She had never requested to be sold as a reward. With every step she walked towards the royal gates, she could sen
froze in her throat as the enormous iron doors creaked open. The view of the palace was too
ught to be thankful." The Lycan
nd her jaw was set. Though inside, every part of her screamed t
the deed causing her stomach to churn. Ther
pounded. What lay inside those stone walls? Could she live
. But she had no opti
walls were decorated with detailed tapestries and portraits of long-dead monarchs. The palace was lovely in a chilly, austere sense. Every
ive; the sounds of far-off conversations did nothing to calm her worry. She had been here barely m
yler Wolfe. The very man who had once held her heart in his hands, then shattere
hough he was an Alpha King now, his posture was confident and powerful; she noticed the flicker of
r down her back. Deeper, harsher, no longer the sound she
eath caught, she calmed herself and glared at him with the same fervor. "I didn't think you'd
l required. In the quiet that stretched between them,
he turned away, unable to speak a
o the dark intensity of his gaze. Every inch a king, he was as magnificent as the palace itself. Powerful, and unrel
d to maintain control. His gaze darted momentarily to Tyler; a quiet cha
and nearly professional. I hope
nodded stiffly, unable to say anything. After all, she was unsure how to approach him. After the
, jaw tight. Lucian,
his eyes off Ophelia's face. Tyler, she is now un
t this was her new life made her heart beat. Still, she would not re
ging a quiet battle. There was rage there, but also trepidat
s and faced Lucian directly,
she continued, her voice
r did I," he said, almost as an afterthought. He then turned to Tyler and sai
pulse pounded in her ears. This was no longer on
e was unsure who
through the chilly, marble corridors of the palace. Every inch of the room seemed to shrink around her under hi
sing door with a silky smooth voice but a sh
ich leather perfume thickened the air. Though Ophelia found little comfort in it, it was a place suitable for kings. Standing as
able. Though he was composed, there was something wild about him, something untamed, like a storm trapped inside a g
of our arrangement." A single year. No feelings at all. N
hat it seemed she had no option but to follow him. She started to object, but the words
ponse. He didn't require her consent, but he desired it,
lied, "I understand." At her sides, her hands balled into fists. No
moved closer, his breath warm across her ear. Okay.
nd walked away. She was on her own. Though she couldn't weep here or no
rounds of the palace. Above her, the night sky stretched on fore
e point: her life had on
to him. Not completely.
mstances felt like a mountain pressing down on her chest. She was not meant to be here. Under Lu
. Tyler Wolf. The name by itself was sufficient to send a spike of discomfort through her veins. The
h compassion, how his grin had once illuminated her world. But the instant he betrayed
ry had happened a year ago. A year since Tyler had left her shattered, abandoned for motives tha
ainst hers, the warmth of his body next to hers, and her breath caught in
iar echo of footfall as if called forth by her idea
, Ophelia put her palm to her chest. She d
readed, the door op
he
ear again filled her ears, causing
blue eyes fixed on hers, and for a brief minute, it seemed as though nothing had altered.
had sh
en? Ophelia asked, her v
Tyler moved carefully a
n her, Ophelia shook her head. She would not allow him to do this t
d softly, her throat tight. Not