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Breaking the Curse of the Lycan Prince
NovelShort
Completed
"Will you reject me?" I whispered, suppressing the lump that had lodged itself in my throat. Desperation welled in my eyes, yet I fought back the tears threatening to spill. His emerald eyes resembled icy orbs, penetrating my very soul. They held a frosty veneer, concealing numerous enigmatic secrets within. "Reject you? I'm cursed. You won't survive as my mate. I urge you to end your life yourself before I'm forced to," he murmured softly before briskly walking away. Hattie, the alpha's daughter, had once been destined to inherit the pack's leadership as the first female Alpha when her parents failed to bear another child. However, her life took a dark turn. She became an outcast, labeled a demon by her father and the entire pack after committing a grievous crime during her supposed first shift. Hattie had held onto the belief that encountering her mate would bring an end to her suffering. But when she finally met her fated mate, the cursed Lycan prince, who regarded her with contempt, irritation, and hatred, her last glimmer of hope dwindled. She was thrust into his arms as if offered as prey, a death sentence that everyone acknowledged as the fate of his mates. She was the third in line to be devoured by his cursed beast, as his curse dictated. Yet, when no one anticipated it, the unimaginable occurred.
Chapters (10)
第1章
They speak of love in three distinct forms.
The love you'd take a life for.
The love you'd give your own life for.
And the love you'd sacrifice everything to keep alive.
Yet, a cursed soul like mine was never meant to embrace any of these in my tale of love. My heart is a barren wasteland of emotions, and the mere mention of love grates on my nerves, setting off a seething anger that churns my stomach until I feel sick.
How can people willingly surrender to love when it holds the power to shatter them in an instant?
In this world, love should be banished, and that's precisely what I intend to do once I ascend to the throne as the Lycan king. I'll fashion a realm where romance, and all its kin, are outlawed, with death as the consequence.
Love had wrought havoc upon me, leaving me broken into irreparable shards. Its agony is all-encompassing, akin to an unending, relentless fire that burns without consuming, leaving you perpetually tormented.
Damn it!
I'm a freak of nature. My life unfolded as I watched two of my mates perish in my arms at the hands of my savage, cursed beast. For three years, beginning when I turned 20, and continuing now at 23, I've been a serial killer of my own mates. A hidden curse has transformed me into a monstrous executioner.
During every full moon, I morph into a ferocious creature under the control of my Lycan beastly form, and I relentlessly pursue my mate like a hunted prey. I revert to my normal state only after I've committed the gruesome act, consuming her heart. It's a horrifying ordeal, for I remain fully aware of my actions, haunted by her screams, cries, and pleas that never fade from my memory.
The ghastly specters of their horrific deaths linger, a relentless torment. The vivid memories of tearing their flesh and plucking out their eyes replay in my mind, serving as a grim reminder that I am a heartless murderer, compelled to destroy the mate who once ignited love within my cold heart, each full moon of the year.
The moon goddess was well aware of the curse that plagued me, and yet, she continued to bind me to my fated mates. I resented her for this cruel twist of fate. These radiant young women entered my life like a breath of fresh air, a momentary respite in the midst of life's tempest, a brief light that brightened my world and made me feel almost normal. But it always ended within a year, for I would inevitably become their assassin, no matter how they sought refuge.
During those three dreaded full moon nights each year, I would be confined to a cave, bound and chained, forced to endure the most excruciating torment of my existence. My body would transform into the ferocious form of my Lycan beast, and I would feel as though I were consumed by agonizing flames. Yet, one way or another, I would break free and track down my mate, for her death was the only way I could return to my human state.
This must be one of the most wretched ways to exist. After having taken the lives of three fated mates, I noticed a terrifying transformation within myself. I had become extraordinarily powerful, yet I had also become a relentless force of destruction, a cruel entity devoid of compassion.
Love had become a mocking word that echoed in my ears. I could vividly recall killing couples simply for sharing a kiss. I resided in the abyss of my own dark heart, devoid of the emotions that others took for granted. Not even intimacy could provide solace. My parents feared me, and they struggled to remain near me, but I had never desired close company. I loathed being around people, as their gazes served as constant reminders of my heartlessness and malevolence.
The only purpose I served in the kingdom was on the battlefield, where I harnessed my formidable powers to vanquish our foes, sparing our warriors the effort. However, my brutal methods left a gruesome aftermath that haunted the memories of all who witnessed it.
Now, another year had begun, and the impending full moon approached. It marked yet another year of facing the most agonizing moment of my life when I encountered the beautiful, innocent girl who would ignite a profound and overwhelming love within me, only to meet her grisly end at my hands.
Can you fathom the kind of existence I lead? Do you understand how terrifying it has become? Everyone flees from me, and now parents in the kingdom conceal their daughters from my sight, for if the mate bond ever connected me to one of them, her fate was sealed. I was a curse that should have never been unleashed upon the world.
I am Atticus Wagner, the Lycan prince of the Mystic Shadow Pack. At 23 years old, I am on the verge of turning 24, marking the fourth year of this nightmarish existence. I can't help but wonder whose turn it will be this time.
A knock abruptly interrupted my thoughts, and I swiftly turned to face the source of the sound.
