FATED BEYOND THE PACK (rejection and redemption)

The bright ray of sunlight coming from the room's windows cast shadows against the cold stone walls. I stood beside the enourmous bed, my heart pounding so violently, so much so that I feared he could hear it.

King Marcus remained seated on the edge of the bed, his golden eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

'In Alaric's pack, you maybe nothing. But in my Kingdom, you can be my queen, Brielle Fox, of Shadow Walker Pack.'

His words rang in my ear, like a gigantic warning bell enough to make me think whether it was wise to stay or start to ran away.

"You have not answered me, Foxy."

I flinched, his voice was deep, calm, but still I sensed the underlying command beneath his words.

"Will you accept my offer and stand by my side as my queen?"

I clenched my hands into fists.

"Ki- King Marcus, I-"

"Marcus. Just Marcus."

He corrected as he leaned forward.

"Say my name, little wolf."

He again ordered, I immediately looked away, I refused to meet his gaze.

"Much as I appreciate your offer, I'm sorry but I cannot accept..."

I said, my voice barely over a whisper.

Instead of looking at his direction, I chose to turn my gaze into the room's empty walls.

My hear automatically poundend against my chest when silence settled heavily between us.

Then Marcus chuckled forcing me to look at him, the sound of him laughing was low and knowing.

"You say you cannot, yet your heart beats like a war drum. Are you sure that is your answer?"

He teased as he tried to catch my gaze.

My nails dug into my palms.

"Y-yes. I am sure."

"Why?"

My throat tightened.

Ever since the night Alaric rejected me, embarrassing me in fron of the whole pack, or ever since the night that I failed to shift, I thought I had already rehearsed this moment over and over, I kept telling myself I would not falter.

Or that I will remain strong.

But then I can't deny how the fact that I am weak, or that I don't belong never fail to give me the feeling that those memories alone are enough to rip me into pieces.

I sighed.

"Because I am not worthy."

I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marcus's golden gaze darkened, as if all the amusement from there immediately vanished.

"Your mate, Alaric told you such a lie?"

"He was no longer my mate, and no one had to."

I lifted my chin, finally daring to meet his gaze.

"I have lived my whole life waiting for the moment I would shift. I have prayed, I have fought, I have bled for it. But the moon has never blessed me with my wolf."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Marcus stood, the air around us crackling with authority as he stepped closer to where I was.

"You think worthiness is determined by whether or not you shift?"

I swallowed hard but did not look away.

"Then is it not?"

His lips pressed into a thin line before he exhaled sharply, shaking his head, I took a step back as he continued to step closer.

"You are more wolf than half the Lycans who bow at my feet. You do not cower. You do not break. That is what makes you worthy."

My resolve wavered for a fraction of a second.

A warmth bloomed deep within my chest, something I knew I was desperate to ignore.

"That does not change the fact that I-"

"Enough."

His voice was firm, yet not unkind.

"You deny yourself, and in doing so, you deny me. I will not have a queen who cannot see her own strength."

He said, for the second time, my heart punded once more, and I could not do anything but try to catch my breath.

He was giving me a way out, one that I have been wantd more than staying in anyone's pack let alone a kingdom to be its queen. I should have felt relief, yet why does my hear clenched painfully.

"Go then..."

He murmured making me look away.

"You wanted to stay with the humans so much, instead of staying by my side. You wanted so much to believe that you don't belong to your own kind no more than anything less, if you trully feel that it was the humans you belong to now, then leave."

He added, I didn't have to turn my gaze back at him to know how intense he was staring at me.

"But if you leave, I want you to still think on this. When you are ready to see yourself as I do, come to me."

For a moment, I stood frozen.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, each step he makes, felt heavy in my chest, it almost felt like a battle waging within her.

I bit my lip and flinched at the loud boom of the wooded door closing in front of me.

Because no matter how I try to hide and fight it, deep inside me, I knew...

I wanted to be his queen...

The stone walls loomed high above me as I stepped past the heavy iron gates of King Marcus's castle.

The air smelled luxury, peaceful, and something undeniably powerful. Like an energy that whispered dominance and ancient strength.

I hesitated for a moment before striding forward, my bare feet soundless against the cold stone floor.

"You there. Who let you in?"

I jumped when a deep voice suddenly barked behind my back.

I turned my sharp gaze toward the guard, a towering male with broad shoulders and thick, dark fur lining his cloak.

I lifted my chin before answering.

"Marcus- I mean the King Marcus did."

The guard's nostrils flared as he stepped closer, based on his reaction, it was obvious he didn't believe my words.

