The Beast And The Blessed

Six: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

A shiver of satisfaction rushed through me, but the feeling quickly passed as a drop of my pack mate's blood trickled from his grip on the top of my bag and landed on my neck. I tore my eyes away from his, not wanting to offend him further, only to have them land on the mutilated body of my Alpha.

His throat had been torn clean from his body, and he lay limp on the ground with his sobbing mate over him. My first instinct was to find Jake to make sure that he was okay. His father had just been murdered in front of him, and he was now the Alpha. But it wasn't my responsibility anymore. He had Haylee. His Luna.

The king let out another growl that made me want to curl up in a ball and hide away. Perhaps if I had done that instead of running, I wouldn't have been forced into this position.

I had heard horror stories of women who had been chosen as breeders. None of which I wanted to be a part of. To be chosen as one's soulmate was a different story. It was one of love and compassion. But as the beast stared down at me, I felt sick.

This was not going to be a storybook romance. Not with someone who murdered so freely and tore women from their homes and their potential to find their true mates.

I watched with horror as he lifted his other claw, and flicked his fingers toward his men. In an instant, they swarmed the women on their knees, searching for their mate or trying to find one they wanted to breed with.

From what I had heard as a child, the Lycans rarely found their soulmate as they could be of any species. But they had to continue their bloodline, and so, they would select chosen mates, otherwise referred to as breeders once they had given up hopes of finding their fated. The sole purpose of those women mating a Lycan was to produce male heirs to continue the line.

It appeared it would be mine now too.

I could feel his eyes burning into me as he held me up. My legs and arms hung limp as I swung slightly from the hold he had on my bag.

"Oh, good! You already have your things." The female from before said, seeming unafraid of the monster holding me in his grip as she moved next to him. "Best we get on our way then. This pathetic pack doesn't have much to offer."

glanced from her to the man in front of me. His glowing red eyes were narrowed as he stared at me, and I could almost feel the regret coming from him. He had chosen wrong, and he knew it. No one wanted the human, even to

like I was here. I would have to cook, clean, and would more than likely be beaten until they felt that I knew my place. It

had the chance to escape. Running from the Lycans would do nothing except assure that I would have a

fur of his beast did nothing to hide how muscular he

wasn't sure if he was angered by me second-guessing his decision or if it was because he

of his pack talking amongst each other told me that it was time to go, and my feet twitched beneath me as I expected to be placed back down.

men. The sight before me as I looked up was terrifying. At least three dozen Lycans ran behind us on their two legs. Their half-shifted state was the thing

he was happy with his head held high and a girl from my pack in his arms, Mira. He didn't have her thrown over his shoulder. He cradled her against his chest as he

were fated mates. Even without knowing each other, there was an obvious love between them. It was something that I would not get to experience as a chosen mate. I let my

my arm made it throb, but I pushed back any vocalizations of my discomfort. It would do no good to emphasize just how weak I truly

around me, and I felt the giant's arm tighten in response to my movement. I placed my hands on his lower back, pushing myself up to be able to see what was around me.

I was here against my will. The Goddess surely had blessed their people, and I was in awe of the beautiful sight around me as the king slowed, leading

was surprised to see everyone in their skin. Each person seemed fascinated to see their king returning home, but it was the little girl pointing at me with a smile as she talked adamantly to the woman

the king's shoulder for so long, and I dropped my head again, letting my hair and the bag hanging over the back of my head hide my face. Breeder or Queen, I didn't want anyone to see me like this, thrown over their king's shoulder like a sack of flour while the Lycan several rows back, still held his mate lovingly in his arms, nuzzling his head against hers every so

returned men. It was as if they were returning from war, but from what I had heard, finding mates and breeders were

puff his chest in pride, and he stood

King Killian Amery.

people, feared by

the front steps of the castle. I wanted to turn around so I could get a look, but when I began to move his hold only tightened until the discomfort of the position I was in was outweighed by the