"The Lycan King?" someone whispered in awe.
"Impossible!" another voice cried out. The pack members present at the meeting couldn't believe me, and I understood their reaction—it was a bold claim, after all. What I needed now was time, a way to stall and gather my thoughts. Ronan's Alpha and my father hesitated to complicate things with the lycans, regardless of whether they believed me. The truth was secondary to the risk involved. "Come on, Alpha Heron," Ronan said. He turned to face my father, his broad shoulders tense. "Keira and I have waited for three years. You know how much your daughter loves me, how devoted she's been. She's just talking nonsense. Sooner or later, she'll come to her senses and admit she was wrong…" Ronan shifted his gaze to me. "Keira, I've already told you—I'm focusing on you from now on," he insisted, unwilling to back down. Alpha Heron frowned, understanding the implications of Ronan's words. Keira had cried to him countless times, saying she would die if she didn't marry Ronan. This lowly dog continued to coax Keira after flirting with other she-wolves. What a despicable beast! And how naïve this descendant must be! My anger burned so fiercely that my vision started to blur. Surprisingly, I've quickly adapted to modern speech. It may be because Keira has been feeding me details of what's in the present world. As a final remark, Father spoke, "We all know we can't risk offending the Lycans, especially the Lycan King. If Keira rejects him, she'll face severe consequences. Even those of us here can't afford to cross him. The lycans' territory is nearby; it's not hard to imagine that the king and Keira might have crossed paths." Finally, Ronan's Alpha, Zander, spoke. "Next Saturday, the Lycan King has invited us to their territory in Montana. I think we'll know by then. If this is just a matter of your daughter's stubbornness, she'll face the consequences." His eyes narrowed at me. That's exactly what I want, I thought, keeping my face blank. A week would give me time to plan and figure out how to handle this dangerous situation I'd found myself in. During Keira's years with Ronan, she never found her true mate. But now, I'm unsure if she will ever find him. I've experienced death once due to betrayal of my own kind, and I won't allow myself to face that again! That's why I refuse to die a second time. No—a third time! Death haunts me like a persistent shadow, its cold grip always close. The fear of it guides my every move. I can't—and won't—let it retake me. "Leave my daughter and me alone," Alpha Heron commanded. Every pack member left the room, and I stood still, not even glancing at Ronan. Once the door closed, my father spoke. "Keira, if this is just one of your childish whims—" "It's not, Father." I dared to interrupt him. He straightened his back, his eyes fixed on me. "I don't like Ronan for you either, but he was right about one thing. Maybe I broke a truce with the Nightclaw Pack by arranging this union, but it was you who wanted to marry Ronan. You begged me for it!" I searched for the right words. "Perhaps, Father. But I'm an alpha's daughter! Enough with my childishness and stubbornness! I will not marry Ronan!" He heard the resolve in my voice and fell silent. I wasn't sure if he believed me, but he finally nodded. "If the Lycan King accuses you of lying, what will you do?" he asked with seriousness. "You'll face consequences either from the Lycans or the Nightclaw Pack. We can't afford to offend the Lycans with their strength." I frowned. Does Alpha Heron know that Lycans were once my slaves after I killed their prince? But this isn't Nameria speaking to the Alpha—it's Keira. "Then I must prove to everyone that I'm not lying!" Whoever this Lycan King is, I know he will eventually cooperate with me. I have no choice but to stick to my story. I must find a way to speak with him before the party that Alpha Zander mentioned. *** This world was so different from the one I knew. Freya and I and all the shifters in my packs were enrolled in a special class at a university nestled deep within the Darkwood Pack's territory. In my time, I had my workers, and if they failed to meet my expectations, their blood would flow from their necks, thanks to the edge of my silver sword. That's right—I was a ruthless queen back then, shaped by the betrayal of my own mate. In this new era, our primary goal was to avoid scaring humans. We had to fit into their society without drawing attention—close enough to watch but far enough to keep our true nature hidden. The Delta, a burly man, was in charge of our physical training. He was demonstrating various combat that was making me drowsy. I knew it! I was certain this school, or whatever it was, wasn't for me. That was until he mentioned a particular event from the past. "How do you think our Queen Nameria managed to strike her silver sword against the lycan prince during her legendary attack?" he