The door shut behind the healer with a loud click, and silence settled like a veil.
Lara stared out the window as she lay on the bed. Her body ached like she'd been torn apart and sewn back together with fire, but she ignored it. The moon hung fat and full outside, its light spilling into the room like a lover's touch.
Suddenly the door creaked open again.
Thornak stepped into the room and stopped dead.
The scent hit him first. Wildflowers and storm-kissed skin. Then he saw her, on the bed, bathed in silver moonlight. Her golden hair fell in loose waves over bare shoulders, the white fabric of her dress clinging to her like a second skin. She turned slightly, and when her eyes met his—blue, deep, endless—it was like being slammed by fate itself.
His wolf surged forward with a growl, raw and ravenous.
Mine.
He clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he forced Jax down. The beast inside him roared, demanding he cross the space and take her, mark her, claim what was his. But Thornak held still, muscles straining with the effort.
She blinked at him, surprise flickering across her face. Her lips parted, whether to speak or breathe, he didn't know. All he knew was that if she stood up, if she moved toward him, he might not be able to stop himself.
He cleared his throat. "You're awake."
She moved to sit up, but he raised a hand. "Don't. You're still healing."
She obeyed. "Y-yes, Your Majesty."
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. She had never seen a Lycan before, not in person, and now one stood before her. The Lycan King. And he was staring right at her.
Something in her gut twisted.
Thornak was confused. All he wanted, no, needed, was to pull her close, crush her against his chest, and claim her as his. To sink his mark into her skin and make the world know she belonged to him. Jax growled at the thought.
She hadn't felt it.
Not the bond.
Not the pull.
Not him.
What in the hell was wrong?
His eyes, never left her. Watching. Waiting. Like he was holding his breath for something from her. A flicker of recognition, a hint of connection. But she gave him nothing. And the silence between them was deafening.
She was beautiful, there was no denying it. Her blue eyes and golden curly hair, he had never seen anyone with such beauty. It made him want to take her in his arms and...
"Thank you for saving my life." She cut through his thoughts.
He moved to the chair by the bed, lowering himself with slow precision, as though unsure whether getting closer would calm her... or unravel them both.
"You were unconscious for two days," Thorn said. "Your wounds were... severe. I need you to answer me honestly because I will find out if you lie to me."
She nodded.
He stepped closer, slow and deliberate, and Lara instinctively pushed back on the bed. She hated that he noticed.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said, more quietly this time.
"I know," she whispered, though she wasn't sure she truly did. But something about his presence, it didn't just frighten her. It stirred something warmer. Stranger.
"What is your name? And where did you come from?"
"Lara Abdel." She responded. "I'm from a small village… south of Darkpine ridge"
He leaned forward. "You said you're from a village south of Darkpine Ridge?"
Lara nodded slowly, clutching the edge of her blanket. "Yes."
His brow furrowed. "That's a human village. You are a werewolf."
She flinched at the edge in his voice. "I know. My... my parents are traders so we move around a lot."
"No pack? No training?" Thornak's eyes blazed like twin suns. The warmth from the hearth was nothing compared to the heat radiating off him now. He stepped closer, his voice low yet commanding. "You fight better than some of my soldiers," he said. "Do not lie to me."
Lara tensed where she lay, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I told you the truth."
"You expect me to believe a girl raised in a human village fought off full grown rogues with nothing but a sword and instinct?"
"I didn't have a choice," she shot back. "They would've taken me if I hadn't."
"That's not an answer." His voice rumbled with authority, but there was something else beneath it, curiosity, maybe even concern.
She hesitated, biting her lip. Her heart pounded.
Lara looked down at her hands. "My father, he used to be a warrior. He served in the border militias during the last rogue uprisings before he left it all behind. He taught me how to fight."
Thornak's brows drew together, suspicion flickering in his golden gaze.
"Humans don't survive rogue battles. Not without help."
"My father taught me well," she insisted. "That is the truth your majesty."
