Married To The Cursed Lycan King

Matilda's POV [Prologue]

The unstable movement of the carriage eventually came to an end. Not that I was in a haste to get to my destination. I even hoped that the carriage would keep going forever, with its wheels sounding as though they were grinding against the ground.

I had seen four nights and five days on this journey, and finally, I arrived on the fifth night.

Before my coachman came to inform me of our arrival, something in my heart twisted. Even though nothing had happened yet, fear had tightened around my lungs.

“My lady,” the coachman's voice came, just as I expected. “We have arrived. I shall escort you to the king's palace and carry on,” he announced.

There was no turning back now.

We had just arrived at DawnFang Pack. As I had heard, carriages were not allowed within the pack, so we were to walk to the king's palace.

With my back bent, I climbed out of the carriage, the coachman taking my hand to assist me.

I had on a blue gown, its sleeves long and its neckline wide, leaving my cleavage obvious. My blonde hair had been styled into a beautiful bun.

When I stood in the open space, I realized why the journey had taken five days. The place seemed as though it was far removed from the rest of the world. Mountains... tall mountains were all I could see.

“Thank you, Gaius,” I muttered as I watched him carry my bag.

We walked together into the town. It seemed to become busier at night.

Why name the pack DawnFang? Everything about the place was dark.

“Do the people of DawnFang find it beneficial to work at night?” I asked Gaius.

“DawnFang functions well at night, my lady. They claim that their wolves are most active during the night. It is also what the king prefers,” he replied politely.

I shook my head because the king appeared unintelligent to me.

“My heart grieves for the villagers. They must crave their beauty sleep. I'm sure of it.”

“They sleep during the morning, my lady. Their lifestyle is simply the opposite of that of the rest of the world.”

“Fascinating,” I said.

Children played around with water while I watched a man surrounded by women. Some women chatted among themselves about one thing or another.

From what I had seen, I could say that the pack was dark but peaceful.

Or perhaps it was all nothing more than an illusion.

Suddenly, a group of men clad in armour and carrying spears appeared before us, urging us to halt.

I was caught by surprise.

Then it occurred to me.

I must be close to the king for such an escort.

My bones quivered, and terror suddenly rushed through my veins, but I drew in a deep breath, reminding myself that I wasn't an ordinary wolf.

What would he do to me at first sight?

How wicked was he in real life compared to what I had heard?

I heard he drank human blood like water and wine.

Every piece of information I had about this king painted him as nothing but evil.

“The king has assigned us to escort the queen to the palace,” the man standing before the remaining four announced.

Queen.

The reason the Alpha King had brought me here was for me to die because everyone knew what the Lycan King had done to all his betrothed wives.

So coming here was not an escape for me but a path to becoming more of a prisoner than a queen.

Gaius handed my bag over.

“My lady,” he said, turning to me.

He placed a small hairpin into my hand.

“Your mother requested that I give you this. She wants you to always remember everyone back home.”

He offered me an encouraging smile.

“Thank you, Gaius. Safe journey.”

I waved as he departed.

Even after my father died, he had remained loyal.

I looked at the hairpin.

It was the one I always stole from my mother to attend balls and gatherings back when I was wolfless.

I pushed back my tears and tucked the hairpin into my little purse.

“Shall we?” the same royal guard from earlier asked.

“Yes,” I answered.

Even as they surrounded me, I did not feel safe or protected.

I felt like a sinner about to be beheaded for trespassing.

We walked across a long bridge, and I could not help but glance behind me at the busy villagers.

Perhaps I was calculating how I would escape if the need ever arose.

It would.

The palace guards bowed as I entered through the giant doors, but I simply acknowledged none of them.

Good Lord.

I was getting closer to the beast.

The one they called a demon.

A part of me was prepared for anything—even death and the other part trembled.

The palace was busy as I walked alongside the guards.

I witnessed different expressions on the servants' faces as I passed.

We reached another door, reminding me of the possibility of what lay behind it, but instead we walked through another hall.

Then another door.

And another.

Every door I passed through did nothing but steal my breath because each one brought me closer to the man said to be a beast...

...a devourer.

Eventually, after walking through what felt like the entire palace, we reached a door guarded by two enormous men.

My body turned cold.

I was about to meet my husband.

The doors were pushed open, their screeching introducing me dramatically to a new world.

I followed the guards inside, my head lowered because I was not ready to see the man to whom I had been betrothed.

“Your Majesty,” the royal guard's voice echoed through the room.

The next moment, I found myself alone.

So what if he was a beast?

So what if he had done worse than what people said of him?

Either I let him end my life as Cedric almost did or I fought to live.

After a brief moment, I heard the sound of boots striking the floor.

He was walking toward me and soon, his pacing stopped. He was in front of me.

Everywhere fell deathly silent.

His hand touched my chin, heavy and cold.

He tilted my face toward him, but my gaze remained lowered.

“You are a queen. Shouldn't you stand straight with confidence?” he said.

Strangely, his words stirred something inside me, reminding me of who I was.

So I lifted my eyes confidently.

Good Lord.

This man's face...

His face was covered in deep scars, which wasn't supposed to be.

A Lycan could not bear scars unless—

“Your name?” he asked, his expression unmoving, revealing nothing.

“Matilda,” I replied.

Looking into his eyes, I found nothing within them.

They were dark, lifeless and devoid of hope.

Silence settled over the hall as he continued looking into my eyes.

“Matilda,” he muttered, breaking the terrifying silence.

Then he said, “Priel Roake, Lycan King of DawnFang Pack.”