asked. "We all know lycans are inherently stronger than us werewolves... Prince Valen could have easily torn her apart with just his bare hands without even needing to reach for a weapon!" My jaw clenched that instant. One eager student raised his hand and said, "Delta, there's no other plausible explanation. She must have used nightshade or wolfsbane to weaken Prince Valen before striking him with her sword." The Delta shook his head. "It's an interesting theory, but it's not correct. Why? Because according to the elders who witnessed the event, Queen Nameria stormed directly into Prince Valen's chamber. There wasn't any time for her to administer poison—aside from the venom coating her blade." My heart raced. The Delta was right! "You want to know the real answer?" the Delta continued, "It's because Queen Nameria was consumed by her desire to kill the lycan prince after they slaughtered her Alpha! Her determination drove her to train day and night without rest, all with the singular goal of ending the lycan prince's life to avenge her father!" "That is the true power of dedicated physical training! If you push yourselves to your limits, train continuously and without pause, you can defeat even the mightiest lycan!" I couldn't help but voice my thoughts while sitting among his trainees. "It wasn't because of her strength!" I declared, causing heads to turn in my direction. "It was because Valen loved Queen Nameria. The thought of killing his beloved with his own hands would have devastated him and paralyzed him with emotional trauma! Queen Nameria's goal during that attack was clear—she wanted to end Valen's life. But from Valen's perspective, it was entirely different. He hoped Nameria would end the war between the lycans and the Darkwood pack." I carried that understanding in my heart throughout my years as a ruthless queen. I wrestled with the same questions until I found the answers, but it didn't help me either. The trainees around me burst into laughter, their mocking tones grating on my ears. "Oh, listen to Keira, who has finally found her Lycan mate!" They laughed while I furrowed my brow. Why? Was my comment funny? One after another, comments showed their displeasure towards me. "Keira, it sounds like you're still daydreaming about your imaginary encounter with the Lycan King last night!" a she-wolf with fiery red hair remarked. "That's right! No pack member has ever laid eyes on the Lycan King. He's not someone to joke about," a blonde male trainee followed. "And seriously? A lycan mated with one of us werewolves? Just admit you're throwing a tantrum and made up this whole story to get attention!" I stood up, my gaze locked onto the Delta, and I raised my hand, finger pointing accusingly at the three who had dared to mock me and my beloved. "I challenge these three who dare to ridicule me!""You've got a lot to say, Keira!" the redhead spat, rising to her feet. "What now? Think you're invincible just because the elders claim Queen Nameria's spirit lingers in you?" "That's right! And look at you—still a trainee at twenty-one! You can’t even make it as a pack warrior!" “You are lucky because Alpha Heron doted on you too much!” another voice sneered. I narrowed my eyes, my claws itching to pull out my silver knife and silence them for good. One swift strike, and their irritating voices would be nothing but a memory. “Keira, no!” I heard Freya’s voice urgently through the mind link. She was still sitting on the grass, her attempt to maintain control evident in her strained expression. She’s right! I knew better! In this era of relative peace between packs, killing pack members would only lead to accusations of murder, and even Alpha Heron wouldn't be able to protect me from facing the families of these three fools. I had to restrain myself, no matter how satisfying let
"Speak!" His grip on my neck tightened even more. Droplets of water ran from his hair down his muscular chest. The smell of pine and musk was strong as his intense golden eyes locked onto mine, searching. No, this isn't Valen! Valen died at Nameria's hands. But the resemblance... he must be a descendant. I acted like the terrified, helpless Keira I was supposed to be. Tears filled my eyes, making everything blurry as I gasped for breath. “It… it hurts…” A harsh cough came from my throat, and mercifully, his grip loosened a little. His gaze raked downward, lingering on my exposed chest. A cruel smirk twisted his lips as he abruptly released me, leaving angry red marks where his fingers had been. "How did you manage to get in here?" he demanded. My mind raced. I needed a convincing lie. “I… I’m the Lycan King’s mate! He allowed me entry to this place.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Oh, is that so?” "Yes! You can bring me to your King and ask him yourself if you don't believe m
