Liora's POV

"She is dangerous."

Alpha Kael's voice followed me like a shadow as the guards dragged me from the room.

My feet barely touched the floor as they hauled me through the doorway, their grips iron-tight around my arms.

The heavy doors slammed shut behind us with a thunderous boom that echoed through the corridor, sealing away the warmth of the chamber and replacing it with the cold breath of the fortress halls.

The stone beneath my bare feet felt like ice.

I clenched my teeth, refusing to give them the satisfaction of hearing me cry out as they pulled me along.

Torches flickered along the walls. The scent of smoke hung thick in the air, mixing with the smell of wolves everywhere.

Their presence pressed against my senses like invisible eyes watching from every corner. Even though I could not see them, I knew they were there and every single one of them stared.

Their gazes followed me as the guards dragged me past then a murmur rippled through the corridor.

"Is that her?"

"One of the girls the Alpha took tonight?"

"She smells... strange."

I stiffened at the last whisper.

Strange?

My heart pounded harder.

One of the guards holding me shifted uncomfortably. His grip tightened for a moment before loosening again, as though he had suddenly remembered how hard he was holding me.

"Keep moving," the other guard muttered under his breath.

We turned down another hallway, this one darker and narrower than the last.

The torches burned lower here, their light dimmer. The air felt colder too, creeping through the thin linen clinging to my skin.

I hated how exposed I felt. The thin fabric of the lingerie barely covered anything. Every step I took reminded me of that humiliation.

I forced my spine to straighten despite the guards dragging me along.

The guards suddenly stopped and a heavy iron door stood before us. My stomach twisted when I realised this was the dungeon.

One guard stepped forward and shoved the door open. The hinges screeched loudly, the sound echoing through the dark corridor beyond.

"Inside," he said roughly.

Before I could react, they pushed me forward.

My bare feet slipped slightly on the cold floor as I stumbled into the cell. I caught myself just before falling, my hands pressing against the rough stone wall.

The door slammed behind me as I stood there for a long moment, breathing slowly, forcing myself to remain calm.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Alpha Kael Vorthrane. The most feared Alpha in the northern territories.

Even as a child I had heard stories about him. How ruthless he was in battle, how entire packs had fallen under his command, how enemies disappeared without a trace once they crossed him and now I belonged to him.

The thought made my chest tighten.

I hated it, I hated him, but more than anything, I hated my parents.

Sounds of footsteps approaching the dungeon broke the silence.

The iron door creaked open, moonlight from the corridor spilled into the cell and Alpha Kael stepped inside.

The air changed instantly. His presence filled the small space like a storm cloud rolling over the sky.

He looked different here in the dim light. He looked more dangerous.

The shadows emphasized the sharp lines of his jaw and the dark intensity of his eyes. His black shirt clung to the broad strength of his shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful forearms.

For a moment, neither of us spoke then he closed the door behind him. The click of the lock echoed softly.

My heart skipped as he began walking toward me, each step deliberate and predatory.

I forced myself to stand, even though every instinct screamed at me to run, but there was nowhere to go.

My back touched the cold stone wall and he stopped only a few inches away.

Up close, his scent was overwhelming. His eyes moved over me slowly, from my hair, to my shoulders, to the thin linen clinging to my body and a strange heat rose in my cheeks.

I hated that reaction. I hated that my body noticed him at all.

"What are you?" he asked suddenly, his voice low.

The question caught me off guard.

"What?"

His hand moved suddenly. Before I could react, his fingers gripped my chin, forcing my face upward.

The touch was firm and my heart raced beneath his fingertips.

"What are you?" he repeated quietly.

His eyes searched my face like he was looking for something hidden beneath my skin.

Anger flared inside me.

"I'm the girl you bought," I said bitterly.

His expression darkened.

"No, you are something else" he murmured.

The word sent a strange shiver down my spine and my breath caught.

Something in his voice had changed. His gaze dropped to my neck then to the hill of my breasts.

His nostrils flared slightly as he inhaled and when I realized he was smelling me, my stomach twisted.

