Claimed By The Lycan King

CHAPTER 3: Claimed Without Choice

Elira’s POV

The scream didn’t fade away, instead it multiplied. Sharp voices collided with each other, panic spreading like wildfire across the university courtyard. Students shoved past one another, bags falling, chairs scraping, confusion turning into chaos in seconds.

“What is that?!”

“Is that a wolf?!”

“No, it is bigger!”

Maya’s fingers dug into my arm. “Elira, what are you waiting for. We need to leave right now!” she shouted.

But my feet wouldn’t move, running towards me was a wolf, massive and dark. Its muscles rippling under its skin as it moved unnaturally fast through the crowd.

My stomach dropped. “It’s looking for me,” I whispered to no one in particular.

Maya turned sharply. “What did you say?” I couldn't say a word.

Before I can fully comprehend what was going on Kael moved. Stepping forward he placed himself between me and the approaching wolf like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Like he had done this before. “Stay behind me,” he said in a commanding tone. The command was quiet and it wasn’t something I could ignore.

My body obeyed before my mind caught up. The wolf lunged, moving slightly. Kael caught it mid-air.

My breath left me in a sharp gasp, his hand locked around the wolf’s throat, and holding the wolf like it weighs nothing. Stopping its momentum in air completely, the force of the impact should have knocked him back. But it didn’t, he didn’t even take a step.

The wolf snarled violently, twisting, claws scraping against the ground as it tried to break free, but it couldn’t.

“This is not your territory,” he snared

The wolf stilled for a second and his eyes locked onto his. Something I couldn't understand passed between them.

“You entered without permission,” he continued, voice colder now. “That is not a mistake you survive twice and I am not that kind to let you go.”

Three more wolves appeared on the courtyard. They didn’t rush forward like the first, they looked on calculating and then started approaching slowly, growling.

Maya stumbled back slightly, her grip on me tightening. “Elira what is happening? Why are they coming here?!”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”

But I did, I just couldn’t say it.

Kael shifted slightly, placing himself fully in front of me blocking me from their direct line.

One of them stepped forward and bowed its head not out of submission, but recognition, giving a wolfish smile.

Kael’s gaze darkened and his voice cut through again. “You will leave.” The statement left no room for suggestions.

The wolves didn’t move, one of them stepped in a challenging manner. Kael didn’t react immediately. But his eyes did, they are now darker. The air felt dangerous and pressure built thick, suffocating, and heavy.

Even Maya felt it and she flinched, moving backward. This wasn't just confrontation, it was showing dominance.

The wolf stopped not by choice but by power. Kael tilted his head slightly. “You push too far,” he said quietly. The wolf snared back.

The wolf in Kael’s grip suddenly jerked, Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly and he threw it away. They all gathered together and started retreating.

The wolf at the front, looked at me then at Kael before joining the others to disappear into the distance. Just like that they were gone.

The courtyard was silent once again, students stood frozen, staring at where the wolves had been moments ago.

Maya turned to me, her face pale. “Elira what just happened?”

I didn’t answer immediately because I was staring at Kael. He stood there like nothing had just happened.

“You knew about this,” I said in an accusing tone.

His gaze shifted to me. “Yes.”

My chest tightened. “You knew they were coming.” I said again

“Yes,” he replied.

“And you still came here?” I shouted.

His expression didn’t change. “They were already on their way.”

That didn’t make it better. I stepped forward, ignoring the way Maya tried to pull me back. “Those things were looking for me. I want to know why?”

“Because you were marked.” He said. My stomach dropped.

“So that’s it?” I demanded. “You mark me and suddenly I’m a target?”

“It is more than a mark, but regardless of that they would have found you.”

“What does that mean?!” Kael held my gaze as if searching for something.

“It means you are not what you think you are.” The words hang between us.

“I’m human,” I said immediately.

“Yes, you were.” The correction hit harder than anything else.

“What do you mean by were?” His gaze flicked briefly to my wrist.

“You crossed into a boundary you were not meant to cross,” he said. “And something responded.”

“Something?” I repeated. “You mean you.”

“No. Not me,” he said quietly.

“My Lycan.” My heart skipped a beat.

“What does that mean?”

Kael didn’t answer right away, like he was deciding how much to say. Finally, he spoke. “I was not meant to have a mate.”

The words were steady, my brows pulled together. “What?”

“For years,” he continued, “there was nothing.”

I swallowed hard. “Nothing?”

“No bond. No connection. No voice.”

Something in my chest tightened.

“And then?” I asked quietly. His gaze held mine.

“Then you entered that forest.” A chill ran through me.

“So?” I said carefully.

“My lycan, reacted.”

The words were simple, but carried a lot of meaning “You’re saying” I hesitated. “It chose me?”

“Yes.” he said, searching my gaze for a reaction.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said immediately. “You don’t even know me and I know nothing about your world until yesterday.”

“You didn’t need to.”

“That’s not how this works” I snapped. “You can't just decide something like that.”

“I didn’t.”

“You’re saying you had no choice in all of this.” I said.

“Yes.” he continues “This place is no longer for you. You have to come with me.”

“No.” I snapped, “You can't just come and decide for me.”

His expression didn’t change. “You are not safe here.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“They will return.”

“Then I’ll deal with it.”

“You cannot.”

The certainty in his voice made something in my chest tighten. “I don’t even know you,” I said.

“You do not need to.”

“That’s not reassuring”

“It is not meant to be.”

“I have a life here,” I said, gesturing around us. “School. Friends. A future I have planned already.”

“That life ended the moment you were seen.”

Maya stepped in front of me. “Okay, no. Whatever this is, it's not happening. She’s not going anywhere with you.”

Kael’s gaze shifted to her briefly, not annoyed, I caught a look of respect.

“She is already involved,” he said.

“In what?” Maya snapped.

Kael didn’t answer her.

“They will not stop,” he said.

“And next time, I may not be here first.”

I looked down at my wrist again trying to make a decision. The mark pulsed faintly, like it was reminding me.

“What happens if I don’t go with you?” I asked quietly.

“You will be taken.” he gave me the answer I didn't want to hear.

I looked at Maya and my chest tightened, as I stared at the fear in her eyes. I knew that I have to keep her safe.

As I thought hard, I realized something clearly. I don’t have control

anymore.

“Where would I even be going?” I asked.

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver. “Home.”

“Home” I repeated and wherever he was taking me isn't going to be a place I would be able to leave.