned my entire life without asking me once? That you expect me to accept being mated to someone who despises me? Someone who treats me like I’m nothing?”

“We didn’t have a choice!” My father burst out suddenly, “Do you think this was easy for us? Do you think I wanted to give my precious daughter to them?”

“Then why did you agree to it?” I asked quietly.

He dragged a hand down his face and exhaled slowly. “Because people are dying. From both packs. Apart from the attacks, people are dying from unknown causes. Like we are being punished. The Moon Priestess says the Moon Goddess is furious with us, that our continued conflict has tipped the balance. She claims the only way to stop it is to bind the packs together.”

“So you decided I was the price.” I said, my voice breaking.

My mother shook her head. “No, It isn’t a price. It’s responsibility. As the daughter of an Alpha—”

“He’s not my mate!” I shouted. “You’re forcing me into a bond with someone who is not my mate. Is that even a thing?”

“The royals family choose their mates. The moon goddess gave them that grace,” my mother explained gently.

I scoffed. “How convenient.”

My father stepped closer. “Lyra, I know this hurts. But Asher is powerful. He can protect you. You’re… you’re not like other wolves. You are weak so this ensures—”

I froze, “Say that again.”

His mouth opened, then closed. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh,” I said quietly. “That’s what this is really about. You’re embarrassed. You don’t want a weak daughter who disgraced you once, reflecting back on you. So you wrapped it up as duty and handed me to someone who can make you look stronger.”

“That isn’t true,” my father said desperately. “Lyra, please...”

“Well news flash,” I said as tears fell down my cheeks. “I am going to be strong. Stronger than you or them. I don’t know how yet, but I will and I will tear this stupid arrangement apart.”

I turned away before they could say anything else and took the stairs two at a time and slammed the door behind me. I locked it, sliding down until my butt hit the floor, and finally let the tears out.