"Son, please, we need your presence in the palace," my mother's voice quivered as she entered. I couldn't blame her; my anger issues had become increasingly uncontrollable.
"Tell me why," I responded bluntly, inwardly chastising myself for my harsh tone with my mother. I could still recall the days when I was a normal young man, and those twenty years felt like precious memories that taunted me when I realized they were gone forever. It was as though I could never return to my old self. Now, I was a freak feared by everyone.
"We've summoned a powerful sorcerer who has promised to find a way to rid you of the curse," she explained briefly, her voice trembling with nervousness.
"Okay," I shrugged, and the next thing I heard was the rapid retreat of her footsteps as I rose from my bed. She must have been trying to put some distance between us.
第2章
It was morning, and I had already finished cleaning up, so I simply threw on a red robe over the shorts and singlet I was wearing before heading out.
Many sorcerers had come and gone, each with their futile suggestions. It seemed like they were all just trying to extort money from my father.
Let's see what this one has to say. I hoped I wouldn't lose my temper and slit his throat, as all these fake magicians seemed to be trying to exploit my father's desperation.
As I stepped out of my room, the guards in the hallway immediately bowed, and with each step I took toward them, their legs trembled instinctively. None dared to meet my gaze.
Ignoring them all, I descended to the second floor, where the palace was located. The door was opened for me, and my presence cast a tense atmosphere over the room. Elders and my parents were present, and the sorcerer in crimson robes sat on the floor in the center with his magical tools and paraphernalia.
Without uttering a word, I made my way to the lower throne beside my father and settled in, causing a collective sweat to break out and lumps to form in their throats.
My father cleared his throat and began.
"Please, proceed," my father gestured to the sorcerer, who nodded in acknowledgment before shifting his gaze towards me. He appeared to be an elderly man with a snowy white beard. His eyes bore an unsettling crimson hue, reminiscent of a wild beast, and his fingers bore a collection of ornate rings. I struggled to find a suitable comparison; he simply looked distinct from the other visitors.
In many ways, he resembled an ancient shifter.
Perhaps he held the answers I sought.
"Your parents didn't summon me as they did with the other sorcerers or magicians. I embarked on a long journey to be here, to share the truth before my time is up," he began, and I sneered, wondering why anyone would care about what he had to say.
"Whether you came on your own or at their behest, it matters little to me. Say what you came to say and be gone before I lose my patience!" I snapped, my irritation mounting, and he offered a weak smile.
"There are three types of love, but the most powerful is the kind for which you're willing to live, even if it means accepting the possibility of dying and never seeing your beloved again. You will meet her soon, and she will be the one," he continued, his eyes fixed on mine as he beamed. Instantly, I felt an overwhelming surge of irritation. Who cared about love?
"Can you please leave now before I do something we'll all regret?" I growled, my heart heavy with anger and disgust. The mere mention of the word 'love,' which I despised with every fiber of my being, had the potential to set me off. I didn't care if he had anything else to say; in my eyes, he had nothing but gibberish and utter nonsense to offer.
"I cannot say more. Just know that she will be the one to make you fall in..." He began, but paused, sensing the fury in my eyes. He then smiled at me, and then at my father and mother, before gathering his belongings and taking his leave.
"So, is this the nonsense that brought me here?" I demanded of my mother, who remained silent.
"Don't you think he meant your next mate will break the curse?" My father blurted out, and before I could restrain myself, my hand shot up with a heavy punch aimed at his face. However, one of the guards reacted swiftly, shielding him, and to my astonishment, he collapsed as my blow landed on his chest.
Wide eyes met my shocked gaze, including my own. Had I just nearly killed my own father?
"You shouldn't say that to my face, you know!" I growled, dropping my hand and staring at the unconscious body of the bodyguard. An inner turmoil raged within me, as my inner demonic wolf nearly seized control. The word "mate" was a nightmarish trigger for me, and I loathed hearing it.
"You nearly killed me!!" my father exclaimed in terror, and a sharp pang of guilt shot through me, especially when my mother began to weep.
Just then, a group of young women rushed into the palace, but the moment they saw me, they sprinted away in sheer terror.
"I think it's time to face the reality of leaving this kingdom. I don't belong here. I've taken many lives, and the punishment is banishment, which you couldn't bring yourself to impose because you were afraid of me, Dad. Please, arrange for my exile before I harm more of my own people. It's time to live among the werewolves instead," I spoke, and relief washed over their faces.
It was evident that everyone desired my absence from their lives and from the Kingdom, even though I was the designated heir to the throne. It seemed that I was never meant to be with my own people, as I am a freak.
第3章
Hattie's POV
My head throbbed with pain as my hand flailed about, desperately trying to silence the blaring alarm beside my bed. My heavy eyelids reluctantly fluttered open, and I grumbled angrily under my breath. The intrusive noise had yanked me from my slumber so abruptly that I lunged at the accursed device, shutting it off with more force than necessary, as if it were the root cause of my troubles. I yearned to smash it against the floor, but I knew all too well the consequences that would follow such an act.
