Two Lycan Kings, One Betrayed Queen

Kaela's POV.

"In this world, when you're a nonshifter wolf, never trust anyone. Not even your family or friends. Just run."

~~~

"Did you even listen to my vows at all?" Caius taps my backhand and raises a brow. "Anyway, it's your turn."

I clear my throat, shifting my gaze from the priest to Caius. His beautiful sharp features and golden yellow eyes have always been my weakness.

"I, Kaela EmberFang, Queen of EmberFang Pack, submit to you, Caius White, Lycan King of the White-Fur Lycans. Tonight, under blessings of the moon goddess, my blood is your blood, and my throne is your throne. I am yours as you are mine."

Being here with Caius, saying the mating vows, is all I've ever wanted, and finally it's happening. Caius was always there when I needed help, when kids bullied me growing up, and when my throne was threatened after I failed to shift at eighteen.

Finally, this marriage will seal our strength by helping us destroy our enemy—the Black-Fur Lycans. Those rogues threaten all life on earth. With my men combined with Caius's, he can end them, and I'll finally be respected. People will look past my flaw as a queen without a wolf.

"Here," Caius coos as he passes me a blade which he has cut his palm with. While he lets his blood drip into a golden goblet, I cut mine and whine. Unfortunately, I feel more pain unlike the rest of the pack, and I heal like a human.

After our blood is combined in the container, we head to the roof's opening, allowing the moon's bright light to shine upon us, then we spill the blood onto the ground.

Finally, Caius and I turn to face each other. My silver cerulean eyes stare into his and a smile erupts. "I revoke my true mate for you—whoever he is. You're my anchor, and I love you."

"And I love you." He whispers, capturing my lips and that's it—reality is gone. All the royals on their seats disappears from my head, including my parents. Only Caius and I, our hearts as one. "I know you want to stay in this position forever, but we must also go to my pack to perform the mating rituals."

"Caius... but my parents prepared us a banquet..."

His hands cup my face, as he squints his eyes. "We've performed your Pack's ritual. It's time for mine."

I groan but nod. "Aye aye. I hear you, mate." My choice of word makes him choke on his laugh before he leads me towards the garden's exit.

"Xandra is my right-hand. He will take you to the carriage, and I'll join you soon. I shall say a farewell to your people for you." Of course, when Caius is around, my brain suddenly functions no more. He does everything for me.

Outside, the cold air sends shivers down my spine, and I expect Xandra to offer me a coat, but he doesn't. He acts too unwelcoming for a Beta.

The wedding music and chatter has gone silent against the crashing waves of the ocean in the distant. My eyes scan around and fixate on a presence at the cliff to the beach.

"Seraphine." Gasping, my feet spins to the left. "Excuse me, Xandra. I'll join you later." His dark, ominous expression forces me to say more than I intend, leaving a faint crease on my brows. "I must see my sister before my departure."

With that, I proceed to the cliff. This is actually a bad idea, and maybe I should turn back and wait for Caius, but my curiosity engulfs my senses. Behind Seraphine, I instantly pinch my nostrils. My stomach is upset by the reeking smell of rum.

"You can't sneak up on me. Unlike you, I have my wolf." As usual, her spite burrows into my skin.

"You're my sister, but you weren't at my wedding." I say as if that's even surprising.

"I don't attend a fool's wedding." She cracks a laugh, and I step back.

"I'm your queen, and you'll speak to me with respect." I groan and wrap my hand over my face. "F*ck, can't you be nice for once? What did I ever do to you? You've always bullied me, mocked me when I didn't shift, and fought to collect the throne from me. I didn't ask to be a nonshifter or the first-born or the rightful heir to the Pack's throne. It's destiny or—or whatever."

Seraphine slams the wooden cup against the ground, the impact instantly fragmenting the object. She's tsking as she stands up to meet my gaze.

"I mourn for the people because they picked a naive girl who knows nothing of this world, a fool who thinks life is all roses. Caius doesn't need you but your gifts. And that, you did willingly." She chuckles, sharply glancing away heavenward. I can almost swear that I see tears in her eyes. "I almost pitied you, you know. But then, to each with their own, and I must fight for my place even if it's at the expense of your life."