"What are you doing?" I demanded but he didn't answer.

Instead, he leaned close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin.

A strange tension filled the air between us, thick and electric. His grip on my chin loosened slightly but he didn't step away.

"You don't even know," he said quietly.

The words confused me.

"Know what?"

His eyes lifted back to mine.

"You affect my wolf," he said.

My stomach dropped.

"What?"

"That shouldn't happen."

His hand slid from my chin to the side of my neck. His thumb brushed lightly against the spot where he had bitten me earlier and the skin there tingled.

My body reacted before my mind could stop it as a faint shiver ran through me.

His eyes darkened instantly. A slow smile touched the corner of his mouth.

His hand suddenly pressed me back against the wall. The stone was cold against my back and his body moved closer.

My breathing grew uneven.

"You're dangerous," he murmured.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

He leaned down slightly, his nose brushing near my throat with another slow inhale.

His eyes closed briefly and then his entire body went still.

His wolf surged to the surface so suddenly I felt it like a physical force pressing against my chest.

His eyes snapped open with gold flashing briefly within the darkness of his gaze.

His hand tightened on my arm.

A chill crept down my spine as his gaze locked onto mine and the next words sent a wave of dread crashing through me.

He leaned closer, his breath resting against my lips.

"Your blood....shouldn't exist" he said slowly.

Kael's POV

"Your blood... shouldn't exist."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

For a moment, silence settled between us.

Liora stared at me as if I had spoken a language she did not understand. Her breathing was uneven, her chest rising and falling beneath the thin linen that barely concealed her body.

Moonlight from the narrow window spilled across her skin, catching the faint sheen of oil the maids had rubbed into her earlier.

The scent of jasmine lingered around her, but beneath that delicate fragrance was something far more dangerous.

Her scent wrapped around my senses like smoke, warm and intoxicating.

My wolf stirred violently beneath my skin.

Discipline and control were the foundations of an Alpha's power. No instinct, no desire, no impulse had ever managed to break through that control until her, until tonight.

My hand was still gripping her arm. The moment I realized that, I released her abruptly.

Liora sucked in a quiet breath as if she had been holding it for far too long.

Good, she should be afraid. She should tremble in my presence like everyone else in this palace.

But she didn't. Instead, she lifted her chin slightly, her eyes narrowing with defiance.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

Her voice was steadier than it should have been and a corner of my mouth twitched.

Even now, cornered in a dungeon cell with the most dangerous wolf in the territory standing inches away from her, she still dared to challenge me.

Interesting.

I took a step back, creating a bit of distance between us. The pull between us was still there, tightening around my senses like a slowly closing trap.

"You heard what I said," I replied coldly.

Her brows pulled together.

"I don't understand."

Of course she didn't.

If she truly knew what she was, she would not be standing here so calmly.

Or perhaps she would.

My gaze dropped briefly to the faint mark on her neck where my teeth had pierced her skin earlier.

The memory returned instantly. The taste of her blood had been addictive, dangerously so.

I clenched my jaw.

No woman had ever affected me like that and the fact that she was the daughter of the very people who betrayed my family made it even more infuriating.

"You don't understand a lot of things," I said finally.

Liora crossed her arms over her chest, clearly unimpressed by my answer.

"Then explain them."

My eyes darkened.

"Careful," I warned quietly.

Her lips pressed together, but she didn't look away.

The girl had courage or stupidity, possibly both.

For a moment, the only sound in the cell was the faint crackle of torches burning in the corridor outside then she spoke.

"You've had your revenge, now let me go" she said.

I stepped closer again and her back pressed against the wall once more, but this time she didn't try to move away.

"My revenge has barely begun," I murmured.

Her breath hitched slightly.

Good, at least she wasn't completely fearless.

Before I could say anything else, footsteps echoed down the dungeon corridor and my head turned toward the door.

A moment later, it burst open and one of my guards rushed inside, breathing heavily.

"Alpha!"

My patience snapped instantly.

"What?" I snarled.

The guard bowed quickly.

"My apologies, Alpha... but-"

"Speak."

"The High Council has arrived."