Thornak sat back. The pieces didn't quite fit. Her scent, her skill, her presence, it was all wrong. Or too right.
"Why were you in my forest?"
Lara swallowed hard. "My village was attacked. Some rogues came in the night. They… they were taking young girls."
His expression darkened instantly.
"My father told me to run. He bought me time. I didn't want to leave my brother, or my mother, but he made me." Her voice cracked a little. "I thought I got away. But they followed me." She hesitated, then asked, "Why did you help me?"
"You were bleeding, alone, surrounded by rogues." He paused, jaw tightening. "I couldn't walk away."
He leaned forward, voice softening. "What happened to your wolf?"
She looked away. Her throat tightening. "I… I don't have one."
Silence fell between them. Thick. Heavy. His wolf paced inside him, snarling in disbelief. No wolf. But the bond was there. Jax wouldn't be reacting this way if it wasn't.
"I am wolfless," she repeated, quieter now. Almost ashamed.
And still, his instincts screamed mine.
But then a wolfless girl doesn't possess this much strength. There must be more to this girl than she was letting on.
"Will I be allowed to leave? I… I need to find my family." she asked.
He blinked. "You want to leave?"
Lara hesitated. "My family… if they're still out there, they'll be looking for me."
He hesitated, then nodded once. "You're still healing. But when you're stronger, yes. Until then, I'll send riders. If your family can be found, they will be."
Her eyes widened. "You would do that?"
He gave a single, firm nod. "I didn't leave you to die in that forest. I'm not leaving you now."
Her heart stuttered. The room felt warmer all of a sudden.
"Thank you," she said, her voice small but sincere.
He gave the faintest nod and turned toward the door but paused, just before stepping out.
"I'm Thornak," he said. "In case you were wondering."
She offered a shy smile.
Then he was gone, and Lara sank slowly back into the bed, heart pounding.
....
The office was lit by firelight and tension.
Thornak stood braced against the table, jaw tight, eyes fierce. Kael lounged nearby, watching his brother carefully. Ruvan paced like a caged beast.
"She says her village was attacked by rogues," Thornak said. "Darkpine Ridge. Human territory. Far from our patrol routes."
Kael frowned. "What would rogues be doing out there?"
"Taking girls," Thornak replied. "She said they came in the night. Her father helped her escape."
Ruvan arched a brow. "Impressive."
"And she's wolfless."," Thornak added. "But she's clearly been trained. She held her ground longer than most would."
Kael raised a brow. "So you're saying the woman your wolf has claimed… has no wolf? Do we believe her?"
"We verify her story," Thornak said firmly. "Send scouts to Darkpine Ridge. Discreet. I want confirmation on the attack and her family's survival."
Ruvan gave a short nod. "And the rogues?"
"Track them. If they're operating in that region, we need to know how close they've gotten to our borders—and who's giving them orders." He looked between the two. "I want answers by the end of the week. I have a feeling this is connected to the recent attacks on our boarders."
As if on cue, there was a knock and Dain, his Beta entered. His scarred brow was furrowed, jaw tight. "They've been sighted again near the Frostmere border. Same formation. Same scent. Another patrol has gone missing, That makes three."
Ruvan, paced near the far window. "No bodies. No survivors. Just gone. This isn't rogue work. It's coordinated. Someone's commanding them."
Dain added grimly, "Whatever this is, they're testing our defenses. We either hit first, or we wait until they strike something vital."
"Could they be the ones taking the girls," Kael asked. "Could all this be connected?"
Thorn's golden eyes gleamed beneath the torchlight. "Could be, we prepare a counter strike, but not yet. We'll ride north tomorrow."
"And the woman?" Dain asked, eyeing him carefully.
"She is not to be touched," Thorn growled. "My chambers are sealed. No one enters, not even my mother. Let the court whisper. Let them boil. She is under my protection. Kael, I leave you in charge of her."
Kael nodded.