Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Prey Of Lycan Queen Chapter 2

~Regan~

The witches continue their chant, their voices gaining momentum and power. The storm above us isgrowing more violent with each passing moment.

As my brothers join me, their teeth sinking into Zirah's flesh, we share the same grim realization thatour attempts to save her are only fastening her demise. The pain in her eyes is unbearable, as shegasps, and I can feel my heart shattering into pieces as I watch her suffer.

The witches’ chants continue, their voices blending together to create a symphony of power anddefiance that reverberates through the air. The storm above us is fierce. Lightning cracks throughthe sky like a whip, illuminating the scene below in stark, terrifying detail.

My brothers and I fight with everything we have to free Zirah from her chains but our attemptsdon't work and our strength is waning. Our bodies are succumbing to the poison coursing throughour veins and the pain of burning is becoming all-consuming. We're running out of time, and mydesperation grows more frantic with each passing second.

The witches’ chants reach a crescendo, their voices ringing with the finality of a death I'm willing toendure at her side. I can feel the power in the air, the storm above us raging with a ferocity thatmirrors my anguish when Zirah looks at me, tears in her eyes. As her eyes meet mine one last time,a look of determination and defiance shining through the pain, I realize who I am looking at... I amstaring into the eyes of Litha.

She screams. It's like a shock wave when she blasts us back with insurmountable power.

“No!” I choke as the air leaves my lungs and I replace myself staring up at the stormy sky. Sitting up, Igasp as I watch flames engulf her when a woman steps out of the crowd. Her hands glow likebeacons in the night as she walks toward Zirah, burning in flames. Her graying hair flew freely in thewind like a veil behind her, her eyes burning with a ferocity that matches the flames.

"And from the flames, an Oracle is born. The last female Lycan. Your true queen.” she screams.

As the final words of the chant echo through the night, I feel a sudden surge of energy. The aircrackles with magic and power. The storm above us reaches its peak, the winds howling and the rainpelting down like it has opened up the floodgates to hell. And in that moment, as Zirah's body isconsumed by the flames, I know exactly who I am looking at.

It's with startling clarity that tortures my soul do I realize I am looking at the true Queen of the HighKingdom. I'm looking at Litha's daughter—our mate.

Blue flames encase her, so hot the ground heats, and steam rises off the ground as the flames seemto reach through to the clouds and all hell breaks loose.

Charisse, her grandmother, a woman I haven't seen since the day I helped her escape utters a chantand speaks in a voice that resonates with ancient power.

"A queen of virtues that ring true, but make no mistake, she no longer bows to you.” The witch'schants grow louder when she finishes it, and I watch in horror at what I'm witnessing.

"In the face of sacrifice, the truth of destiny shall reveal itself," Charisse screams to the sky as sheraises her arms, and a smile graces her lips just before a bolt of lightning strikes her down. Darknessconsumes everyone—the only light emanates from the burning blue flames that flicker in thedistance and then are consumed by the rain.

The storm dissipates, and the moon shines with an intensity I've never before witnessed, casting itssilvery glow upon the scene below.

Everyone's eyes are drawn to the pillar, now reduced to flaming rubble and white ash thatresembles snow. I choke; she is gone. We killed her. We killed our only chance, killed our mate. Zekewails, and I see Gnash, Hunter, and Shadow howl in anguish as they lay on their stomachs, and mysoul feels like it's cracking as I hang my head and sob. Time seems to stop around me and thesilence is deafening when murmurs break out, making me lift my head.

From the ashes, Zirah emerges, her naked form illuminated by the runes glowing like beacons in thenight. I gasp at the sight of her. There's an ethereal aura surrounding her as she steps forward.Glowing like the blue flames that I thought killed her and I take her in, my eyes scanning her bodyand the runes that lace her skin.

The Eye Rune sits below her throat, tattooed into her flesh. Then next, the Star Rune on her sternum.Just below it, the Waves Rune; the Air Rune is below that, Fire and Earth next before—the MoonRune which sits just above her navel. The Sun Rune lay just underneath her belly button glowingbrightly, and lastly, on her pubic bone—the Rings Rune, which I can't seem to take my eyes off,knowing its significance. Interlocking rings symbolize connection, unity, and partnership. Wethought she was an unwanted mate, but now I realize we are.

Whispers and gasps fill the air, the gathered crowd is awestruck by the sight of their true queen.

My father's shock is palpable as she stands before us, her dark hair cascading down her back. Herskin untouched by the flames that had engulfed her moments before. She looks like a goddess, herbeauty radiating from within. Her eyes burn with intensity, her face a mask of fury, and I can almostfeel the power emanating from her body. Her posture is regal, as if she has been born and madefrom the very flames that awoke her.

