Offered to the Lycan King by Misha K
Chapter 217
Fuming at the possibility that she would be presented as cattle fodder to mitigate the situation, Keya stomped to her room and crashed on her bed. How could they even think of arranging a match for her?
Restless, she tossed and turned on her bed. She got up and fidgeted with the pillow and before she realized, she found herself surrounded by the tuft feathers of the pillow. A soft knock on the door made her growl, “Whosoever it is, you may leave!”
“It’s me,” Lachlan peeked his head through the door and grinned. “Can I come in?”
“You are already in!” Keya rolled her eyes when he reached her bed taking big strides. “But you may leave.”
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“Don’t be a wuss!” he said, smacking her head lightly. He sat down at the edge of the bed and picked up a feather. “Ouch!” she squealed. “Lach, I am in a bad mood. I seriously don’t want to talk!”
“But I want to,” he replied with a smile, c*ocking his head and half-lying on the bed. He pulled up a pillow and tucked it beneath his c*hest.
She rolled her eyes. “Have you heard what gran da and granny suggested?”
“I did,” he said casually. “And I have come to talk to you about that.”
“Good. Tell them I am not interested!”
“Keya?” Grisham’s deep voice reached her ears, making her jump.
“When did you come?” she asked, seeing that he was sitting at the table near the window. “You are really uncanny!”
He chuckled. “Or maybe you are too wound up to see your surroundings.”
“If both of you have come to dissuade me, then let me give you news-I will never be shackled to a stranger!”
“You have to consider this,” Grisham said. “I am sorry, but gran da has come up with a brilliant plan.”
“Why don’t you get married, Grish?” she snapped. “Why should I be the one on the altar? You are the eldest and the pack members would love it if you find your match!” Except there was a problem. Grisham had fallen in love with a royalty in the human world. Princess Grace was the heir to the Monaco throne and a year back, she had conquered his heart through her dark eyes. Grisham was planning on following his heart if he didn’t find his mate. It was said that Princess Grace was also ready to abdicate her throne and come to be with him. The only problem was that Grace was one year shy from eighteen.
“You know I won’t,” he said in a soft voice that was tinged with longing. “I will wait for Grace to turn eighteen.”
Keya turned her attention to Lachlan. “Why don’t you get married? Pack members would love to see you get tamed!”
He laughed, “And surrender my freedom to one damsel? Sorry, that’s not my cup of tea.” Lachlan loved his s*exual dalliances. He was sure that he would never find a mate because one girl couldn’t satisfy him. He only believed in one-night stands and sometimes he had two to three s*exual partners on those nights.
“Keya,” Grisham got up and sat next to her. “I know that you are overwhelmed about it, but you have a responsibility towards the Dark Moon pack. Next week you will be eighteen and it would be the right time to announce Alpha Trials.
She placed her head on his shoulder with an exasperated sigh. “Grish, I am not ready. Please don’t make me do it.” A shudder ran down her b*ody at the thought of getting married to a stranger.
Lachlan reached across the bed to grasp her h*and. He squeezed it lightly. “Keyu, sweetheart, in olden times, royal princesses were married to the royal princes in order to forge alliances. You will do something like that for your pack members. At least give it a try.”
“Yes Keyu, give it a try,” Grisham urged. “The trials would last for two months and that would give us enough time to look deeply into those who are trying to break the pack apart. And if you don’t feel that you like anyone during that time, you can always eliminate them.”
Keya jerked straight. “Really?”
“Of course,” Grisham chuckled and winked at her.
The excitement ebbed as soon as it bubbled when her mind went to Ethan. All of a sudden, she got an idea. She was going to ask Ethan if he could ‘elevate’ their friendship status. If he agreed, she was going to declare it to her family that she was going to marry him. They won’t be able to do anything. She patted on her shoulder on the inside at her brilliant idea.
“So, what do you say, Keya?” Lachlan asked, his brows drawn together, his eyes reading her closely. “Next week, you will also shift in your Lycan for the first time and that itself is going to be a celebration. Every one of us is planning to run with you. Aidi has volunteered to ride on my back just to see your beast.”
Keya’s heart squeezed with the warmth that seeped in her c*hest. Her brothers loved her to the point of making her cry all the time. How could they be so patient, yet compelling? But she still had to guard her heart because this was going to be a life-changing decision. “I will let you guys know in two days, okay?”
“That’s fine,” Grisham said and hugged her. “We can hold them for two days.”
“Thanks Grish,” she said and k*issed his shoulder. “You’re a gem!”