The words hung in the air like thunder before a storm.

For a second, even my wolf went still.

The High Council rarely left their territories and when they did, it meant trouble.

I straightened slowly.

"Why?"

The guard hesitated and that alone was enough to make my temper darken.

"I asked you a question."

"They... they are waiting in the throne hall," he said quickly.

"And?"

The guard swallowed.

"They know about the girl."

The dungeon suddenly felt colder and my gaze shifted slowly back to Liora.

She looked just as confused as before which meant she truly didn't know.

"How?" I asked quietly.

The guard shook his head.

"I don't know, Alpha."

Of course he didn't. The council did nothing without reason. If they were here and if they knew about her, then something far bigger was unfolding than I had anticipated.

I stepped toward Liora again and she stiffened instinctively.

My hand closed around her wrist, her pulse jumped wildly beneath my fingers.

"Come," I ordered.

She resisted immediately.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To meet the men who seem very interested in you."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"I didn't do anything."

"That remains to be seen."

I pulled her toward the door. She stumbled slightly as I dragged her into the corridor.

The dungeon guards straightened instantly as I passed. None of them dared to look directly at me.

We moved quickly through the halls.

The air felt different now and servants pressed themselves against the walls as we passed.

Warriors stood at attention near every doorway.

Word had already spread.

Liora struggled slightly beside me.

"You're hurting me."

"Good."

Her eyes flashed.

"You're an arrogant bastard" she said, her lips trembling.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

"Careful."

"I'm already in chains, what more can you do?" she muttered.

I stopped walking abruptly and she nearly collided with my chest.

For a moment we stood there, inches apart.

"You truly have no idea what I can do," I said quietly.

Her throat moved as she swallowed, but once again, she didn't look away.

That defiance again, it stirred something dangerous inside me. Something my wolf seemed to enjoy far too much.

I forced myself to keep walking.

The large doors of the throne hall came into view and two guards stood on either side. They pushed the doors open the moment they saw me approaching.

Warm light spilled out from the hall and the scent of powerful wolves filled the air. Five figures stood near the center of the room, each one radiating authority.

The council's eyes shifted toward us as we entered then they saw her.

Every single one of them stiffened and the room fell silent.

My grip on Liora tightened slightly. Something was very wrong.

One of the elders stepped forward slowly. His silver hair gleamed under the light. His eyes fixed on Liora with a mixture of disbelief and dread then he spoke and the words that left his mouth made my wolf growl.

"Where did you find her, Alpha Kael?"

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, my gaze moved between the council members, each one looked... uneasy and that alone was alarming.

"These matters do not concern you," I said finally.

The elder's expression hardened.

"Oh, they very much do."

His eyes shifted back to Liora and then he said something that made the tension in the room snap tighter.

"That girl should not be alive."

Liora's POV

The light in the throne hall danced across the walls, casting long, jagged shadows. Every shadow seemed to lean toward me, curious, hungry, waiting.

My chest heaved, not from exertion, but from a mixture of fear and something I refused to name.

Alpha Kael's hand remained on my arm, his grip firm, unyielding, a hold to my sense of reality even as the air around me thrummed with tension.

The council was silent, their presence like a physical weight pressing down on the room.

Their eyes swept over me, sharp and piercing, as if trying to read every secret hidden in my blood, in my body and my very soul.

I forced myself to stand tall, to meet their gaze. I would not cower. I would not give them, or him, the satisfaction of complete control.

Kael's gaze never left me. His wolf simmered just below the surface of his skin, and I could feel the tension radiating from him like heat from a fire.

"You have brought forbidden blood into our territory," the eldest council member said finally, his voice low and commanding.

His silver hair caught the light as he leaned slightly forward, studying me as though I were a riddle he had spent lifetimes trying to solve.

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Explain," he demanded, his voice sharp, a warning to them and to me.

The council's gaze turned toward me, unblinking, merciless. One of the them stepped closer, his own wolf scent so strong I felt it like a pressure against my skin.