My bleary eyes traced the room's walls to the slightly ajar window, revealing the first light of dawn. It was far too early for anyone to be up except for me. An audible hiss escaped my lips as I lowered my head, weighed down by the heavy heartache that had gripped me. A surge of both anger and sorrow coursed through my veins, and I battled to hold back tears.
Although it had been just a couple of hours since I had gone to bed, it felt as if mere seconds had passed, given the fatigue that had settled in my bones. I sat on the edge of my bed, leaning against the wall, and yawned repeatedly, rubbing my eyes.
My body protested every movement, yearning for nothing more than to return to the welcoming embrace of sleep. I was too feeble to extricate myself from the bed's gravitational pull. The house was eerily silent, as if it were uninhabited, but appearances were deceiving; everyone else was sound asleep. They were all enjoying their rest while I had been roused at this ungodly hour to tend to household chores, despite being the last to retire for the night.
Another yawn escaped me, and I stretched, wincing as the welts from the previous day's lashings on my upper arms and back throbbed with a fiery sensation. My eyes flicked toward the clock, and I gritted my teeth. It had been over a minute since the alarm had gone off, and I dared not linger in bed, lest I incur the wrath of my stepmother and face a beating for my perceived laziness and disobedience.
The thought of enduring another round of physical punishment, on top of the torment I had suffered the previous day, spurred me into action. Hot tears welled up in my eyes as a pounding headache assaulted me.
My legs ached with sharp spasms, serving as a painful reminder of my frail health. Every inch of my body pleaded for rest, but I knew that was a luxury I couldn't afford. I felt groggy and weighed down, my scrawny legs struggling to support me, while the bed seemed to leer at me, a menacing trap ready to ensnare me.
I sensed my heavy-lidded eyes fighting to close as I grappled to keep them open, caught between exhaustion and the urge to surrender to sleep. All I longed for was the solace of my bed, but I knew better. I was acutely aware of the torment I would invite if I dared to lie down and doze off after the alarm had sounded. The last time I had attempted such defiance, I had been left with an indelible scar on my back from the slash of my stepmother's wolf's claw.
You might be wondering who I am and what I could have done to endure all this suffering. Allow me to introduce myself.
I am Hattie Goleman, the daughter of Alpha King Hugo Goleman, one of the most formidable and feared Alphas among all the packs.
History held a chilling account of his unparalleled military prowess, where victory was a constant companion, and the very pack responsible for his parents' tragic demise during his childhood had met its end at his hands. His growth was marked by an astounding surge in power, rendering him an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
The origins of his enigmatic abilities remained a mystery to all, shrouded in obscurity. His combat skills were as swift as the wind and as elusive as unseen phantoms. His wolf, an embodiment of terror, was infamous for its unrelenting brutality, consuming adversaries with ruthless efficiency.
One would expect that being the sole offspring of his Luna should have bestowed upon me reverence and awe for the rest of my days. However, my fate diverged dramatically from that expected trajectory. Instead, I found myself relegated to the status of a slave, scorned and loathed by everyone, forbidden from mentioning the Alpha as my father or appending his surname to my own.
Inexplicably, I was cast out and stripped of my royal heritage, reduced to a status beneath even the omegas. My father, too, had turned his back on me, publicly disowning me in front of the entire pack, threatening my expulsion. He subjected me to relentless torment, turning my life into a never-ending nightmare. All of this was the consequence of an unimaginable and horrific act I had committed.
I had murdered his mate, the Luna, my own mother. But it had been an act born out of sheer survival. It transpired three years ago when I was a mere 15 years old.
第4章
I cannot offer a rational explanation for how I had accomplished such a gruesome deed, driven by an overwhelming power that had inexplicably overtaken me. That fateful night, within the confines of her room, I had brutally ended my mother's life with my bare hands, rending her chest with my claws and consuming her heart, an act that resembled the actions of a bloodthirsty monster.
All I could recall was the emergence of a ferocious, unknown beastly spirit that had risen within me, seizing control of my mind, body, and soul just as my mother had nearly taken my life. It was this strange entity that had saved me from certain death. By the time I had wrested control back, the deed was done, and I had taken the life of the woman who had given me birth. The pack, however, etched into their hearts the belief that I had killed our Luna. They subjected me to brutal torment, weakening my wolf with wolfsbane and stripping me of my royal lineage, relegating me to the lowliest status, that of a slave.
No one cared to hear my side of the story, let alone understand why I had resorted to such a gruesome act. It had been a fight for survival, a desperate struggle against my mother, who had transformed into a bloodthirsty demon, hell-bent on my demise. I had tried to evade her, to escape from that room without causing her harm, but it proved impossible. She was swift, relentless, and intent on ending my life.
I had no choice but to defend myself, and my victory in that battle would not have been possible if not for the extraordinary strength that had surged within me. I remained oblivious to the true nature of that mysterious power that had suddenly awakened within me and how it had manifested from my own body. I had sensed the presence of a strange entity within me, distinct from my own wolf, despite not having reached the age of 16 when the wolf typically awakens. Fueled by this peculiar strength, I had fought back against my mother's demonic possession. This unsettling incident had unfolded while everyone was gathered at the royal palace for the Beta's daughter's birthday, leaving me isolated and in a desperate struggle for survival.
