Bound To The Lycan King | Read Free Preview

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Chapter 1 — The Unfortunate Meeting

Mira
A week. We’d been married a whole week, and my husband Tyler still hadn’t come to my room to consummate our marriage. Instead, he spent all of his time working with his secretary.
Every night, I’d wait by the door, only for it to never open.
Ash, my wolf, seethed. She’d paced inside me for days, snarling that Tyler wasn’t even my mate, that he was just the son of a beta, that she was tired of waiting around like an unwanted toy.
But I’d known Tyler since we were children. And even though we weren’t mates, I still loved him. Ash and I just had to be patient while he worked to start his career.
Besides, tonight would be different. Tonight, I would spend the entire evening with Tyler at our pack’s banquet for the Lycan King!
My father had told me the Lycan King was visiting to strengthen trading bonds with our pack. However, the maids whispered he was visiting for another reason: to find his second chance mate.
I didn’t know much about the Lycan King, but I’d heard rumors about how he was a cruel ruler eager for the blood of others. I didn’t envy the poor girl who would end up bound to him.
It was terrifying, imagining someone like him visiting our pack. It didn’t matter though – I’d be too busy enjoying the night with Tyler to worry about the Lycan King.
That night, I arrived at the banquet in a modest blue dress. The mansion was filled with members of the pack. My father was greeting guests, and I spotted my best friend Amber and Tyler chatting in the corner.
Amber had become Tyler’s secretary a few months ago. Her father – another Beta of the Eclipse Pack who’d served my father for twenty years – was stepping down from his seat in the Werewolf Council. Amber was helping Tyler campaign for that seat.
The media called them the “golden pair.” They turned heads with their sharp looks and fresh ideas. Even tonight they looked lovely, he in his navy suit and her in a dazzling silver gown.
I was delighted to see them both. They worked long hours for the campaign, so I rarely spent time with them anymore. Even Tyler and I’s wedding had been much smaller than we’d wanted so that he could focus on his work.
“Tyler!” I laughed, throwing my arms around him and kissing his cheek. Even though I’d known him for fifteen years, my heart still skipped a beat every time I saw him.
“Hi Mira,” Amber said, smiling her perfect smile she’d practiced for the cameras. “You look…cute.”
“Thanks, it’s my mother’s old dress,” I said giddily. “Tyler, the first dance is about to start, let’s–”
“Sweetheart, later,” he interrupted, pulling out of my arms. “The Lycan King is here, and I can’t pass up the opportunity to meet him. Amber, let’s go.”
“I can come–” I said, but he walked past me. Amber patted me on the shoulder before following after him.
I stood there, suddenly feeling alone in a room filled with people. A band played, and chatter echoed throughout the room, but it seemed so quiet without my husband and my best friend with me.
“He’s never going to take you anywhere dressed like that, sis.”
I turned to look at my brother, Ethan. His sarcastic smile made my hands clench into fists.
“It’s one of Mom’s dresses. Show some respect.”
“Mom wore that when she was 40, Mira,” he scoffed. “And it makes you look 40 too. You really think Tyler wants to be seen with someone dressed twice his age?”
“It’s his favorite color!” I snarled.
“You really don’t understand men at all, do you?” he asked. “Silver’s about to be his favorite color tonight after seeing Amber in that dress.”
“No, you don’t understand my husband!” I snapped. “He’s just doing what’s best for his career. You watch, he’ll talk to the Lycan King, and then he’ll come back.”
Ethan laughed. “Sure. Tell me that after he spends a night in your room.”
I blushed, the words stabbing.
“Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said, eyeing a she-wolf in a tight black dress, “I have a banquet to go enjoy.” He strutted over to the woman, inviting her to the dance floor.
That prick! Ash said to me. You should go over there and teach him some manners!
I growled in agreement. He’s an idiot, but he’s not worth it. Not tonight.
But as the banquet dragged on, Tyler still hadn’t come back, and I couldn’t shake what my brother had said. Was I really that unappealing?
No. I wasn’t unappealing, and I knew how to make my man come to bed tonight. Tyler loved me – I just had to show him what he’d been missing.
I raced up to my room and found it: my special dress. I’d been meaning to save it until the night he was elected onto the council, but I’d wear it tonight to get his mind off work and onto me.
Looking into the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The dress glowed deep ruby, and the tight fabric draped off my curves seductively. The plunging neckline and high slit would have Tyler in my bed before the night was over!
When I returned downstairs, the party was slowing. Several members of the pack had already left for the evening, but I still didn’t see Tyler. I needed to find him before it was too late.
The men I passed as I looked for my husband gave me double-takes, some staring at me with a slack jaw and wide eyes. I didn’t pay any attention to them, though, as I found one of the maids.
“Excuse me,” I said, “Have you seen Tyler anywhere?”
She turned to me, and her eyes became saucers as she looked me up and down. It took her a moment to respond before she said, “I saw him go towards Room 14.”
I thanked her and hurried to find my husband. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. He wouldn’t be able to stop himself from touching me like this!
My hands shook in anticipation as I opened the door of the room. It was dark, but I could just barely make out the shape of a body lying on the bed – a man’s body.
This scent, Ash whimpered thickly. He’s in heat.
Of course! I thought back. Tyler’s heat must have started during the party! He probably came in here to hide.
Ash growled softly. Perhaps. This is a strange scent, though.
I brushed her off, aching for Tyler’s touch. This was our moment! I snuck to the side of the bed, reaching out to brush my husband’s back with my fingertips.
Suddenly, large hands seized my wrist in a powerful grip, and I was thrust to the bed, shrieking as the man pinned me under him. His powerful body pressed into me, and I looked up into unfamiliar eyes.
Unfamiliar, but unbelievably handsome eyes.
The man looked down at me sternly, as though I was prey that he was deciding how to eat. My breath hitched as I saw his face – his striking, strong face. His breath was hot as it caressed my cheeks, and his grey eyes, steely like gunmetal, glinted and screamed danger.
“Who,” he growled, low and sensual, “are you?”
It’s him! Ash howled inside me. This is our fated mate!

