Chapter 8: ... how dangerous she is...

Caelan POV

Flames

Everything was engulfed in flames.

I gasped, looking at the fire burning fiercely before me. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I needed to escape.

A feeling of dread ran through me.

I tried to move, but I couldn't. It was as if something was holding me down that wouldn't let me go. Yet the flames came closer.

I could feel the heat. Smell the doom.

Suddenly, in the midst of the fire, I saw a figure. A girl. She walked out of it.

Her body was engulfed in the flames, but she wasn't charred by it.

I immediately recognized her. The same girl.

She walked closer to me, silver eyes glowing so bright I almost looked away from the intensity. There was a small crown on her head.

It was strange. Unlike any other I had seen.

It wasn't made with silver or gold or anything solid for that matter.

It was made of ash.

But somehow it was sitting intact above her head. It was surreal.

The girl stopped a few feet away from me.

The fire around her suddenly went out, and she held her hand out to me.

“Take my hand.” She said softly.

There was no expression on her face.

I hesitated, wondering if it was wise to take her hand. A part of me rebelled. I was not just a king; I was the Rogue King, the most fearsome.

I refused to be controlled by the wishes of a child.

But something in me fought that ego.

After a long moment, I finally decided to accept it. I took a step towards her and realized I could finally move.

Our hands touched.

She was cold, a contrast to the flames she controlled. I took her hand in mine, and then there was a sudden burst of light, and we were suddenly engulfed in the flames.

I roared just as everything went blank.

****

I woke up with a loud gasp, my wolf snarling in me, breathing hard.

Beads of sweat ran down my head into the pillow beneath my head.

I sat up immediately, looking around.

There was no fire, no girl.

It was another vision.

I closed my eyes, a slight ringing in my head as I remembered the prophecy.

 “The one born beneath the blood moon shall command the beast who devours kings.”

I shivered.

I was already referred to as the beast.

The title came from my actions in the past, my thirst for revenge.

“You did what you had to do.” I heard my wolf whisper.

It was a bloody past.

My father was an Alpha, one of the strongest Alphas in the realm. Despite his powers, he was known for his good nature. This was one of the things that led to his downfall: his faith in the goodness of humanity.

My father’s power and wealth had threatened other alpha wolves around him, and there was a plan to take him down. A plan that worked perfectly, leaving my childhood home burned to the ground.

I escaped into the forest, going into exile. That was how I became a rogue wolf.

I lost my parents, friends, and home, all in one day. And I grew up with hate in my heart. A plan to avenge my father and kill every last wolf that took my life away from me.

But I knew I couldn't do it alone; I needed help. It wasn't hard to find. The rogues accepted me, and soon I proved that I was stronger than all the wolves and became the king.

That test came with a lot of death.

A sudden knock on the door drew my attention, and I ran a hand over my face, getting rid of the sweat.

“Yes?” I called out.

“A message for you, my king.” I heard my butler call out.

I sighed and stepped out of bed, throwing the covers aside as I picked up a shirt and threw it on.

I walked out of the room, and the butler walked ahead of me to my study.

I entered, and the first thing that caught my eye was the man standing close to the window. He turned.

Thorne.

I smiled. “You were gone a long time.”

Thorne smiled and nodded his head. “The task you gave me was more than I anticipated. The Alpha you asked me to find found a way to erase his scent. It wasn't easy locating him.”

I raised a brow. “You found him?”

Thorne nodded “yes.”

I grinned, satisfied. Some of the Alphas who had a hand in my father’s death found a way to try and escape their sins. But I would find them and kill them all.

“Good,” I said, nodding. “You did a good job.”

“Thank you.” Thorne smiled. Then the smile wiped off his face.

 “Although I can't say I feel the same way about you, my king.” He said.

I raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

“There is a new girl, a prisoner you brought with you yesterday.” Thorne pursed his lips in distaste.

I chuckled. “I see you already know what went on in your absence.”

Thorne shrugged. “The people have been talking.”

My mind flashed to Lyra, and I fought a smile from creeping up my face.

“She is dangerous.” Thorne said. “I don't like her.”

I rolled my eyes. “You haven't met her yet.”

Thorne’s gaze went cold. “I don't need to. I can see how dangerous she is just by looking at you.”

I frowned. “You will show me respect.” I snapped.

Thorne bowed slightly. “I apologize. But I must report what I see. I heard you stopped an attack because of her, and you tried to kill one of your men because of her. This is unlike you. Perhaps she is trying to manipulate you.”

“I cannot be manipulated.” I roared. “I am in full control.”

I sighed, holding myself back from the fury that was threatening to engulf me. “I decided to stop the attack because I wanted to. And I punished that wolf for handing out punishment to a prisoner without my approval.”

“I see,” Thorne said.

“If that is all, I would like to be left alone.” I said.

Thorne nodded, and with a bow, he walked out.