chapter 4

The tension in the meeting hall hung thick like a storm cloud, threatening to burst at any moment. Leo’s expression was unreadable, his cold eyes darting between the Lycan King and me. Leo straightened his posture, his voice sharp and deliberate as he spoke.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry you had to witness this. She's mute and cannot—"

The Lycan King raised his hand, cutting Leo off mid-sentence. From where I stood, I could see the sweat glistening on Leo’s forehead. The elders had gone pale, their faces as white as though they had encountered a demon of high caliber. Who would have thought it possible for these men to be silenced so easily?

Shakily, I placed my hand on the King’s outstretched palm. His musclestensed beneath his flawless skin as he closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. His lips curled into a seductive smile. Then like a whisper from the void, his deep, velvet voice echo in my head.

"Gorgeous!" A rush of heat shot through me, leaving me breathless, I clamped my legs together as I felt a sudden dampness in my core.

My breath caught as my thoughts spiraled into a panic. What if he rejects me? I didn’t know if I could survive another rejection.

He raised his massive palm in the air, and I instinctively covered my face, shielding myself from what I thought was an incoming strike. Tears streamed freely down my cheeks blurring my vision as I braced myself.

Instead, his hand landed gently on my veil, wiping away the tears lingering on my exposed skin. His touch was unlike anything I had ever experienced, leaving behind a tingling warmth that lingered even after he pulled his hand away.

When his hand retreated he took mine in his own, holding it firmly yet tenderly.

"Gosh, Princess," he murmured, his voice in my head a seductive growl. ‘’I can smell your arousal. Does my presence affect you that much?"

His icy blue eyes which were locked on mine since he entered the hall, flared a golden-red.

My heart pounded in my chest.

He felt it too. That electrifying, burning spark that coursed through me. But if he felt it, why wasn’t he showing it? Was he toying with me? Worse, was he planning to reject me after this meeting?

Before i could dwell further, He pulled me closer, his intoxicating scent wiping out my worries instantly. My chest collided with his firm body, sending shock waves through my already heightened senses.

"Alpha Drake," a voice called out, breaking the spell. Turning, I saw a man in dark sunglasses and a black suit. His clean shaved head gleamed under the halls light, and his presence radiate authority, he was no member of my brother’s court, that much was clear. this man’s aura resonated with the Lycan King’s, powerful and foreboding.

"Why don’t you take your seat?" Benson spatted. His voice was cold and commanding. His dark aura cutting through the tension, from the dark corners of the room his eyes boring into us, filled with barely restrained fury.his teeth were clenched and his body trembled as if struggling to maintain control.

The Lycan King’s gaze shifted to Benson, then back to me. A slow, knowing smirk spread across his lips.

"Very interesting," he drawled, savoring each word.

The hall fell into a stunned silence. No one had ever dared to speak to the Lycan King without addressing him by his title, yet Benson had done so—and the King only smirked in response.

Was the rumor of his psychotic strictness merely a façade? Or was his amusement masking something far more dangerous?

And what was Benson’s deal? He had rejected me, but now that he saw the Lycan King close to me, he was pouting like a spoiled child, he reek of absolute jealousy.

My thoughts were all over the place as Drake led me toward the massive chair I had noticed earlier. Leo’s men trailed behind him like flies, their expressions unreadable. The elders’ glaring eyes followed my every step, their silent judgment heavy in the air.

Fear of Leo’s wrath after my encounter with Drake made me hesitate, but the Lycan King’s grip on my hand only tightened the more I tried to resist.

The Lycan King sat on the grand throne, but instead of releasing my hand, he beckoned me toward the slightly smaller seat beside his. I dared not defy him and obediently took my place.

"Your Majesty," Leo interjected through gritted teeth, "I fear that seat is meant for your Beta," Leo said, his teeth clenched in barely concealed frustration.

Drake's eyes glimmer with dangerous light as he turned to Leo.

"Well, the seat is mine to give to whomever I choose. Isn’t that correct?" the Lycan King responded, his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge as he glared at Leo.

The moment he had entered the hall, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. It was as if everyone had been forced to their feet by his presence. The silence was deafening, the air thick and suffocating. I wished desperately to run away, and I could sense that others felt the same.

Leo forced a wide smile, hiding his discontent behind a mask of feigned composure.

"Of course, Your Majesty. You own everything and anything. Shall we begin?"

Drake leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening into something almost predatory. My pulse quicken as his gaze slide to me once more, burning with an intensity i couldn’t place.

"Begin." Drake's command echoed, his voice low and menacing.

What was he planning?