The Lycan King Slave Princess

Chapter 4

Lyra Pov

I was back to the long cold corridors of the palace—only this time, I looked presentable, draped in fine, exquisite linen that Lady Matilda had provided. The soft fabric served as a reminder that I was being set up for something I did not choose.

As promised, she led the way to Alpha Augustine’s chamber. We walked in silence but my mind was anything but quiet. Dread washed over me with every step, my chest tightening in its grip.

The harsh truth I discovered would not leave my mind. Lady Matilda’s words resounded in my head like a broken record. Being a phoenix wolf would be a dream come true for most people. For me, it was nothing but a curse—a ticket to a life of cruelty, captivity, and misfortune.

I never asked for any of this—for this power. All I wanted was to be a wolf like everyone else, find my mate, and escape the life of a slave.

Why did fate have to be so cruel to me?

Why did I have to be cursed with something I never wanted?

“Legend has it that whoever mates with a Phoenix Wolf will become very powerful,” Lady Matilda had said to me.

Our kind was very rare after all. The benefits to a male wolf whom we mate with are limitless.

And now, Alpha Augustine wanted that power for himself. He wouldn’t be the cruel monster that he was if he let such an opportunity slip through his fingers.

No, he never would.

Finally, we arrived at his chambers, the huge door towering over us with an eerie presence.

My pulse quickened. I had no idea what was in store for me behind those doors.

I didn’t want to find out, but I couldn’t escape it either.

Lady Matilda turned to me, gently taking both of my hands in hers. Her eyes were sad—the kind that couldn’t be put into words, and though her lips parted, no words of comfort came. Instead, she simply gave my hands a gentle squeeze.

Slowly, she released me and proceeded to knock on the door. “Come in.” Alpha Augustine’s voice roared from within.

I stayed close as we made our way into the room. Alpha Augustine’s gaze rested on me from across the room where he sat. His lips curved in a slow, knowing smirk that sent shivers down my spine.

I felt like a prey that had knowingly walked into the hands of its predator. And that’s who the alpha was—a predator.

His expression was void of warmth, only a cold, menacing gaze. Lady Matilda stiffened beside me, but she said nothing.

The tension in the air was sickening. I wanted to scream, to run away but it was too late for that. The smug grin on his face deepened as his eyes devoured me, dark with a lustful intent.

My stomach twisted.

This was not how I imagined my first night would be. I had always dreamed of giving myself to the man I loved—the one I’d chosen, not a tyrant who cared for nothing but his own selfish desires.

After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke. “You may leave,” he said, referring to Lady Matilda.

She bowed slightly and then turned to leave but not without a final glance at me.

My muscles tensed. I stood still, not wanting to move an inch.

“I see you clean up nicely.” He mused.

My jaw tightened but I dared not react. I kept my gaze on the ground.

“You asked to see me,” I said softly.

Alpha Augustine rose from his chair. With slow, deliberate strides, he approached me, closing the space between us.

A shiver ran down my spine when his fingers brushed against my arm. I wanted to pull away but remained frozen in place.

“Such a shame,” he said, his voice dripping with fake sympathy. “A young, beautiful woman like you, and yet, no mate.”

His fingers never left my arm, making my skin crawl.

“But you don’t have to worry anymore.” He continued, cupping my chin with his fingers—my gaze meeting his. “I can give you the life you want. You will no longer have to live as a slave.” His words slithered through my ears with concealed deception.

A sick feeling settled in my gut. I despised him so much that I wanted to smack the grin off his face but refrained from doing so.

“How is that possible?” I asked, my voice trembling with restrained anger.

“Be mine, Lyra. As my mistress, you will have wealth, power, and freedom. You will never be a slave again.”

His words echoed in my mind, but all I could hear was the harsh truth he tried to hide. He didn’t want to save me—he wanted to own me.

“Bear my mark, and everything you could ever want will be yours.”

Everything except my freedom.

He leaned closer to me, his fingers trailing down my skin—my stomach twisted in disgust.

He was about to claim me. I could see it in his eyes—feel it in the way he touched me.

I wasn’t going to stand still and let that happen.

With a surge of adrenaline, I yanked the pin from my hair, striking his face with it. He groaned in pain and staggered back, his grip loosening just enough for me to escape.

Or so I thought.

In a flash, he grabbed my arm, his claws digging into my skin. “You little tramp,” his jaw clenched. He wasn’t going to let me off easy, but I had a trick up my sleeve.

With all my might, I kicked him in the groin, forcing another pained groan from his lips as he fell to his knees.

I tried to pull away but his grip was firm. In our moment of struggle, his claws ripped through my dress, leaving a scar on my left breast—a jolt of pain crashing through me.

I gasped as warm blood dripped down my chest. Ignoring the pain, I released a final blow to his chin. His head shot back, a low growl escaping his lips.

Without hesitation, I bolted out of the room, running down the halls with no idea what to do next.

Just then, Lady Matilda appeared out of the darkness. She quickly grabbed my arm, pulling me in the opposite direction.

The path we took was unfamiliar. In all my years living in the palace, this was my first time seeing these cold, murky walls.

She occasionally glanced behind us to be sure we weren't followed. We stopped when we arrived at what looked like a tunnel. “This path will lead you outside the palace walls unnoticed,” she spoke in a hushed tone.

“Why are you helping me?” I finally asked what had lingered in my heart for a long time.

“I’m not. I’m only keeping the promise I made to your parents—to protect you.”

My brows knitted in confusion. “You knew my parents?” I asked, hoping I had heard correctly.

“There’s no time to explain,” she said with urgency. “Just know that Alpha Augustine was responsible for their deaths.”

“But—”

“Find that slave and bring her to me.” Alpha Augustine’s voice thundered through the walls.

“You must leave now,” she said, giving me a gentle nudge.

I was hesitant but staying any longer would put us both in trouble, and I couldn’t risk that. With one last glance at her, I turned and slipped into the darkness, following the tunnel she had shown me.

My heart pounded as I stumbled through the tunnel, before emerging into a dense forest. This was my first time outside the palace walls—I had no idea where I was or what direction to go in. Still, I knew I had to keep going despite how exhausted I was starting to feel.

I couldn’t risk being caught in these woods. I would never make it out alive again.

After wandering for hours, my vision began to blur. I was hungry and exhausted. I tried to fight it, but a wave of dizziness overtook me, followed by pitch black, nothingness.