Chapter 2 THE LYCAN KING

My eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar surroundings of a room, the soft light filtering through the curtains. My heart racing as I glanced over to see a stranger lying next to me. Panic set in, and I bolted from the bed, my mind racing with confusion and fear. Heart racing I gathered my clothes dressing quickly, careful not to wake him.

" look who's up "

Averia not now, okay? I said blocking her out.

I slipped out of the room which turns out to be an hotel into the hallway, relief washing over me as I made my way to the exit.

The cool morning air hits me like a wave as I stepped outside, I felt a pang of regret for the night that had led me to this moment, has I reached for my necklace-a delicate sliver chain with the moon has a pendant that had been a gift from my mother- but it was nowhere to be found.

I had lost it, fuck!

Returning to the pack was no relief. It was like stepping back into a cage. The familiar scent enveloped me. It was overshadowed by the looming presence of Keal.

He was waiting for me. As if he has sensed my return. The moment I stepped through the door he was on me, his words dripping with disdain.

"Look who decided to show up", he sneered, his eyes darkened.

My stomach twisted with anxiety, but I pushed the feeling aside, determined not to let him see me weak from the rejection.

I was-

"Save it. You think you can just disappear and come back whenever you please?" His voice rose, echoing off the walls.

My heart sank has I felt the familiar sting of embarrassment and humiliation.

Days passed, and the weight of keal's rentless bullying increased and began to take its toll on me. Each insult, each shove left me feeling hollow but thanks to averia who kept me going and her sneaky remark about keal.

Keal was relentless, his bullying cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. Each snide remark felt like a weight pressing down on me, and eventually, it all became too much. I could feel myself close to breaking his nose.

"Where's she!?" I hear alpha keal yell.

I groaned and get on my feet, for some reason I'm extra tired.

The moment he sees me he strides towards me and hit me

I don't make a sound.

"Scarlet how useless are you !?, you still haven't cleaned my office" he growled.

"When you are done with my office make sure the guest rooms are clean and spotless. the lycan king is visiting in a week time " he snapped.

I will do that now. Averia was growling in my head ready to tell him off. She has been overly protective for days now.

" we're trying to make a good impression" he muttered and walked away.

I picked the cleaning basket up and went to his office, quietly closing the door, I leaned back against it observing the already cleaned room.

" he is a idiot" averia muttered

A big one. She rolls her eyes and retreat to the dark corner of my mind.

The News broke that the Lycan King would be visiting in a week. The pressure to make everything perfect was suffocating. I was already overworked and feeling sick.

Yet, Keal just kept piling on the work, as if he thrived on my misery. Despite everything, my thoughts kept drifting back to the man from the club. There was something about him that intrigued me, something that felt like a spark of hope in my dark world.

On the day of the arrival of the lycan king Exhaustion took its toll, and I passed out in the guest bathroom I was supposed to prepare for the Lycan King. When I came to, I was in the arms of a man, my heart racing with fear and confusion. What would Keal do if he found out? I hurried out, desperate to avoid his wrath.

Little did I know, the man I had met was the Lycan King. When I returned, Keal was already waiting for me, furious that I was late. I tried to explain that I wasn't feeling well, but he didn't care. He just ordered me back to work.

" I don't give a fuck if you are dying, get back to work" he yelled.

As the feast began, I was assigned to serve food and clear dishes in the dining hall. The atmosphere was tense as Keal and his father, the Alpha, tried to impress the Lycan King.

"Assholes" averia growled

My heart raced when I made eye contact with him; oh, moon goddess! I slept in the arms of the the lycan King, I pray he doesn't say anything about it to keal I don't think I can deal with another purnishment from him.

there was an intensity in his gaze that made me feel exposed. Just as I thought I could handle it, dizziness hit me, and I lost my balance, shattering a plate and crashing into a glass table. Keal's yelling echoed in my ears, but then the Lycan King silenced him.

"You have no right to yell at her"

He growls. The room fell into silence.

" I'm sssorry youur maj-jjesty the ome–" keal stturted.

" Yes, you should be and no matter her title she is still a member of your park" he growled sounding pissed and ready to kill.

It's nice to see keal look helpless and stupid. averia giggled, nice for her to find the situation funny too.

Wait– why is he defending me? No one has ever stood up for me,it nice tho. Or am I hallucinating?

In that moment, I felt a flicker of something-was it hope?Or was it just the beginning of more chaos?

Averia, I called out to her but there was nothing but silence. This is not the moment for her to chill at the back of my mind or ignore me,

But she looks drained with her head between her paws.