Claimed by the King

The footsteps stopped just beyond the shadows, but the pressure in the air didn’t ease. It grew heavier, thicker, pressing down on everything until even breathing felt difficult. The rogues were the first to react. The one who had grabbed Aria released her instantly, stumbling back as if burned. Fear—real fear—flashed across his face. “We didn’t know—” he started, his voice shaking. He never finished. The figure stepped into the moonlight. Tall. Still. Completely in control. Power rolled off him without effort, suffocating and absolute. Aria’s breath caught. She didn’t recognize his face—but something inside her did. Something deeper than thought. Instinct. The rogues dropped to their knees. Not out of respect. Out of terror. “Leave,” the man said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it didn’t need to be. It carried authority that couldn’t be questioned. The rogues didn’t hesitate. They scrambled to their feet and disappeared into the forest without looking back. Silence returned. But it wasn’t the same silence as before. This one was heavier. Charged. Aria slowly lifted her gaze to him, her heart pounding again—but this time, it wasn’t from fear. It was something else. Something stronger. The moment their eyes met— The bond snapped into place. Not soft. Not fragile. Violent. Overwhelming. Her breath hitched as something deep inside her locked onto him, stronger than anything she had felt before. This wasn’t like Kael. This wasn’t something that could be ignored or broken. This felt… absolute. His gaze didn’t waver. He was already watching her, as if he had known the moment would happen. As if he had been waiting for it. “Mine,” he said. The word landed heavily between them. Final. Undeniable. Aria’s heart slammed against her chest. “No,” she said immediately, taking a step back. “No… that’s not possible.” One bond broken. Another forced into place? No. She refused to accept it. Not like this. Not again. He didn’t react to her denial. If anything, he seemed mildly amused. “It is,” he replied calmly. The bond pulsed again, stronger this time, making her chest tighten painfully. She hated it. Hated how her body responded before her mind could catch up. “Stay away from me,” she said, her voice sharper now. This time, she meant it. She wouldn’t stand there and let someone else decide her fate. Not after what just happened. He took a step closer. Slow. Controlled. Like her resistance didn’t matter. “You’re injured,” he said, his eyes briefly scanning her. “I’m fine.” “You’re not.” His tone didn’t rise, but it left no room for argument. That irritated her. “I said I’m fine.” He stopped a few steps away, studying her now. Not like Kael had—dismissive, uninterested. No. This was different. Focused. Intent. Like he was trying to understand something. It made her uneasy. “Who are you?” she demanded. Silence stretched for a second. Then— “You don’t recognize me?” Her frustration grew. “Should I?” His gaze held hers, steady and unreadable. “I am the Lycan King.” The words hit harder than the bond. Aria stilled, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard. The Lycan King. The ruler above all Alphas. The one even Kael would bow to without question. And he was standing in front of her. Claiming her. “That’s…” she started, then stopped. Because the bond didn’t lie. It pulsed again, confirming what her mind didn’t want to accept. This was real. “Find someone else,” she said instead, forcing the words out. “You said it yourself—you need someone strong. Someone worthy.” The words tasted bitter. Too familiar. His expression shifted slightly—not softer, not warmer, but sharper. More focused. “I didn’t say that,” he replied. Aria let out a short, humorless laugh. “You didn’t have to.” Her gaze hardened. “I’ve heard it enough for one night.” For a brief moment, silence settled between them. Then he stepped closer again, closing the distance completely this time. His presence pressed down on her instantly, making it impossible to ignore him. “Listen carefully,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I don’t reject what belongs to me.” The words froze her. Not loud. Not emotional. But they carried a weight that settled deep inside her. Her breath hitched despite herself. This wasn’t Kael. This wasn’t someone who would push her away. This was someone who wouldn’t let her go at all. “You don’t get to decide that,” she said, but her voice wasn’t as steady as before. His gaze darkened slightly. “I already did.” The bond tightened again, stronger, pulling her toward him in a way she couldn’t fight. Aria’s chest rose and fell unevenly as she struggled to hold onto control. “Even if this is real,” she said, forcing each word out, “it doesn’t change anything.” A pause. Then— “It