The Lycan King's Forbidden Mate

23

My eyes fluttered open as pain seared through my wounded shoulder as I lay on the massive bed, I was still struggling to figure out how I had ended up in King Marcus's bedroom.

I swallowed hard as I slowly scan the room, its modern design made me feel comfortable, the room's ambiance was too pleasant to see.

The room's interior was too far from mine, and the smell...

I sniffed then closed my eyes, it smelled so maculine, powerful...

It smelled like him...

I whispered to my self and smile, but the smile in my face automatically faded when I remembered the glint of the dagger, the feral snarl of Ronan, and the sensation of cold steel piercing me flesh.

Then the strong arms, a deep voice growling in anger, and the warmth cocooning me as I was carried away from the training ground.

And now, in the dimly lit room, the comforting scent pinewood and blood enveloped me, mingling with the rich musk of the man who had saved me.

I turned my head slightly and flinched as I now found myself staring into the intense, golden eyes of the Lycan King himself.

He was kneeling beside the bed, pressing a damp cloth against my wound with gentle hands, his expression unreadable.

"You should be resting."

He murmured, his voice low and filled with an unfamiliar tenderness.

I swallowed hard as I gripped the silk sheets.

"You… Wh-why did you brought me here?"

His gaze never wavered.

"You were bleeding out. I couldn't leave you."

I frowned, puzzled.

"Ye-Yeah... I rememember... The dagger, Ronan- He-"

Marcus exhaled, his thumb grazing my wrist absentmindedly.

I refused to pay attention to it, instead, I slowly turned to my wounded shoulders, expecting to see an open wound caused by the dagger, I automatically frowned when I see the blood stained my t-shirt, it was still painful, but the wound is almost gone.

"I should still be bleeding, I should be in so much pain knowing how deed the cut was, But... I am not a wolf, why does my wound seemed to be healing to fast?"

I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, I turned and looked at him confused.

For the second time, he let out another sigh, his gaze not leaving mine.

"Only because you still haven't shifted means you are not a wolf, Foxy. A true-born wolf heals rapidly in their human form. It's only when a turned wolf shifts that their healing slows."

My breath caught in my throat.

True-born...

That term had haunted my dreams since I failed to shift. I spent too much time thinking whether I am my father's daughter, or I was human, weak...

I know I am a true wolf... Only I can't help myself from thinking that I wasn't, especially that it seemed too clear that my wolf doesn'te exist.

But to hear it from his lips, that I was a true-born wolf made it real.

My voice trembled.

"H-how do you know that?"

He studied me, his gaze burning into mine.

"I just know."

The silence stretched between us.

I clenched the blanket around me, my heart thudded painfully against my chest.

"I- I never thought of myself as a true wolf since the night I failed to shift into my wolf form while the others already did... And though I was born in Shadow Walker Pack, I never again felt that I still belong to them..."

I admitted, though I am not sure why I did, why all of a sudden I said what I said. But then, I continued.

"I didn't felt that I still belong to my own pack, at least not since…"

I paused, his brows furrowed and his head tilted slightly.

"Since?"

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, as if it was enough to fortify myself against the memories that clawed at the edges of my mind.

"Si-since my parents were... We-were killed by rogue wolves. I was only a child."

I said, my eyes flickered with unshed tears as I looked away and chose to stare at the ceiling.

Marcus stiffened, his jaw tightening.

"Your parents?"

I nodded.

"My father was the Alpha of the Shadow Walker Pack. A powerful one. My mother, his Luna, was a healer. They were both slaughtered the night the rogues attacked our cabin. I was taken in by the new Alpha, Aric Barlowe, he was my father's trusted friend then, Aric treated me with kindness, like I was his own... I was a true born, everyone knew that, everyone knew who I was, the only daughter of Alpha Walden Fox, I was his heir, bound to rule the pack one day."

A long silence once again stretched between us, his gaze never leav mine.

And when he finally spoke, his voice was softer, gentler.

"That explains your fast healing ability. You mabe still haven't shifted into your wolf form, but you are not just a true born wolf, your bloodline is rare, Foxy."

I swallowed hard as I once again felt the burn of unshed tears.

"Alpha Aric knew. That's why he kept you close. You're stronger than any of us... You are wolfless now but you are stronger than any of us Alaric found out he feared that. He knew that if you found your true strength, you could overthrow him. He wanted you gone. I made a deal to keep you alive."

I repeated the words Ronan had said to me earlier and smiled bitterly as I turned to face King Marcus, he remaines silent, confused.

"Those are the words Ronan told me... I know I wasn't supposed to believe that... I know he could be lying to get to me, kill me... I was stupid enough to trust him and now he is dead...

But then his words still burns in my head... I remember every word, and I can't help thinking that what if he's telling the truth? What if I wasn't too weak like I think I was, like Alaric made me believe and feel I was? What if I too had the same power my Alpha father possesed?"