I stumble backwards, unable to believe my ears. "Let's cut this charade, you're no sister of mine. You're just jealous, and I detest you!" My heart thuds hard, my blood boiling and my fists balled at my sides.

Without hesitation, I dash towards the carriage. The wind carries her words to my ears one last time. "You'll see me again, Queen Kaela!!"

I never knew she hated me this much. Maybe if I'm being honest, I'll say she deserves to own everything that I do because she's a replica of our parents' features: their jet black hair, royal green eyes, and sandy undertone skin. And she has a strong brown wolf. She's everything a pack needs in an Alpha and Queen.

A few minutes later, Caius joins us and I lie my head on his thighs to hide my face. He's the only one who doesn't care about my unfitness in this world. The journey begins and I fall asleep.

When I wake up again, Caius is carrying me in his arms. We are in front of two huge double doors.

"When did we get here?"

"I thought you weren't going to wake up for our consummation." Caius says with a stifled laugh.

"And starve you?" I shake my head as we arrive inside his chambers. "Nah."

"Well, then..."

Standing on my feet as Caius locks the door behind us, I close the space between us and he chuckles. "Ooh," he teases before we kiss. Hungry for each other, we scurry to the bed while he rips off my clothes.

I'm gasping and moaning while he's sucking hard on my skin. His hands reach my core, rubbing my cl*t. In response, I lock my legs around him and dig my fingers into his hair.

Breathing into my neck, he unbuckles his belt and gently, he thrusts his member into me. My eyes shut even tighter as I try to adjust to his size.

Then, he thrusts in again. And again. Soon, pleasure fills my entire body but I want more.

"Bite me. Mark me and make me yours. I want you to be your mate and no one else's."

He slightly pulls back, eyes burning into mine and he speaks. "You've given me everything I need, Kaela, and this is the last. Whatever happens afterwards, know that a part of me wish there was another way."

My brows weave closer, my forehead squeezing, as I struggle to understand him. "What?" But before the word forms fully, his canine grows into fangs then he pierces my skin.

Pain shoots through me as if lava burns my skin. My blood stills for a moment, and an ear-piercing scream is about to tear through me except pleasure replaces the pain.

He growls as his warm seed pours inside me, leaving us both with harsh breaths, and he falls onto me.

"You're choking me, Caius." I force out a laugh and he pulls back. Looking at his beautiful face, I'm once again captured by love but when he opens his eyes, they glow. A signal that his wolf is on the surface. "Caius?"

"I'm sorry, Kaela but I must begin the ritual." His hand swipes past my face followed by an unbearable sharp sting. All within seconds, my vision is tainted by crimson—my blood!!!

My brain fires signals. His claws just cut through my neck. I can't breathe. My hands rush to grip my neck, and I feel my entire back soaked by my blood.

"Wh—Ca—"

Helplessly, my eyes follow Caius's gait to the door. He opens it and kisses someone. My vision is blurring out, my tears streaming down the sides of my face. But I see her. I see Seraphine with Caius.

Kaela's POV.

I wake up to a pain so agonising I wish the earth would swallow me whole. Tiny needles prick my skin, an inconvenience I've never encountered before.

I snap my eyes open, a gasp caught in my throat at the sight of a menacing man. He's dressed in a cloak, and I shift my gaze to my surrounding—a dimly lit, inauspicious room.

"H-hello." I'm strapped to a platform suspended mid-air, a large steel bowl beneath me... and that freaks me out even more.

My throat! Painless. Does this mean I'm dead? There's no way I could heal from such deep cuts.

"F*ck. Where the fuckity-f*ck are you?" The man shuffles from one ominous book to the other. He stops at one and flashes a smile.

"Good sir?" He avoids me again. "Hello, if you can hear me, plea—please, help me!"

Footsteps click closer, and my breath seizes. My dread worsens when I see it's Caius. No! No! No! It can't be real!

Goddess, please wake me from this haunting nightmare!

"Ho