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Aira.

Author: symplyanjay
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-19 17:46:39

I froze, desperately hoping that the voice I heard was in my head. Please, heavens, let it be in my head. I couldn't bear to face the reality. But my heart had begun racing and an uncanny sensation had settled beneath my skin. This was real. That's when I caught it, the gentle ruffling of movement. Someone was indeed behind me. My body began to tremble, cold sweat breaking out of my skin. Slowly, I turned behind and all the blood drained out of my face, my knees growing weak.

Of all people to catch me trying to escape the castle, why did it have to be the Lord of the castle himself!? He was standing several meters away from me, his arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face. My heart shriveled up in my chest, a lump growing iy throat.

I glanced about, trying to look for an exit or escape but found nothing. Even if I tried running, this man before me would catch me before I took a step. He moved even closer, his steps filled with lethal grace, his sharp gaze never leaving min
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  • The Lycan's Bargain   Kael

    I strolled through the hidden hallways, my footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. My hands were clasped behind my back, a habitual gesture that betrayed my introspective mood. As I walked, my thoughts drifted to her - the human who had been trying to escape my castle for what felt like an eternity.'She keeps trying to leave,' I thought to myself, a wry smirk twisting my lips. Every moment she spends here, she keeps trying to escape from this place. The thought made something odd flutter in my chest, a corner of my lips quirking up but not quite forming a smile. It was nice to see she wasn't giving up yet. The fire in her eyes hadn't died yet. It was exactly what I needed.I returned to my room, the heavy wooden door creaking shut behind me. The space was still shrouded in darkness, the only sound being my gentle breathing and the soft whirr of the wind rushing into the barren space. But I didn't need light to see; my eyes could pierce the darkness as if the sun were shining brig

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    I was starting to grow restless staying trapped in this castle and it was telling on me. I could no longer plot my escape without the fear of the Lycan king catching me again and severely punishing me for it holding me captive. Apart from that, it seemed like everyone, including the guards were now keeping their eyes on me, making it nearly impossible for me to make another attempt at escaping. My nightmares were now more intense, most of it being with the same beast and it made no sense to me. I was still worried about my mother and I wanted to see her. If only I knew that the worst was yet to come. I was in the maids quarters, washing sheets with Helen when two burly knights matched up to us, their expressions set into a grim line. Rinsing off the soap in my hands, I stood to my feet, wondering what they would be doing here. "You have been summoned by the Lycan king. Do not keep him waiting." One of them growled, his gaze fixed on me. My heart skipped multiple beats, then began to

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    Aira. After my mother was ripped away from me for the second time, I sobbed my heart out till I fell sick. A fever so severe assaulted me, I was unable to get out of bed for a few days and I genuinely thought the worst. Fortunately, Helen looked at me with pity and offered to care for me till I recovered. Even then, going out felt like too much work so I spent most my time indoors. I couldn't bear the curious yet disdainful looks of the workers in the palace as I walked around, since most of them had heard about the incident and my reaction to it. Luckily for me, even the king had stopped stepping out also, retreating into his chambers for a 'self imposed' exile as Helen put it. That filled me with some sort of relief as I had no idea what I would do if I saw him again. The hatred I had felt for him had grown in leaps and bounds since that incident and I wondered what was going through his mind, making me meet my mother only for him to rip her away from me. He must have wanted me t

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    A powerful roar tore through the castle, shattering the eerie silence that had settled over the halls. The sound was primal, a raw expression of fury and power that sent shivers down my spine. It was followed by the frightened screams of a lady, her shrill voice piercing the air and striking everyone dumb. I froze, my head whipping to the corridor leading to the king's chambers. My heart pounded in my chest, racing with a mix of fear and confusion. Is that the king? Another roar came again, this time more powerful and ferocious than the last one. The sound seemed to shake the very foundations of the castle, causing the walls to tremble and the floor to vibrate beneath my feet. Every person in the hallway stopped, fear and panic radiating in their eyes as they stared at the hallway, paralyzed with terror.Alfred was the first to rush forward, a number of guards at his heels. "Where is Lady Nymeria!?" he asked, his voice firm and commanding. Everyone exchanged furtive glances, indicat

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    It didn't seem like I heard him properly so I asked, "What did you just say?"Lord Mortis snarled, his eyes narrowing further and I bit back a whimper, shrinking to myself. "I do not like to repeat myself." He gritted out through clenched teeth. "Alfred, prepare the dishes and make her take it to the king.""What!?" I was panicking now, my eyes darting around wildly. "But, he's going to kill me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "You're a slave, are you not?" Lord mortis snapped and I recoiled, tears filling my eyes. "Yes... " I whispered, my voice breaking. "Yes, I am.""So, your life has no meaning here unless you're serving your master. You are taking the food to the king. We're done here." He stated with a note of finality. Alfred glanced at me, beckoning for me to follow him. Giving up at the protest they was stuck in my throat, I let out a pained sob and followed after him. He led me to the palace kitchen and I watched as he instructed the workers to prepare a tray filled w

