Chapter 2:Claimed By The King

Silence crashed over the ceremonial grounds.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Lyra stared at Alpha King Kael Draven in complete shock, certain she had misunderstood him.

Belongs to me?

The words echoed violently inside her head.

Around them, terrified whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.

“The King claimed her…”

“Why would he want an omega?”

“This has to be a joke—”

Rowan looked stunned for the first time all night.

“Your Majesty,” he said carefully, “there must be some misunderstanding.”

Kael turned slowly toward him.

The pressure rolling off the Alpha King became suffocating instantly.

“There is no misunderstanding.”

His voice remained calm. Controlled.

But every wolf present could feel the danger beneath it.

Rowan stiffened slightly beneath the King’s gaze.

“With respect,” Rowan continued, “Lyra is no one important.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Kael’s expression darkened.

A strange chill swept through the arena.

Several wolves immediately lowered their heads in fear.

Even Lyra’s damaged wolf trembled weakly inside her.

Kael stepped closer to Rowan.

Not aggressively.

Not loudly.

Which somehow made it worse.

“You publicly rejected your mate,” Kael said quietly. “And now you question my judgment?”

Sweat appeared visibly along Rowan’s neck.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

The single word landed like a warning.

Lyra struggled slowly to her feet despite the lingering pain tearing through her chest. Her legs felt weak beneath her, but she refused to remain kneeling any longer in front of the entire pack.

Especially not in front of Rowan and Selena.

Selena’s face had completely lost its earlier smugness.

Now she looked furious.

And threatened.

Her sharp eyes darted repeatedly between Kael and Lyra like she couldn’t understand what the King saw in her.

Honestly…

Lyra didn’t understand either.

Kael finally turned back toward her.

The intensity in his gaze made her pulse stumble again.

“You’re injured.”

It wasn’t a question.

Lyra quickly looked away. “I’m fine.”

“You’re lying.”

Embarrassment heated her face instantly.

Of course he could sense the rejection damage.

Every Alpha here probably could.

Mate rejection left visible weakness for several days, especially when the bond was strong.

And hers had been strong.

At least for her.

Kael studied her trembling hands for a moment before speaking again.

“Can you walk?”

The question caught her off guard.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

That was all he said before turning toward his royal guards.

“We leave immediately.”

The command snapped through the arena sharply.

Lyra blinked in confusion.

Leave?

Her head lifted quickly. “Wait—”

Kael’s gray eyes returned to hers.

“You’re coming with me.”

A fresh wave of panic hit her chest.

“I can’t just leave.”

“Why not?”

Because this was her home.

Or at least…

It used to be.

Lyra looked around the ceremonial grounds slowly.

The pack members avoided her eyes.

Some looked nervous. Others disgusted. Others openly curious.

Not a single person seemed upset that she was leaving.

Not one.

The realization hurt more than she expected.

Her gaze shifted toward Rowan instinctively.

For one brief second, something unreadable crossed his expression as he looked at her beside Kael.

Regret?

No.

Probably not.

Selena immediately grabbed Rowan’s arm possessively again.

The sight snapped whatever remained of Lyra’s hope completely.

There was nothing left for her here anymore.

Still…

She looked back at Kael uncertainly. “Why are you doing this?”

A dangerous silence followed.

The Alpha King stepped closer until she could feel the overwhelming heat radiating from his body.

“You interest me.”

The answer only confused her more.

Before Lyra could respond, another voice interrupted sharply.

“She doesn’t belong with royals.”

Everyone turned instantly.

Selena stepped forward despite the fear visible in her eyes.

Rowan grabbed her wrist immediately. “Selena—”

“No,” Selena snapped quietly. “This is ridiculous.”

Kael’s gaze shifted toward her slowly.

And the entire arena seemed to freeze.

Selena swallowed hard but forced herself to continue.

“She’s weak,” Selena said bitterly. “An omega-born nobody. Taking her to the royal territory would embarrass the throne.”

Several wolves looked horrified by her boldness.

No one spoke to the Alpha King that way.

Especially not a lower-ranked she-wolf.

But Kael remained perfectly calm.

Which somehow felt terrifying.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“You speak often for someone insignificant.”

Selena’s face drained of color instantly.

The insult hit hard enough to silence the entire crowd.

Kael’s voice lowered dangerously.

“Be grateful I tolerate your disrespect tonight.”

Fear flashed openly across Selena’s face now.

She immediately lowered her head.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

Kael ignored her completely after that.

As though she no longer existed.

Then, without warning, his attention shifted back to Lyra.

And he held out his hand.

The gesture stunned everyone.

An Alpha King offering his hand to an omega?

Lyra stared at it uncertainly.

His hand was large. Scarred. Powerful.

Everything about Kael felt dangerous.

Every instinct told her accepting his help would change her life permanently.

Maybe destroy it completely.

But staying here would destroy her too.

Slowly.

Painfully.

She looked once more toward Rowan.

The male she once loved stood silently beside another woman while the bond between them lay shattered at her feet.

He didn’t stop her.

Didn’t fight for her.

Didn’t even look sorry enough.

Something inside Lyra finally broke free.

Not painfully this time.

Quietly.

Like the final thread tying her to Moonridge Pack had snapped forever.

Then she placed her trembling hand into Kael’s.

The reaction was instant.

Heat surged violently through her body.

Lyra gasped softly.

Kael’s eyes darkened immediately.

The strange sensation lasted only seconds before fading, but the intensity of it left her breathless.

The crowd erupted into whispers again.

Kael’s jaw tightened slightly as though he felt it too.

But unlike Lyra, he gave away nothing.

“Interesting,” he murmured again.

Before she could ask what he meant, he turned and began walking toward the waiting vehicles while still holding her hand firmly.

Lyra stumbled slightly trying to keep up.

The crowd parted immediately for the Alpha King.

Fear surrounded him like a living thing.

No one dared block his path.

As they passed Rowan, Kael finally stopped briefly.

The tension became unbearable instantly.

Rowan lowered his head respectfully. “Safe travels, Your Majesty.”

Kael stared at him coldly.

Then he said quietly:

“One day, you will regret tonight.”

Rowan’s expression tightened sharply.

But Kael continued walking before he could respond.

Lyra’s heart pounded painfully as they approached the black vehicles waiting beyond the gates.

Everything was happening too fast.

She barely had time to think.

One hour ago, her mate rejected her publicly.

Now the Alpha King himself was taking her away.

Nothing about this felt real.

A royal guard opened the vehicle door immediately for them.

Kael finally released her hand once she climbed inside.

The loss of contact felt strangely cold.

Lyra sat stiffly against the leather seat while Kael entered beside her.

The door shut heavily.

Outside, the entire pack still watched in stunned silence.

Then the vehicles began moving.

Moonridge Pack slowly disappeared behind them.

Lyra stared out the window quietly as darkness swallowed the forest roads.

She should have felt relieved.

Instead, anxiety twisted violently inside her chest.

Because she had just left everything she’d ever known behind…

To follow the most feared Alpha in existence into a world she knew absolutely nothing about.