Captured By A Ruthless Vampire King

Unedited.

Embry POV.

On this night of night, the crimson moon floats high in the darkest sky. The warm summer breeze wraps around me like a blanket, snugging me in with deadly anticipation as a warning of what’s to come.

This time last year, my people held a grand bonfire in honor of the blood moon as per usual. In the mind of a wolf, each new moon symbolizes a new beginning. It’s a time to manifest, unwind and prepare. My people believe that each new moon is a constant reminded that things can and eventually shall shift in the moon Goddess children’s favor.

Those types of beliefs has been installed into every werewolf and lycan alike mentality since the date of birth. So, I know for a fact that the Lycan King believes that our union shall be blessed for many blood moons to come but he is deadly mistaken.

This Blood moon shall be his last and for that I’m certain. As I stand on the balcony, I take the time to admire the fireball of a moon as it beams bloody light throughout the pitch-black sky.

“Are you ready,” questions Rollin from behind me? He must have recently made his way back into the room.

Earlier on, he left me in the hands of a royal lycan seamstress whose job was to prepare me to walk down the aisle, but not before the two of us had the chance to become properly acquainted.

Unlike his Alpha, Rollin is actually a pretty decent lycan if you subtract the mood swings he had every time my wolf decided to openly disrespect his king. That’s when I realize that Rollin is the perfect soldier. He’s loyal. Plus, obedient, reliable, disciplined, and according to the rumors he’s known for his fearlessness on the battlefield.

My people have always spoken highly of Rollin the Lycan Beta and so far, so good. He seems to live up to his name, but like my father always says people always have a way of showing you what they want you to see.

Time shall always reveal anyone’s truth all you have to do is wait patiently and you’ll see.

“Ready as I will ever be,” I tell him before the two of us make our way out of the room. As soon as the door shuts Rollin loops his left arm around my right one and assists me down the grand staircase. I guess he’s the one tasked with giving the bride away.

’That dress compliments you very well,” he advises me. “If looks would determine the character of a great ruler you’ll make a fine queen,” he compliments me, or so I think.

In my brief time with Rollin, I’ve learned two things. The first one is that he’s a man of few words, he doesn’t really elaborate on anything that he says and the second thing is that he may just be the king of sarcasm. It’s true, I witness his sarcastic glory today as he played tutor to the Lycan Rulers, who were pleading for him to reason with their King earlier on about actually going through with this mating.

From what I overheard, the Lycans know that the end game of their king and I ceremony shall result in nothing but blood. The Lycans royals feel as if their Kingdom needs to rebuild after losing their last king before declaring war with the Ruthless king. My King.

However, the Lycan Beta and The New Lycan King completely disagree. According to Rollin, war has been officially declared the very moment Aunt Katherine’s blood was spilled.

Oh, my goddess! Aunt Katherine is gone.

My heart aches whenever I think about her tragic death. I just can’t believe it.

Rollin also advised that the lycan King and I union shall actually provide order within the werewolf community regardless of my so-called treachery because at the end of the day I’m still a Wilde and my family’s last name alone shall forever and always hold weight in the land of the were.

And in honesty, his defense held some truth.

The war has already begun and my people will forever and always respect the Wilde wolf name regardless, especially when you consider the fact that the majority of werewolves race would rather see that I’m mated with the Lycan King. So, I guess my people’s observation about the Lycan Beta may also hold some truth.

Rollin truly does have a way of making the highest educator scholar seem foolish.

“Watch your step,” Rollin’s voice reels me back in as we finally reach the end of the staircase.

“Thank you,” I can’t help but say. In response, he just nods his head. Then he tightens his hold around my arm most likely to prevent me from making a run for it, but his extra sense of precaution is pointless. I’m not going anywhere.

Well, at least not until my mate makes his grand appearance. Speaking of which, I can feel his energy flowing within my own blood. He’s close.

The soft tune from the violin invades my ears as the violinist gently strokes the instrument with her bow. From the sound of things, the ceremony is in full swing.

Two guards are standing by the door as we make our way in. As on queue, the violinist switches her beautifully haunting tune and shifts to the traditional Lycan union song.

Not even a second later, all eyes are placed on the lycan beta and I. The mood is sober.

It is more than evident that none of the lycan presents approve of this union. Their judgemental stares are filled with how poorly they view me. It is also more than evident that the majority of lycans in this room think that I’m weak.

“Who cares what they think, you are a queen,” my wolf encourages me and she’s right.

