The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin
84. Her Name

ROYCE.

Twenty minutes later, I'm waiting on the bridge where I had asked Quade to meet me. I've pulledmy hood up. Although I chose a location that is far from the pack, I still need to be careful.

The occasional car driving past or the sound of sirens in the distance fills the air, but there's a clearlack of life around.

I glance at the sky, it's going to rain again, the clouds mask the moon.

It's a full moon tonight... I love it when it's a full moon, shame it's hidden behind the clouds.

The ground is already wet from the sudden downpour that had occured on my way here. TypicalBritish weather.

The sound of footsteps makes me look up and I know from his smell it's the Beta.

It is him. His hair is almost fully grey, his brown eyes full of concern as he approaches, his handstucked into the pockets of his chesterfield coat.

“Good evening Alpha Royce, is everything alright? I won't deny I have been worried when youwanted to meet here.” Quade says.

"Good evening Beta.” I respond, getting the formalities out of the way. “Everything is alright. I justwanted to talk to you away from the pack to make sure we aren't overheard. You have nothing toworry about when it comes to me. I won't keep you long and we'll cut to the chase.” I reply, smilingfaintly.

He nods, “I'd appreciate that.” He says.

I stand straight from where I was leaning over the bridge, to now face the older man.

“It's regarding something Father told you to do years ago, something that your conscience refusedto let you, and I assure you, I'm grateful that you did not obey.” I say quietly.

His heart skips a beat and there's a twitch in his jaw, but aside from that, he remains pretty muchimpassive.

“I don't think I'm following Royce.” He says seriously.

I raise an eyebrow. “Then allow me to lay it out for you. I'm talking about my sister, Quade, the verysister that mom somehow thinks passed away and the very same sister that you left at anorphanage. Does that ring a bell perhaps?” I reply, my voice sharp.

His heart thuds and we both know he can no longer deny or pretend to play dumb. He knowsexactly what I'm talking about.

His eyes snap to mine but I'm dead serious. I'm not here to play. This topic is not easy for me either,knowing that while we were raised with money and luxury aside from the severe training anyway,she was thrown in an orphanage somewhere.

"How do you know that?" He asks, looking around. This time there's fear in his eyes.

“That's not important, and you did the right thing. I know you fear Father, but I assure you, I willmake sure that no harm comes to you. I need to know where she is, a name, or the name of theorphanage. I need to know everything you can tell me.”

"Royce... Please, I know you want to replace her or locate her, but she’s no longer there. She's... joinedanother pack, apparently despite it being a human orphanage where I left her. It has ties to somealpha who has taken her, but I have been unable to learn anything further.” He says, soundingdesperate.

"Please let it go. I'm certain she’s happy wherever she is. If your father learns of her, he may want tosilence her. You don't know him, Royce.” There's an urgency in his voice.

“I know exactly who my father is, Quade, but who knows... I wonder what kind of life she had. I stillwant the name of the orphanage and the name you gave her when you left her.” I say, my eyestrained on him. This time I let some of my aura out, knowing he can't deny a direct Alpha command.I may not be his Alpha but I'm still powerful, and my command will work... instantly, he lowers hishead in submission but the words that leave him hit me hard.

“Winona Walters... that's the name I gave her. As for the orphanage...”

I'm no longer able to listen, my heart thudding as that name rings in my mind. Everything elsedrowned out.

"Hi, Winona... Damn girl you look fine... Luna Winona, nice to meet you... Nice to meet you too,Alpha Royce..."

The memories from when Skyla was hospitalised replay in my mind, getting louder and louder.She had looked familiar... she was of Solaris blood... the sense of familiarity when I had touched herhand... the familiarity I had sensed when I had seen her...

I place a fist to my mouth as I try to process it. Winona... Marcel Rossi's second chance mate...

Oh, bloody hell...

I've already met my sister and failed to recognise her...

"Winona... I know where she is.” I say, looking up at Quade, who stops talking.

His eyes widen in shock before he pales. “Y-you do?”

"She's mated to-" I stop when I suddenly sense a powerful surge of darkness, mixed with a faintfamiliar presence, one that almost drowned into the other one...

It fades, and I realise it's somehow masked, but it's here.

I turn sharply, scanning the area around us.

Both auras that now feel as if they are one, are familiar. The darkness reminds me of the sameenergy that the serpent that I had killed held and I instantly motion Quade to be on alert.

“What is it?” He asks sharply, removing his hands from his pocket, readying himself.

Before I can reply, I hear the sound of a gun being cocked.

“Duck!” I shout, raising a shield as the first round goes off, and a bullet does, in fact, slam into mybarrier.

