The Lycan's Forbidden Mate

Walking down the hallway heading to her room with Katherine beside her, Ophelia had the dress against her chest, lost in her thoughts. The temperature had dropped significantly, there seemed to be a snowstorm brewing that night, but Ophelia didn't even shiver. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she wasn't aware of anything else.

She inhaled deeply and began muttering to herself, "The world is cruel, but you are not. You aren't cruel to people, are you? I'm not a bullshitting sadist," she then pursed her lips and shook her head, completely oblivious to the fact that there was a mage next to her who thought she was insane.

Among all the missions she had prepared for, this was the one that had put the most pressure on her. She was barely able to breathe.

When she finally made it to her bedroom door, she stood there frozen, staring at the door's large star-shaped carving in the center. She twisted stiffly to look at Katherine, who was still giving her a pitiful expression.

"Stop that." Ophelia's face darkened. She didn't want to feel that, yet the mage kept glancing over at her.

Finally, Katherine averted her gaze and lowered her head. "I just want you to know that you have the strength to deal with whatever is troubling you." Ophelia narrowed her eyes in response to her whisper.

"Why do you care so much? Don't you despise dragons?" Her tone was harsh and venomous. It was the mage's fault for not listening to her.

"You remind me of someone." That was all Katherine said, her voice clear but heavy, landing squarely on Ophelia's shoulders. "Take care of yourself, and yes, I will do as you say about River." Katherine lifted her head with a bright smile that didn't even tingle her eyes, then turned away and walked away without looking back.

Ophelia blinked before she rigidly shifted her attention back to the door. "She is unusual..." She trailed off and put her hand on the door handle, but as soon as she did, the door swung open and took her with it.

Out of impulse, she dropped her dress, took the dagger out of her cloak, sheathed it, and aimed it at the target's neck before realizing that it was River who was wearing a gloomy expression.

She gritted her teeth, her eyes turned into their golden reptile like form, "Are you insane?!" She screamed and walked away before picking up her dress and mask. She then went past him into her room and laid her dagger and dress on the bed.

"How long were you going to keep it a secret from me?" River abruptly questioned behind her, sounding incredibly disappointed.

Ophelia turned to face him, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "You not knowing is not my fault. You went to Antica." Her eyes fluttered open as she maintained her indifferent voice and expression.

River laughed incredulously. "Bullshit."

As River gave her a fierce glare, Ophelia's eye twitched. She recognized that look. That expression indicated that he wouldn't permit her to leave her room, which meant that she would remain in Fireria. That expression meant that he intended to disobey their father, which would subject him to a punishment that would be close to death.

"Don't even think about it." Although Ophelia growled at him, his glare grew more intense.

Everything would be ruined by him. Rodion had previously threatened to harm her loved ones, and now River... He was so frustrating!

"You won't be able to escape my sight, I promise." River finally spoke and he sounded menacing.

"Get lost! I don't need your ridiculous affection right now." Ophelia yelled at him before turning to look at her still-folded dress and the gleaming golden mask that seemed to be calling out to her.

"Call it whatever you want, but you won't be able to get out of my sight." He said it again, which only enraged Ophelia.

She shot him an angry glance. "What in the name of hell do you think you're doing? Playing the hero?" She then shook her head and scoffed. "Leave and let me do this. It's not the first time I've been asked to carry out a murder, is it?"

"The alpha heir hasn't been heard of in three hundred years, and now father wants you to murder him? Isn't it strange? I thought you were smarter than this, Ophelia!" River raised his voice, clenched his fist, and his eyes morphed into their golden reptile-like form, sharpening dangerously. He then lowered his head, and Ophelia could see that he was incredibly anxious because of the labored breathing. What the hell is he thinking about her? Weak?! She wasn't weak! "He's a sociopath. There's a reason why people call him that."

"Do you think I should be afraid?" With a scoff of laughter, Ophelia inquired. "You're acting pitiful right now. Please excuse yourself. In an hour, I'll be leaving for Celestia."

River charged at her like an enraged elephant, but she didn't flinch. Not even a little. He tried to grab her arm, but she punched him square in the stomach. He moaned in agony, let go of her arm, and staggered backwards.

"Stop this. We are not children anymore." As she casually rubbed her fist, Ophelia murmured. When she and River argued, they rarely used words. It was always a fist fight, but this time it seemed different.

River caught his breath, angrily staring at her with his hand on his stomach. "Please Ophelia." His words came out as a fading whisper, and Ophelia, hearing the pain in his voice, sighed deeply and moved closer to him.

He straightened himself up and gave her a quick, tight embrace which she returned. No matter how close she was to River, it was extremely uncommon for them to embrace.

"You know I'm not a wimp. Do not overestimate my chances of survival." She stifled a chuckle in an attempt to calm him, but she wasn't even slightly at ease.

"If they find out, they may rebel against father." Ophelia could only sigh as River abruptly said.

"Control them to prevent such behavior." She sighed and drew away from his embrace. "They're your brothers as well, and they'll listen to you."

"The words about Nikolai Novikov are not exaggerated." River expelled a breath. "He may be worse than that ice dragon, but I'm not afraid of him." River rolled his eyes and subsequently turned his gaze away from her.

"Whatever, just walk me to the carriage when I'm ready." Ophelia gave him a friendly smile. She had to be happy and calm in front of him, but he knew too much about her. It was all a ruse.

"I will." He nodded.

Ophelia stood motionless as she watched River turn away and walk out of the room, shutting the door behind him. She blinked, and her eyes returned to their hazel gray state, devoid of emotion. She had to keep them at bay.

"Emotions can only make one weak." She muttered to herself and clenched her fist, but when she sensed a familiar dark energy in the space—along with a chilling cold—her fist immediately loosened. Finally, she felt a piercing cold despite the fireplace in her room.

"Time is running out, isn't it firestorm?" In the room behind her, Nikolai's deep voice cooed.

Ophelia gulped. Hard. She developed numerous lumps in her throat at the sound of his voice, and goosebumps appeared on her skin as if she had some sort of disease. She was relieved that her cloak was still on.

"Time is indeed running out. Your passing is soon." He was lounging on her bed when Ophelia abruptly remarked and turned to face him. His crimson eyes shone with laughter as he balanced one long leg atop the other. "Entering the den of the predator is not a good idea." She hissed in utter displeasure, and her words caused a wicked grin to appear on his glossy red lips.

"Your words are so head-spinning, and that monotonous seductive voice of yours echoes in my head every second, bringing my body to life," His deep voice came across as a sing-song, and the words were so alien to her that she scoffed in complete disbelief.

"Do you want your demise to occur here?" She boldly questioned. She would find it simple, though. His body would be discarded after she had cut off his head and given it to her father. Just thinking about it made her slyly smile, and she turned her attention to her dagger, which he was now holding.

"You want to use one of these to kill me?" A cruel, heartless smile was waiting for her when he raised his head and peered at her while completely disinterestedly staring at her dagger. He and she both had predatory qualities. It would be impossible for two predators to refer to one another as prey. He desired to have control over her. Her entire being.

"Put that down." Ophelia gave him a death-stare stare. Her anger was only barely contained, and her voice was quiet and tense.

With a wicked grin, he shot the dagger at her forehead in an instant, but she quickly sidestepped it by turning her head to the side, and the blade flew straight to the door, striking the center of the carved star like an arrow.

Ophelia gasped as she looked the dagger.

"See you soon, firestorm," she heard him chuckle deeply and turned her gaze back to see that he was no longer there.