Hazel's POV
It was nearly midnight.
Jake was yet to return to the bedroom—not that I had expected him to.
I simply sat at the edge of my bed while staring straight at the door.
He was with the Lycan King tonight.
I had heard the servants whispering about how the King had summoned the Alphas for a private meeting at the pack hall.
A few hours ago, Jake had stood here and dressed in his finest cloak.
That was after he bent me over the bed frame and used me like a harlot.
He had kissed Kira in front of me again and they had left without a single word.
It was good as I didn't want him here.
I looked down at myself.
The bruises he had given me painted my arms, my thighs and the side of my face.
They would fade.
They always did.
I stood and walked to the closet to pull out a dark hooded cloak.
I slipped into the attire.
It fell way past my knees and easily hid everything that needed to be hidden.
I didn't care how I looked.
I didn't care if I was still bleeding.
Tonight, I would speak to the King.
And I prayed that he would listen.
I braced myself, gathering my courage before I took the bold step outside.
The cold wind blew against my skin the moment I did that.
It was late though.
Most of the pack had gone to sleep.
But a few guards were still roaming near the area of the main gates.
I kept my head low.
I walked fast, sticking to the shadows until I had reached the guest wing.
I needed to see the Lycan King.
But he wasn't in his room.
A servant bowed quickly when I asked.
I see her eyes flicking to the bruises on my cheeks before she looked away.
"He just left for the pack hall a moment ago," she said to me.
I thanked her.
Then I turned, lifting my cloak to run.
My heart slammed heavily against my rib cage with every step I took.
My legs burned as I sprinted.
The hall wasn't far.
But the path felt endless in the dark.
I reached it just as the tall doors opened.
And when I stepped inside I saw him.
The Alpha Lycan King.
I froze.
He was taller than I had remembered with broader more sculptured shoulders.
He was dressed in black ceremonial robes that was simple and yet elegant.
His dark hair was tied loosely at his nape.
But it wasn't any of this that made me freeze.
It was his eyes that stopped me.
It was wharp and cold, the kind that had the ability to cut through lies.
And still—I gasped.
He was terrifying yet beautiful.
My legs gave out instantly.
I fell to my knees at his feet.
"Your Majesty," I breathed from fear in a shaky voice. "Please. I need— I mean—if you would just listen—"
I looked up to see that he was staring down at me as if I was someone strange.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And what exactly do you want from me?"
His deep baritone rippled through me.
All the hairs on my skin rose as the soothing sound washed over me again and again.
"I'm…"
I swallowed hard.
"I am— My name is—"
But then, of course, he showed up.
"And what are you doing here, you pathetic foolish slave?" he barked.
I flinched in shock as Jake's harsh voice echoed throughout the pack hall.
The Lycan King's eyes narrowed at me.
"Who is she?" he demanded as both of us turned at the same time to look at Jake.
The clicking sound from Jake's boots infuriated me as he came closer.
"Your Majesty," he bowed to him. "This hag is the daughter of your worst enemy."
The Lycan King's gaze instantly hardened.
Something inside of me nearly shattered as I watched realization frame his eyes.
His expression went cold.
"I— I—" I began as memories of our ill fated past swiftly bombarded my head.
He turned away from me.
"I see," he said flatly. "Then why is your slave let loose in the halls?"
His words cut deep.
I expected them.
But it hurt me still.
I bowed my head as low as I could and forced the lump in my throat down.
"Please," I whispered. "I only wish to speak to your Majesty," I begged.
There was silence.
I took the silence as permission to continued to speak.
"It is important your majesty. And I really wouldn't be here if it wasn't."
Jake growled angrily behind me.
"Enough of this nonsense!' he spat at me.
But, I didn't lift my head to look at him.
"Guards! Get her out of here!" he ordered as they came rushing forward.
My head snapped up and I gasped as two of the guards roughly grabbed my arms.
"No!" I shouted, kicking. "Let go! I have something to say to the—"
But no one listened to me.
The guards treated me like the slave that he said and dragged me across the floor.
My knees scraped against the stone.
I braced myself, gathering my courage as I screamed in a loud and raw voice.
"I, Hazel, reject you, Jake as my mate!"
Everything stopped.
The guards instantly froze.
Everyone who stood in the room stilled.
The room around me went still.
Gasps echoed around me.
"As if you deserve such privilege!" Jake screamed at me with angry eyes.
I spat at him defiantly.
"I, Jake, reject you, Hazel as my mate," he yelled straight into my face.
Satisfaction bubbled inside of me.
My plan had worked.
I had gotten Jake to denounce the mate bond publicly through provocation.
But, there was something I didn't expect.
Pain flared inside of me.
I didn't expect the mate bond to suddenly snap like a rope that was pulled too tight.
I felt it tear inside me.
The deep, sharp pain bloomed in my chest and spread past my ribs.
I choked out a disgruntled sob as the pangs of anguish tormented me.
The guards let go of me.
I cried out as my body hit the ground.
But suddenly, it was gone.
It seemed as if the pain and the suffering hadn't been there in the first instant.
And then there was heat.
Fire and sensations I didn't know instantly began to spread under my skin.
My wolf violently snarled inside me as she fought, clawing to the surface.
I couldn't breathe.
I could not move.
A rich redolence filled the air.
The scent was one of earth and smoke.
It was something primal and warm.
It wrapped around me like comforting hands that I couldn't see.
The Lycan King slowly turned to me.
And when I looked up into those dark and piercing eyes again, I instantly knew.
That burning sensation gripped me harder the longer his eyes dwelt on me.
My heart stuttered.
His lips parted, just slightly.
Then I heard it inside of me.
My wolf chose then to speak.
And it was only one word.
"Mate."