NEW PACK

The horse in the royal carriage strode violently through the stormy night and the heavy downpour crashed endlessly against the dark windows.

Inside the carriage, it was silent it was only the sound of heartbeat that filled the air and ariana sat down in the corner, her soaked dress hugging her uncomfortably while her shaky fingers tightened around themselves.

Across her, Kael was sitting calm and terrifying as if the storm outside obeyed him. His gaze fixed on Ariana . While the dim lantern above their heads showed dangerous shadows across his sharp features. His silver eyes glowed faintly every few seconds, reminding Ariana that under the composed king ,was someone more than a monster that sat and he has been watching Her closely.

You keep staring Ariana finally found her voice and whispered, unable to bear the silence anymore.

Kael leaned back slightly against the black leather seat. You keep breathing like prey that's ready to be devoured.Her jaw tightened instantly.

Maybe because I was dragged into a carriage against my will.

A faint smirk touched his lips before disappearing again.

You are alive, right? The coldness in his voice irritated her .

Is that supposed to comfort me?

No, he answered simply

Ariana looked away quickly toward the raincovered window She hated how small she felt near him. Everything about Kael Draven consumed space. His presence, his scent, his eyes... even silence became dangerous around him.

The carriage suddenly hit a rough path Ariana immediately lost balance Before she realized what was happening and fall completely, Kael's strong arm wrapped her waist round and he  pulled her into his warm chest.

Her breath caught Kael's grip tightened while the deep growl vibrating inside his chest startled her completely.For one terrifying second, silence filled the carriage again.

Then Ariana realized something shocking.

The growl is not anger but It is possessiveness.

Kael slowly looked down at her , she still had her body against him. Rain echoed outside while tension thickened dangerously between them.

I think You should sit properly, Kael murmured near her ear.Ariana quickly pushed against his chest and moved away from him again. Then, you stop touching me.

His silver eyes darkened instantly.

You belong to me now. I will touch you whenever I want and Anger flashed across Ariana's face. Iam not an object neither am I a property 

Kael remained silent for a long moment Then, unexpectedly, he said quietly, No You are very more troublesome.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise. it's the the first thing he had said that almost sounded human.

The carriage continued deeper into the forest while massive shadows of ancient trees stretched endlessly outside. The further they traveled from Ashthorn Pack, the colder the air became . Ariana noticed something that the royal guards riding beside the carriage nervously glancing toward the woods.Fear immediately gripped her the guards looked afraid too 

Her heartbeat quickened slightly. Why are your guards nervous?

Kael's expression became unreadable.They smell death and Cold chills immediately spread across her spine. But Before ariana could say something again,their horses screamed and The carriage stopped violently.

Outside, wolves howled , they're Not ordinary wolves Monsterous.

Large claws immediately slammed against the roof above them The guards shouted outside while horses panicked in terror while Ariana gasped softly.Kael didn't move he said there Observing in anger.If there is anything to sayanything, he looked bored.

Another violent crash shook the carriage then came screaming humans screaming.Ariana's face immediately lost color . 

What's happening?

Kael slowly stood to his full height Stay inside.

The carriage door suddenly burst open before Ariana could respond and the Cold rain poured inside immediately.

A massive creature lunged directly toward Kael with glowing red eyes and rotting black fur. Its jaws opened wide enough to crush a skull.

Ariana froze in horror because she was terrified But Kael moved faster , His hand shot forward violently, grabbing the beast by its throat midair.

CRACK.

The creature's neck snapped instantly that made Ariana to stopped breathing.

The dead beast collapsed heavily into the mud outside while Kael stepped out into the storm like death itself had entered the battlefield.

The guards immediately backed away when More creatures emerged from the forest darkness.Their eyes glowed red,Their bodies looked twisted unnaturally, almost corrupted.

Ariana's pulse raced wildly as thunder illuminated the terrifying scene outside.

One of the guards shouted fearfully, "Your Majesty, they're Night Crawlers!"

Kael's silver flared and eyes flashed dangerously.Ariana suddenly realized the horrifying truth that The monsters outside were not the most dangerous thing in the forest tonight.

She realized that that KAEL DRAVEN is.

Rain exploded across the battlefield while the forest echoed with growls and terrified screams Ariana was extremely terrified inside the carriage, her heart pounding violently against her chest as she watched Kael Draven step forward into the storm.The Night Crawlers circled him carefully now.There were six of them No,Eight.

