THE LYCAN KING'S CHOSEN MATE

Octavia's POV

"Ah!" I yelped as I found myself tripping on something and falling forward. Immense pain enveloped me as I hissed. I would have bashed my head on the granite floor if I hadn't reacted fast. Instead of my head, my hand and knees bore the brunt as they were scraped badly.

"Oh! Sorry about that runt." I looked up slowly to see that it was Riley, my coworker smirking deviously at me with one of her feet stretches out. Her two minions stood cackling like witches behind her.

I really wanted to question if she thought that this was a school setting and she was the queen bee but I knew better. "It's okay." I scrambled to my feet, biting my lip to endure the numbing pain in my knees.

I bent and picked up all my belongings that had been scattered on the floor. I could feel their mocking stares on me.

"You really don't need to kneel to Riley. We know you respect her but she doesn't need it. Especially from a worthless runt like you." One of the minions said sarcastically.

"Hehe. Let her be. She is at the lowest rungs of the pack anyways so serving Riley is giving her a bit of peace." The other echoed and I rolled my eyes inwardly.

I straightened up with a groan and then tried to leave thinking that they had let me off but they blocked my path.

I frowned.

"I have to go for my shift so please let me pass." I really had to leave or I would be scolded and my little pay would be docked.

I kept praying that they would let me go today but my prayers were unanswered.

One of the minions smacked my face abruptly making me yelp. I covered it and leaned backwards as I stared at them warily.

"Who gave you the permission to leave runt?"

I didn't understand why these girls just keep jabbing at me. We were all working for the alpha's manor so I have never understood why they placed Riley on a pedestal.

Ever since our pack faced war a few years ago, both men and women have been allowed to take up patrol jobs to earn money. That was the only job that would take me as no one else wanted to work with me.

I was seen like some kind of anomaly.

I knew the reason why but I could never accept it, even now.

Yes she was pretty with her golden locks and baby blue eyes but at most, she would get a befitting suitor. She was still a lowly maid like I was.

Like she had heard my thoughts, Riley piped up in a voice that sounded way too high pitched to me. "Look at her looking all confused. I'm sure she thinks that she's in the same caliber as us." She giggled like she just told the joke of the century. "What a farce."

She walked closer and pinched my chin harshly between her fingers. I tried to struggled but her minions were besides me in a flash holding each of my hands to keep me in place.

Riley had an evil looking grin on her face. I started to tremble at the sudden turn of events.

"You'll never measure up to me. You can never find your place and will never be more than a weak worthless runt. You will always be beneath me and everyone in the pack and you are well aware of the reason, aren't you? So I don't need to spell it our for you."

I paled.

Yes I was well aware of why she and everyone else treated me like this. I was aware of why I never fit into anywhere in the pack.

She released my chin and I thought that would be the end of it but I was wrong.

Fear engulfed me as they covered my mouth and then proceeded to drag me to a desolate corner in the manor.

There, they hit me in places that they knew I wouldn't show anyone. Riley stood at the side watching my suffering with joy in her eyes.

After a while, they had their fill so Riley spat at me before turning to leave with her posse.

I trembled in pain and fear for a while but eventually I struggled to my feet because I was well aware that I still had to go for my job. My superior never cared about any excuse I gave him.

"What took you so long?" My superior bellowed and I flinched. My whole body ached terribly from my ordeal earlier but I knew better than to show weakness in front of him.

If I did, I would be out of the job faster than I could even blink. It took a lot for me to get here and I wasn't ready to toss it all away just because I was being a baby about a few bruises.

"I'm sorry sir" His nose wrinkled in distaste at my apology and I could see the disgust and disdain for me swirling in my eyes.

"Whatever. Get out of my sight."

Throughout the night, I wandered through the woods alone. At a point, the partner I was assigned to patrol with had transformed and left me behind.

I wouldn't say that I didn't mind but I was already used to it.

The night was pretty uneventful and I was grateful but that changed towards the end of my patrol.

I sat down near a tree to rest as the pain of my wounds got too unbearable when I heard them.

A few drunk men who had somehow carried their debauchery into the patrol area.

I stood up slowly and they all turned to look at me.

Don't show weakness! Don't show weakness "Stop there. This place is off limits at night. It's quite dangerous so if you could please go back the way you came, it would....."

"Fuck! You scared me. And here I thought you were an actual guard. I never knew it was just a little girl." One of the drunk men slurred

"A fine one too." Another piped up and I could vaguely see his lips curve into a lecherous smile.

I felt my skin crawl and goosebumps appeared on my skin. I sensed danger.

"It doesn't matter. Do what you want." I said before I began to back away. I needed to get away.

"Where do you think you're going miss? Let us accompany you."

"No thank you." I turned and tried to hightail it out of there but they were on me before I could go past three steps.

I screamed as the huge men held me down. One of them immediately covered my mouth. I struggled with all my might.

