Chapter 7
“POV–ARYA”
I opened my eyes to find myself in a large and lavish bedroom. The walls were white with intricate lavender patterns, and the cream–colored curtains had golden trims. Large flower vases adorned different sections of the room, adding to its elegance. The bed was lying on felt incredibly soft, with silk sherts in a soft pink hue. By the opulence of the room, I could tell I was still in Lycan territory
I dragged in a breath as my head throbbed. The little stream of sunlight pouring in through the curtains suggested it was morning. I sat upright. rubbing my aching temple. Despite the dreadful feeling that sertled in the pit of my stomach, I was famished. It felt like I hadn’t eaten in days. How long had I been asleep?
The last thing I remembered was standing before Calista’s ghost–like form and how the room trembled at the sound of her unnatural voice. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach as her words echoed in my head.
I already knew I was dying. Silas‘ diagnosis were never wrong. But hearing it from the lycan’s seer’s mouth filled me with a different level of pain and agony that I hadn’t realized was possible. She had gone the extra mile of telling me exactly when I was supposed to die -by the rise of the second moon. That was only weeks away from now, just as Silas had said. And you know what they say about bad prophecies. Hearing one about yourself only seals your fate.
Before I’d been diagnosed of moon sickness, I’d never really thought of how I’d die, and I would’ve never imagined that it would be at the young age of twenty two.
All of my hopes and dreams meant nothing now. Everything I’d ever worked for was gone with the wind. I never got to be the alpha of my pack, I never got to prove to my parents that I was worthy of their love and attention, I never got to hear them say they were proud of me. My first love, Ethan, was with my sister now, and even though I’d been the one to reject him, the pain of his betrayal still hurt like a fresh wound.
The fact that my death also meant that the life growing inside of me would die too made me feel even worse. My baby would never get to be born, and I’d never get to be a mother.
I felt so many emotions coursing through me that I didn’t know what to feel anymore. It felt like my chest was clogged up, and my entire being felt numb as I stared off into nothingness.
There was a small knock on the door, but I didn’t have the energy to ask whoever it was to come in. They knocked a second time, and then a third before taking matters into their own hands and opening the door.
I looked up to see the Lycan king stroll into the bedroom, Our eyes met and we held each other’s gaze for a moment before I looked away. Why was he here to see me? I was sure I’d wake up in an abandoned portion of the forest alter he’d heard Calista’s prophecy, but I’d woken up in a room fit for a queen instead
“Breakfast will be here in a moment Feeling any better?” The king asked as he sat down on a sinol across from me.
I couldn’t seem to wrap my y head around why he was making the effort. In all the times I’d fallen ill from overuse of my powers at my pack hospital ever since I was a child, my parents had never once paid me a visit. They had so easily tossed me out when I was of no use to them, so why was a complete stranger sitting by my sickbed, worried about me!
I looked away, ignoring him. Silence stretched between us as he waited patiently for my response
“How is Calistah!” I asked when the silence became unbearable
“She’s fine. If you’re worried about her prophecy, I need you to know that she’s just a child. Prophecies can be wrong, we all know this.” he said.
“Don’t bother sugar–coating my death sentence. I knew I was going to die even before I got here.” I muttered almost inaudibly.
The king shifted his weight from one leg to the other in clear discomfort.
“I wasn’t going to kill you, not even if the council had pushed for it. Maybe if Calista had died, things would have been different, but I wouldn’t have executed you in my throne room, mate or not he said with a slightly worried tone.
“That- that’s not what I meant.” I said, a little surprised that he’d brought the chamber incident up
“Ohh” he muttered, relaxing. Then, what did you mean!”
Maybe I was too exhausted to keep him at bay, maybe it was the fact that we were mates, or maybe I was so lonely that I was willing to go against my better judgement and be vulnerable to the man before me, who had shown me more kindness than my own family.
“I have the moon sickness.” I muttered, trying not to make it sound like a call for help.
The room fell silent after I dropped the bombshell. I looked up at him to see his face contort in fear and panic.
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Chapter 7
“When where you diagnosed?” He asked, a small tremble in his voice.
“I think a little over a week ago.” I answered.
“That’s not possible. People with moonsickness live over a year before.. his voice broke off I couldn’t tell if he was uncomfortable with the thought of me dying or if he’d just run out of words to say.
“I feel like I’ve had it for a while now. I have healing powers so I never go in for medical checkups. It started a little over two years ago, when using my powers started draining me more than in usually does. I just thought it was exhaustion since my powers get stronger too and it becomes harder to use for a while so yeah, it was probably the moon sickness all along. I don’t suppose you lycans have found a cure” I said.