Their twisted bodies moved through the mud while black saliva dripped from their jaws. Their glowing red eyes remained locked on Kael with fearful aggression, like starving beasts confronting a greater predator.The royal guards formed a defensive line immediately, swords raised.Yet, none of them moved first they were waiting, Waiting for their king.

Kael slowly removed his black gloves one finger at a time without taking his eyes off the creatures. Calm Unbothered and his Terrifying gaze on the monsters.

One of the monsters suddenly lunged toward him with impossible speed ariana screamed the creature never reached him.Kael caught its face violently with one hand before slamming the beast straight into the ground hard enough to crack the earth beneath them.Blood splattered across the rain-soaked mud making The other Night Crawlers attacked immediately.Everything became chaos, Kael moved like something inhuman.he was faast,Deadly and Merciless.

Ariana could barely follow his movements as claws, blood, and silver flashes tore through the darkness then , One beast tried attacking from behind, but Kael grabbed it by the throat and ripped the creature away from him before throwing it directly into a tree This shattered the trunk.Another monster sank its claws into his shoulder.The guards froze in horror But Kael only turned slowly toward the creature Then smiled The Night Crawler immediately tried pulling away but it was Too late.

Kael's silver eyes glowed brighter as he grabbed the beast's jaw with both hands and tore it apart violently,Ariana covered her mouth in shock.

The rain washed blood from his hands while the remaining creatures ran back into the forest.

They were afraid of him very Terrified.

Kael took one slow step forward and Every surviving Night Crawler disappeared instantly into the darkness.

Silence immediately returned except for thunder and heavy breathing Ariana stared at him through the open carriage door, unable to look away.

His black shirt was torn near his shoulder where deep claw marks cut across his skin. Blood ran slowly down his arm yet his expression remained emotionless As if pain meant nothing.

One of the guards approached carefully. Your Majesty, are you injured?Kael ignored the question completely.

Instead, he turned toward the carriage Toward Ariana Their eyes locked again.Her pulse stumbled unexpectedly, Something dangerous flickered inside his silver gaze as he slowly walked back toward her through the rain.

Every step was slow and deliberate.

Ariana instinctively moved backward inside the carriage the moment he climbed in again Kael shut the carriage door behind him ,The outside world disappeared instantly Only the two of them remained.

The scent of blood, rain, smoke, and dark cedar filled the small space around them.

Ariana noticed blood dripping slowly from his fingertips onto the carriage floor.

I think You're hurt, she whispered before thinking.Kael looked down briefly at the wounds across his shoulder. It will heal. The claw marks started closing slowly before her eyes Her breath caught.

It was Lycan healing.

She has heard stories before, but seeing it felt completely different and also Terrifying.Kael sat down across from her again while the carriage finally continued moving through the forest.

Neither spoke for several momentsThen, unexpectedly Kael said quietly, You were afraid for me;Ariana frowned immediately,I was afraid because monsters were trying to kill everyone But, you looked at me first, Her heartbeat betrayed her.Annoyed, Ariana crossed her arms tightly and said You think too highly of yourself.

A deep chuckle escaped him suddenly Low,Dark,Dangerously attractive.

Ariana immediately hated how the sound affected her chest.Kael leaned his head back slightly against the seat while studying her silently again.

You are different from what I expected.She looked away quickly. And what exactly did you expect?A weak girl begging for mercy.

His gaze sharpened. Instead, you glare at me like you want to stab me. Ariana muttered under her breath, Maybe I really want to .Unfortunately,He heard it and a slow smile crept on Kael's face again.This time, he looked genuinely amused.This sight unsettled her more than his anger.

Suddenly the carriage entered a clearing and Ariana noticed something enormous appearing beyond the rain-covered hills.Her breath caught instantly.

An enormous black castle stood beneath the stormy sky, towering over the mountains like something built by nightmares themselves.Dark silver flames burned along the walls,Huge wolf statues guarded the entrance and above everything flew the royal banner of the Lycan kingdom.

Kael noticed the fear in her expression.

You're Welcome to Shadowcrestn he said quietly.Ariana stared at the castle while dread slowly tightened around her chest Because deep inside,She realized something horrifying,Ashthorn Pack had been a prison but this place?

This place looked more like hell...