"Let me go first. I'll surely enjoy tasting her." One of them said and my struggles became stronger. It was no match for them though.

A hand suddenly slid under my skirt and began to crawl under my skin.

My mind blanked and I felt despair and hopelessness like never before.

I prayed with all my heart for someone to come and at the point when I wanted to give up all hope, someone did.

"Stop right there!"

Octavia's POV

"Stop right there!" My world that was previously plunged in darkness brightened up at those words.

I had thought I would be defiled by these dirt bags so I had lost all hope but now it came rushing back like a flood. I knew that voice as it was one I would recognize anywhere.

It was one I had come to trust immensely over the past year. It was Jake, my boyfriend.

I felt my palpitating heart beginning to calm down. I opened my previously shut eyes to see him standing there glaring lazily at those dirtbags.

They all stopped their actions and stood to face him. "Who the hell are you talking to pipsqueak?" One of the men asked.

I started to feel anxious again when I noticed one flaw. Jake was alone while there were four of them. Although they were drunk, it didn't mean that they weren't able to fight back.

"You disgusting pigs of course." Jake replied disdain clear in his eyes.

The men assumed a battle stance and growled collectively at him.

Fuck!

My heart was racing in fear as I thought of Jake getting hurt for me. "Jake. Don't worry. You can leave me here. Stop provoking them. I'm fine."

He glanced at me with confusion. "Pipsqueak. You better listen to this little lady here and leave now that you have the chance. If not, prepare to get hurt."

Jake scoffed. "You guys sure do have a lot of confidence. I wonder where it stems from. In front of me, you are not worthy."

The men were glaring at Jake with murderous intent now.

No! Stop complicating things even further Jake.

"Leave me Jake. Run and get help." I cried in panic as I noticed the situation escalating.

Jake didn't pay attention to me as he bent in a battle like position and then began to fight those men.

Probably because they were drunk, they weren't able to hit Jake as he was quite agile.

Soon those men were on the floor, all bloodied and writhing in pain.

My tensed body sagged with relief when I finally saw that Jake escaped unscathed.

I should have trusted him better. He was after all one of the best warriors in our pack.

"Are you okay?" Jake walked up to me and asked.

Of course I wasn't. I was almost raped and I had to watch my boyfriend get into a fight but seeing his expectant gaze, I didn't want to burden him so I just said. "I'm fine, thank you."

"That's good. We need to get out of her before the patrol team reaches here. They won't fault me but they might later jab at you for causing such a mess. You understand right?"

I did. I understood what he meant clearly. I felt thankful for his consideration towards me. It made me feel cared for.

"O..okay. I'm about to clock out anyways so there won't be harm in leaving now. I'll just return my uniform later."

"Okay. Let's go." He stretched out his hand and I grabbed it as he pulled me up.

Afterwards, he let go of my hand and it made me dissapointed because I liked holding hands with him. Especially now that I felt so scared. I didn't point it out though as I didn't want to come off as whiny so we walked like that side by side till I reached home.

"Umm.. Jake?"

"Yeah? What's wrong?"

"Why were you in the off limits area?" I wanted to know because it seemed a bit strange.

"Oh that. I transformed and went off to clear my thoughts. My wolf got too excited so he got us lost. That was when I saw you being attacked. I didn't even know it was you until I got closer."

Oh! So that's it? Here I was thinking he missed me and had come to see me like in the old days. I guess it's just my wishful thinking.

"Okay then, have a good rest." I closed my eyes and puckered waiting for him to kiss me like he always did but it never came as he turned and left.

I swept a hand through my hair in frustration.

Why was he all distant lately? Whatever! I wanna sleep.

I walked in and then stopped when I noticed that my stepsister Lucy was awake. She was on the counter munching on some biscuits.

"Hey Luc." I greeted and she stood up to kiss me on the cheek with a smile on her face.

"You're a bit early today. Anything wrong?"

"No! Jake just picked me up. I wanna go take a good shower and sleep."

I turned to head upstairs.

"You are bit worthy of Jake." I froze in shock before swiveling to face her.

"What?" I stared at her surprise and sadness written all over my face.

Lucy hurriedly waved her hand while shaking her head.

"No! You've gotten me wrong. I didn't mean that. Well I did but not in that manner. I'm just repeating what I heard from at work." That didn't make me feel any better.

Is she trying to affirm the words she heard to me?

She must have noticed that I was getting sadder as she walked up to me and held by hand.

"Listen to me before you start jumping into conclusions, okay?" I stared into her eyes and saw that she still had the gaze of my loving sister so I nodded. "Thank you for giving me a chance to explain. What I was saying was that I heard some ladies saying so at work so I quickly defended you. I even got scolded by my superior but it was worth it."

I immediately interjected. "Wait what? Why would you do that for me? Why would you get in trouble for me?"

"Stupid!" She knocked my head softly with a smile on her face. "Of course I won't sit by when people are insulting you. You're my sister."

My lips also curved into a smile and I felt warm all over.