It was a stark and brutal choice: either I fought back and killed her, or I was killed.
I can still recall the moment it all began. My mother had inexplicably summoned me into her room amid the birthday festivities, and I assumed she had a message or something important to convey.
I remained oblivious to the fact that she was already ensnared within the grip of a malevolent enchantment, her sanity slipping away.
"Mommy, why did you bring me into your room?" I had queried, but my question went unanswered. Instead, I watched in growing horror as her eyes darkened and clouded over, while her canines elongated into menacing, razor-sharp fangs.
Fear surged through me, and instinct drove me to make a desperate dash for the door. However, before I could make good my escape, she lunged at me, her claws sinking deep into my back. A piercing scream of pain escaped my lips as agony gripped me. I begged and writhed, struggling to break free from her grasp, but my efforts proved futile. She pinned me down with an eerie gaze, a chilling snarl on her lips, and an unsettling demonic aura emanating from her form.
"Mommy! Mum! What are you...?" I gasped, my voice strangled by terror, while she continued her relentless assault. Her fangs pierced my neck, and she drank my blood, her clawed hand tracing my chest as though searching for my heart.
The excruciating pain overwhelmed me, and my strength waned. My ability to cry out for help or howl in distress dwindled, dissipating like a wisp of smoke. That night, my own mother was on the brink of taking my life, and no one came to my rescue. No one heard my pleas within the confines of that room, as my screams were drowned out by the thunderous rhythm of drums and the festive music celebrating the birthday.
She withdrew her bite from my neck, emitting eerie guttural sounds as her vacant eyes stared into the void.
"You must die for the demons to rule!!" I heard my mother utter, as if an unseen force spoke through her, her words chilling me to the bone.
第5章
My mother seized my gown and mercilessly tore away its upper portion, exposing my heart, the most vulnerable point for a werewolf. Despite my frantic pleas, her actions remained heedless, as she had irrevocably lost her sanity.
It was then that an unexpected surge of power surged from within me, enabling me to push her away from my prone form. I hastily rose to my feet, sensing an intense heat enveloping my body, as if I were about to unleash fire. Something tumultuous roiled within me, as if it sought liberation from its confines.
In the end, it seemed this force succeeded, for I suddenly found myself bereft of reason, under the control of this enigmatic beast, and imbued with tremendous strength.
As I gazed at my mother in that moment, her visage had transformed into something otherworldly. Instead of her familiar face, I beheld a demonic countenance, and an overpowering scent filled the air, stoking the fires of my fury.
An overwhelming compulsion seized me, and I could not delay any longer; I lunged at her with a ferocity that defied explanation. She made a futile attempt to defend herself, but my newfound strength allowed me to mercilessly rend her flesh. I savagely gouged out her eyes, shattered her limbs, and, in the end, ripped her heart from her chest, consuming it in a manner reminiscent of a vampire.
It was precisely at that moment when the Beta's mate forcefully burst into the room, kicking the door wide open.
Upon witnessing the grisly scene, she let out a blood-curdling scream, drawing the attention of others who promptly rushed to the scene, discovering me in the midst of my mother's brutal demise.
Yet, the question remained—why had no one come to my aid when I was nearly killed by her hand?
Despite the multitude of wounds that marred my body, they inexplicably reached a different conclusion. Instead of recognizing my mother as the aggressor, they believed she had been acting in self-defense.
The powers of the enigmatic beast that had momentarily seized control of me dissipated and never returned. This life-altering incident had transpired when I was a mere 15 years old, and from that point onward, my existence spiraled into misery.
They labeled me a demon, and on numerous occasions, they summoned various sorcerers to examine me. These sorcerers would administer concoctions that would only sear my insides with unbearable pain.
Some even subjected me to baths infused with wolfsbane, inflicting injuries so severe that it took a month to heal. However, none of their efforts revealed anything beyond my wretched wolf.
It had been three agonizing years since the incident, and despite my repeated claims that my mother had transformed into a demon and sought to end my life, no one believed me. Instead, my torment intensified for accusing the deceased Luna falsely.
This year, my world descended into unmitigated hell when my father selected another woman as his new mate. Her name was Gemma, and she became not only my stepmother but also an embodiment of malevolence who relished my suffering.
For reasons I couldn't fathom, she took pleasure in witnessing my pain and heartbreak. I struggled to identify any wrongdoing on my part that would provoke her hostility.
Ever since Father brought her into the royal pack house, my existence had become a ceaseless ordeal. A few months ago, our Betas perished in a war, and my father took in their daughter. I was 18, and she was 17, but our ages held no significance, as she, too, treated me as a lowly servant. I obeyed her every command without question, for even a hint of disrespect would earn me a deep and painful cut from my father.
...
"Hattie!!!" My stepmother's voice shattered my reverie, jolting me from the bed where I had unknowingly perched.
Fear clutched at me, rendering my mind numb as I fumbled my way out of the room, my vision blurred by hot tears. There was no need for divination to discern that I was about to endure another round of her beatings.
Even her tone was a grim harbinger.
Lost in my sorrow, I had lost track of time, oblivious to the persistent blaring of the alarm.
