Nyra opened her eyes slowly, feeling groggy. She found herself in a brightly lit room. It seemed like something from a medieval time or a historical movie, the stone walls were adorned with tapestries in regal jade tones, with a large canopy bed that was right in front of a massive fireplace. There was scarcely any other furniture—the room was basically vacant, save for an armoire by the wall and an ottoman by the window.

It was morning. Fear and rage began to build up inside her again as she realized what had just happened. Somehow, the Alpha King had kidnapped her and brought her with him, and she had spent the whole night in this place!

She had never been to the Lycan part of town, but the rumors had always implied that the Alpha had a large estate all to himself. The previous king had used it to throw parties and large banquets, but this one had kicked out all the others and stayed there alone. He was far too cold and heartless for parties. Even to the humans, it was a well-known fact that the Alpha was a recluse and barely ever left his estate.

Yet he was at the festival, Nyra thought to herself, trying to collect the thoughts buzzing through her head. Why would he even be there in the first place? It was true that the Lycans were free to attend, but not once before had the Alpha been present.

She remembered the moment she first took him in and their eyes met—the way the world around her had faded away as she stood before him. How his eyes held hers and made her skin ignite with…something. It had almost seemed as though he had come for her. But why would he?

Realizing that she was only getting more confused the more she thought about it, Nyra got up, reaching a hand out to steady herself on the bed, she moved to the window to figure out where she was, but the scene before her took her breath away.

Acres of lush trees stretched out before her, and directly before them was a garden with an array of colorful flowers. It was all so beautiful—too beautiful to be locked up in this manner, only to be seen by the brute of an Alpha King.

Wait, she thought, pausing to think again. Why would he bring me here?

“It doesn’t make any sense.”

Nyra didn’t realize she had spoken the words aloud until she heard her voice echo in the silence of the room, and then she heard a reply. “What doesn’t make sense?”

She spun around to find the Alpha leaning against the doorframe, his face devoid of expression and those dark eyes boring into her again. Despite herself, she felt the same thrill as before—something in her that felt compelled to go closer to him, something that made her skin feel like it was being ignited.

“What doesn’t make sense, human?” the Alpha repeated, and the words broke her out of her trance.

“You!” she seethed, stalking toward him. “You…you beast! You brute!” She yelled, standing in front of him. “You kidnapped me!”

He raised an eyebrow and gave her a blank look before pushing himself off the door. The gesture brought him to his full height, and once more, he towered over her. Nyra reflexively took a step back and immediately hated herself for it.

The Alpha seemed more intimidating today. His broad shoulders and muscular frame were accentuated by the olive turtleneck he wore. His curly black hair was even more unruly, and something about it made her want to run her fingers through it. Her eyes traveled down his thick eyebrows, and just like the day before, she got stuck on his eyes. Somehow the olive color made them seem even darker today, making it even more impossible to look away.

He took another step toward her, but this time, she held her ground. “You are afraid of me,” he said, noting the way she was holding herself still, fists clenched tightly, and the sharp way her breathing had changed. “But you seem determined to pretend otherwise. Why is that?”

“Because I detest you, you brute! Why have you kidnapped me and brought me here? Isn’t this a violation of the peace treaty?”

He shifted his gaze away at that, and she was glad for the chance to breathe without the weight it carried. “Perhaps. This is a first. I admit that these…circumstances are quite unexpected, and so extra care has to be taken.”

“What circumstances?” Nyra asked warily, becoming even more suspicious. “Why did you kidnap me?” It made it all the more strange if this was unusual. “Why?”

“I will deal with anything that might arise from the situation.” He carried on as though she hadn’t spoken.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You ask too many questions,” he mused, evading them once more.

“What do you expect me to do? You just showed up out of nowhere and brought me here! Now you’re refusing to tell me why. I’ve always known you Lycans were going to…”

“Enough!” The word echoed and reverberated across the room. Before Nyra could say anything, he’d moved instantly, appearing in front of her. She felt goosebumps rise against her skin at his proximity. “Enough with the questions, human. You should be grateful.”

“Grateful?!” Nyra choked out. “Grateful that you decided to kidnap me?! Are your kind truly this obtuse?”

“Be grateful that I brought you here—that I chose you. Do you know how many others have thrown themselves at me? How many would kill to be in the position you are in?”

Nyra cringed at the words and gave him a droll look. “So what? Would you like an award for being a brute?”

His eyes widened slightly at the statement, and he threw his head back, barking out a laugh. The sound felt so sudden; it was like a clap of thunder, and Nyra felt it down to her bones. She hated herself for how much she wanted to hear it again.

The Alpha looked back at her now, all evidence of humor wiped from his features again. He reached out a hand and ran it through her hair. “You are as fiery as these flames.”

Nyra caught herself before she leaned into his touch again, remembering how much trouble that had gotten her into the night before. “Why have you brought me here, you beast?”

“Lucian,” he said, eyes capturing hers once more as his fingers curled around a lock of her hair.

“What?”

“Lucian. That is my name. And you will use it,” he commanded, letting go of her hair.