Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall)

Lycan Queen's Prey Chapter 48

~Regan~

Zeke’s Kingdom, a place of radiant beauty and ceaseless activity, is now an ominous ghost town. The

destruction is widespread but selective; the castle lies in ruins, a show of the ruthless onslaught. Yet,

the homes of the ordinary citizens remain untouched, their lives spared from the savagery. As if it’s a

mockery of the population, showing how easily with it being overcrowded it is to come and go from here

unseen.

I walk over scattered debris and broken bodies, the once vibrant castle now echoing the cries of the

fallen guards. The scent of death hangs heavy in the air, intertwining with the coppery tang of blood

staining the stone floor. It’s a ghastly scene straight out of a nightmare – guards fallen like broken toys,

their lifeblood pooled around them, painting a morbid portrait of defeat.

On the second landing, I find two familiar figures huddled together – Hunter and Shadow. Their

condition is just as horrifying. My heart clenches as I call out, looking for my wolf, “Gnash!” My voice

bounces off the stone walls.

“Are they…?” A trembling voice interrupts my thoughts. I lift my gaze to find the young witch, Leila, and

my Uncle James, standing close by.

“They’re alive but very weak,” I reply, my voice a broken whisper. Biting into my wrist, I force my blood

into the mouths of the near-death wolves. The metallic taste of my own life force fills my senses, my

every nerve screaming at me.

“Should you be doing that?” James questions, his brows furrowed with concern. I ignore him,

continuing to feed my blood to them, praying that the wolves don’t reject it.

The silence grows thick and heavy as I move to Shadow. My actions have consequences – if the

wolves survive, they’ll be tied to my life essence. We’re playing a dangerous game against time; the

countdown has already begun to Zirah’s shift. The risks are high. Too high.

“I have no choice; they die; we have no clue how that will affect Zirah,” I state.

“But if it works, you’ll be tying their wolves to you. They’ll be drawing on your life essence; you only

have two days before Zirah shifts; this may shorten the time frame you have left, Regan,” James points

out the obvious concern etched on his features. “I know,” I glance at him.

I’m fully aware of the looming threat. Time is slipping through my fingers like sand. But without Zirah,

without that bond, I am blind and crippled and dying anyway. The stakes are clear-- I must find Zirah

within a day or perish. The fear gnaws at my insides, but I suppress it. There’s hope if they are bonded

to Zirah and not my brothers. But it’s a slim hope.

“I am not bonded to her. Nonetheless, I can’t find her without them. Just means we have a day to find

them or…” I don’t finish; I don’t need to. However, there is no point in questioning if it’ll work because I

am uncertain if it will. The few times we have shared our blood with each other’s wolves, it’s made

them savage or nearly killed them, but I have to try. It now depends on if the wolves are bonded to

Zirah or my brothers.

Leila’s voice breaks my chain of thought, “Shouldn’t there be three?”

“Yes,” I answer, “Mine isn’t here. He’ll be looking for Zirah.” I rise from my crouched position, my heart

heavy but my resolve steelier than ever.

I climb the next flight of stairs, my steps echoing in the eerily quiet castle. The sight that greets me is

disheartening – a room in chaos, sheets in disarray, one lone sheet remains on the landing. I pick it up,

the familiar scent of Zirah flooding my senses. A shaky breath escapes my lips as I drop the sheet, my

heart pounding in my chest.

Sucking in a shaky breath, I drop the sheet, knowing we are too late. They are half a day ahead of us,

at least. But where is Gnash? He can’t be much better if these two are in this state. Turning around, I

move toward the stairs to see James climbing them. “Come on, they aren’t here,” I tell him. “So, where

to now?” James asks.

“To the vampire kingdom. He’d have to know by now I am not bonded to her,” I tell him.

A wave of vertigo hits me suddenly as I reach the stairs, my vision blurring. I stumble, catching hold of

the banister for support. My throat feels like it’s been scraped raw, a burning sensation tearing through

my lungs. I cough violently, blood staining my hand. I wipe it hastily on my pants, my mind reeling.

“Is that blood?” Leila’s voice is filled with dread. I force a nonchalant shrug, “I’m fine.” It’s a lie. And

from the look on her face, she knows it too, as she strokes the wolf’s fur. “I guess it didn’t work--” her

words change to a shrill shriek when Hunter lunges upright, followed by Shadow. I smirk.

“Good boys,” I praise, crouching down to pat them. Loyal to a fault, the wolves obediently sit, waiting

for my command.

“Now, take me to your master.” The wolves spring into action, bounding down the stairs with renewed

vigor. As I follow them, the vertigo strikes again, sharper this time. My vision swims as I clutch the car

door for support. Shadow and Hunter are already in the car, waiting impatiently for me to join them.

“James, you’re driving,” I tell him, his eyes growing wide with concern. My condition is deteriorating

faster than I’d anticipated.

“No shit, I am not getting in a car with you in this state.” His retort is met with a weak smile on my part.

My gaze flits to the back seat, to my father. He is still hallucinating, muttering incoherently to himself, a

muzzle secured over his face. A precaution against the risk of him turning savage in Leila’s presence.

Leila jumps in the back with my father, and James starts the car. Winding down the window, James

pulls up beside the wolves.

“Keep up,” I tell them, and they growl, darting off. “Follow them,” I tell James, and he does.