The Lycan King's Captive

Mira's POV

The world returned to me in fragments cold stone beneath my cheek, the acrid smell of torch smoke, and pain. So much pain.

My head throbbed like someone had used it as a drum, and my limbs felt weighted down, as if I'd been swimming through quicksand. I tried to move, but my wrists were bound behind my back with silver-laced rope that burned against my skin.

Silver. Of course.

I forced my eyes open, blinking against the dim light. The room was vast, carved from dark stone, with torches flickering along the walls casting dancing shadows that made everything look alive and menacing.

And I wasn't alone.

Bodies were everywhere Evergreen survivors huddled together in groups, some crying softly, others staring blankly at nothing. Children clung to their mothers. Warriors sat with their heads bowed in defeat.

My people. What was left of them.

"She's awake."

The voice came from somewhere to my left, rough and amused. I turned my head too quickly, because the world spun and saw a Redmoon guard leaning against the wall, watching me like I was tonight's entertainment.

"About time," another guard said. "Thought we'd killed this one too."

Too?

My stomach clenched. How many had they killed? How many of my people were already gone?

I tried to sit up, but my body protested violently. Everything hurt my shoulders, my ribs, my legs. The tranquilizer must have been strong enough to drop a bear.

"Easy there, princess," the first guard said, pushing off the wall. "You're not going anywhere."

"Where..." My voice came out as a croak. I swallowed and tried again. "Where are we?"

He grinned, and it wasn't a friendly expression.

"Redmoon Pack. Welcome to your new home."

No. No, no, no.

This couldn't be happening. Redmoon Pack was three days' journey from Evergreen. How long had I been unconscious?

"How long?" I demanded, my voice stronger now despite the fear clawing at my chest.

"Two days," he said casually. "You were out cold. Made transporting you a lot easier, actually. Should thank whoever dosed you."

Two days. I'd lost two entire days.

Magnus's face flashed in my mind his small body falling, blood pooling beneath him. My parents, their screams echoing through that tunnel as the door slammed shut.

Everyone I loved was gone.

The grief hit me like a physical blow, and I had to bite down hard on my lip to keep from crying out. I wouldn't give these animals the satisfaction of seeing me break. Not yet.

"The Lycan King wants to see you," the guard continued, jerking his head toward the heavy iron door at the far end of the chamber. "Soon as you can stand without falling over."

"I can stand now," I lied, already trying to push myself upright.

My legs trembled like newborn deer, and I made it about halfway before collapsing back down. The guards laughed.

"Yeah, real convincing," one of them snorted. "Give it another hour, warrior princess. You'll need your strength for what's coming."

The way he said it made my skin crawl.

What was coming? Execution? Torture? Something worse?

I looked around the chamber again, searching the faces of the survivors. Maybe someone I knew, someone who could tell me what had happened, who else had made it out

And then I saw her.

Across the room, huddled in a corner with her face turned away, was a figure I recognized even in the dim light. Dark hair, slender build, a posture that screamed guilt even from a distance.

Aria.

The world went red.

"You," I snarled, and suddenly my legs worked just fine. I lunged forward, silver rope burning my wrists, not caring about the pain or the guards or anything except getting my hands around her throat.

I made it three steps before hands grabbed me from behind, hauling me backward.

"Whoa there!" a guard shouted, wrestling me back. "Save it for the arena if you want to kill each other!"

"Let me go!" I thrashed against his grip, my wolf pushing forward, desperate for blood. "She murdered my son! She betrayed us all! Let me "

"I said ENOUGH!"

The voice that cut through the chamber wasn't one of the guards. It was deeper, darker, and it carried an authority that made everyone freeze.

Including me.

The iron door swung open, and he walked in.

Lycan King Killian.

I'd only caught a glimpse of him in the forest before the tranquilizer took me down, but now, in the torchlight, I could see him clearly. And goddess help me, I understood why Aria had been stupid enough to betray us.

He was devastating.

Tall easily over six feet with a frame built for war. Broad shoulders, muscular arms, a chest that strained against his black shirt. His hair was dark as midnight, hanging just past his collar, and his eyes...

His eyes were wrong. Not wolf-gold, but something else. Something ancient and predatory and utterly inhuman.

Lycan eyes.

"Release her," he said, and the guard holding me dropped his hands immediately.

I stumbled but managed to stay upright, glaring at the Lycan King even as my heart hammered against my ribs.

He studied me with those unnatural eyes, his expression unreadable. Then he smiled, and it was the smile of a wolf who'd just cornered a rabbit.

"So," he said softly. "You're the one who's been causing all this fuss."

I lifted my chin, refusing to cower.

"If by fuss you mean trying to stay alive, then yes."

His smile widened.

"Interesting. Most wolves beg when they're brought before me."

"I'm not most wolves."

