Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By The Lycan King

Chapter 3 — The King’s Carriage

Cold night air swept across Aurora's face as she followed Lucian through the massive gates of Dark Fang.

The entire pack remained behind them.

Watching.

Whispering.

Judging.

Aurora could feel their stares burning into her back with every step she took.

But none of them dared speak openly anymore.

Not with the Lycan King standing beside her.

Lucian never released her hand.

His grip remained firm.

Possessive.

Protective.

As though he had already decided she belonged to him completely.

The thought made Aurora's pulse quicken nervously.

Moon Goddess…

Everything had changed too fast.

Only an hour ago, she had entered the mating ceremony hoping Kael might accept her.

Now she was leaving her pack beside the most feared ruler in the supernatural world.

A royal black carriage waited beyond the gates.

Massive shadow wolves stood harnessed to it instead of horses.

Aurora froze slightly.

She had never seen creatures that large before.

Their silver eyes glowed beneath the moonlight while smoke-like breath escaped their mouths.

The beasts radiated danger.

Lucian noticed her hesitation.

"They won't harm you."

Aurora looked at him uncertainly.

"They look terrifying."

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"They are."

That answer did not help.

One of the enormous wolves suddenly lowered its head toward her.

Aurora stiffened.

But instead of growling, the creature brushed its nose gently against her hand.

Warm.

Gentle.

Almost affectionate.

Aurora blinked in surprise.

Lucian watched quietly.

"They recognize royal scent."

Aurora frowned slightly.

"Royal scent?"

The Lycan King's crimson eyes lingered on her face.

"You carry my mark now."

Aurora's breath caught.

"My… mark?"

Lucian's gaze drifted toward the hand he still held.

"The mate bond leaves traces."

Heat rushed instantly into Aurora's cheeks.

The royal guards nearby pretended not to listen.

Lucian opened the carriage door for her.

The gesture startled Aurora again.

A king opening doors personally?

It felt strange.

Everything about Lucian contradicted the terrifying rumors surrounding him.

One moment he looked capable of destroying entire kingdoms.

The next, he was helping her into a carriage.

Aurora carefully stepped inside.

The interior nearly stole her breath.

Soft black leather seats lined the carriage walls while silver lanterns illuminated the elegant space with gentle moon-colored light.

The scent of cedarwood and rain lingered faintly in the air.

Luxury.

Real luxury.

Aurora suddenly became painfully aware of her simple dress.

Of her worn shoes.

Of the fact that she did not belong anywhere near royalty.

Lucian entered behind her.

The moment the door closed, the small space suddenly felt much smaller.

Too small.

His presence consumed everything.

Aurora sat stiffly across from him.

Lucian watched her silently for several seconds.

"You're uncomfortable."

Aurora forced a small smile.

"I'm sitting in the Lycan King's carriage after being rejected publicly by my mate."

Her voice came out shakier than intended.

"I think uncomfortable is normal."

To her surprise, Lucian's lips curved slightly.

A real smile.

It transformed his face completely.

Dangerous.

But unexpectedly handsome.

Aurora looked away quickly.

The carriage began moving.

The giant wolves pulled them smoothly away from Dark Fang territory.

Aurora felt her chest tighten.

She was really leaving.

No goodbye.

No preparation.

Nothing.

A strange ache settled inside her.

Lucian seemed to notice immediately.

"You're grieving."

Aurora swallowed.

"I lived there my entire life."

"Did they treat you kindly?"

The question caught her off guard.

Aurora hesitated.

"No."

"Did they protect you?"

She lowered her gaze.

"No."

"Did your mate cherish you?"

That hurt most.

Aurora looked toward the carriage window.

Moonlight blurred through the trees outside.

"No."

Silence settled briefly between them.

Then Lucian spoke quietly.

"Then why mourn a cage?"

Aurora froze.

A cage.

That was exactly what Dark Fang had been.

She had simply never admitted it.

The realization left her strangely emotional.

Lucian leaned back slightly against the seat.

"You are free now."

Free.

The word sounded foreign.

Aurora had spent so many years surviving humiliation that freedom almost frightened her.

She looked at him carefully.

"Why did you claim me?"

Lucian's expression became unreadable again.

"You are my mate."

"That can't be the only reason."

The Lycan King studied her quietly.

Most people probably would not question him.

