Kaia And The Rogue King

Chapter 2

Kaia wasn't able to think much about it for a moment because his lips pressed against hers. It was brief, but enough to send her blood rushing as she felt her face turn red.

Dane’s hand brushed her cheek lightly after it, sending a jolt of electricity into her as he pulled back.

His gaze lingered, and his expression seemed calculated as a slight frown covered his face.

She watched as he opened his mouth, but then closed it immediately and turned away from her.

He appeared tense.

There was more cheering at their kiss, and Kaia had to calm herself down a bit. She forced a smile, though she had so many questions.

Why did Dane look so shocked?

Another was her internally questioning why it seemed like certain people were surprised by her appearance. First Dane, now them. She really wanted some answers.

She'd spent her time performing the perfect bride, so that more than an hour later, she just wanted to rest.

Before that, she'd have to greet her family as they go back home.

She stood outside in her stunning dress, hugging her mother, who appeared to be so emotional, and she was unwilling to let her go. She had no choice, though.

“I hope you come to visit soon," she said sadly.

Her mother's voice trembled as she answered her. "I'll never abandon you at a strange location. I'll visit for as much as I can. As long as he'll let me. I'll miss you so much.”

“Me too," Kaia responded.

She took in her mother's comforting scent one more time before she let go.

She didn't show her worry on her face as she hugged her friends, Ariane and River, holding them tight. “Take care of yourselves till you come visit," she said, her voice shaking.

She finally reached her father, then she paused, noticing how… different he looked and acted.

He seemed unbothered during the wedding, and she'd wondered about that. His eyes weren't as emotional as her mother’s. Or her friends’. Instead, they seemed almost…relieved?

She was feeling suspicious. She almost started questioning him, but decided against it. Every father loved their child no matter what.

Also, men never showed too much emotion when it came to their daughters’ weddings.

Then she reached out to embrace him.

“Goodbye, Dad," she said softly.

He didn't return her hug fully, but he replied, "Take care of yourself, Kaia. Dane promised to take care of you, and I'm sure he will. You'll be a great queen.”

He didn't stay long, leaving after he was done talking to the other wolves.

Kaia momentarily wondered about where Dane was because he appeared to be nowhere to be found. He'd spent the night talking to other pack members, occasionally coming to her side, but now he was truly not around.

Kaia sighed loudly, looking around the castle as guests were leaving.

Ever since she'd set foot in this land, she'd had a weird feeling about it. Though she didn't know what exactly it was, she knew she'd find out at some point. It was, after all, her new home.

After the last guest departed, Kaia was guided by a servant with a gentle voice called Isabel.

“Your Highness," she said. “I'm here to show you to your room."

The servant kept giving her looks that she wasn't aware of, as she followed her silently. She wasn't spoken to, and when she was shown her room, Isabel simply bowed and left, but not before helping her undress into a simple garment and telling her to call out if in need.

Kaia felt a sense of relief over her change of clothes and freedom from the study of the eyes of many people, closing her eyes as she tried to relax on her king-sized bed.

Rooms away from her was Dane, standing behind a large desk with his eyes focused on the two men standing before him.

“You two…” he began, his voice low. “You saw her face too…”

"I need an explanation.”

The taller man, amongst the two with bright green eyes, stepped closer to speak.

"I want to claim that she's just a look-alike, but-”

“I don't think she is," Dane refused. He thought that at first, but he felt he was wrong. How common was her face?

Holding a long stick and dressed in mage attire, the other man finally said something. “You’re right about this, Your Majesty. I don't think it's a coincidence.”

The two men looked at him.

“Before you start…" Dane said. “Did you two know about this? About her looking like… her?”

He faced the green-eyed man. “Andre?"

Andre raised his hands in defence. "I swear I didn't know. I'd never seen her before and I… If I'd known, you know I would've told you first.”

Dane sighed, closing his eyes briefly as he sat down, rubbing his temples before gesturing at them, “Talk."

The mage hesitated, glancing at Andre briefly before speaking. “I admit that I knew there would be some peculiarity in the woman you'd be marrying, but I didn't think that she would look exactly like her." He continued,

“I had taken some strands of hair of hers while at the party to confirm some things, and… the similarities are too uncanny, Your Highness.”

Dane said nothing at first. He knew they were similar, but…

“I need you to be direct, Isle."

The mage coughed before continuing. “Now you know your mate has worked and learned under Sheila and me all these years, so it's expected that we'd have some properties of hers. It took some hours and a lot of cross-checking to be sure that the verdict wasn't wrong. That we were one hundred percent sure…”

The mage took a deep breath. "It seems like… they're the same person."

The room fell silent, the only sound the soft crackle of the candles. Dane's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes seemed to bore into the souls of the two men standing before him.