LYCAN'S MATE

Chapter One - Betrayed

Valeria's POV

<NIGHTINGALE PACK>

Everywhere around me, people talked about the return of the Alpha's son.

I didn't know him. I had never met Vincenzo. But just the sound of his name stirred my insides in ways I'd never expected.

I tried to focus on the task at hand but my wolf was restless. She kept purring in my head and all I could do was try to calm Leila down. But she was having none of it.

'The others are getting ready for his arrival. Why don't you join them as well?'

"Because, Leila... as you can see I'm just an Omega. I'm not the daughter of a Beta and you know the prophecy. The royal family has been promised to the..."

'You sicko, I meant to see him. Not to be mated with him.'

Fine. I give up. Leila 1, Valeria 0.

"We are going for a run. Will that calm you down?" I rose from my bed and proceeded to tie my super long black hair into a tight bun. Next thing I did was grab a bag and shove the clothes I'd change into in it.

Sneaking out of my home was super easy as my sisters and brothers were engrossed in making preparations for Vincenzo's arrival.

At the back of my home, I shifted into my wolf form. Leila took off as soon as she was out. She let out a howl of delight as she ran and felt the cool night air against her white fur, and her delicate paws.

I didn't know how long we'd been running. But I sure as hell could hear the stillness of the entire packhouse. Which meant that he was here.

Leilia paused running, and we stared at the vast empty yard. I should shift back and go home before anyone noticed I was missing. I willed Leila to run faster.

Five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

I shifted into my human form, hastily pulled a black dress over my naked, tingly skin and hurried into the house. I'd expected to meet it empty since the welcoming ceremony was in the city's square.

However, I was met with the sullen faces of my family plus... we had company. Alpha Kael and Luna Meredith were seated on our old, rickety couch. By their left, was a young man standing and pacing the small space.

Heads turned to me.

But Leila's gaze was transfixed on the male beside the Alpha and Luna. I had never felt this way before. My senses were heightened and I smelled a sickly sweet smell. I couldn't place it. But I knew it was coming from the man.

'Mate... Mate... That man...' Leila purred.

I took a step forward just as he took a step backward. I stopped, unsure of what to do. With the shock on his face, I'm guessing he felt the bond.

Leila was purring in excitement.

"Do you feel it too?" I mouthed.

"Of course, I do. But... you are just an Omega and I... I'm sorry. What is your name?"

"Valeria,"

"What are you doing son? Reject her." Luna Meredith spoke up.

What? No. Don't!

I looked from her to Vincenzo. Would he reject me just to please his family?

"Mother, I can't. She's my fated mate."

"You are promised to another. Reject her, now!" Alpha Kael said this time.

I could only stare at Vincenzo and hope. Leilia was quiet, patiently waiting for her fate. I sincerely hoped he'd not reject us.

"Father..."

"Now! Enzo. Do it."

"I... Vincenzo Marcel... from the Nightingale Pack..."

I shut my eyes. This was it. Leila whimpered lowly as we awaited the pain that would come from the bond breaking.

"Accept you, Valeria as my mate and future Luna."

My gaze met his, my eyes wide with shock. He closed the distance between us and his lips met with mine.

I thought I'd experienced pleasure when my ex-boyfriend went down on me last year in senior highschool.

Or when I'd pressed a vibrator on my clit and muffled my screams with my pillow last night.

I was wrong.

This... this feeling... of Vincenzo's firm but soft lips moving against mine, opened the floodgates of pleasure. The world now forgotten, I kissed him back, matching the ferocious intensity with which he kissed me.

"Mine," He growled, gripping my backside fiercely.

I melted against his body and leaned on him a little as my head was light and my knees weak from the kiss we had just shared. Once he pulled away from me, Leila hissed from the loss of skin contact and I almost grinned.

"Shut up, horny girl."

'You liked it as much as I did, Valeria. Our Mate didn't reject us. He stood up for us.'

I smiled slowly and touched my lips, then looking up at Vincenzo, my smile broadened. I had never felt so safe and wanted all my life. And yet this man made me feel all two emotions the first day he walked into my life.

I heard a low growl and I looked at Alpha Kael. He shifted in his sit, his eyes glued on mine. I looked down at my feet but Vincenzo held my wrists protectively.

"Father... you have always taught me to be upright and do the right thing." Vincenzo said from beside me.

"The right thing was to reject her you psycho." Luna Meredith yelled shrilly.

"Shut up," Alpha Kael glared at her.

Damn!

"Father, I will love her and protect her. She will be my Luna. Just as mother is yours. And if you will not accept her then... I will not be Alpha in your place."

I gasped.

"Vincenzo... you can't..."

"You can call me, Enzo. And yes. I will gladly not be Alpha than leave you, Valeria."

"B...but..."

"Sshhh! Let me do this. Do you trust me?"

Was that even a question? Do I trust you when you walked into my home and defended me in front of your parents? Heck, I love you. I didn't realize I had tears in my eyes until they rolled out and I sniffed and wiped my face.

"Yes," I answered.

"Good. Then let me,"

I nodded and my gaze drifted to my mother and father. They just stood side by side, neither saying a word. I knew they kept their fingers crossed about this. If by any chance I became Luna... it would mean well for my family. We wouldn't be seen as just the poorest and most wretched Omegas. We'd be more.

"Fine. You can keep her." Alpha Kael announced and I couldn't believe my ears. He agreed that we could be together? Just... just like that? My mouth was open in shock.

"Thank you, Father. I will make the arrangements for her to be moved into the castle."

Goodbyes were said. A heartfelt goodbye between me and my immediate younger brother 'Jason'. And jealous ones from my other siblings and my parents.

'Valeria... be careful.'

