Would you take the throne as the Lycan’s Queen? - The Lycan's Queen (2024)

Werewolf romance smash-hit, The Lycan’s Queen, spans over 3 books and has been read over 125 million times on the Galatea app. The app and it’s series has received recognition from BBC, Forbes and The Guardian, and The Lycan’s Queen is the latest of their breakout hits. The novel has been driving romance readers crazy since it’s release and is among the latest booktok sensations taking Tiktok by storm.

Chapter 1

Normally, I wasn’t the type of girl who obsessed over romantic stories, but recently all I’ve been doing is reading these unrealistic, sappy books and imagining myself as the female lead.

Why? Because today is the my love story get’s its happy ending.

Who is the male lead, you ask?

The same guy who stole my heart four years ago: Hunter Hall.

“Aarya, do you want to come shopping for car snacks with me?” My mom shouted up the stairs.

“No, Mom.” I replied. Eating was the last thing on my mind. My stomach was full of butterflies.

Aarya Bedi, that’s my name. I am nineteen years old, and if you can’t already tell from my name, I am Indian.

And yes, I’m a werewolf.

Right now, I am training to be a pack doctor; it was always something I wanted to do. Something I was passionate about. Although I can hardly focus on my studies these days. My mind is constantly racing with thoughts about Hunter Hall.

He’s the future beta of our pack. The Black Moon Pack. He and our future alpha, Carter Ward, were sent away for training four years ago, and they were coming back today.

I still remember the day before they left. Hunter came up to me, looked at me with his gorgeous blue eyes, and told me to wait for him.

I was only fifteen at the time, but I knew I would. After all, I was utterly in love with Hunter. He was my first kiss. My first love. And I was sure he was my mate.

Most wolves find their mates at eighteen, and since Hunter wasn’t here when I turned eighteen, and I had yet to find mine, it just all made sense. So I was excitedly waiting for his return, so I could finally feel that spark, that connection, and finally be united with my other half.

A familiar ringtone started playing, pulling me out of my fantasies.

I rolled over to grab my phone, which was charging on my bedside table. Seeing the name flash up on the screen, I smiled and quickly answered.

“Sophia Butler, long time no speak,” I teased.

“Aarya Bedi, stop teasing me. You know I’ve been busy,” my best friend Sophia whined.

“Have you really been busy? Or has Luke been keeping you trapped away?”

Sophia laughed, “You are horrible. You know I have been busy. After all, the Lycan Ball is coming up. Are you excited?”

Ah yes, the Lycan Ball. The kingdom’s way to ensure that all packs travelled to the palace and met the King at least once every five years.

Most wolves couldn’t wait for their pack to be invited. They used it as an opportunity to meet their mate’s and rub elbows with the oh so elite Lycan Royalty.

That’s how Sophia met Luke. They literally bumped into eachother at the ball four years ago. Since then, she changed a lot. Like everyone who gets mated to a lycan, she’s slowly becoming one herself.

Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy when she called with the news. But a part of me knew I would lose my best friend.

After all, now that she was a lycan, not only was she a different species, she had very important roles and responsibilities. Her mate, Luke Martin, was head of the warriors, and based out of the Royal Lycan Palace. She’d had no choice but to leave our pack and join him there. It wasn’t all bad though, she’d also taken over as Lead Events Planner at the Palace, a role she loved. The Lycan Ball was the most important event she organized every year.

I’d never been to The Lycan Ball. Had avoided it so far, which was fine by me. I already knew who my mate was. Plus, I was terrified of lycans…and the new lycan king was said to be particularly wicked.

The previous king ruled for five hundred years before handing the reins to the next in line for the crown. Rumor has it our he went travelling with his mate, and no one has heard from them since. I don’t blame. I can’t imagine having the same job for five centuries.

Now, his son, Adonis Dimitri Grey, was in power.

From the little I’d heard, he seemed totally strange.

For one, he asked everyone to call him Dimitri. Only those who knew him intimately were permitted to call him Adonis.

He took over the throne with no mate by his side, which was unheard of. All the lycan kings before him had found their mates before becoming king. It helped balance their leadership. How could you properly rule if half of you was missing?

I’d heard rumors that he often went into terrible rages and needed to be detained by his own guards. Which sounded exactly what you didn’t want from a ruler, right?

He also hated pictures. There were only three of him that existed. One when he was born, another when his siblings were born, and the last one when he was corronated.

Elitist, unstable, dangerous, and anti-social. Deffinitly not someone I was interested in meeting.

I was only a child when he took over the throne; it’s been ten years since then and I’d avoided meeting him. Primarily because the last time we got picked to attend the Lycan’s Ball, I was struck down by an awful case of the flu. My grandparents flew from Canada, to come look after me while the rest of my family went.

This time, I’d run out of excuses. My time was up. I was going to have to face my fears whether I liked it or not. At least Hunter would be by my side.

“Come on,” Sophia urged again, pulling me from my spiralling thoughts. “Aren’t you excited?”