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Chapter 2 — Guilty Conscience

Mira
This was wrong. It was all so, so wrong. I didn’t want to believe what I was hearing, but as Ash paced inside of me and the man’s woody scent made my head feel light, I knew it was true.
This man was my fated mate. This stranger, not my husband. Oh no – my husband!
He’d be destroyed if he saw me like this, pinned under another male, like a desperate wife who couldn’t control herself while her husband worked.
I had to leave before anyone saw us. If I ever ran into this man again, I’d reject the mating bond and run back to Tyler. I would be loyal to my husband, and I would never be so impatient to get his attention again.
“I said,” the man spoke again, voice harder this time, “who are you?” His hands firmly held my wrists next to my head, his grip tightening when I didn’t answer.
I swallowed, trying to find my voice. I felt so small under that intense stare, and the words wouldn’t come out to respond to him.
Ash was no help. She pawed against my mind, begging me to accept our mate.
Tell him who you are, she commanded. Make him ours now!
“Please,” I finally whimpered, “let me go.”
He took in a sharp breath as I spoke, and his body tensed, pushing his manhood into my pelvis. I bit my lip to hide a soft moan.
My breaths were shallow, and the room suddenly felt hot. My skin burned where his body pressed into me, and where he touched my wrists…it was absolutely electric.
I whined, accidentally pushing my pelvis further into his as I tried to squirm away. Wetness pooled between my legs as our bodies ground into each other. The man groaned.
He lowered his head to my neck, tracing the line of my throat with his nose and taking in my scent, breath hot against my skin. My mouth went dry, and I was sure all the moisture had left it and gone between my legs instead.
“Please!” I said again between my teeth. The scent of my fated mate in heat was impossibly distracting. My head spun, and I wasn’t really sure what I was asking him for anymore.
He chuckled darkly, and I shivered as I felt the rumble in his chest.
“My mate,” he said slowly, speaking each word as though they were deliciously dirty. “You’re so pretty when you beg like that.”
He released one of my wrists, tracing rough fingers down my inner arm with sinful slowness before lightly wrapping them into my hair.
“Beg for me again,” he demanded, voice dark and rich as black coffee. Ash panted inside of me – or was that me panting?
“Please!” I gasped again, louder this time. My voice brimmed with want and need, and my mind was tangled around his intoxicating scent, his sculpted body…
“Good girl,” he praised, and the tingling between my legs grew from how good that praise sounded coming from his lips.
He released my other wrist, trailing his fingers down the side of my body. I couldn’t hide the moan that escaped my lips this time as he traced my ribs, my hips, and then touched the skin of my thigh that the high-slitted dress exposed.
But then, just as his hand began to sneak further up my leg, Tyler’s face flashed in my eyes. I gasped as though a bucket of freezing water had been splashed on me. With a burst of strength, I used my newly freed wrists to shove the man off of me and jump off the bed, racing out of the room before he could tempt me any more.
I slammed the door behind me and ran, turning down several hallways before stopping to catch my breath. My legs still quivered and tingled, and the shame hit me like a battering ram.
What a terrible, disloyal wife I was. I’d been tempted by another man while hunting for my own husband.
I felt dirty. Tears welled in my eyes, and I looked up towards the ceiling to try and keep them from falling.
I never wanted to betray Tyler. I loved Tyler, and no man, fated mate or not, would change that.
It took me a few moments of long breaths to calm down and stop shaking. I sighed, straightening my dress.
