로그인Amara POV
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were Alpha Brock’s daughter.” He said truthfully. “It’s fine.. do you know him?” I asked. “We’re neighboring packs and allies.” He said with a laugh. When I didn’t respond, he spoke again. “You dance very well.. maybe you could trouble me with another?” He looked hopeful as he waited for my response. “Unfortunately, I think after this dance I may need a break. I never realized dancing could be so exhausting.” I said. I shrieked when he picked me up by my sides and spun me. When I was placed back on my feet, he let out a chuckle. I caught a glimpse of my mate staring at us, his eyes dark and terrifying. “Sorry, it was part of the dance.” The man brought my attention back to him. The music came to an end, his lips forming into a slight frown. “Maybe I could get you a drink then?” He asked. “I do think I’m alright. I’ve had plenty to drink..” I said, trying my best to give him the hint that I was uninterested. “That’s alright. Maybe you’ll change your mind and I’ll get one more dance before the night ends. I did quite enjoy this one.” He said. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as I bowed. “Thank you. I should take my leave, it seems my father needs me.” I said, as I looked towards the crowd of people talking. “No worries.” He said with a bow. Once I’d walked from the dance floor, my father waved me over. “Well?” My Father asked once I’d gotten close to him. I furrowed my brows in confusion at his question. “How was the dance?” He questioned further. “It was.. okay?” I said in more of a question than a statement. “I saw him speak to you, what did he say?” He asked. “He asked what pack I was from.. and then told me we were neighboring packs. I’m confused, why does this matter?” I asked. He let out a sigh of annoyance and shook his head. “Not Alpha Cedric. The King, Amara. You danced with the King.” He said. My eyes widened in shock. I danced with the king? But I only danced with Gatlin, the Alpha and my mate.. My mate.. “The King?” I asked. He gripped my shoulders and turned me around, my eyes instantly landing in my mate. “Yes, King Sebastian.” He said as he pointed at the beautiful man standing far away, downing a drink of his own. Father gripped my shoulder tightly in anger. When I turned back around, he could see the paleness of my face. “What’s wrong? Did he not like you?” He asked, his eyes darkening at the thought. “I don’t know.. we didn’t get to dance long. And he didn’t say much.. just confirmed my name.” I said. He let out a sigh of relief. “Try to get as many dances with him as possible. I’ve noticed he looks at you often.” He said. I nodded my head in response, but I didn’t think I could do it. I mean.. my mate is the King! The Dark Lycan King! How could this be? Why would the Moon Goddess pair me with such a beast? Now I’m afraid he’s already chosen me.. but I don’t think I could tell my Father. I can’t let them know we’re mates. I just can’t. “He’s coming this way.” Grim pointed out. My heart sped in my chest as his scent grew stronger. “My King.. what a pleasure it is.” My Father bowed. I kept my back to him, only turning when my father glared at me. “Dance with me.” The King said once I looked at him. He held his arm out, waiting for me to grab him. “She accepts.” My Father spoke. I felt a hand push me towards him and I stumbled, my ankle twisting in the tall heels, only to be caught by King Sebastian with his hands on my waist. “I.. I’m sorry.” I said as my face heated up with embarrassment. He didn’t make a sound as I steadied myself.. but his hand stayed on me. He placed his hand on my lower back and led me back to the dance floor, my heart in my throat as I felt his aura swooshing around me. How did I not notice this before? His aura is far stronger than any I’ve ever been around. “Are you going to take up Alpha Cedric’s offer to dance later?” He asked as soon as we got into our dancing positions. I could feel all eyes on us, watching us curiously. I knew what most, if not all, we’re thinking. This is now our second dance.. and he walked across the ballroom to get me, specifically. “What?” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Not only was he affecting me by just being my mate, he was affecting me by being the Dark King. I never realized I could be so nervous in my life. “Yes or no?” He asked as he cocked up a brow. We began to move to the music, every now and then I would miss a step.. but he held my tight enough to where I wouldn’t fall. “N-no.” I said. He nodded once in understanding. “There won’t be any switching of partners.. will there?” I asked, hoping that there wouldn’t be. Or maybe I was hoping I could have a different partner.. I couldn’t tell. “Why? Do you want a different partner?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “No..” my hands shook fearfully, hoping that I’d not made him angry. I averted my eyes as i spoke, hoping that the music would end as soon as possible so that I could escape his suffocating aura. “Look at me.” He demanded. I sucked in a deep breath and did as he asked. We spun around a few times, my dress swiping across the floor dramatically. It’s a wonder neither of us have slipped on it yet. Goddess, that would truly be the most embarrassing thing. “Look me in the eyes as you speak. I am your King. I will not tolerate such disrespect.” He growled lowly, tugging me tighter against him. “Forgive me. I am not.. used to this, to any of this.” I babbled. “You will get used to it.” He grunted. As the song ended, he dipped me. He stared into my eyes with little to no emotion.. it only made me fear him even more. “Don’t let me find you dancing and chatting with another man. You are mine.” He asserted, his eyes lowering to my neck. I felt heat rise in my belly at the sudden possessiveness from him. “Y-yes, my King.” I replied as he pulled me up, his grip on me loosening. Not once did he remove his hand from my lower back as we stepped away from the dance floor. I felt the stares we were getting.. the heated glares, the jealousy. This night was beginning to suffocate me, and his aura only made that feeling of no air even worse.Amara POV Peace turns out to be far louder than war. Not in the ways I expected. War carries screaming and steel and blood soaking into stone. Peace carries life. Children laughing through castle corridors that once echoed with fear. Vampire merchants arguing playfully with wolf blacksmiths in crowded market squares. Fae musicians filling taverns with strange glowing instruments while witches pretend not to enjoy themselves in the corners. The kingdoms breathe differently now. Like something ancient unclenched its fist around the world. The borders vanished three months ago. Not physically. The mountains still stand. The rivers still cut through territories. But the walls between species are gone. Travelers move freely now beneath unified law. Wolves venture into vampire cities without expecting violence. Fae caravans cross Lycan territory openly beneath moonlit skies. Witches have begun establishing sanctuaries near mixed villages where every species walks t
