Chapter 15

Dylan POV.

I coughed and tried to stand but my legs were like jelly, my chest ached as I tried to get more oxygen in my lungs and my hand carefully wrapped around my sore neck, trying to soothe it.

A little more than a minute went by before the door to the room was opened again and Beta Lewis walked in, he didn't comment once on what happened he just walked over to me and held his hand out for me to take. I hesitantly gripped his hand and used his strength to help me up, I almost fell down again instantly but Lewis held me up gently.

"Are you ok?" He asked quietly as his finger ever so slightly touched my neck. I nodded my head and averted my heavy eyes away from him as he held half of my weight. "Come on." He whispered, "let's get you back to your room."

We walked a little before I finally said something he wasn't expecting. "Thank you." My voice was strained from the pressure my neck endured but I managed to talk. He looked a little stunned but I did have to thank him. "Thank you for persuading the king to give me my own room." He smiled as he helped me up the stairs, half my weight was on him as he half carried me up.

"I just wish I could do more." He said, honesty laced in every word. "The king isn't the nicest man. I'm not even sure if he is capable of loving anyone, including his mate. You have a very hard life ahead of you."  Once we made it to my room he sat me on my bed, and got me a small cup of water, which I eagerly accepted. "Try and get some sleep, you will be getting presented to the entire world later, and you kinda look like crap." He chuckled causing me to smile.

Ok so maybe I will have a ally here, Lewis is a ok man, and I need all the help I can get. Now I just need to figure out how I'm going to survive in this place.

He lowered his head slightly bowing before leaving me to my thoughts. I climbed out of my destroyed green dress and curled up on the soft mattress in just my panties, we didn't wear bras anymore you see, it wasn't part of the humans uniform. Not that I have a uniform anymore.

I wanted to sleep so badly but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Every time I closed my eyes I remembered where I was, and what could happen to me if I so much as shut off for a second.

A few hours went by and I just lay there, staring up at the ceiling. I fidgeted a lot. My lack of sleep causing my body to move to get comfortable, but my mind was too active. Eventually the staff appointed to me, walked in. They came to get me ready and I didn't fight them, I was too tired, and it was inevitable anyway, so I simply let them do whatever the wanted.

The dress I was placed in had a similar silhouette to the last one. It was a navy blue color and this time had long sleeves, the fabric also covered my neck making me think the king had bruised it badly. It's funny how my school wanted me to parade my scar around while the royal family want to conceal it for as long as possible.

Next was my make up, they roughly wiped the makeup from before off my face and covered it with a fresh design. Once I was done they guided me to the floor length mirror.

I looked awful.

My eyes were red and very bloodshot from being strangled. Severe bruising could be seen just poking out the top of my high neck dress. The bruises on my face from yesterday were covered with makeup but you could definitely tell there was swelling there, and everything about my face and body screamed physical and mental exhaustion.

"You look beautiful, your grace." I didn't say a word I simply nodded when a knock was heard. My personal escort then entered the room to collect me. I nodded to him and began walking. Despite the queens warning I still slipped my old shoes on instead of the heels, before wandering out of the room.

We walked down every single flight of stairs before coming to the entrance of the castle. The second the big doors opened and I walked out my face was bombarded with flashes of light and cheers. The king was already stood in front of the palace as I stepped out, he held his hand out and took hold of my wrist pulling me to his side, his arm snaked around my waist and he held me there as he addressed the obscenely large crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our grand palace, it's a pleasure to be in front of you all today." There was a screen in front of him showing what he had to say, it was slowly scrolling up as read his lines. "As you all know, the reason you are here is so that I have the privilege of announcing the discovery of my mate and your queen." Cheers and applause could be heard from miles away as flashes of cameras went off every 2 seconds. The whole thing was very overwhelming. "I would like to introduce my beautiful mate, Queen Dylan Louise Cathrine Riley." He held me slightly tighter as he showed me off to the massive crowed, my head whipped around slightly as I tried to not let all this get to me.

The tele prompter suddenly flashed my name and a new string of words came on screen. "Read it!" The king demanded in my ear before I felt claws embed themselves into my side. I groaned and my face definitely showed pain, not that anybody cared of course.

I took a breath, and swallowed thickly before beginning to read in a monotone bored voice.

