The Hand of the Alpha King

Selene stared at the king’s outstretched hand as though touching it would burn her alive.

The ballroom around her remained deathly silent.

Every noble.

Every Alpha.

Every servant.

All eyes were fixed on her.

Waiting.

Watching.

Judging.

Her heartbeat thundered painfully inside her chest.

This could not be real.

Nothing about this felt real.

The ruthless Alpha King—the man powerful enough to make entire kingdoms kneel—was standing before her, offering his hand like she was someone important.

Like she mattered.

Selene’s fingers trembled slightly at her sides.

She wanted to refuse.

She should refuse.

This world would destroy her if she stepped beside him.

But Kael continued waiting patiently, his silver eyes locked only on her.

Not once had he looked away.

Not once had he shown embarrassment over claiming her before the entire kingdom.

The realization unsettled her deeply.

“Your Majesty…” she whispered shakily. “Please reconsider.”

A murmur spread through the crowd immediately.

Kael’s expression hardened slightly.

“Why?”

Selene swallowed.

Because I’m cursed.

Because people die around me.

Because I’ll ruin you.

But the words refused to leave her mouth.

She had spent years burying the truth so deeply inside herself that even now, speaking it felt impossible.

Vanessa suddenly laughed softly from nearby.

Cold.

Mocking.

“Perhaps the servant understands her place after all,” she said smoothly. “She knows she could never survive among royals.”

Several nobles nodded in agreement.

“Yes, Lady Vanessa is right.”

“She should reject the bond for the king’s sake.”

“The royal bloodline cannot be stained.”

Selene lowered her eyes again.

The insults no longer surprised her.

She had heard worse.

But Kael’s aura suddenly darkened dangerously.

“You speak too much,” he said without looking at Vanessa.

The temperature in the ballroom seemed to drop instantly.

Vanessa’s smile faltered.

“Y-Your Majesty, I only meant—”

“I did not ask for your opinion.”

His voice was calm.

Deadly calm.

Vanessa’s face paled under the humiliation.

No one had ever dismissed her publicly before. As daughter of the Western Alpha Clan, she was admired everywhere she went. Men worshipped her beauty. Noblewomen envied her status.

Yet tonight…

The king could not even spare her a glance.

Because of a servant.

Hatred flashed through Vanessa’s emerald eyes as she looked toward Selene.

Pure hatred.

Selene noticed it immediately and felt her stomach tighten nervously.

Danger.

That woman would never forgive this humiliation.

Kael seemed to notice Selene’s discomfort because he stepped slightly closer, subtly placing himself between her and the crowd.

The protective gesture stunned everyone watching.

Even Selene.

Why was he protecting her?

He didn’t even know her.

“Come here,” Kael repeated more quietly this time.

Something softened in his voice.

Something strangely human beneath all the terrifying power.

Selene hesitated for only another second before slowly lifting her trembling hand.

The moment her fingers touched his—

A powerful spark exploded between them.

Gasps filled the ballroom.

Selene’s breath caught sharply as warmth rushed through her entire body. The mate bond pulsed violently beneath her skin, alive and overwhelming.

Kael stiffened slightly.

His eyes darkened.

Mine.

The possessive growl from his wolf echoed faintly through the bond, making Selene’s pulse race wildly.

Before she could react, Kael gently closed his hand around hers.

His touch was warm.

Strong.

Protective.

And somehow… careful.

As though he feared hurting her.

The realization shook Selene more than anything else tonight.

Nobody had held her hand gently before.

Not her parents.

Not servants.

No one.

Kael turned toward the horrified nobles surrounding them.

“From this moment onward,” he declared coldly, “Selene Vale is under royal protection.”

The room erupted instantly.

“Selene Vale?!”

“That name—”

“Isn’t she the cursed daughter of House Vale?”

“The prophecy child?”

Shock spread across every face in the ballroom.

Selene’s blood ran cold.

