004| ALPHA KING KAELION

~KING KAELION~

The throne room felt too silent for the first time. The tension in the hall burned hotter than the torches along the black stone walls.

I sat forward on the obsidian throne, my elbows on my knees, the only thing keeping me sane.

“What did you just say?” My voice came out cold, but not enough.

My beta, Ronan, hesitated only for a second before speaking, his voice was low.

“The Alpha was… killed, during the raid, my king. It was an…”

The sound that tore out of my throat wasn’t a growl, it was a roar, echoing through the room in a way that made even the walls tremble.

My fingers curled tightly into the armrest. “That was not my order.”

I could taste the metallic sting of fury in my throat. I took a long breath to push it down.

Ronan dropped on his knees immediately, his body trembling.

“I know, my king. Gamma Miles overstepped. He thought the Alpha was concealing the Shadow Bride. He acted without my command.”

A muscle ticked in my jaw as I gritted my teeth. “Rashly?” I rose to my feet, making sure my power was felt.

“He disobeyed me. The Shadow bride was never meant to be taken by blood.”

Ronan bowed his head deeper. “I’ll see to it that he’s punished, my king.”

I exhaled sharply. “Not just that, I want him stripped of his rank and pride. I’ll not rule over men who mistake impulse for obedience. Make sure his punishment serves as a reminder that I give the orders, not him.”

“Yes, my King.”

I sat back down, accepting the glass of drink I was handed.

“What about the Prisoner?”

“They’re bringing her in.” Ronan hesitated. “Alpha Kaelion, we believe she might know where the Shadow Bride was hidden. There are whispers, though. Some say she is different from others, but no one can say why.”

“I don’t care about whispers, Ronan. You should know that by now.” I took a sip of the drink. “If she knows where the Shadow Bride is, she’ll tell me.”

Ronan nodded. “What if we… you know, don’t find her? She’s going to be the end of all paranormal beings, every one of us.”

I paused, my wine glass froze before my lips. I hate how my hands trembled a little at that thought.

“You think I don’t know that?” I could almost taste the venom in my voice

“Apologies my king.”

I sank deeper into my seat with a sigh. I hate how just his single word made me recall the terrifying nightmares I have been having for weeks in a row.

Nightmares of shifters and paranormal beings alike, being burned, being destroyed.

And the woman, with violet eyes, who stood in the middle of the ruins, smiling with satisfaction.

It had been the same nightmare, over and over again.

My wolf, king, suddenly became restless. He pressed against the confines of my control, his voice echoing in my head.

“We must kill her, before she ends us all.”

But another part of me, the part that I have grown to hate, hesitated.

As I made to respond, the guards announced her arrival.

The Seer.

I should’ve sent her away. The last thing I needed was another omen to make the night worse. But something about the look on her face as she entered made my wolf stir uneasily.

She bowed low, her grey hair almost slipping from its bonds, her bones cracking. “

“What brings you here, Delina?”

“The Shadow Bride, my King. We must act fast. The shadows are unravelling.”

My jaw clenched. “The reason you are here, Delina.”

She bowed lower. “You dream of her again, don’t you, it is not just a dream my king, it’s a sign from the heavens. Time is running out.”  Her voice cracked like dried leaves underfoot.

The air grew noticeably colder.

“We have been looking for her for a long time now, and yet nothing to show for it. Are you sure this isn’t just a myth?”

Delina’s face turned pale. “My king, the shadow bride arises every century, and must be found and killed before the harness their powers. If we are careless enough to let her leave, not only would she bring the death of everyone who loves her, but she will bring about the end of all paranormal beings. This is not a legend, my king. Your dreams are proof enough.”

 I clenched my fists lightly. “If you are so sure, how about you help us find her. We are already having difficulties as it is.” I don’t understand why, but every time she spoke about the shadow bride, it unsettles me deep inside.

Delina smiled. “She will come to you soon. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open.”

She bowed and took her leave, almost as if she was never here.

She had made it a duty to visit every day since the red blood moon night.

Moments later, Ronan’s voice snapped me out of my daze.

“My king, they are here.”

For some reason, my wolf seemed to crawl to the surface in alert.

I didn’t think much of it. “Bring her in.”

The massive brass doors opened, heavy boots echoing against the stone floor, as two guards dragged a woman forward.

As soon as she was brought in, it felt as though the world stopped moving.

The moment her scent hit me, everything inside me froze.

A wild fragrance of something between crushed lavender and storm-soaked soil, followed, too intoxicating to ignore, wrapped around my lungs, refusing to let go.

I looked her over. She was small, fragile looking. Her wrists were bound in chains far too heavy for her size.

Her dark hair was tangled and dirty, falling like shadows across her face. But then she looked up.

Her eyes—those impossible, wrong blue eyes. They met mine in an unwavering manner.

My heart slammed once. Then again, too fast, too loud. My wolf went completely still for the first time.

Then it howled.

Mate.

When I finally found my voice again, it came out horse. “Who is she?”

Ronan stepped forward, clearing his throat. “My king. She’s is Princess Ravenna, the daughter of Alpha Varyn. She… she is known for not having a wolf of her own, and of being weak and defenseless.”

His words felt more like a hard slap on my face.

Weak? That was nothing weak about that look in her eyes, or how she held her head up, not cowering in my presence.

She still hadn’t spoken a word. She seemed too calm for someone in chains. I wanted to reap those chains off her, but that would be too impulsive, too wrong.

I want to hear her speak so badly that it hurt.

“Princess Ravenna,” I tilted my head. “Your father harbored the shadow bride.”

Something flickered in her face, it was gone too quickly before I could place a meaning to it.

“And?”

My jaw tensed. “Tell me where he hid her, then I can let you and your pack go.”

Her eyes darkened in an instant, then a faint bitter smile appeared on her face.

“What do you want to do with her?” She asked, her eyes burning with intensity.

Kill her. Those words were at the tip of my tongue, but I only shot her a smile.

“That is for me to decide.”

Her smile broadened, but it did nothing to lighten her face. “Well, if my father truly hid her, then he clearly wanted her far from people like you.”

Her tone dripped with condescension, making my guards stiffen.

Ronan shot a glare, but I raised a hand, silencing him.

Her boldness and defiance intrigued me. She was being foolish, but this was rare.

“You are brave, or stupid. Clearly you have no regard for your life. But what about your family then, your pack? Are you planning to kill them all with your foolishness?” I said softly, stepping down from the dais.

“Bravery and stupidity often look the same to men with crowns.” She replied.

I paused, as her words hit something buried deep. I stopped in front of her, close enough to feel the faint tremor in her breath.

Yet, she refused to look away, even with her neck bared and my power pulsing like heat around her.

No matter how I tried to ignore it, her scent, everything about her, crowded my instincts, my mind.

Mate.

The whisper slithered through my thoughts again, as King moved again, but this time with excitement.

He wasn’t wrong. I felt her too.

I clenched my fists, an attempt to stop myself from reaching out to touch her.

I tore my gaze from her and nodded at the guards. “Take her to the east wing and isolate her. No one speaks to her unless I say so.”

Ronan frowned. “My King, do you intend to question her yourself?”

I met his eyes. “I intend to see if she lies. Also take those chains off her.”

As the guards dragged her away, she turned her head slightly, a cold smile on her face. “Good luck finding your big break.”