Fated to the Werewolf King

She knew Jayce meant well, that he just wanted to protect her. To protect their child, but she was done hiding behind him. She was done being the weak woman that Jasper made her become. Maybe it was just her being extremely stubborn, or perhaps it was the pregnancy hormones going awire. No one, especially his father, was going to stop her from getting married to her soul mate. Lily.

She could vaguely hear Jayce trying to reach out to her as she sped through town. She couldn't answer him. If she did, she would just find herself turning back. She jumped on this impulse without even thinking, her adrenaline motivating her. It won't take him long to catch up, so she had to think fast. Thankfully for her, Penelope left her purse and phone downstairs, so she managed to get ahold of Derek's number. She had to blindside her best friend that she just needed to be away from Jayce, away from them all. To think. Which wasn't entirely a lie, she just needed to think fast. To her surprise, Derek was still in the city, staying at the suite at one of the pricier hotels.

Lily pulled over just a few blocks away from the hotel. It was sheer luck that no cop found her speeding through the streets. She bolted from the car. Jayce would shift, he was faster that way. His senses would be far stronger in that form to.

"Nox." She called out. She felt him stirring in her mind, growling softly.

You're going into a Wolf's den, Lily.

"I know, but I can't stand by and wait." She told him, the hotel in sight. She ran through the front entrance, looking around and made her way over to the front desk.

"I'm looking... for... the penthouse suite.” She said as she tried to catch her breath. A young man stood on the other side of the counter, eyeing her with disinterest.

"It's already booked." He quipped, turning his attention away from her. She opened her mouth until a hand rested on her shoulder. When she glanced back, she recognized Alpha Lukas’ face. He smiled charmingly at her.

"Luna Lily, soon to be Queen Lily Ryder." The Alpha annunciated. The man behind the desk looked at Lily again, realization settling in.

"My deepest apologies, Luna.” He inclined his neck at her. Alpha Lukas waved him off before resting a hand on her back and ushered her toward the elevator.

I don't like this, Lily.

Nox expressed his concerns with a snarl as they stepped into the elevator. Lukas pressed the button for the highest floor and Lily stepped away from him.

"I didn’t know you were also visiting.” Lily mentioned to him, keeping her eyes on him. He kept his distance, his eyes on the numbers as they changed going up.

"I had a meeting scheduled with Alpha Derek, but I am glad that you came along.” He smiled. It looked off. She didn't know much about the Alpha aside from the abusive behavior toward his Luna. She used that information to keep her adrenaline going. He wasn't afraid to harm a woman, no matter who they were

The bell dinged as they arrived and Lukas escorted her off the elevator. Her eyes widened at the overly large suite that looked out over the entire city. Derek was peering out the window. Was he waiting for Jayce to show up?

"Look, I'm going to cut to the chase." She started, but Lukas put up his finger. He walked over to a table that had a bottle of wine and three glasses waiting. He poured into each one and extended one to her. When she didn't take it, he set it back down.

"The men will talk first." He said, looking over to Derek. He finally turned around, putting something away in his jacket. Lily glared at Lukas.

Nox, I'm going to need you.

You have me, my Queen.

Hearing his support was what she needed. She felt stronger, more confident. She needed to settle this before Jayce got here. If she could convince his pack and the other Alphas, she can take these two on.

"Do you really need me to repeat myself?" Derek asked her as he crossed the room. She held her ground, but he was intimidating. He was just an older version of Jayce. If she can face off against the King himself, she can take on this bastard.

"You may have to, I have bad hearing in my left ear.” She said as she rubbed her ear gently. His eyebrow twitched slightly.

"You have no place in our society. No human does." He said to her. He picked up a glass of wine and downed it in one go.

"Is that because your Mate was human?” She asked. He flinched as she said it. It was a random guess, but she was glad that she was right on the mark. "So you're picking a fight against me when you're actually angry at the person that hurt you?" She asked him. He snarled at her, but he didn't seem to disagree.

Lily.

