Chapter 2
1375 Words
Lycan Kingdom:
The council chamber was filled with silence.
Every seat was occupied, yet no one spoke.
Generals, nobles, elders, and ministers sat with grim expressions, their eyes fixed on the closed doors.
They were not waiting for just another meeting.
They were waiting for their King.
The heavy doors swung open.
King Kaizer Nightfall entered without a word.
His sharp silver eyes swept across the room, sending an invisible pressure through everyone present. His aura alone demanded absolute respect.
Even his Beta, the second strongest Lycan in the kingdom, had to quicken his pace to remain at the King's side.
No one in the Lycan Kingdom could compare to Kaizer Nightfall.
To outsiders, he was a ruthless monster.
To his people, he was the shield that had kept their kingdom standing for years.
As Kaizer took his seat at the head of the table, no one dared speak first.
They feared the rogue armies gathering beyond their borders.
They feared the curse that continued to spread.
But above all...
They feared losing their King.
Because if Kaizer Nightfall fell, the kingdom would lose more than its ruler.
It would lose the only man powerful enough to protect them.
Kaizer had barely taken his seat when General Magnus broke the silence.
"Your Majesty... we can no longer delay this matter."
Kaizer didn't need to ask which matter.
"The curse is spreading," the General continued. "You must find your mate before it's too late."
Kaizer's expression remained cold.
"Find another solution."
The council exchanged uneasy glances.
"We've searched for years, Your Majesty," the royal healer said quietly. "There is no other cure."
Silence settled over the room.
Kaizer's jaw tightened.
"I won't drag an innocent woman into my cursed life."
No one replied.
They all understood why he resisted.
Ever since he had become King, countless she-wolves had thrown themselves at him—not because they cared for him, but because they desired the crown, the wealth, and the status that came with being his Queen.
Kaizer despised such women.
He refused to believe that any of them truly wanted him.
"This isn't about love, Your Majesty," ...
General Magnus spoke carefully.
"It's about the future of the kingdom."
Kaizer remained silent, his gaze fixed on the rain outside the window.
After a long moment, he closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
He hated this.
He hated the idea of fate deciding his life.
But most of all...
He hated that there was no other choice.
General Magnus hesitated before continuing.
"I have already sent the announcement to every pack."
Kaizer's eyes snapped open.
"You what?"
"The message has been delivered across every allied territory," Magnus replied calmly. "Every Alpha now knows that the Lycan Kingdom is searching for a she-wolf worthy of becoming its queen."
A muscle in Kaizer's jaw twitched.
"So now they'll line their daughters up at our gates."
"I'm afraid they already are."
Kaizer gave a bitter laugh.
"Of course they are."
"They won't come because they care about me," he muttered. "They'll come for the crown. For the wealth. For the title."
Magnus didn't deny it.
"There will be many who seek the throne for the wrong reasons," he admitted. "But there may also be one who doesn't."
Kaizer shook his head.
"I've seen enough to know better."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Magnus spoke again, his voice heavy.
"In the announcement, I also promised that the kingdom would reward and protect the pack that gives us its future queen."
He paused before adding almost in a whisper,
"Even... after her death."
Kaizer lowered his head.
The words struck harder than he expected.
"So that's what my life has become," he said quietly. "A bargain between kingdoms."
"No," Magnus answered firmly. "Your life has become the only hope this kingdom has left."
Kaizer looked at the old general.
"And what if I refuse?"
Magnus's expression filled with sadness.
"Then you will die."
Another silence followed.
"So will the curse."
Kaizer closed his eyes once more.
For the first time in years...
The mighty Lycan King felt completely trapped.
Lyra's POV:
The celebration continued long after the sun disappeared beneath the mountains.
Music echoed through the banquet hall while laughter and conversation filled every corner of the packhouse.
To everyone else, tonight was a celebration.
To me...
It was simply another day of pretending I didn't exist.
I carefully placed another tray of empty glasses onto the kitchen counter and let out a quiet sigh.
"My feet are going to fall off," Mia groaned beside me, rubbing her ankles dramatically.
I smiled.
"You've been complaining for the last two hours."
"Because we've been working for the last two hours," she shot back.
I laughed softly.
"Fair point."
Mia leaned against the counter with a dramatic groan.
"When all this is over, I'm sneaking into the pantry."
I raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
She looked at me as if the answer were obvious.
"Cake."
I laughed.
"You've already had two slices."
She gasped in mock offence.
"Those were tiny slices. They don't count."
"They were bigger than my hand."
"Exactly." She grinned. "Still not enough."
I shook my head, unable to stop smiling.
"If Supervisor catches you, she'll have you scrubbing pots until sunrise."
Mia crossed her arms.
"Worth it."
I chuckled.
"You say that now."
She nudged my shoulder gently.
"Come with me."
"What?"
"To steal cake."
I stared at her.
"You're unbelievable."
"And you're hopeless."
She sighed dramatically before softening her voice.
"You've barely eaten anything all day."
"I'm fine."
"That's what you always say."
"I am."
She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"You skipped breakfast."
I looked away.
"I wasn't hungry."
"And lunch?"
"I was busy."
Mia didn't look convinced.
"You can't keep doing this, Lyra."
I forced a small smile.
"I'll eat later."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
She studied my face for a moment before nodding.
"Fine. But if you don't, I'm bringing food to your room tonight."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
She smiled warmly.
"I want to."
For a brief moment...
The exhaustion in my body didn't feel quite so heavy.
No matter how difficult life became, Mia always found a way to make me smile.
I only wished the world would show her the same kindness she always showed me.
Just then, the kitchen door swung open.
One of the older servants hurried inside, her face unusually pale.
"Have you heard?" she whispered.
Another servant looked up immediately.
"What happened?"
"The Alpha called an emergency meeting."
Several servants stopped what they were doing.
"At this hour?"
She nodded.
"A royal messenger has arrived from the Lycan Kingdom."
The room instantly fell silent.
Even Mia's playful smile disappeared.
"The Lycan Kingdom?" someone breathed.
"Why would they contact us?"
"I heard the messenger bears the King's seal," another servant whispered.
"They say every Alpha in the region has received the same letter."
"What does it say?"
"No one knows."
"They've sealed themselves inside the council chamber."
The servants exchanged uneasy glances.
Rumours began spreading almost immediately.
"Do you think the rogues attacked?"
"Or has the cursed king finally died?"
"Don't say things like that!"
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
For some reason...
The words Lycan Kingdom made me think of the conversation Mia and I had only moments ago.
Kaizer Nightfall.
The cursed king.
His face flashed through my mind before I quickly shook the thought away.
Why would someone like him ever have anything to do with a forgotten girl like me?
It was impossible.
I picked up another tray.
"We should get back before Supervisor starts yelling again."
Mia groaned.
"There goes my dream of resting."
We had barely stepped into the hallway when loud footsteps echoed through the packhouse.
A warrior rushed past us.
Then another.
Soon, nearly every patrol guard was heading toward the Alpha's council chamber.
The cheerful atmosphere from earlier vanished.
Laughter faded.
Music seemed quieter.
Whispers spread through every corridor.
Something had changed.
Something important had happened.
I watched the guards disappear around the corner.
Without knowing why...
My heart began to race.
I had no idea...
That the letter hidden behind those council chamber doors would soon change my entire life.
- Writer