"No," he agreed, taking a step closer. "You're not, are you?"

He circled me slowly, like a predator assessing prey, and I forced myself to stay still. Forced myself not to flinch when he leaned in close enough that I could feel his breath on my neck.

"Tell me," he murmured. "What's your name?"

My name. He didn't know who I was. Just like in the forest, he hadn't recognized me as Evergreen's Luna.

Which meant Aria hadn't told him.

Why?

I glanced across the room where Aria sat, and our eyes met for just a second. Fear flashed across her face real, genuine terror before she looked away.

She was afraid I'd reveal her role in the attack. Afraid I'd tell the Lycan King that she'd opened the gates, that she'd murdered Magnus in cold blood.

And in that moment, I had a choice.

I could tell the truth. Expose her. Watch her die for what she'd done.

Or...

Or I could lie. Keep my identity hidden. Survive long enough to make them all pay.

The Lycan King was still waiting for my answer, his presence overwhelming, his power radiating off him in waves that made my wolf want to submit.

But I'd never been good at submission.

I met his inhuman gaze and said the first thing that came to mind.

"My name is Thea."

It was my mother's name the one she'd used before marrying into the Hale family. The one no one in Redmoon would recognize.

Killian's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could sense the lie but couldn't quite prove it.

"Thea," he repeated, testing the name on his tongue. "And what were you before I conquered your pack, Thea? A merchant's daughter? A farmer's wife?"

I almost laughed. Almost.

"A survivor," I said instead. "That's all that matters now."

He studied me for a long moment, and I could practically see him trying to figure me out, trying to decide if I was worth his time or just another body to throw in with the rest.

Finally, he stepped back.

"You're right," he said. "That is all that matters." He turned to one of his guards. "Take her to the servants' quarters. Put her to work in the kitchens."

Relief flooded through me. The kitchens. Not the dungeons. Not an execution chamber.

I could work with kitchens.

But then Killian paused, glancing back at me with that predator's smile still playing on his lips.

"Actually," he said slowly. "No. Not the kitchens."

My stomach dropped.

"My brothers have been... difficult lately. Perhaps having someone to attend to my personal needs will improve my mood." His eyes raked over me in a way that made my skin crawl. "Take her to my chambers. She'll serve as my personal maid."

The guards moved forward to grab me, but I barely noticed. All I could think was that I'd just gone from the frying pan straight into the flames.

As they dragged me toward the door, I caught one last glimpse of Aria. She was watching me with wide eyes, her face pale as moonlight.

And for just a second, I saw it the flash of jealousy, of rage, of something dark and possessive.

She'd wanted this position. Wanted to be close to him.

Too bad.

The Lycan King was mine now.

Or rather, I was his.

And I had absolutely no idea if that was going to save me or destroy me.

Killian's POV

I watched them drag the girl away, my mind already calculating, always calculating.

Thea. What a terrible liar.

But an interesting one.

"My Lord," Damon appeared at my shoulder, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're keeping a servant from Evergreen? In your personal chambers?"

"Is there a problem, brother?"

"Several," he growled. "She could be a spy. An assassin. She could slit your throat while you sleep."

I smiled.

"She could try."

Damon's jaw clenched, but he said nothing. He knew better than to push too far. The council had chosen me as Lycan King, not him, and that bitter truth hung between us like poison.

"Besides," I continued, turning to face him fully. "She's not a spy."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because spies don't look at you like they want to rip your heart out with their bare hands. They pretend to submit. They play the game." I thought of those defiant eyes, that lifted chin. "That girl doesn't know how to pretend."

"Then what is she?"

I considered the question.

What was she? A survivor, as she'd said. But more than that. There was something familiar about her, something I couldn't quite place. The way she moved, the way she spoke...

And that scent. Even beneath the dirt and fear, her scent had been intoxicating.

"She's entertainment," I said finally. "Nothing more."

Damon snorted.

"You're playing with fire."

"I'm always playing with fire, brother. It's what makes life interesting."

He stalked away, muttering under his breath about foolish decisions and weaknesses, but I ignored him. Damon was always muttering about something.

Instead, I turned my attention to the cowering blonde in the corner. Aria. My inside woman. My useful little traitor.

She looked up as I approached, hope and fear warring in her expression.

"My Lord "

"Come," I said simply.

She scrambled to her feet, following me out of the chamber and down the corridor to a private room. As soon as the door closed, she pressed herself against me.

"Killian, I was so worried. When she attacked me, I thought "

I grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look at me.

"Why didn't you tell me about her?"

"What?"

"The girl. Thea. Why didn't you mention her when you reported the survivors?"

Aria's eyes widened, and I saw the lie forming before she even opened her mouth.

"I... I didn't think she was important. Just another "

"Liar."

She flinched.

