The Lycan King’s Unexpected Mate. ( Fated Twice)

Shayla’s POV.

Shayla, wake your lazy *ss up! It’s already 7 a.m. and you’re still in bed. Useless child. Why must you make me angry every d*mn day?”

Those were her mother’s words—for the third time this week.

Shayla had long stopped flinching. The insults didn’t hurt like they used to, but they still clung to her like morning fog.

To her mother, Shayla was useless. Ugly. A mistake. And that’s putting it nicely.

She’d never known what a mother’s love felt like. She only knew the sting of words meant to wound.

Born the first daughter of the pack’s second-best warrior, Shayla should’ve been celebrated. Instead, she was a disappointment. Her mother, a respected healer, had wanted a son, another legacy to pass on. What she got was Shayla. And she never let her forget it.

“I wish you’d never been born,” her mother once told her. “Or that you’d died the day you were.” I should’ve closed my legs when pushing you out!”

Shayla no longer gave her the satisfaction of a reaction.

The only person who ever treated her like she mattered was her brother, Alden. Her shield in a world that never wanted her.

Their mother hated their bond and did everything she could to rip them apart. Sasha, their younger sister, made it worse, her mother’s golden child, the prize position. You’d think that she would hate Sasha also, but no, she could do no wrong and whenever she did, she made sure Shayla took the blame. The hypocrisy is astounding, beyond any comprehension

Shayla was nineteen—top of her class and the strongest female warrior in the pack. Like her father, Aaden, she trained hard, fought harder, and didn’t let the noise of cruel people drag her down. She’d survived too much to let anyone break her now.

Life at home? Hellish. School? No better. But through it all, Shayla held her head high. She had to. No one was going to hand her strength. She earned every piece of it.

She rose from bed and moved into the bathroom, steam curling from the faucet as she stepped into her morning routine. Just as she turned off the water—

“Shayla! If you don’t get your ugly, good-for-nothing self down here in two minutes, you’ll have me to deal with!”

Her mother’s voice tore through the walls again.

Shayla sighed and rolled her eyes. “What else is new?” she muttered under her breath.

Inside her mind, a voice stirred.

She’s really annoying this morning, Skai said, her tone dry and unimpressed.

Shayla smirked. “Yeah, I guess she didn’t get enough of Dad last night… or maybe she didn’t get any.”

Do you blame him? Skai teased.

They both laughed.

Skai wasn’t just a voice in her head—she was Shayla’s wolf. But not just any wolf. Shayla had connected with her at fourteen. Fourteen.

Regular shifters didn’t meet their wolves until eighteen. Alphas got theirs at sixteen. But Shayla? She was different.

Skai warned her never to tell anyone. Not even Alden.

You’re not like them, Skai had said. And they’ll think you’re cursed.

Shayla didn’t know what she was, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t stay hidden forever.

Stephany had finally lost her patience. She stomped up the stairs, fists clenched, and reached for Shayla’s bedroom door—just as it opened.

Slap!

The sound cracked through the hallway.

“How many times do I have to call you?” her mother barked. “You good-for-nothing trash. What the hell took you so long?”

Shayla didn’t answer. Her cheek burned, but she stood her ground.

“It’s not like you’re pretty,” Stephany sneered. “How long does it take something as ugly as you to get dressed? It doesn’t matter what you wear—you’ll never look like anything worth seeing.”

She turned and stormed off, but paused. “Get going before I kick you down the d*mn stairs.”

Shayla sighed and stepped past her, but as she reached the top stair, a hard shove caught her off guard. She stumbled—nearly lost her balance—

And strong arms caught her.

“Mom, what the hell is wrong with you?” Alden’s voice was sharp, furious. “Why can’t you just leave her alone?”

Stephany didn’t even blink. “Shut up. Alden. Shut the hell up. You’re just as useless as she is.”

She brushed past them like nothing had happened.

Down the hall, Sasha leaned in her doorway, grinning. She’d seen the whole thing—and she was loving it. Her eyes sparkled with glee as her mother walked away. Shayla met her gaze but said nothing. There was no point.

“One day very soon I hope, everything will get better.” Shayla whispered to herself. She said it every morning. It was all she had.

And everyone will be sorry, Skai growled. We’ll make them pay. We’ll show them just how useless we are!

Shayla’s POV.

Shayla came downstairs where her father was already seated at the table, waiting for everyone to join him for breakfast.

He glanced up when she entered—and saw the red mark on her cheek.

He said nothing. Just like always.

He had never hit her, never shouted at her—but he’d never stopped Stephany either. And that made him no better.

The table was quiet. The only sounds were the clinking of cutlery and the hum of silent resentment.

Then Sasha opened her mouth. Trouble, as always.

“Shayla,” she said sweetly, “what were you and Delta Simon talking about yesterday?”

Shayla didn’t answer. She kept eating like no one had spoken.

Shayla didn’t answer. She kept eating like no one had spoken.

“You two looked pretty cozy. He was even touching you…”

“What?” Stephany snapped, slamming her fork onto the table. “So you’re a little sl*t now? Spreading your legs for every male in the pack?”

Shayla finally lo