With that thought, I lift my head and take them all in, dead set on not displaying a single ounce of fear. No one inside of this room scares me.

So far, I only recognize a few faces, which are mostly some of the lycan royals who made brief appearances back in the pack lands. However, no one present is a relative of their newly anointed lycan king from what I know of.

The Lycan Beta informed me that we aren’t in the Lycan Palace like I once believed. We are actually at one of Ethel’s private properties, which would explain the absence of his mother and infamous sister Princess Eva. My wolf believes that the majority of the lycan royal family are still in mourning and have no clue about the Lycan King’s plans to continue his claim on me.

That would also explain why he wanted to rush this ceremony. Call it a hunch, but something is telling me that neither his mother nor sister approve of this union. That shipped sailed away the very moment I sided with the vampires and for that I’m certain.

My eyes roam around the ballroom, briefly taking in the interior. It’s a beautiful room, classic but yet sleek contemporary art with floor-length windows that allow the bleeding moon to drip its hue inside of the room.

Rows upon rows of pure gold delicately crafted benches are set up before the altar. A few lycan servants, who were most likely circulating the room and serving drinks are now standing at the end of each bench.

The decor is deceptively simple, but yet overly enchanting. The flawless porcelain and gold tile sparkle underneath my expensive glass diamond embezzled heels.

In addition, to this enchantress of a room. There’s a circular stained with gold and royal blue glass domes over top of our heads, which also allow the bloody moon to spill her soft glow down onto our skin. Surrounded by, the priceless art decorated with fresco painting, mosaic tiles, and other glory murals. Which appears to be, crafted with ancient lycan tales and I must admit that the scenery is gloriously gorgeous.

In the center of it all sits a massive pile of gold bricks that acts as a holder for the logs shall be set on fire as a tradition for any lycan or werewolf union.

Blood, fire, and death are a good omen in the world of my people! Those three elements seal every union.

Next, my gaze stretches among the end of the aisle my heart rate increases before it skips a thunderous best altogether. The Lycan King Ethel is positioned underneath a circular floral wedding arch made with exotic kadupul flowers and it pains me to admit that he looks stunning.

Captivating really, I just can’t stand it.

The very sight of him makes me feel weak.

He really appears to be a God of a man, but in reality, is the devil in flesh and the worst part of it all is that he knows the energy that he projects on us mere mortals.

Judging by, the way he’s flexing his muscles underneath his sleek black tuxedo with a gold cummerbund and a dripped in a regal royal blue sash. That just happens to complement his well-built physique down to a tee. Adding on to, the devilish smirk that graces his beyond-perfect lips.

Oh, Goddess! How could someone be so breathtakingly beautiful on the outside but so cold-hearted cold on the inside? The world will never know and it does help that the intensity of his lustful stare is making me ten times more uncomfortable.

He’s watching me, silently taking me in or more like damn near undressing me with his striking kiss of the sea-green eyes that seem to have a bad habit of getting my nerves going.

You would think that I’m completely bare instead of dressed in this beautiful pure white sleeveless sweetheart chapel train of a wedding gown, which also pains me to admit is drop-dead gorgeous. The wedding gown feels as if it was made for me.

The way the soft and delicate fabric clings to my frame like a second skin.

I mean Goddess, it’s like the Lycans royal seamstress’s life purpose was to design a union gown for me.

It’s that perfect and that thought alone makes me feel ten times sicker.

“Good,” laugh’s my wolf. “How about you pull another one of your classic moves and let it all out in the groom’s face?”

It’s tempting, very tempting!

On that note? I can’t help the smile that stretches out across my painted crimson lips. In all honesty, that’s actually not a bad idea, but instead of taking my wolf’s awesome advice, I take a play straight of out my mate playbook by tilting my chin, square up my shoulders, and holding my head high. Acting as if I’m better than every single soul inside of this room.

No matter, how small and uncomfortable I truly feel.

“You go human,” my wolf chimes in once again.

“As we stand in the valley of death we shall fear no evil. Especially, the likes of him,” she just has to add-in.

The music ends, as I finally reach the alter. The Lycan beta then gives my hand away to the Lycan King who accepts his offer with a small on his face and it all seems so wrong.

How does one give away what’s not his to give, or better yet how does one claim a gift that was never meant for him to claim in the first place.

“All rise,” says an unfamiliar lycan male with curly bright red hair.