"I'm not "

"You looked terrified when she tried to attack you. More terrified than you should be of a simple servant." I tilted her face, studying her. "What aren't you telling me?"

For a moment, I thought she might actually confess. Her lips parted, trembled, and then

"She threatened me," Aria whispered. "Back in Evergreen. She said if I didn't help her escape, she'd tell everyone I was sleeping with the Alpha."

Interesting.

"And were you? Sleeping with Alpha Kael?"

A flush crept up her cheeks.

"It was part of the plan. You told me to get close to him, to make sure he was distracted "

"I told you to seduce him, yes. I didn't tell you to develop feelings."

"I didn't "

"Don't lie to me again, Aria. I can smell your emotions."

She fell silent, her jaw still trapped in my grip.

I released her, stepping back.

"It doesn't matter now. Evergreen is mine. Alpha Kael is my puppet. And you..." I let my eyes drift over her dismissively. "You've served your purpose."

The color drained from her face.

"What?"

"You can return to Evergreen tomorrow. Play the dutiful Luna. Keep Kael in line. That's all I need from you now."

"But... but I thought... we..."

"We what?" I raised an eyebrow. "You thought I'd keep you here? Make you my queen?"

The hope in her eyes was pathetic.

"I did everything you asked," she whispered. "I betrayed my pack. I killed " She stopped abruptly, as if realizing she'd said too much.

"Killed?" I prompted, my voice deadly soft.

She shook her head frantically.

"Nothing. I meant nothing. I just... I helped you win. Doesn't that mean anything?"

I considered her for a long moment.

In truth, I'd never intended to keep her. She was a tool, nothing more. A pretty face and a weak will that had been remarkably easy to manipulate.

But she didn't need to know that. Not yet.

"It means you're still alive," I said finally. "Be grateful for that."

I turned to leave, but her voice stopped me.

"She knows."

I paused.

"What?"

"Thea. She knows what I did. She knows I let you into Evergreen." Aria's voice was desperate now. "If she tells anyone "

"Then make sure she doesn't."

"How?"

I looked back at her, my expression cold.

"That's your problem, not mine."

I left her there, standing alone in that room, and felt nothing.

Nothing but the faint stirring of curiosity about the girl with the fake name and the real fire in her eyes.

Thea.

I'd discover her secrets soon enough.

They always revealed themselves, given time and the right pressure.

And I had nothing but time.

Mira's POV

The Lycan King's chambers were exactly what I'd expected dark, massive, and radiating power.

The guards had dumped me inside without ceremony, warned me not to touch anything, and left me alone.

Alone with his scent everywhere. Woodsmoke and steel and something wild that made my wolf nervous.

I'd been standing in the center of the room for what felt like hours, trying to figure out my next move, when the door opened.

I spun around, expecting Killian.

Instead, an elderly woman entered, her gray hair pulled back in a severe bun, her expression neither kind nor cruel.

"You're the new girl," she said. It wasn't a question.

"I... yes."

"I'm Margot. Head of household. You'll report to me when the King doesn't need you." She looked me up and down. "You're a mess."

I glanced down at myself torn nightgown, dirt-streaked skin, hair that probably looked like a bird's nest.

"I've had a rough few days."

"Clearly." She gestured to a door on the left. "Washing chamber. Clean yourself. There are servant's clothes in the wardrobe. Dress appropriately."

"And then?"

"And then you wait. The King will send for you when he's ready."

She started to leave, but I called out, "Wait."

She paused.

"What happened to the last girl who served him? The one before me?"

Margot's expression didn't change.

"There was no girl before you. The King has never had a personal maid." Her eyes met mine, cold and assessing. "You're the first."

The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone again.

The first.

I didn't know if that was good or bad.

But as I made my way to the washing chamber and caught sight of my reflection in the polished metal mirror, one thing was certain.

I looked like death warmed over.

And if I was going to survive in this viper's nest long enough to avenge Magnus, long enough to make them all pay...

I needed to look like anything but the broken Luna of a fallen pack.

I needed to become someone new.

Someone they would never suspect.

I stripped off my torn nightgown and stepped into the steaming bath, letting the water wash away the blood and dirt and tears.

But it couldn't wash away the memories.

Magnus's laugh. My parents' sacrifice. Kael's betrayal. Aria's claws.

I sank beneath the surface, holding my breath until my lungs burned.

When I came up gasping, my reflection stared back at me wet hair plastered to my face, eyes red from crying, bruises blooming purple along my ribs.

I looked weak.

Defeated.

Perfect.

Let them think I was broken. Let them believe I was just another frightened servant.

And when they finally let their guard down...

I would remind them what happens when you underestimate a wolf.

Even one who's lost everything.

Especially one who's lost everything.

Because I had nothing left to lose.

And that made me the most dangerous thing in this entire pack.