Betrayed and Broken: The Lycan King's Slave Mate

I tried to push myself up from the filthy floor where I had been lying in my own blood, but my legs were so weak and battered that I collapsed back down with a cry of pain that echoed through the dungeon.

"I said get up!" Rex grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet so roughly that I felt something tear in my shoulder as he dragged me toward the cell door.

The chains around my ankles were so heavy that I could barely lift my feet as they forced me to walk up the stone steps that led out of the underground prison metal shackles cut deeper into my already wounded ankles and wrists, leaving a trail of blood drops on the cold stone behind me.

My vision was blurry from exhaustion and pain, but I could hear the angry voices of pack members gathering in the chamber ahead of us as word spread that the murderer was finally going to face justice.

When we reached the massive wooden doors of the judgment chamber, I took a deep breath and tried to prepare myself for what was coming next.

The doors swung open and I was pushed into a room filled with every member of our pack, all of them staring at me with hatred and disgust written clearly across their faces.

"Bring the prisoner forward!" Alpha Marcus commanded from his throne at the front of the chamber, his voice booming through the room and making everyone fall silent.

The guards dragged me across the room until I was standing directly in front of the Alpha's throne, where I was forced to my knees once again on the hard marble floor.

I could feel hundreds of pairs of eyes boring into me as I knelt there in my torn and bloodstained dress, looking like the monster they all believed me to be.

"Ariana Nightfall, daughter of the exiled traitors who brought shame upon this pack," Alpha Marcus began.

"Do you confess to the murder of Mara, a loyal member of this pack who served us faithfully until her life was cut short by your evil hands?"

I lifted my head and searched the crowd until my eyes found Owen standing near the front of the chamber, looking handsome and confident in his ceremonial robes.

He was staring at me with his eyes full of silent pleas, but when our eyes met he gave me the smallest nod that reminded me of his promise to save me once he became Alpha.

The memory of his words from that terrible night filled my heart with hope and strength as I remembered how he had sworn to move heaven and earth to bring me back to him.

"Yes," I said loudly enough for everyone in the chamber to hear my confession clearly. "I admit to the crime of murdering Mara."

The crowd erupted in angry shouts and cheers as they heard me confess to the murder that had shocked everyone in the pack.

"Of course the traitor's daughter would commit such a horrible crime!" someone shouted from the back of the room.

"Evil blood runs in her family and now she's proven it!" another voice called out with satisfaction.

Alpha Marcus raised his hand and immediately the entire chamber fell into complete silence as everyone waited to hear what he would say next.

"Bring the body forward so that we may see the evidence of this terrible crime," he commanded with authority that made the guards jump into action.

Four warriors carried Mara's body into the center of the chamber and placed it on a table where everyone could see what had been done to her.

Alpha Marcus walked over to the table and pulled back the white cloth that covered Mara's face and neck, revealing the deep wound that had ended her life.

"Explain to us exactly how this murder took place, Ariana Nightfall," the Alpha demanded as he turned to face me with eyes that seemed to see right through to my soul.

This was my moment to create a story that would save my life while still protecting Owen from the consequences of what had really happened that night.

"Mara and I had an argument in Owen's room after the ceremony," I began with my voice shaking slightly as I tried to sound believable.

"She said terrible things about my family and called my parents cowards and traitors who deserved to be exiled from the pack."

I paused to take a breath and saw that everyone in the room was hanging on every word I spoke.

"I became so angry that I lost control of myself and grabbed the knife from Owen's desk before she could stop me," I continued with my story.

"I stabbed her in the throat before I realized what I had done, and then I panicked and tried to clean up the blood but it was too late."

Alpha Marcus stared at me for a long moment with suspicion written clearly across his face.

"Do you think we are fools, girl?" he asked in a dangerously quiet voice.

"How is it possible for a worthless and cursed omega like you to overpower someone with Beta blood running through her veins?"

My heart began racing as I realized that my story had holes that the Alpha could see through easily.

"She was caught off guard and didn't expect me to attack her," I said desperately as I tried to make my lie sound more believable.

Alpha Marcus looked at me for another long moment before shaking his head with disgust.

"The final judgment will be passed on you after the coronation of our new Alpha tomorrow," he declared as he waved his hand to dismiss me from his presence.

"Until then, you will remain in the dungeons where creatures like you belong."

The guards grabbed my arms and dragged me back toward the doors as the crowd continued shouting insults and threats at me.

As I was pulled from the chamber, I caught one last glimpse of Owen standing among the other pack leaders.

Back in my cold and damp cell, I curled up on the dirty floor and tried to ignore the pain that was radiating through every part of my battered body.

The guards continued to treat me cruelly, bringing me spoiled food that was barely fit for animals and kicking me whenever they felt like reminding me of my place in their world.

All I had to hold onto was Owen's promise that he would save me once he had the power to do so as the new Alpha of our pack.

Late that evening, I heard familiar footsteps approaching my cell and looked up to see Cynthia standing outside the iron bars with a basket of food in her hands.

"Ariana, I've been trying to visit you, but the guards wouldn't let me pass," she said softly as she passed the basket through the bars.

The food she brought me was the first decent meal I had eaten since being thrown into this horrible place, and I felt tears of gratitude running down my cheeks.

"When is the coronation ceremony?" I asked her quietly as I ate the warm bread and meat she had smuggled to me.

"Tomorrow," Cynthia replied.

"Then I'll finally be free," I whispered with hope filling my heart as I thought about Owen's promise.

"Is that what he promised you?" she asked, and I noticed that her tone had changed completely from the gentle voice she usually used when speaking to me.

"Tomorrow after the coronation ceremony, I'll come back here with a surprise for you," she said with a smile and walked away into the darkness.

The next day I could hear the sounds of celebration echoing throughout the packhouse as everyone prepared for Owen's coronation as our new Alpha.

Music and laughter drifted down to the dungeons, reminding me that soon I would be able to join the festivities as Owen's acknowledged mate and Luna.

My heart was pounding with excitement and anticipation as the hours passed and I knew that my freedom was getting closer with each moment.

Late in the afternoon, I heard footsteps approaching my cell and looked up to see Owen walking toward me with the unmistakable aura of Alpha power radiating from his body.

"You're now an Alpha," I said with a smile as I felt the change in his presence that told me the coronation ceremony had been completed successfully.

"When are you getting me out of here?" I asked, trying not to sound too desperate even though my heart was racing with excitement.

"Tomorrow," Owen replied with a strange expression on his face.

"There's something I still want to show you first."

Before I could ask him what he meant, I heard another set of footsteps and turned to see Cynthia walking into the dungeon area with a confidence I had never seen from her before.

"Cynthia! Is this the surprise you mentioned?" I asked with excitement as I thought about how wonderful it would be to celebrate my freedom with my two favorite people.

But instead of answering my question, Owen stepped closer to Cynthia and placed his hands on her waist as she moved into his arms.

I watched in complete shock and disbelief as Owen leaned down and pressed his lips to Cynthia's in a deep, passionate kiss that lasted far too long to be anything but romantic.

The kiss that shattered my heart into a million pieces and destroyed every dream I had ever dared to have about my future with the man I loved.