The Werewolf King Series Book 2
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Elle Chipp
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190K
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37
1: Arya’s Story
ARYA
The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is sit here, smiling, pretending my heart isn’t shattering into a million pieces. Our families, friends, and packs have gathered to witness the Royal Mating Ceremony of the century. But it’s not mine.
It should have been.
It would have been if the Moon Goddess and fate hadn’t decided to turn against me. Instead, the mate I fell for turned out to be a monster.
Actually, he was worse than a monster. He was a rapist, an abuser, a liar…and I’m relieved that he’s finally dead. Sounds harsh, right? But it’s the truth, and I see no point in sugarcoating it.
When he drew his last breath, I realized he wasn’t my true mate. The relief that washed over me is indescribable. After all, mates can’t harm each other, yet I was the one who pulled the trigger to end his life.
Being the king’s only living relative made me a prime target for his deception. A witch supplied him with a spell that tricked me into believing he was my mate.
And I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.
For weeks, I was smitten. I was blinded by his smiles, his sweet words, and the mate bond we were taught to cherish above all else. I remember how it used to pull at me, and I’m grateful that it’s just a memory now.
I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. Growing up with parents who were as in love as mates could be, it was hard not to want that for myself. So, when Stella, my wolf, told me he was the one, I didn’t hesitate.
Embarrassingly, the only reason our mating ceremony didn’t happen was because he attacked my wedding planner the day before, intending to do more than just kill.
At first, I was in denial. My wolf reacted violently. I’ll always regret how we behaved that night. It wasn’t until my brother, my protective big brother, spelled it out for me that I finally understood.
How do you move on from something like that? I thought the Moon Goddess had paired me with the worst possible mate, and unless I wanted to lose my soul, he had to live.
I would have had him killed if it were up to me, but my brother vetoed the idea. He cared too much about me, still does, and his concern allowed the bastard to live long enough to escape and find me. To find us.
But it’s over now. I did what I had to do, and he’s no longer around to poison the world.
It just hurts to know how close I was to what I thought was happiness, and now I’m sitting alone, wondering if I’ll ever meet my true mate. My brother waited twelve years, and honestly, I don’t have that kind of patience.
I want to be loved, cherished, seen as more than the spoiled princess doted on by her brother, the king.
But it’s starting to feel like a pipe dream.
***
I’ve lost track of how many glasses of champagne I’ve downed, but it’s not enough. I want more, especially now that the first dance has started, and I can’t tear my eyes away from how stunning my friend looks in my brother’s arms.
She was right to decline my offer to wear my dress. The simple silk gown she’s wearing suits her better than I could have imagined. It’s a shame it’ll be torn to shreds when she starts to turn.
Her wolf is different from ours. She’s what my grandmother used to call a servant of the moon, stronger than even our fiercest warriors.
I used to think her kind was a myth. Who could be stronger than my brother Darius? But when she showed me her wolf, Darcy, last month, I was awestruck by her size and power.
I ran.
Tonight, I’ll be brave. Her wolf will be too overjoyed to care about anything else on her mating day. It’ll be a nice memory to bring up if my brother ever needs to be taken down a peg.
Some of the guests have already started to turn on command. Our kind has more control over our gift and doesn’t store as much energy as a result. I almost lost it when one of Rory’s pack members called us the weaker breed. She’s lucky I love her like a sister, or her “cousin” would have lost an eye.
“No dancing?” I turn to see Helena sitting next to me.
She’s the witch who confirmed that my soul wasn’t tied to a monster, granting me my freedom. I just wish she had pointed it out sooner.
She’s wearing a long emerald gown that hugs her waist and pools at her feet. For a woman nearing sixty, she moves with a grace that belies her age, and her red hair hasn’t faded a bit.
“I think my brother and Rory will forgive me.” I force a smile, raise my glass to the happy couple, and drain it.
Helena narrows her eyes at me, reminding me of how my mother used to scold me when I was a pup. It doesn’t surprise me when she swats my arm lightly in irritation.
“What are you sulking for, child?” She takes a bite from one of the strawberries I’ve left untouched on my dessert plate.
I can’t help but laugh, signaling the waiter for another drink. He’s already made a pretty penny off me tonight, and I’m far from done.
“You’re already half in the bag. Don’t you have any shame?” she chides again, seeing her first attempt didn’t take.
“Shame? I’ve got plenty of that…” I accept the glass from the waiter. “Especially considering who I almost ended up with.” I nod towards the blissful couple.
Why else would I be hiding out here? The few who’ve spotted me haven’t been shy about their whispers and pointed stares. I’m the butt of the joke, and the worst part is, I agree with them.
“You know this isn’t your fault, right?” Helena’s voice shifts from irritation to sympathy, and I wish she’d stuck with the former.
“Does it matter? I’m the one who brought him here, I’m the one who looked the other way. I should’ve known.” My voice wavers, and I take a quick sip to cover it up.
Helena rubs my back in a comforting gesture, her face a mix of emotions.
“It seems our debt to your kind is still outstanding,” she murmurs more to herself than to me, but with my heightened hearing, it might as well be a shout.
“We don’t owe you a thing. Your kind put me in this mess to begin with,” I retort, remembering how she told my brother he owed her a favor the last time we met.
“I’m not talking about your brother. I’m talking about you…we owe you.” She sighs, as if explaining this to a child.
I guess it’s not a bad thing to have in my back pocket. Witches aren’t known for their generosity, especially towards non-humans. We usually invite her to these events because she’s the only witch who’s ever shown us any kindness, thanks to a favor Darius did for her. She can be quite entertaining when she wants to be.
But what should I ask for? Wealth? Got it. Beauty? Pointless. Immortality? Useless without my other half.
“I thought you were smarter than this.” Helena shakes her head, popping another strawberry into her mouth.
I’d forgotten about her mind-reading abilities, especially when emotions are running high. The alcohol probably isn’t helping either. “So what should I ask for?” I challenge, matching her tone.
“Your mate. Ask me, and I’ll tell you where he is. But then we’re square.” She holds up a finger, emphasizing the gravity of her offer.
I bite my lip, knowing I should think this over before jumping in.
“How do I know you won’t lie?” I don’t need to mention her kind’s past betrayals. The implication hangs in the air.
“Because I like you, dear, and I don’t take to wolves easily.” She gives me a small, genuine smile. And even if it makes me a fool, I believe her.
“Where is he?”