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  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    Aira I'm in another dream again. This time I'm in a forest, moonlight scattered on the ground through the thick canopy from the trees. I hold my breath, looking around me and freeze when I see the beast lying in front of me, his back covered in arrows and it's magnificent fur marred with blood. A soft gasp escapes my lips at the gory sight, something squeezing my chest tightly. With a bated breath, I inch towards the beast, gently crouching by it's side when I'm close enough. It's breathing is shallow, and it seems unconscious. I reach out to inspect the gaping wound by its side and it's ears flicker, a low groan of pain rumbling in it's throat. But it doesn't open it's eyes. Something warm trickles down my cheeks and when I inspect it, I discover I'm crying. Why do I lose control of my emotions when I'm near this mighty beast? I have no answers to that question but I soon find myself running my fingers through it's fur, in an attempt to soothe it from the pain it's feeling. The u

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    He asked suddenly, his words taking me by surprise. "Don't you hate me?"I stiffened, ice flooding my veins. Fiddling with my fingers, I looked away from him, my heart pounding. Realizing he was expecting an answer, I forced myself to speak. "Well, although my feelings hasn't changed, you're still my master, and I have no choice but to serve you." I muttered but it felt like a lie. He didn't speak for a moment and I was already raring to leave. But I couldn't do that without an order. Finally he let out a groan, his next words leaving me dumbfounded. "Do you want still want to leave?"I stopped, my heart skipping multiple before racing. Stunned, I turned to look at me. Of course, he was staring at me, and those gaze held seriousness. He really meant what he said. "If you don't give me an answer soon, I might be forced to hurt you." He threatened and I snapped out of my daze. "Ye-yes." I stuttered out without thinking. Realizing what I had said, my cheeks grew hot and I swallowed t

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    "What do you know about the Lycan king? Why is he the way that he is?" I cornered Helen in the hallway after I had been released from the kings chambers, barely acknowledging the wounds I had sustained. My arms throbbed with pain, the wounds from Kael's claws still oozing blood. I clenched my teeth, trying to ignore the discomfort.She wore a puzzled expression as she took in my appearance. Her gaze raked over me, her eyes widening as they stopped at my bloodied arms. "What do you mean?.. What the!? You're injured! What happened in his chambers?!" She cried out, alarmed. I growled back, moving even closer, my eyes blazing with intensity. "My wounds don't matter right now," I hissed, my voice low and urgent. Ensuring we were alone, I whispered tightly, my words barely audible. "I asked a question earlier. What do you know about the king? Why is he the way that he is? What is it?"Helen's expression faltered, and she took a step back, her eyes darting around the hallway as if searching

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19

Latest chapter

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    After what seems like forever, I'm back in this dream space once again. I've never been so happy to be here. Looking around, I find the beast lying on the ground, his body still injured and bleeding, and my heart aches at the sight."Hey..." I call out hesitantly, and it turns to look at me, a low growl escaping its lips. My heart squeezes tightly in my chest, like someone is reaching in and strangling it. I did this to him.When it makes no attempt to move, I inch towards it, lowering myself next to its side, my eyes fixed on the wound."I'm sorry... I'm sorry for hurting you. Please, forgive me. I didn't mean to," I whisper, my voice breaking as tears stream down my cheeks. It lets out a low moan of pain, but a paw reaches out, touching my hands. I stiffen, and it purrs slowly. I sniff, blinking eyes."You forgive me?" Again, another groan. But it doesn't sound angry."Thank you so much," I mutter, squeezing its paw. Its ears flicker, a sparkle of happiness in its eye. I glance at t

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira

    I returned to the cave, still reeling from Helen's revelation. My heart was heavy, my mind foggy despite my numerous attempts to clear it. Reaching the edge of the cave, I took a deep breath, shuddering slightly as Helen's words replayed themselves yet again. As much as I wanted Kael to heal, I wasn't sure I was ready to lay down my life for that purpose. Besides, wouldn't that devastate him further? We'd had such little time together, with threats popping up left and right. No wonder he kept refusing every time I brought it up."He most likely doesn't want to lose you that way," Helen had said, picking up a twig on the ground while she played with it. "If you still want to go ahead with it, however, you're going to do more than just convince him. You need to prepare yourself for the pain that would come."Taking a deep breath, I entered the cave, staring at the pathway that led to the corner where Kael stayed most of the time, recovering. I felt tears sting my eyes, and I hastily bli

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    "Is your beast truly dormant?" I asked Kael after a while, my voice soft and almost inaudible. We were alone in the cot, lying next to each other at his request, our bodies barely touching. He glanced at me, his expression turning blank, and I felt my heart pound with concern. The old lady's words had been echoing in my mind relentlessly since she left, weighing heavily on my chest."I haven't felt its presence since I woke up, so it must be," Kael groaned out after a while. "Even if it was active, my body feels too weak to contain its presence. The most it can do right now is force an aggressive shift that might kill us both."I felt my heart drop, a rush of hopelessness filling me. Taking a deep breath, I balled my hands into fists, trying to maintain a neutral expression as I sought out my next words."I'm not trying to place pressure on you or anything, because you more than anyone know what's happening right now and the gravity of the situation we're in. I just wanted to know if