In her previous life, Keira had caused a scene, demanding to know why Ronan was doing this to her. Her eyes blazed with fury as they locked onto the she-wolf Ronan was so eager to toy with, while her heart shattered as she looked back at Ronan. Keira punished Olivia after this incident, pushing Ronan further away in his frustration. But Olivia was no fool. She knew exactly what she was doing, expertly playing her cards to provoke Keira, stirring her jealousy just enough to earn sympathy and favor from the future alpha. But now, with me in control of Keira’s body, I approach the scene with calm amusement, raising an eyebrow and watching them all. Ronan, who looked at me expectantly, seemed relaxed, almost smug, as if he believed I was here to apologize for the trouble Keira had caused. He thought I’d come to grovel at his feet, to restore his reputation as the next alpha after embarrassing him in front of the elders. Not just him, but everyone in the room seemed to share that ass
Early in the morning, my father asked for my presence in his office. I instinctively knew it was about the upcoming gathering in Lycan territory. Alpha Heron’s stern gaze met mine as I entered. He leaned back in his leather chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “Keira,” he began, “you’re well aware of our pack’s complicated history with the Lycans. While I’m relieved you’ve moved past your... infatuation with Ronan, I still can’t fathom what our pack can gain by accepting the Lycan King as your mate.” His eyes narrowed as he scanned my face for any signs of emotion. “You know how deep the distrust runs—especially with the elders fearing what the Lycan king might be planning. What if he’s using you as a pawn?” I forced a smile, trying hard to hide the whirlwind of emotions inside me. The truth was, I wasn’t sure if my father believed my rushed excuse for turning down Ronan. I had simply said the first thing that popped into my head when Valen’s name suddenly came to mind. I d
My vision blurred as a familiar, harsh smell filled the air. It was the unmistakable scent of rogues—werewolves who had strayed from their pack and sanity. I felt the weight of three pairs of eyes on me: two men and one woman, all staring with a predatory intensity. The rogues’ appearances were haggard and wild. Their eyes were bloodshot, with dark, puffy circles beneath them, hinting at nights of restless wandering. The stench emanating from them was nauseating. “We heard you’re the Lycan King’s mate!” one of the men growled, his lips curling into a twisted grin that revealed yellowed fangs. How could they know about my connection to the Lycan King? Had they been following me? The idea made my skin crawl, and I suddenly felt vulnerable under the pale moonlight. “Attack her and bring her head to the Lycan King!” the other man shouted, his eyes shining with madness and cruel excitement. He was tense, muscles coiled and ready to spring at any moment. The woman stepped forward.
My heart raced, each beat echoing through me as if it might explode. The feeling was overwhelming, but I wanted to deny it, to make it stop. I can’t bear to experience the ache once again. “What if I negotiate with your body?” The Lycan’s deep, husky voice sent shivers down my spine. His finger, mere inches from my cheek, froze in mid-air. I watched as a cold, knowing smirk spread across his face, his eyes shining with a dangerous look. The question that had bothered me since I first saw him came to mind: Is he my mate? The absence of Amara or Lucy made me doubt, yet I resisted feeling the bond! I hate Valen for using me! I hate the Lycans! But a desperate need for survival pulsed strongly. So, my hatred extended even to myself! I pushed his hand away. “Sorry, but I don’t feel the bond.” The anger on my face may be evident as he furrows his brows in response. “Right!” he snapped, “and I don’t need a mate!” His words were nearly a growl, his expression twisting in offens
All the Lycans in the grand hall were looking intently at the tall, imposing man as he was the last one questioned by the man in his forties, whom I thought was the Lycan King. Seeing this mysterious Lycan, Bryn's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her cheeks flushed, perhaps because he was so captivating that Bryn had momentarily forgotten her mistakes. "Kick her out, Vera!" Theron, the Lycan King, commanded the stern-faced woman who stood beside him, her long, straight black hair reaching down to her waist. "Understood, Alpha Theron," the woman replied, I should've known that the mysterious Lycan was none other than the Lycan King himself. The way he carried himself with such poise and authority, the way he had swiftly seized and killed the female rogue in the forest without uttering a word, and the way he gave commands so effortlessly—it all pointed to his true identity. "Y-you're the Lycan King?" Bryn stammered, her voice shaking with both awe and fear. Theron's lips curved
