All Chapters of SOLD TO THE RUTHLESS LYCAN KING : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Ariana's POV"I've been here before."The words left my mouth before I could stop them.Nobody spoke.Kael kept one hand on my arm, making sure I was steady.His face was close enough for me to see the worry he was trying to hide."What did you see?" he asked.I closed my eyes, hoping the memories would come back.Nothing.Only small pieces.A little girl running through a garden.Someone laughing.A woman kneeling in front of me.Then everything disappeared again.I opened my eyes."I can't remember."Kael searched my face."You don't have to force it.""But I want to.""You've remembered enough for one day."I pulled away gently."No."His eyebrows rose."If those memories belong to me, I deserve to know them."Before Kael could answer, the beast walked toward the broken altar.It stopped there and looked back at me.Almost as if it wanted me to follow.Rowan noticed it too."I think it's trying to show us something."Kael didn't move."It could be a trap."The beast lay down quietl

Ariana's POVNobody moved.The young guard stood at the bottom of the stairs, trying to catch his breath."They're waiting outside the castle," he said. "They sent messengers instead of soldiers."Rowan frowned."Messengers?"The guard nodded."They said they came to speak before anyone draws a sword."Kael looked at him."And if we refuse?"The guard lowered his head."They said they'll consider it a declaration of war."For a few seconds, nobody said anything.Kael turned to Elias."You knew this would happen.""Yes.""You could have warned us.""I did."Kael looked confused."When?""I warned your father."The words surprised everyone.Even Kael."My father died years ago.""I know.""He never told me anything about the Moon Council.""He was trying to protect you."Kael looked away.There were still things about his own family that he didn't know.I stepped forward."I'm tired of people protecting me with silence."Everyone looked at me."I've spent my whole life wondering why I ne

Ariana's POVThe first thing I noticed was the children.Two little boys ran across the courtyard, crying for their mother. A servant caught them before they reached the broken gate and pulled them into the castle.Around them, people hurried in every direction.Some carried buckets of water.Others helped the wounded.Nobody waited to be told what to do.Everyone knew this day would decide the future of Shadowcrest.I stood at the top of the stone steps and watched them.A few days ago, these people had looked at me like I didn't belong here.Now they were risking their lives because of me.The thought sat heavily in my chest.Kael walked down the steps, speaking to the guards as he passed."Move the injured to the kitchens. It's warmer there."One of the guards nodded and hurried away.Another stopped him."My King."Kael turned."The bridge is full of soldiers.""How many?"The guard looked towards the open gate."I stopped counting."Kael rested a hand on the man's shoulder."You'

Ariana's POVEamon's hand slipped from mine.I didn't let go.The dirt beneath my knees was cold, but I stayed where I was. The little wooden wolf rested beside him. I picked it up and brushed away the dust with my thumb."You made a promise," I whispered. "You kept it."The words caught in my throat."I'll keep mine."Kael took off his dark cloak and spread it gently over Eamon. He didn't say anything. He simply bowed his head for a moment before standing again.It was a quiet sign of respect.The guards around us copied him.Nobody had ordered them to.Lyra wiped her eyes before anyone noticed."He deserved to go home," she said softly."He spent twenty years carrying someone else's hope."Elias looked at the road stretching into the forest."He knew this day might be his last.""And he still came," I replied."Yes.""He chose to."A gust of wind rolled through the trees.Somewhere in the branches, a raven took flight.Rowan returned from the edge of the forest, breathing harder tha

Ariana's POVI read the note again.Then a third time.The words didn't change.We remember the real princess.I folded the paper carefully and slipped it into my pocket."Why would they write this?" I asked.No one answered.Kael was looking beyond the prison corridor, his mind already working through something."What are you thinking?" I asked.He didn't answer immediately."They could have killed you."I frowned."They've tried.""No."He shook his head."I mean today."He pointed towards the note."If they reached your room, they reached you."The truth settled over us.Whoever had searched my room had been close enough to end my life.Instead...They left a message."They wanted her frightened," Rowan said."They wanted something else," Kael replied.He turned to the captain."Show us her chambers."---The walk through the castle felt different now.Every servant I passed made me wonder if they had seen something.Every guard made me ask the same question.Can I trust you?I hat