His Destined mate.

pack area was very hard. My pack members whispered mean things and looked at me with dislike until I left their

rsed burden. I was trading one bad situation for another - but at least with the King, the

he fancy surroundings were confusing after my old plain living conditions. Soft curtains, shiny flo

hat me staying here was a complete fake act.

as picked out for me when there was a so

e rushing in, respectfully curtsying. "Greetin

ew to me. I shifted uncomfortably as the maids moved aroun

w mate soon," one maid told me. "In the throne room. W

ng now. Of course word of my supposed new role here would need to

that's...v

ns. My usually messy hair was styled up neatly in a upswept way fit for a noble lady of the court. So

efined look in the mirror. The tired, lonely look that had been etched on my face for so long w

ingly real again. A shaky laugh came from me at the sheer ridic

t had gathered. Hushed murmurs filled the huge space as all eyes turned toward me. At the fro

is intense staring made me feel completely exposed despite my modest dress. Heat crept

calm the sudden turmoil and confusion inside me. What was

the murmuring room become totally silent. He

re," he

down the open aisle between the rows of onlookers. Every eye was focused on my every

tense moments, the King simply stared down at me with that unreadable expressio

hed out to trail his rough fingertips along

a resonant voice, though his pale eyes remained intensely locked

th embarrassment. This was actually happening. I was being presented as the Lyc

him. The set of his jaw showed he would not argue. And the

ctions making my heart stutter. Those rough fingers slid under my chin, t

ne that allowed no protest. "For soon, you shall have th

with rapt fascination, the Lycan King claim

This was not the feverish, drunken kiss we had briefly shared before. N

ssure of his mouth molding to mine and the earthy, masculine scent of him surrounding me. His cal

vasion. My fingers clutched at the expensive fabric of his tunic as I wa

d stop it. The King's chest rumbled with a low growl in response, th

he pulled away, his light eyes shining with something I couldn't understand. Was it s

ther. Instead, he turned to face the throne room,

e!" he announced in a booming tone. "The Lycan Princ

ediately kicked into gear, celebratory drink flowing freely. I watched it all with

. "You seem unsteady, my mate," he said with a hint of am

felt strangely exhausted from the adrenaline of being shown off as his woma

hat's wise," I mana

denly swept me up into his arms without any warning. I gasped at t

strode out of the throne room as if I weighed hardly anything. I could only stare up at his c

set me down on the enormous ebony bed. I sank back against the

e bed, regarding me with that insc

w life here with me," he stated evenl

o look away from his inten

m as he leaned in closer, so that

ured in a tone that made me feel unsettled