The beast king

Draeven POV

The throne room smelled like blood and fear.

I preferred it that way.

Silence stretched heavily across Moonspire Hall while the kneeling wolf at the center of the room trembled hard enough for chains to rattle against the marble floor.

No one spoke and no one dared to speak.

Rain hammered against the massive fortress windows while cold wind howled through the northern mountains surrounding Moonspire. Lightning flashed briefly, illuminating the terrified faces lining the hall.

The kneeling wolf kept his eyes lowered.

“Say it again” I said calmly.

My voice echoed through the chamber like distant thunder.

The rogue swallowed hard “T-The southern camps are gathering forces near the border”.

“Under whose command?” I questioned. 

And there was silence. The wolf hesitated and my wolf growled low beneath my skin, I didn't even need to growl out. The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.

Finally, the rogue whispered “Alpha Malrik Voss”.

Murmurs spread quietly through the council standing beside my throne.

I remained still, silence was all I needed at the moment. Malrik Voss was always predictable, a weed I could have discarded years ago.

The southern Alpha had spent years testing northern borders like a starving animal searching for weakness. Most rulers would have crushed him long ago.

But I preferred patience. Fear lasted longer when cultivated properly.

I leaned back slowly against the black throne carved from obsidian stone and wolf bone “Numbers?” I asked.

“Thousands” the rogue answered shakily.

“More joining him every week” I groaned softly.

Beside me, my Beta, Cassian, folded his arms tightly across his chest “That’s not rebellion anymore” he muttered “That’s preparation for war”.

Perhaps it's war or perhaps Malrik was simply growing desperate and you know what they say about desperate wolves; they made mistakes and their mistakes got people killed.

The rogue finally risked lifting his eyes toward me and now, that was a mistake. The moment our gazes met, terror flooded his scent so strongly it nearly soured the air.

I was used to that reaction. Most wolves feared me long before they ever met me.

Some called me ruthless and others called me cursed or even worse: The Beast King.

A title given to me after the Crimson Rebellion when I slaughtered three rogue camps in a single night and ended the war before it reached northern territories.

Fear was useful. It kept kingdoms obedient.

Still, sometimes I wondered what people saw when they looked at me. Is it a ruler? A monster? Or merely a weapon wearing a crown? But who cares!

“My king?” Cassian’s voice pulled me back.

I realized the room had fallen silent again and everyone was waiting for my decision.

I looked toward the rogue still kneeling before me “Malrik wants attention” I said coldly…“Do not give it to him”.

Several council members exchanged uneasy glances.

One of the older advisers stepped forward carefully “Your Majesty, if southern territories continue gathering forces…”

“They will either attack” I interrupted calmly “or they will kneel”. You could feel the confidence in my tone. I'm so fucking proud of myself. Hahaha. 

The old adviser lowered his gaze immediately. I rose slowly from the throne.

The movement alone increased the tension in the room instantly.

At six-foot-four, I had long stopped pretending my presence didn’t intimidate people. Years of war carved strength into my body while power itself seemed woven into my bones.

An Alpha could sense dominance instinctively and mine suffocated entire rooms. I descended the black steps toward the rogue.

He started shaking harder “You crossed northern borders without permission” I said quietly.

The rogue swallowed “But I brought information”.

“You also brought southern scent into my kingdom” I said, my voice still as calm as ever. 

Fear sharpened violently in his expression. I crouched in front of him slowly “What did Malrik promise you?” I whispered.

The rogue hesitated. I grabbed his throat instantly. Gasps echoed through the hall.

My wolf surged beneath my skin at the scent of panic flooding the air.

“Answer carefully” I rahed slightly. 

“H-He said the Alpha system is dying” the rogue choked out “He said northern wolves are tired of kneeling”.

Hmm. Interesting.

Rebellion always began with wounded pride. I tightened my grip slightly “And what do you believe?”

The rogue’s pulse hammered wildly beneath my hand.

Finally, he whispered “I think people are afraid of you”. A dangerous answer.

Several guards shifted nervously nearby. Cassian looked exhausted already.

But unexpectedly… I laughed.

The sound echoed coldly through the throne room.

The rogue stared at me in shock.

“You should be grateful” I murmured, releasing him roughly “Fear is the only reason kingdoms survive” I finished.

The rogue collapsed forward coughing violently.

I stood “Take him below” I ordered. 

Guards immediately dragged him from the hall. The massive doors shut behind them with a thunderous boom.