Using Keira’s memory, there was no news that the Lycan king had ever changed—whether by death or passing the title to someone else. As I went through Keira’s memories, I noticed gaps in her knowledge. She had never met Alpha Theron until now, or maybe the details of Lycan politics were often hidden from outsiders. “Why are you suddenly interested in me?” Alpha Theron asked, his piercing golden eyes studying me intently. “I’m just curious. You don’t have to answer,” I said, trying to sound casual. He raised his eyebrows while I felt multiple eyes on us; their stares prickled my skin. Vera watched me from across the room, her trembling gaze filled with fear and warning that screamed danger. Ronan, held back by his alpha and beta, looked at me in disbelief, tense as if ready to jump in at any moment. “Give me your contact number,” said Theron, grabbing my attention. The request took me by surprise. I looked at him again, trying to find any clue about his true intentions. “I don’t h
“This is where those three omegas stay, Keira. What exactly are you planning to do?” Seren asked, her voice laced with curiosity. We each carried a bucket filled with pigeon droppings I had instructed her to collect. Seren had a unique gift: she could summon animals—a power I had sensed when I touched her pulse earlier. Hundreds of pigeons flew around the mansion’s western wing, where Theron lived, filling our two buckets with their droppings. Now, doubt showed in Seren’s amber eyes as she looked at me, nervously fiddling with the handle of her bucket. Instead of answering, I strode into the room and poured the contents of my bucket into all four corners. “K-Keira!” Seren gasped, her voice tight with disbelief. “Go! Pour what’s in your bucket onto the beds,” I ordered, my tone leaving no room for argument. She hesitated, shifting her weight from foot to foot, and irritation flared in me like a fire. “I’m doing this because Alpha Theron told you to look after me. This is your du
Alpha Theron’s molten orbs darkened before he kissed me fiercely. Caught in his intense gaze, I gave in, my resistance fading away like sand washed by the tide. His touch awakened something wild inside me—dangerous but irresistible, like tasting something forbidden. Every caress sent electric sparks through my body, making it impossible to think over the pounding of my heart. His tongue swirled inside my mouth. This is dangerous, but I love every taste of him; I love the movement of his mouth inside mine; I love his toxicity. His hand gripped my right breast, pinching its muscle, including the nipple. I winced, but pleasure followed. I couldn’t control the orgasm building inside me, especially now that I felt Alpha Theron’s hard cock pressing against my femininity. His broad tongue trailed over the sensitive part of my ear. ‘Damn it, Keira! Control your emotions!’ But how could I when I already felt his hands slowly gliding up from my legs, slipping through the hem of my dress be
“Are you out of your mind?” I demanded, my voice rising unexpectedly. Alpha Theron’s eyes narrowed, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst. A muscle ticked in his jaw. I had asked my father for ten minutes alone with the insane Lycan king. “You’re getting bold, Keira…” Alpha Theron murmured, stepping toward me with a predatory grace. Instinctively, I backed up until the cold stone wall pressed against my back. His intoxicating scent surrounded me, overwhelming my senses. His fingers gripped my chin, firm but not harsh, his rough skin brushing against mine. His golden orbs burned into mine like he intended to devour me whole. “Do I need to remind you that you were the one who insisted we tell everyone I’m your mate? We wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t done that. You’ve caught Ravenna’s attention, and now Kane wants your head.” The irritation in his voice was unmistakable. I swallowed hard, knowing he wasn’t wrong. “That’s exactly why we should end this! We don’t need
Alpha Theron’s presence in the pack house came as a surprise. I had no idea why he came here, but the reason for his arrival became clear that morning when my father called me to his office. The moment I entered with Freya, Alpha Theron’s penetrating golden gaze found me from where he sat alone on our ancient leather couch. Despite the presence of his beta and several guards, Theron’s raw energy dominated the room. The magnetic energy between us was undeniable, like a charge in the air, raising the tiny hairs on my arms. My father stood with the Darkwood pack elders. The scene felt eerily familiar, like the day I first woke up as Keira. The only difference now was the presence of Lycans instead of the Nightclaw pack. “Alpha Theron,” I greeted him, trying to keep my voice steady as my inner wolf stirred restlessly under my skin. He acknowledged me with a slight nod, though it felt like his eyes were stripping me bare. “Freya, wait outside,” Father ordered, his deep voice car
