Chapter 84: It's an honor to finally meet you

The atmosphere in the castle shifted as the sound of the large doors opening echoed through the hallway. Elle, still reeling from the conversation with her mother, straightened her posture as she caught sight of the four young men entering the room. Despite their age—well over 300 years—they looked no older than their early twenties, a characteristic of their kind. Each one of them exuded an undeniable power, their presence filling the space as they moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural, yet elegant.

Their eyes—blue, like the clearest sky—sparkled with a quiet intensity that hinted at the centuries of experience and authority behind them. They were tall, their frames long and lean, but their bodies were hardened by years of battle and leadership. Despite their beauty, there was an air of danger surrounding them, a promise of strength and command. They were not the kind of men you could ignore or easily dismiss.

Vance took a step forward, his gaze fixing on Elle with a knowing smile. His red hair shimmered in the light, and though his smile was warm, there was a sharpness to it that hinted at the dangerous power he carried. His eyes held a mix of curiosity and respect as he looked at her, taking in her form as though she were both a mystery and a prize.

“Elle, I presume?” Vance said, his voice smooth, almost teasing. “It’s an honor to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” There was a playful edge to his tone, though it didn’t hide the intensity beneath it.

Kurt, standing slightly behind him, was just as striking, his blue eyes darker, his dark blond hair swept back. His stature was imposing, yet his presence was somehow more reserved than Vance’s. But the respect in his gaze was undeniable, and he too regarded her with quiet interest. “It’s a pleasure,” he added, his voice deep and steady.

Bleid, shorter than the others, but just as broad-shouldered, gave her a charming smile, his playful gaze sparkling with something more. His auburn hair fell in waves around his face, and his posture was laid-back, as though he’d been waiting for this moment with no urgency at all. He leaned slightly toward her, his lips quirking. “I think we’ll get along just fine,” he said, as though they were already old friends.

Manor, the youngest of the group, but no less intimidating, stepped forward with a calm and measured stride. His blond hair was light, almost white, and his piercing blue eyes never left hers. “Respect,” he murmured, his voice quiet but carrying a weight that made the room fall silent for a moment. There was a calm intensity about him, as if he didn’t need to speak louder to be heard.

Elle stood there, her heart pounding in her chest. These men—these royals—were undeniably powerful, beautiful, and captivating, yet she couldn’t shake the sense of unease that settled in her gut. Despite their charm and the way they treated her with nothing but respect, there was something else lurking beneath the surface. Something that she wasn’t ready to confront.

She felt their eyes on her, a mix of expectation and something more subtle—like they were waiting for her to make a choice. But she was not ready for that. Not yet. The Lycan King had made it clear what his expectations were, but she wasn’t about to let herself be swept away by this false sense of security. The fact that they were respectful didn’t make them any less dangerous.

As the moments passed, the air seemed to thicken, the tension building, but Elle remained unmoved. She didn’t smile, didn’t engage in small talk. She simply observed them with a quiet, calculating look, waiting for the next move.

Vance, noticing her resistance, grinned. “I can tell you’re not easily swayed. That’s good,” he said, his tone more amused than anything else. “But don’t worry, Elle. We’re not here to rush you into anything.”

Kurt added, his voice calm but insistent, “Take your time. We’ll be patient.”

Elle took a breath, steadying herself. Despite the warmth in their voices, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that they were all part of the same game she’d unwillingly entered. “I appreciate your respect,” she said quietly, her eyes moving from one of them to the next, “but I’m not making any decisions tonight.”

Manor, ever the quiet one, nodded his head once in acknowledgment. “As it should be,” he said simply, his voice almost a whisper. The others exchanged looks, but none of them pressed further, sensing the tension that still lingered.

For now, the encounter was over. But the weight of the Lycan King’s plans, of their expectations, hung heavily in the air, and Elle knew this was just the beginning.

After Elle had left the hall, the Lycan King stood, his figure imposing as the room seemed to shrink under his gaze. He looked around at the remaining courtiers, a thunderous expression crossing his face as he scowled.

“What are you still doing here?” His voice was a low growl, and the tension in the room thickened. It was clear that the gathering had come to an abrupt end.

The courtiers scrambled, eager to leave before the king’s wrath could turn on them. One by one, they filed out of the hall, but the four brothers remained behind, their expressions unreadable as they stood near the long table.

Once the last of the courtiers had disappeared from sight, the Lycan King turned his gaze to his brothers. “You four stay. We have matters to discuss.”

Vance, Kurt, Bleid, and Manor exchanged glances before settling into their seats, a sense of purpose now hanging in the air. The tension in the room shifted from frustration to something far more serious, as the King began to speak.

“The matter of Elle’s future must be decided. One of you will undergo a spell to mate with her,” the King said, his tone resolute. “We cannot afford to waste time. The future of the realm is at stake.”

Kurt was the first to speak, his voice low but firm. “Who will be the one to claim her?” he asked, his gaze flicking over to the others.

Bleid, always the one to speak with a touch of humor, leaned forward. “Why don’t we let her choose?” His tone was light, but his eyes were sharp, assessing. “She doesn’t strike me as someone to be easily coerced.”

Vance, however, was already deep in thought, his brow furrowed. “Perhaps we should consider the prophecy,” he said quietly. “The one about Jude.”

At the mention of Jude’s name, the room fell silent. The prophecy had been whispered in the halls of the palace, a tale told to explain Elle’s bond with her fated mate. The prophecy spoke of a love lost and a love that could never truly be replaced, of a man who would claim her heart again after leaving. But in this case, the prophecy also seemed like a way to calm the unrest of the people—to assure them that Elle would find her fated mate in time.

Before anyone else could comment, the heavy wooden doors of the hall swung open. The sound of footsteps echoed in the stillness, and Wynn walked in, his expression as unreadable as ever. He looked at the four brothers, his gaze briefly flickering over them before he turned his attention to the Lycan King.

“You’re discussing the prophecy,” Wynn said in a low tone, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. “It’s made up.”

The room grew even quieter at Wynn’s words, the brothers’ gazes shifting toward him, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The King himself raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with disbelief. “What do you mean made up?”

Wynn stood tall, his piercing eyes scanning the room. “The prophecy was created as a tool,” he explained, his voice firm. “It was designed to calm the factions within your kingdom and ensure that Elle and her mother would come willingly. It was a strategy to avoid an internal war, a way to convince them they had something they could hold onto.”

The King’s face darkened, a flash of anger crossing his features. “So you’re telling me that this... prophecy was a lie?” His voice was dangerously soft, and the tension in the room thickened as his brothers waited for an explanation.

Wynn’s expression remained unchanged as he nodded. “It’s not real. It was never meant to be. It was a way to manipulate the situation, to give the people something to believe in while still controlling the outcome. Elle and her mother were always going to be here. It was only a matter of how you got them to accept that.”

For a moment, there was silence. The brothers exchanged uneasy glances, the truth settling like a weight in the air. The King stared at Wynn, processing the revelation.

Finally, the Lycan King leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. “Then we proceed with the spell. But it will not be for the prophecy.” His voice was steady, the calculation in his words clear. “We will find a way to secure Elle’s future—our future.” His gaze swept over his brothers, daring them to question his decision.

They all nodded in understanding, but there was a shared unease in the room. The revelation of the prophecy’s true nature shifted the ground beneath them all, and now, the stakes were higher than ever.