Betrayed Heiress: My Second Chance Mate is A Lycan King

Aira’s POV

I stare at my reflection in the mirror with uncertainty. Unlike last night, Alexander did not hire a makeup artist or hairstylist for me. He said that this wasn’t a big event, and I could just go as myself. But there was no way I could actually do that.

I had to look my best.

I have to look worthy of being by his side at all times.

My reflection in the mirror is what some might call beautiful, but I am not sure it is enough. Is my makeup perfect? Did I style my hair properly? And this dress-is it fitting for the occasion?

The dress is black and short. It hugs my curve and stops just a little bit above my mid-thigh. It has just one long sleeve, leaving my other hand bare. On my feet are a pair of wraps around heels that increase my heart by about two inches. My jewelry is all silver, but I am having thoughts about switching it to gold.

Do you think I look good enough?

A knock comes from the door, and my heart skips a beat. That must be Alexander.

Taking one last glance at my reflection, I take a deep breath and say, “Come in.”

The door opens, and Alexander’s dark eyes meet mine through the mirror. He freezes in the doorway, his eyes going up and down my body, taking in my appearance carefully. When his eyes meet mine, there is something different in them.

They are darker and more lustful.

I take in his attire as well. He is wearing a dashing black suit. His hairline has been perfectly sculpted, and his hair is jutting back. His intoxicating scent fills my nostrils, stirring something within me. It’s a fact that this man does not even try to be this handsome.

Spinning around, I offer him a small smile. “Well, how do I look?” I ask him, and his eyelids narrow.

“You are not going out in that,” he says, and my smile drops.

“What? Why?”

“It’s too short. All the men there will be looking at you,” he says through clenched teeth, and I grin when I detect jealousy in his tone.

“Then that means my dress is just perfect,” I say, taking another glance at my reflection before taking my purse and leaving. My wrist is grabbed halfway down the stairs, and I am met with Alexander’s fiery gaze.

“You dare defy me?” he asks slowly, and I close the distance between us. Our noses are almost touching, and my heart is pounding wildly against my chest. His eyes fall on my lips, but for only a second, I almost miss it.

“Yes, I dare,” I say, not once taking my eyes off him. I try to take a step back, but he holds me in place.

“Don’t you dare leave my side at this party, do you understand?” He asks, and something about the way he speaks has me feeling all tingly inside, almost excited.

“I understand,” I reply, and he grunts. He holds me by the waist, and goosebumps shoot across my skin. He leads me out of the mansion and towards one of his cars.

He steps away from me to open the door for me, and I smile teasingly at him. “Ah, such a gentleman.”

“Don’t push it,” he says, making me laugh. I hop into the car, and he shuts the door for me. He gets into the driver’s side, starts the engine, and soon we are off. The first few minutes of the car ride are spent in silence.

Then I decide to break it by asking, “So you said this birthday party is for an old friend of yours?”

“An acquaintance, rather. I do not have friends,” he says coldly, and I nod once. “He is the alpha of a pack down the western isle. His territory borders mine, so we often do business together,” he explains further.

“Okay,” I say with a small voice.

I felt his eyes on me for some time before he asked. “Are you feeling nervous?” he asks, and I shake my head no.

“I just don’t want to meet any more bitchy queens separating us,” I tell him, and the corners of his lips twitch.

“Amarie is not coming for this party; even if she were, she wouldn’t dare come ten feet away from you. I made sure of it,” he says, and I catch his hand tightening around the steering wheel.

No wonder she ran away in fear. This man is horrifying.

In the next few minutes, we arrive at the mansion, and my mouth falls open. We drive into the estate, and there are people and cars everywhere. Alexander parks the car by the side of the pathway before hopping out of the car to open the door for me.

He helps me out and leads me into the garden, where the guests are. Everyone is either holding a glass of champagne, conversing amongst a group, or both.

“Ah, Alexander. So glad of you to make it. I didn’t think you would come to be honest.” A man in an all-white suit walks up to us. And my God, he is a sight for sore eyes.

He has brilliant ocean blue eyes, and his hair is almost as crystal white as his suit. His smile is dashing; it pops out his dimples and leaves a sparkle in his eyes. He radiates a great aura, but not nearly as much as Alexander.

Alexander shrugs then says, “I was in town and thought it wouldn’t hurt if I attended.”

“Well, I am glad you did. It is not every day that the infamous Lycan King attends your birthday party. It is an honor to have you here,” he says before shifting his attention to me. “And what a beauty it is you have brought with you.” My cheeks heat up when he picks up my hand and places a kiss on the back of my palm. “My name is Niklaus, and you are?”

“Aira,” I respond, and he smirks. His hand, which still holds mine, begins to stroke the back of my hand slowly, sending an uncomfortable chill up my arm.

