Lycan King's Regret: Punished The Wrong Daughter

Arabella:

I somehow managed to keep a stoic face through the rest of the dinner. When we reached his chambers, he left because he needed to meet his beta.

I even remembered to thank him. But the moment the door closed behind me, I broke. Hurrying into the glass bathroom, I turned the shower on and let the cold water pour over my head, soaking my dress within seconds.

I slid down the tiled wall until I was sitting on the floor. The tears came anyway.

Why was he interested in proving me innocent when he would never let me go? What difference would it make?

Why couldn’t I use my free will to decide what I wanted? Why was I never treated as a normal werewolf even when I was a wolfless Omega?

My pack’s alpha bound me, which was a crime. I would never be able to tell anyone about my past. They would always take me as a spoiled princess who wanted to climb into the king’s bed. Yes, he was gorgeous. Yes, I was falling for him.

But for me, this attraction wasn’t enough. I wanted to go to Maya and discover the world with her.

No matter how hard I bit my lip and no matter how tightly I hugged my knees. The tears wouldn’t stop.

Didn’t he say I’d be free? Then why did the mark have to stay? Who will help me get rid of the mark?

I buried my face in my arms and cried until there were no tears left. By the time I stepped out of the shower, my eyes were swollen, and my chest ached.

I changed into my nightclothes and walked to the bed on unsteady legs. I collapsed onto the mattress and grabbed a pillow to press it over my face. I couldn’t let him see me like this.

Soon he would come back, and I didn’t want to face him. I couldn’t let him know how much his words had hurt me. A shaky breath escaped my lips.

Tomorrow evening, he would leave for the Red Moon pack, and ... holy shit! I bolted up straight on the bed.

I had forgotten about that silly match. The stupidest thing I agreed to. What was I even thinking? Jasmine would kill me with a single punch.

I let out a humorless laugh and fell on my back. A wolfless slave against the head warrior of Lunaris.

Goddess! What is wrong with me?

Then I decided to make a deal with the Moon Goddess.

Dear Moon Goddess. If I survive this match, then I’ll take it as a sign. A sign that I’m not meant to spend the rest of my life in this palace. I’ll escape this place and never look back. It’s either death or freedom.

***

Even in my sleep, I felt the mattress dip beside me. His strong arms carefully wrapped around me. For a moment, I stirred and then, without even opening my eyes, I instinctively snuggled closer.

I was too tired to wake up.

"It’s alright, Princess," I heard his low voice in my sleep, "Everything will fall into place."

His warm fingers brushed over my cheeks, gently wiping away the dried tears, "I’m sorry," he whispered. I was so sleepy that I couldn’t even respond.

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of freshly baked buns and waffles made for breakfast. A tray was set on the small table by the window.

Lucien was already dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants, reading something on his tablet. The moment he noticed I was awake, he closed the file, "Morning."

"Morning..." I replied sleepily and sat up, trying to control the yawn.

He got up and walked over to my side, "Come on. Breakfast is here. Go freshen up...."

I slipped my hand into his and climbed out of bed. He was trying to make up for what happened last night, but it was too late. My mind was made up.

Whether he would take his mark back or not, I wouldn’t stay here. I wouldn’t stop trying.

After getting done with my business, I came out of the bathroom and took another chair across from him. He poured tea into my cup, "I’ll be leaving for the Red Moon pack this evening. I should be back by tomorrow morning."

Yeah. If I’ll be alive. Because I don’t think Jasmine will spare me.

The thought was so absurd that a tiny smile escaped me. Lucien immediately caught it, "What’s so funny?"

I shook my head, "Nothing."

He watched me for a second but didn’t push it. He placed a waffle piece, dipped in strawberry jam, on the plate and placed it before me.

We finished the breakfast in awkward silence, and I kept noticing him glancing at me.

"You should eat more," he remarked when he saw me pushing away my empty plate.

Don’t worry, my King. I’ll eat to my heart’s content once I’m free from you. Away from this palace. I told myself silently.

"I will," I tried to smile, "This is too early for me."

He nodded and then reached over to hold my hand, "Can I take you to the garden? Just for a small stroll?"

I nodded and got up, "Sure. Let me get dressed."

He might not be a bad man. The way he was trying to make it up to me was proof that he regretted what he had said... and the way he had said it last night.

But now it was too late. For him, this was a war of ego. The people of his kingdom would consider him weak if he took back his mark and let me go.

Fine.

You have your reasons, my king. I have mine.

The absence of wolfsbane had made my mind clearer.

***

While walking beside him, my mind kept drifting to the match. He was holding my hand while wandering through the rooftop garden.

His thumb was drawing circles lazily over the back of my hand, talking about the council meeting he had attended two days ago.

"Three hours," he said with a sigh, "They took three hours to decide whether a bridge should be repaired this month or next month."

I couldn’t understand why he was sharing such tidbits with me. Was it even allowed to share such important information with a mistress?

I tried to laugh, "And why was that?"

He shrugged, "One elder insisted the bridge had survived for two hundred years and could survive another year."

"Oh," I looked at his handsome face, "Did you agree?"

He curved down his lips, "I asked him to stand on it for three days straight. If he survived, we might wait."

I shook my head and giggled.

My eyes snapped to his face, and I realized he wasn’t laughing. He was just watching me, looking strangely pleased with himself as if...

As if he had achieved something... as if hearing me laugh had made his day.