The Lycan King
1006 Words
The cabin fell silent.
Even the storm seemed to pause.
The giant black wolf stood motionless in the doorway, rain dripping from his dark fur.
His golden eyes remained fixed on me.
Not the rogues.
Me.
The rogues were shaking.
Actually shaking.
One of them dropped to both knees.
"Your Majesty," he stammered.
The massive wolf didn't even acknowledge him.
His gaze never left mine.
A strange feeling twisted inside my chest.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Recognition.
As though some part of me already knew him.
The silver pendant around my neck suddenly grew warm.
The Lycan King's eyes narrowed.
He noticed.
Before I could react, silver light flashed around the enormous wolf.
The next second, a man stood where the beast had been.
My breath caught.
He was tall.
Far taller than Damon.
Broad-shouldered and powerfully built.
His black hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his golden eyes seemed almost unnatural.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
His presence alone filled the room.
The air itself felt heavier.
This was the Lycan King.
The ruler of the most powerful kingdom in existence.
And he was staring at me as though I were a mystery he couldn't solve.
One of the rogues cleared his throat nervously.
"Your Majesty, we didn't know she was under your protection—"
Kael finally looked away from me.
The rogue immediately fell silent.
The King's expression was terrifying.
Not angry.
Worse.
Cold.
"Under my protection?" Kael repeated.
The rogue swallowed.
"Y-Yes?"
Kael took a step forward.
The cabin seemed smaller somehow.
"Who told you she was under my protection?"
"No one."
"Then why are you attacking a lone female?"
The rogue opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Kael's eyes hardened.
"I asked a question."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Fear radiated from the rogues.
"We were just looking for supplies," one blurted.
Kael stared at him.
The rogue immediately looked away.
The King sighed.
Disappointed.
Which somehow felt more frightening than anger.
Then he spoke a single word.
"Leave."
The rogues blinked.
"What?"
Kael's golden eyes flashed.
"Leave."
They didn't hesitate.
Within seconds, all three rogues were running into the storm.
Desperate to escape.
I watched them disappear.
Then I realized something.
I was now alone with the Lycan King.
My heart skipped a beat.
Not necessarily in a good way.
Kael turned back toward me.
The silence stretched.
His gaze swept over my face.
The pendant.
The blood on my arm.
The remains of the silver glow still fading from the floor.
He noticed everything.
Finally, he spoke.
"Who are you?"
I hesitated.
"Aria."
His eyebrow lifted.
"Just Aria?"
"Aria Moonfall."
The moment I said my surname, something changed.
Recognition flickered in his eyes.
Gone almost instantly.
But I saw it.
"You know that name."
Kael didn't answer.
Instead, he asked another question.
"Why are you alone?"
The answer tasted bitter.
"I was banished."
His expression darkened.
"Banished?"
I nodded.
"By my pack."
For a moment, genuine disbelief crossed his face.
"A newly awakened wolf was banished?"
I frowned.
"How did you know I just awakened?"
A faint smile touched his lips.
The first sign of emotion I'd seen from him.
"Your scent."
That wasn't very helpful.
Before I could ask another question, his gaze landed on my injured arm.
The wound had stopped bleeding.
But it still hurt.
Kael stepped closer.
Instinctively, I backed away.
His expression remained unreadable.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
Easy for him to say.
He was one of the most feared men in the world.
Still, something about his voice felt sincere.
Reluctantly, I stopped moving.
Kael reached toward my arm.
Warmth spread through the wound.
The pain vanished instantly.
My eyes widened.
"What did you do?"
"A minor healing ability."
Of course the Lycan King could heal people.
Why was I even surprised?
I looked at my arm.
The injury was gone.
Completely.
No scar.
Nothing.
"Thank you."
Kael inclined his head.
Then his gaze shifted to the pendant.
Again.
He clearly recognized it.
The question was why.
"Where did you get that?" he asked.
"My mother."
His eyes sharpened.
"Your mother gave it to you?"
"Not directly."
I explained how Elder Rowan had delivered it.
Kael listened carefully.
The more I spoke, the more serious he became.
When I finished, silence filled the cabin once again.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Kael looked away.
Toward the storm outside.
For the first time, he seemed troubled.
As though he were remembering something unpleasant.
Finally, he turned back to me.
"How much do you know about your parents?"
"Almost nothing."
The answer hurt.
But it was true.
Kael studied me for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
"As I suspected."
My frustration returned.
"What does that mean?"
Instead of answering, he moved toward the door.
"Come with me."
I blinked.
"What?"
"The forest isn't safe."
"I can take care of myself."
His gaze drifted to the destroyed cabin.
The shattered furniture.
The missing wall.
The obvious evidence that three rogues had nearly killed me.
My cheeks heated.
Okay.
Maybe that wasn't my strongest argument.
A hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then it vanished.
"There are more rogues in this region," he said.
"Far more dangerous than the ones you encountered."
I crossed my arms.
"And why should I trust you?"
Kael's expression softened unexpectedly.
"Because if I wanted to harm you, Aria Moonfall..."
His voice lowered.
"There is nothing you could do to stop me."
Fair point.
A very annoying fair point.
The storm continued raging outside.
Night was approaching.
And I had nowhere else to go.
Reluctantly, I sighed.
"Fine."
Something that looked suspiciously like relief flashed across his face.
Before I could question it, he turned toward the forest.
"We need to move."
I grabbed my bag.
Together, we stepped into the rain.
What I didn't know—
Was that hundreds of miles away, Alpha Damon Blackwood had just learned something that made his blood run cold.
The omega he rejected was missing.
And nobody could find her.
- Writer
