Saved By The Formidable Lycan King

Delaney's POV.

The cold night air bit at my skin as I ran, my bare feet pounding against the damp earth.

Every step felt heavier than the last, but I couldn't stop.

Not yet.

Alex, the man of my nightmares and his bitch of a fiancée, Viviane, were probably still searching for me. I knew if they found me, I would be dead.

But I couldn't die just yet.

The thick trees loomed around me like towering shadows, their branches clawing at my hair as I pushed forward into the woods.

I had no idea where I was going, only that I needed to get as far from them as possible. It won't be long until they realize I'd escaped. The darkness enveloped me, and the distant sounds of the pack's territory faded into nothing but the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.

Just a little farther, I told myself. But my legs ached, and my lungs burned. I slowed down to catch my breath, my eyes scanning the surrounding forest for a place to hide. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something—or rather, someone.

A figure lay crumpled against a tree, barely visible in the dim light. His chest rose and fell in shallow, labored breaths. Thorns dug into his skin, leaving angry red welts across his body, and his leg was swollen, a deep purple where a snake bite marred his skin.

My first instinct was to keep moving. I had my own problems. But something in me—something I couldn't quite explain—held me back. I hovered, torn between the desire to escape and the guilt gnawing at my conscience.

“Help,” he rasped.

I hesitated.

This could be a trap.

I looked at him again, he looked almost dead.

My heart raced as I crouched down next to him, my hands shaking. I shouldn't be doing this. I didn't know him, didn't know who or what he was. For all I knew, he could be a threat. But he was dying, and no one else was around to save him.

I cursed under my breath, biting my lip before reaching out to touch his skin. “Alright,” I muttered. “I'll help you.”

He groaned, his eyes fluttering shut as I placed my hand over the bite. My breath came in short gasps as I closed my eyes, drawing on the power that was almost drained. A warmth spread through my chest, and I exhaled slowly, letting the energy flow from me into him. My fingers tingled, and I could feel his body fighting against the poison.

It was working. Slowly, the swelling in his leg began to ease, and the color returned to his skin. But it was draining me, too. My vision blurred, and the world around me spun. The last thing I remembered was the thud of my body collapsing beside him before everything went black.

---

I woke up with a sharp pain, my head pounding like a drumbeat inside my skull. I groaned, pressing the heels of my palms into my temples. The damp earth beneath me was cold, and the early morning mist clung to the atmosphere. My vision slowly came into focus, and the first thing I noticed was that he was gone.

I shot up, ignoring the throbbing pain in my limbs. My eyes darted around the clearing, but there was no sign of the man I had just healed. What the hell? Had I imagined him?

Stumbling to my feet, I brushed the dirt off my clothes and started walking in the direction I thought he might have gone. I wasn't even sure why I cared, but something in me needed to know if he was alright. After all, I had nearly killed myself saving him.

“Looking for someone?”

The voice was cold and sharp. I froze, my eyes widening as I turned to find him standing behind me, arms crossed. He was taller than I remembered, his dark hair tousled and damp from the early morning dew. His golden eyes bore into mine, emotionless, unreadable.

“Where did you go?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I had things to do.”

I blinked, taken aback by the nonchalance in his tone. “Things to do? I just saved your life. You were almost dead.”

He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “And I appreciate it.”

“You don't sound very appreciative,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest.

His gaze flicked to my arms before he sighed and stepped closer. “Thank you,” he said, softer this time, but still lacking any warmth. “Do you want me to bow?”

I bit the inside of my cheek, frustration boiling inside me. “You were dying.”

“And yet, here I am.” He gestured to himself, completely unbothered by the fact that he had been on the brink of death mere hours ago. “Alive.”

I shook my head, exasperated. “You're welcome,” I said dryly, turning away from him.

Before I could take more than two steps, his voice stopped me again. “Why were you out here? Alone, in the middle of the night? I didn't even expect someone to be here.”

I stiffened. He was prying now. “That's none of your business.”

“You're not from around here,” he continued, ignoring my deflection. “I would've noticed you before. So, why were you running?”

I stayed silent, my gaze fixed on the forest ahead, hoping he'd drop it. He didn't.

“Do you have a mate?”

My heart lurched at the question, my breath catching in my throat. The memory of Alex's cruel eyes, the sharp sting of Viviane's mocking voice, crashed into me like a wave. I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over.

“I—I did,” I finally whispered.

The stranger didn't say anything for a moment, just watched me. When I risked a glance in his direction, I found him studying my face, his golden eyes softening slightly.

“It's alright to cry, you know,” he said quietly. “Crying doesn't make you weak.”

I laughed bitterly, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. “You don't know anything about me.”

“Maybe not,” he admitted, stepping closer, “but I know what it looks like when someone's been through hell.”

I looked up at him, surprised by the gentleness in his voice. The hardness in his expression had softened, and for the first time since I met him, I saw something other than cold indifference in his eyes. There was understanding there.

Empathy.

I didn't know why, but the next words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. “He rejected me. My mate.”

His jaw tightened, and something dark flickered across his face. “Then he's a fool.”

I shook my head. “No. I mean, yes, he is, but it doesn't matter now. I ran. I'm done with him.”

Silence fell between us. He didn't say anything, just watched me, his gaze searching my face as if he were trying to understand everything I had been through.

“Do you regret it?” he asked quietly.

“Regret what?”

“Running.”

I thought about it for a moment. Did I regret it? I had spent years as Alex's punching bag, and Viviane's constant taunts had only made it worse. I had no life in that pack, no future. An omega with no family. A disgrace.

“No,” I whispered. “I don't regret it.”

He nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Good.”

Without warning, he stepped even closer, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His scent—something earthy, with a hint of pine—filled my nose, making my heart race.