Silence followed again. Then Cassian sighed heavily “You enjoy terrifying people far too much”.

“I enjoy honesty” I said with a smirk on my face. Hmm. That was satisfying.

“You nearly crushed his throat” Cassian reminded. 

“He still has one” I chuckled.

“That is somehow not comforting” Cassian said.

A few council members looked horrified that my Beta spoke to me so casually but Cassian ignored them completely.

He had known me too long to fear titles or perhaps he simply understood something most people didn’t: Power was lonely.

The council meeting continued for another hour.

Border disputes, trade negotiations, rogue activity and political alliances. Endless problems wrapped in expensive clothing.

By the time the final council member left the throne room, exhaustion pressed heavily behind my eyes.

Cassian lingered near the doors “You should sleep” he said.

“I will sleep” I said.

“Brooding unconsciousness for two hours does not count” He replied.

I ignored him.

Cassian studied me carefully for a moment before speaking again “You’ve been restless lately”.

My jaw tightened slightly. Restless was one way to describe it. For weeks, my wolf had been increasingly unstable. He had been agitated and it made no sense.

I had no enemies powerful enough to threaten Moonspire directly. No wars currently active and no internal rebellion, at least for now and yet something beneath my skin felt constantly awake.

Cassian leaned against one of the stone pillars “The Bloodmoon Gathering is tomorrow night”.

“I’m aware” I said quickly.

“You think Malrik will make a move?” Cassian asked carefully.

“No” I said

“Then what’s wrong?” he asked.

Silence stretched briefly between us. Then finally I admitted “My wolf won’t settle”. 

Cassian frowned, that got his attention.

A restless wolf was dangerous but a restless Alpha wolf was catastrophic.

“Any reason?” he asked.

“None that I understood” I responded.

At night I dreamed strange things.

Silver eyes, moonlight and a woman’s voice I had never heard before and every time I woke, the hunger beneath my skin became worse.

The possessive instinct surfaced so violently that I nearly growled aloud.

Cassian’s expression sharpened immediately “There” he muttered “That”.

“What?” I questioned.

“Your eyes just flashed” He said.

I looked away toward the storm raging beyond the fortress windows.

Rain slammed violently against the mountains surrounding Moonspire while lightning illuminated the dark forests below. The northern kingdom stretched endlessly beneath my rule. Everything belonged to me and yet lately it felt like something was missing.

Something important.

I hated not understanding my own instincts.

“My king?” A feminine voice interrupted the silence.

I turned toward the entrance.

Seralyn Vale stood near the doorway dressed in silver silk, elegant as always, a beautiful, composed and dangerous wolf.

The future Luna Queen of Moonspire or at least that was what the northern council expected.

Seralyn stepped gracefully into the room “The council requested confirmation for tomorrow’s ceremony arrangements”. 

I moved toward the window slowly “Approve whatever they need”.

Her sharp gaze lingered on me thoughtfully “You seem distracted tonight”.

“Observation noted” I said sharply.

A faint smile touched her lips. Most women feared my silence but Seralyn loved it instead. That was precisely why she survived court politics so well.

She approached carefully “The Bloodmoon Gathering will bring every major Alpha into Moonspire. If southern territories are truly unstable, appearances matter now more than ever”.

I already knew what she meant. The northern council wanted strength, control and stability. And also, preferably an official Luna beside their Alpha King.

Marriage negotiations between our bloodlines had existed for years.

Strategically, Seralyn made sense but emotionally… Nothing. There's no hunger for love, no pull, no rush of affection… Just political convenience.

My wolf remained completely indifferent to her presence.

Seralyn noticed everything, of course.

She always did but she never gave a damn. I wonder if that's how much she love dme or maybe she just wants power.

“Tomorrow will change things” she said softly.

Something about the words unsettled me unexpectedly.

Before I could respond, pain exploded suddenly through my chest. I stiffened instantly.

Cassian noticed and stepped forward “Draeven?” he asked.

The sensation vanished almost immediately but my wolf surged violently beneath my skin afterward.

My breathing slowed carefully. What the hell was happening to me?

Seralyn frowned slightly “Are you injured?” She asked calmly.

“No” I responded. 

For one impossible moment… I swore I smelled moonlight. Pure female, wild and dangerous.

My wolf went completely still. Then one terrifying realization settled into my chest.

‘She’s coming’. 

And somehow…I felt she would ruin everything.