When her brothers left her, she called Ethan. “Hi, can we meet today?” There was a lot of banging sound coming from his side which was surprising, but then he was a bear shifter.
“What?” he asked, rather loudly.
“Can we meet today?” she repeated loudly.
“Ah, no, Keya,” Ethan said. “I am too busy at the moment! If there’s something urgent, why don’t you tell me over the phone?”
“Can you meet me at dinner?” she coaxed.
“I can’t meet you today, Keya. Let’s meet tomorrow,” he suggested. “I can come over to your place.”
“Okay!” she said excitedly. “I’ll be ready. Meet me at the north tower.” That tower was earlier used to imprison political prisoners who were high threat. Her granny had mentioned once that a she-wolf called Ella was held there. Now the tower was converted into a beautiful restaurant located at the top. It hosted only the royals and their friends. For this reason it didn’t have a lot of activity, but occasionally Lachlan brought his girl friends here. Right below the restaurant were four rooms that were like a suite. A very luxurious suite. It was well known that Lachlan took his girls to the suite.
“Okay!” he said and disconnected the call.
Next day, Keya dressed in black silk gown that had s*lits on both the sides up to her t*highs. The lacy bodice left much to imagination. She wore gold bangles and kohled her eyes heavily to give herself a s*exy look. When she reached the restaurant, the chef bowed to her.
“Everything’s ready,” he said with a smile. There were three omegas standing to serve her.
“Has my guest arrived?” she asked.
“Yes, he is standing on the balcony.”
Keya grinned. S*ucking in a sharp breath, she said, “You can leave us after dinner is served.”
“Yes, m’lady,” the chef bowed to her again and left.
Keya went to the balcony where she found Ethan gazing in the night. He held the balcony rail in one h*and as he swirled wine in a crystal tumbler in the other.
“Ethan!” she breathed. “How are you?”
He turned to look at her with surprise. “Keya!” he said and gave her a bear hug. “What was so important?” he asked, pointing at the tower with his eyes.
“Actually-”
“You know I have put myself into a terrible situation that I shouldn’t have. I wish I could walk out of it,” he said, cutting her.
She stood beside him, leaning her back against the rail. “What situation?” she asked. Nothing could be as dire as hers. Terrible was offering her as a prize to the Alphas.
“It’s nothing I can discuss,” he said, raking his light brown hair with his f*ingers.
“Then just forget about it, Ethan.” She crossed her l*eg over the ankle to show her bare l*egs. But Ethan exhaled roughly and sipped on his wine as he stared into the darkness.
He chuckled. “I wish I could.”
“Did you get caught with a woman in the council?” she asked, trying to hide her jealousy.
He gulped down his wine. “Why would I hide my relationship? But only if that was all. It is something more.” He looked at her and gave her a heartbreaking smile. “Let’s go inside. I want a stronger whiskey.”
They walked in the restaurant where she sat on the corner settee while he perched on the chair opposite to her. An omega came to pour whiskey for him. Dinner was served immediately-a selection consisting of roast beef with vegetables, grilled steak with corn on the side, clam chowder, rice with shrimps and caesar salad. “You have to tell me what is bothering you,” she said, sliding her h*and across the table and holding his. He shook his head. “It’s my problem, not yours.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay,” she shrugged. “So tell me how I look?”
“You look beautiful,” he replied, giving her a cursory glance.
Keya grew desperate. If he only glanced at her rather than focusing on her, how was she going to breach the subject. She had a beautiful curvy b*ody with ample bosoms and generous h*ips that flared from her thin waist. Yet Ethan didn’t look at her and when he did, he didn’t seem to see her.
“Ethan,” she said in a soft voice. “My grandparents have decided to give my h*and to a stranger.”
“What do you mean?” he asked with a frown.
She told him everything about last morning’s conversation. “They want to hold trials for Alphas.”
“That’s ridiculous!” he shot.
“I know and I want to find another way to get out of it,” she sighed. “If I don’t, I will be married to someone I won’t even know. You have to help me and come up with a solution in two days, just before the trials are announced.” He stabbed his f*ingers. In a voice just above a whisper, he said, “I can’t. I am afraid that I will be dead in two days.”
“What? What are you saying?” A chill ran down her spine.
He shook his head. “I know he is coming. He will come to hunt me down and k*ill me because I have done something horrible.”
“Who the f*uck are you talking about?” she demanded. “Who will k*ill you?” Dread blasted in her c*hest. “Alpha Ranger.”