The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin

The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin by Moonlight Muse Chapter 1

1. On My Own

SKYLA.

Music pounded from the car speakers, and I leaned into the wind whipping through my hair. I glanced at the GPS and stifled a yawn, massaging the tension from the back of my neck.

Nothing was more satisfying than realizing you were finally free—free of the persona they'd forced on me, no longer hidden behind the shield my parents had built around me. Freedom was what I saw when my pack territory disappeared in the rearview mirror.

No more watchful eyes. No more hushed whispers to try and ignore. I could finally put what happened behind me—or so I hoped. The past sometimes latched onto me like a persistent leech, coming back to haunt me. Coming back to serve as a reminder. One slip-up, and I might not be as lucky as last time. I hated to think what would have happened if Mama hadn't gotten there in time. If she hadn't saved him… I might not be here right now.

Less than an hour left. It had been a long drive from The Night Walkers Pack, home to me and my family. I wished I didn't have to resort to this, leaving for the edge of town near Midnight Academy, which I would attend in a week's time.

My twin sister would live in the dorms, but after what happened at the end of last year, I couldn't risk it. Since I'd turned eighteen, I didn't know why, but it was getting harder to control *it*.

I slowed down, signaling left and changing lanes. This town wasn't huge. It was only a ten-minute drive from the Academy. The town was part of The Luminaria Pack territory. A pack that wasn't too big, but the Alpha was someone Dad trusted. The Alpha's father had also been one of the elders on Dad's council before he passed away.

Alpha Prescott was an honest man who lived to please my father. He had even offered to let me stay in his house, and Dad was up for that idea, but I wasn't. I wanted to stop relying on my father and everyone else. The entire point of moving out of the academy dorms was to be isolated from others.

This was my chance to step out of my father's shadow, though that was kind of hard to do when you were the daughter of the Lycan King himself.

"What do you think, Malevolent? Do you think we're going to enjoy this place?" I asked, caressing the silky black fur of my green-eyed cat as she sat on the passenger seat.

Malevolent was my ride-or-die companion. This little kitty had been with me since I was a kid. Dad got her for me, and since then, we were inseparable. We could even pass as siblings. I mean, I had black hair and green eyes too.

She purred, and I found myself smiling at her. She was totally going to love this place. Pets weren't allowed at the academy, after all. Of course, Malevolent always went with me, but she had to stay hidden. I slammed my foot on the brake, realizing I almost missed my stop. Malevolent hissed in annoyance as she nearly tumbled onto the floor.

I smirked as I rolled up the window before turning the engine off. Scooping Malevolent up in my arms, I got out of the car and stared at the small cottage nestled between the trees. A low fence surrounded the front, along with some rather overgrown hedges. Smiling, I pushed open the rickety gate and made my way up the gravel path to the door. A new start.

This place also belonged to the Alpha of the Luminaria Pack, and it was the only reason Dad had agreed to let me live here alone. Kataleya, my twin, had offered to stay with me, but I knew she loved the academy and spent hours afterwards in the library. It wasn't fair if she had to come out here when she was part of so many after-school clubs.

Stopping at the door where the blue paint was peeling, I knelt, lifted the flowerpot, and grabbed the key they told me would be placed there. "Well, Malevolent, let's see what our new home for senior year looks like."

Unlocking the door, we stepped inside, and I looked around. It was quaint, a little old, but clean. The smell of citrus and blossoms from cleaning products filled the air, courtesy of the Alpha and Luna, I presumed. I walked through to the kitchen, and the first thing I spotted was the card sitting on the table, propped against a massive hamper of fruit.

"Meow…" Malevolent purred before leaping onto the table.

I walked over, picked up the card, and began to read it out loud in an exaggerated posh accent.

"Dear Skyla,

Welcome to the Luminaria Pack. I hope you like your new accommodations; I have made sure to have the pantry and fridge stocked. I want to take the chance to invite you to have a family dinner with us tomorrow night.

PS: We prepared a room in our house for you too, in case you change your mind. Consider our pack and our home your own.

Yours,

Luna April of The Luminaria Pack"

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

I guessed Prescott wasn't going to just let me stay here in peace. Was this Dad's idea? A way of letting me know they were keeping a watchful eye on me?

I didn't know why they were so adamant about me staying there. They should know I wasn't going to bend to their demands. I didn't care if they wanted to look out for me; I didn't need them.