Nox put pressure in her mind, making her squint and furrow her brows together. What was the Wolf up to? She felt Jayce's Mark burn her, sending fire through her veins. If it wasn't for the fact that she was in the same room with two Alphas, especially one of them that tried to kill her, she would have collapsed. She needed to put up a front for now.

Protect the baby.

I'll protect you both.

"The past is the past. We're talking about the future now." Lukas switched the attention to him now. He finished the third glass since she refused it, slamming it down. The glass shattered on impact, scratching his hand up a bit. She watched his hand heal slowly. He wasn't a fast healer like Jayce was, that was good to know. Hopefully she didn't have to resolve to violence if things do go south. "Of course. The future where your King is happily married. In this case, your son." She emphasized to Derek. His eyes hardened on her.

"What makes you think you actually make him happy? A weak human like you." Lukas spit at her. Nox growled deeply, making it vibrate in her chest. He felt so close to her.

"I guess you wouldn't know since you beat your Luna.” She barked back. He snarled at her, already losing his cool. He was easily triggered, especially when it related to Selene. She turned her eyes on Derek, "But you felt it at one point.” She rested her hand over her chest, her heart racing a mile a minute.

"Oh, don't do your stupid Disney bullshit with us.” Lukas snarled, starting to circle her. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes.

"A coward hides behind the bruises he leaves behind.” She retorted, "Derek," she spoke softly, "I don't know what happened back then, but I am not that person. I truly and deeply care about your son.” She said. He casted his eyes away. She needed to reach him somehow. The hair on the back of her neck rose on end and she stepped to the side as Lukas stepped within range.

"May I remind you Lukas that your King can have quite the temper if someone dared lay a hand on me?" She said to him. He faltered for a second, but that's all she needed to give herself space between them. She looked over to Derek who still hasn't said a word.

Nox, this might be my only chance.

Lily, what do you plan on doing?

He whined and whimpered, growing more scared the longer she didn't reply to him. Reaching Lukas was out of the question now, but she knew she can reach Derek, even for just a moment.

I need you to get their Wolves to back down.

She let out a breath before relaxing her shoulders. She took a step closer to Derek. He lifted his lip in a snarl. She watched his face twitch, his fangs protruding past his bottom lip and his nails sharpened to claws. On reflex, she placed her hand over her belly. His eyes flickered to it, halting any further shifting.

"I'm sorry that you were hurt. Heart break sucks ass, but you always come out on top afterward.” She took another step toward him. She could see his Wolf fighting him, his fangs slowly retracting

"I know how important it is for a Wolf to find their Mate, to be able to feel that soul-link,” she took another cautious step toward him. He growled at her, shifting away from her, "but there is never truly an end to finding someone to love. I mean, you and Penelope were practically made for one another.” She told him. His eyebrows dipped a bit as he thought about his wife.

"Derek, don't do it." Lukas warned him. Lily looked back at him, watching him recoil for a second, his Wolf also receeding.

What happened?

Putting the Wolf in his place.

Nox purred triumphantly, relieving her as she turned back toward Derek. He was breathing heavily as his Wolf completely shut down now and he was fighting with it to shift. She used that moment to close the gap between them. This was a dangerous move on her part. His Wolf may have retreated, but he was still a large man that can take her out instantly. She trusted her heart and gut that he won't be reckless with her again.

"Derek, I know you love Penelope. I know at one point you loved your family. I know you're actually proud of Jayce, and I especially know that you actually care about Elias.” She said, reaching out slowly. She touched his arm hesitantly. His nose flared, most likely picking up her scent now that she was so close.

"Sometimes you have to let go of the past to fully enjoy what you have right now.” She told him. He looked at her, and for a long moment he didn't say anything. They just looked at each other for a long time, and she didn't know how to take it. Did she reach him?

Lily!

Nox shouted in her mind, making her sway and stumble to the side just as Lukas slashed the air where she stood. She fell to the ground, looking up at him. His Wolf was showing again. He snarled, flashing his fangs with drool dripping from them. Something seemed off about him though. Like he was some rabid animal instead of the majestic creature that spirited him.