"Hattie!!!" She shouted once more, prompting me to make a stealthy retreat to the kitchen before responding, in hopes of concealing the fact that I had remained in my room after the alarm had sounded. However, upon reaching the living room, I was confronted by my tormentor, who appeared to have been lying in wait. Every muscle in my body constricted as I beheld her towering form, her countenance more menacing than ever.
第6章
Her brown eyes gleamed with unbridled rage and contempt as she sneered at me, grinding her teeth with malicious intent. My heart raced in terror, leaving me paralyzed, unsure of what to say or do. But one thing was certain—she was preparing to subject me to another round of abuse, and as always, my father would stand idly by.
"You ignored my call?" Her tone dripped with disdain, her hatred for my very existence palpable.
"I'm sorry, I..." My voice faltered as her sharp slap scorched my cheek, the pain searing through me as if a thousand needles had pierced my flesh.
"You turned off the alarm and went back to sleep after it rang, didn't you?" She gnashed her teeth, refusing to grant me an opportunity to respond before delivering a punishing kick to my stomach, sending me tumbling heavily to the floor.
"No, I...I..." I struggled to articulate through the searing pain in my abdomen.
I whimpered, clutching my belly with one hand and rubbing my sore rear with the other, tears streaming freely down my cheeks.
"Please, ma'am, spare me this once," I pleaded in a quavering voice, my gaze shifting back to her just as she advanced menacingly once more.
The excruciating pain coursing through my body left me trembling uncontrollably. I gasped for breath, my pleas reduced to mere eye movements and quivering lips, robbed of my ability to speak due to the searing agony.
"If you've had enough of life, why don't you just end it yourself?" She snarled, delivering a brutal kick to my head with her boot, sending waves of pain reverberating through me. It felt as though life itself was draining away as my head rang like a bell. I closed my eyes, tears flowing unchecked as the pain intensified.
Her footsteps drew closer, and I sobbed harder, fully aware that my cries would elicit no help. Instead, they would likely unite to punish me for disrupting their sleep.
She squatted in front of me, her face contorted with resentment, and then uttered words that sent my heart plummeting to my stomach.
"I wonder how you managed to escape your demon-possessed mother's attempt on your life. Remember what she told you about the demons, don't you?" She inquired, a smug smile playing on her lips.
Confusion swirled within me, my limbs heavy, and I could only stare with parted lips, unable to voice a response.
What was she talking about?
"Gemma, are you...a demon?" I stammered loudly, a tremor in my voice, my gaze locked on her, bewildered and contemplating her recent revelation.
My mother, possessed by demons that fateful day, had mentioned that I had to die for the demons to reign. How on earth did Gemma know about that?
Gemma's eyes scrutinized my face for a few moments, and then she chuckled before rising to her feet.
"Who did I hear you call a demon? My Luna? Are you accusing my mate of being a demon, just as you accused my destined mate, as a pretext for her death?" My father's voice boomed as he descended the stairs, jolting me to my feet, the hairs on my skin standing on end in fear.
When had he arrived?
His countenance contorted with anger, accentuating the scars on his face that lent him a menacing appearance. His dark green eyes gleamed with hatred and repulsion as he glared at me.
"I... I... didn't... I was just ask...ing..." My lips quivered as I stuttered out each word, cowed by the menacing intensity of his gaze.
"She called me that because I told her to start her chores. Can you believe I found her still sleeping even after the alarm went off?" Gemma complained, wiping her eyes, which had suddenly welled up with tears.
This woman was utterly incredulous!
My father, however, seethed with anger and lunged at me like a predator, oblivious to Gemma's possible dishonesty. His imposing figure drew nearer, casting a shadow of terror that loomed over me, shrouding my world in fear and desolation. I instinctively shut my eyes, bracing for the impending blow.
As expected, a searing slap landed on my cheek, sending waves of burning pain coursing through it, like an unrelenting inferno. I cried out, clutching my throbbing cheek, crimson droplets trickling from my lips. My body quivered as I whimpered and grew numb from the heart-rending agony, yet he showed no signs of satisfaction, poised to strike me once more.
第7章
"I will break you until you plead for death, you evil murderer! I despise the air you breathe. Your shadow, even the ground you tread upon! I detest that I can't strangle you to death with my bare hands just because you have royal blood. Kill yourself so I won't ever have to see you again!" He bellowed, his heavy foot stomping forward, his voice laden with sorrow, fury, and sheer loathing. Fortunately, Gemma intervened, grasping him firmly.
"Don't exert yourself by striking her. The previous sorcerers I brought along have already neutralized all her demonic powers. Another one might come today to assess her condition," Gemma whispered, casting a reassuring smile at my father.
Dread clutched at my heart upon hearing her words. I couldn't endure any more torment from her sorcerers, who appeared to do nothing more than feigning the exorcism of demons from within me.
"Get up there! Start your household chores, you wretched creature! My daughter shouldn't be delayed for school because of you!" My father sneered at me, his gaze filled with disgust, and it cut deep, especially since he no longer regarded me as his daughter.
He had just referred to the Beta's daughter as his own.