“You deserve more than that,” he said.

His words hung in the air between us, heavy and thick. I stared up at him, my breath catching in my throat as his hand reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became so uncomfortable for me but I couldn't resist him.

Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was slow at first, tentative, as if he were testing the waters. But when I didn't pull away, he deepened it, his hand tangling in my hair as he pulled me closer. His lips were warm, soft, and for a moment, I forgot everything—Alex, Viviane, the pain, the fear. All of it melted away, replaced by the heat of his touch.

I should have stopped him. I should have pushed him away.

But I didn't.

I kissed him back, letting myself get lost in the moment, letting the warmth of his body chase away the coldness of my pain.

Delaney's POV.

The kiss had been unexpected—soft at first, like a gentle breeze, but it quickly grew into something fierce, something that made my whole body come alive. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, and my heart raced in a way it never had before. Not even with Alex.

With Alex, there had always been a distance, a coldness that left me feeling hollow, even in his arms. But this stranger's touch... it was electric. Every brush of his lips, every graze of his fingers sent heat coursing through my veins, making me forget everything but the way he made me feel.

How could this stranger ignite a passion in me that my mate never had? It made no sense.

And yet, I didn't pull away.

I gave in to the moment, to the need running through my body, and we ended up tangled together on the forest floor.

The heat was pooling in between my legs as his hands explored my skin, rough and desperate, and my body responded to him like it had been waiting for this—for him—all along. The rest became a blur, intense. His lips and teeth left marks on my body.

Marks of pleasure.

Pleasure I hadn't felt in a long while, and it was coming from a one-night stand in the woods with a man I didn't even know.

—

When I woke up, the day was brighter and then the reality of it all hit me like a slap to the face. My clothes were scattered, my body sore from the night before. I had just slept with a stranger.

What the hell was I thinking?

I scrambled to my feet, pulling on my clothes as quickly as I could, trying to steady my racing thoughts. What had I done? I stepped outside the small shelter, looking around frantically. Was he gone? Had he left without a word?

But then I saw him, standing a few feet away, leaning casually against a tree, already awake. He looked calm, unbothered by what had happened between us. The sight of him brought some kind of relief. I couldn't risk my heart if he had left me alone once again.

“I—" I began awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. “About last night... I didn't mean for things to—"

Before I could finish, he cut me off with a soft kiss. It was brief, gentle, but enough to make my heart skip a beat.

“I enjoyed it,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “No need to apologize. It's been a long time since I had such…fun.”

His words caught me off guard, and I blinked at him, unsure of how to respond. He stepped back, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. “Come with me to my pack,” he added casually, as if it was the most natural thing to say.

I stared at him, my surprise evident. “Wait—you're part of a pack?”

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down my spine. “What, did you think I was some rogue or an outcast?”

I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. “I mean... you were injured when I found you. I thought maybe you were a bandit or someone dangerous.”

His grin widened, teasing. “And yet you still saved me—and slept with me. If I was so dangerous, maybe you should've thought twice about that.”

I crossed my arms, meeting his playful gaze with a smirk of my own. “Well, you wouldn't be alive without me, so maybe you should be a little more grateful.”

His laughter echoed through the trees, and for a moment, the tension from last night evaporated. Then he stepped closer again, his eyes locking with mine, his expression softening. “What's your name?”

“Delaney,” I said quietly.

“Delaney,” he repeated, savoring the sound of it. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

I blushed harder than I ever had in my life, my heart doing a little flip in my chest. How could a stranger make me feel so... seen?

His expression shifted, more serious now. “It's a shame your mate doesn't want you. You are such…a beauty. “

I scoffed. “A beauty…yeah right.”

His hands went underneath my chin, pushing my face to look at him. “Don't let what your mate thinks of you ruin what you are.”

“If only it was that easy,” I gulped. “I told you, Alpha Alex... he treated me like I was nothing. Abused me violently for three years. Used me for his own purpose. So it's kind of hard to see myself as someone else.”

His eyes darkened at the mention of Alex. “And your parents?”

“They were killed in a rogue attack when I was four,” I whispered. “I barely remember them.”

He frowned, his hand reaching for mine, but I pulled away. “Why didn't you leave sooner?” he asked.

“Because he was my mate!” I snapped. “Isn't that supposed to mean something?”

His expression hardened, and he took a step back. “A mate like that doesn't deserve the title,” he said coldly, his jaw tight. Without another word, he turned on his heel. “I'm going to find us something to eat,” he muttered, disappearing into the woods.

I stood there, stunned, watching as he vanished among the trees. Something about the way he had reacted left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I couldn't deny that he was right. Alex had never deserved me.

Never deserved my power. Or my love.

I retreated into the small shelter we had made, waiting for him to return. Hours passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor. I grew anxious, pacing back and forth, my stomach twisting in knots. He should've been back by now.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, I grabbed my things and ran into the woods to search for him. I moved quickly, my feet pounding against the ground, my breath coming in short gasps. I cursed myself for forgetting to light the fire as darkness began to close in around me.

“Hello?” I called out. But no response came. Panic started to set in, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. I didn't even know his name.

“Dammit!” I cursed under my breath.

Twenty minutes passed, and still no sign of him. Exhaustion crept in, but I couldn't give up. Not yet. I pushed forward, forcing myself to keep going, until finally, I saw a flicker of light in the distance. Relief flooded my veins, and I hurried toward it.

But as I got closer, my relief turned to dread.

Standing by the fire wasn't the man I had spent the night with.

It was Alex.

My heart stopped in my chest, my blood turning cold. I froze, staring at him as he turned to face me, a cruel smile twisting his lips.

“There you are,” he said. “Did you really think you could run from me, Delaney?”