The Cherished Lycan Princess

MALIA

Ethan left.

Ethan left me. I stood there, frozen, staring at the space he had been moments ago. I blinked, expecting to wake up from this awful dream, but as my fingers closed around the hair tie on my palm, the harsh reality set in.

Was I wrong?

Maybe I wouldn’t applaud him for accepting gifts from his exes, but I wouldn’t ignore him for a week because of that.

The emotions I had been holding back pressed into me, and I let myself feel them. Anger, disbelief, hurt, and so much pain I could hardly breathe around it. He had been the first man I let see me completely, the first man I had been vulnerable with, and yet this was how he treated me? Like I were some regret? Like I was only a phase?

Really? Rose mocked, suddenly finding her voice after going silent on me. I ignored her, putting up a block so I didn’t have to deal with an infuriating mate and a bitchy wolf.

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I wiped it away. It was pointless. The ache spilled over, making my throat tighten, and my chest constrict. I wouldn’t cry here. Not in this empty hallway where his absence echoed louder than the music from the party. I needed to get out of here.

Squaring my shoulders, I forced myself to move. My legs carried me forward on instinct, my body going through the motions while my mind remained stuck on the last words he threw at me.

Enjoy the rest of your evening. Like I could enjoy anything after his heartbreaking speech.

The second I stepped back into the party, I noticed the contrast and almost let out a bitter, sadistic laugh. Inside here, the world spun with laughter, music, and clinking glasses.

Everything was too loud, too bright, and too happy. Everyone celebrated without a clue that my world had just collapsed. That my heart was slowly breaking.

Ethan was gone, but Ellie was where I left her. She was at our table, staring down at the drink in her hands. Practice wouldn’t resume until Monday, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea for her to be drinking tonight.

After seeing her father, though, I guess she needed the distraction. I would drink too, but alcohol never had the same effect on us werewolves. I would need an unhealthy amount to feel even the slightest buzz or hint of highness.

Ellie barely looked up as I approached. “I’m ready to go,” I said quietly, though my voice barely felt like my own. “Are you? The party is pretty much over, anyway.”

She didn’t argue. Just nodded and downed the rest of her drink like she needed it for courage or something.

“Good,” she said. “I don’t think I can stay here either.”

There was something hollow in her voice, a reflection of my current state of mind. My gaze darted to the table Albert was occupying with his companion, Sebastine, and other important men. Why were men so callous?

Blinding hate pricked me as Ellie’s confession echoed in my head. Her father, a man who had never acknowledged her, was here in the flesh. Not even sparing her a glance, not even aware she existed and was successful in a career he sponsored. Why did he turn her down? Could she ever forgive him? If it were me… I probably wouldn’t.

Mine were gone, had been for years, and I never forgave them for something that wasn’t fully in their control.

“You okay?” I asked, knowing full well she wasn’t.

Ellie gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “Not even close.”

She wobbled to her feet, and I held her hand. Feeling eyes on us, I scanned the room to see Sebastine watching us. I rounded to her side, locking an arm around her waist so she could rest her weight on me. If he thought we would make a fool of ourselves, he’d have to think again. Even without Ethan telling me, I knew better than to mess up tonight. It was a big deal for the team.

“I’m not in the right headspace to drive,” she added.

Neither did I want her driving me anywhere.

“Let’s call Cassie,” I said. “Where’s she, by the way?”

Ellie pulled away from me to bring out her phone. After a brief exchange, she looked at me with a jittery smile.

“She’s outside. I guess I’ll come get my car later.”

“Sounds good,” I murmured.

The air shifted the second we stepped through the venue doors. Outside was different—calmer, quieter. The sharp, cold night pressed against my skin, sobering me.

Inside we were surrounded by warmth, opulence, chandeliers casting golden light, and polished marble floors. Out here, there was only the distant hum of city traffic, the soft rustling of the winter wind, and the bright headlights of Cassie’s car waiting at the curb.

Cassie leaned against the hood, her arms crossed. “Took you long enough,” she said, but there was laughter in her voice. And concern. “Are the two of you actually okay?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Just exhausted.”

With my help, Ellie got into the back and laid across the seat. I slipped into the front and fixed my seatbelt.

Cassie entered and started the car. “What’s up?”

“Ethan and I broke up,” I said.

“What?” came from both the front and back seats.

“Why?” Cassie whispered.

“I collected a gift from Julian on… Valentine’s Day.”

Silence settled for a few beats before Ellie spoke, her voice cutting through the tension. “Tell me you didn’t actually accept a gift from Julian.” When I stayed silent, she groaned. “Seriously, Malia, what’s wrong with you?”

“It was just a bag.” I swallowed, staring out the window as tears filled my eyes. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

“Yeah, it’s not,” Ellie replied. I wiped the tears rolling down my eyes with the back of my hand. “I mean, what woman doesn’t want her man collecting gifts from his exes on Valentine’s Day? A bag? For fuck’s sake, Malia?”

“It wasn’t like that,” I cried. Cassie glanced at me, her silence enough to make me wince. “Julian is not my ex.”

“Just because you didn’t slap a label on it doesn’t make it less of what it is,” Ellie snapped. I thought she was done but she muttered under her breath. “Not a big deal.”