"But the curse... it said the oracle?" my father whispers as he watches the scene unfold.

"You're looking at her," Kelly snarls at him.

"Kill the Oracle.... reveal the seven virtues, and the last female Lycan, you're looking at her.” Kellydirects her fury at my father, who sputters on his hands and knees and I turn my gaze back to ZirahHer steps, however, falter, grief washing over her as she notices her grandmother's lifeless body onthe ground—the coven around her sobs. “Grandma?” she murmurs before her scream of heartbreakresonates around us guttural and loud as she races over and falls to her knees, clutching hergrandmother. The weather seems to respond to her emotions, changing swiftly; as Zirah screamsher anguish. The skies darkened, and the wind howls as if in response to her unbearable grief.Thunderclaps and lightning strikes fill the night sky, and the rain comes down in sheets. The groundshakes with the force of the storm, and the trees sway in the wind. It is as if the heavens aremourning with her; the next second, lightning strikes through her.

The cobbled ground glowed and trembled as if alive, yet her runes glow brighter from the intensity.Her body is suddenly illuminated in a blue-white light, and the runes that decorate her body seemto shimmer and pulse with life. Sparks fly from her as the lightning pierces her, and the air aroundher crackles with electricity. The cobblestone glows in the light of her runes, sizzling under myhands, the thunder and lightning seem in utter harmony with her. It is a sight to behold, one thatfills onlookers with fear.

Silence falls over everyone except the coven, who move in to comfort her. As they do, a gasp isheard in the silence, and everyone freezes. Zirah lifts her head, and the coven steps back when Inotice Shelley across the square, getting up among the fallen rubble and debris.

A growl ripples and echoes around us as Zirah turns her gaze to Shelley. Scrambling to her feet,Shelley rushes over just as Zirah stands and drops to her knees, clutching Zirah's legs, and begs herfor mercy.

"It was Theron; I had no part in it. I loved her." She pleads.

Zirah pats her hair, and Shelley thanks her, tears streaming down her face while I gape at thewoman's audacity. But Zirah's expression turns cold as she lifts Shelley's chin with her fingertips andreplies.

"Loved her so much you killed your own sister?" her hands clamp on the sides of Shelley's head, andshe gasps. Black tendrils snake across Shelley's face like intricate webbing.

Her breath forms clouds of smoke in the air as Shelley's body freezes solid, her face twisting interror. With a resounding crack, the ice breaks apart, shattering and leaving nothing but shards ofthe woman who betrayed her mother.

My father's scream rings loudly through the night while I watch the crowd of people back up in fear.Turning my head, my father crawls forward, clutching the shards of his lover turned to broken ice tomelt on the ground.

Zirah looks down at him with only what I can describe as pity on her face. I feel nothing at herdeath, yet I can see Malachi feels deeply. As deeply as my father, but he turns his gaze away. "You...Litha said it would break the curse,” my father sobs, peering up at her.

"I am your curse, your mirror, a reflection of how you betrayed my mother,” Zirah says coldly. "Howdoes it feel, Sloth? Can you sense it, your imminent death? Is it as cold as the betrayal my motherfelt?" she sneers before lifting her head, her eyes going to Zeke, then Lyon, and finally to me. Heranger, grief, and something else I can't decipher burns in her gaze.

Lyon, Zeke, and I get to our feet. I stagger toward her when, with an air of regal authority, she peersaround at the crowd and speaks. "This is my kingdom now. Bow to your queen, or face the wrath ofmy wolves," she orders, glaring at the guards before glaring at me. Gnash, Hunter, and Shadow joinher, standing at her side. I swallow, trying to figure out what just happened.

All around me, people fall to their knees. Their heads bow in submission to their true ruler. Theweight of her words and the power of her presence leave no room for defiance.

"Zirah.." I murmur, and her eyes snap to mine.

"Bow!" she yells with tangible fury. Zeke falls to his knees with an audible oomph, and so does Lyonwhen she walks toward me. Our wolves follow in her steps, and she stops in front of me, then liftsher chin to meet my gaze. Yet the burning anger in them is a warning. We hurt her, and now she isgoing to make us pay for it.

Clenching my teeth, I fall to my knees before her, my gaze not leaving hers. She tilts her head to theside, and Gnash growls at me, so I bow my head.

"Now your fate lies in my hands, and what a damned place to be," she says before her hip hits myshoulder as she walks toward the path leading back to the kingdom.