You're Always Have My Heart

Ronan's POV

The humans had approached us with a proposal. They wanted to end the conflict between us through a political alliance, and the royal cabinet accepted. I saw it as an insult. They wanted one of us to marry one of them, and I would have ordered a high-ranking member of the pack to take the human bride. But they refused, they wanted the lycan king. Me.

The thought alone made my claws threaten to surface. A human in my home, carrying my name, and standing beside me as Luna queen.

Impossible.

I paced the room, my anger rolling through me like a storm.

“You said you wouldn’t marry her.” My mate, Sadie, broke through my thoughts. I turned, she was standing there with tears in her eyes. I regretted not marking her. I had wanted to many times, but my inner lycan, Rafe, refused and asked me to wait.

"You said you wouldn't marry her, Ronan. I'm your mate, and we swore to be together forever," Sadie cried, making my chest tighten.

“This alliance is what the pack needs.” The words tasted bitter because they were true. Sadie pressed her face against my chest, and I closed my eyes to enjoy the feeling of her in my arms, but then I saw a flash of auburn hair and bright green eyes. My bride. I felt an odd sensation coursing through my body.

Why did I feel a connection to her when I saw her? I held Sadie tighter and kissed her. 

"You'll always have my heart, nothing will change, I promise," I vowed.

Rafe started whining, warning me to stop holding our mate. I don't know why, but I listened. I turned my head, and that's when I saw her, standing in the doorway, watching us. She looked shocked, and once again, I was taken by her beauty. She looked too innocent, and my chest hurt. Was she hurting right now? I suddenly had the desire to protect her, to dominate her, and hold her. 

"Is this the ugly human you are forced to marry?" Sadie sneered, looking at my bride with disgust. Josie's eyes left mine and went to Sadie. A small frown touched her lips, then they parted as if to retort.

Sadie scoffed and went towards her. I had to force myself to stand still and not stand between them. She suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her inside the study. She stumbled, and for a moment, I extended my hand to catch her, but stopped myself. 

"Listen to me, human slut. You are nothing to Ronan but a symbol. I'm his mate, and his love. So, if you have any intentions of seducing him, forget it, am I clear!" Sadie barked. Josie took steps away from us, almost scared but trying to be brave. 

"I have no such intention. He's not my type anyway," she barked, touching an emerald ring on her finger. Who gave her that? I growled, and she jumped, and my lycan whimpered, fuck, I swear my big bad lycan whimpered, and I hated that this woman hadn't been in my house for less than an hour and already my emotions were in disarray. 

"Good," Sadie said at last. However, Josie's intense eyes were on me. 

She turned suddenly and ran. I followed her without thinking, leaving my mate screaming my name. 

Josie's POV

I ran away from my husband and that woman, his mate, or Luna, whatever that means. My heart ached painfully, and something deep within me was leading me to him. It felt as if I should be in his arms, not Sadie. It hurt to see them kiss. Why did it? I was going crazy! 

I stood in the garden, telling myself to breathe. It's okay, it's good. He has someone in his life, and he will not pay attention to me. I can be here as a symbol and live amongst the beasts that didn't look like beasts at all. 

I was stuck here, in this sham of a marriage, and there was nothing I could do about it. I touched the engagement ring around my finger, wishing I could talk to Jonathan, but I felt so betrayed by him and everyone else.

I went back inside after feeling a little better. I needed to keep my composure. I had to remember I was surrounded by lycans that could probably kill or eat me at the slightest mistake. 

"Miss," a voice called, and I jumped, frightened. I turned to see Kane. He bowed his head. Why does he do that?

"Hi, I- I came for some air out here," I said, and he nodded. 

"You shouldn't wander alone, especially at night," he said gently, guiding me back inside. He took me to a bedroom, and I froze when he said it was Ronan's room. 

"Your things were brought in hours before you arrived. They are in the closet," Kane pointed to the closet. I looked around the room. It was manly and plain, with a king-size bed facing two floor-to-ceiling arched windows. There was a huge TV and a large L-shaped sofa. Everything was black and gray.

"Are you sure I can be here?" I asked hesitantly. Both times I saw him, he looked disgusted to see me. 

"Yes, Lady Genevive demands it," he said. 

"Lady Genevive?" 

"The king's grandmother, but we call her Lady Gigi. She wants you to consummate the marriage," he said, touching the back of his head in embarrassment. Shit, I forgot married people do that. I didn't want to consummate this marriage.

"I'm not sleeping with that man," the words slipped out, and I covered my mouth. 

Kane shrugged, "Okay."

I lay on the bed after Kane left, and found myself sniffing the silk sheets. It smelled like him, so masculine and a mixture of something alluring. The door opened, and I jumped to my feet. The lycan king stormed in, eyes glaring at me. My heart started to race, and I couldn't back away either. I stood tall and brave, facing him. 

"What are you doing in here, human?"