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    "Are you really the witch that cursed Kael?" I asked, turning to the old lady once we were alone in the cave the next day, far away from earshot. She turned slightly to look at me, her brow furrowed in confusion, no words spilling from her mouth. The revelation had been messing with me all night, making it impossible to sleep. Did she really do that? And if she did, what for?"Why would you do that? Do you know how much trouble you've caused for us now!?" I rushed out, barely giving her a chance to answer as my chest heaved with anger."I didn't curse him," she said after a while, looking away from me. "What happened to him was the result of the spell I did for him. That he requested.""He requested it?" I asked, folding my arms. "You expect me to believe that?"She finished arranging the herbs she was keeping away and turned to me, her steely gaze fixed on me."This isn't the first time Kael has been betrayed by those he trusted and should have protected him. He's suffered that fate

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    "Weak, but fine." He answered truthfully, dropping the topic as well."You need to take your medicines, have something to eat, and have your wounds redressed. Then, I shall leave you alone to recover." She informed him, walking to his side.He nodded, and I stood to my feet, assisting her as she worked. I administered the potions, and when a meal had been prepared, fed it to the king until he could eat more on his own.Finally, after all had been said and done, one by one, they all left until it was just me and the king.He was lying back on the cot, but his gaze was fixed on me as I fretted around, unsure of what to do now."Come here..." He uttered in a low growl, beckoning me with his hand as he patted the tiny space next to him.I immediately obliged, joining him in the tiny bed. Turning to face him, I blushed as his gaze raked over me, his warm breath tickling my cheeks."How have you been?" He growled, his face barely inches away from mine.I swallowed, doing my best to be hones

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    "Kael... Is that really you? Are you truly awake?" I asked, unable to believe the words spilling out of my lips, desperately hoping this wasn't a hallucination my mind conjured to appease me.The figure before me let out a smile, a faint crinkle appearing around his eyes. "It's me, Aira," he muttered lowly, his voice sending shivers down my spine.I took a step closer, feeling my heart pound, threatening to burst out of its ribcage. "You're really awake!" I cried out, rushing towards him to grab his face, my hands trembling and tears filling my eyes. "Oh, you're truly awake! You're here!""Yes, I am," he growled, a serene expression on his face. Oh, that voice. I didn't realize how much I'd missed it until I had stopped hearing it.I threw my hands around his neck, pulling him into a hug as tears spilled out of my eyes, sobs of relief and happiness racking my body. My heart wouldn't stop racing, my palms sweating, my ears ringing. This is what I'd prayed for, cried for, begged for, an

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Aira.

    It's been weeks since we've been hiding in this cave of a home, cut off from the rest of the world. During that period, Helen and I had grown undeniably closer, getting to know more about each other and having a budding friendship develop between us. Along with the lone soldier who had followed us while we were escaping, constantly guarding and gathering information on what's going on in the kingdom. Their presence helped to distract and reassure me as I cared for the king."Lord Mortis has assumed leadership of the kingdom," the soldier, whose name I had come to learn was Eiran, informed us after days of scouting the area. I turned to look at him, my heart skipping a beat."He has also gone to wage war on the humans for being the species that took the life of their king. Most of them have been captured and taken back as slaves." He informed us, and my heart dropped to my stomach, a tense atmosphere settling in the area."That means he's already announced that the king is dead," Helen

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Kael

    "How did you know about her?" I found myself asking, genuinely surprised. My mother let out a warm smile, the sunset reflecting in her eyes as she gazed at me. "Just because we're not there with you physically, that doesn't mean we're not watching you, love. We know who Aira is – your mate," she said, and I looked away, clenching my jaw."Don't you have at least some regret about leaving her behind like this?" she prodded again, her voice soft. A mix of emotions swarmed me and I had trouble pinpointing them. "To be honest..." I began quietly after a while of staring into the distance, gathering my thoughts. "I'm not quite sure. A part of me feels sad about it, but yet again, another part of me feels relieved."Taking a deep breath, I continued. "She won't have to worry about me anymore; she's free to live her life as she pleases. Besides, mate or not, things have already been ruined from the start." I confessed, clenching my jaw. "Why would you say that?" Arzhael asked, staring at

  • The Lycan's Bargain   Kael

    I found myself standing in a bright, endless expanse, surrounded by an eerie silence. The vast, empty space stretched out before me like an endless canvas, with no horizon in sight. I furrowed my brows, trying to recall how I had arrived here. Had I finally died? Was this the afterlife? The thought brought a bitter smile to my lips, a mix of emotions swirling in my chest.Taking a tentative step forward, I began to wander through the desolate landscape, unsure if I was making any progress. The emptiness seemed to stretch on forever, with no landmarks or features to guide me. As I walked, I started to call out for someone, anyone, my voice echoing off the invisible walls. A part of me secretly hoped I would find someone, anyone, to break the crushing solitude.Then, I heard it – laughter, accompanied by the clash of swords and boisterous yells. My heart began to pound in my chest, my eyes going wide with excitement. Could it be?!"I'm the stronger one!" A voice carried on the wind, se

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