The Lycan King's Forbidden Mate

21

The moon loomed high over the training grounds, its silver light casting a ghostly glow upon the gathered warriors. Blood stained the dirt beneath them, the scent thick in the crisp night air.

My breath hitched as I stood at the edge of the circle, and my heart hammering in my chest.

I inhaled sharply as my eyes flickered between the bound and beaten figure kneeling before King Marcus, Lucas and the rest of his men. Marcus's dark presence exuding authority.

I absentmindedly held my own throat, seeing the wolf Lucas captured bound and beaten made me feel sick. I couldn't keep my eyes on him.

Ronan was once my packmate, once a friend, but now he was nothing more than a traitor, marked for punishment.

"He does not deserve mercy."

I tried to swalow the lum in my throat when I heard King Marcus spoke, his voice firm, commanding.

"He chose his fate when he betrayed his own."

A heavy silence hung over the gathered warriors as if they were all waiting for Marcus's command.

I clenched my fists.

I wanted to look away, to pretend this didn't concern me, but then I felt my heart clenched painfully.

I had loved my old pack, I loved everything that's there, be it the good and the worse.

And though Ronan had turned his back on me like the others, I still remembered the times he had been good to me, before everything fell apart.

"I won this round!"

Miya declared triumphantly, perching on top of me with a cheeky grin.

"No fair! You cheated!"

I huffed, and flipped over before rolling us both into a giggling heap.

Miya stuck out her tongue.

"You're just mad because I'm stronger!"

I scrunched my nose, I was ready to argue but then our attention was caught by a warm scent drifted through the air, the smell was sweet, buttery, and unmistakably delicious.

"Pies!"

Miya gasped, her ears perking up.

"That smells like-"

"Freshly baked pies!"

A deep and amused voice finished the words for me.

Miya and I turned to see a tall and familiar figure approaching them, he was holding a silver tray in his hands.

Ronan.

Miya's older brother.

He grinned down at us as he stepped even closer, his dark hair tousled from the wind. He knelt and held out the tray, revealing golden-brown pies, their surfaces glistening with honey.

"I figured my favorite troublemakers might be hungry after all that playing so I asked mother to bake this."

He said, setting the tray on the grass.

"You're the best, Ronan!"

I cheered, grabbing one and taking a huge bite. I moaned in delight.

"Mmm! So good!"

I said and finish it all in a few bites, once done, I again turned to the tray and hesitated before reaching for another slice. Ronan watched me with kind, knowing eyes.

"You don't have to be shy, Foxy."

He said gently.

"You're family here."

I felt something warm filled my chest.

I had always felt different, like an outsider in the pack since my parents died and since Aric and Alaric Barlowe has become my new family, but Ronan and Miya had never treated me differently, they even stayed by my side, even more so than I was still the Alpha Walden Fox's daughter.

Ronan ruffled my hair as I took a bite, he even chuckled when I closed my eyes when the sweet flavor melted in my mouth.

"What do you think?"

He asked with a smile.

I swallowed and beamed.

"It's perfect!"

Ronan chuckled. "Good. Now, who's winning your little battle here?"

"Me, obviously." Miya said, puffing out her chest.

I huffed. "I was about to win before you distracted us with pie."

Ronan laughed as he sat cross-legged on the grass.

"Want me to be the judge of your next match?"

Miya and I perked up.

"Yes!"

We said in unison.

With a grin, Ronan set down his pie.

"Alright then. No biting, no pulling, and I'll call it fair. Deal?"

"Deal!"

We chorused, already scrambling into position.

As we wrestled once more, I felt something deep inside me, something warm and safe. Though my parents are gone, I still have Miya and Ronan, and for this moment, that was enough.

No matter what the future held, I would always remember this day, the laughter, and the taste of freshly baked pie.

"Make sure he remembers his sins with every blow. Let his screams be a warning."

My thoughts about the past instantly faded as I heard King Marcus's commanding voice once more.

My heart clenched, too much it was almost hard to breathe the moment I saw how the Kingdom's warriors prepared to follow Marcus's order.

And before the first warrior was about to take his first hit, I already stepped forward.

"No!"

My voice rang out.

The warriors hesitated, their gazes turned towards me and the King in disbelief. Even King Marcus's cold gaze landed on mine, his golden eyes was unreadable yet piercing.

I swallowed hard and stepped forward.

"Please, King Marcus. I know what he did is unforgivable, he chose to betray me as well as the others, but... once, he was not like this. I can't stand by and watch him be torn apart."

My voice cracked, refusing to turn a single glance to Ronan's side.

King Marcus studied me, his expression unreadable.

"You plead for a traitor?"

I bit my lip.

"I plead for the wolf who once protected me. Who once became my family..."

I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Before he lost his way."

I added as I finally looked at Ronan.

Ronan lifted his bruised face, his gaze filled with shock and something else... I would like to believe it was regret...

But I am no fool to believe it was.

Marcus took a step towards me, his towering frame made me feel small.

"You would risk defying me for him?"

My breath hitched, but I chose to hold my ground.

"I do not wish to defy you. I only wish to ask... for restraint. Please, King Marcus. I know your judgment is just, but let him live with his shame instead of dying in agony."

I said, choosing to meet the intensity of his glare, but not too long till I looked away.

A single tear fell down my left cheeck, and before the rest follows, I harshly wiped them down with the back of my palm.

A tense silence followed. The warriors exchanged uncertain glances. While Ronan himself looked as though he couldn't believe I was speaking for him.

Moment later, Marcus exhaled sharply, then turned back to Ronan.

"He still works for the Alpha who wish to take you back, to use for his own gain. His loyalty remains to his Alpha, not to me, and most certainly not to you, Foxy. You saving his life wouldn't mean anything to him."

Ronan let out a shuddering breath.

My heart thuddedn painfuly against my chest when Marcus's gaze flickered back to me.

"I'd spare him because you asked it of me. But this is your burden to bear, Brielle Fox. If he betrays again, his blood will be on your hands."

He said, his eyes burning with pure disbelief as he stared me down, his words made me swallow hard.

I want to disagree, but then Inodded, my throat still tight.

"I- I understand. Thank you, King Marcus."

I said, Marcus's gaze held mine for a moment, and without another word, he turned and walked away, his men followed leaving only Lucas and Ayane.

I turned to Ronan, who slumped forward, his breath ragged.

I felt my hand shaking as I knelt beside him, my heart aching as I whispered.

"Don't make me regret this."

Ronan looked at me, his eyes filled with pain.

"He will kill me."

He answered catching his breath.

"What do you think would be the difference between letting the King himself end my life this way, when we both know I would suffer even worse than this to the hands of the Alpha who thrown you away?"

He whispered, enough for me to hear.

I swallowed...

What had Alaric has become now?

I asked myself, refusing to meet Ronan's eyes.

"Look at me..."

He asked.

"I know I made a terrible mistake, I promised to be good to you, even after my own sister betrayed you as well as the rest. But we both know that in our world, the one that survives are the powerful ones, they crush the weak. I'd rather you end my life, than the king and Alpha Alaric."

He said with full seriousness, his eyes still fixed on mine. My whole body trembled when he glanced on the sharp silver dagger on the ground.

I don't wanna do it...

I can't do it...

I saved him from Marcus, not for me to kill...

"I can't..."

I whispered, my eyes watering.

"You should. You can't trust anyone, Foxy. Trust no one but yourself."

And the next words that came in his mouth made wonder what's best to do, end his life right here and now, or let Alaric do it for me.

"I was the one who killed Alpha Aric. By the order ofAlaric."