This year was about me and what I wanted for myself. I stared at the note as I plucked a grape from the large bunch sitting in the hamper, tossed it up, and caught it between my red lips.

My phone beeped. I took it out of the pocket of my leather jacket and raised an eyebrow, staring at the message.

Dad.

*Hey, you arrived? How do you like the place? Prescott called saying he's invited you tomorrow night for dinner. Make sure you go.*

I sighed, placing the phone down and leaving Dad on read.

"Dad, you and Prescott can plan all you want, but I am not going to entertain old goats this year. It's going to be about me. I'm legally an adult now. I'm done having to obey."

I walked over to the radio sitting on the counter, wondering how old the thing was, but it was working. Tuning into a music channel, I blasted it so high it hurt my own ears and drowned out my thoughts. Smirking, I took my jacket off, tossed it onto a chair, and headed back outside.

Time to get unpacking and settled in!

—–

"All done, Malevolent!" I said, dropping onto my bed in nothing but a towel since I had just showered. I had managed to get unpacked, and now I picked up my phone.

I skimmed through my messages from my girls, and then there were like a ton from Dad, and a couple from Mama. I didn't bother with them, not wanting to hear their concern.

Instead, I rolled onto my stomach, logging onto a separate chat app. My heart skipped a beat as I looked at the little red dot with the number 4 on it.

Four messages…

I bit my lip and clicked on the chat between me and Reign707.

**Reign707:** I'll wait for it. You owe me that picture.

**Reign707:** Should I be worried that you haven't been online for the last twenty or so hours?

**Reign707:** Seriously, no reply?

**Reign707:** Everything ok? Hit me up when you get the chance. I might be a little worried.

**LuciferessX:** Aww, did you miss me? See, I knew I was so precious, just didn't realize you're so needy.

I bit my lip and smirked when I saw him typing. So, he was waiting for my message…

**Reign707:** Amusing. Not. However, where the hell have you been?

I rolled onto my back, unable to explain why I felt so giddy talking to him. I had somehow virtually run into him in an online chat room where we were all betting on a match in the Alpha Gen X games, and then we somehow got into a debate. He ended up being right, but it was his cocky I-told-you-so attitude that really hit something inside me.

**LuciferessX:** Moving today, remember?

**Reign707:** Oh shoot, yeah, you were saying. How's the new place?

It was kinda cute how he didn't really say fuck or shit.

**LuciferessX:** It's nice, secluded, in the middle of nowhere. A little cottage in the middle of the woods.

**Reign707:** Did you know the big bad wolf comes after the little girl in the woods?

**LuciferessX:** Oh baby, I AM the big bad wolf.

**Reign707:** Oh yeah, with that tiny body of yours?

I rolled my eyes. I may not have shown him my face, not wanting him to somehow recognize me for being the Alpha King's daughter, but he had seen an image of me posing on a bike with a helmet on, and a couple of other half-shots.

**LuciferessX:** This girl's got claws and teeth, and I'm not afraid to use both.

If only he knew how dangerous I could be…

**Reign707:** Who says I don't enjoy some pain? Maybe I wouldn't mind you tearing my clothes off with those claws.

Was it possible for my heart to palpitate over a couple of sentences? When we met, I knew he was going through a rough patch in a relationship. He never really mentioned her much, but they had issues.

**LuciferessX:** Let's not get ahead of ourselves…

**Reign707:** I'll try not to Lol. You owe me a picture, remember? Of your new tattoo?

Oh yeah!

I looked down at my right shoulder. I had a tattoo of vines, with small thorns and red roses that spread from my shoulder down the right side of my breast to my waist, as well as the full sleeve of my right arm.

Well, if he wants a picture…

I loosened my towel and positioned my tattooed arm over my breasts. Crossing my legs, I raised my phone, tilting it so only my lower stomach all the way to my shoulders could be seen as I turned slightly to my right, arching my back a little, and took a steamy snap.

I looked at it. It was probably the sexiest image I'd taken of myself to send to someone, and yeah, I was about to send it to him.

We'd been friends… but I didn't know, sometimes I felt there was something more… Here goes nothing.

**LuciferessX:** Here you go. What do you think?

I attached the picture and hit send. I felt a twinge of excitement inside and rolled onto my stomach restlessly, watching the little 'Seen' notification pop up under the image. I bit my lip, waiting for his reply. There was a pause… a long pause.