03
1141 Words
Zara’s POV
The first thing I noticed was the softness. It felt like I was floating on clouds.
I frowned slowly opening my eyes. Above me was a high white ceiling decorated with silver carvings that shimmered in the morning sunlight. A crystal chandelier hung overhead, sending tiny rainbows across the room.
I blinked several times.
Where… am I?
I pushed myself up too quickly only to gasp as pain shot through my body.
“Ouch…”
My head throbbed and every muscle ached.
I looked around the room.
The bedroom was larger than my entire house back at the Ashthorne pack. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked endless mountains, while expensive silver curtains swayed gently in the breeze. The fireplace crackled quietly, filling the room with warmth.
This had to be a dream.
I laughed weakly. “I’ve finally lost my mind.”
The door suddenly opened.
A young woman dressed in a black-and-silver maid uniform hurried inside.
“My Lady!” she exclaimed her eyes lighting up. “You’re awake!”
I stared at her.
“My… Lady?”
She smiled brightly.
“Yes. How are you feeling?”
I ignored her question. “Where am I?”
“You are in the Lycan Palace.”
My heart skipped.
“The… Lycan Palace?”
She nodded. “His Majesty brought you here last night.”
My mouth fell open as memories flooded back like a wave of nostalgia.
The Lycan King
The wedding
Kael rejecting me
Everyone kneeling
It all rushed back at once.
“So…” I whispered. “It wasn’t a dream.”
“No My Lady.”
I covered my face with both hands. “Oh Moon Goddess…”
The maid stepped closer. “Would you like some water?”
I nodded.
She poured water into a crystal glass and handed it to me carefully. My hands shook as I drank.
When I lowered the glass I noticed something strange.
My injuries, I quickly pulled back the blanket.The deep cuts on my arms were gone. The bruises that had covered my skin had almost completely disappeared. Even the wound on my forehead was only a thin pink line.
“What happened to me?” I asked in shock.
“The kingdom’s best healers treated you throughout the night,” the maid explained. “His Majesty ordered every royal healer to come immediately.”
I looked at her in disbelief.
“Every… healer?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to answer that.”
I frowned.
Before I could ask another question, the bedroom door opened again.
Every servant in the room immediately lowered their heads.
“My King.”
I looked toward the door.
The Lycan King walked inside wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms. His silver eyes immediately found mine. He looked different in daylight but still terrifying, powerful and somehow… less distant.
His gaze moved over my face as if checking whether I was really awake. “You’ve recovered.”
His deep voice filled the room.
I swallowed nervously. “I… I think so.”
He nodded once.
“You may leave,” he told the servants.
The maids bowed and quietly left the room, closing the door behind them.
Suddenly it was just the two of us the silence felt awkward. I looked everywhere except at him.
Finally I gathered enough courage to speak. “You saved me.”
“Yes.”
“You brought me here.”
“Yes.”
“You called every healer in the kingdom…”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“…Why?”
He didn’t answer immediately Instead he walked toward the window with his hands behind his back.
“You were injured.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
He remained silent I climbed out of bed carefully with my legs were weak but they held me.
“You don’t even know me,” I said softly. “Why would someone as important as you save someone like me?”
He turned to face me. “I know enough.”
His answer only confused me more.
“I don’t.”
I took another slow step toward him.
“Who are you really?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I believe everyone knows who I am.”
“I know you’re the Lycan King,” I replied. “But I don’t know why you’re involved in my life.”
Again he didn’t answer and it was beginning to frustrate me.
“And why…” I whispered, “…did you call me your Queen?”
His expression became unreadable for a long moment he simply looked at me.
Then he spoke. “Because you are.”
My heart skipped. “How?”
“You’ll know soon enough.”
I frowned. “That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting today.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “So you’re just going to leave me confused?”
“It is safer that way.”
“Safer for who?”
“For you.”
His voice was calm but firm. I searched his face for any sign that he was joking but there was none.
“I don’t understand any of this,” I admitted “Yesterday I lost everything. My mate rejected me, my pack turned against me and then you appeared out of nowhere and declared me your Queen.”
I laughed bitterly. “It sounds insane.”
“It does.”
“But it’s true?”
He held my gaze.
“Yes.”
I rubbed my temples.
“I think I preferred believing this was all a dream.”
For the first time I saw the corner of his lips lift into the faintest smile. “You’ll get used to reality.”
“I highly doubt that.”
His smile disappeared just as quickly.
“You’ll remain here until you’ve fully recovered.”
I looked at him suspiciously.
“Am I your prisoner?”
“No.”
“Then can I leave?”
“You may.”
I blinked. “Really?”
“You are free to leave whenever you choose.” I relaxed slightly.
“But…” he continued.
I knew there would be a but.
“…the moment you step beyond these palace walls every Alpha who heard what happened yesterday will begin hunting you.”
The blood drained from my face. “What?”
“They know your former mate rejected you.”
I frowned. “So?”
“They also know I claimed you as my Queen.”
I stared at him.
“So?” I asked as a chill ran through me.
He remained quiet for a second, “The palace is the only place where no one can touch you.”
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