Aurora did.

Interesting.

"You think I pity you?"

Aurora immediately shook her head.

"No."

Lucian did not seem like a man capable of pity.

"You intrigue me," he admitted.

Aurora blinked.

"Why?"

"You survived rejection without breaking."

Her chest tightened painfully.

He did not know how close she had come.

Lucian continued.

"Most wolves seek power. Status. Approval."

His crimson gaze locked onto hers.

"You endured years of cruelty and still remained gentle."

Aurora stared at him.

No one had ever described her that way before.

Not weak.

Not useless.

Gentle.

The compliment affected her far more than it should have.

She looked down quickly.

"You barely know me."

"I know enough."

The certainty in his voice made her stomach flutter strangely.

Aurora changed the subject quickly.

"What happens now?"

Lucian's expression darkened slightly.

"We travel to my kingdom."

Aurora's nerves instantly returned.

Kingdom.

The word sounded enormous.

Intimidating.

"I've never left pack territory before."

"That will change."

Aurora bit her lip nervously.

"What if your people hate me too?"

Lucian's eyes sharpened instantly.

"They will not."

The answer came too quickly.

Too firmly.

Aurora frowned slightly.

"You can't control everyone."

The Lycan King's gaze turned dangerously calm.

"I can control enough."

Aurora decided not to question that statement.

Something told her he meant it literally.

The carriage continued deeper into the forest.

Outside, moonlight spilled between towering trees while distant howls echoed across the wilderness.

Aurora suddenly realized how exhausted she felt.

The emotional pain from Kael's rejection still lingered inside her chest.

Not as sharp as before.

But still there.

Lucian noticed her wince.

"The rejection bond still hurts."

Aurora nodded weakly.

"It feels like something is tearing inside me."

Lucian's jaw tightened slightly.

"He rejected you brutally."

Aurora remained silent.

A strange darkness entered Lucian's eyes.

"As if you were worthless."

For some reason, hearing anger in his voice on her behalf made her emotional again.

"You don't have to defend me," she whispered.

Lucian stared at her.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"I do."

The carriage suddenly felt too warm.

Too quiet.

Too intense.

Aurora's heart beat faster.

She looked away again.

Lucian's gaze lingered on her face.

"You avoid eye contact when nervous."

Aurora nearly choked.

"You notice too much."

"I notice everything."

That sounded less comforting and more dangerous.

Aurora shifted slightly in her seat.

Then suddenly

The carriage stopped violently.

Aurora gasped.

A deep growl echoed outside.

The royal guards shouted instantly.

"Protect the King!"

Lucian moved before Aurora could react.

In one swift motion, he pulled her against him.

Aurora barely had time to gasp before the carriage door exploded open.

A massive rogue wolf lunged through the opening.

Silver eyes.

Blood-covered fangs.

Murderous rage.

Aurora screamed.

But before the creature could touch her

Lucian moved.

Fast.

Too fast.

One second he held her.

The next, the rogue crashed violently through the opposite side of the carriage.

Wood shattered everywhere.

Aurora stared in shock.

The rogue struggled to rise.

Lucian stood between her and the beast.

And suddenly…

The terrifying king no longer looked human.

His crimson eyes glowed violently.

Silver markings spread across his skin.

Power exploded through the air.

The rogue whimpered.

Actually whimpered.

Fear flooded the creature's eyes.

Lucian's voice dropped into something inhuman.

"You dared approach my mate?"

The killing intent in the carriage became suffocating.

Aurora could barely breathe.

The rogue tried to flee.

It never made it.

Lucian grabbed the creature by the throat with one hand.

Then lifted the enormous wolf effortlessly into the air.

Aurora stared in horror.

That strength was impossible.

The rogue thrashed wildly.

Lucian's expression never changed.

"You chose the wrong night to hunt."

Then

Snap.

The rogue's neck broke instantly.

Silence filled the forest.

Aurora's breathing turned uneven.

The dead wolf dropped heavily onto the ground.

Lucian slowly turned back toward her.

The glowing crimson in his eyes faded slightly.

But the terrifying power surrounding him remained.

For several long seconds, neither of them spoke.

Aurora's heart pounded violently.

Not only from fear.

But from realization.

The stories about the Lycan King were true.

Every single one.

And somehow…

She belonged to him now.p