Chapter 10: Kneel.
1482 Words
The Blackridge wolves were waiting at the gates at dawn.
20 of them. All in full armor. Snow still on their shoulders.
And at the front, on a black horse that was too big for Virek’s gates, was Darius Vane.
Alpha of Blackridge.
The man who threw Lyra away 7 days ago.
Captain Rowe found Lyra in the kitchen. She was pretending to help the cooks.
“My lady,” he said. “You need to come. Now.”
Lyra’s hands went cold. “He’s here?”
“Yes. And the King is already at the wall.”
The entire keep was on the walls.
Archers. Mages. Swords drawn.
And in the center, standing with no armor, no crown, just black and fury, was Kael.
Across the 20-foot moat, Darius sat on his horse.
He looked the same. Tall. Golden hair. Green eyes. The same face that used to smile at Lyra.
But his jaw was tight. And his eyes... they weren’t looking at Kael.
They were looking at her.
Behind Kael.
“Lyra,” Darius called. His voice carried over the wind. “Come down. We’re leaving.”
Kael didn’t move. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Darius finally looked at him. “This is between me and my mate, King. Stay out of it.”
Kael laughed. One short, ugly sound. “Mate? You rejected her. In front of your whole pack. The bond is dead. I checked.”
Darius’ eye twitched. “That can be fixed. A new bond. A claiming. She’s mine by Moon Goddess law.”
“Not anymore,” Kael said. He stepped forward. To the very edge of the wall. “She’s mine now. By my law.”
Gasps from the Virek soldiers.
Lyra’s heart stopped.
Darius’ face went red. “You think you can just take her? A rejected omega? You’re pathetic, Kael. Everyone knows you haven’t touched a woman in 10 years. What do you even want with her?”
Kael’s silver eyes flashed.
In one movement he drew his sword and slammed it into the stone at his feet.
Crack.
“I want,” Kael said, voice low, “the woman you threw away like trash. And I’m going to spend every day for the rest of my life making sure she knows she’s not trash.”
Lyra covered her mouth.
Darius dismounted. “Then let’s settle this. Alpha to Alpha. Trial by combat. Winner takes the omega.”
“No,” Kael said.
Darius frowned. “What?”
“There will be no trial. Because she’s not a prize.” Kael turned. Looked at Lyra. Really looked. “Lyra. Come here.”
Every eye on the wall turned to her.
Lyra’s legs were shaking. 7 years of fear. 7 years of being told she was nothing.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
And stood beside Kael.
The wind blew her hair. She was wearing his jacket again.
Darius stared. “Lyra. Baby. Please. I made a mistake. Selene lied to me. I’ve been going crazy without you. Come home.”
Home.
The word made her sick.
“Blackridge isn’t my home,” Lyra said. Her voice was quiet. But it carried. “Not anymore.”
Darius’ face crumpled. “What? After everything we—”
“You gave me everything,” Lyra cut him off. “Bruises. Silence. And a rejection in front of 200 people.”
She stepped forward. To the edge.
“I choose Virek,” she said. “I choose him.”
She pointed at Kael.
Darius roared. A wolf sound. “You’re making a mistake!”
“Maybe,” Lyra said. “But it’s MY mistake to make.”
Kael didn’t touch her. But he shifted. Just enough that his shoulder brushed hers.
_I’m here._
Darius looked at Kael. Then at Lyra. Then back.
“You’ll regret this,” he spat. “The council will never let a reject be Luna. You’re a king, Kael. You need an heir. Not damaged goods.”
Kael smiled. It wasn’t nice.
“Good thing I’m not looking for a Luna,” he said. “I’m looking for her.”
He turned to his Captain. “Rowe.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Open the gates.”
The entire wall froze.
“Your Majesty?” Rowe said.
“You heard me. Open them.”
Lyra grabbed his sleeve. “Kael, no—”
Kael looked down at her. “Trust me, little ghost.”
The gates creaked open. Slow.
Darius and his 20 wolves rode in. Tense. Hands on weapons.
They stopped 10 feet from Kael and Lyra.
Darius dismounted. “Good. Let’s talk like men.”
Kael didn’t move. “Kneel.”
“What?”
“I said kneel.” Kael’s voice dropped. Dangerous. “You’re in my territory. On my land. Speaking to my ward. So you will kneel.”
Darius laughed. “Or what?”
Kael took one step forward. The air around him went cold. Frost formed on the ground.
“Or I will make you,” Kael said. “And I won’t stop at your knees.”
Silence.
Darius looked at his men. They were outnumbered 10 to 1.
His jaw clenched.
And slowly. So slowly it hurt to watch.
Darius Vane, Alpha of Blackridge, got on one knee.
In front of Kael.
In front of Lyra.
“Better,” Kael said. “Now. You have 30 seconds to say what you came to say. Then you leave. And you never come back.”
Darius looked up at Lyra. His eyes were wet. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please. Come back with me. I’ll claim you properly. I’ll make you Luna. I’ll—”
“Stop,” Lyra said.
Darius stopped.
“I don’t want your apology,” Lyra said. “I don’t want your claiming. I don’t want you.”
She stepped forward. Past Kael.
And stood in front of Darius. On her own.
“When you rejected me, you said I was weak. That I’d never survive without you.” She tilted her head. “Look at me now.”
Darius stared at her. At the way she stood. At the jacket she wore. At the fact that she wasn’t flinching.
“You’re lying to yourself,” he whispered. “You still love me.”
Lyra smiled. Sad. Final. “I did. 7 days ago. The girl who loved you died in the snow.”
Kael made a sound behind her. Like he was proud and angry at the same time.
Darius stood. Fast. “This isn’t over.”
“It is,” Kael said. He was beside Lyra again in an instant. “Guards. Escort the Alpha of Blackridge out. If he crosses the border again, kill him on sight.”
“Kael—” Darius started.
“His name is King Kael to you,” Kael said. “And you will never speak her name again.”
The guards grabbed Darius’ arms. He didn’t fight. Not yet.
As they dragged him to the gates, he looked back one last time.
At Lyra.
Lyra didn’t look away.
The gates slammed shut.
For a long time, no one spoke.
Then Kael turned to Lyra.
“Are you okay?”
Lyra nodded. “I thought I’d feel something. Anger. Sadness. But I just feel... free.”
Kael exhaled. Like he’d been holding his breath.
“Good,” he said. Then he did something stupid.
He pulled her into his arms. Right there. In front of 200 soldiers.
And kissed her forehead.
“My brave little ghost,” he murmured.
Cheers went up from the Virek soldiers.
That night, Kael called another council meeting.
“The Blackridge Alpha is gone,” he said. “But he’ll be back. So we prepare.”
Elder Moren cleared his throat. “Your Majesty. About the ward—”
“What about her?”
“She can’t be Luna. The law—”
Kael cut him off. “I’m not making her Luna.”
The room went silent.
Kael looked at each of them. “I’m making her Queen.”
He stood.
“Effective immediately. Lyra Hale is no longer my ward. She is my chosen. My partner. And when I take the throne for good, she sits beside me.”
Moren choked. “You can’t— She’s rejected—”
“I can,” Kael said. “And I did. Anyone who has a problem can leave Virek. Tonight.”
No one moved.
“Good,” Kael said. “Meeting adjourned.”
He left.
And went straight to Lyra’s room.
She was asleep. In his jacket.
Kael sat on the edge of her bed. Watched her.
“Queen,” he whispered. “Gods help me.”
Then he leaned down and kissed her temple.
Outside, the snow started again.
But this time, it didn’t feel cold.
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