Amara POV “By the gods. A Lycan?” The fae queen’s voice cuts through the chamber sharp as shattered crystal. Disbelief flashes openly across her face now, elegance cracking beneath the sheer force of whatever she feels crashing through her bond. Her violet eyes remain locked on Edgar as though looking away might somehow undo what just happened. Edgar still has not moved from the doorway. Honestly, I do not think he remembers what he even came in here for. Rainwater drips quietly from the edge of his black coat onto the stone beneath him while the entire council chamber watches the terrifying fae queen stare at one of Sebastian’s guards like the world just tilted sideways beneath her feet. Magic pulses again. Wild and ancient. The flowers woven into the fae queen’s silver hair bloom violently all at once, pale petals spiraling briefly into the air around her before dissolving into glowing dust. Edgar swallows hard. “Your Majesty,” he says carefully, sounding one
Amara POV The storm does not quiet for the rulers of kingdoms. It greets them like an omen. Thunder rolls across the mountains long before the first delegation arrives, dark clouds swallowing the sky until the castle itself feels stranded between worlds, suspended somewhere between ruin and rebirth. By nightfall every throne has answered Sebastian’s summons. The great council chamber blazes with torchlight and old tension, massive pillars carved from black stone stretching toward vaulted ceilings painted with the history of kingdoms that once tried very hard to destroy one another. Now all of them sit beneath the same roof. Watching me. Judging me. Fearing me. The fae queen arrives first. She enters like moonlight sharpened into a weapon, silver hair braided with living flowers that bloom and wilt in shifting colors as she walks. Ancient power hums around her so intensely the air itself bends faintly near the hem of her pale gold gown. Beautiful. Terrifying
Amara POV The throne room has never felt this cold before. Not because of winter. Not because of the storm clawing against the mountains outside. Because every person inside it can feel something shifting beneath the world. Sebastian stands beside the black stone throne with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, golden eyes fixed on Azriel like he expects the old man to transform into a monster at any second. Luther remains near the doors with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, while Beta Jamie watches in sharp silence from the edge of the chamber. No one trusts him. Frankly, neither do I. Yet somehow Azriel looks entirely unbothered by the hostility curling through the room. He simply studies the vaulted ceiling above us as servants rush to prepare the chamber for the elder council. “This.. is the first king,” Sebastian says quietly to me, clearly unbelieving. “I know.” “You believe him?” The question lodges somewhere ugly inside my chest. Do I?
Amara POV The throne room has never felt this cold before. Not because of winter. Not because of the storm clawing against the mountains outside. Because every person inside it can feel something terrible shifting beneath the world. Sebastian stands beside the black stone throne with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, golden eyes fixed on Azriel like he expects the old man to transform into a monster at any second. Luther remains near the doors with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, while Beta Jamie watches in sharp silence from the edge of the chamber. No one trusts him. Frankly, neither do I. Yet somehow Azriel looks entirely unbothered by the hostility curling through the room. He simply studies the vaulted ceiling above us as servants rush to prepare the chamber for the elder council. “This.. is the first king,” Sebastian says quietly to me, clearly unbelieving. “I know.” “You believe him?” The question lodges somewhere ugly inside my chest.
Amara POV Azriel. The name settles strangely in my mind, brushing against something old enough to ache. Not familiar exactly. Just heavy. Like a word buried beneath centuries of dust finally being spoken aloud again. The old man watches me from across the fire with quiet patience, silver brows lifting slightly when I remain standing near the doorway instead of answering immediately. Flames crackle softly inside the hearth beside him, painting warm gold across shelves overflowing with ancient books and loose parchment while the rest of the room drowns in shadows too thick for such a small space. “Well,” he says after a moment, voice threaded with amusement, “are you simply going to stand there looking confused, or will you join me for tea?” I glance back toward the corridor instinctively. No Sebastian. No guards. No footsteps echoing through the stairwell. Part of me expected him to follow anyway despite what happened in the yard. Another part feels strangely
Amara POV Goddess, everything BURNS! I couldn’t help wriggling and grinding as Sebastian carried me away. I’d never felt this way before. I didn’t think my heat would come so soon. I thought I had more time. And I might have.. if he hadn’t marked me. “Sebastian..” I purred, clawing at his
Sebastian POV I’ve been struggling a lot recently. I found that distancing myself from Amara was a lot harder than just the thought of it. I wasn’t sure if she realized but I could feel her emotions tenfold. And when I bear her mark, what she feels from me will be greater. It made me feel awf
Amara POV “Are you sure you didn’t just mix up her words?” He asked, giving me an expression I couldn’t quite comprehend. Was he being serious right now? “No.” I heard her loud and clear.” I stated, an irritated look on my face. He let out a sigh and stood up. “I will talk with her.” He said
Amara POV Dark, empty.. nothing. That’s all I can see. All that I’m surrounded by. What happened? Where am I? I felt movement around me but I couldn’t move myself. There was pain, but it seemed to ease as every moment passed. Damn it Amara.. what’s the last thing you remember? I tried so