My fingers brushed against the cold surface of my father’s forehead, and in a heartbeat, memories of his death surged through my mind like a torrent of ice water. The brutal attack of the Lycan, his desperate, raw shout cutting through the pack house to warn the others… The metallic scent of blood… Then, I heard the Lycan’s beta sneer, “Do you know where your daughter is? There she is—madly in love with our prince! She’s clueless that Prince Valen is only using her for deception!” The scene shifted like dark smoke, forming dreadful images, each more horrifying than the last. I saw it with brutal clarity—the Lycan beta’s silver blade slitting my father’s throat in one swift, merciless motion, and then... the vision ended, leaving me trembling. “Ahhh!” I screamed, my heart splitting with agony as hot tears poured down my face. Clinging to my father’s lifeless body, cheeks soaked with grief, the pack watched in silence, unmoving, as my tears fell. Where had I been when our pack
Like Freya and my father, Ronan had the same pathetic intention of coming to the pack house. He knew why the two rogues had stayed in the city—and I was the reason. We sat in the resort’s restaurant, mingling with the oblivious crowd as though we were just like them. I didn’t want to be alone with Ronan, which is why I chose a public place. His gaze was piercing, and it unsettled me. “Keira,” he began, his voice soft but insistent. “I know I was wrong. We’ve come this far... when will you stop being so difficult and forgive me? I’m worried about you.” I raised an eyebrow, thoroughly unimpressed. I doubted he was truly worried about me—more likely, he was concerned about his precious status within his pack house. He needed me to secure Alpha Zander’s favor and complete his conquest of the Darkwood pack. He reached for my hand, his touch hesitant. “Keira... you don’t need to be trapped by the Lycans. Alpha Theron isn’t good for you. I’ve heard stories about him. He’s the reason you’
Using Keira’s memory, there was no news that the Lycan king had ever changed—whether by death or passing the title to someone else. As I went through Keira’s memories, I noticed gaps in her knowledge. She had never met Alpha Theron until now, or maybe the details of Lycan politics were often hidden from outsiders. “Why are you suddenly interested in me?” Alpha Theron asked, his piercing golden eyes studying me intently. “I’m just curious. You don’t have to answer,” I said, trying to sound casual. He raised his eyebrows while I felt multiple eyes on us; their stares prickled my skin. Vera watched me from across the room, her trembling gaze filled with fear and warning that screamed danger. Ronan, held back by his alpha and beta, looked at me in disbelief, tense as if ready to jump in at any moment. “Give me your contact number,” said Theron, grabbing my attention. The request took me by surprise. I looked at him again, trying to find any clue about his true intentions. “I don’t h
All the Lycans in the grand hall were looking intently at the tall, imposing man as he was the last one questioned by the man in his forties, whom I thought was the Lycan King. Seeing this mysterious Lycan, Bryn's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her cheeks flushed, perhaps because he was so captivating that Bryn had momentarily forgotten her mistakes. "Kick her out, Vera!" Theron, the Lycan King, commanded the stern-faced woman who stood beside him, her long, straight black hair reaching down to her waist. "Understood, Alpha Theron," the woman replied, I should've known that the mysterious Lycan was none other than the Lycan King himself. The way he carried himself with such poise and authority, the way he had swiftly seized and killed the female rogue in the forest without uttering a word, and the way he gave commands so effortlessly—it all pointed to his true identity. "Y-you're the Lycan King?" Bryn stammered, her voice shaking with both awe and fear. Theron's lips curved
My heart raced, each beat echoing through me as if it might explode. The feeling was overwhelming, but I wanted to deny it, to make it stop. I can’t bear to experience the ache once again. “What if I negotiate with your body?” The Lycan’s deep, husky voice sent shivers down my spine. His finger, mere inches from my cheek, froze in mid-air. I watched as a cold, knowing smirk spread across his face, his eyes shining with a dangerous look. The question that had bothered me since I first saw him came to mind: Is he my mate? The absence of Amara or Lucy made me doubt, yet I resisted feeling the bond! I hate Valen for using me! I hate the Lycans! But a desperate need for survival pulsed strongly. So, my hatred extended even to myself! I pushed his hand away. “Sorry, but I don’t feel the bond.” The anger on my face may be evident as he furrows his brows in response. “Right!” he snapped, “and I don’t need a mate!” His words were nearly a growl, his expression twisting in offens