Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 38: Forced to obey

Chapter 38: Forced to obey

After much internal debate and consideration, Vivian reluctantly consented to Alaric’s conditions. She was torn between her debt and gratitude to Ronan and her desire for freedom from the dark magic slowly leading her to an inevitable death.

After all, Alaric had just confirmed that no other Wickan other than himself was capable of reversing the effects of the dark magic cast upon her. It would have to be removed by the caster’s hand.

Hence, the Wickans of Sabre Coven wouldn’t be able to help her in any way.

However, when asked why Alaric Alessandro Crowley had inflicted such deathly magic onto her body if he was the one who orchestrated Alexa’s death, with a wicked smile, the Wickan master replied, "For you to learn who you belong to, sweetheart."

Vivian wasn’t fond of the way the endearment rolled off his tongue.

It was no better than iron scraping against iron and grating on the ear.

"Do you understand, Vivian?" Alaric pressed more insistently, his gloved hand snaking up her throat, holding his grip there lightly. His lips flattened, his gaze growing sharper. "You have one season to complete your task. Isn’t that generous enough?"

Vivian answered compliantly with a soft ’I understand.’

Alaric’s grip on her throat tightened, constricting her air supply. Her body’s temperature rose painfully, as if his touch further activated the dark magic within the symbols engraved onto her body.

"There will be consequences if you fail, Vivian," Alaric threatened, his thumb pressing hard on her windpipe, causing her to choke and gasp for air. When the hot tears rushed out of the corner of her eyes, he released her, satisfied with the results of his work. "You’re beautiful when you cry, Vivian."

Coughing frantically, Vivian moved her shackled hand to touch her neck where his hand was just moments ago.

Why was this happening to her? What did she do to deserve this?

She wanted nothing more than to sob and curl up into a ball on the cold stone floor, praying to hide away from the living nightmare right before her eyes.

Before Alaric could utter another word, he was alerted by two of his subordinates who captured Vivian earlier.

A beastly roar echoed through the cell and underground, rundown dungeon.

Vivian’s head perked up immediately, her eyes lighting up with recognition upon hearing the howl.

Ronan.

The two subordinates informed Alaric of an intrusion into the underground dungeon cell, describing to their master that a monstrous beast had stormed through their magic barriers.

"I suppose our meeting will end here, Vivian," Alaric said, standing up from his crouching position. "I will have eyes watching your every move, so see to it that you complete your task."

"Oh, and don’t forget," he said, glancing over his shoulder at her just as he turned to leave. "If you ever want to see that niece of yours again..."

Without another word, Alaric and his subordinates dissipated into thin air with the aid of a transportation spell.

It wasn’t long before the sound of heavy thuds that made the dungeon’s ground tremble resonated throughout the space, drawing closer.

Vivian heard the crash of stone and bricks, almost as if Ronan was mindlessly bulldozing his way through walls rather than searching for a direct path to her.

She gasped, closing her eyes tightly, when the Lycan Alpha appeared in his full lycanthropic skin. He ripped the cell’s gates clean off its hinges effortlessly, tossing it aside to barge his way into the cell.

His arrival was followed by a raging snarl, canines bared as he dropped onto all fours and approached her.

Ronan’s gold-amber eyes flared with evident temper when he noticed the shackles on Vivian’s limbs and the bruising mark ringed around her neck.

Whoever did this would pay dearly.

With their life.

The Lycan Alpha struck the chains with his claws, shattering them to release Vivian. The metal bracelet and anklet parts of the shackles remained around her wrists and anklets, but at least the chains had been severed.

Immediately, Vivian delved into the soft comfort of Ronan’s arms. She sobbed uncontrollably, breaking down without restraint.

She despised the lingering feeling of Alaric’s touch on her, hoping to eradicate the memory of it in the Lycan Alpha’s arms.

When Vivian sought him upon her release, Ronan had to minimise his strength by a high degree to prevent himself from crushing her body in his embrace. His claws retracted, and he wrapped his arms around her small, frail, and vulnerable body.

He detested seeing the dried tears staining her face, as well as the rush of fresh ones.

This shouldn’t have happened.

He shouldn’t have been so weak.

"I’m so sorry, Vivian." Ronan apologised for the first time in his life, betraying his pride and blatant disregard for anyone and anything. "I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you."

Hurt and angry, not because of Ronan, Vivian weakly banged her fist against his chest. The tears were unruly and hot, flowing like endless streams down her face.

"You...why didn’t you come sooner?" She grabbed a fistful of the fur on his chest, bunching it in her hand as she fought to control herself.

Ronan’s heart felt a heavy pang of guilt.

He’d failed her.

He should have paid more attention to their surroundings.

He shouldn’t have dismissed the matter of the Wickans for later.

"Who did this to you?" Ronan cupped her face tenderly, his rough thumb moving gently to wipe her tears. "Tell me, Vivian. I’ll make them pay dearly." His tone grew sharper and more deadly.

"Tell me which Wickans did this. Did you recognise them?" Ronan pressed for answers. "Those bastards..."

"I...didn’t see their faces." Vivian lied, averting her gaze to the side. She was still sceptical of exposing Alaric.

After all, the man had something precious in his possession, and he threatened to harm said precious thing if she didn’t comply.

At all costs, she was forced to obey him.

"Anything, Vivian," Ronan said with desperation. "If anything at all you could recognise about them—"

"I don’t know!" Vivian blurted out furiously, and Ronan’s tone softened apologetically.

Now is not the time to interrogate her. His Lycan half warned him. She needs your comfort.

Shifting swiftly back into his human skin, Ronan pulled Vivian into his arms, soothingly rubbing her back.

He should have been here sooner.

"You’re safe now," Ronan uttered with a tender promise. "I won’t let anything happen to you again."