Nox!

His Wolf isn't listening. You need to escape.

What does he mean his Wolf isn't listening? Aren't the Wolves supposed to bend to the King? Lily shifted her brain a bit, she needed to think outside the box. Was Lukas obeying someone else? He snapped his jaws at her, his clothes tearing as he started shifting into his Wolf. Dark brown fur covered his body, his silver eyes enticing and filled with malice. Lily crawled back until she was pressed against a wall. She knew she couldn't outrun a Wolf. If Jayce could make a surprise attack, now would be an excellent time to jump in.

When Lukas lunged at her, his snapping jaws stopped just short of her face. She watched his body get pulled back by a black Wolf holding his tail between his teeth. When Lily went to call out Jayce's name, the silver eyes startled her. It was Derek.

Derek pulled on Lukas" tail, turning his body and yanked on him hard. Lukas lifted off the ground a bit as the pull threw him back and away from Lily. She slid up the wall, watching as the black Wolf stood before her protectively. She did reach him!

She eyed the elevator as Lukas lunged at Derek with his claws. Derek ducked, moving beneath him and bit into his stomach. Lukas yelped as Derek pinned him down, gnawing at his fur. Blood started to splatter the floor as Lukas struggled to break free from Derek's jaws. Lily took that moment to make a dash to the elevator when a snarl erupted behind her. Just as she turned, Lukas clawed free from Derek's teeth and tackled her to the ground. He snapped his fangs at her, drool pooling onto her clothes. She covered her stomach. His eyes shifted downward, locking eyes with it. With his fangs bare he went in for her belly when Derek tackled him off of her. They yelped and they snarled as they rolled around the room. Derek would land his claws into Lukas’ chest and ribs while Lukas bit Derek's arms and throat. Picture frames fell away from the wall, glass figures shattering as the two beasts went at each other.

Lily stopped in front of the elevator, but the next yelp drew her attention back to the brawl. Lukas had Derek pinned down with his fangs in his throat. Her feet moved before she could stop herself. She grabbed one of the broken pieces of a figurine and charged at Lukas. Just as he went in for the final blow, she stabbed the Wolf in his side. He let out a how! of pain, losing interest in Derek's bleeding form and glared at Lily. She couldn't see any humanity left in him. It's like he completely surrendered himself to his Wolf. Or to something else. She screamed as he lunged at her and she dove out of the way. With the glass sticking out of his side, his movements slowed down drastically. Lily made a dash toward the elevator again, but Lukas’ teeth stabbed into her leg. She let out a scream as she fell to the ground, her leg in his jaws. Blood soaked her jeans and a wave of dizziness threatened her. She shook her head to stay awake, but darkness crept in from the edges of her vision. Lukas released her leg, towering over her with his blood covered fangs. Tears ran down her face as he went in for the kill.

A roar exploded from nearby and Lukas disappeared from her line of sight. She struggled to sit up, watching the scene unravel before her. Another larger black Wolf entered the fight, the fresh rain scent made her cry out.

"Jayce!" She was relieved he made it in time. He had Lukas pinned beneath him, his jaws tearing him to shreds.

"Lily!" Damion shouted as he ran over to her. His hands went to her bloody leg, "You're a crazy bitch, you know that?" He told her. She felt the dizzy spell hit her again, but she shook it away.

"I got impatient.” She half joked, watching the fight again. Damion took off his shirt and pressed down on the wound. She let out a cry as the pain ran up and down her leg. Her vision went dark for a second, making her panic. She blinked a few times before her vision returned to normal. Jayce moved away from the barely breathing Lukas as he shifted back to his human form. He had bite and claw marks all over his naked body and he didn't look good. She watched Jayce cast his eyes over to Derek and started to prowl toward him. Lily pushed Damion away, forcing herself to her feet. Ignoring the pain that was rocking her body, she made her way over to Derek and put her arms up, facing her Mate. He snarled at her.

"He saved me!" She yelled at him. Her vision went dark and she felt something soft catch her before she lost consciousness.