I had never wanted this to happen, so it would be best if I pretended it never had. At least for tonight – and if I ever saw that man again, I would politely explain that I was a married woman and that would not change.
It would be fine. Everything would be fine.
I finally regained the courage to return to the party. I walked down the stairs to the ballroom, only to see Tyler making his way towards me with a sweet smile on his face. It was like a knife in my gut seeing that smile, and it was hard to smile back at him.
“Mira darling!” he said as he came up to me. “You look beautiful!”
“Thank you,” I said weakly, not looking him in the eye.
“I’m so sorry I left,” he continued. “I had an emergency meeting.”
I couldn’t find the words to say. I’d be so selfish, dressing like this and going hunting for him. My eyes started to water again as I realized this whole ordeal could’ve been avoided if I’d just been a good, patient wife for my husband.
“What’s wrong?” Tyler asked. When I didn’t respond, he pulled me into a warm embrace. “I’m sorry for leaving, I know I promised this night would be just us.”
“No, please, don’t apologize!” I said, pulling back. His embrace only made me feel dirtier. “I…I just stained my dress, I have to go clean it up.”
I pushed away without another word to go back up to my room. Tyler didn’t follow me.
I showered for hours that night. The water was burning hot, and I scrubbed my skin until it was raw. Over and over again, I tried to scrub away the touch of my fated mate.
And when his face appeared in my mind after I got out of the shower, I got back in again and started scrubbing even harder.
I can’t believe you just left like that! Ash scolded. Our mate was right there, ready to claim you, and you ran away like a scared pup!
I have a husband, I thought back bitterly.
Our mate is much better looking than our husband, she said. Those eyes…and his scent…if we’d met him when we were younger, Tyler wouldn’t even matter.
Shut up! I finally snapped at her. She whimpered – I never spoke to her like that. For a moment, I felt bad, but I couldn’t listen to her talk about this anymore.
When I finally left the bathroom, I half hoped to see Tyler waiting for me on my bed. However, for the first time since we’d been married, I was relieved he wasn’t there – I just wanted this night to end.
I crawled into bed to sleep, but I laid there for hours, staring at the wall. I wanted to forget this had ever happened, but my mind refused to let me as it reminded me of that man’s face over and over again.
I hadn’t slept at all by the time the sun peaked through my windows. I had, however, made an important decision: I had to tell Tyler.
I couldn’t live with this guilt. He deserved to know that my fated mate was here. More importantly, I needed to stress to him that I would choose him over any man, no matter what.
And there were no secrets between husband and wife after all, right? This was the only way to make things right.
I dragged myself out of bed and to my vanity. I brushed my hair long after I’d de-tangled it, trying to think of the right words to explain this all to Tyler. Nothing seemed to be right.
I was so lost in thought, I didn’t even hear the door open as a maid strode in with my breakfast tray.
“M’am,” she finally said, standing next to me. I jumped in surprise, looking up at her.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“That’s alright,” she said, setting down the tray. “I’m a bit late anyways – your father had an urgent matter for us to attend to.”
“Oh?” I asked. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, of course!” she said, pouring some milk into my coffee before handing it to me. “He was just looking for information.”
“Information?” I repeated, bringing the coffee cup to my lips.
“Apparently,” she said, “the Lycan King found his second chance mate last night in Room 14, and she’s disappeared. He’s called for a search until she’s found!”
I didn’t realize I’d dropped my cup until I heard it shatter on the floor.

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Chapter 3 — By The Word Of The Father

