chapter 8
843 Words
The storm outside the palace did not feel like weather.
It felt like a warning.
Kael stood before the shattered window of Lyara's chamber, rain soaking through his black robes, as cold wind swept across the room.
Gone.
His Luna was gone.
The scent she had left behind was already fading.
Every passing second carried her farther away from him.
Behind him, the chamber buzzed with noise.
Guards reported.
Council members whispered.
Servants trembled.
But Kael heard none of it.
His eyes remained fixed on the darkness beyond the palace walls.
Somewhere out there…
she was running.
A strange pain twisted inside his chest.
Not physical.
The mate bond.
For the first time since he met her, the distance between them felt unbearable.
"My king."
The voice pulled him back.
Kael turned slowly.
Selene stood near the doorway.
Fear flashed across her face before she quickly lowered her eyes.
"The council only acted to protect you."
Silence.
Kael stared.
"The evidence was clear."
Still silence.
Then finally—
"What evidence?"
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
The room froze.
Selene swallowed.
"The pregnancy..."
The word echoed.
Pregnancy.
The accusation that had started everything.
The accusation that had driven Lyara into the storm.
Kael's expression darkened.
Before Selene could continue, another voice interrupted.
Calm.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
"My king."
Lord Kaelen Viremont stepped forward.
Kael's oldest friend.
His most trusted advisor.
The man who had stood beside him through every war.
Kaelen placed a sealed report on the table.
"The council's findings."
Kael opened it.
His silver eyes scanned the pages.
Evidence.
Witness statements.
Medical reports.
Political assessments.
Everything pointed toward one conclusion.
Lyara was guilty.
Yet something felt wrong.
Too perfect.
Too organized.
Too convenient.
"Who approved this?" Kael asked.
"The council."
Kaelen's answer came immediately.
Kael looked at him.
For a brief moment, neither man spoke.
Then Kaelen lowered his voice.
"If you hesitate, my king, she will become their weapon against you."
The words settled heavily inside the room.
Weapon.
Enemy.
Spy.
Traitor.
Every title felt wrong.
Yet Kael could not explain why.
Because every piece of evidence pointed toward her.
And still…
his instincts refused to believe it.
Far beyond the palace walls, Lyara ran.
Branches tore at her cloak.
Rain drenched her hair.
Her lungs burned.
But she refused to stop.
Tears mixed with rainwater.
Not because she loved Kael.
At least that was what she told herself.
Because if she admitted the truth—
that his rejection hurt—
she might break.
And Lyara refused to break.
"They chose their side," she whispered.
The wind stole the words.
"Now I'll choose mine."
Hours later she reached the border.
Ahead stood another kingdom.
Another Alpha.
Another opportunity.
A chance to survive.
A chance to strike back.
A chance for revenge.
Her fingers tightened.
"If they think I'm their enemy..."
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"Then I'll become one."
Back in the Northern Palace, a messenger rushed into the throne room.
"My king!"
Kael turned.
The messenger fell to one knee.
"A letter!"
The room instantly fell silent.
Kael accepted the parchment.
The handwriting belonged to Lyara.
His pulse tightened.
Slowly he unfolded it.
Only one sentence was written.
"I am coming for everything you love."
The words struck like a blade!
Something dark flashed through Kael's eyes.
Around him, the council erupted into alarm.
War!
Betrayal!
Retribution!
Everyone spoke at once.
But Kael heard none of them.
Because the room was changing.
The walls seemed farther away.
The voices sounded distorted.
The storm grew louder.
Too loud.
The thunder became unbearable.
The throne room blurred.
The faces blurred.
Everything blurred.
Darkness swallowed the palace.
Darkness swallowed the kingdom.
Darkness swallowed Lyara.
Then—
Kael's eyes snapped open.
Silence.
No storm.
No throne room.
No council.
No escaped Luna.
Only the stone ceiling of his royal chamber.
His chest rose sharply.
A dream.
It had all been a dream.
Months beneath the Moon Curse had trapped him inside an endless illusion.
The pregnancy accusation.
The escape.
The mate bond.
The betrayal.
The war.
All of it.
A dream.
The chamber doors burst open!
"My king!"
The royal healer nearly collapsed with relief.
"The Moon Goddess be praised. You've awakened."
Kael sat upright slowly.
His heart was still racing.
The dream felt real.
Too real.
"My king," the healer continued, "the council awaits your presence."
Kael swung his legs from the bed.
His expression hardened.
Cold.
Heartless.
Untouchable.
The man feared by the entire continent.
"What happened while I slept?"
The healer hesitated.
Then answered carefully.
"The peace treaty was finalized."
Kael frowned.
"What treaty?"
"The marriage alliance, my king."
Silence.
The healer swallowed.
"Your bride arrived this morning."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Name."
The healer lowered his head.
"Princess Lyara Valen."
Everything inside Kael froze.
The name.
The face.
The woman.
Slowly, he rose to his feet.
Because for the first time in his life…
the Heartless Alpha King was about to meet the woman who had already lived inside his dreams.
And that was where the war truly began.
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