Chapter 4: The Claim Denied
The fortress walls closed around Elara like the bars of a cage.
From her chamber window, she could see the sprawling forests stretching toward the horizon, bathed in pale moonlight. The night should have been comforting. Instead, it reminded her how far she was from Grey Hollow, how impossible escape seemed.
She pressed her palms against the cold stone sill. I will not stay here as his pet.
A soft knock sounded at the door. She stiffened.
“Enter,” she called, forcing her voice steady.
One of the chambermaids—Lina, timid and doe-eyed—slipped inside carrying a tray. A bowl of steaming stew and a goblet of dark wine.
“His Majesty commands that you eat,” Lina said, her head bowed.
Elara’s jaw clenched. “And if I refuse?”
The maid shifted uneasily. “Then he will know.”
Elara exhaled sharply. The girl was only doing her duty. With a tight nod, she dismissed Lina, then crossed the room. The food smelled tempting, but she left it untouched. Defiance burned brighter than hunger.
Moments later, the door opened again—without a knock.
Kaelan Stormfang entered, his presence filling the chamber like a storm cloud rolling in. He wore no crown, only a simple black tunic, but power radiated from him all the same. His silver eyes landed on the untouched tray.
“You didn’t eat.”
Elara folded her arms. “I wasn’t hungry.”
“Defiance already?” His voice was low, more amused than angry. He stepped closer, his movements unhurried, predatory. “Or do you think testing my patience will earn you freedom?”
Her heart thudded, but she refused to look away. “I don’t want to be here. I didn’t ask for this—your protection, your prophecy, or whatever claim you think you have on me.”
His expression hardened, though a flicker of something—pain? admiration?—flashed in his gaze. “The Moon Goddess doesn’t ask for permission, Elara. She chooses. And she chose you.”
Her laugh was bitter. “Then the Moon Goddess made a mistake.”
For the first time, his composure faltered. His nostrils flared, his jaw tensed. The Alpha King, feared across kingdoms, was not accustomed to hearing ‘no.’
“You think you can deny fate?” he said, stepping closer until only a breath of space separated them. The heat of him prickled against her skin. “You feel it too. The bond. The pull.”
Elara’s pulse quickened, traitorously. She hated that he was right—that every time his eyes found hers, something deep inside her stirred. But she lifted her chin and lied. “I feel nothing.”
His lips curved in a dangerous smile. “Then why does your heart race when I’m near?”
Her cheeks flamed. She tried to step back, but he caught her wrist, not harshly but firmly, holding her in place. His touch was warm, searing, and the bond thrummed between them like a live wire.
“Release me,” she demanded.
For a long moment, he didn’t. Then, slowly, he let her go, as though forcing himself. “Very well. Deny it if you wish. But know this—your defiance doesn’t free you. It only binds you tighter to me. The court saw you today. They know you are mine. No rival, no traitor, no noble viper will dare touch you… unless I fall.”
Her breath caught at the weight of his words.
He turned toward the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. “You may hate me now, Elara. But one day, you’ll understand why the Moon chose you.”
The door shut behind him, leaving her trembling—not from fear, but from the storm of emotions she couldn’t untangle.
The next morning, Elara decided she would no longer wait passively for her fate to swallow her whole. If she was trapped in this fortress, she would learn its secrets.
Pulling a plain cloak over her gown, she slipped from her chamber. The corridors were alive with servants preparing for the day, their chatter a constant hum. She kept her head down, blending as best she could, though whispers still followed her.
“That’s her—the girl the king brought.”
“Human-born, they say. Hardly fit to be queen.”
“Perhaps she bewitched him…”
Elara’s cheeks burned, but she pressed on, winding through the halls until she reached a broad courtyard. Wolves—massive, fur bristling—sparred with soldiers, their growls echoing against the stone. She watched, awe and fear tangling within her.
“Enjoying the view?”
She spun to find Garrick, Kaelan’s Beta, leaning casually against a column. His dark hair was tied back, his scarred jaw set in a half-smile.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said. “Not unless you enjoy trouble.”
“I don’t need a guard,” she replied sharply.
His smile deepened. “Bold. But you’ll learn the court is more dangerous than the training yard. Wolves bite deeper with words than teeth.”
Before she could respond, a voice rang across the courtyard.
“Well, if it isn’t the king’s little stray.”
Lady Selene Veyra approached, flanked by attendants. Tall, elegant, with hair like spun gold, she radiated noble confidence. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, raked over Elara.
“You’re the one he dragged from the border?” Selene’s laugh was delicate, cruel. “I expected… more.”
Elara stiffened. “And you are?”
Gasps rippled from Selene’s attendants. No one spoke to Lady Selene so bluntly. But Elara was done bowing to people who despised her for existing.
Selene’s smile sharpened. “I am the one who should be standing at Kaelan’s side. Not some frightened village girl with dirt under her nails.”
Elara’s fists clenched, but before she could reply, a growl cut through the air. Deep, commanding.
Kaelan.
He strode into the courtyard, his gaze a thunderstorm locked on Selene. “Enough.”
Selene bowed gracefully, though defiance glimmered in her eyes. “Forgive me, Majesty. I only meant to welcome your… guest.”
“She is not a guest,” Kaelan said coldly. “She is mine.”
The words echoed through the courtyard. Soldiers stilled. Servants froze. Elara’s heart pounded as every eye turned to her.
Selene dipped into a mocking curtsy. “As you command.” With a final venomous glance at Elara, she swept away.
Kaelan turned to her, his expression softer now, though no less intense. “This is why I warned you. The court will test you. They will provoke you. Stand firm, Elara. Show weakness, and they’ll devour you.”
Her throat tightened, but she met his gaze. “I’m not weak.”
His lips curved in the faintest smile. “No. You’re not.”
And for the first time, she saw something in his eyes beyond dominance and possession—something that looked dangerously like respect.
That night, as Elara lay in her bed, she replayed the day’s events. Lady Selene’s venom. Kaelan’s defense. The bond thrumming between them no matter how hard she tried to deny it.
Her world was no longer simple. She was caught in a storm she couldn’t escape, tied to a man she couldn’t fully resist.
And deep down, she feared that denying him would not be the end of her fight—but only the beginning.