[MATURE CONTENT WARNING; 18+ only. Explicit scenes, Abuse, Torture, Harassment, assault, steamy and erotic content, murder and vulgar words. Reader’s Discretion is advised.]
*.*.*
“You are mine Alora,” Ryan confessed, his expression as stoic as ever. His body pressed on mine, caging me in as his strong hands tightly gripped mine. “You belong to me and no one will ever take you away. I own you.”

I chuckled dryly. The sound of my bitter  laughter echoed through the empty room. It was raw, brittle and filled with hate. “You pushed me away, Alpha Ryan. You rejected and abused me. You made me a laughing stock and accused my father wrongly and now, you want me back?”

“It was a mistake.” He cut me off, eyes dancing in what seems to be remorse but I am unmoved. “Come back to me Alora. I promise that I will treat you right this time. I promise to do right by you.”

I pulled my hands away from his grip, a smirk playing on my lips, “You lost the chance to claim me three years ago, Alpha Ryan. Now, I am your Luna Queen and you will bow your head at my feet!” I deadpanned. 

******

Alora Harrington, the Beta’s only daughter is a sweet, kind and loving girl who was cherished by all who knew her until tragedy struck. Weeks before her eighteenth birthday, Alora's parents are murdered in cold blood by her betrothed, Alpha Ryan who claims that her father had committed treason against his family. 

He accuses her wrongly, rejects her, tortures her, strips her of her status and makes her a slave in his pack as punishment for her father's mistakes.

On the night of her eighteenth birthday, she escapes and bumps into a strange man whom she realizes was her second chance mate. She finds out that he is one of the strongest and most feared Lycan of the seven prominent kingdoms. 

He is considered a tyrant, fiesty, grumpy, stubborn, intelligent and doesn't show emotional feelings or attachment to anyone due to the fact that he was cursed from birth.

Rescued and taken back to his pack, after she is left for dead, Alora plots her revenge against the man that killed her parents and vows to make his life miserable as he had made hers. She enlists the Lycan’s help but he agrees on two conditions; 

	1. She would not get close to him during a full moon no matter what. 

	2.	She will not fall in love with him.

In the midst of the chaos, she learns about her mate's dilemma and tries to help him but what if he doesn't share the same affection and sentiments as she does? Would his grumpy self eventually learn to open up to her? What happens when she finds out his grave secret? Would their relationship be affected by her psychotic ex who wants her back? And what happens when her light finally meets the Lycan King’s darkness? 

"Are you ready to leave, My Lord?" Declan asked when he walked into my bed chambers unannounced to see me getting dressed. 


The pre-marriage ritual between me and my soon-to-be new bride has been scheduled for today and I am getting ready in preparation for the first ritual of meeting each other. 


Even though I knew that this was a necessity, I still couldn't wait to get it over and done with. I know that the marriage rituals will take a toll on my mental health and the sooner this facade of an event ends, the better for me. 


Now I wished that Natalia was still alive. It would've been bearable to keep up the pretense without anyone poking their nose in my business. The marriage rituals with her didn't even stress me as much as this one is about to. 


"I am almost done." I answered with a sigh, feeling uninterested. Declan must've taken a note in my tone because he didn't go further to ask me any more questions.


Chapter 28 - Pre-Marriage Ritual