The Lycan King’s Claim
724 Words
The grand hall fell silent.
Not a single soul dared to breathe.
Aria remained on her knees, her body trembling from the pain of the rejection bond. Tears blurred her vision, but she could still see the man standing at the entrance.
He was unlike any wolf she had ever seen.
Tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in black from head to toe, he carried himself like a king who feared nothing and no one.
His silver eyes were fixed on her.
Only her.
A chill ran through Aria’s body.
“Bring my mate to me.”
His deep voice echoed through the hall.
The words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Mate?
The stranger was talking about her?
Alpha Damon frowned.
“Who are you to enter my territory without permission?”
Gasps erupted around the room.
Several elders instantly lowered their heads.
One elderly council member nearly collapsed from fear.
“Alpha Damon,” he whispered urgently. “Watch your tongue.”
The stranger’s expression remained unreadable.
Then he took another step forward.
The pressure in the room doubled.
Many wolves dropped to one knee.
Others couldn’t even raise their heads.
Aria had never felt power like this before.
It was overwhelming.
Terrifying.
Ancient.
The Elder swallowed hard.
“Your Majesty…”
The title hit the room like lightning.
Aria’s eyes widened.
Your Majesty?
No.
It couldn’t be.
“The Lycan King…” someone whispered.
Fear spread through the crowd.
The ruler of all Lycans.
The most powerful being in the werewolf world.
King Kael Draven.
Stories about him were told to frighten young wolves into obedience.
Some claimed he could defeat an entire pack alone.
Others said he had never shown mercy to his enemies.
And now he was standing in front of her.
King Kael’s gaze never left Aria.
A strange warmth flickered inside his silver eyes.
Something she couldn’t understand.
“What happened to her?” he asked quietly.
Nobody answered.
The king’s eyes swept across the hall.
He saw Aria kneeling on the floor.
Saw the tears staining her cheeks.
Saw the humiliation written across her face.
His expression darkened.
Dangerously.
Finally, his gaze landed on Damon.
“You rejected her.”
It wasn’t a question.
Damon lifted his chin.
“I did.”
The king studied him for several seconds.
Then he laughed.
The sound was cold.
Mocking.
“You rejected her?”
Aria didn’t understand why the words sounded so unbelievable.
As though Damon had just thrown away something priceless.
Damon’s jaw tightened.
“I had every right. She’s weak. She isn’t fit to be Luna.”
The insult cut deep.
Aria lowered her head.
But before she could sink further into shame—
A growl shook the hall.
Everyone froze.
The sound had come from King Kael.
The windows rattled.
Several wolves stumbled backward.
His silver eyes flashed with fury.
“Weak?”
The king’s voice became deadly soft.
“I crossed three kingdoms because I felt a bond I haven’t felt in twenty-eight years.”
The room stared at him.
Confused.
Shocked.
Aria’s heart pounded.
What was he talking about?
Kael slowly approached her.
Every step made the crowd more nervous.
When he reached her, he stopped.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Aria couldn’t even look him in the eye.
She expected disgust.
Pity.
Instead, she felt a finger beneath her chin.
Gently.
The king lifted her face.
His touch was surprisingly careful.
As though she were something fragile.
Their eyes met.
And the world stopped.
A strange pull exploded inside Aria’s chest.
Stronger than anything she had ever felt with Damon.
Her wolf suddenly stirred.
Not in pain.
Not in grief.
But in recognition.
Mine.
The word echoed inside her mind.
Aria gasped.
King Kael’s eyes widened slightly.
He had heard it too.
The crowd watched in stunned silence.
Then the Lycan King spoke words that would change Aria’s life forever.
“You are not weak, little wolf.”
His thumb brushed away a tear from her cheek.
“And from this day forward, no one will ever humiliate you again.”
Damon’s face darkened.
“What exactly are you saying?”
The king slowly turned toward him.
A cold smile appeared on his lips.
“The mate you threw away…”
His arm slid around Aria’s waist.
“…belongs to me now.”
- Writer
