The Lycan's Hidden Flame

Elsa

I couldn't take it anymore. The silence, the pull, the waiting, the feeling of being trapped in this place there was too much confusion inside me. Every day felt like a slow, suffocating descent into uncertainty, and I couldn't breathe through it any longer.

Kieran had given me nothing. He'd only kept me here like a prisoner, a curiosity he didn't care about, and I hated it. I had to confront him.

I marched down the corridor, my footsteps echoing loudly in the otherwise silent castle. My heart beat fast in my chest, anxiety twisting my insides, but I wasn't going to back down this time.

When I reached his office-his study, I guess I didn't even bother knocking. I threw open the door and stepped inside, meeting his cold, calculating gaze the second I entered. His eyes flicked over me, the slightest hint of surprise before his mask of indifference slipped back into place.

I stood there, for a hot minute. Ignoring the fact that he had sent for me.

"What is it, Elsa?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, like he hadn't a care in the world.

I swallowed hard, forcing my words out despite the tremor in my chest. "I need answers, Kieran. I can't keep living like this-locked in your castle with no explanation. Why am I here? Why are you keeping me?"

His gaze hardened, his jaw tightening imperceptibly. I knew he didn't want to answer. He wanted to keep me in the dark, to keep me in this cage of silence and confusion. But I wasn't going to let him anymore.

"You want answers?" He leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning me like I was nothing more than a problem to be solved. "You're here because you're my mate, Elsa."

The words didn't register at first. I stared at him, trying to make sense of what he had just said. Mate? Me? I didn't even have a wolf. The words cut through me, confusion twisting into a knot of frustration in my chest.

"I'm what?"

He sighed, a soft, resigned sound that made my insides curl with unease. "You heard me. You're my mate. And I didn't ask for it."

The way he said it, cold and emotionless, like it was nothing more than an inconvenience-it stung. The truth of it hit me like a slap to the face.

"You don't mean that," I managed to say, my voice shaking. "I don't even have a wolf. How can I be your mate if I don't even have a wolf?"

He stood up slowly, crossing the room toward me with a deliberate, controlled grace. There was nothing warm or reassuring in his movements. He stopped just in front of me, so close I could feel the heat of his body against mine.

"You're nothing to me, Elsa. You're just a mistake. A curse." His words were cruel, each one like a needle stabbing into my chest, his rejection as final as a locked door.

My breath caught in my throat, my heart aching as his words settled over me like a heavy weight. "But... I thought-"

He shook his head, a dark, bitter laugh escaping his lips. "You thought wrong."

I stared at him, my chest tight, my emotions swirling inside me like a storm. For a moment, I thought I might crumble under the weight of it all, but then the anger surged, filling me with a strength I hadn't known I had.

I slapped him.

The sound of my palm connecting with his cheek was so loud it echoed through the room. He staggered back slightly, his eyes wide in shock, but I didn't care. I didn't care that I had just slapped the Lycan King, that my anger had overtaken any shred of fear.

"You're a monster," I spat, my voice trembling with emotion. "You have no right to treat me like this."

I turned, not waiting for him to respond, and ran for the door. My heart was pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I pushed past the massive door, my mind screaming at me to get out, to escape before he could stop me.

I was so close-so close to the hallway and freedom-when I felt his presence behind me. A second later, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm and yanking me back with terrifying strength.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was low, deadly, the edge of anger clear.

I struggled against his grip, my chest heaving as I fought for my freedom. "Let me go!" I shouted, my feet scraping against the floor as I tried to break free.

"Stop," he growled, his voice thunderous. "You're not going anywhere."

I tried again, using every ounce of strength I had to wrench my arm from his grasp. But the more I fought, the tighter his hold became. My breath hitched, frustration boiling over, but then something shifted.

The room felt... heavier, suffocating. I felt the weight of his presence pressing down on me, his anger radiating through the air like a storm waiting to break. For a moment, I felt so small in comparison. But then -something inside me snapped.

I was Elsa. I wasn't just some helpless woman, and I wasn't going to let him make me feel that way.

I gathered every bit of strength I had and twisted in his grip. This time, when I struck out, it was with more force. I kicked his shin, my foot landing with a satisfying thud.

Kieran growled in pain, but it was enough to make him loosen his grip. just for a moment. That's all I needed. I pulled free and ran.

This time, I didn't stop. I didn't care if he was chasing me, if his warriors were coming for me. I needed to get out.

I made it to the stairs before he caught me again.

His fingers clamped around my arm, spinning me around so quickly that I lost my balance and fell back into him. I heard his breath, ragged and heated, against my ear as he pulled me into him.

"Enough," he said, his voice harsh. "Stop fighting me."

I felt his strength, his power, but it didn't matter. I wasn't going to just give up. I couldn't.

But then suddenly, there was a pain.

A sharp, searing pain, like something inside me was breaking. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. I gasped, clutching at my chest as the agony surged through me, radiating from deep within.

I fell to my knees, tears spilling from my eyes as the pain increased. The bond, the mate bond-was breaking.

I heard Kieran's voice, but it was distant, as if I was underwater.

"Elsa..." His voice, so full of uncertainty, slipped through the pain. But it didn't matter anymore.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't even move.

And then everything went black.