Chapter 2: The Binding

The wedding ceremony passed in a blur. It was as if Liora had been living someone else's life, a character in a story she didn't choose. The grand hall, the lavish decorations, the whispers of nobles—all of it felt like a distant dream she couldn't quite wake from. The only thing that was real was Kasian.

His presence had consumed the room, just as it consumed her thoughts. He was taller than most men, his form an imposing silhouette draped in regal black and silver, his every movement laced with the weight of his title. And yet, despite the cold, calculated exterior he wore, there was something in his eyes that betrayed him—something she wasn't sure she could name yet.

Liora's hand trembled in his grip as they made their way down the aisle together, now bound by an unbreakable bond. A fated connection. She had no choice in this, no say in how her life had turned. The future she had imagined for herself—of quiet evenings, of freedom, of love that didn't come from duty—had vanished in the blink of an eye. Now, her life was a tangled mess of royal bloodlines, deadly politics, and a king whose soul was as cold as the winter nights he ruled over.

"Are you afraid?" Kasian's voice broke through her thoughts, startling her.

She looked up at him, finding his eyes already fixed on her, the pale silver depths unreadable. His gaze held her in place, steady, unwavering, like he was waiting for her answer—or perhaps, testing her.

Liora opened her mouth but closed it again. Could she admit the truth? Could she admit how terrified she was? The weight of the crown that had been thrust upon her, the pain of the discovery of her true origins, and now… her bond with a man she didn't know, a man who had no mercy in his eyes.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

Kasian's lips twitched ever so slightly, a subtle smirk playing on the edges of his mouth. "Good. You should be."

She felt a strange, involuntary shiver course through her at his words. It wasn't fear, but something else—something darker. She couldn't understand it. Not yet. But whatever this bond was, it was like a weight pressing down on her chest, anchoring her to him. It was as if the fates themselves had decided her life before she was even born, and now she was just a puppet in their grand scheme.

"Kasian," she started, her voice more hesitant this time, "why am I really here?"

His eyes narrowed, and for the first time, she saw something flicker in them—a spark of curiosity, a hint of something deeper. "You know why, Liora."

"I mean…" She paused, unsure how to phrase the questions that had been nagging at her since the moment she learned the truth. "What do you want from me? Is it just the bond?"

His expression remained unreadable as he led her to a private chamber, away from the eyes of the courtiers and nobles. Once the doors closed behind them, he finally released her hand, though the warmth of his touch lingered on her skin. "The bond is only part of it," Kasian said slowly, moving toward the large fireplace where the flames flickered. "The truth is, your blood is needed to secure our throne. Your royal heritage is the key to uniting the fractured Lycan Kingdom."

Liora swallowed, trying to make sense of it. "So, I'm just a means to an end?" Her voice cracked, and she hated herself for it. She hated how weak she sounded.

Kasian turned to face her, his eyes intense, pinning her in place. "No. You are much more than that." His words hung in the air between them, thick with meaning. "But you are also part of a plan far older than either of us."

Liora's mind raced, her heart pounding as she took in his words. She was royal, yes. But what did that mean now? Her blood, her identity—it had all been stolen from her at birth, and now, it was being used to secure a kingdom that had no place for her. She had spent eighteen years believing she was one person, only to discover that everything she knew was a lie.

"Do you ever wonder what would've happened if we hadn't been bound by fate?" Liora asked softly, her voice laced with something like bitterness. "What if I didn't have royal blood? What if I didn't even know who I was?"

Kasian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, but there was something soft in his eyes now—something that surprised her. "You would have lived a different life," he said quietly. "But fate has a way of twisting things, doesn't it?"

Liora shook her head, her frustration mounting. "I don't want to be a pawn in your kingdom's politics. I don't want to be tied to a man I don't even know. I don't want to be a prize to be claimed. Do you understand that?"

For a moment, Kasian was silent. Then, he spoke, his voice low and unwavering. "I understand more than you think."

Liora searched his face for any trace of emotion, any sign of vulnerability. But all she saw was the mask of the king he had to be. The ruler who had to maintain control, who had to keep his distance, even from his fated mate.

She looked away, her chest tightening. She couldn't breathe in this silence. She couldn't breathe in the uncertainty of her future, knowing that she was trapped in a web spun by forces beyond her control.

Kasian's voice broke through the quiet. "I won't pretend that this bond is easy for either of us. But I also won't pretend that you don't have a place in this kingdom. Whether you accept it or not, you are my queen."

Liora clenched her fists at her sides, a rush of emotions flooding her. Anger, confusion, fear—she didn't know what to feel anymore.

"You may be my queen," she whispered, her voice trembling, "but you're not my king."

The words hung in the air, as sharp and cutting as a blade.

Kasian didn't flinch. He didn't react, but something flickered in his eyes—something that sent a chill down her spine.

"Perhaps," he said quietly, "but that doesn't mean I won't make you mine, Liora."

The silence between them deepened, thick and oppressive. And as Liora stood there, facing the man who was now both her husband and her fated mate, she realized just how complicated her fate had become.

She had wanted to escape, to reclaim her freedom, but now she had nowhere to run. The bond between them was stronger than anything she could fight. And she was beginning to wonder if she was meant to be more than just the Lycan Queen.

Maybe she was meant to be the key to something even darker.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

And yet, she couldn't deny the strange pull she felt toward him.

Kasian was her king. And whether she liked it or not, he was in her blood now.