Chapter 165
THIRD PERSON POV
An uproar from the halls and the five Alphas shattered the eerie quiet after Ryker’s acceptance.
Alpha Herald’s voice boomed first. “This is madness! He’s not even part of the process!”
“He’s not even on the list!” Baki snapped. “This is a mockery of tradition!”
Ronan scoffed, arms crossed. “What is a mockery of tradition is having her wed any random man when she has a mate.”
The arguments continued, on and on. The Alphas bicker at the sudden disruption. However, Ryker ignored the noise. His gaze was solely focused on Lyra. Even when she threw him an angry look, he didn’t bother.
The council members leaned into each other, consulting and whispering furiously, while the faces of the elders were wound tight as their eyes kept darting between Ryker and King Dimitri.
And the tension?
The tension in the room was so thick, you could stick a knife through it.
The five Alphas released their murderous aura at once. All of them teaming up against Ryker so he could buckle under the sheer force of their power. But for Ryker, their antic was a walk in the park. He stood unmoved in the center of the chaos, while he repelled their aura with his. One by one, the Alphas began to withdraw quietly. Each one of them had an unreadable mask on their faces despite losing the psychological warfare.
King Dimitri raised his hand, and the hall fell into a strained hush. “Alpha King Ryker,” he said, voice low, yet had a faint sound of amusement.
“It appears that your presence, howbeit of importance to you, has already disrupted the sacred council and inadvertently challenged five Alphas before the court, who have gone through several trials before this stage. All are vying for my daughter’s hand. I’m afraid you’re too late.”
“Perhaps,” Ryker released a deep breath. “But, I am here now. And I will claim her as mine.” His voice chilling, resounding in the halls with the force of fire.
Gasps echoed. Lyra’s breath caught in her throat.
“You speak of her like she’s yours,” Alpha Casper sneered, locking eyes with Ryker. Ryker’s eyes narrowed as his wolf paced suddenly inside him restlessly at the sound of Casper’s voice.
“And you do not have the right to speak her name,” Ryker responded. His jaw clenched tight, and his hands turned into fists by his side as he tried to control Rider, who was desperate to take control and rip Casper to shreds.
He turned to Lyra. “I know we’ve had our share of differences, Lyra, but you are my heart. My soul. My mate. I am not here as an Alpha King, but as a man. A man who cannot live without you. Who will fight for you to the death if I must?” The words rang out, silencing even the most vocal of dissenters.
King Dimitri’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes.
Interest—perhaps, or a memory.
As for Lyra, she was stunned. She looked at Ryker as though he had gone mad. Here before another king, another kingdom, he stood before her, baring his heart. Her heart shook slightly at his words. Her wolf purred inside her excitedly. But she remained aloof; her face revealed nothing.
The head of the council, Elder Vlad, cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “This is highly irregular. The trials have been sanctioned. The suitors have been chosen. If we allow this… chaos… we set a dangerous precedent.”
Dimitri leaned back in his throne, cutting in. “And yet… the bond is not something we can ignore. The goddess chooses as she sees fit.”
Vlad hesitated. “But—”
“Let him join,” Dimitri cut in, voice calm but final. “Let him prove himself, as the others have.”
The Alphas erupted again, but Dimitri’s aura flared, silencing them with a single wave of power.
“Then it is settled,” Elder Vlad said, his voice resigned. “Alpha King Ryker will join the last stage of the trials with the other five Alphas. Now, we have six Alphas who will compete for the hand of Princess Lyra.”
The announcement sent a ripple through the room. The suitors exchanged glances—some furious, some calculating. Ryker didn’t move. A muscle ticked in his chin, and he gave Dimitri a slight nod of understanding before turning his gaze to Lyra.
One by one, the council began to disperse, murmuring among themselves. The Alphas stalked off, each one sizing Ryker up like a rival wolf in their territory. The trials would continue. They were done with the hard parts. Now they were left to use their wit and charm to woo Lyra.
As the hall emptied, King Dimitri rose and approached Ryker. The two men stood face to face, the air between them thick with power.
“You've made quite an entrance,” Dimitri said, almost amused.
Ryker’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I can’t lose her again.”
Dimitri studied him for a long moment. “You youngsters.” His lips curled into a smile before walking away.
Ryker gave a faint smile, then turned his attention to Lyra. She had been lingering behind.
“Lyra,”
“Don’t. Just don’t.”
“Do you hate me that much?” His eyes softened at the sight of her anger.
She turned away from him, her voice low. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I had to,” he said. “You were going to marry another man. Were you really going to let go of our bond?”
She didn’t respond. She looked at him in silence, then turned to leave. Her silence was a wall he couldn’t scale. He watched her leave, unable to tear his gaze.
For a long minute, he didn’t move. And when he did, he made a resolve.
He would fight for her heart.
Even if it killed him.