Chapter 7: THE KING FOLLOWED

SERENA'S POV

So I didn't run. There was no need to. I walked instead. And that meant there was a big difference between the two.

Running meant that I was afraid, that I had panicked. That I was weak.

But when I walked, I had made a choice to do that. Entirely mine.

The forest that was beyond the ceremonial clearing drowned out the noise from the pack gradually. First, it was the drums that went silent. Then the shouting. What followed was the scent of smoke and the prophecy. This was replaced by the one from pine trees and the soil, as damp as it was.

One thing that didn't fade was the bond.

It was steady, pulsing. With heat all around it. And that told me one thing. That Alpha Kael was still there.

I couldn't see him yet but I could tell that he was close enough because my inner wolf kept glancing over her shoulder as if he was going to break out of the brush any moment.

"He is coming," she murmured.

"Let him come," I said.

Brave words, weren't they? Probably. But the truth was my hands were shaking. I was out of public eyes and my confidence had waned a bit. Out there, I had some control over what I was saying.

But away from them, well, felt like some burden had been placed upon me. Look at what I had done. Had challenged Alpha Kael in front of the entire Silverfang pack. If he decided that he was going to make an example of me, to act as a deterrent to others, I wasn't sure if any prophecy could save me.

I heard the sound of a twig snap behind me but I didn't turn around.

"You are loud for a King," I said in a calm tone.

Silence.

Then he said, "I wasn't trying to hide from you, Serena."

Of course, he wasn't. I turned to face him. Kael stood, flanked by the trees as if he belonged there. The light of the moon fell from his shoulders and illuminated the hard line of his jaw. He had thrown away his ceremonial robe and now wore black leathers, the ones he used for training.

Looked less of a King and more like a werewolf.

The bond flared. I felt my heart go pit-a-pat, and he noticed.

"You told me to follow, did you not?'

"Well, I wasn't sure that you would."

"That makes two of us."

For a second, it felt like we were both honest with each other. It was just us, without the council around and the elders and the pack.

Dangerous or not?

"Why?" He finally asked.

"Why what?" I asked back.

"Why tonight?" His eyes searched my face. "Why did you choose to humiliate me in front of everyone on a day like this?"

"I did not humiliate you, Kael. I just refused to be claimed like... Like some title."

"Hmm," he said. "But you are my fated mate."

"And you are my fated mate," I snapped at him. "But that doesn't make me your property."

I felt offence from his wolf. Was it offended that I had said that?

"So you think I would treat you as my property?" He asked and stepped closer.

"I think you would treat me like duty," I explained. "Like something you've been expecting. Something inevitable."

He didn't deny it. Kael moved closer until the space between us was thin. The bond that we shared pulsed with violence. I felt heat in my veins. My wolf was hungry and she pressed forward.

He took in a deep breath. "You feel it, don't you, Serena?"

"Yes," I didn't lie.

"Then why do you fight it?"

"Because I want you to choose me," I told him. "I don't want you to accept me."

And that was the truth. I wasn't trying to rebel against him. I wasn't proud. But I was afraid of being tolerated instead of being wanted.

His expression changed. It wasn't an angry one. Something less troublesome.

"That means, you think I don't want you?"

"Well, I think all you know how to want is the throne. You don't really know how to want anything else."

My words hurt him, I noticed. The stiffness in his shoulders, and the flicker of his eyes.

"I'm not sure you understand what it costs to rule, Serena."

"Then make me understand, Kael."

Silence again.

He lifted his hand and his fingers brushed my jaw. The contact was the breaking point. The bond exploded outward and I stumbled.

His other hand caught my waist at once.

"Serena..." he breathed. Kael lowered his forehead to mine. His scent was in my nostrils. Sharp and sweet.  "If I choose you, it won't be gentle."

"I am not asking for gentle."

His grip tightened. "You will be Queen. Targeted, threatened. The council will test you and the pack will challenge you."

"I have survived worse in silence," I told him. "I would rather survive beside you."

His lips were just a breath from mine and I knew something was about to happen.

Something did happen but it wasn't what I was expecting.

A scream shattered the silence of the forest, forcing Kael to jerk back instantly. It wasn't from the clearing. It came from within the territory.

As we both turned, another scream. But this one was cut short by something.

My wolf was on alert.

"That isn't one of ours," I said.

"No," he agreed. His expression had gone hard. The air had shifted and it was wrong. We had an intruder. During a broken ceremony and during a prophecy.

Kael looked at me. "They are probably testing us."

"Or they are hunting," I replied.

The bond between us was no longer filled with desire, but with war.

"Stay behind me," he ordered.

I lifted a brow.

Kael corrected himself. "Stay with me."

That's better. We shifter at the same time. Bone cracking and skin splitting. Two wolves, silver and black.

We ran toward the scream.

Side by side.