Jake and Lucy were the only people I could call family left. Ever since last year, my life had turned upside down and they were the only reason I could stay sane.

"Okay, lil sis. I wanna go sleep." I said ruffling her hair.

"Hey! I'm not little" she whined pouting and I smiled as I headed to my room. I shouted. "Yes you are."

I knew she would be so angry.

Octavia's POV

I was panting heavily as I ran as quick as my legs could carry me. I wasn't sure what was chasing me but I knew that if it caught me, I would die.

Tears were streaming down my face and my feet had become bare at some point.

I looked back to see if whatever was chasing after me had caught up but that was a big mistake as my legs got caught under a tree branch and I found myself falling forward.

With a snap, the leg that had been caught in the branch twisted and I covered my mouth to muffle the pained scream that threatened to come out.

The pain was unbearable but I knew that If I let out a sound, my location would get compromised.

With a whimper and laboured pants, I tugged my leg free from the branch. It hurt like a bitch but I bit my lips till it bled to keep the sound in. I turned on my hands and then began to crawl with much difficulty till I was hidden inside the cleft of the big oak tree.

I was trembling in fear as I stayed still and covered my mouth to muffle my breathing. My whole body was covered in my own sweat, blood and tears.

Soon I heard it, sound of footsteps. I held my breath, my eyes widening as the footsteps got closer and louder.

I kept praying to the moon goddess to help me survive no matter what. I prayed with all my heart.

Like my prayers were answered, the foot steps faded as it went past the tree I was hiding.

After a while, I finally let out a breath of relief as my heart thumped loudly in my chest. I waited for a few minutes before I crawled out of the tree with much difficulty.

I didn't want whatever that was to come back and meet me here.

I crawled on my hands and knees towards another direction different from where whatever passed had taken.

Snap! The sound of a twig snapping behind me had me paralysed in fear. I slowly turned my head body shaking terribly to see what it was.

Thankfully, nothing was there. It must have been my crawling that broke a twig.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to continue crawling only to have my eyes widened in horror when I saw a pair of blood red eyes staring straight at me inches from my own face.

"Got you!" The owner of the red eyes whispered, his voice as coarse as granite.

Shivers racked my body and I was frozen stiff staring into those eyes that made me feel fear like I had never felt.

Whatever was in front of me suddenly smirked as I could see it's shiny white teeth.

It was one I was familiar with. It was that of a wolf.

I suddenly let out a scream. I started awake up only to see that it was all a dream and I was on my bed.

My while body was covered in cold sweat as I trembled like a leaf.

I scrambled out of beg falling on the floor heavily. For a moment, my leg didn't move and i was scared that my ankle had really broken like in the dream but after a while, I could feel sensation on it again.

I lay on the cold floor shaking in aftershock from my horrible dream.

After I had eventually gotten myself which was a long while later, i let out a deep yet shaky breath.

What the hell did that dream mean? What was that? No it wasn't a that, it was a wolf. What kind of wolf would have blood red eyes. I have to ask around. This dream gave me a foreboding feeling.

I felt like something big was about to happen. Something that will send terror deep into my bones just like today.

Eventually, I struggled to my feet and wobbled to the bathroom where I scrubbed myself raw.

I still felt the grime and dirt from my dream on my skin like a shadow that didn't want to leave. Even the fear was there so I scrubbed until I felt a bit better.

When I was done, it was already way too late into the afternoon. I dressed up and then headed downstairs.

"Hey, Tavia. Are you alright? You look quite pale." Lucy lounging on the sofa reading a comic.

Thank God for this sound proof house. My father had gotten it renovated as he and my stepmom were quite loud in their sexual endeavors.

"Nothing, it's just a nightmare."

"Really? What did you dream about?" I owed even further.

"I don't want to talk about it please." She eyes me for a bit but eventually let it go.

"Alright, I know what you need. Some good old fashioned shopping will take your mind off this nightmare."

I cringed.

Lucy was a bit of an over shopper and shopping with her meant, drained pockets.

"No! I don't want to go."

"Please Tavia?" She looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

I was so not falling for that.

An hour later, Lucy and I were at the only shopping mall we had in our pack.

She had taken me to multiple stores and now my legs were aching, I was all sweaty and tired and my pockets were almost empty. But I have to admit, indeed my mind was already off the nightmare.

After we were done at one shop, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. I pulled out my wallet to check how much I had left and after calculating my savings, it had me depressed.

How much exactly had I spent? Whatever! It's worth it to see Lucy happy.

After I was done freshening up, I headed out and then tried to trace my way back to the store I left Lucy.

I froze when I noticed Lucy surrounded by some ladies.

I walked briskly towards them as I thought they were bullying her. I hoping to save her even though I didn't have any strength.

I froze when I got within earshot of their conversation.

"Lucy dear, you are really nice to associate with that worthless runt. I can see that she's truly latching onto you like you claimed."

"What a leech of a sister she is"