Chapter 5: I came for Blood

Lyra POV

“What the…”

I gasped.

A shocked silence echoed through the room.

It was impossible.

There was no way this stranger could have given an Alpha command. Yet—we all felt it.

That power, the raw rage that came along with it.

Something was up.

I looked around the room. No one dared move. Not even my father made a sound. The confusion was boldly written on their faces.

Their gazes were locked on the stranger who was still kneeling on the floor.

Before him, Delta Gareth was also on his knees. His head was buried to the floor with his hands clasped over his ears. He whimpered, trembling.

The stranger fixed his gaze on the guards, and instinctively, some of them stepped back. One of them tripped over his feet and fell to his knees with a cry.

A few of the guards who seemed to summon more courage than the rest reached for their weapons, but they didn't draw or dare to move closer.

They were beside themselves with fear.

All my life, I have never seen my father go speechless or seen his men tremble in fear of anyone else aside from him.

This was a first.

I refused to let my gaze move away from the stranger. I watched his every move, stunned.

“What is he?” I whispered to myself.

Only an Alpha had such power; still, it takes a much more powerful one to completely subdue werewolves of the Moonveil pack, not to mention shaking the Alpha himself.

“Who are you?” Alpha Cedric's voice finally boomed through the silence. He was furious, hands clenched at his side as he narrowed his gaze on the stranger.

Despite how weak I felt, I felt my curiosity kick in as I waited for his answer. The room was so silent, I could hear people's thoughts.

Slowly, the stranger stood up. He was tall, very tall, and intimidating. He tipped his head to the side as if he wanted to see if I was watching him, and I swallowed.

I wasn’t sure what I felt, fear or admiration.

Before me was a stranger that showed me kindness even when everyone else turned their back. He was my angel, but yet a demon. His aura was dark and possessive, and the power he exuded was chilling. Deadly.

The stranger faced the room once more, and then, with a voice that made my intestines tremble, he spoke. Calmly.

“I am the Rogue King.”

A loud gasp cut across the room. Those who still had an inkling of courage trembled from cowardice.

I turned to ice.

“The rogue king?” I repeated. My breath seized. I was right all along.

He was the demon.

My fear soon spiraled into confusion.

It was inevitable. All that had happened before now ran through my mind, and I began to wonder if what I had witnessed was really true.

How possible was it that this evil shape-shifter into a werewolf was the one who had shown me the most kindness? He never hurt me.

I closed my hand into a tight fist as I remembered the feel of his flesh against mine. He held my hand and gave me water. And most of all, he stopped Gareth from causing harm.

The Rogue King was not a man of charity. He would never go to such lengths for a mere werewolf like me except—

I shivered as a truth dawned on me.

“He wants something from me. He wants to use me for his bidding.” I whispered.

I wasn’t sure if he heard, but he released a short snort without looking back.

What was my use to him? Was I some kind of pawn in a war between him and my father? I knew my father had numerous enemies, and the Rogue King being one of them is no surprise.

There was a sudden shift in the air. Alpha Cedric stepped forward, enraged, and pointed at the Rogue King. I could feel my father charge his own Alpha command.

Alpha Cedric was powerful. It would have been a shame if the Rogue had defeated him without a fight.

“Who do you think you are?” Alpha Cedric laughed. “You have the guts to walk in here. You are nothing but a mad wolf. I have shown you enough mercy.”

The rogue king chuckled.

Alpha Cedric bellowed. “I want him captured and chained.” He commanded. “I promise to give you the treatment you deserve.”

It was as if the command was a wake-up call for his men. The guards scrambled into action, suddenly energized and furious as they launched an attack on the Rogue King.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar, the king's eyes glowed a bright red, and he seemed scarier than before. He looked insane, and the air around him became darker, icy. Several guards collapsed under the pressure of his Alpha dominance.

I moved back.

I could feel it myself.

The Rogue King was powerful, more powerful than any other alpha wolf I have seen. It was very unusual to have such a wolf at my side. I never once imagined that I would ever meet someone like this.

I still had no idea why the Rogue King was here in the first place. Was I really a part of some twisted plan he must have?

When Alpha Cedric saw that his men were getting subdued, he slowly charged for the Rogue King himself.

It was going to be a bloody battle.

A loud cry broke the tension as a werewolf ran in, his eyes wide with terror. “The rogues… they’re here. The Rogue King’s army has surrounded the palace.”

Alpha Cedric let out a loud cry and began to shift. His eyes glowed a golden yellow, his claws elongated, and fur covered his skin.

His wolf was a huge one, and he launched an attack on the Rogue King, who grabbed him with both hands by the neck.

 “I said I came for blood. And I always keep my promises,” the Rogue King growled.

I shivered looking at him. Was this man my enemy… or my only hope?