I asked, my eyes never leaving his.

"Wh-what if I shouln't be feeling so alone now? Because wolfless or not, I am still Alpha Walden Fox's daughter?"

I added and I immediately looked away when a single tear roll down my face.

"Ronan could be lying... But what if he's not?"

Marcus lifted a hand and cupped my cheek, making my heart pound eratically against my chest, his touch felt do warm and grounding.

"You are not alone anymore, you are already part of my kingdom the very first moment you step inside. Ronan is a traitor, he shouldn't be trusted. And yes he could be lying, but he could also be telling the truth...

I am by your side. We will figure it out."

My lips parted in surprise, the sincerity in his golden eyes seemed to be stealing the air from my lungs.

For years, since my parents, I had carried the pain in secret, the loss, the pain of feeling alone even Aric was there to treat me as his own, for years, I let doubt eat me whole, believing I was too weak to mean anything to anyone, and now, seeing how King Marcus look at me now, as if I was something precious, something meant to be protected.

My fingers trembled as I reached up, brushing against his wrist.

"Why do you care so much? Wh-why are you giving me this kind of protection?"

His expression darkened as his thumb began to stroke my cheekbone.

"Because from the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine."

He said with pure seriousness. His golden eyes gleamed with sincerity that made my heart thundered, my body betrayed me with a shiver.

And for some reason, the weight of his words settled over me like a vow, one that neither of us could take back.

And all of a sudden, Marcus's presence felt so overwhelming, his golden eyes fixed upon mine as if I was the only thing that existed in his world.

Though his towering frame was sculpted by power and war, seemed untouchable, but now, the way he was looking at me, I saw the vulnerability in his gaze.

Like a silent plea.

A declaration left unspoken.

"You seemed tense."

He teased, though his voice was rich, deep, edged with something primal.

The next thing I knew, he was holding me chin, forcing me to meet the intensity of his gaze.

I willed myself not to move.

Not to give in.

"I- I am being careful..."

I admitted, finally tilting my chin up.

I again willed myself not to roll my eyes at him when he let out a soft chuckle.

"A wolfless girl, does not blindly trust a Lycan King, especially one who has claimed her without permission."

I said, my eyes wide.

Marcus exhaled, and let out a sound that was almost a growl yet softened by amusement.

"I did not claim you, Foxy. The bond did."

He said as he rose, the bed shifted when he sat on the other side of the the bed, closing the space between us.

"From the moment I saw you, I knew. You were mine, and I was yours."

My heart again pounded against my chest, each word that comes out of his mouth felt like it was carving its place into my soul.

"You act as if fate has already decided."

"It has."

Marcus said, his voice gentle yet unyielding.

"And you feel it too."

I turned away, my breath shaky.

I hated how right he was.

How his voice sent warmth coursing through me, how his touch, when he had shielded me, protected me, felt like home.

"You are my reason."

He continued, his eyes didn't leave mine.

"Do you think I protect you out of duty? No, Foxy, I protect you because from the moment I saw you, I already felt the bond between us."

I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the ache in his voice. The sincerity.

"King Marcus, I-"

His hand brushed against my arm, barely there, but the contact sent shivers through me.

"Tell me you don't feel it."

He murmured, his breath against my ear.

"Tell me, and I will never come near you again."

I turned slowly, my eyes locked onto his.

"It terrifies me..."

I whispered.

I was promised to someone else, though he rejected me, he is still my mate.

I said to myself as I tried to find the same feeling I was feeling with King Marcus now when I was with Alaric.

The same safety.

The same comfort.

Yet no matter how I try... There's nothing...

I feel nothing...

Not like the way I feel for him...

The king...

Marcus searched my gaze, his fingers still gently trailing up my arm, resting over the place where my pulse betrayed me.

"It terrifies me too. Because I have never wanted something more than I want you."

He whispered, but enough for me to hear. My breath hitched.

"If I let you in, there's no turning back."

Marcus cupped my cheek, his thumb tracing my skin as if memorizing me.

"Then don't turn back."

He whispered.

"Run to me instead."

I managed to inhale sharply before letting myself lean into him, into the fire that had been burning between us since the moment fate had woven our paths together.

The same fire I was trying to put out, out of fear...

I fear that if a wolf like Alaric thrown me away like I was nothing, what more a Lycan King?

What would he do to a wolfless woman like me? Weak? While he rejected Ayane, a she-wolf that by one glane I can already tell she was poweful, strong and a court council member.

But then... King Marcus was the Lycan King... And he wanted me... That's reason enough to not let these worries haunt me.

My heart pounded, it was too loud I feared it will escape my chest when all of a sudden, he slowly lowered his head and brushed his lips against mine.