“Aira,” he repeats. “You are, as your name says, a breath of life.” He says it slickly, and my cheeks grow even hotter. The both of us jump with surprise when a growl comes from our side.

Alexander has his canines sharpened and his eyes livid. They are focused on Niklaus’s hand holding mine.

Instantly, our hosts let go of me and took a step away from me.

“Forgive me; I didn’t know you were off limits,” Niklaus says with a nervous chuckle. “Alexander, you and I have a lot to discuss.” He pauses before offering me another swift glance. “And I would appreciate it if we did that alone.”

Alexander’s grip on my hand tightens. “No, she is not leaving my side.”

Niklaus places a hand over his heart. “I never thought I would see the day where you would utter such words; you hardly let women into business, most especially ours… but believe me when I say I can only discuss with you alone.”

Alexander is about to say something more, but I cut in. “It’s fine; I will busy myself with something else. I need to get something to drink anyway.” Alexander looks at me warningly, and then I add. “Water. I am just going to get water.”

“One of my waiters will attend to you,” Niklaus says, swooping Alexander away from me.

He looks at me over his shoulder and says, “I will be back shortly; stay put,” before disappearing into the crowd.

Great. Now I am alone.

Thank you so much for not leaving each other’s side today.

A waiter passes with some glasses of champagne, and I gladly take one for myself. As if I would ever attend a party and drink only water. Who the hell does that?

As I take a sip of champagne, my ears pick up on the conversation going on in the group beside me.

“And they have made quite a beautiful couple as well.”

“I can’t believe he did that to his ex, though. I mean her own sister.”

“I heard he would be here in attendance with her today. What was his name again?”

“I believe his name was Jace Swanville.”

No.

And just like that, the glass slips past my fingers and shatters into a million pieces on the floor. The guests beside me look at me like I have gone mad, but I do not pay them much attention.

Jace and Ana are coming here.

I have to get out of here. I have to find Alexander.

My eyes search through the crowd frantically, and my feet begin to move on their own accord. Where is he?

I do not pay much attention to where I am going when my body bumps into someone.

“I am so sorry.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

No.

It can’t be.

My blood runs cold, and time seems to have stopped as I stare at the woman I prayed to never see again. My own sister.

Ana.

We share the same shocked expression, and it is like I am staring at a mirror. She is wearing a dress similar to mine; her only way of telling us apart is the mere fact that her hair is down and mine is up.

“You… you are alive,” she whispers.

She takes in my appearance from head to toe. I watch her shock slowly morph into shock and hatred. Her eyelids narrow, and the grip on her drink tightens.

“You are alive,” she repeats, but this time with a lot more rage. “Why the hell are you alive?! Jace!”

No, please, no. not him.

The hair on my skin stands as the boy my heart once beat for walks up to us. When his eyes fall on me, they are hard and filled with so much fury. Every fiber in my body is screaming at me to run and never look back, but I seem to be frozen in place.

“Why is she alive? I thought you told me she was dead!” Ana seethes, and Jace grimaces; his eyes roll up and down my body with disgust. The way he looks at me only tears my heart to shreds even more.

He once looked at me with so much love and admiration.

I found myself asking the same question the day I watched him get married to my sister. What changed?

“The men I sent never got back to me. Their bodies were found in pieces in the forest up north. They said it was a wild animal attack, and pieces of a woman’s clothing were found on the site, so I thought she had been killed as well,” he pauses and grimaces at me. “It seems I was wrong.”

A part of me wants to ask if he knew those men tried to rape me. But then again, this is the same man who sent them to me to kill me, right? How could he possibly care?

Ana turns her enraged eyes at me and says, “I do not know how you are still breathing or what you did to get yourself in a place like this, but trust me when I say it won’t last for long.” Her eyes scan my dress again, and she snorts. “You look terrible.”

“Honestly, even with all that makeup, you still look hideous. You can’t even fit into a place like this even if you try,” Jace says, and he and Ana laugh together.

I take a step back as tears begin to blur my vision. I want to say something; I want to scream out my lungs, but nothing comes out.

God, why did I come here? I just want to disappear. Please take me away. I don’t want to be here.

“Ah, there you are, my love.”

My heart freezes in my chest when Alexander’s voice fills my ears.

My love? Did he just say my love?

Jace and Ana grow pale as he walks up to us and wraps his arms around my waist. It feels like my entire world has come to a stop when I find him smiling down at me. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“I have been looking for you everywhere,” he says, grabbing my chin softly and tilting my head up.

And just like that, I got my wish.

I was taken away from there; it felt like I was in a whole other universe at that moment.

Because that was the moment Alexander and I’s lips met.

And it was electrifying.