What on earth...

“What are you doing?!” I shout, unable to process what exactly is going on.

Suddenly, his presence disappears, but I remain on edge. Whatever is going on isn't right.

I spin around, sensing him behind me. My heart thumps as I stare at nothing, and then, before myvery eyes, I see him begin to materialise...

Just like... the serpent.

“You're not the only one who's special.” He hisses, sounding more snake-like than ever. His pupilsaren't the same either, now holding the serpentine-like slit of a reptile...

“What is going on!?” Quade asks sharply, despite his calmness I know he's confused

"What are you doing?” I ask the man before me, not letting any of my emotions show.

He simply smiles, a smile full of pure hatred and contempt. This close, I can feel the darkness and itis the very same as the one that surrounded the serpent I killed. It now envelops him and my eyesflash as I ready myself.

The light rain that had begun to fall now begins hammering down faster, but it's not my doing. Butwhen the first flash of lightning fills the sky, it definitely belongs to me.

“Not this time.” He chuckles, as smoke suddenly fills the area, blinding me. I cough slightly, backingup.

Time seems to slow as I summon the wind to blast the smoke away, but in that split second, I hearthe gun go off, and this time it hits something.

“No!” I shout, as the smell of blood fills the air and a thud tells me someone has fallen. “Quade!”

I follow my nose, my heart thundering as I realise his heart has stopped beating already just as Istumble over the fallen Beta's body.

“Bastard!” I snarl, my anger raging within me.

How could he kill him?

The smoke clears and I drop to the ground beside Quade’s lifeless body that lies on the floor, hismouth still open in shock, blood pouring from his chest.

I can see the bullet lodged in his chest, a bullet that killed him instantly.

What the hell is this?

He laughs manically. “These bullets are an impressive thing, don't you agree? You know there's onlya few left out there... a certain man who goes by Schurke Wolf made them... Ah, it's just a shamethat he discontinued them... one shot and you're dead. Shifter or not.”

"You're fucking sick! How could you kill someone who trained you as a child!” I snarl, standing up.What will I tell his family? I turn to face the bastard, only for him to disappear again.

How is he doing that?

Something is seriously wrong.

I turn, lightning crackling in my hands when I hear him laugh.

“The thing is... I now have the upper hand... if you can’t see me... you can't hurt me.” The last wordhe speaks is right close to my ear, and I spin around, sending a blast of lightning behind me, buthe's gone again.

“Fight me like a man, not like a coward!” I snarl, trying to pick on a scent or anything.

“I'm no man.” He replies, and I sense him behind me again.

I spin around as lightning flashes in the sky and right down, but I'm too late. I hear the gun go off,but it's not one bullet he shoots, instead, he keeps shooting until the cartridge is empty.

Each one pierces my chest... white-hot pain erupts through me and there's a shrill ringing in myhead as I fall to my knees.

I can't breathe... I can't...

I fall sideways onto the wet ground.

“That's it... bow down to me... you belong at my feet. I am better than you in every fucking way!" Hehisses, grabbing me by my hair roughly and yanking me up, but I can't feel it, the pain ij my chest istenfold.

He forces me to look up at him. A man I do not recognise...

There's only hatred and satisfaction in his eyes. His happiness at my state has him incrediblyecstatic.

This time... he really has got the upper hand...

I try to speak but I can't...

“I'm shocked you're not dead yet, but give it a few more seconds.” He chuckles as he throws me tothe ground.

He kicks me in the face, making my head snap back and i hear something break as another wave ofpain adds to what i'm feeling already.

But no matter how badly I try, I can't fight him, my body is no longer cooperating...

He backs away, a sadistic smile on his face as he watches me lying there helpless... powerless...Sky...

I hope she can't feel my pain... I'm not sure if she can... do we both need to have marked oneanother?

I'm... I'm not sure...

My vision becomes blurry as my heart struggles to continue to beat... whatever those bullets are...They're... they're stopping me from healing...

You must live...

I tell myself, but it's futile.

I try to summon lightning, trying to jolt my heart that is coming to a stop, back into action... but...

I can't.

My body isn't working.

I stare at the ground, my blond hair falling in front of my eyes, but even with my view half covered,it doesn't hide the large pool of blood that is spreading around me, even the pouring rain is unableto wash it away...

Is this it?

So much for doing what I need to...

Take care, Love... I'm sorry I couldn't fulfil all those promises I made...

My eyes are forced shut as I feel my life force beginning to ebb away...

END OF PART 1

A/N: Now let's keep social media spoiler free so everyone can come read and suffer this cliffhangerwith all who have just read it! Muhahaha!

Book 2 will continue right here 3)