The Blood King's Return

The night Alina was sold to the Lycan King kael was the night my life ended. Cold wind whipped against my face as I stood in the center of the courtyard, my wrists trembling at my sides. The sky above was dark, heavy with storm clouds that threatened to break at any moment. It felt as though the heavens themselves were mourning the fate that awaited me. I didn’t understand how everything had gone so wrong. Just hours ago, I still believed my life belonged to me. Now, I was nothing more than a transaction. A bargaining chip. A sacrifice. “Stand still,” my stepmother hissed beside me, gripping my arm so tightly it hurt. “You’ll embarrass the family.” Family. The word felt bitter in my mouth. If they truly considered me family, they wouldn’t have done this. My gaze slowly lifted to the massive black vehicles that had just entered our estate gates. They looked expensive, powerful—like the men who stepped out of them. Tall. Broad. Dangerous. The moment their boots touched the ground, the entire courtyard fell silent. Even the guards who protected our estate lowered their eyes in submission. Everyone knew who these men served. The Lycan King. Fear crept up my spine like ice. Stories about him had traveled across every territory in the supernatural world. Some said he could tear a man in half with his bare hands. Others claimed he ruled his pack with absolute brutality, showing mercy to no one who dared challenge him. And tonight… I was being delivered to him. A tall man with silver hair stepped forward from the group of warriors. His sharp eyes scanned the courtyard before landing on me. I froze under his gaze. He walked closer, each step calm and deliberate. “You must be the girl,” he said coldly. My throat tightened. “Yes,” my stepmother answered quickly before I could speak. “This is her.” The man looked me over carefully, as though evaluating merchandise. A strange sense of humiliation burned inside my chest. Was this truly happening? Was I really being sold like an object? The man finally nodded. “She will do.” Those three words shattered whatever hope I still had. My father stepped forward, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I trust the King will be satisfied with the arrangement,” he said carefully. Arrangement. That was what they called selling their own daughter. The silver-haired man’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “The King always gets what he wants.” A chill crawled down my spine. Before I could react, one of the warriors grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward. “Wait—!” I gasped. But no one listened. My stepmother avoided my eyes. My father remained silent. And just like that, I was dragged toward the waiting vehicle. The moment the car door slammed shut behind me, panic exploded inside my chest. My hands trembled as the vehicle began to move. The familiar sight of my home slowly disappeared through the window. I realized then that I would probably never return. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Crying wouldn’t change anything. The drive lasted hours. No one spoke to me. The warriors surrounding me were silent and intimidating, their presence filling the car with suffocating tension. Eventually, the vehicle slowed. When it finally stopped, one of the warriors opened the door. “Get out.” I stepped out slowly. And then I saw it. Kael The Lycan King’s territory. Massive iron gates towered before us, guarded by warriors dressed in black armor. Beyond the gates stood a gigantic castle built from dark stone, its sharp towers reaching high into the night sky. It looked less like a home… and more like a fortress. Or a prison. My heart pounded violently in my chest. “Move,” the warrior ordered. The gates slowly opened with a deep metallic groan. As we passed through them, a terrifying realization settled into my mind. There was no escape now. Inside the castle grounds, dozens of wolves roamed freely in their massive forms. Their glowing eyes watched me carefully as we walked past. I could feel their power. Their dominance. This was their territory. And I was an outsider. The doors of the castle opened before we even reached them. A group of servants stood waiting inside, their heads bowed respectfully. But their eyes flickered toward me with curiosity. Or pity. I wasn’t sure which was worse. “Take her to the King,” the silver-haired man ordered. My breath caught in my throat. Now? Already? Before I could prepare myself, two guards began escorting me deeper into the castle. The halls were enormous, lined with black marble floors and golden chandeliers that illuminated the darkness. Everything about this place screamed power. Control. Authority. Eventually, we reached a pair of massive doors. One of the guards pushed them open. My heart nearly stopped. At the far end of the room stood a tall figure beside a grand window overlooking the forest. Even from behind, his presence was overwhelming. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. An aura of dominance that filled the entire room. The guards released my arms. “Your Majesty,” one of them said respectfully. The man slowly turned. And for the first time… I saw the face of the Lycan King. My breath caught. He was far more terrifying than the rumors described. Tall and powerfully built, with sharp features and piercing golden eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. Those eyes locked onto me instantly. Predatory. Cold. Dangerous. Silence filled the room. He studied me for several long seconds. Then he spoke. “So,” the kael the lycan king said slowly, his deep voice echoing through the chamber. “You are the girl they sold to me.” A shiver ran down my spine. His gaze darkened as he stepped closer. Each step made my heart race faster. When he finally stopped in front of me, the air between us felt heavy with tension. His eyes narrowed slightly. And then he said something that made my blood run cold. You smell interesting