A Gauntlet in Skirt

Kael looked around, stunned, like he'd been physically shocked by her touch.

“Don't come any closer," he said coldly. 

Kimberly froze. She didn't know the strange Lycan before her and his actions were frightening.

"Duncan!” He called out and the man who was still bowing, cowering in the corner quickly ran to him.

"My King,” he replied, eyes cast down, head bowed in respect.

Kael gestured at Kimberly, "Take her away. Not a hair on her head should be touched. Drop her off at the human settlement.” 

Kimberly trembled, facing Kael. “Please…don’t send me back. He’ll find me. Ogar won’t stop until—”

Kael cut her off, his voice harsh. “That’s not my concern. You belong with your own kind.”

“My kind?” Kimberly’s voice shook. “You don't know what I'm going through. Ogar is not my mind.” 

“Then go home!" 

“He won't let me! He is forcing me, he wants me to become his…”

"Enough!” he snapped fiercely and Kimberly recoiled, shivering. "I will not be dragged into another war with the werewolves without cause. We can remain enemies and look away from each other's affairs.” 

“No, please, you can't let me go back to Ogar, please!" 

Kael shook his head, "Ogar and I may have scores to settle. But this isn't my fight.” 

“But I watched you destroy them in the forest! I saw you rip through them like paper! And now you’re saying you can’t protect me?”

“I am not your protector, don't ever think that." Kael clenched his fists, looking away. “Enough.”

“No!” Kimberly stepped closer, desperation in her eyes. “You’re just sending me back to die. Why? Because I’m human?”

He turned sharply, his gaze intense. “You wouldn’t understand. I can’t keep you.”

“Then explain it to me!” Her voice cracked. “Why won’t you help me?”

“Because you make it impossible!” he shouted, frustration spilling over. “Your scent... I can’t even—” He stopped, breathing heavily, struggling to control himself. “I’m sending you home. Tonight.”

She looked away, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Then I’ll die tonight. I guess that’ll make you happy.”

He opened his mouth to respond but fell silent, turning as Lyrius, his second in command, nodded at him. .

“Kinh Kael,” Lyrius murmured, his tone respectful yet firm. “A word?”

Kael looked at Kimberly one last time before nodding, stepping aside with Lyrius.

Lyrius crossed his arms, glancing back at Kimberly. “You know she’s right. You’ve never backed down from a werewolf before. Why now?”

“Enough, Lyrius,” Kael snapped. “I don’t need you questioning my decisions. The girl leaves tonight. That’s final.”

“You still haven't said why," Lyrius pressed. 

Kael glared at him, “I pick my battles, Lyrius. I'm not daft." 

“She's a valuable prisoner. Ogar will come for her. We all know that." 

“I said, no!" 

Lyrius’s eyes narrowed. “So it’s true then, what the guards are saying?”

Kael’s jaw clenched. “What exactly are they saying?”

“They’re saying you called her… your mate.”

“If I were you, I'd quit listening to idle gossip around the pack.” Kael’s fist tightened, his voice dangerously low. “Take her out of the pack territory tonight. Leave her at the edge of the human town.” 

Lyrius looked at him, as if he wanted to argue, to persuade him. But Kael fixed him with a murderous glance. “Do not question me again, Lyrius. You'd be amazed at what I can do.”

“My apologies, my King," Lyrius held his gaze, then nodded, bowing slightly. “As you command.”

“Please!" Kimberly cried out as she was taken away. 

Later that night, Kimberly stood beside Lyrius, her expression defiant yet fearful.

“You can’t do this,” she whispered.

“Orders are orders,” Lyrius replied, not meeting her gaze. “Get moving.”

She turned back toward the forest, a last, desperate look in her eyes. She started walking, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

Shortly, she was back at her family’s home. Kimberly faced her parents, both relieved and disappointed. 

“You humiliated us,” her mother hissed. “Running off like that? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Kimberly’s voice was barely a whisper. “You sold me to a monster. You left me no choice.”

Her father stepped forward, his face a mask of fury. “We did what was best for you! Do you think you know better than us? You’re lucky he even wants you back after this stunt!”

Kimberly’s heart pounded. “He doesn’t want me. He wants to own me, control me. And you just handed me over.”

A loud knock interrupted them. Her father’s face paled. “It’s him.”

The door crashed open, and Ogar strode in, his eyes gleaming with anger. “You thought you could escape me, did you?”

Kimberly backed away, her voice trembling. “Ogar, please, I—”

He grabbed her arm, pulling her close. “Tell me who helped you. Was it the Lycans?”

She tried to pull away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Barbara stepped forward, pleading. “She will speak, please take it easy." 

“Shut up, woman! Let the husband do his job. She can't keep betraying us." Bomah scolded her. 

Ogar’s grip tightened. “Don’t lie to me, girl. I can smell him on you. Who took you?”

Kimberly bit her lip, refusing to answer.

He leaned in, his voice menacing. “Tell me, or I’ll make you wish you had.”

“I don’t know,” she whispered, but he only tightened his hold.

“You’re lying!” he roared, pushing her to the ground. “You think you can play games with me? I’ll show you what happens to traitors.”

She closed her eyes, feeling his hot breath on her neck as he leaned in, a growl rumbling in his chest. “I don’t care what you think you know. You’re mine. I own you.”

Kimberly’s voice broke. “It was Kael. The Lycan King. He’s the one who took me.”

Ogar stilled, then laughed, a cold, cruel sound. “The Lycan King, you say? So you’re marked by a monster. Perfect.”

She looked up, fear in her eyes. “What… what do you mean?”

Ogar smirked, pulling her close. “I have always found a worthy reason to wipe out that Lycan race. Kael will regret the day he crossed me.”