Lycan Princess' Return

The Festival

Damien could feel her pain as he rushed away, leaving her chained in the dungeon. She had no idea how close to her parents she was and he couldn't bring himself to tell her. His wolf was furious with him. As an animal, he didn't understand why Damien was walking away.

"She's our mate, she will forgive us. You heard her, she is innocent."

"She won't forgive us, look what we've..."

"You! Not we, YOU did this to her. I told you it changed everything. She is our mate and should be at our side, sleeping in our bed."

Damien sighed, knowing Ronan was partially correct. She was innocent, but he couldn't see how she would forgive them. How could she, knowing he was the one who tore her family apart, for a revenge he would never get. He couldn't hurt her, especially now, knowing she was innocent in all of this. But Ronan did not understand human emotions. If anyone betrayed them Ronan simply killed them and Damien let him. Now after what he had done to her, she had every right to do the same to him. And, honestly, he would let her, if it brought her happiness. Ronan was right, this had changed everything, from the moment he laid eyes on her. Damien entered the throne room, making sure his turmoil didn't register on his usually stone face. He looked around, and all his pack members were present, dressed in black and dark shades of red. His Delta and Gamma stood 10 feet to the right of the two thrones at the front. Ronan snarled in his head. A female dressed in blood red stood near the king's throne, now Damien's throne. Her chest was barely contained by the thin material, a slit in the side of the dress that went too far up and left little for the imagination. Her eyes watched his every move.

"Dalia, what are you doing?" Damien's voice came out harsh and cold. Her smile faded into a false hurt. She had tried for years to get into his bed and Damien had once entertained her, though never allowed her in his chambers.

"I apologize majesty, I thought you would want company for the introductions." Her voice filled with venom. A trait Damien had hired her for. She could sneak in with the enemy like a snake. Bedding them and slitting their throat before anyone woke the next morning. Another reason he had not allowed her into his bed. She would kill anyone for the right price. Her loyalty was to money and power alone. If she thought for a moment he would fall, she would not hesitate to help.

"Company? For introductions to the possible future Luna?" Damien scoffed. "Do you think me a fool? You have no place next to me."

"Yes, majesty" Dalia's eyes darkened in anger but she was loyal to him for now. She retreated to stand with the other unranked pack members. A few of the females snickered but quickly quieted as Damien looked around. Ronan snorted in satisfaction. He had always waited for his mate and never wanted a female near him. Now that he had his mate so close, any female who tried would be in danger. Those in his pack knew he had no intentions of taking a Luna from these girls. He had to play the part in the festival. He did invite them all under those pretenses.

The contest was meant to be brutal. None of the girls who were called were told. Initially, they had been picked in hopes of finding the Lycan King and Queen's daughter but now he knew who she was and she was locked in the dungeon beneath their feet. Damien sat down.

"Get the girl in the dungeon, get her dressed in whatever she desires, and bring her here to be presented with the others." Damien mindlinked to his Delta. Without an answer, he slipped from the room. Ronan growled with disapproval. He did not like the idea of another man being close to her. Damien ignored him, not wanting to let on to what they knew just yet. He would include his closest circle after the presentation. They already knew something was amiss because he had to leave. Every other girl had been observed and left to ride the carriage. Damien had instructed the last girl to be captured. He had told them because she was packing early and so was the woman with her. He had not invited any of the girls to bring an extra and thought she was planning to run. It wasn't like him to leave before knowing they had completed the mission. Damien always followed through and stayed till it was over. The fight with his wolf had caused him to leave early and stay away from her when they arrived. His Delta had not said anything yet but Damien knew he would have to answer them soon. He could not allow any doubt or sign of weakness to go unanswered and grow in the minds of his men.

Her scent distracted him from his thoughts as it grew stronger. She was coming. Ronan stirred pacing, ready to attack if the Delta had hurt her in any way. Damien was having a hard time but was still in control. The second she walked in Ronan purred. The sound surprised Damien, as he had never heard such a sound from his black hearted wolf.

She had chosen a sky blue dress, modest in all ways. The blue made the green of her eyes change to a teal color, still as bright and beautiful as her normal emerald color. She kept her head up and eyes straight ahead. Walking as though she had no fear, a warrior at heart, and a reminder to Damien that she did in fact own the place. She made eye contact with him and flash of violet, almost undetectable, shown over the now teal eyes.

"We must mark her" Ronan growled, ready to do in front of everyone.

"Oh, yes I'm sure that would win her over immediately," Damien replied almost letting out a laugh if disgust. "She is a lady and we will treat her as such. You must wait, if she accepts us at all."

"Well, at least you are thinking of her finally." Ronan mocked, curling up to watch from the back of Damien's mind. He was satisfied that Damien was finally thinking of trying to win her over. Ronan was far more confident in the mating bond than Damien.

Suddenly the trumpets sounded again and the doors to the throne room opened. 16 additional girls came through the doors. All were wearing dresses made for royalty. Each clan wanting to impress the Lycan King and raise their pack through a marriage unlike any other. Damien found it amusing how easily they were tricked into sending their strongest females. All excreted Alpha power, but not all were as confident as the others. This contest would show everyone what each female was made of. Some would go home wounded, some would not make it home at all, at least not alive. A festival of bloodlust, to find the strongest female and bring forth the Lycan Princess. Now just a game to subdue the bloodlust of his pack. Damien already knew the winner, and future Luna of this castle. There was no other female in the room who held the kind of power the moon goddess had given the Lycan Princess. Still, same as the rest, she would have to find her true self, and become who she was meant to be if she wanted to survive this. Damien couldn't cancel the festival now that they had all arrived. His pack demanded blood for peace, and it had been a year since the last battle. He and his men were anxious to fight, praying that even a rogue would dare to cross their paths. Damien rose from his seat. Immediate silence followed.

"Welcome to the Festival of the Lycan Luna."