Chapter 4:The Room Beside The King

The inside of Draven Castle was even more intimidating than the outside.

Everything felt massive.

Dark stone walls stretched high above Lyra while silver chandeliers illuminated long corridors lined with royal guards. The polished black floors reflected every step she took beside Kael, making the silence around them feel even heavier.

No one spoke as they passed.

Servants bowed immediately. Guards lowered their heads. Even powerful-looking Alphas stepped aside without hesitation.

Fear followed Kael everywhere.

And now…

That fear was extending toward her too.

Lyra could feel the stares burning into her back as whispers traveled quietly through the castle halls.

“That’s her?”

“The rejected mate?”

“Why would the King bring an omega here?”

Her chest tightened painfully.

She kept her eyes forward, refusing to react.

Kael walked beside her calmly, hands clasped behind his back like he couldn’t hear the whispers surrounding them.

But suddenly, the temperature in the hallway dropped.

Every wolf nearby immediately went silent.

Lyra realized what happened instantly.

Kael had heard them.

Without stopping, he spoke coldly:

“If any of you have enough free time to gossip…”

His gray eyes swept across the hallway.

“…I can arrange training punishment instead.”

The entire corridor froze.

Several wolves immediately lowered their heads.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“No disrespect intended.”

Kael said nothing else after that.

But the whispers disappeared completely.

Lyra swallowed nervously.

The amount of authority he carried was unreal.

Even Rowan, as future Alpha, had never commanded fear this naturally.

Kael didn’t need to raise his voice.

His presence alone controlled everyone around him.

Eventually they reached a pair of enormous black doors guarded by two royal wolves.

The guards immediately stepped aside.

Kael pushed the doors open.

Lyra stopped walking the second she entered.

The room was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked dark mountains beneath the moonlight while a massive fireplace burned softly across from elegant black furniture. Silver details decorated everything from the shelves to the curtains, giving the entire space a cold but strangely beautiful atmosphere.

This wasn’t just a bedroom.

It was a private royal suite.

Lyra blinked in confusion. “Why are we here?”

Kael removed his gloves slowly.

“These are my chambers.”

Her heart skipped.

“…Your chambers?”

“Yes.”

A fresh wave of anxiety rushed through her instantly.

Surely he didn’t expect—

Kael interrupted her thoughts calmly.

“Your room is connected to mine.”

Lyra stared at him. “Connected?”

He pointed toward a side door near the fireplace.

“You’ll stay there.”

Relief hit her so fast she nearly sagged.

Still, her face heated from embarrassment.

Kael noticed immediately.

Something unreadable flickered across his expression.

“You thought I intended to share a room with you?”

Lyra crossed her arms defensively. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you thought it.”

Her blush deepened.

Kael’s gaze lingered on her face for one dangerous second too long before he looked away again.

Without another word, he walked toward a table near the fireplace and poured himself a drink.

Lyra stood awkwardly near the entrance, unsure what to do.

Everything still felt unreal.

Hours ago she was being humiliated before her pack.

Now she was standing inside the Alpha King’s private chambers.

“How long am I staying here?” she asked quietly.

Kael took a slow sip from his glass before answering.

“As long as necessary.”

“That’s not very specific.”

“No.”

Lyra frowned slightly.

Talking to him was frustrating.

Every answer felt controlled. Measured.

Like he revealed only exactly what he wanted people to know.

Kael finally looked toward her again.

“You’re injured.”

“I’ll recover.”

“Not quickly.”

Lyra looked away.

The rejection pain still burned faintly inside her chest, though not as badly as before.

But emotionally…

She felt hollow.

Kael studied her silently for a moment.

Then he placed his glass down.

“Come here.”

The command startled her.

“What?”

“Your wrist.”

Confused, Lyra stepped closer slowly.

Kael reached for her hand without hesitation.

The second his fingers wrapped around her wrist again, warmth spread through her body instantly.

Her breathing caught softly.

The pain eased almost immediately.

Not completely.

But enough that she could think clearly again.

Lyra stared at him in shock.

“You can really suppress it…”

Kael’s thumb moved slightly against her pulse.

The tiny movement sent unexpected heat through her stomach.

“You’re surprised?”

“A little.”

Most wolves couldn’t soothe rejection damage unless they shared an extremely strong Alpha bond.

And Kael wasn’t even her mate.

So why did his touch affect her this strongly?

The thought unsettled her.

Kael’s eyes darkened slightly like he sensed her reaction too.

Then suddenly—

A sharp knock echoed through the room.

Kael released her instantly.

“Enter.”

The doors opened and a tall woman stepped inside wearing royal silver robes.

She stopped the moment she saw Lyra.

Shock flashed openly across her face before disappearing behind careful composure.

“Your Majesty,” she greeted smoothly.

Kael’s expression became unreadable again.

“Speak.”

The woman’s eyes flickered briefly toward Lyra once more.

“There’s concern among the council.”

“About?”

“You bringing an unmated omega into the royal residence.”

The room went cold.

Lyra immediately stepped back uncomfortably.

Of course they were concerned.

She didn’t belong here.

The woman continued carefully, “The nobles are already questioning her presence beside you.”

Kael’s face remained calm.

But his voice dropped dangerously low.

“And?”

The woman hesitated.

Then quietly:

“They fear it could damage your reputation.”

Lyra’s stomach twisted painfully.

There it was again.

Weak. Embarrassing. Unworthy.

No matter where she went, those judgments followed her.

She lowered her gaze quickly before Kael could see the hurt on her face.

But apparently…

He already had.

Because the next thing he said shocked everyone in the room.

“Then they should learn to fear disappointing me more than they fear gossip.”

Silence crashed heavily around them.

Even the royal woman looked stunned.

Kael stepped closer to Lyra slowly.

Then his cold gray eyes settled on the messenger.

“She stays.”

Final. Absolute.

No room for argument.

The woman lowered her head immediately.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kael dismissed her with a glance.

The doors closed behind her seconds later.

Silence returned.

Lyra looked at Kael carefully now.

“Why are you defending me this much?”

A long pause followed.

Then Kael said quietly:

“Because everyone else failed to.”

The words hit her unexpectedly hard.

For years, Lyra had fought every battle alone.

No one defended her. No one protected her. Not even Rowan.

But Kael had known her less than a day…

And already the entire castle feared disrespecting her because of him.

That realization felt dangerously comforting.

Kael looked toward the connected door leading to her room.

“Get some sleep.”

Lyra hesitated.

Then softly:

“Thank you.”

The Alpha King went completely still.

Like he wasn’t used to hearing gratitude.

Slowly, his eyes returned to hers.

And for the briefest moment…

The ruthless King looked almost human.