The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin
49. Race Against Time

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'tshe 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.” Shemumbles, 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’sready.

"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, Ioverheard Beta Quade and Delta Harry talking in his office. Beta Quade said he couldn't do it, so heinstead commanded an omega to leave the pack and gave him money to move somewhere faraway so Dad would feel a pack link break that night and think it was our sister, of course, he didn'tkeep a count of everyone and so... Beta put her in a human orphanage and told Dad he'd done thejob.”

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 Dadactually 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 thatthat orphanage is linked to some powerful Alpha and he's scared Dad will figure it out if he eversees her. But he's unable to get any further details about her, and he doesn't even know if she stillgoes 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 replace her.” I reply quietly as we drive through thesmall 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 herpeace, 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 charityfoundation is the Victoria Trust. She's never forgotten her. What would she do if she learned whatdad 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 ifit wasn't Beta Quade... what if he gave her to someone who would have actually killed her?” Shetakes 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 owndaughter. 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 LuminariaPack. 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 realtrouble 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 fullspeed.

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. Itdoesn't take long before I spot Skyla's car, but it's the mutilated body on the ground that makes mystomach 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 itwith 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 havedone 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...

I see Skyla fighting. From here, it looks like she’s alone in the middle of all these broken trees, but Iknow what else is here...

Using her as an estimate, I send a bolt of lightning at it, but to my horror, I see Skyla barreldownwards just as I burst into the opening. One moment she's in the air, the monster hissingviciously, and then she disappears before I can even reach her.

He fucking ate her.

I can't see him completely, but I can now see bits of blood that give away his position and his oneplum-coloured eye turns on me.

Damn Sky's done damage.

I don't waste time rushing at it, lightning crackles through my hand and wraps around my blade as Irun at him.

“Royce!” Charlotte shouts in panic, but the only thing I care about is getting my Lil Lucifer out ofhim.

I refuse to believe she's not alive. I can hear her heartbeat. It's faint, but it's there.

She's a Lycan, she can't die.

He lunges at me, his single eye full of rage, and I jump up, using the wind to give me leveragebefore I raise my sword, and with everything I have, I bring it down.

My hair whips in front of my eyes, and I grit my teeth when I feel the sword connect before bloodsplatters everywhere, the lightning cutting through him and illuminating the night sky.

His body comes into view as it drops to the ground, his head rolling.

Dead.

I turn to see a bloody Skyla roll out of him.

She's breathing, fuck she’s alive, but barely.

"Oh my god!” Charlotte gasps as I drop my sword and rush to Skyla.

“Sky! Fuck! Charlotte, call Alejandro Rossi!”

Panic and fear envelop me as the rain hammers down on her, washing away some of the dirt andblood from her naked body.

Charlotte runs over as I take my phone out of my pocket and, unlocking it, I toss it at her.

I scan her body. The snake was venomous. Those who came in touch with it, died sooner or later.She was inside of him, if this was anyone else, they'd be dead. I call forth more rain, letting it rinseher body of everything. Yet I can see her skin changing colour.

"Sky hold on!” I say, my heart thumping as I cradle her body, which is burning hot, trying to assessthe extent of her injuries.

Her beautiful eyes are looking at me, but I'm not sure she can hear me or even see me.

With a shaking hand, I brush a few strands of her hair off her face, wishing I had told her who I was.Fuck!

No, she isn't dying.

Fuck, you can't die.

I just need her family to pull a miracle and come save her.

I can hear Charlotte struggle with the phone, but she’s not able to connect.

“Is it not connecting?” I ask,

She shakes her head. “It's not working, but I'll try by the road,” She whispers, before she runs off outof the trees. “Royce, bring her to the car!”

“Now this isn't exactly how I wanted you to see me naked,” Skyla murmurs as I shift her position,ready to lift her up.

“You're still beautiful,” I whisper as I scan her beaten, wounded body. My gaze stuck on her side.Unlike the rest of her body, the skin around the cuts looks worse. As if she's been burned.

Did the poison get into her system faster from her cut? I hope not... but that's what it looks like."Yo listen... if I die... make sure you don't tell people I became a snake delicacy...” Her body shuddersas she begins convulsing and I pull her into my chest.

Her body is blazing hot like a furnace and I let coolness wash over her, hoping it soothes her pain alittle.

“...I mean I only like to be dessert for...” She murmurs.

Be my dessert, any day... Ill be yours.

This girl, though, even when she’s so badly wounded, she can still light up my world.

“You are not going to die.” I growl as I stand up.

“The... girls... help...”

Didn't she know they were dead?

I run as fast as I can to the car, hearing Charlotte on the phone.

"... on the border of the Luminaria Pack hospital - immediately.” She hangs up, her heart thumping.“Good call. It's the closest.” I say to her, referring to the Luminaria Pack.

She nods.

I place Skyla down, pulling open the trunk of my car.

We had managed to get some venom and had tried to come up with a pre-battle anti-venom. Idon't know to what extent it'll work, but it might help slow it down. Pulling open all three vials Ihave, I pour the first on her waist injury before tilting her head up and pouring the other two downher mouth.

I can only hope something goes down her throat.

“I'm shifting Charlotte. Don't call Dad, call Alpha Prescott. His number's on the phone and tell himwhat's happened and not to mention it to anyone. Tell him that I'm on the way.”

The last thing I need is for Dad to make matters worse.

She nods. “Go, I'll be fine. I'll tell them to send someone to deal with this mess.”

I don't want to leave my little sister alone, but I also know that Sky will die if she isn't treatedimmediately.

Shifting, Charlotte helps lift Skyla onto my back, taking off her coat she places it on top of Skylabefore I break into a run as I leap through the trees, my paws barely hitting the ground, my onlygoal is to get her to someone who can help her.

I won't let anything happen to you, Love.

I swear.