Mated To The Lycan King

CHAPTER ONE Raina's POV I stared at my reflection in the mirror as they worked on my face. Today was the Luna ceremony. The day I would be crowned the Luna of Evergreen pack. For once in my life, I was going to get something I wanted. They helped me to my feet and I stared at my reflection in the full mirror. I couldn't recognize the person I was staring at. She had my features but I couldn't recognize her. She looked so elegant. She looked like she was made for the dress. Made for happiness. “You look so beautiful, Luna.” One of them commented and I smiled. “Thank you but I am not your Luna yet.” My voice was low and uncertain. “You will be in a few hours. You should be the happiest woman in the world right now. Nothing can stop you.” Another said and I nodded slowly. “To be frank I feel like the luckiest." I managed a weak smile. The knot in my belly tightened. I walked with my fingers crossed as they guided me through the steps. I stopped outside the door, anxiety kicked in. Too bad I had no one to calm me down. There was no father to appreciate my beauty and try to stop me from shedding a tear and there was no mother to cry for me. For the first time I felt truly alone. I was alone but I was confident that after the ceremony, I will never be alone. I will have a family; a lover. They signaled to me that they were about to open the door. I took in a deep breath and nodded, telling them I was ready. You can do this, I thought to myself. You deserve this. The door opened making a deep resonating sound that moved through my bones. My eyes were on him as soon as I saw him standing there. He looked handsome in his white suit. I couldn't help but smile through the tears pooling in my eyes when the whole pack stood up as I walked in through the red carpet. This was a dream come true indeed! I walked carefully trying not to step on my gown. I would be damned if I ruined the ceremony myself by tripping over. Slowly… Slowly. Each step I took, brought me closer to him until I was a few feets away from him. He stared at me with adoration in his eyes. “May we start the process, Alpha.” The officiating priest asked and he nodded without taking his eyes off me. I couldn't listen to whatever the priest was saying. I was lost in his eyes. “It is time to take the vows. Give me your hand.” Ethel placed his right hand on the priest's left hand and the priest slashed his palm. I flinched. The priest nodded at me and I placed my hand on his right hand. He slashed me too. The cut was deep and it hurt like hell but I wasn't about to look like a crybaby. “Repeat after me.” He turned to Ethel. “I, Ethel, promise to rule the Evergreen pack as Alpha with you, Raina by my side as my Luna, till death do us part.” “I, Ethel Watson, promise to rule the Evergreen pack as Alpha with you, Raina Walter by my side, as my Luna, till death do us part.” The priest turned to me. “Repeat after me.” I nodded trying to blink the tears away. “I, Raina Walter, accept to rule the Evergreen pack as Luna and stay by your side till death do us part.” I opened my mouth to repeat after him when suddenly the door was pushed open. The deep sound made everyone turn. A man cladded in black walked in. He had a powerful aura around him. There was no doubt that he was an Alpha. I was forced to bow my head when he stepped into the hall. I had never met any Alpha whose aura was as strong as his. 'Mate'. My wolf whispered and I shivered. That is impossible, I thought. I was with my mate and we were about to be bonded for life. There's no way this stranger could be my mate. Did the moon goddess make a mistake? Or maybe my wolf was confused. Looking up at the mysterious man, I couldn't recognize him. He had a mask on that covered his features. The guards rushed in. “I'm sorry but you can’t be here. You are not on the invitation list.” The gamma, who was also the head of the guards, said but the mysterious man raised his hand up to silence him. “Who says I can't be here?” He pulled off the mask. The room temperature dropped by ten degrees when he revealed his face. It was the Lycan King, Alpha Declan Galbraith. He was the most ruthless and most powerful being in all the land. The hairs at the back of my neck rose. I could feel the goosebumps on my flesh and my heart skipped several beats as he approached us. “Alpha Declan, to what do we owe this visit? Did you come all this way here to witness our ceremony?” Ethel said, breaking the silence. “I don't give a damn about your shitty ceremony. I came here to stop you from taking a step you will live to regret.” He said with a cold indifference. I tried to breathe properly as he kept advancing us. He was about to ruin the ceremony that was going to change the course of my life. All I had to do was read the vows and the priest would have declared us mates but now this. No one could stop him from getting to us. He was unstoppable. He could kill everyone in this room without batting an eye. He was that strong. After all, he was the Lycan King. Lycans are a lot stronger than werewolves. “What do you mean by that?” Ethel's father, the former Alpha asked. “The lady you are about to crown your Luna is my mate, Ethel.” He smirked and I stopped breathing. Calling an Alpha by their name was an insult to them especially if it was done in front of their subjects. “That is not possible and should I remind you that you are in my territory? And I am still an Alpha in case you forgot.” Ethel said. The tension between them was like a thick fog making it hard to breathe. “There’s nothing you can do, Ethel. Hand over my mate and I'll be gone.” I held Ethel's hand in an effort to tell him that I was with him. “She is not your mate. She is mine!” Ethel grunted, baring his fangs. “She feels the bond.” He said as he turned to face me, his deep blue eyes taunting me. “How about we ask her?” I could feel all eyes on me. They waited for me to say something. I knew the words to say. “I am not your mate, Alpha Declan.” I said, tightening my grip on Ethel’s hand. “Nonsense.” He groaned. “Look into my eyes and deny it.” He was just a foot away from me. He held my chin up and stared into my eyes. I tried to look away from his eyes but it seemed as though I was trapped in the blue waves that were his eyes. “Say it and I will leave and never come back.” He challenged me knowing fully well that the bond will not allow me to deny him. He raised the side of his mouth in a smirk when I couldn't say anything. “See.” He said without removing his eyes from mine. It happened so fast. Ethel grabbed him and punched him hard. Everyone gasped, shocked by the action. “Stay away from my mate!!” Ethel screamed in rage. I had never seen him that angry. “Make me stay away from my mate.” He grinned. “I do not want you. I have my mate.” I held Ethel's hand, hoping Alpha Declan would see I had chosen Ethel over him. “Seriously, are you going to hide behind her now? Will all these people be able to respect you after today?” What is he trying to do? I tried to rub Ethel's arm but he drew his hand away. “I will prove you wrong and earn my respect. I challenge you to a brawl Alpha Declan. The winner gets Raina.” My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as the diameter of my eyes increased. What was he trying to do? Does he have a death wish? His father opened his mouth to say something but then closed it. “Raina. That's your name huh? I like it.” He teased me. I rolled my eyes at him. “Even if you win, I will not go with you. Not in a million years.” “Would you look at that? She doesn't believe you have a chance.” He said in a mocking tone. I shook my head at Ethel. “That's not what I meant, Ethel. I swear…I…” “Save it Raina. The brawl will happen here tomorrow at dusk.” “Nice. See you then, Raina.” He smiled at me and turned to leave. I fought the urge to hit him hard. The crowd started murmuring immediately as the unwanted guest left. “You can't fight him. You can back out now.” Ethel's mother grabbed his arm. “I can't. I have to honor my word.” “All for what? Her? Is she even worth it?” She pointed at me in anger. “Let him be, Caroline. An Alpha can not go back down on his words. That is his first lesson as an Alpha.” His father said. Once again, I felt alone. My eyes roamed the crowd and I could guess what was going on in their minds. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to warm myself by rubbing my arms. I suddenly felt cold. I saw my cousin staring at me with a look of disappointment. I read her lips, “You ruined everything.” And for the first time in my life, I agreed with her. I ruined everything.