"It's a pleasure to be here in front of you all today." You could tell by my face and tone of voice that definitely wasn't the case. "From a young age every little girl dreams of being a princess, now I get to live that fantasy. When my school informed us the king was visiting I was so excited, we all hoped that we would be the Kings..." I trailed off as I read what I was supposed to say, but I couldn't bring myself to say it, the words simply wouldn't leave my mouth. I felt the claws that were in my hip sink lower and I winced but still I was frozen. I didn't want to be the Kings mate. I never wanted that. Why would I say it now.

"I think my queen is a little camera shy, after all, it must be daunting knowing the entire world is watching." He chuckled causing everyone of the visitors to chuckle too. The world! My mom was watching this? Freddie was watching this. "Why don't we take some questions?" He announced causing a wave of reporters to swarm the front steps.

"Why isn't queen Dylan marked yet?!"

"Is it true you had to force her to come to the castle?"

"What are your views on the rebellion in the west?"

"Has the Queen met the dowager king and queen yet?"

"What was it like when you first met each other?"

"Has Queen Dylan seen your wolf form yet, your grace."

The king pulled his claws from my flesh and began answering every question quickly and professionally, while I stood gaping like a fish.

"Your grace, Your grace!" I turned to see a man with yellow eyes trying to get my attention. The king gave me a little nudge telling me to answer him so I nodded, every camera seem to stop and become directed at me the second I silently agreed to answer. "Were you ever disciplined by the wolf district in your area?" 

"Yes, frequently." I replied honestly which seemed to raise more questions. The king did not look too pleased.

"Is it true you stated on many occasions that you would rather die than be mated to one of our kind?" How do they even know all this? My eyes widened at this but before I could answer, the king cut me off.

"That's enough questions..." The Kings hand wrapped around my wrist before turning back to the cameras "when we are mated officially, a statement will be given." He began dragging me back inside mumbling to himself as the cameras continued to click and flash. The second we got inside and the doors closed again I was thrown to the floor, my hands scraped on the stone as I knelt. "Well that could have gone worse." I sighed thinking he was going to be annoyed for some reason. I finally brought my hand up and placed it on my side, the area felt wet and when I looked at my hand once more, it had a layer of red liquid on it. "I shouldn't have hurt you, but sometimes you do force my hand. Don't you?!" He saunted over to me and chuckled, pulling me onto my feet, before lacing my hand in his. "Come, lets go for a stroll."

He led me away and up one flight of steps, before walking through a set of glass double doors. We wandered out into a garden, it's bushes were laced with roses and flowers scattered the field, there was a maze towards the bottom of the garden and a fountain in the center. I hate to admit it, but it was beautiful.

"Do you like it, my love?" The king asked, wrapping his arms around my stomach, and placing his chin on my shoulder. I tensed in his grip and silently prayed he wouldn't do anything.

"It's very beautiful, your grace." I stated trying to keep his good side out, his head turned slightly and he whispered into my ear causing me to shiver in disgust at his proximity.

"Good" He then quickly ripped the bit of fabric that was covering my neck, and latched his mouth onto me he instantly began sucking hard at my already bruised skin causing me to wince. "Your mine, my love." He whispered against my flesh before getting back to sucking.

I tried to push him off me but it was no use, I like to think I'm a pretty good fighter, but while I was already getting pinned in place by a wolf, the alpha king no less, I had no chance. I let out a small pain filled cry but it just made him chuckle.

"Moaning in pleasure I see." I felt disgusted, as he continued to attack the same patch of skin for another minute. Then I felt the back of my dress get pulled and ripped open by him, my entire scarred back was on show in the middle of the garden.

Taking the chance I turned my hands around and pushed him away with as much might as I could muster. Being in a long sleeved dress was much easier as I didn't have to worry about it falling down, it rested on my shoulders easily, despite it being ripped.

"Get away from ME!" I shouted in his face, before turning on my heels and trying to run away. It was a stupid plan, but I couldn't take being here anymore, I hate it. I ran in the direction that he wasn't stood in, which meant I was heading towards the maze. I'd managed to run through it and began trying to navigate where I was going, while running in a hysterical panic.

A large thunderous growl erupted through the air and I whipped my head around to make sure he wasn't following me. I spun back to face the front and stopped frozen in fear. In front of me, blocking my path was a huge dark brown wolf, it's fur looked almost as black as night with patches of light brown dotted here and there.

My eyes widened in fear as the beast slowly stalked towards me, we were alone in the stupid maze and I couldn't help but let complete and utter terror cloud my irises. He was pissed and there is only one thing this lycan could be.

King Josh's wolf form.