Trojan Horse

Chapter 3

​The cold night air slapped me in the face the second the guards escorted me out of the auction hall. I sucked in a deep breath, trying to clear the disgusting taste of wolfsbane smoke from the back of my throat, but my lungs just felt tight and heavy.

​Kael walked right beside me, his long strides effortless. He stopped by the curb where a massive black SUV was idling, surrounded by armed guards. He glanced down at my bare legs and the thin fabric of the black dress they had dressed me in, then slipped his suit jacket off his shoulders.

"Lyra, you're shivering...oh goddess. Hold on, let me put this on you."

​He draped the jacket over me, his heavy hands lingering on my collarbones. His thumbs brushed against my bare skin.

​My skin crawled so violently I thought I was going to vomit. Right there, under his thumbs, was exactly where Vivian’s knife had carved into me. I could still feel the phantom heat of my own blood soaking through my clothes, the wetness of the silk nightgown clinging to my skin.

I wanted to scream, to tear his eyes out, to fight him to the death...

​Instead, I forced my eyes down, letting my shoulders drop as if I were small, broken, and completely at his mercy.

​"Thank you, Alpha," I whispered. My voice actually shook, and I hated how authentic it sounded. Was this how I sounded in the past? Pathetic.

​"It's fine...Get in the car, Lyra," he said, his voice calm and commanding. He opened the door, his hand resting firmly on the small of my back to guide me inside.

​I slid into the leather backseat, and he climbed in right after me, slamming the door shut. Before the SUV even pulled away from the curb, Kael shifted closer. He didn't stay on his side of the seat. He crowded me, his massive thigh deliberately pressing flush against mine.

​My body stiffened instinctively. I would never get used to him touching me... Clearly, my body will never like it again.

​"You're still shaking," Kael murmured. He reached out, his thick fingers wrapping firmly around my chin, forcing my face around. His grip was tight, possessive. "Relax. You're safe now."

​I didn't pull away, even though the pressure of his fingers felt like a rope on my damn neck. I let him hold my chin, forcing my eyes to look wide and watery as I stared back into his dark, calculating eyes.

​"Safe?" I whispered, letting a tear slip down my cheek. "Alpha Kael... my pack was breached and some of my people were slaughtered. I haven't been able to find out anything about them. I don't know if they are laying low, or trying a rebuild or if they think I am dead. I have no clue and it has been three weeks already. And now,  I was just put on a stage and sold like a piece of meat."

​Kael let out a slow, heavy breath. He let go of my chin, but his palm rested heavily against the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair to keep me close.

​"It wasn't a random rogue attack, Lyra," Kael said, his voice dropping to a smooth whisper. "You know my family and yours have been friendly...but I could not find out the full details...Someone powerful ordered the slaughter of the Silverclaw pack. They did it because they wanted you. You were the ultimate prize."

​I shrank back against his touch, playing the terrified orphan perfectly while my blood ran boiling hot.

 You ordered it, you fucking psycho.

​"Who? Who would do that to my family?"

​"I don't have a name yet," Kael said, his chest practically pressing against my shoulder, completely trapping me against the door. "Like I said, it's not clear yet...But my men are investigating. Until I find out who is pulling the strings from the shadows, the world needs to think you died in that slaughter. I am going to help you get your pack back, Lyra. I promise you that."

​"But I don't even know how to rebuild," I said, my voice cracking. I let my head rest slightly against his shoulder, leaning into him. "I don't have an army anymore. I don't have anything left."

​Kael’s hand slid down to my waist, his fingers digging possessively into my hip, pulling me flush against his side.

​"We will root out whoever took your land," Kael murmured against my skin, his hot breath sending a shudder down my spine. "But you need to be smart, Lyra. Even if you find your people, running a pack right now will draw a massive target on your back all over again. It might be incredibly unsafe for you to actually claim the title of Alpha when we take your pack back. It makes you a direct threat."

​"Then what should I do?" I asked, looking up at him with desperate, pleading eyes.

​"I'm not going to push you into anything," Kael said, his thumb rubbing against my hip. "The choice is entirely yours. But... if you accept me... if you accept a bond between us... I could easily protect you and your pack myself. I can run your territories under the Nightbane name. No one would dare touch your people if they belong to me."

​I stayed quiet for a long moment, letting the silence stretch in the dark car. I needed to push him. I needed to see how far his script went.

​"Why me, Kael?" I asked softly, tilting my head up to look at him. "A powerful Alpha like you... shouldn't you be with your fated mate? Why don't you have one?"

​He didn't even flinch as he spoke. His expression remained perfectly smooth, but his grip on my waist tightened just a fraction.

​"I rejected her," Kael said calmly, as if he were talking about the weather. "The universe doesn't dictate my life. She was not the one I wanted. I wanted someone who could match the future I’m building. Someone who will stand by my side and support me, and build with me... Help me grow."

​Yes, someone you could steal from. A sickening wave of hatred washed over me, so strong it took everything I had not to let my mask slip.

​He rejected her, I thought, staring at the hard line of his jaw. He rejected Vivian just to play the hero for me.

​Images of my death flashed behind my eyelids all over again..

​I let out a soft, shaky breath, letting my eyelids flutter closed as if his confession had somehow touched my heart.

​"I... I don't know what I'd do without you, Alpha Kael," I whispered, resting my hand against his chest, right over his beating heart.

​Underneath my palm, I could feel his heart steady and strong. 

Kael’s grip relaxed just a fraction, a smug, victorious energy rolling off him. He thought his little psychological trap had worked on me... He thought I was a fool...of course he did. I had beloved his bullshit once before.

​The SUV slowed down, the tires crunching over gravel as we passed through the massive iron gates of his estate. The vehicle came to a final stop in front of the grand mansion...the very place where I had died.

​The driver quickly stepped out and opened Kael's door. Kael exited first, then reached back inside, offering his large hand to help me out. I took it, keeping my eyes down, letting him pull me up and out of the car.

​But instead of walking me toward the front doors, Kael stopped and turned into me.

 His massive frame completely blocking out the rest of the world. His hands came up, cupping both sides of my face, his thumbs pressing firmly against my jawline. 

​"You're home now, Lyra," he murmured, his dark eyes dropping directly to my mouth. "I am so sorry for the loss of your parents. The Alpha and Luna were very close to me...And like I said...I will do everything in my power to protect you..."

​He leaned down, his face closing the distance, his lips reaching for mine, ready to seal the lies with a kiss.

...Touch me and I will bite your fucking tongue off, I thought, my stomach twisting with pure, violent nausea as his breath brushed against my lips.

What do I do? What do I do??