A MATE FOR A CURSED LYCAN

Lyra's POV

“Nooo! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!” I jolted awake with a scream, shooting upright in bed. My chest heaved as I dragged in one breath after another. Sweat soaked my clothes, and my hands trembled against the sheets. I stared around my room, my heart pounding against my ribs. The familiar curtains, furniture, and decorations were all exactly where they should be.

I was in my room. But how? A cold shiver ran down my spine. Was this what the afterlife looked like? Or was I dreaming?

The door flew open, and my ladies-in-waiting rushed inside with Esther right behind them. Fear flashed across their faces as they hurried toward me.

“My lady!” Esther reached me first and pulled me into her arms.

“Esther…” My voice broke as I clung to her. “Please, help me. I don’t want to die. I can’t lose my baby either.” I pressed a trembling hand against my stomach, tears spilling down my cheeks. Esther suddenly pulled back, her brows drawing together.

“Which baby, my lady?” I froze.

“My baby…” I whispered, staring at her in confusion. “Remember?” My hand remained pressed against my stomach as I searched her face for any sign that she understood. Instead, Esther's worried expression only deepened. She slowly turned toward the other women and gave them a silent signal to leave. One by one, my ladies-in-waiting hurried out.

“What’s wrong, my lady?” Esther asked softly. She took my trembling hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You shouldn’t let your inability to have a child affect you this deeply.” I stared at her, my lips parting in disbelief.

“No.” I shook my head quickly. “You don’t understand. I’m pregnant. I am!” My voice rose with desperation. “You know about it. We went to the royal physician together. We had the test done. The nurse brought the results straight to my chamber.” The words tumbled from my mouth, faster and faster. I could barely breathe between them. “I saw the result. You saw it too. You were there!” Esther’s eyes filled with tears. She tightened her grip on my hand and shook her head slowly.

“My lady…” Her voice cracked. “No such thing happened.” I felt the blood drain from my face. “You’re not pregnant.”

Her face told me she wasn't joking. I slowly pulled my hands from hers and looked away. My eyes drifted around the room until they landed on the calendar hanging on the wall.

My breath caught as I stared at the calendar. One week until the Moon Goddess Festival.

My mind raced as I counted the days, and slowly, the truth began to sink in.

I wasn't dreaming.

I had returned to the past.

I had been given a second chance.

What was the point of being reborn at the expense of my own child? I bite my lips hard trying to hold back my tears.

Why moon goddess? Why?

A sharp ache spread through my chest. I pressed my palm against my heart, trying to calm the pain, but it only grew stronger.

I forced myself out of bed, grabbed a coat and draped it over my shoulders. I needed to clear my head.

“My lady, where are you going…”

“I'm going for a run. I just need to clear my head,” I said before Esther could finish.

“But you can't leave dressed like that. You don't look well,” she said worriedly. I gave her a small, tired smile.

“I'll be fine.” I didn't wait for her reply. I walked out of the room and headed toward the exit of the pack house.

The moment I stepped outside, I felt eyes following me. I couldn't bear their whispers, their curious looks, or the thought of facing anyone who had once watched me suffer. I needed somewhere no one could find me.

I ran deeper into the woods, the cold air cutting against my skin. But the faster I ran, the tighter the pain in my chest became. Then the memories came rushing back. My pregnancy. The kiss. Their laughter. My death. Each memory flashed through my mind like a cruel nightmare.

“Nooooooo!” I suddenly stopped and screamed, my voice echoing through the silent woods. Whatever strength I had left finally broke. Tears poured down my face as I stumbled forward and collapsed onto the cold ground. I curled into myself, pressing my hands against my chest as sobs tore through me.

I wiped my tears and clenched my fists. They had to pay for what they had done to me. There had to be a way to break them, just as they had broken me. A sudden rustle came from the trees. My head snapped toward the sound, but there was no one there. Only swaying branches. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. Then my eyes caught a strange mark carved into one of the trees. My heart dropped. Fuck. I knew that mark. I was in Lycan territory.

How had I wandered this far? I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't even realized I had crossed into enemy lands. I scrambled to my feet and quickly wiped the tears from my face.

I closed my eyes and reached for my wolf, expecting to feel her familiar presence.

Nothing.

No answering growl. No warmth. Not even the faintest stir of consciousness.

My heart began to race.

“Come on. Not now.”

I reached for her again, harder this time, but the silence remained.

With no time to figure out what was wrong, I decided to rely on my own strength. I turned and ran. I hadn't gone far when I heard heavy footsteps pounding behind me. Whatever had been watching me had finally revealed itself. I glanced over my shoulder.

A Lycan. My blood ran cold. There was no way I could outrun one of them.

But I refused to give up. I pushed my legs harder, forcing myself to run faster. My lungs burned, and branches scratched against my arms as I tore through the woods.

My foot landed on a slick stone and slipped out from under me.

“Ah!”

I crashed to the ground, my head striking something hard enough to send a burst of pain through my skull.

A scream tore from my throat. I grabbed the back of my head, blinking rapidly as the world spun around me. Then I felt a heavy presence above me. My breath caught.

I slowly opened my eyes, but everything was blurred. A dark figure hovered over me, blocking out the light. I could feel his warm breath against my face. A low growl rumbled through his chest.

“Mate.”