005| Claim

~MELODY~

“Release her.”

Those words cut through the courtyard like a blade, stopping everything in its track.

The guards who were holding my arms immediately froze before letting me go.

It was as if everyone suddenly remembered that they wanted to stay alive.

My heart pounded violently.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

For the first time, our eyes met.

The Lycan King.

For a moment I almost forgot how to breathe, as his eyes bore into mine.

He stood there, a few feet away dressed entirely in black. His broad shoulders carried an authority that seemed to bend the air around him.

Then, his silver eyes swept across the room, in a cold and unreadable way… yet so terrifying.

I had heard stories about him almost all my life.

Everyone knew something terrifying about the king, yet they could only whisper about it behind close doors, or late into the night.

It was no news that even rogue packs kneel before him, and Alphas tremble in their boots when he is near.

Now he was standing here in front of me.

Father caught himself first, and rushed forward.

“Your majesty!” he bowed so low it almost looked painful.

But beneath the calmness in his voice, I could sense the panic in them.

Immediately, everyone else bowed, lowering their heads in greeting.

Yet I found myself staring, as though my mind had stopped working.

That was until a tiny voice in my head reminded me that I was courting death.

I lowered my head instantly, my breathing becoming uneven.

Just then, I felt one of the guards grab my arm again, as though silently telling me to comply with the punishment from earlier.

“Follow me quietly, don’t make a scene.” He whispered.

Panic exploded inside me.

I can’t let them lock me away… that would mean I had no chance at fighting this.

They would force me to really become Kael’s mistress.

No.

I moved before my mind could catch up.

I pulled away from the guard with all my strength, and sprinted forward.

Gasps erupted around me instantly.

Only then did I realize what I was doing.

I wasn’t just moving; I was running toward the Lycan King.

His guards moved quickly. About six of them stepped in front of him, shielding him from the impending attack.

But that wasn’t necessary, because the moment our eyes met, my feet stopped, and in an instant, my knees hit the ground.

I froze.

I didn’t do that.

Silence followed.

Deep enough that I heard someone suck in a sharp breath.

That also wasn’t me.

Someone else cursed quietly.

I forced myself to look up slowly.

But my hands trembled violently.

For a moment, I wondered if I made the wrong choice running to him.

My hands kept shaking from terror.

I was terrified he would throw me away, or even punish me for daring to do this.

Still, I forced the words out.

“Your majesty, please help me. They are trying to force me.”

My voice shook slightly.

I hated that it shook.

Slowly, I pointed toward Kael, my throat tightening as I whispered the forbidden words.

“They want me to become his mistress, when he is marrying my stepsister.”

I bowed even lower.

“Please help me… I don’t want this.”

My eyes burned, as I kept my head down.

But when no one spoke, I slowly lifted my head again.

The king was staring at me.

There was no expression on his face.

No reaction.

No movement.

My heart dropped.

Oh God.

What have I done?

The next second, my father’s horrified voice suddenly exploded.

“Your Majesty!”

I flinched at that.

“This is a misunderstanding.”

I looked back.

Father looked like he was going to collapse.

Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.

“Your Majesty, no one is forcing her into anything. This is rightful bond.”

Aurora immediately nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Melody is simply too emotional right now.”

Emotional.

I scoffed painfully.

Of course.

I was always the emotional, dramatic one.

The problem.

Father stepped forward instantly.

“Please, pardon my child, your Majesty. She had always been troublesome.”

My hands slowly curled.

I wasn’t even surprised at there words anymore.

Not even a little.

My eyes slowly drifted back to the king.

Strangely, his eyes were still fixed on me… the same blank expression.

I looked away, digging my fingers into my palm.

Shit. What have I done?

Just then, I heard Kael speak.

His voice was quiet.

“Your Majesty, she is my mate. This is not a forced bond.”

My breathing stopped.

No.

Not now.

I heard whispers explode around us.

“Mates?”

“They’re mates?”

“How—”

“I thought he is engaged to princess Aurora?”

For a moment, I thought I caught the King’s jaw tighten.

Or was I imagining it.

Rage surged through me. I turned to Kael, but was stunned when he said the next words that shattered everything.

His eyes bore into mine as he whispered.

“I love her.”

Those words felt like a slap.

Love?

My chest hurt.

Just a few minutes ago, he still wanted me hidden.

Now he is claiming he loved me.

“You are crazy.” I said through gritted teeth.

But Kael ignored me.

He continued. “We’ve had disagreements. Nothing to bother your Majesty with.”

I quickly turned back to the king.

“That is not true, Your Majesty. They are lying… he’s lying.”

The king’s expression didn’t change.

Not even a little.

But somehow, it felt like the air around him suddenly felt colder.

His silver eyes slowly moved toward Kael.

Then back at me.

Then back toward Kael again.

Nobody moved or spoke.

Then, finally, his voice came.

Calm.

Cold.

Absolute.

“She is coming with me.”

Silence fell.

Then chaos exploded.