I take a second to take him and he returns my stare. I can see a hint of good ole malice in his penetrating gaze.

“As we gather here today,” says the unknown Lycan with red hair.

I zone out after that! My thoughts are suddenly consumed with my hauntingly handsome mate’s face. Where is he? My anxiety is suddenly beginning to kick in.

“Don’t worry, he’s coming,” advises, my wolf.

Out of nowhere, the entire room begins to spin, and a heaviness suddenly floats within the room. It snaps and sizzles with an unsealed electric current. My heart skips a beat. Cyrus. He’s here.

My mate is finally here. That thought alone seems to send my mind in some sort of frenzy.

A high pitch scream from the front of the aisle gains everybody’s attention in the room. Immediately, my head snaps in the direction and my heart drops. The two lycan guards who were once guarding the door as the lycan beta escorted me inside the room bodies now lay at the entrance.

Headless.

There are more horrendous screams following the first unidentified plead. Following with more yelling and cries for help from the other present attendees. Coming to my senses, I notice that lycan royal guards are mysterious dropping like flys all around the room. The guest and servants are attempting to flee.

There is chaos all around me.

King Ethel releases a monstrous row as the remainder of the lycan guards form a protective circle around the two of us. The lycan beta seems unaffected as he makes his way to stand directly in front of his king. The red-haired lycan who was just reciting the union values also places himself as a front-line defense for their king.

The sweet and marvelous smell of mulberry spice reaches my nose. My nostrils wildly flare and my heart rate increases ten folds over. I look up and he’s there standing in the center of the room.

My wolf howls withing.

We’ve forgotten how strong and tall he is. We’ve forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful he actually is. It feels like a lifetime has passed since I last saw him.

It’s been so long. I take a second to drench in his gorgeous features. He looks so different but yet the same. I mean, he looks ten times more deadly than before, more threatening, colder, and still so hot. Oh, my goddess! He’s so, so beautiful.

All of the other beautiful faces inside of this room fail in comparison as I take him in. Still to this day, I’ve never seen someone as enchanting as my mate.

A thousand and one chills travel throughout my entire body just from being so close to him. It’s taking everything out of me to stand in place.

At the moment, my entire life force is craving to once again be touched by him and it’s more than obvious that he feels the same way. Ablaze of firey possession momentarily spread across his facial expression before it’s distinguished and replaced with a cold and calculating facial expression.

Although, his bloody eyes firmly remains locked on me. Call me crazy, but I can literally see his blood boiling underneath his flawless skin.

It jolts throughout the entire room. There is no denying that there is hell to pay and the devil himself has arrived to collect the debt and his demons have tagged along to ensure that the price is paid.

The barbaric vampire king and the guard who guards the golden hair chosen Claire are standing right beside him. All three of them are covered in lycan blood from head to toe.

They look deadly.

Amongst all is the confusion, a vast amount of vampire soldiers must have entered the room.

The remainder of the lycan guard is highly outnumbered. If they try to fight it’s no way that none of them will make it outside alive. It’s official.

My mate has won this battle before it has even begun.

“How dare you invade my territory?” the Lycan king viciously roars. “I’ll have your head for this,”

His threat is meaningless.

In response, my mate’s lips curve into a hauntingly dauntless smirk. The energy surrounding him is unmistakably terrifying. The blood of his enemies is running like a bloody river from his lips and drips onto the porcelain and golden tile from his chin. All in the while, he never takes his crimson eyes off me.

I’ve got his undivided attention and for a long drawn out moment he stands in silence into he finally parts his lips to say, “Come and take your place beside your rightful king right now, Embry,”

Oh, my goddess! I melt. I am a puddle, a small pool of liquid.

How could one sound so calm but yet so goddess damn demanding? In response to my mate’s statement, the Lycan king decides to slide his arms around me possessively, holding me in place. Once, again staking a claim on a possession that was never his to claim.

The barbaric king Luscious, Claire’s personal guard, and my mate all release a heart-dropping snarl as a response to the Lycan king’s foolish actions.

“You’re dead,” barks my mate, before storming over in our direction.

“He’s been a living corpse,” adds in, king Luscious, right behind him.

Without being told, the red-haired lycan charges towards my mate, and the battle begins. The remainder of the Lycan guard rushes towards the vampire soldiers in hopes of protecting their king. I feel the lycan beta body grows rigid beside me.

The entire time my eyes remain latched onto my mate. I’m stuck. My eyes follow his every move.