Cassie shot Ellie a warning look through the rearview mirror. “Ellie, it’s okay. That’s enough condemnation.”

“What? I’m supposed to just let her keep making dumb, silly decisions? At least she has a man who adores her.”

The weight of her words rested on my shoulders, and I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to argue. She was right. I had second thoughts about accepting the bag from Julian, but I hadn’t cared too much at the time.

If Ethan noticed the pink bag was missing from his office trash, he didn’t show or mention it when we spoke earlier. I lost a relationship for a bag I would never use.

Julian refused to collect the blue bag, so it was sitting in a corner of my closet. Cassie sighed, dragging me out of my thoughts.

“Ellie, you’re upset,” Cassie began. “We all are after hearing Malia’s choice. But let’s not tear each other apart. She needs our support right now. Why so mean?”

Ellie scoffed but didn’t say anything else. I exhaled, my forehead pressing against the cool glass, while I tried to focus on anything but the gnawing ache in my chest.

We dropped Ellie at her place first, and the second she was gone, the car became unbearably quiet. Cassie didn’t start the car, and I wasn’t sure how to broach the topic.

“Are you going to say anything?” I asked.

She exhaled a small laugh that comforted me more than anything she had said tonight. She was still on my side.

“No, Mal. You feel guilty enough.”

“Thanks.”

“Not so fast,” she replied. I laughed, and she took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “But what I don’t understand is why you continue hurting your mate knowing how devoted he is to you. You know how dicey the situation is, especially with Julian. He saw you two kiss. He’s aware you two were fucking. Even if the gift was a random gesture, how would it look to Ethan?”

“He ignored me,” I said foolishly.

“Then ignore him right back not by accepting gifts from other men.” Her voice lowered like she was about to whisper a secret. She pushed her knee to the seat, her eyes softening. “I don’t think you understand how sacred the mate bond is, and you’ll never let anyone in to teach you. Your mate is more than a random fling. More than a boyfriend or girlfriend. And somehow, Ethan, who isn’t a werewolf, seems to understand that better than you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“He’s the one you owe an apology, not me.”

Maybe. But the way Ethan looked at me tonight… I feared I had lost him. That he’d never want me in his life.

“He doesn’t want to talk to me again,” I confessed.

“Of course he’d love to talk to you again,” she muttered. Her confidence astounded me, and my eyes filled up again with hot tears. “He’s upset, but he will calm down.”

“Do you really think so? I love him.”

“We all know. It’s obvious,” she whispered. I couldn’t stop my smile. “That man worships the ground you walk on, Malia. He has stars in his eyes when he’s talking to you. God, his smiles. He has a special smile for you, do you know that? The girls have a running bet on who’ll crack first. Or when you two will announce it to the team.”

“Really?”

Cassie nodded. “Yep. I even staked my money too.” My eyes widened, and she laughed. “Don’t disappoint me.”

“We… won’t. I think.”

“What are you so scared of, Malia?” she asked.

Of him dying. Of living without him.

Just a fight, and I was a mess. What if he died because of these goddamn runes? But I couldn’t tell her that.

Runes were the curse of lycans, so she knew nothing about them. How I wished I was born a regular wolf.

“Why do you keep holding back from your soulmate?”

The truth lodged in my throat. If I let Ethan have me completely, something terrible would happen. The bond, the very thing meant to bring us together, would be the thing to destroy him. Yet, pushing him away hurt a lot.

“What aren’t you telling me, Malia?”

The first set of tears slipped down my cheek before I could stop it, and I couldn’t hold them back anymore.

A sob ripped through me, my shoulders shaking as I pressed my palms against my eyes. Cassie didn’t say anything. Just reached over and hugged me.

“Nothing.” I sucked in a shaky breath. “I’m just scared.”

“But why?” she whispered.

“Love is scary.”

It was a variation of the truth.

My parents were so much in love they chose death over living without each other. Even when they had kids. Ethan wanted more, but I wasn’t certain of giving him that life, yet, I didn’t want to be separated from him.

“It’s scary,” Cassie confirmed. “But it’s also beautiful with the right person. And you already have that person. Don’t lose out on a better life because of a fear, Malia.”

“Yeah? I really hope I haven’t lost him.”

She didn’t rush to reassure me. Didn’t offer false hope or comfort. Instead, she told me, “Not forever, alright?”

But it felt like forever. It felt like the end of everything. I pulled out my phone, fingers trembling as I tried to call Ethan. But it went straight to voicemail. I tried again but got nothing.

The finality of it hit me like a punch to the gut. I let my hand drop to my lap, my phone slipping from my fingers.

Cassie sighed. “Give him time.”

Though my head bobbed in agreement, deep down, I wondered if time would fix this. If anything would fix us or this hurt. Because for the first time, it really felt like Ethan was gone. And I had no idea how to live with that.

Hey, Queens!!!

If you’re reading this, then I can safely assume you’ve read book one: The Forbidden Lycan Princess. If not, I suggest you start from there to make sense of TCLP.

That being said, thanks for picking up TCLP. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

TCLP is the seventh book in the Curse of the Lycan series, and it cannot be read as a standalone. You’re welcome to check out the other books in the series here on Inkitt.

Don’t forget to like, share your thoughts in the comment section, and leave a review to help boost its visibility.

Started: October 5th, 2026

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