“Oh yes. I am so looking forward to it,” I sarcastically replied. She knew about my unease with Lycan’s and their King.

“Well the good thing is you’ll get to see me.” Sophia tried cheering me up.

“That’s true. We haven’t seen each other in a year. Not since you came back home to see your little nephew.” I sighed.

“I miss you too. I wish I could come back more often.”

“You’re busy, I get it. Thank God for technology though. We can always talk even if we aren’t together,” I said.

“That’s so true. Oh, Aarya! I just can’t wait to see you! You leave tomorrow, right?” Sophia asked.

“Yep, tomorrow. Bright and early.” I sighed.

“Stop sighing! At least try and be a little excited,” Sophia complained.

“Okay, sorry. I’ll try.” I laughed.

“Well, I have to go now. Duty calls, but I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,” Sophia replied.

“See you tomorrow,” I said, hanging up.

It wasn’t long before my mom returned home and then came into my room with my sister-in-law, Zoya, carrying a bag. I knew what was in there: my dress for the ball.

“Aarya, you need to pack. You can’t put it off any longer,” Mom said, shaking her head at me. “Everything and everyone is ready to go except you.

Zoya laughed and said, “I’ll help her.”

Mom nodded and left. Zoya dragged me out of bed and started grabbing clothes from my closet. At least it was a distraction from worrying about the ball and waiting for my mate to come home.

Well, mostly…“So, any news on when Hunter and Carter will be arrive? I thought they’d be back by now.” I asked Zoya as I zipped up my suitcase.

“Why? Impatient, are we?” Zoya chuckled and sat on the edge of my bed.

“No, I’m just curious, that’s all.”

Zoya was the only one in my pack who knew my true feelings for Hunter. That we kissed. Everyone else just thought I had a crush on him.

I didn’t want my parents to know, and especially not my brother, but I knew I could trust Zoya.

“Well they should be here very soon. Are you nervous?” Zoya asked.

“A little. I just can’t wait to see him,” I admitted.

Zoya and I sat on my bed and chatted for a while. I loved the fact that I could open up to Zoya; she was basically my sister.

Sai said that he loved seeing that his sister and mate had an amazing relationship. I was just lucky Zoya was so cool! When Sophia, Carter, and Hunter had all left, I’s felt lonely, but Zoya was always there for me.

Before long, my werewolf hearing picked up the sound of cars coming down the path. I jumped up, my heart beating fast as nerves started to get to me.

It was finally time. I was going to see Hunter after four years.

Zoya held my hand as we walked downstairs together. Did I look ok? What was I wearing? Did I brush my teeth this morning? I ran my hands through my hair.

Zoya gave me a gentle look as if to say, Deep breaths, Aarya, you’ve got this. It’s okay.

Luckily, our house was near the pack house, where the Alpha and Beta lived with their families. The whole pack would be on their way there now to greet Hunter and Carter as they returned for the first time in years.

Sai and my parents met us at the door, and together we walked the short distance to the pack house. My heart was beating so fast. I just wanted to see Hunter.

We walked up to the cars, which were already surrounded by other pack members, and my wolf grew restless.

Was that the sign I had been looking for? A sign that my mate really was here?

My dreams were coming true. Hunter would step out of that car, we would lock eyes, and our mating bond would snap into place.

Hearing the car door open, my head snapped to the sound.

First, our Alpha’s son, Carter Ward, got out. He hadn’t changed a bit. Well, except he had gotten a lot more muscular.

His green eyes twinkled with mischief and happiness.

He brushed some of his blond hair out of his face before hugging his parents and younger brother.

I watched as he said hello to everyone before stopping at me.

I was lucky that the future alpha wanted to be my friend. Throughout school, Carter was always there for me. Him, Sophia, and I had been inseparable.

A contagious smile took over his face, and the next thing I knew, Carter had picked me up and spun me around.

“Aarya! God, it’s good to see you! You’ve changed quite a bit. Puberty, hey?” Carter teased.

I rolled my eyes and hugged him. “It’s good to see you too, Carter. You haven’t changed at all. Don’t worry, some people are just late bloomers,” I joked, earning a laugh from Carter’s parents.

Carter smiled and hugged me again. “I really did miss you, Smiley.”

“I missed you too,” grinning at Carter’s childhood nickname for me.

Hearing the other car door open, I glanced over Carter’s shoulders to see a familiar body get out of the car. Hunter. His back was facing me, so he didn’t know I was standing behind him.

Carter moved out of the way and stood by my side, which I thought was a little weird.

Surely he should have continued saying hello to everyone?

Maybe he wanted to see the moment Hunter and I acknowledged each other as mates.

Yes, that must be it.

My wolf continued to pace, fueling my thoughts that Hunter was indeed my mate.

I watched as his light brown hair blew in the wind. I just wanted him to turn around.

Please turn around.

What is he waiting for?

And then I caught another scent…