Claimed By The Lycan Prince

Chapter Four

Aria:

I paced back and forth in my room,as every word I heard from the Luna began to replay in my mind,making my eyes well up with tears. I sniffed in a sob and clutched my chest tightly,as I sank to the floor. I was actually getting sold,not just to anyone, but that pathetic Marcus. Everyone knew who he was.

The door flew open and i saw Chloe jog in excitedly, like she’d won a lottery or something. She gasped when her eyes met my pathetic self on the ground.

“Oh,goddess. Aria,what is it?” She walked up to me,and helped me off the ground,pulling me into a tight hug for some minutes,that I felt like I was going to suffocate soon.

“The Luna and Al..pha are selling me off.” I managed to say amidst my ragged breath, and she pulled away,her eyes wide with shock.

“Sell you off? To who? How? What did you do?” Concern was etched on her face, but yet again,fresh tears formed at the corner of my eyes at the thought of Marcus.

“To Marcus. Th..ey’re selling me off to Marcus,Chloe. What do I do?” my right hand travelled to my eyes,hoping to stop the tears that threatened to fall ,but It just couldn’t. It poured down my cheeks like torrents of water.

She took my hands into hers,and gently squeezed them. “That’s f****d up. Did they tell you this to your face?” She asked,as her gaze was fixed on me,searching for answers.

“I..I eavesdropped on their conversation when I took the coffee for the Luna.”My voice was shallow,and my breath was caught when I recalled what the luna had said when she caught me eavesdropping.

At first, I figured I could get away with a lie, but I got caught red-handed, and her words hit me like a ton of bricks. "Now that you know you're getting sold, look your best for Marcus; he'll come for his package soon." It felt like she saw me as utterly worthless, actually calling me a package.

Before I knew it, tears welled up, and I just broke down, while Chloe pulled me into another comforting hug.

"I'll talk to Jasper for you right away; his uncle is an Alpha in a neighboring pack, and he might be able to help," she assured, using her handkerchief to wipe away my tears.

Strangely, her words didn't bring the relief I expected. What if it doesn't work out? Time was slipping away, and I realized I needed to find and devise a plan on my own.

"Lyz, what do we do?" I inwardly spoke, waiting for minutes in the hope of hearing my wolf's voice, but as usual, she remained silent. A sigh escaped me; Jake's rejection had hit her really hard.

"Let's run away, Aria. Tonight," a voice suddenly echoed in my mind. I glanced at Chloe, but her focus was on her phone—probably texting Jasper. I immediately realized who spoke.

"Lyz?" I whispered, seeking confirmation.

"I'm still alive. If you don't want me dead tonight, then let's run far from this pack; you're getting sold tomorrow," she retorted, and my heart raced twice its normal rate. Tomorrow? s**t.

I hurried to my wardrobe, packing a few clothes quickly. I couldn't pack everything; I'd get caught. Zipping up my bag, Chloe noticed and came over to where I was.

"Where are you going, Aria?" Chloe furrowed her brows in confusion. Wasn't it obvious I was running away?

"I'm leaving this pack tonight. It's the only choice left," I stated. Her expression twisted at my words, but it quickly shifted to a pitiful face.

"Oh, Chloe. I'll miss you," she said, making puppy eyes, and I couldn't help but smile widely.

She excused herself almost immediately, as if she received a call.

Upon her return, her once cheerful eyes were now filled with sadness, and her voice shook as she spoke. "I'm so... sorry, Aria," she said and my eyes darted to the clock. It was 6:20. I could still make it out of the pack territories before 8; I just had to lie that the Luna sent me to the neighboring pack. Good.

"It isn't your fault, Chloe. I think I'm simply fated for a life filled with pain." Taking my bag, I gave her a peck and hurriedly left the house, Chloe's wails and cries echoing behind me until they grew faint. She loved me so much, sigh.

My tired legs carried me as I ran as fast as possible, my head throbbing painfully. Shifting into my wolf would have made things simpler, allowing me to reach the pack's territory,but no,I couldn’t.

After running for what felt like hours, I finally reached the territory, panting like a dog.

"Where are you off to?" A big, burly man I’d never seen

approached me and took the bag off my shoulders.

"That's... for the Luna. She sent me to the neighboring pack to deliver them," I stammered, my heart racing as the words left my mouth. I had just lied, using the Luna's name. Not like I could get caught, though. The Luna would likely be in her room at this time.

He handed me the bag, and I gave a slight smile, thanking the Moon goddess inwardly. Flinging the bag over my shoulders, the gate opened for me. My heart pounded against my ribcage, and as I stepped one foot out of the gate, a loud voice echoed, freezing my blood.

"Seize her! She mustn't leave." I didn't need anyone to tell me whose voice that was. As I was grabbed and spun around to face the one who spoke, my guess was right. It was the Luna. I had been caught.

How was it possible? She should have been in her room, not out here.

"It's... not what... you..." I stammered, but my words were abruptly cut short by the sound of a tight slap resonating as the Luna's hand connected with my face.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt my cheek swell from the slap, and I was pretty sure the imprint was still there.

"You, dumbass!" She yanked me by my hair, and I feared my hair might come off any moment. I was trying to figure out how the Luna knew the exact time I was leaving, but what I saw next hit me harder and worse than a slap on my face.

Chloe, with a sorrowful expression, walked up to the Luna while she patted her back and handed her some money. It felt like a nightmare as my heart shattered into pieces. This b***h betrayed me for money! I opened my mouth to speak and confront her, but another stinging slap met my face, causing me to fall to the ground.

“"Take her to the dungeon," the Luna commanded, walking away with Chloe. The guards grabbed my arms, and carried me away,treating me like I was some piece of s**t.

All night in the dungeon, I pondered how badly I had trusted those I loved the most, only to have them betray me. I didn't even realize when I fell asleep; all I woke up to was water being splashed on my face.

I coughed thrice and was immediately bundled up. "Move. Your buyer is around," a rather short but muscular man nudged me forward as I walked and limped to the pack's chambers.

Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes as I scanned the room, locking eyes with Marcus, whose lips curled into a smirk. This pathetic man! I instantly felt a kick in my legs, sending me to the ground. The Luna rose up and approached me.

"Now, Marcus, you can move forward and take..." her words were abruptly cut short as the door swung open, and all eyes turned to the figure that entered.

My head rang when my eyes met his, realizing he was the handsome stranger I had a one-night stand with. He carried this pleasant aura I couldn't explain, and the room gasped at the next words he spoke,

"You won't take her away because she's my mate. I'm claiming and taking her with me," his deep voice carried a commanding tone, making even Marcus step back.

Lyz purred within me, confirming one thing: he truly was my mate,but the question lingered: Who exactly was he?