Chapter Three

LORI’S POV

The world seemed to freeze at the Lycan King's statement. I couldn’t speak. For some reason, I wasn’t as shocked as I expected to be. For one, I wanted to know if it was the truth.

If I was his mate, it could prove that I was truly a werewolf and I could shift. It could also be a lie but, why would the King lie?

“Your Majesty?” Alpha Kilian called in disbelief. “You don’t mean that this lowly—”

“Finish that sentence and I will slay you where you stand.” The Lycan King turned his attention back to Alpha Kilian.

I inhaled sharply at the threat. This was beyond strange. No one had ever stood up to me like this, especially against a Alpha. I didn’t know how to feel.

Alpha Kilian gritted his teeth as he lowered his head. “I stepped out of line.” He apologized.

The Lycan King smirked, folding his hands behind his back. It was devoid of any warmth; cold and menacing. “Yes, you did. First, you tried to kill her and then, you insulted her? You’ve gone too far this time, Kilian.”

Alpha Kilian bowed even deeper. “Forgive me, Lord Damon. I was ignorant.” He apologized, loudly.

“It’s not me you should be apologizing to. It's Lorenza.” The Lycan King gestured back at me.

Everyone became more quiet than they were. Alpha Kilian lifted his head and stared at me with furrowed brows. The scene was embarrassing. They were all watching. I stepped forward. “You don’t have to.” I said.

“No,” Alpha Kilian began tightly. He lowered his head. “I… I stepped out of line, Lorenza. Forgive me.” I said nothing, clearing my throat and looking away awkwardly. He lifted his head.

“Now that we have that out of the way, I'll be taking Lorenza with me.” The Lycan King announced.

“What?!” I sputtered. I wasn’t going anywhere with this man.

“I’m afraid that I can’t allow you to do that, Lord Damon.” Alpha Kilian said, straightening his spine. He adjusted the cuff on his shirt, looking down at it. I looked at him, just as he lifted his head. Was he defying the Lycan King? “This is my territory.”

“Which I also rule over.” The Lycan King reminded him.

“Yes. And there are laws that have guided us and kept the peace for so long.” Alpha Kilian replied. “Lorenza Gunivere cannot just walk away scot free. She has to be punished.”

“You would dare punish my mate?” The Lycan King asked, his voice dropping.

“She was a part of my pack before she was your mate.”

The tension in the air was thick enough to be cut by a chainsaw. The Lycan King and Alpha Kilian stared at each other. It looked like a fight was about to break out. Moments passed before the Lycan King chuckled, flexing his right wrist in the air. 

“Fine. Punish her. But on one condition: you are not allowed to harm even a hair on her head.” He said.

Something told me that if he wanted to, he would walk out of this place with me unpunished. But, he was the Lycan King and he had to show that the rules had to obeyed.

“Agreed.” Alpha Kilian replied. He turned slightly to address the others. “Attention, wolves of Agerna! Lorenza Gunivere has failed to awaken her wolf and prove that she is one of us.”

“On that note,” he looked into my eyes, “I hereby banish Lorenza from all of Agerna. She is not to set foot back in this territory.”

No, no, no.

“No! You can’t do that. This is my home, this is my pack! I belong here!” I argued, pointing my index finger to the ground and stamping my foot. I had spent my whole life here. He couldn’t just send me away like this.

“I’m sorry, Lori.” Alpha Kilian apologized, his mask slipping briefly for me to see that he was sad. But then, the stony face of our leader was back. “The rules have to be obeyed.”

“Very well. Lorenza will be coming with me.” The Lycan King repeated, almost casually.

“No, I will not leave my home!” I argued. Before I could blink, the Lycan King was next to me. He lowered his head down to my ear.

“I can still have you executed if I see fit. I saved your life so, it’s basically mine now. Act accordingly,” He threatened. “Mate.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and glared at him. He smirked and stepped away from me. I didn’t say anything. Dying tonight wasn’t on my list of things to do. I was going to behave myself. 

For now.

He turned back to everyone. “Enjoy the rest of the festivities. Lorenza and I will leave now.” 

As he said so, the Alphas stepped forward, leaving their tables and bowing ever so slightly. They gestured towards the exit, escorting us out. I gave one last look at Alpha Kilian and left.

I filed into a car with the Lycan King, and there was an entourage of cars following after us. After twenty minutes of listening to the sound of the tires against the road, I looked at the Lycan King.

He was on his tablet, his brows perfectly sculpted. Up close, he looked more normal but there was this scary energy about him. Maybe it was the light from the screen that made him look eery.

“Is there a reason that you're staring at me?” He asked, not even lifting his eyes.

I cleared my throat, flustered. Since when had he noticed? “Where are you taking me?” I asked, quietly.

He didn't reply. A few moments passed between us and I thought that maybe he hadn’t heard me but then, he said, “We’re going somewhere else. A place where I think you'll fit right in.” The Lycan King replied.

“Where?”

He smirked, meeting my eyes. “We’re going to the human realm.”