Chapter 5

“Mate.”

The words slam into me like a punch to my gut, knocking the air out of me. My face drains of color instantly, my eyes widen.

“What?”

The guards stiffen. One of them visibly flinches.

I don’t react at first. I can’t. My heart is hammering so violently it drowns out every other sound.

No, no, no, no. Not again.

I grip the chains tighter, my breathing shallow. I don’t want this. I don’t want to be tied to another man, another Alpha, another monster who will only break me.

But the bond snaps into place, a warmth I don’t want. A pull I refuse to acknowledge. My wolf, weak and dormant, stirs sluggishly, recognizing him instantly.

The Lycan King doesn’t move. He just watches me, his eyes calm and void of emotion. Then he speaks again.

“Unlock the cage.”

The guards hesitate. “Sire, she’s a rogue—”

His gaze flicks to them, and the air grows unbearably hot. “I gave you an order.”

It isn’t loud. It isn’t shouted. But the weight of his voice makes the men scramble to obey. The keys jangle, the lock clicks, and the iron door swings open. The men grab my arm and pull me out.

I don’t move.

My legs won’t hold me up no matter how hard I try. The moment the guards step back, my vision wavers. I’m exhausted. Hungry. My body has reached its limit.

The world tilts…and then I’m falling.

Strong arms catch me before I hit the ground. A firm chest presses against my side, radiating warmth.

I want to push him away, but my body betrays me. His scent floods my senses—smoky cedar. I can barely breathe before darkness swallows me whole.

I wake to warmth.

Softness beneath me. A thick blanket draped over my body. My fingers sink into silky sheets, and the air carries the faint scent of smoky cedar. I bolt right up.

The room around me is enormous. Dark stone walls, a high ceiling with wooden beams, and a fireplace burning low in the corner. The bed beneath me is massive, filled with rich, silky linens and furs.

Everything immediately crashes into my head. The cage, the guards, the pain I felt, and him.

I don’t belong here. My chest tightens, panic creeping in.

The door creaks open, and I jerk my head up. There he is.

The Lycan King.

He steps into the room effortlessly, his gaze already fixed on me. He doesn’t look surprised to find me awake. If anything, he looks amused.

“Stay away.” I scramble back against the headboard.

He stops a few steps away, arching a brow. “I haven’t even touched you.” His voice is deep and smooth.

I tighten my grip on the blanket. “Just—just get it over with.”

He pauses, tilting his head sideways. “Get what over with?” He asks.

What is this? A joke? What does he mean? Is he testing me? These thoughts plague my mind.

I glare at him, ignoring the tremor in my voice. “The rejection. Just do it.”

He stares at me, the smile he wore on his face suddenly dropped, replaced by a frown I didn’t like. He steps forward, and I scramble back even more.

He stops, his gaze heavy on me. “You think I intend to hurt you? That I will reject you?” He asks, clearly stating the obvious.

I swallow hard, my throat dry as I force myself to meet his gaze. I tighten my fingers around the blanket as if it can shield me from him. “Why wouldn’t you?”

He studies me for a long moment. “Why would I?”

My heart pounds. “Because I’m nothing. A rogue. An omega. A burden.” The words spill out, bitter and raw. “You’re a king. You don’t need someone like me…”

“You presume to know what I need?” His voice is calm, but there’s an edge to it now.

I snap my mouth shut.

I don’t understand this man. I don’t understand why he hasn’t already cast me aside, why he isn’t laughing in my face like Aiden did.

The thought of him, of that night, that betrayal. It makes my stomach churn.

I square my shoulders, forcing steel into my spine. “Fine. If you won’t reject me, I reject you.”

Silence.

A flicker of something dark passes through his expression before it’s gone, buried beneath that cold mask he already wore.

Then he moves.

I don’t even have time to react before he’s in front of me, one knee pressing onto the bed, hands braced on either side of me. He isn’t touching me, but his presence alone feels like a trap.

His scent surrounds me, smoky cedar, something rich and wild. It makes my wolf delirious. My breath catches.

He leans in, his lips a breath away from my ear. “Try again, little wolf.”

My pulse skyrockets. I shove at his chest, desperate to put distance between us, but he doesn’t budge. He doesn’t even flinch.

His lips curve, as if amused by my struggle.

“Reject me all you want, not that it will ever make a difference,” he murmurs. “The moon goddess brought you here for me, and now you’re mine.”