Mira
I was halfway down the hallway before I realized I was barefoot and in my nightgown. The maid had shrieked after me, but I’d panicked.
I had to find Tyler. I’d explain everything, and he would know what to do – he always knew what to do.
I almost turned down the hallway towards his room, but skidded to a stop when I heard the voices of other maids. I hid around the corner, back pressed against the wall.
“No, it can’t be Amber,” one maid said. “The Alpha said she’s blonde!”
“Well she has blonde highlights,” another maid replied.
“Yeah, and brown eyes,” the first said. “The Lycan King’s mate has blue eyes!”
“Lots of she-wolves have blonde hair and blue eyes,” a third maid pointed out. “I heard she’s supposed to have freckles, though. And you know who has freckles?”
I wanted to throw up. Only one she-wolf in the pack had blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles – me. My legs shook under me, and, before I could collapse to the ground, I turned around and ran back to my room.
I slammed the door behind me and pressed my head against it, whimpering.
No, no, no, no!
A tiny part of me had still hoped it was a coincidence. I’d hoped that the man last night was a random visitor from the Lycan King’s guard and that the Lycan King had somehow found his second chance mate at the same time. Now, that seemed like a silly hope.
Valen Montclair, the Lycan King – I was impossibly unlucky to be his mate.
Valen was a violent, temperamental ruler. Other wolves said that, after the death of his first wife, he’d become mad with grief. They said he’d killed more than a dozen guards at a royal banquet because the tablecloths were the color of her eyes; another time, he’d beaten a servant to death with his bare hands just for coughing during a meeting.
There were too many rumors to count. And he was my fated mate?
Everyone whispered that Valen had been hunting for his second chance mate for so long, it was unlikely he’d ever find her. I’d believed them. Like most, I thought that might be for the best so that some poor woman didn’t have to suffer being his mate.
Oh Goddess…what am I going to do? I can’t do this!
A firm knock came at the door, then. I lifted my head and took a breath, trying to calm myself.
I opened the door just a sliver, arm wrapped protectively around myself. There stood the maid who had brought me my breakfast, eyes wide with concern.
“Mira,” she started awkwardly, “the Alpha wishes to see you.”
I nervously peered both ways down the hallway.
“It’s really not a good time,” I whispered, fearing my voice would carry and the Lycan King would hear me.
“It’s urgent,” the maid pushed, taking my hand. “We must go to his office immediately.”
As I looked into her eyes, I could tell she was scared, just like I was. I closed my eyes tight, biting my lip. I couldn’t force another girl to be punished because I was being a coward.
I opened my eyes again, trying my hardest to look confident.
“Alright,” I said. “Just let me get dressed.”
I stood in front of the doors to my father’s office, rubbing my arm. I didn’t know what to say to him, but I knew I had to ask him for help. He was the Alpha, after all; if anyone could help me, it would be my father.
I inhaled deeply one last time before steeling myself and knocking.
“Enter,” his gravely voice came.
Inside, my father sat behind his oak desk, hands neatly folded. The only sound in the large, circular room was the fire crackling behind his desk.
“Sit,” he ordered. I swallowed, eyes dropping as I walked to the chair in front of his desk. My father was a fair but stern leader, and his business-like demeanor made it hard to tell if he was upset or excited.
I rasped, “Good morning father.”
“Where were you last night Mira?”
I froze, my eyes shooting up to his. “I…I was at the party,” I said nervously.
“You left to look for Tyler. What happened when you did?”
I stared at him, too scared to admit what had happened. A tense moment passed, the crackling of the fire uncomfortably filling the silence.
“Mira,” he said more firmly. “Answer me.”
“Father, please–”
“Now, Mira.”
I looked back down at my hands, which were now shaking. I couldn’t lie to him.
“I went to a room someone told me Tyler was in,” I admitted. “But he wasn’t there.”
“Who was in the room?” he pressed.
“I think…” I swallowed. “I think it was the Lycan King. I think he’s looking for me.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I said it out loud. Somehow, it made everything seem more real.
“Please father!” I said, voice breaking. “You have to help me hide! You can’t let him find me!”
“You know I can’t do that,” he sighed, leaning back in his chair.
“But you’re the Alpha!” I begged.
“Mira, we have to think about what’s best for our family and for the pack. If you’re his mate, then you must go to him.”
“But I already have a husband!” I exclaimed, tears streaming down my face. “You’re here; Ethan and Molly and Amber are here. I won’t leave everyone I love to be with that bastard!”
“Silence!” my father snarled in his powerful Alpha voice. I froze, unable to move under the influence of my Alpha’s power. He’d never used his Alpha voice on me; my heart cracked as I felt his order take over my will.
“You will go to the Lycan King,” he ordered. “You will be sent off to him today, and you will honor our family with pride. Valen does not know you are a newlywed, and I intend to keep it that way.”
He stood and walked around his desk, standing directly in front of me now. He placed his hands on my shoulders, staring deep into my eyes.
“I will deal with Tyler, but you must understand, our family needs this alliance with the Lycan King,” he said, softer this time. “You must go to your mate.”
He let go of my shoulders then and stepped towards the door. I didn’t look up as I heard him say to a servant, “Prepare her. I want her sent to Valen within the hour.”
I had no choice but to obey.
I didn’t cry the entire drive to the royal palace. I stared out the window of the car, not really seeing the landscape pass as it passed by.
A faint ache throbbed in my chest. The Alpha, my own father, had forced his will upon me to make me go to the Lycan King. I had never imagined he could do something so heartless.
I looked up at the royal palace as the car pulled to a stop. It looked more like a medieval prison than a palace.
The driver opened the car door for me, and my body moved against my will as I stood. A man dressed as a butler waited on the steps, cold eyes looking me up and down.
“My name is Mira, and I’ve been sent from Eclipse Pack,” I said, voice mine, though the words weren’t. “The Lycan King is expecting me.”
“I know who you are,” the butler said in a clipped tone. “We will see if Master Montclair confirms what you are tonight. Come.”
He turned towards the palace, and I had no choice but to follow.

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