Silver Oath

Chapter 2

KAEL

Shit!

She really said it. “I would rather die than marry someone as cruel as you Kael”

Most wolves whisker when they want to provoke an Alpha. Lyra Voss whispered like she was daring death to come closer and unfortunately for her, I heard everything.

One second, I was halfway down the hall, the next, my mark yanked, yes. It yanked.

It yanked me straight back towards her like a violent instinct.

So yes, it probably did look like I teleported. I didn't mean to and I didn't like it.

Her scent hit me first, her fear was laced with defiance, it was soft, strange and irritatingly honest.

My wolves were already retreating from the hall, but I stayed in the shadows long enough to hear every trembling word she spat at my name.

Cruel? She called me Cruel?

How dare she? And maybe I am. So I stepped behind her, close enough to breath and touch her ear. “Then do me the honor.”

I could feel her froze in an instant. “Perfect” fear rolled off her in trembling waves.

Good. Exactly what I want.

Fear, at least made sense. Fear was familiar. Fear was what people were supposed to feel around the Silver-Marked Alpha.

She spun around, her huge eyes laced with brown pupils widened in confusion, anger, shock, fear all crashing into each other.

I held out the dagger between us “Take your life right here, right now and save us both the trouble.”

I could hear a few gasps from the few people left in the hall.

I stared at her disgustingly,I have never liked her.

She irritates me, I love the way her hands shook. The way lips parted in shock and confusion.

She looked at the dagger like it might bite her. Good

Let her be afraid of something besides me.

For second, I thought she would faint, for another, I thought she might actually try to take it.

Either outcome would have solved ten problems at once.

“What?” she breathed, still looking horrified.

I tightened my grip on the dagger when she didn't take it. “Didn't you say you'd rather die?” I asked with my cold voice. “Go on. Prove it.”

She stumbled back again, eyes darting between me and the knife.

“I…I didn't mean it literally!” She snapped.

“I did,” I replied.

The shocked silence she fell into? I love it. It was satisfying.

But underneath her fear, something sparked. A spark I didn't expect was anger.

I scoffed at the flare of stubborn heat behind those terrified eyes.

She raised her chin slightly “You're insane” she whispered.

I almost smiled. Almost. “Insanity,” I said quietly, stepping closer, “Would be letting you come to Draven Fortress without knowing exactly what kind of death you're stepping into.”

She swallowed real hard. I lifted the dagger a little higher, not to her throat, not to threaten her but to offer.

To give her a choice, Hakai wolves believed in choices, even the cruel ones.

“You want freedom?” I said. “Take it, right now. Your death, your decision.”

Her breathing hitched and the look she gave me, made me hate her the most.

I hate her family, I'm disgusted by her people. They're weak, she's mark-less.

“I'll never take that dagger,” she whispered.

I leaned in, my voice dropping to a dangerous softness “Then remember something very clearly, Lyra Voss.” I could feel her flinch at the mention of her name.

“You offered death before I did. Don't forget who spoke first.” and for the first time tonight, she looked genuinely speechless.

Good.

I stepped back, slipping the dagger back into its sheath.

“The ceremony is at dawn,” I told her. “Try not to run, hunters don't appreciate the extra work.”

I didn't wait for her to answer before turning sharply with the cloak snapping behind me like a warning.

I needed distance as fast as possible because for a split second for her tiniest heartbeat when she flinched at my voice, I felt something in my chest tighten and it was not even guilt, I never felt guilty for my actions but I felt something worse, my silver mark burned.

Not the usual burn. No.

This burn was alive, restless and I hated it.

I pushed through the hall doors before she could breathe another terrified syllable in my direction.

The cold night air slapped me hard in a way that I love.

I needed grounding.

I stalked across the courtyard, my boots crunching against the gravel as I approached the sleek black car waiting for me. The two guards standing beside the car straightened themselves and immediately saw me.

“Alpha.” they saluted but I ignored them walking past the two.

I saw my Beta leaning against the car, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable as always.

Ronan is my only friend. My blade in battle, the wolf who'd follow me into war without blinking.

He looked at me just once before frowning “What the hell happened in there?” he asked.

I didn't answer, I didn't have an answer I trusted. Instead, I shoved past him and yanked open the car door. But as I did, a sharp spike of pain stabbed through my palm.

I hissed quietly and froze in the spot. Ronana noticed almost immediately “Your hand Kael, show me” and against my will, I opened my palm, the faintest shimmer of silver pulsed beneath my skin, it was thin, threadlike, glowing like something trying to break out.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed. “Is that your mark reacting?”

“No.” I snapped too quickly.

He raised a brow “it looks like your mark is reacting.”

“I said it's nothing.”

“Kael,” he stepped closer. “Your mark hasn't flared like that in years. What did she do to you?”

“She didn't do anything.”

He stared at me suspiciously. “Then why does your hand look like it swallowed moonlight?”

I clenched my fist until the glow dimmed.

I wasn't going to admit to anyone, especially not him, that a mark-less girl made the silver mark respond like she was a threat.

A threat? I chuckled underneath my breath. So funny.

“She's weak.” I muttered “Completely useless. I picked her because she's the runt of their pack.”

Ronan tilted his head “Yet your mark lit up like a star the second you touched her.”

I shot him a warning glare. He lifted both hands. “Fine. Not my business.”

We got into the car. The guards closed the doors behind us, the engine hummed to life, and we pulled away from Voss territory.

My mind wasn't on the road, it wasn't on the marriage or the ceremony at dawn, it was on the burn in my palm.

The way my mark had ripped me backwards.

I called her useless but somehow my instincts didn't see her as one.

“Look..” Ronan broke the silence. “Whatever that reaction was?” Ignore it. The girl is nothing, she's just a pawn. The real victory is claiming Voss land, their forests, their mines, their borders and once she's yours, they're all yours.”

“I want the Voss land.” I growled, pushing away any other thoughts. The Voss land is a plateau land yet I want it badly because of one reason and anything that comes in between that plan will die.

Even if it's Lyra.