They both walked away, his arm encircling her waist as she leaned on his shoulder. Halfway, she glanced back and flashed a mocking smirk in my direction, churning my stomach as I struggled to hold back tears.
...
"Mum, Dad, I'll be late for school today because of that useless girl, Hattie. I don't know why..." I heard Betty, the Beta's daughter, complain, but she halted her words upon noticing my entrance into the dining room.
The three of them were seated around the table, and the scene triggered a rush of memories. It reminded me of the times when I would sit with my mother and the father who had once been loving.
Things had changed so abruptly. Now, I was the servant who served them, replacing the place I once occupied at the table. The Beta's daughter had taken my spot.
"Here are your meals..." I muttered with a slight bow as I began distributing their plates, silently praying for the peace and quiet to persist until I could leave.
They should spare me from any beatings now. I sent a silent prayer to the moon goddess, and it felt as if she answered when I had served the plates and turned to depart.
"Hattie!" My father's voice, cold and menacing, called out my name, causing me to freeze in place, on the verge of tears. I wished I could just ignore him and walk away. I detested standing in front of Betty, bearing all the humiliations and beatings.
With hesitant steps, I turned and approached them.
"Come and eat this food first. I don't trust you anymore," he ordered, my cheeks reddening as I sniffled away my tears.
I had forgotten that it had always been like this. They perpetually suspected me, while the true culprit – Gemma – sat right next to them. Even though my father had assigned bodyguards to closely monitor me while I cooked, he still found it necessary to humiliate me and break my spirit.
I took a spoonful of my father's food, then some from Betty, and as I reached Gemma, she shot me an icy glare that made my hands tremble.
Shivering uncontrollably, I dipped the spoon into her plate, taking out a spoonful as well. But the instant I moved to put it in my mouth, she slapped the back of my hand with her palm, causing the stew-laden spoon to splatter on my face and into my eyes.
"My eyes!!!" I screamed in agony at the fiery pain, which stung so intensely that I lost my balance and collapsed onto the floor.
My eyes clenched shut as I groped in pain and screamed for help, desperately pleading for water to rinse my face. Instead of assistance, I heard laughter echoing around me.
"Can you believe she's trying to fill her belly with my food?" Gemma chuckled, and they all laughed heartily while I felt as if my eyes were being gouged out, tears flowing uncontrollably.
"I'm going blind! Please, someone get me some water!" I cried out, trembling violently, my hand trying to wipe away the pain, but no one paid any attention. All I could hear was the clinking of cutlery and plates, indicating they were happily eating, utterly indifferent to my agony.
第8章
I struggled to open my eyes, thinking I could bear the torment and make my way to the kitchen sink, but it was futile. I only succeeded in allowing the tears clinging to my eyelashes to fall into my eyes, intensifying the excruciating pain that convulsed my body.
My eyes involuntarily shut again, and this time, I couldn't force them open; my world descended into darkness.
My eyes burned as I groped blindly, frantically scrubbing and calling out for help. The pain seared through my eyes, causing them to feel as though they were being seared in a fire, while also rendering me unable to open them.
"Please, someone, fetch some water so I can rinse my eyes! The pain is unbearable!" My anguished cries reverberated through the walls as I attempted to rely on my other senses to find my way to the bathroom, but everything was a hazy blur in my mind, adding to the excruciating agony my eyes were enduring.
"Stay like that until we're finished eating, and stop making a fuss. None of us will leave our meal to get water for you!" Betty yelled without the slightest concern for the excruciating pain I was enduring.
"She brought this upon herself. I was going to smack her face, but she tried to act clever by using the spoon as a shield! She shouldn't have dared to take a spoonful from my plate!" Gemma grumbled as they continued to eat, while I was losing my vision.
My tears had soaked the front of my dress; my entire body was drenched in sweat as I gasped and sobbed in searing pain, crawling helplessly on the floor.
"I hope she goes blind after this! Perhaps that will be the punishment from the moon goddess for killing my mate," my father chimed in, and I recoiled in shock.
The coldness in his voice cut into my heart like a dagger, causing me to burst into a desperate scream.
The hatred was raw and seemed endless. I had known how deeply my father loved my mother, cherishing her like a precious gem. I was aware he would despise me for taking her life, but I had never imagined it would manifest in such a profound and enduring manner.
I had hoped that with time, his resentment might fade, but instead, it grew more intense with every passing day.
"I believe she's learned her lesson; let's have the guards give her a bath," Gemma sneered, her words cutting through me like a knife, echoing in my ears and hammering my brain with their implications.
I heard her words clearly, yet I couldn't convince myself that my ears weren't deceiving me.
"Yes, that's a fitting punishment for a witch like her!" Betty chimed in, and I heard my father summon the guards.
"Strip her and take her to the bathroom for a bath," he commanded, and I gasped, shaking my head while whimpering, tears flowing uncontrollably.
My lips quivered, and I wished I could open my eyes and escape; running was my best option, but I was blind. The thought of these guards seeing my naked body sent shivers down my spine.
"Daddy, please, don't do this! Don't listen to Gemma! She..." My voice cracked with fear. I couldn't bear to utter Gemma's true identity to him again.
