Mark of the Lycan Queen

Chapter 6. We shall meet again

Summoning every ounce of strength, I forced myself up from the cold, hard floor. My back throbbed with intense pain, and I fought the urge to cry out in agony. How did I end up here, in this dreadful situation? I never asked for any of this!

But I couldn't let myself dwell on it now; I couldn't bear to think about it.

As instructed, I made my way to the door, which was undoubtedly the entrance to the bathroom. I knew immersing myself in water with the wound on my back was out of the question, so I decided to clean myself as best as I could.

Standing in front of the mirror, I hesitantly began to remove my clothes, each garment clinging to my body as if reluctant to let go.

My reflection stared back at me, and all I could see was my frightened and battered self. The sight of my own vulnerability made my heart ache.

With trembling hands, I attempted to reach for the bandage on my back, but a sharp, searing pain shot through me, causing me to wince and abandon the idea. I could only hope it would heal on its own with time.

My gaze drifted to the reflection of the bandage in the mirror, where faint stains of my own blood were evident – a cruel reminder of the brutality I endured so far.

It seems the forceful push against the wall had reignited the bleeding.

I shifted my focus to the simple task of cleansing myself. Using a damp towel, I gently wiped away the grime and sweat, trying to restore a sense of cleanliness and normalcy amidst the chaos that surrounded me.

Once I felt somewhat refreshed, I surveyed the clothes that the ladies had brought into the room. Carefully selecting a cream-colored nightdress, I slipped into it, grateful for its soft touch against my skin. Finally, I allowed myself to collapse onto the large bed, my body feeling like a heavy log of wood.

Exhaustion enveloped me, and my mind gave in to the weariness of the day's turbulent events. Yet, I clung onto the wolf’s head pendant. The last word on my mind – Ulric.

Ulric.

Please be alright.

Ulric.

“Tahlia.”

“Tahlia!”

My eyes spun in the direction of the voice, except there was no exact direction. The voice was rather odd, though that of a male, and somehow seems to be in my head.

As my consciousness stirred, I gradually became aware of my surroundings. The night enveloped me, broken only by the faint glow of the moon, casting eerie shadows across the wooded landscape.

Confusion fogged my mind as I came to realize I was no longer in the confines of the Lycan King's chamber.

I sat up, the cream-colored nightdress clinging to my tired body. The air felt different here, thick with an otherworldly presence. My heart quickened as I turned, scanning the surroundings. And then, in the distance, I saw it—a figure shrouded by the darkness, standing tall and looming.

My breath caught in my throat as the figure slowly came into focus. The moonlight gradually revealed a silhouette that bore an uncanny resemblance to a Lycan. The creature stood still, its eyes glinting with a bizarre intensity, fixed upon me.

As fear gripped my heart, I sprang to my feet before I knew it. With my eyes on the figure, my fragile legs began to retreat and gradually picked up their pace, and so I ran, my feet pounding against the forest floor.

I sensed it closed in on me with an unnatural speed and suddenly I felt its arm slashing through the air. Pain exploded across my back as the razor-sharp claws found their mark.

A cry of agony tore from my lips as I stumbled forward, my legs giving way beneath me – crashing to the forest floor, I forced myself to turn, my gaze locking with what worked out to be a Lycan. Fear and pain battled within me as I pressed my trembling hands against the ground, my body shaking with both exhaustion and terror.

The Lycan stood before me, its towering figure casting a chilling shadow over my wounded form.

“We shall meet again,” It declared with an air of certainty.

Yet, something felt off. No. It wasn't the Lycan but rather a figment of my vision, much like the disembodied voice that had called my name.

The Lycan's piercing eyes bore into mine, and I braced myself for what was to come. Its snarl grew louder, its massive form lunging forward with deadly intent, but before the lethal thrust could connect, I jolted awake; startled, I thrust myself forward off the bed, gasping for breath and disoriented by the abrupt transition from the forest nightmare to the reality of the room.

As I tried to steady myself, my wide eyes met those of a young female standing nearby, her features etched with concern. It took me a moment to register her presence. The morning light streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow upon her face.

“I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice laced with anxiety. "I didn't mean to startle you. I heard you whimpering and thought you were having a nightmare."

As my racing heart began to slow, I realized she was one of the two ladies who had entered the room the previous night.

“It's alright," I mumbled, my voice still groggy with sleep, yet it had a bit of edginess. "I... I just had a bad dream."

She nodded, though seems a bit startled. "I apologize for intruding. Is there anything I can do to help?"

I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself in the present. "No, thank you," I replied, my voice regaining a semblance of composure.

The young female nodded understandingly and shifted away, giving me some space. I mustered my strength and attempted to get off the bed, but a sharp wave of pain shot through my back, causing me to wince and remain seated.

"You didn't touch the food," her voice came through with a note of concern in them. "Was it not to your liking?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but before the words could escape, the door swung open, and my attention snapped toward it. My heart skipped a beat as the Lycan King entered the room accompanied by the red-haired male.

Swallowing nervously, I watched as his gaze shifted from me to the tray of food. There was a flicker of displeasure in his eyes, but he remained silent for a moment.

“Leave us," he said, addressing the young female. She nodded and swiftly departed, carrying the tray with her.

And as she left, his eyes shifted ever so slightly to the red-haired male by his side. “You too, Fenrir," he said, his voice carrying a touch of dismissal.

Finally, a name.

Though that was the least of my worries.

Fenrir nodded curtly and left the room without a word, and once the red-haired male was gone, the Lycan King focused his piercing gaze on me. His eyes lingered on me, and I could feel his scrutiny, taking in the disheveled state of my appearance.

With every step he took closer, a shiver ran down my spine. As much as I wanted to retreat or perhaps get off the bed, the pain in my back kept me immobile, rendering me unable to tear my eyes away from him.

“You must have had quite the nightmare," he remarked, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm and curiosity, "to work up such a sweat even with the window open."

I remained silent, my body still tense from the remnants of fear lingering within me. The Lycan King scoffed softly, as if disappointed by my lack of response.

I was too.

"So, it seems you've decided to go against me after all," he stated under his breath.

"I... I didn't have much of an appetite," I confessed, my voice barely audible.

The room descended into an eerie silence, interrupted only by the rapid beating of my heart. Uncertainty filled the air, and my wolf remained strangely quiet, offering no guidance.

Then, a change came over his eyes. This time, it wasn't anger or displeasure that I saw; it was confusion, maybe even curiosity.

His gaze seemed to fixate on a point just over my shoulder, as if something had caught his attention beyond my presence in the room.

Before I could react, his sudden movement caught me off guard as he abruptly pulled me off the bed. Pain shot through my body in response, but I gritted my teeth, determined to suppress any outward signs of discomfort.

In a blink, my feet touched the cool wooden floor, and I found myself facing the bed as he swiftly spun me around.

What?

What?

Confusion mingled with the pain as I tried to comprehend his sudden change of character. And then, my eyes swept over the bed, and the reason for his shift became obvious. The sheets, once pristine and untouched, were now stained with my own blood.