MOONBOUND Beauty under a curse

The king

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*CHAPTER TWO:

I wasn’t expecting much from Frostwood.

_‘Probably another broken ankle and a sob story,’_ Lucas complained in my head. _‘I’m bored. Let’s make them pay a fine this time.’_

Then the carriage door opened.

And the world stopped.

Bare feet. Snow. Thin cloak. Silver scars glowing on her arms.

Eyes that didn’t cry. Shoulders back like she’d been expecting the worst.

And mine.

The bond hit me like a war hammer.

_‘MATE.’_ Lucas shot to his feet inside my head. _‘MATE MATE MATE!!! SHE’S OURS LUCY!’_

"Don’t call me Lucy."

_‘Too late. New nickname unlocked.’_

I walked to her. Slow. King. Unbothered.

Inside I was a mess.

_‘She’s freezing. She’s small. She smells like grief and pine. PROTECT.’_

I grabbed her wrist. Her skin was ice.

The second my thumb brushed her silver scars, she gasped.

And my wolf lost his mind.

_‘OH MY GODS HER SCARS ARE PRETTY. THEY’RE GLOWING. IT’S LIKE THE MOON KISSED HER. CAN WE KEEP HER? PLEASE??’_

"Wrong," I said out loud. My voice came out rougher than I meant.

"You’re not wolfless. You’re cursed. And you’re mine."

_‘10/10 DELIVERY. VERY ALPHA. VERY POSSESSIVE. I’M SO PROUD.’_

I could feel 200 wolves watching. Feel the Elder’s messenger sweating.

But all I saw was her. Orphan. Thrown away. No one left.

Rage went cold in my veins.

_‘No one hurts her again,’_ Lucas growled, suddenly dead serious. _‘No one.’_

"Take her to the east wing," I told Kade. "Clothes. Food. Fire. Guards."

I paused. Looked right at her.

"And send this to Frostwood: If they ever discard what’s mine again, I will erase them."

I turned to leave before I did something stupid.

Like pull her with me.

Like mark her in front of everyone.

_‘WAIT!’_ Lucas yelped. _‘YOU FORGOT TO SMILE! BE NICE! WAVE!’_

I didn’t.

But as I walked away, I heard her breath catch.

And Lucas was already planning.

_‘Step 1: Warm blanket. Step 2: Hot food. Step 3: Make her smile. Step 4: Declare war on anyone who looks at her wrong.’_

Gods help me.

I claimed a cursed mate.

And my wolf has the emotional regulation of a puppy.

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*End of Chapter