My father was dead serious when he said he would make my life a living hell. I had foolishly believed that being his daughter would lessen the torment. Now I faced the horrifying prospect of standing naked before these mere guards, individuals I had once ordered around.
The royal blood coursing through my veins seemed to crawl on my skin, leaving me trembling beyond belief. All I prayed for was that it wouldn't happen! How could I face these men after they had seen my nakedness?
"Are you all deaf?! Follow my orders to the letter!" My father roared, slamming his fist on the table. My mouth went agape as I gasped for breath. The searing pain in my eyes was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.
"Daddy, please, spare me," I sobbed, clutching myself, my location in the room unknown to me.
"She still calls you daddy even after you've disowned her! That's inappropriate!" Betty complained, her words piercing my heart. Then my father added his voice.
"That's why she deserves every punishment in the world! So stubborn and heartless!" he snorted, his tone devoid of pity or compassion, leaving me no room for further pleas. The sound of heavy footsteps approached, followed by four strong hands gripping my arms and legs, sealing my lips in silence.
第9章
"Could you please disregard my father's orders this once? You don't have to strip me! Just wash my face with water so I can open my eyes again," I implored as my feet touched the bathroom floor.
"We never intended to follow his commands. We won't do that," one of them assured me, and I let out a sigh of relief.
I had never expected anyone to show me even a glimmer of compassion. They promptly poured a full bucket of water over my face and handed me another to rinse off the stew splatter that had covered it.
I quickly washed my eyes thoroughly until I could finally open them again. Though the stinging pain persisted, I was overjoyed that I could see.
I turned to the guards with a grateful smile and was about to thank them when I heard the bathroom door creak open. Betty stood in the doorway with an angry expression.
"You defied my father, the Alpha!" Her voice echoed through the walls, and the bodyguards immediately fell to their knees, pleading with her not to report them. They were all visibly terrified, trembling uncontrollably.
"Do you see what you've put them through? Death! No guard disobeys the Alpha; you've jeopardized their lives!" She shouted, and I stood there, transfixed.
"Please, Betty, just this once. Spare them, I beg you. You can punish me, but don't drag innocent lives into my miserable existence."
"Nothing will prevent me from reporting this to my father! I'm glad to have a witness here!" She declared, and I noticed Gemma standing beside her, smirking and taunting me as she entered, her royal robe swaying elegantly.
Anger surged within me as our eyes locked. It was my mother's finest robe, a symbol of her status as the Luna, adorned with sparkling gems and exquisitely designed. Seeing this demon, Gemma, wearing it as Luna filled me with frustration, but I could only simmer in sadness because there was nothing I could do.
"Please, Luna, we..."
"Strip her now, and we'll all watch!" Gemma ordered, cutting them off as she giggled and draped her arm around Betty's shoulder, her gaze filled with smug satisfaction.
"Nothing will ever deter me from informing my father! I'm relieved to have a witness here!" She exclaimed, exhaling sharply. I glanced beside her and noticed Gemma, who was strutting in with a royal robe, snickering provocatively at me.
A surge of anger coursed through me as our eyes locked. The robe, a symbol of my mother's dignity as Luna, was adorned with sparkling gems and exquisitely designed, making it truly exceptional. Seeing this demon, Gemma, wear it as if she were the Luna frustrated me, leaving me with nothing but a sense of despair.
"Please, Luna, we..."
"Strip her now, while we all watch!" Gemma ordered abruptly, interrupting them with a gleeful tone as she draped her arm around Betty's shoulder, wearing a smug expression while staring at me.
My brow furrowed in disbelief, questioning whether I had heard her correctly. Perhaps my ears had misinterpreted the sound, or my brain had failed to process the message accurately. It couldn't be true.
"Do it now," Betty chuckled, pulling out her phone.
The guards, acting impulsively to save their lives, stood up and turned towards me, their stern expressions indicating that they wouldn't heed my pleas this time.
"We're sorry, but we have no other choice," one of them muttered as they advanced.
"Betty, are you really going to...expose my naked body?" I stammered, witnessing her aiming the camera of her phone at me.
Tears pricked my eyes and streamed down my cheeks as I pulled my feet back, praying it wasn't what I was thinking.
Gemma broke out laughing, and Betty smirked and gave me that smug smile.
"My friends at school would love to see your naked body! Maybe it will persuade some boys in my class to have you for a night, poor princess," she groaned mockingly, a sneer on her face. I almost puked because what she just said sounded terrible and nasty.
"Don't you dare!! Don't ever touch me!" I warned the royal guards, but their eyes merely glazed over as they continued as if I hadn't said anything.
I attempted running, but I couldn't get more than three steps away before being tackled and smashed against the wall. The three guards were now vicious and deaf to everything I said. Two grabbed my hands and legs with their massive arms, pinning them so tightly that I couldn't move them.
The last one grabbed the top of my gown and ripped it apart as I screamed, showing my bra.
"No! Stop!" I screamed, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. The nightmare continued unabated as my gown was mercilessly torn apart, leaving me exposed to just my underwear.
Gemma and Betty erupted into another round of scornful laughter while recording the humiliating scene.
