A Luna For The Lycan King

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of the castle. My mind was constantly occupied with the strange, turbulent emotions swirling inside me, fueled by the unexpected

he mountains, casting an orange glow over the land. But no matter how beautiful the view was, it couldn't take away the unease building inside me. I knew that the confrontat

being left alone in this cold fortress, cut off from everything familiar. Every minute, I found myself spir

I stiffened, my heart pounding in my chest, my body rigid with tension. My first instinct w

expecting to see Cassian standing there, his unreadable gaze piercing through me.

in the throne room," the guard sai

ly. "I'll be t

s I stood in the doorway, my mind racing. What did he want now? It had been days since I had seen him. A strange, uncomfortable fee

hoice. There was no e

essed in royal attire, despite my captivity, was surreal. Each step I took toward the throne room felt heavier, as though the

n the throne, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp and calculating. He didn't look up at firs

his voice a low command.

"You summoned me," I said, for

felt like he was searching for something within me. The intensity of his gaze

f the room, he finally spok

replying. "I haven't been avoiding you," I said, my

learly not buying my ex

s stare. "I've had a lot to thin

htly, his eyes narrowing. "

ring its prey. He could see through me, and I wasn

slipping out before I could sto

ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I see," h

sent a rush of heat to my cheeks. I hated how it made me feel-how he made

ce barely above a whisper. "Why couldn't you

s face. "Because your pack is in danger," he said, his voice low. "Because you don't understand the forces at

"I didn't choose this," I snapped. "I didn't ask for any o

nk I don't know that?" His voice was low and rough. "I didn't ask for this either. But sometimes, we have no choic

I don't care about your kingdom," I said, my voice bitin

ct you," he said, his tone more measured now. "You're here because I'm trying to protect

ting him, blaming him for everything that had happened, but in that mom

't make it

id, my voice steady. "And

on't expect you to trust me," he said, his voice soft yet firm. "B

ut something else lingered beneath the surface-something that

ow what to

ian'

at she didn't want to be here, didn't want any part of this life I was offering her. But I couldn't help

r to fight me-hell, I welcomed it. I wasn't going to make this easy for her, and I sure as hell wasn't going to let her walk aw

d to my will immediately, and I couldn't for

er see. I would ma

er what

anticipated them, but they didn't make them any easier to hear. I