The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin novel Chapter 49

ROYCE.

I stare at her, processing her words.

There’s no way, I mean, how can that even be possible? If she is alive, then where is she? Why isn’t she here?

“Lottie… Why do you say that?” I ask her quietly.

She looks down. “Trust me, Royce, I know she is. I heard them speak of it with my own ears.” She mumbles, her heart thumping as if fearing getting into trouble.

“Who?” I ask, my own heart racing. “She was stillborn. There’s got to be a misunderstanding.”

“No Royce, she was meant to be… offed.”

Offed.

I know what she means, and I wait as she struggles to keep calm.

My own emotions are havoc as I try not to let her see it as I wait for her to continue when she’s ready.

“How do you know?” I ask, trying to remain calm.

“I snuck out one day to go to the packhouse, and then when I was trying to get back home, I overheard Beta Quade and Delta Harry talking in his office. Beta Quade said he couldn’t do it, so he instead commanded an omega to leave the pack and gave him money to move somewhere far away so Dad would feel a pack link break that night and think it was our sister, of course, he didn’t keep a count of everyone and so… Beta put her in a human orphanage and told Dad he’d done the job.”

It feels as if someone just stabbed me in the throat. I feel as if I’m choking.

Dad did that…

“And why- why was he telling Harry now?” I ask, trying to understand it but the fact that Dad actually tried to have his own daughter killed.

A baby… fuck…

“He said he recently found out she was taken from the orphanage. He said that he found out that that orphanage is linked to some powerful Alpha and he’s scared Dad will figure it out if he ever sees her. But he’s unable to get any further details about her, and he doesn’t even know if she still goes by the name he gave her or if she’s under a new identity.”

“Alright… I’ll talk to the Beta. If she’s out there, we’ll find her.” I reply quietly as we drive through the small town at the edge of the woods where Skyla lives.

The revelation has my head spinning. Would she even want to know us? Would we be ruining her peace, to tell her that her father wanted her dead?

I mean, I have no reason to tell Dad, and I never will, but Mom, does she know her daughter is alive? No, she doesn’t, because I’ve seen her remember her pain.

Mom has one tattoo, a tiny one beneath her wedding ring. Victoria with a little heart. Her charity foundation is the Victoria Trust. She’s never forgotten her. What would she do if she learned what dad has done?

How do I cope with the fact that he tried to kill his own child?

Experiments and control… I dealt with it all, but this?

The hurt and shock I feel are beginning to change to a burning anger.

Charlotte sighs.

“That could have been me. If I wasn’t good enough, he would have tried to kill me too… and what if it wasn’t Beta Quade… what if he gave her to someone who would have actually killed her?” She takes a shuddering breath. “I’ve considered running away, Royce. I’m sick of the cage I live in.”

“I’m going to have to step it up. You’re right, this can’t continue. He as good as killed his own daughter. He isn’t worthy of being Alpha or on the king’s council, nor the head of the Solaris court. It’s time for change.”

“Then will you challenge him and Aleric?”

I’m about to reply when a voice rips through my head.

‘If anyone can hear me, I need help on the southern side of the woods bordering the Luminaria Pack. There should be a car parked on the road. You can’t miss it!’

Skyla?

Her voice is strained.

“Fuck!” I curse.

She used her Lycan ability to mind link any Alpha close enough. She’d only do that if she was in real trouble and, for Skyla, real trouble meant a life or death situation.

“Royce, what’s going on?” Charlotte asks. I swerve the car left, heading towards the woods at full speed.

The rain is hammering down on the car, but it doesn’t phase me.

“Someone’s in danger.” I say.

She quickly straps her belt on as I press my foot down on the gas, driving at a dangerous speed. It doesn’t take long before I spot Skyla’s car, but it’s the mutilated body on the ground that makes my stomach twist.

My heart drops, until I notice the long dark blond hair and close my eyes.

It’s not her…

Thank the goddess!

But I know who did this - the beast.

“Charlotte…” I can’t leave her here alone. “Let’s go!”

I get out of the car and run to the trunk, I grab two swords, tossing one to Charlotte, who catches it with ease before scanning the area. There’s no scent from the rain, but I can hear a commotion.

“This way.” I command, my eyes flashing as lightning flashes in the sky.

She better be ok, what the hell even happened?

Please be ok.

Fuck, I shouldn’t have left her alone. Did she leave her house to drop off her cousins? I should have done that. Why is she even allowed out here?

Who was that girl?

“Sky!” I shout, hoping she hears me.

Please fucking be ok.

I can hear them. They’re clashing but relief floods me to know she’s alive and kicking.

“Holy….” I hear Charlotte whisper as we both look down at the second dead body that lies there, frothing at the mouth, eyes wide open.

This one died from poisoning.

More casualties…