No.

Please no.

Not here.

Not now.

For years she had hidden her family name carefully inside the palace. Most people only knew her as a servant.

But now…

Everything was ruined.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Fear replaced mockery.

Several nobles stepped backward as though simply standing near her would infect them with misfortune.

Vanessa’s eyes widened before satisfaction slowly curled across her lips.

“Well,” she said softly, “that explains everything.”

Selene felt sick.

The prophecy.

It always followed her.

Always.

A minister near the front suddenly spoke nervously.

“Your Majesty… surely you cannot mean to bring the cursed child into the royal bloodline?”

Another noble quickly added, “The prophecy warned that she would bring destruction beneath the red moon!”

“Yes!”

“She’s dangerous!”

“She should never have entered the palace!”

The voices grew louder.

Crueler.

Selene’s chest tightened painfully as memories flooded back against her will.

Her mother refusing to touch her as a child.

Servants whispering monster behind her back.

Her father locking her away whenever guests visited.

The day she overheard her parents discussing whether killing her would save their family’s reputation.

Her breathing became uneven.

Too many voices.

Too many memories.

Then suddenly—

Silence.

Kael released a terrifying wave of Alpha pressure across the ballroom.

Every voice died instantly.

The king’s silver eyes glowed with dangerous fury.

“Anyone,” he said slowly, “who speaks against my mate again will answer to me personally.”

Fear swept through the hall.

No one dared continue.

Kael then turned back toward Selene.

And immediately, his expression softened slightly again.

The contrast was terrifying.

Merciless king to everyone else.

Gentle only with her.

Selene did not understand it.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to.

“You’re shaking,” Kael murmured quietly.

Only then did she realize he was right.

Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Kael’s gaze darkened.

“They hurt you for years.”

It was not a question.

Selene quickly looked away.

“I’m used to it.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Something dangerous flashed across Kael’s face at her answer.

Anger.

Not at her.

For her.

The realization made Selene’s heart ache strangely.

Kael slowly removed his black royal coat and draped it carefully over her shoulders.

The heavy fabric carried his scent.

Dark cedarwood.

Smoke.

Winter rain.

Warmth immediately surrounded her.

The entire ballroom looked seconds away from collapsing in shock.

The Alpha King had never shown affection publicly before.

Yet tonight he continued breaking every royal rule for her.

Vanessa clenched her fists so tightly her nails cut into her palms.

“This is madness,” she whispered bitterly.

Kael ignored her completely.

Without warning, he suddenly stepped closer and lifted Selene effortlessly into his arms.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The ballroom erupted once more.

The king was carrying her.

Actually carrying her.

Selene panicked immediately.

“You can put me down!”

“No.”

His answer came instantly.

Simple.

Final.

Selene stared at him in disbelief.

Kael looked down at her with unreadable eyes.

“You’re leaving this hall with me.”

Her pulse quickened nervously.

“Where are you taking me?”

“For now,” he said quietly, “somewhere no one can touch you.”

The words hit her chest with unexpected force.

No one can touch you.

For years, Selene had survived alone.

No protection.

No safety.

No one standing between her and the cruelty of the world.

Yet tonight…

The most feared man in the kingdom was shielding her like she was something precious.

Something worth protecting.

Kael turned and began walking toward the massive golden doors of the ballroom with Selene still in his arms.

The crowd immediately parted for him.

No one dared stand in his path.

But just before he reached the exit—

A sudden sharp pain exploded through Selene’s chest.

She gasped violently.

The tray room around her blurred.

Kael stopped instantly.

“Selene?”

Her breathing became uneven as strange heat spread beneath her skin.

Pain.

Burning pain.

Like something inside her was awakening.

The chandeliers above them flickered violently.

Then suddenly—

Every candle in the ballroom extinguished at once.

Darkness swallowed the hall.

Screams erupted everywhere.

And somewhere deep within the shadows…

Something growled back.