The redhead lycan issues out a deadly assault, claws swinging. Although he manages to evade his attacker with ease. He just simply, steps to the right, dodging every single assault before sending out a deadly blow of his own.

In a heartbeat, my mate’s monstrous claws are buried deep in the crock of his attacker’s neck, and the next thing that happens spokes me.

With my own eyes, I see a thick cloud of smoke consume my mate entirely as he stares in the eyes of his attacker and command, “Rip your fucking heart out,” and the redhead Lycan obeys with no argument.

He slams his hands inside of his very chest and rips his freaking heart out but that’s not the end of it. No, it’s just the beginning.

Seconds later, the thick cloud of smoke creates some sort of ripple effect that converts into a big boom, which causes the remainder of the lycan soldiers to follow suit.

Yes! It’s true. They rip their freaking hearts out.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice a few lycans covering their ears, The Lycan King and Beta included. In the process, I take the opportunity to break free from King Ethel’s hold towards my mate.

Second’s later, a round of shots being fired above the thunderous chaos graces my ears. There are bullets flying everywhere, Lycans’lifeless bodies are dropping to the floor.

“Embry, run!” growls my wolf. Oh, my Goddess! I almost trip over my own two feet.

“Ditch the heels,” growls my wolf. She’s right! I kick off the bloody shoes and when I say bloody. I mean bloody. The pungent iron stench of blood fills the air. Death clings to my body like a second skin and my pure white dress has been tainted with crimson.

A big and powerful body force knocks me to the floor from behind. A piece of glass cuts through my skin. There are lifeless bodies and shattered glass all around me.

“Let me go! Let me go,” my wolf growls while utilizing her strength in the attempt of getting our attacker up from off us.

“No, can do,” says an extremely dark and devious. This person is dangerous but for some strange reason, my wolf suddenly feels safe in his hands. My nostrils flare widely as I take in the scent. Vetiver with a hint of Vanilla, oh my Goddess! He smells good.

“My apologies, your highness! However, I’m under strict orders to remove you from out of the room,” says the man as he picks me up from off the floor. It’s Claire’s vampire guard, the commander! No wonder why he sounds so dark and devious. According to Gutter, he’s dangerous. Extremely.

The commander picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, like a rag doll. That’s when I see my mate closing in on the Lycan King. On the other end of the room, the lycan beta is engaged in a deadly battle against the barbaric vampire king.

“I’m going to end you tonight, leech,” I hear the lycan king say over of all the madness. “And once I’m done, I’m going to fuck the shit out of Embry!”

That’s all it takes for my mate to officially tick. He doesn’t waste a second storming in the direction of King Ethel. This is it. Now, typically I’m a lover and not a fighter but that filth of a lycan ruler deserves the worst of the worst. He threatening my sister and my nephew. He attempted to mate with me forcefully. He’s a vile man and I have to see him pay in blood.

I just have to see him fall. He just has to fall. No scrape tat, I must partake in this battle.

He’s a bigger threat to me than anyone here. He is my kill.

“Put me down, put me down right now,” I protest, pounding on the commander’s back. ’Let me go,”

“Fuck, no! You already caused too much trouble, fucking dog ” I hear him hiss, officially pissing me and my wolf off.

“Oh, I got your dog,” she yaps completing taking over, and then she forcefully throws our head into his body. The sound of his roar fills the air as she sinks our teeth and blazer like canines deep into his shoulder, breaking skin! The metallic saline taste of his blood overloads our tastebuds. The commander sway left thigh, staggering in a desperate attempt to peel us off from him, but my wolf just bites a little harder and I don’t object that’s exactly what he gets for calling us a dog.

I’m tired of playing nice. I’m a queen in my own right and people will learn me, or so by Goddess, I shall raise hell.

Out of nowhere, the commander manages to yank me off him and sends me flying across the room. Thankfully, my wolf shifts just in time and we land on our four paws gracefully directly in front of our mate, who’s seconds away from ending the lycan life into his bloody eyes land on me.

He freezes, “Leave now,” his monster commands. His demand leaves no room for argument.

King Ethel takes my mate’s moment of distraction as an advantage charging in his direction. By this point, he’s already in full lycan, a big black beast of a wolf. Bigger than I’ve ever seen. King Ethel lunges onto my mate’s back and sends his blade-like canines into the crock of his neck, drawing blood. Without thinking, my wolf lunges onto the back of the lycan king, downright refusing to just sit here and watch anyone touch what belongs to us.

