MARKED BY THE LYCAN KING

Chapter 3: The Mark

Alina didn’t sleep.

No matter how many times she closed her eyes, the image of those golden eyes stayed with her.

Watching.

Studying.

Claiming.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the faint light creeping through the tall windows. Morning had come, but it brought no comfort.

Only reality.

She was still here.

Still trapped.

A soft knock came at the door.

Alina stiffened. “Come in.”

The door opened, and a young maid stepped inside, carrying a tray. Her eyes flickered toward Alina before quickly lowering.

“Your breakfast,” she said quietly.

Alina nodded. “Thank you.”

The maid placed the tray down and hesitated.

“His Majesty has requested your presence.”

Alina’s stomach tightened.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Of course.

There was no time to prepare. No time to think.

“Alright,” she said.

The maid gave a small bow and hurried out.

Moments later, two guards appeared to escort her.

Alina followed them through the long corridors, her heartbeat steady but heavy. The castle felt even larger in daylight. Colder.

More real.

When they reached the main hall, the doors opened.

And everything changed.

The room was filled with Lycans.

Dozens of them.

Men and women stood across the hall, their presence overwhelming, their eyes sharp and watchful.

All of them turned toward her.

Whispers spread instantly.

“That’s the human.”

“The one from last night.”

“Why is she here?”

Alina swallowed but kept walking.

She wouldn’t show fear.

Not here.

Not in front of them.

At the far end of the hall, the Lycan King sat on his throne.

Relaxed.

In control.

Waiting.

His golden eyes lifted the moment she entered.

Locked onto hers.

The guards stopped, leaving her alone in the center of the hall.

Exposed.

Vulnerable.

“Good morning,” he said.

Alina forced herself to answer. “Good morning… Your Majesty.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

Then he stood.

The entire room fell silent.

“This,” he said, his voice carrying easily through the hall, “is Alina.”

Hearing her name echo like that made her chest tighten.

“She will be staying in the palace.”

The reaction was immediate.

Murmurs. Disapproval. Shock.

“A human?”

“Impossible.”

“This is madness.”

One Lycan stepped forward.

Tall. Strong. Unhappy.

“Your Majesty,” he said respectfully, though his tone held doubt. “Why is a human inside our home?”

The tension rose instantly.

All eyes shifted to the King.

Kael didn’t look bothered.

“Because I said so.”

That should have ended it.

But the Lycan didn’t step back.

“With respect, humans are not part of this pack.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then why—”

He didn’t finish.

Because something changed.

The air shifted.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Alina felt it instantly.

Power.

Wild and overwhelming.

Her breath caught.

The Lycan King’s expression had darkened.

His golden eyes began to glow.

And then—

A low growl escaped his chest.

The sound froze the entire hall.

Silence fell instantly.

Even the Lycan who had spoken stepped back.

Kael’s gaze wasn’t on him anymore.

It was on her.

Alina.

Her heart began to race.

“What’s happening…?” she whispered.

No one answered.

Kael stepped down from the throne slowly.

Each step echoed.

Controlled.

Intentional.

He walked straight toward her.

The entire hall watched.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

When he reached her, he stopped.

Close.

Too close.

Alina could feel the heat of him, the power radiating off his body.

His gaze burned into hers.

Confusion.

Possession.

Something deeper.

Then he leaned closer.

Inhaled.

A deep rumble followed.

And suddenly—

Alina felt it.

A sharp heat beneath her skin.

She gasped softly.

Her hand moved instinctively to her neck.

Something was happening.

Something she couldn’t understand.

Kael’s eyes darkened.

His voice dropped.

“She smells like my mate.”

The words shattered the silence.

Gasps filled the hall.

Shock spread across every face.

The Lycan who had questioned him stepped forward again, disbelief clear in his expression.

“That’s impossible!”

Kael didn’t even look at him.

“My wolf does not lie.”

The finality in his voice left no room for argument.

Alina’s heart pounded wildly.

Mate?

That couldn’t be right.

She was human.

This didn’t make sense.

Nothing about this made sense.

But the way every Lycan in the room was staring at her now—

Fear.

Shock.

Disbelief.

It told her one thing clearly.

Something had just changed.

Something big.

And whatever it was…

It involved her.

Her life.

Her fate.

And the most dangerous creature in the room.

The Lycan King.

Alina swallowed hard.

Because deep down—

She could feel it too.

Something had awakened.

And there was no turning back.