Rejected At The Altar, Claimed By The Lycan King

05

Zara's POV

Two days.

Two days since my world shattered and reassembled itself into something I still didn't or should I say, I refuse to believe that I carried the blood of ancient queens and then I was the most powerful being in existence.

Funny huh?

Yeah I thought so too?

I stared at my reflection in the massive mirror of my chambers. The same face stared back amber eyes and dark hair.

A knock at the door made me flinch.

"My Lady?" A servant's voice filtered through. "His Majesty requests your presence in the eastern study he says it's urgent."

My stomach twisted.

Urgent.

Nothing good ever came from that word.

I considered refusing. I could pretend to be asleep, or ill, or simply not in the mood to hear whatever cryptic nonsense Thorne was about to tell me but I was in his palace, I follow his rules.

I sighed. "Tell him I'll be there shortly."

The eastern study was enormous.

Bookshelves lined every wall stuffed with ancient texts and scrolls that probably predated my entire pack's existence.

A massive fireplace crackled at the far end casting dancing shadows across the room.

Thorne stood by the window his back to me. He wore a dark tunic today simpler than his usual royal attire, but he still radiated that overwhelming presence that made it hard to breathe.

"You came," he said without turning.

"You said it was urgent."

He turned then and something in his expression made me pause. There was tension in his jaw a tightness around his silver eyes that I hadn't seen before.

"Please sit."

I remained standing. "I prefer to stand."

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "Stubborn. Just like—" He stopped himself.

Just like Athena.

The unspoken words hung between us.

"What is this about?" I asked crossing my arms.

He moved to his desk unrolling a large parchment covered in markings I couldn't read. "I've received word from the border territories. Three Alpha packs are mobilizing."

My blood went cold. "Mobilizing for what?"

"For you."

I'd expected that answer but hearing it still sent a chill down my spine.

"They know you're here," Thorne continued. "They know I claimed you and they want to challenge that claim."

"Challenge it how?"

"By demanding proof, demanding a bloodline test and attempting to take you for themselves." His jaw tightened. "You are the last living heir to the Moon Bloodline. Whoever controls you, controls the supernatural world."

I felt sick. "I don't want to control anyone."

"It doesn't matter what you want. It matters what they think you are."

I sank into the nearest chair my legs suddenly weak. "So what do I do? Run? Hide?"

"No."

I looked up at him. "Then what?"

Thorne was quiet for a long moment then he moved to stand in front of me.

"There is one way to stop them," he said slowly. "One way to make them back down before anyone gets hurt."

"And that is?"

He knelt in front of me a gesture that still made my heart stutter and took my hands in his his touch was warm steady.

"Marry me."

The words didn't register at first.

I blinked. "What?"

"I'm proposing a marriage," he said calmly. "A political union. You become my Queen in name and title and I become your King. The Alphas cannot challenge me I am the Lycan King. If you are my wife you are untouchable."

My mouth opened.

Closed.

Opened again.

"You want to marry me," I repeated slowly.

"Yes."

"That's insane."

"It's practical."

"Thorne—"

"I'm not asking for your love." His voice was gentle, matter-of-fact. "I know you don't remember who you were. I know you don't feel anything for me beyond confusion and distrust this is just for survival."

I pulled my hands free and stood abruptly, pacing toward the fireplace.

"You're asking me to marry you," I said my voice rising. "To bind myself to someone I barely know all because of some bloodline I didn't ask for and don't want."

"I'm asking you to let me protect you."

"By trapping me in a marriage?"

"It wouldn't be a trap." He stood turning to face me. "You would have freedom within the palace. Your own chambers, your own staff. You could pursue whatever interests you. I would never—"

"Never what?" I spun to face him. "Never touch me? Never expect me to fulfill wifely duties?" My voice dripped with bitter sarcasm. "Because I've heard that before, Thorne. I heard it from Kael, and look how that turned out."

Something flickered in his eyes.

Pain? Anger?

"Don’t compare me to him," he said quietly. "I am not him."

"How do I know that?"

"You don't but I've spent three hundred years searching for you. I didn't do that to trap you. I did it because—" He stopped, his jaw clenching.

"Because what?"

He didn't answer.

"Because you loved Athena," I finished for him. "You loved her and she died and now you think I'm her. You think that by marrying me you're getting her back."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?" I laughed bitterly. "You said it yourself I'm her soul reincarnated. Every time you look at me you see her not me, Zara… The nobody who couldn't even shift. You're not trying to protect me. You're trying to resurrect your dead wife."

Thorne's face went pale.

"Zara—"

"No."

I held up my hand stopping him.

"I'm not doing this. I'm not marrying you not for politics, not for protection, not for anything." My voice shook but I forced myself to continue. "I spent my whole life being controlled by my pack, by Kael, by everyone who told me I wasn't good enough. I will not give up the little freedom I have just to become your trophy queen."

He stared at me for a long moment.

Then slowly he nodded.

"I understand."

The quiet acceptance in his voice caught me off guard.

"You do?"

"I told you," he said softly. "You're free to leave whenever you want. That includes freedom to say no."

I opened my mouth to respond then closed it.

He nodded. "Take all the time you need to think about it"

I turned and walked toward the doormy heart pounding. At the threshold I paused.

"Why are you really doing this?" I asked without looking back. "Not the political reasons the real reason."

The silence stretched.

Finally his voice came—soft, raw, vulnerable.

"Because I cannot lose you again."

I closed my eyes, feeling something crack inside my chest.

"I'm not her," I whispered.

"I know."

But the way he said it made me wonder if he truly believed that. I walked out of the room without another word but even as I retreated to my chambers, I couldn't shake the image of his face the centuries of pain etched into his features.

I can’t be Athena.