"That girl carries a lineage that was hunted for centuries, a bloodline that should not exist. She holds a scent that drives wolves mad, that corrupts Alpha control. She should never have been born" he said.

My stomach twisted. I had no idea what he meant but the fear, the awareness of how sharp their gazes were pressed against me.

Kael's grip on my arm tightened imperceptibly. His eyes flicked toward the council, then back to me. My pulse spiked, feeling the heat of his wolf threatening to surface.

One council member raised his hand slowly and cut the palm of my hand with a ceremonial blade.

I let out a scream as blood dripped onto the cold stone floor, pooling and spreading everywhere.

Immediately, the air changed and the torches flickered violently. I felt a strange heat surge through me as if my own blood was calling unto these wolves.

Alpha Kael stiffened beside me. His eyes went golden, a warning flash of the wolf beneath his skin.

His breath caught as he inhaled, the scent of my blood overwhelming his senses. His grip on my arm was now tightened, yet he made no move to release me.

His control trembled, and I felt the subtle quiver of hunger beneath the surface of his arrogance, the pull of desire and instinct threatening to shatter him.

The council stared in stunned silence and one elder whispered, his voice trembling.

"Impossible... she should not exist. We had whiped her kind out completely all those years ago" he said but I heard him.

What did he mean by that?

The elders leaned forward, their gaze locking onto me with a mix of fear and awe.

"She is the last Ashwyn."

The words struck me like lightning.

My parents had made me forget that name and now, here I was, standing in the throne hall, the most feared Alpha at my side, the council staring in shock, and a name I had never been allowed to speak or remember whispered like a verdict.

Kael's eyes locked onto mine. That dark, unreadable expression deepened. His wolf growled low in his throat, a vibration I felt in my chest.

"I knew it" he said, his voice dropping so low I could barely hear it, yet it reverberated through the hall.

Every nerve in my body screamed in response to his words. What was happening?

He stepped closer, closing the space between us. The scent of him, of his wolf, of dominance, danger, and fire, wrapped around me, making my heart hammer and my skin ache with awareness.

I took a breath, trying to steady myself, and that's when I noticed the weaker guards around were reacting badly to my blood.

Their wolves shifted in the air, their growls low in their throats, eyes narrowing, their fangs glinting in the torchlight. They had all lost control while the council were struggling to keep theor hunger in check.

This was all because of me.

Kael's hand moved to the small of my back, pressing me to him as though shielding me but also claiming me.

His wolf pressed against mine in a battle for dominance and instinct, and I felt a strange pull, a tug I didn't understand, but which made my pulse spike.

He was fighting to control himself.

The eldest council member's eyes widened further.

"This... this is forbidden," he whispered. "She... she cannot exist among us."

I shivered, not from fear entirely, but from the heat of the room, from the press of Alpha Kael's body beside me, from the shock of realizing that I was more than anyone had ever known.

Alpha Kael's jaw clenched. He looked down at me, his hand still at the small of my back, holding me close enough that I could feel the pulsing muscles in his chest, the power in every movement.

"Do you hear them?" he asked, his voice dangerous, yet trembling with a hunger I had never noticed before.

I nodded.

"Good, because this is only the beginning" he murmured.

He turned his gaze back to the council, but I could feel his wolf straining under his skin. Something primal and uncontrollable, was clawing at him.

Alpha Kael's fingers tightened at my back slightly. I inhaled sharply, aware of how close he was, how impossible it was to ignore the heat radiating from him.

He leaned in just slightly, close enough that the smell of his cologne and power enveloped me, but not close enough to kiss me.

His grip faltered for a second, just enough that I felt the pull of his hesitation, of desire, of something deep and raw that his wolf wanted to claim.

The council stared at us, their shock palpable. The room seemed to shrink around us, every wolf trembling and then the eldest council member stepped forward again, his eyes wide, his voice low and trembling.

"She is the last of the Ashwyn line, the power in her veins could shatter packs, could destroy Alphas and as such, she must be killed" he said.

Alpha Kael's gaze snapped to mine, dark, possessive, and terrifying.

"You will not touch her," he said, his voice low and deadly. "She is mine now."