I frowned at Leila's words. What now? Vincenzo and I had just entered a room in his castle. He had me on the blindfold all the way here. As he took the cloth off, I let my eyes adjust to the amount of light in the room he had just brought me into.

"Do you like what you see? Valeria?"

I nodded profusely. "Yes, I do. It's beautiful." I smiled and moved so I was standing in front of the huge four poster bed. The wood was hard and dark brown in color. The bed had soft sheets and red petals decorating it and giving it a romantic vibe. I loved the scented candles and the glowing chandeliers.

"Is this my room?" I asked, turning so I was now facing Vincenzo.

"Yes, Valeria. I want you to be comfortable. I want you to be..." He took two steps to me and held my chin so I was now staring directly into his blue eyes. "I want you to be mine. I want you to be happy."

I smiled through my blurry eyes and I nodded. "I am happy."

"Good. Because I need you to brace yourself for what I am about to do next." He said and swept me off my feet.

"Enzo..."

"Have you ever had sex before?"

His questions surprised me. But... I shook my head and watched as he laid me on the bed and hovered over me. What now? Did he want to... no. Not tonight. I wasn't ready.

"Enzo, I can't." I whispered, my breaths shaky as he nipped on my earlobe.

"Why? Don't you trust me? Don't you love me? Don't you want to be the Luna? Do you not want your family to be cleared of the crimes they've committed..."

I was at a loss of words. "I do want all of these things. But..."

He stopped kissing my neck. "You don't trust me enough."

"No... no. I do trust you, Enzo. I trust you with everything in me. But sex... I..." Inside of me was at war. Leila... I thought. Now would be a right time to advice me. But she was silent. Which was unusual. She should be out and purring at the pleasure of our mate wanting to be intimate with us.

"Valeria..."

Looking up at Enzo, into his baby blue eyes, I thought... there was no other man I trusted enough to take my virginity. I pulled him against me and kissed his lips.

"Yes, you can do it, Enzo." I said with a shy smile gracing my lips.

Vincenzo smiled sinisterly and he slowly undressed me. After taking my dress off, his hands roamed my body, caressing my curves and kissing the trail of each caress.

"Oh... Enzo... Oh..." I moaned out loud.

Vincenzo kissed every inch of my body and with each touch of his lips, my back arched off the bed and I gasped, wanting more of everything.

He slowly undressed and while his hands did unthinkable things to my body, his erection was pressed against my thighs.

Vincenzo brought his head to mine and reconnected our lips. His hands went lower and caressed my soaked cunt. While I moaned into the kiss, he flattened his palm over my clit and rubbed vigorously.

"Mmm... Enzo..." I rolled my eyes with the pleasure eating up my body. My legs shook as Vincenzo continued with his gentle administrations. I threw my head back and bit into my bottom lip as Vincenzo's warm mouth covered my nipples.

When his tongue flicked over the sensitive, hardened buds, I screamed out in pure pleasure. I was a screaming mess. And Vincenzo hadn't even put his dick inside of me. What would be my fate when he gave me his...

Argh!

Vincenzo had just bit on my nipple. Pain mixed with pleasure clouded my brain.

"You liked that," I heard him murmur against my breast.

I could only blush and nod. And then he bit again. This time, his tongue swept over the bite and he sucked on the spot.

"Enzo... En.... zo... please..." I mumbled senselessly.

He pulled away from me and regarded me with hooded eyes. I watched as he leaned in again, and I felt his manhood prode my entrance. I sucked in a breath as he pushed in... all the way in.

"You good?"

I couldn't speak. I didn't know how I felt at the moment. But I could register pain and the fullness that filled me completely up. But Vincenzo's lips covering mine distracted me from the pain.

And as he moved in and out of me, I didn't want him to stop. The pain abated and the pleasure seeped in with each thrust. Vincenzo's pumping grew faster and I could only moan out his name as we both chased an orgasm that was close.

Each time he slammed inside of me, I could barely breathe. I almost saw stars. But thank goddess I could feel the ecstasy. It was building up... It was coming... I was coming...

One final thrust and I could feel my fingers instinctively dig into Vincenzo's backside. "Enzo!!!" I screamed out after being tipped over the edge. My body trembled violently and as I felt Vincenzo spill his seed inside of me, I gasped.

He stopped moving and kissed me tenderly before wiping the tears off my face. Tears... I didn't realize I'd been crying. Damn...

I sat up and stared at the man who had just rocked my world. He was not looking at me, but at the door and I wondered why. I tried to move but he held me in place.

"It's not time yet." He murmured softly.

"Time for what, Enzo?"

"For this..." He said and the door to the room went open. I rushed to hide my naked body beneath the sheets as I stared open mouthed at the ten guards who had just entered. I looked At Vincenzo.

"I am sorry, Valeria. I really am..."

Wait... What was going on? I looked at Vincenzo, taking in his guilty face and then at the guards who were advancing and I breathed in.

"W...what did you do?" I asked him.

He couldn't even look at me. "I used you, Valeria. I was never going to accept you. You are an Omega and I... I am Vincenzo."

Tears filled up in my eyes and I let my shoulders slump. "And sleeping with me?" I asked him in a small voice.

"You are hot. I couldn't let another man have a taste first."

"An... Another man?" My brows furrowed. "You... You sold me?" I asked, as my tears poured out in torrents.

"To a Lycan King... It's a different region. His men are waiting to take you." He got up and wore a robe while he watched me cry as the guards grabbed a naked me and pulled me to the door.

"I... Valeria reject you as my mate. I also reject Nightingale Pack," I cried as I was being manhandled.

Vincenzo didn't turn back, neither did he even flinch. And then I didn't struggle.

I just let them take me. Because at the end... the truth remained.

I'd been betrayed.