The Lycan Prince's Unwanted Mate

~Lyra~ I felt his hands roam over my body—one rough palm cupping my breast, the other tightening around my waist, pulling me closer, deeper, until there was no space left between us. With every kiss, his scent wrapped around me more, a maddening mix of warmth and spice that made my pulse hammer even as my instincts screamed at me to run. "He’s our fated mate, Lyra!" My wolf, Vaxy, howled in the back of my mind, practically vibrating with excitement. But I didn’t feel the joy a werewolf was supposed to feel upon meeting their fated mate. All I felt was panic. Tonight was supposed to be my eighteenth birthday. A night of freedom. Of laughter. Of dancing beneath the full moon. Instead, I lost consciousness the moment I stepped into the club, only to wake up here—trapped in the arms of a stranger, who so happens to be my fated mate. “Mine,” He whispered against my ear, his lips trailing lower, leaving a searing path along my neck. I sucked in a breath, trying to steady myself, but it only made things worse. His scent consumed me, drowning me. Vaxy whimpered in pleasure, desperate to surrender, to yield to instinct to be close to our fated mate. And then he thrust in—deep, fast, nowhere near gentle. A sharp gasp escaped me, my fingers clutching at his shoulders, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. Pain and pleasure quickly blurred together, spinning into something dizzying. … When I woke the next morning, my fated mate was already gone. Instead, it was Rylan—the son of my father’s Beta—who stormed in. “Seriously, Lyra.” He crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes were cold, calculating. Judging. “How could you just let the Lycan prince leave like that?” he scoffed. “I risked a lot to bring you to him, and now you’ve wasted it. He’s gone, and my pocket is still empty.” A chill crawled down my spine. That man from last night, my fated mate, was the Lycan Prince? My voice trembled, “What the hell happened, Rylan, didn't you take me out to celebrate my birthday?” "Celebrate your birthday?" He smirked, “I was planning to sell your virgin night last night. Figured the Alphas would pay well for you and your Alpha blood.” His gaze flicked over me, dark amusement dancing in his eyes. “Didn’t expect the Lycan Prince to be at the club too. Thought maybe he’d have a taste first.” His smirk deepened as he took a slow step closer, his voice dropping like a dagger to my skin. “Honestly? I was hoping after a night of passion with the prince, he’d be willing to give you something, some jewelry or some gold coins. But nothing.” He gave an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. “Guess I’ll just have to sell you to that old Alpha after all. He agreed to give me ten gold coins.” Ten. Gold. Coins. The room spun as his words sank in. He had tried to sell me. Rylan—the son of my father’s Beta. The one who should have protected me. The one I thought was my friend once. “Oh, quit acting so damn pitiful,” he sneered. “You’re no longer the daughter of an Alpha.” He spit and said, “You lost that privilege eight years ago. If it weren’t for my father’s generous heart, you wouldn’t have lasted this long. And with your blind eyes, all you’ve done is cause more trouble for us.” I stiffened, my hands curling into fists at my sides. I had once belonged to one of the most powerful packs in the kingdom—the Evergreen Pack. I was only ten when the rogues came in the dead of night, tearing through my home like wildfire. They slaughtered everyone—my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters. I barely escaped with my life. Gideon, my father’s Beta—Rylan’s father—took me in after the m******e. He raised me. Sheltered me. Or at least, that’s what I thought for the past eight years. And the tragedy hadn’t just taken my family. It had taken my sight, too. Maybe it was shock. Maybe my body had simply shut down, unable to process the nightmare of watching my entire world burn in a single night. Then, on my eighteenth birthday—just last night—I awakened my wolf, Vaxy. For a fleeting moment, I dared to hope that her presence had healed me. Or maybe it was the touch of my fated mate, the Lycan Prince, that had brought a piece of me back. Because now, I could see again. And as I stared into Rylan’s cruel, sneering face, I knew one thing for certain—I had to keep it a secret. Rylan let out an impatient sigh, eyeing me as I remained still on the bed. His scowl deepened, irritation flickering across his face before he suddenly reached out—shoving me off. I hit the floor hard, my hands catching me at the last second. “Get up,” he snapped, towering over me. “We are going home,” His voice dropped, his gaze dark and sharp as he crouched down just enough to meet my face. "You’d better keep your mouth shut about last night and behave for the next few days. If you don’t? I’ll kill you myself, Lyra. Do you hear me?" I forced a hollow smile, meeting his gaze with the same empty eyes I’d worn for the past eight years. "Sure, Rylan." Like hell I was staying. The moment I got my chance, I will be out of here. … A week had passed since I regained my sight, yet I still couldn’t find an opportunity to escape from Rylan. He had become my shadow, following me everywhere I went. And since I had to keep up the act of being blind, my movements were limited to wandering around the house. But today was different. It was the perfect chance to run. Gideon was returning, and Rylan had been sent into town to pick up groceries by his mother, Amelia. As I passed by the hallway, hushed voices caught my attention. I pressed myself against the door, straining to listen. “Mother, you need to keep an eye on Lyra. I’ve already agreed to sell her to that old Alpha before Father returns.” “I know, son. Don’t worry about her. I’ve locked the door. And with her being blind, she won’t be getting out anytime soon,” Amelia replied, her voice laced with certainty. “What time is that Alpha coming to pick her up? Eight o’clock?” “No, Mom, six. Just an hour from now,” Rylan said impatiently. “I still can’t believe that Lycan prince never came looking for her. He could’ve given us far more than that old Alpha.” My breath caught in my throat. I had to escape—today. Or I would be falling into another Alpha's control. … I stumbled as I fled from the house, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My bare feet slapped against the dirt as I bolted into an abandoned parking lot. I didn’t stop. Not even when my foot landed on something sharp, a jolt of pain shooting up my leg. The footsteps were getting closer. My gaze darted around the lot—rusted cars, long forgotten. My heart pounded as I lunged for the nearest trunk, yanking it open with trembling fingers. I curled into myself, biting my lip to keep my breath silent. “Where the hell did that b***h run off to?” Rylan’s voice was sharp, irritated, and too damn close. "I can smell her, but fu.ck, where was she?" A beat of silence, then Rylan’s tone softened—calculated, coaxing. “Lyra, come on now. Don’t be like this. I’ll take you home. I’ll protect you. I swear.” Lies. Like hell I’d fall for it. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay still. Soon, Rylan’s voice grew distant, his shouts fading as he searched elsewhere. Just when I thought I was finally safe. Then—footsteps. But not Rylan’s or Amelia’s. These were different. Heavier. Measured. The footsteps came closer… closer… Then, they stopped. The lid to this trunk was wrenched open. A sharp, woodsy scent filled my nose—smoky cedar and something darker, richer. My fists clenched, my entire body going still. That scent… I knew it. My fated mate, the Lycan Prince himself. His voice, low and cool, slipped through the night air, curling around me like a silken rope. “Well, well… isn’t this my little mate who snuck into my bed that night?”