"No rogues are allowed to wander freely here."

"I'm not a rogue."

I countered.

"I just don't belong, I am new here."

A scoff came from behind the guard.

My heart hitched when a young and familiar male wolf stepped forward pasing the guard.

He studied me with his curious amber eyes.

"You've got a sharp tongue for someone who just stepped foot inside the King's domain."

"I have sharper claws if that concerns you."

He grinned.

"I like you. Only I've learned that you haven't even shifted yet."

He teased, an awkward smile escaped my lips.

"H-how did you know that?"

I asked and chose to ignore the guard that only sighed heavily and shook his head.

"It just so happen that I was at your pack the night when the new alpha of Shadow Walked pack rejected you as his mate. And I was also there in the forest last night. What's your name?"

He answered, still smiling from ear to ear as if he finds my embarrassment at little too amusing.

No wonder he looked familiar, I might have seen him last night.

"B-Brielle..."

He tilted his head.

"Brielle, what? You don't have a pack name?"

"I don't belong to a pack. Not anymore..."

That made the guard shift uncomfortably.

I can't blame him, knowing that packless wolves were rare, and they often carried more danger than even the most unpredictable rogues.

But beforethe guard could say a word, the male wolf's voice cut through the space.

"That will be enough."

I stiffened.

His voice was smooth as silk but it still carried an edge of authority sharp enough to cut stone.

Seconds later, the crowd of warriors and servants begun gathering parted instantly.

One of them handed her some clean clothes and slippers.

"So, Brille without a pack not anymore..."

The male wolf stated one more, not as a question, but as an acknowledgment.

"Yes..."

"Did you wish to stay here?"

"For a little while..."

I admitted.

"Ju-just until I'm ready to leave."

His lips curled slightly, an expression I couldn't quite decipher.

"You don't fear stepping into the den of Lycans, alone?"

I shook my head, though I wasn't sure if it was entirely true.

He nodded as he smirked at me, assessing, calculating.

Then, with an almost imperceptible nod he turned.

"Very well. Stay. Did you have a word with king Marcus yet?"

He asked, and for some reason, my heart pounded heavily against my chest by just the mere mention of the Lycan King's name.

But I chose not to let him see that, instead I held his gaze for a bit longer before bowing my head slightly.

"Yes... Just this morning. Though the conversation was a little... Off... You King just asked me to be his queen."

I said, my lips curled into a smile when he smirked.

"Well? Did you accept?"

I shook my head.

"I told him I wanted to live with the humans."

I admitted making him laugh.

"I couldn't quite tell whether you are just trully brave or foolish."

"I'd like to think I'm both."

I replied, before stepping deeper into the castle to follow him when he satrted ta walk.

I absentmindedly sighed as Imy eyes roamed around the huge castle, where my new, temporary life was waiting.

As we wandered through the grand halls, my eyes traced the intricate carvings on the stone pillars. The castle had a rich history, it has been passed on to generations of Lycan Kings who once ruled the whole kingdom.

I've often heard stories about it from my father, but I never once imagined how beautiful the castle actually is.

"Why were you wandering alone in the forest last night? Too close to the dark foresrt, do you know how dangerous it was?"

I turned swiftly to the male worlf who remaine silent as we walked, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

And only then I had the chance to study him.

He had a commanding presence, but there was something different about him.

He didn't carry the weight of absolute authority like King Marcus but his air of confidence suggested he was someone of importance.

"I was hunting."

I answered and a sound of laughter escaped his throat.

"What's your name by the way?"

I finally asked.

"Lucas."

He said with a smirk.

"The King's trusted friend and advisor."

My eyes narrowed slightly.

"Advisor or watchdog?"

Lucas chuckled.

"A bit of both, perhaps."

He stepped forward, examining me with a knowing look.

"You intrigue him."

"I don't care for intrigue." I said.

"I only seek time and space."

"Time and space?"

Lucas mused.

"Strange things to seek in a place like this."

I met his gaze and forced a smile.

"I plan to leave for the human world. This is just a stop before then."

Lucas's expression shifted, something unreadable flashing through his eyes.

"The human world is not as welcoming as you might think."

"I'll take my chances."

He studied me again for a long moment before nodding.

"Then take my advice, keep your guard up. Not everyone here is as tolerant as the King."

I exhaled softly.

"I never let my guard down."

Lucas smirked again, something like approval in his expression.

"Good. Then you might just survive your stay here, little she-wolf."

"I am not a wolf."

I argued and shookn my head when he started laughing again.