"This will be the perfect viral video and a fitting punishment for the harm you've done to our pack! Dad will certainly relish this," Betty giggled sadistically, her words piercing my heart like sharp daggers. Her laughter haunted me like a relentless specter in the night.
The men were callously stripping away my clothes, and I knew they would soon move on to my bra. My head throbbed, and my heart clenched with overwhelming rage as I struggled in vain to free myself.
I squeezed my eyes shut, teeth chattering in terror at the impending ordeal. It would be a colossal disgrace, and I feared my life would never be the same again. How could I ever face them after the world witnessed my humiliation?
My palms clenched into fists, but I remained powerless as the two burly guards pinned me firmly against the wall.
第10章
Initially hesitant to remove my bra and panties, Betty's impatience won out.
"Quickly, strip her of her undergarments and get this over with. I need a captivating video, or you can choose to face my father's wrath. She's no longer the Alpha's daughter; she's now a slave. Treat her accordingly!" Betty's cruel command reverberated in my ears, leaving me gasping and shaking my head vehemently.
"No! No!! No!!" I continued to plead and scream at the top of my lungs as tears streamed down my cheeks like unrelenting rivers.
The sensation of their hands on my exposed skin was not only irritating but also deeply repugnant for someone born an Alpha like me. It shattered my heart into countless pieces. My eyes remained wide open, painfully aware of Betty's camera pointing at me. It felt like an undeserved punishment for every transgression I had committed.
As I imagined the entire pack watching this video, I couldn't help but wonder what would be left of me. I'd become a laughingstock, even among the youngest pack members. These horrifying thoughts swarmed my mind, and my wolf, unable to contain itself, began to stir within me. But I knew I was no match for anyone.
Despite having undergone my first shift, my wolf turned out to be the weakest, vulnerable even to the lowest-ranked Omega—a fact that had earned me my father's disdain as his daughter. I had taken his mate's life, yet I could never come close to an Alpha's strength and powers.
"Hit her if she tries to resist! Show no mercy to a heartless killer like her, or you'll be implicated as her accomplice!" Gemma chimed in, offering a wicked smile to Betty, who responded with laughter before departing, after scrutinizing me as if expecting something more from me.
At that very moment, with a surge of combined strength from my wolf, I managed to free my right hand, which had been held by one guard, and I swiftly landed a powerful punch and headbutt on the ones in front of me.
Perhaps I shouldn't have done that. Maybe I should have stayed calm and accepted my cruel fate. My actions triggered an intense rage from the royal guards, and before I could blink twice, they unleashed a barrage of heavy blows and kicks upon me.
My entire body throbbed with pain, my lips were already bleeding, and someone delivered a brutal kick to my face. My stomach burned with excruciating pain, rendering me incapable of screaming as I whimpered under the relentless assault.
"Leave her for now, but fetch a wolfsbane whip so I can give her a few lashes before I head to school," Betty ordered, sending a shiver of dread through me. I vividly remember the searing pain it inflicted, and the thought of enduring it again was unbearable.
The bodyguards abandoned me, writhing in pain on the ground. I knew that the agony I currently suffered was nothing compared to what awaited when Betty wielded that wolfsbane whip. I doubted I could survive, so I had no choice but to beg for my life.
Rising to a kneeling position, I began pleading with Betty. She dropped her phone only to pick it up again, recording me as I begged for mercy while she laughed heartily. But I cared little about the shame, even if it continued to break me. My life was the most important thing at stake.
"Please, Betty, stop this torment. Please. I never mistreated you or wronged you in the past. We were never enemies. Why turn against me just because you're in a higher position now? I beg you, please stop..." I whimpered, tears streaming down my face as my disheveled hair covered my eyes.
My stomach twisted and burned with a combination of pain and hunger, and my pounding head added to my misery. The soreness from the earlier beating inflicted by the bodyguards throbbed from various parts of my body.
"I take immense pleasure in watching you cry helplessly. It brings me joy and satisfaction. It makes me feel even more like the Alpha's daughter..." She grinned and discreetly stashed her phone behind her back.
Just then, a guard returned carrying a whip that sizzled ominously, soaked in wolfsbane. A mere touch would rend my skin, not to mention the agony of being whipped by it.
"You may leave," she told the guard with a smile, but he hesitated, appearing to have a message to convey, albeit with evident fear.
"Why are you still standing there?" Betty snapped, her gaze intimidating, and he trembled as he approached and leaned in to whisper something in her ear. His eyes were wide with fear, and I couldn't discern the content of his message.
Betty listened, and whatever he said made her recoil and gasp audibly, her eyes widening with the same fear that had gripped the guard.
"Lycan?" I heard her mutter softly.
I was perplexed, watching the scene unfold and wondering what the guard could have disclosed to elicit such a reaction from Betty. Even the whip slipped from her hand in shock at whatever he had told her.
My lips parted, ready to inquire about the mysterious revelation, but then, something strange and wholly unexpected occurred.
My nose caught a scent—an intoxicating aroma that embodied everything beautiful my mind could fathom. It was a scent of vanilla and sandalwood, with a citrusy note that engulfed my soul and enveloped me in its intense warmth.
"Mate!" my wolf howled in my mind, a realization that struck me like lightning.