Caught off guard, king Ethel Lycan begins to shake violently and due to us refusing to let him go he places his focus onto me and my wolf entirely. In the next second, his scissor sharp claws dig deeper than deep into our fur and cutting-edge canines are now buried deep into our throat.

My wolf releases an ear-splitting howl. The pain is binding. I can feel my cartage crunch in between his jaw. My entire burns as I turn back into human form with his form hold. It feels like my head is being ripped off of my neck, detaching. The salty and metallic taste invades my sense of taste as I begin to cough up blood. My wolf presence is no longer with me.

Suddenly, the wind is knocked out is my body. I fall to the ground with a loud thud. Luckily for me, my head is still attached to my neck. I think, or maybe it isn’t. To be honest, I’m unsure but I’m completely aware of my breath being caught in my throat. So, my head is still intact.

Right? A throbbing sensation runs throughout my brain. It’s pounding. Yes, my head is most certainly stare there. Although, I can barely breathe, barely see. My eyes are heavy and my vision is blurry, darkness is seconds away from claiming me.

“Fuck,” I hear a hostile hiss before a too smooth-to-touch sensation rubs against the side of my cheek. The scent of rosewood and expensive cologne overwhelm my sense of smell. “We need to get her out of here and fast. She’s lost way too much blood,” I hear the same voice hiss.

My bare skin comes in contact with a strong and solid figure. I can feel myself being lifted up into someone’s arms as my head falls onto a rock, or more like someone’s shoulder that is rock hard. He’s built and I know that this person isn’t my mate but at the same time I know that I’m safe with him.

Through the haze, I can see the blurry figure talking to me but I can no longer hear him. I can also see two figures in the distance dancing the dance of crimson. The color red is like a radius beaming around them. My eyes slam shut. My head is ringing.

It’s cold all of a sudden, very cold. A chill is suddenly oozing into my pores. That’s when I realize I’m shaking, no I’m shivering. I can taste blood on my tongue. It feels as if it’s stuck in my throat.

“Cyrus,” I hear someone roar or maybe I’m imaging it but I do feel a vibration sensation interact with my chest.

“Sunshine, stay with me,” his voice is clear. A rush of wind blows through me. Then comes an icy It’s him. My mate has me. I’m frozen inside from his touch. He’s holding me now, I’m home and most importantly safe with his arms. And this is exactly where I belong.

I can hear other’s talking loudly around me but I’m way too tired to open my eyes up and see who’s talking about what. So, very tired. I’m slowly but surely losing all of my energy. I’m slipping, losing consciousness.

“Embry,” he calls my name and saves me from the dark. Not even a second after, I feel his wrist being placed over the top of my lips. His familiar, mouthwatering, masculine scent smells so got damn good to me. “Bite me,” his command sinks deep within my bones.

I have no choice but to follow. I’m not in any state to disobey his command. So, I bite, sinking my sharp canines deep into his flesh, breaking the skin.

There goes that delicious taste of mulberry rushing to the back of my throat, appeasing my soul and setting my core on fire. It’s an inferno of a blaze that’s currently traveling within my body.

He’s bringing me back to life. It’s the taste of him. Suddenly, I can feel the presence of my wolf as we devour his sweet essence, desperately gulping sip after sip.

“Good, girl,” I hear him mumble as he slowly moves his wrist away from my lips. My eyes open just a little. Although, I can see his golden halos beaming heaven down onto me clearly. “Everything is going to be alright,” he promises. His voice sounds broken.

His golden orbs seem to be glossy.

All I can focus on is his electrifying fingers sparking electric current into my soul as he runs them down the side of my face. “Stay with me,” he demands. That’s when I feel his firm lips being planted down onto my forehead.

“Dead or alive?” I hear someone question, sounding way past the point of livid.

I can feel my mate reach for something before securing his hold onto me. He pulls me closer towards his chest. “Dead,” he states calmly while uplifting my chin with his free hand. Instantly, I see what he wants me to see.

The barely breathing lycan king. He’s lying directly in front of us, desperately gasping for air.

“Til death do you part,” my mate’s words strikes like thunder through my ear.

Bang! Bang! My mate was the one to pull the trigger.

The life leaving the lycan king eyes is the last thing that sticks to my memory before I surrender to the darkness entirely.

Two shots! To the head.

The Lycan King Ethel is officially dead.