The King’s Mark
968 Words
The dawn broke over the Bloodmoon Pack like a warning.
Heavy clouds swallowed the sun, casting long shadows across the massive stone castle. Soldiers lined the courtyard, standing at attention with silver-tipped spears. The atmosphere was tense, as though the entire kingdom could sense that something had changed overnight.
Inside her room, Elara sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the faint silver mark on her wrist.
It was still there.
The mark the Lycan King had placed on her.
She had tried everything.
She had scrubbed it until her skin turned red.
She had wrapped it with cloth.
She had even prayed it would disappear.
Nothing worked.
Whenever she touched it, warmth spread through her body.
“What are you?” she whispered.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Lady Elara,” a maid called nervously. “His Majesty requests your presence immediately.”
Her heart skipped.
Again?
She had barely recovered from the events of the previous night.
After taking a deep breath, she followed the maid through the endless corridors.
Every servant she passed lowered their heads.
Some whispered.
Others stared.
“They say the King marked her.”
“Impossible…”
“No human has ever survived the King’s mark.”
“Maybe she’s really the Hidden Luna.”
Elara clenched her fists.
She hated the attention.
She hated the whispers.
Most of all…
She hated that part of her wanted to see Kael again.
The throne room was already filled.
Generals.
Elders.
Royal advisers.
Even neighboring Alphas stood in silence.
The enormous silver throne stood at the far end of the hall.
King Kael sat upon it like a god born for war.
His black cape flowed over the steps.
His golden eyes locked onto Elara the moment she entered.
The room became completely silent.
“Approach.”
His voice echoed like thunder.
Every step toward him felt heavier than the last.
When she finally stopped before the throne, Kael stood.
The entire hall bowed.
Only Elara remained standing.
“I have called everyone here today,” Kael announced, “because rumors have spread throughout the kingdom.”
His gaze never left hers.
“It is time to end those rumors.”
The elders exchanged nervous glances.
One elderly adviser stepped forward.
“Your Majesty… surely you do not intend to”
“I do.”
Gasps erupted across the room.
Elara frowned.
“Do… what?”
Kael descended the throne steps.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Until only inches separated them.
He reached for her hand.
She instinctively tried to pull away.
He caught her wrist.
The silver mark immediately began to glow.
A brilliant light burst through the throne room.
Everyone shielded their eyes.
“What is happening?” someone shouted.
The glow spread across Elara’s arm like living moonlight before settling into the shape of a crescent moon wrapped around a wolf.
The royal elders fell to their knees.
“No…”
“It can’t be…”
“The Moon Goddess…”
One old priest began to cry.
“The prophecy…”
Kael turned toward the gathering.
“You wanted proof.”
He raised Elara’s hand for everyone to see.
“This…”
“…is the Royal Luna Mark.”
Silence.
Utter silence.
Then chaos erupted.
“The prophecy is real!”
“The Hidden Luna exists!”
“She bears the King’s mark!”
Some Alphas looked terrified.
Others looked furious.
A woman in elegant crimson robes stepped forward.
Queen Mother Selene.
Her icy eyes swept over Elara with open disgust.
“So…”
“This is the human you have chosen over your own blood?”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“I did not choose.”
“The Moon Goddess did.”
Selene laughed coldly.
“Then the Moon Goddess has made a terrible mistake.”
Before anyone could react, Selene raised her hand.
Dark energy shot toward Elara.
Kael moved faster than anyone could see.
Boom!
The entire throne room shook as he caught the attack with one hand.
His eyes glowed pure gold.
“You dare attack someone under my protection?”
His voice carried enough power to crack the marble floor.
Selene didn’t flinch.
“I am protecting this kingdom.”
“No.”
Kael replied quietly.
“You are protecting your ambition.”
Their eyes locked.
Mother against son.
Power against power.
The tension was suffocating.
Finally, Selene lowered her hand.
“This isn’t over.”
She swept out of the throne room, her followers rushing after her.
Later that evening…
Elara stood alone on the castle balcony.
The cool wind brushed against her face.
Her mind replayed everything.
The mark.
The prophecy.
The Queen Mother’s hatred.
Footsteps approached.
She didn’t have to turn around.
She already knew who it was.
Kael stood beside her.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Elara broke the silence.
“Why me?”
Kael stared at the full moon.
“I’ve asked myself that same question for years.”
She looked at him.
“You knew about the prophecy?”
He nodded.
“Since I was a child.”
“And?”
“And it said my Luna would appear when the kingdom stood on the edge of destruction.”
A chill ran through her body.
“What destruction?”
Before Kael could answer…
A deafening howl echoed across the kingdom.
Not one wolf.
Hundreds.
The castle bells began ringing wildly.
A guard burst onto the balcony, breathless.
“Your Majesty!”
Kael turned sharply.
“What is it?”
“The Northern Border has fallen!”
“The Shadow Wolves have crossed into our kingdom…”
“They’re coming here.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
He looked at Elara.
Then at the moon.
“So…”
“The war has finally begun.”
End of Chapter 8
- Writer