The king looked crestfallen as he avened his gaze, silent.
“I take that as a no.” I muttered.
The room fell silent again. Gendly, he took my hand in his and caressed it with his thumb, I didn’t respond to his touch or try to withdraw my hand The second moon rising was only 6 weeks away, but I might’ve as well been dead in that moment.
“Everything will be alright. I’ll find a way, I promise.” he said.
“Make me a coffin while you’re at it.” I muttered.
His grip on my hand tightened on impulse as a warning growl escaped his lips.
“Don’t ever speak like that again, even in jest,” he warned, staring at me with reddening eyes.
I stared back at him, unflinching. The man before me was a puzzle. First off, he was the Lycan king. Yes, we were mates, but bonds could be broken. It never stopped anyone from cheming or leaving you behind. He could have any woman he wanted and make as many babies as he liked. Why the hell was he choosing to bother himself with a dying woman?
Suddenly, I recalled the pack ductor’s words right after I’d finished healing Calista A lycan with healing powers had not been born in over a millenia. I had healing powers, and I was pregnant with the king’s child. My body stiffened in sudden realization.
“We can find a cure, for you.” He continued as his grip on my hand loosened and went back to caressing.
“We can make this work and keep you alive for as long-
“For as long as it takes to have your child, then it’s goodbye Arya” I interrupted, rising to my feet and stepping away from him.
The king looked up at me, confused.
What a
are you doing? You barely have enough strength to walk. The king said, rising to his feet
“T’d like to leave.” I said firmly, looking him dead in the eye.
The king stiffened. “What?”
“I’ve healed Calista. You should let me go-”
“You can’t just leave lycan territory after the treaty was broken.” he said, cuning me off
“So you intend to keep me here against my will? Is this my punishment, becoming your breeder?!”
The king flinched at my words and his gaze hardened as he stared at me.
“Is that really what you think of me?” he asked, his voice a low growl.
“What else am I supposed to think??? You lycans have always looked down on us werewolves, but my powers have made me an exception. You’re only keeping me here because it benefits you and your people!” I yelled.
“This has nothing to
to do with my kingdom. This is about us” the king said, closing the distance between us
“There is no us!!” I screamed, shoving him back. He caught my wrist, holding me firmly as I tried and failed to pull away.
“I’m not about to let you go back to the pack that tried to kill you!!” he shouted.
“Like you’ll be any different!” I cried as tears streamed down my face.
“You’re all the same! All of you! You only want ine for my powers, and once your healing tool becomes defective, you’ll discard me and send me off to my death!” I yelled, my voice breaking.
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Chapter 7
The kings grip loosened as he stared at ine, like he’d just realized 1 wasn’t talking about lycans anymore.
“I’d never do that to you,” he said, his voice soft as he gently pulled me against his chest.
I laughed bitterly as tears continued to pour down my cheeks.
“Like I’d ever believe a word you say”
“If you won’t believe me,” he said, leaning forward.
“I just have to prove it to you.” he whispered, before engulfing my lips in a hungry kiss.
The moment our lips met, electricity shot through my body.
But I couldn’t give in. I pushed against him my hands pouring against his chest as I fought to free myself from his embrace.
But he held me close still
His large hands traced the lines of my face and traveled the length of my back until I Set out a shudder and melted in his arms. He growled in approval as I gave into him and held me closer, so close that it felt like we had merged into one. Just then, a sudden warmth bloomed between us and for the first time, we connected to each other through our mate bond. I could feel his heartbeat, I could hear his wolf, and all of his emotions and memories flooded my mind, rendering me senseless.
I could feel all of his anger, his pain, his frustration, how helpless he felt at the thought of me dying, and above all, his love. I could feel the agony he’d felt when he’d woken up at the hotel and I was gone, how he’d searched for me in neighboring hotels for days with great difficulty because he didn’t know my name until his duties took him away, the nights he stayed up thinking about me, everything. They all poured into me,
like the past and present had become one.
Suddenly, tears were streaming down my face for a different reason.
Our lips parted slowly, and my eyes funtered open to meet the most beautiful shade of blue I had ever seen in his eyes
“I love you, Arya” he whispered and my wolf shuddered at the way he said my name.
“Aren’t you a little curious to know what my name is?” he asked, teasing as he cupped and gently stroked my face..
Adark cloud suddenly cast a shadow over my features as I stared at the king.
“What good is exchanging names now? We don’t even have enough time to get to know each other.” I whispered almost inaudibly.
The king wrapped his warm arms around me, placing a small, possessive kiss on my forehead.
Til protect you, Arya,” he whispered. “I’ll keep you alive if its the last thing I do.”
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