The Ruthless Lycan's Hybrid Priestess Mate

Alpha Daciano

Rhea

Sold. The single word loops in my head, relentless and harsh. I want to scream at the strange man who claims he just bought me, to fight back with everything I have, but I know it would be useless. The guard's grip on my arm tightens, a painful reminder of how futile resistance is. I can't fight this.

They lead me out of the courtyard, my feet dragging on the rough stones as we move. Ahead, I see a black sedan waiting. The door slams shut behind me, sealing my fate, and the car roars to life. I press my face to the small window, trying to make sense of where we’re going, but the landscape soon grows unfamiliar. Trees and fields blur past, a green and brown smear as the car speeds away from everything I’ve ever known.

My thoughts drift to mother, alone in that cold, dark cell. How will she manage without me by her side? How will i survive without her? Fear and anger churn inside me, sadness and confusion battling for dominance. The tears come then, unbidden and unstoppable, cascading down my face. I don’t bother to wipe them away. Somewhere in the whirlwind of emotions, I feel a heavy sense of defeat. Somehow, with everything, I’ve lost the will to fight.

The journey feels endless, and I might have fallen asleep at some point. But eventually, the car slows and stops, and I’m roughly shaken awake by a guard. The door opens, and he pulls me out. We’re in front of a huge mansion, its stone walls rising high and imposing. I force myself to stand tall, refusing to show weakness, even though my heart pounds with dread.

The strange man who brought me stands nearby, his smile unchanged. "If you’re lucky, this might be your new home," he says, gesturing to the mansion. "The Alpha is very picky and impossibly hard to impress. He’ll be picking only five of you. Do as you're told, and you might just survive this."

I mull his words over in my head. There are more of us?

He turns and walks toward the entrance, and I have no choice but to follow. The guard stays close behind me, his expression a silent warning against any thoughts of escape.

Inside, the mansion is even grander than I imagined. The floors are polished marble, and the walls are covered with intricate tapestries. It's a stark contrast to the damp, dark cell I’ve been held in. They lead me to a large room, and to my surprise, I find other young girls like me, a dozen of them in number all arranged in a straight line. The look of terror I have on my face is reflected on theirs, they all look timid, like they’ve been brought here against their will, just like I was. I’m the last to join them, and I feel their eyes on me as I take my place.

“Alpha Daciano is here,” a guard announces, and immediately the announcement is made, everyone scuffles to stand straighter. The guards instantly stand at attention, their shoulders rigid, and their faces stoic.

With their reactions, I can’t help but wonder if this is the same Alpha Daciano? My heart drops low in my chest, as I contemplate the possibility. What the hell have I gotten myself into?

It can’t be the same Daciano I’ve heard of. The ruthless Lycan warlord of silver crest pack. Known for his infamous brutality on the battlefield. The mere mention of his name, is enough to make a grown man wet his pants. Could it really be him? I swallow as I realize that my chances of survival are probably less than I initially thought. If the rumors are true, then I might not live to tell the story.

I feel the change in the air when he enters. The air instantly grows still, becoming chillier, and I fight hard to suppress a shudder as a chill runs down my spine. I look around me and see that everyone has their heads bowed. I know I should probably do as the others have, but instead, I turn my head, curious to see who could have elicited this measure of reaction from everyone.

When I see him, for a beat, I forget how to breathe. Before me, is the most brutally handsome man I’ve ever set my eyes on. He comes to me in pieces, like a painting in the works. His gray–blue eyes are the first I notice. There are sapphire and silver swirled together, the color of a moonstone. Next, my eyes drift to his straight nose and symmetrical lips, his angular cheekbones, and his strong jaw—strong enough to cut through diamond. He is pungently masculine and intimidating in his looks. Something I can’t quite place my finger on rolls off him in dangerous waves, the menace and ruggedness. He is made of coarse material, cruel in his silence and punishing in his confidence.

Oh goddess.

He strides into the hall, passing by where I and the other girls stand. As he takes his first step on the Dias, he pauses, and it feels like the entire world just stops, as his gaze cuts straight across to where I’m standing. He stares at me with a slightly tilted head and a manic interest as if he’s met me before.

My breath catches as something moves in my chest, I don’t know what it is, but it just moves.

He stares at me for so long, unblinking, that everyone else’s gaze follows his to where I’m standing.

A guard nervously clears his throat. “Umm, Alpha is something the matter?

It’s as if no one spoke, because he doesn’t even flinch or show any acknowledgment, only continuing to stare at me. Then with a shake of his head, he walks the remaining way up, and takes his seat.

The man who brought us here, scurries to his front, bowing deeply. “Allow me to show you the girls I’ve picked out for you from my recent travels.”

The Lycan’s face is blank, he doesn’t show even a flicker of emotion.

“The first, I picked from the blue crescent pack.” The man continues.

The first girl goes forward. She is a tiny girl with porcelain skin, but her eyes are wide with barely concealed panic. The Lycan gives no reaction. One after the other, the other girls are presented before him.

His face is a mask of indifference. He looks bored, like he’d rather be anywhere else right now, doing anything but this. My heart pounds harder in my chest as my turn approaches.

The strange man wipes the sweat from his forehead. I can tell he’s discomfited by the Lycan’s lack of interest.

“Then lastly, from the wild wolves pack,” he gestures for me to step forward.

I step forward, trying to keep my trembling knees steady.

The Lycan’s gray eyes drift to mine, dark and lifeless. They remind me of a storm, unpredictable and disastrous. He tilts his head to the side, his gaze roaming over me lazily, like I’m an item he’s debating whether to buy or not, and I might as well have been.

I return back to my place when the man signals for me too, my eyes trained on the floor.

“Okay so these are the options. You can make your pick of five, or more if you wish. In fact, you can have them all if that’s what you’d like.” The man rumbles on nervously.

“I’ll take her.” That’s the first time I hear him speak. But the sound of his voice knocks the air out of my lungs.

When I look up, I meet him staring at me with a cold, foggy edge that matches the colour of his eyes. And somehow, it feels like his gaze never left mine all this while. His finger is pointing at me. Before I can even process the implication of his words, the guards seize me by the arm and pull me forward.

“Okay, that’s a fine choice. Who else would you like?” The man prods, gesturing to the rest of the girls.

There’s a pause, which stretches on for what seems like ages, before he replies.“I’ll take… only her.”