The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen

Lyric

I stare, unblinking, at Isla. I think I'm a bit in shock.

She did just say that she's Thane's wife, right? That the baby in her arms is Thane's daughter? What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?

How could he bring me here, knowing his wife would seek me out?

Did Thane think he could keep us apart forever?

That I'd never meet his child?

That I wouldn't feel it if he was intimate with Isla?

Why did he make all those promises?

Call me his Queen?

'None of this makes any sense, Lyric.

'I know that, Aspen. Goddess, I am so confused. Why would he lie to us, Aspen?'

'I don't know, Lyric. I wish I did, but I don't. Can't you sense any lies coming from this woman?'

I swallow past the lump in my throat while trying to read Isla for lies. But I feel as though I'm stuck; my power isn't working, no matter how hard I try. Perhaps it's because I feel like the bottom just dropped out of my world.

Maybe I've lost my ability to read people and know when they're lying. I was collared in silver for years, not to mention pumped full of wolfsbane. That could be the reason I can no longer tell when someone is lying to me. It would make sense as to why I didn't know Thane was lying to me. Unless I imagined that, it doesn't make sense that I could read Alisha and know she wasn't lying.

Goddess, why did I believe him so easily?

I'm usually so cautious around people, but I let my guard down with Thane because he's my mate.

What will this mean for me now?

I won't stay mated to a man already married, and he shouldn't have assumed I'd be okay with this. For Goddess's sake, the man has a child!

Does he have more than one?

It's possible at his age. Maybe he gave up on having a mate, so he took this woman as his chosen mate. It's not unheard of, though they wouldn't have a bond as true mates do. That doesn't explain why she isn't Queen, though. I would have thought she would be, as she's his wife. Perhaps she is Queen, and Thane plans to divorce her and have me take her place.

What if she is his fated mate, and I'm just another mate the Moon Goddess gave him?

No, that doesn't make sense. But then again, I don't know how things work for Lycans as opposed to werewolves. There are so many questions swimming through my mind that I can't keep up with them!

What am I going to do now?

Speak to Thane, obviously. But I will not take Ivy's father away from her, and I won't be Thane's mistress. Harmony is happy with Theo, and though I don't want to be without my sister, I cannot stay here now. The awkwardness is something I can do without. I suppose the logical thing for me to do is reject Thane and leave. Sure, I'll be a rogue, but even that would be better than the alternative.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. Who are you, and why are you in the King's room?"

I open and close my mouth repeatedly. I want to tell this woman who I am and what her pig of a husband did. She deserves to know what he had planned.

But where would it get me?

This woman doesn't deserve to have her heart broken.

'Oh, but you do?'

'I've known him a day, Aspen. I'll get over it as soon as we sever the bond and get out of here.

'But that will weaken us for I don't know how long, Lyric.'

'We'll be fine, Aspen. Trust me.

'But what about Jagger?'

'What about him? He's as bad as Thane, Aspen; he kept this from us. We cannot stay here. Please tell me you understand?'

Aspen sighs inside my head. 'I understand. Who knows? Maybe we'll find a second chance mate!

'Maybe.

"Isla!" I startle where I stand upon hearing Thane's booming voice. He sounds so happy to see Isla, and he's not even worried she may have told me who she is. "Why are you standing out there? Come on in,"

She pushes past me without a word. I don't move from my position by the door, but I do look at them out of the corner of my eye. They hug, and Thane laughs while taking the baby from Isla.

"Hello, my little princess. Did you miss me?" The baby squeals happily, and I have to tune them out; I don't want to hear anymore. If they notice me slip out, they neither say anything nor stop me.

I walk in a daze along hallways and corridors, not knowing where I'm going because I have yet to be given a tour of the castle. I won't need one now because I'll be gone by morning.

I walk aimlessly until I come to a door ajar. I look inside, thankful that the room is lit, even if by wall lights, and grateful the room is empty. It's a library filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, Victorian-style furniture, and an open fire burning in the hearth. I'm instantly in love with the room, and when I notice the reading nook, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. It saddens me to think this is the one and only time I'll set foot in this room.

I sit down next to a small, high window and stare at the fire in front of me. I find the flames hypnotizing.

I feel like the world's unluckiest person right now. I should have known it was all too good to be true. At least Harmony's mate isn't married - I hope. But I can't see us both being that unlucky. I've seen the way Theo looks at Harmony, so full of love. They may have only just met, but I know they will be very happy together. I only hope she can forgive me for leaving.

I kick my shoes off and lift my feet onto the chair, tucking them under me. With my arms around myself, I stare at the night sky out the window.

I wonder what's out there in this strange-to-me place. I'm curious if there's a pack out there somewhere that will let me join, though I doubt it. Unless they're mates, two unrelated Alphas in the same pack is a big fat no! "There you are,"

I startle in my seat. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear anyone enter the room.

I look at the man taking a seat in front of me. Blaze stares at me, and I notice the man is handsome, just like Thane and Theo. Not as stern as Thane, but not quite as playful as Theo.

"Thane is looking everywhere for you."

"Evidently not. If he was, he would have found me. How is it you did, and he didn't?"

"I said I'd check this side of the castle while he walked Isla to the dining hall."

Of course, he did.

Why wouldn't he ensure his wife got to dinner before he came looking for his mate? "Why did you take off?"

I shrug. "Felt like a walk. I needed to clear my head before I rejected your cousin."

Blaze narrows his eyes before leaning forward in his chair.

"Reject him? Why would you do something so stupid?"

I snarl at him. He has no right to call me stupid! What's stupid is everyone knowing about Isla and thinking it's okay to act as if it's normal; we all live together like one big happy family! "Calm down," Blaze holds his hands up in surrender. "Tell me why you want to reject Thane."

"Because I don't fancy being his mistress, that's why. A mate, a wife - What's next? A harem?"

Blaze smirks. "A harem? That's one way to put it."

What the actual fuck?

A harem?

Oh, fuck this, I'm out of here!