Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Catching Up with Connor

When Kira woke the next morning, Alpha Rolf’s cruel words still echoed in her mind, twisting like thorns she couldn’t pull out. How could he call her a traitor when he was the one who had shoved her into marrying a ruthless stranger?

After Derek had ordered Kai to take her to the car, Rolf’s screams had followed her down the corridor, and it had made her wonder exactly what Derek had done to him. Not that she cared. She was done feeling guilty about any of it.

Once they had returned from Moonfang, she had locked herself in her room and refused to see anyone, and collapsed into bed until sleep finally claimed her.

Now, lying in the unfamiliar bed, she stared at the ceiling for a moment before deciding she was not about to waste another day sulking. She let out a heavy sigh and swung her legs off the bed, slipping her feet into the fluffy slippers waiting on the floor. Her eyes caught a note on the nightstand, and she picked it up to read.

’Don’t leave the mansion today.’

That was it. No explanation or signature. Her anger sparked instantly. She marched to the door and twisted the handle, relief washing over her when it opened easily.

First they’d taken her phone, cutting her off from the world, and now they were restricting her movements? Why had he married her, for crying out loud? To turn her into some decorative house ornament? She wasn’t going to let that happen.

She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed out at the sprawling estate below. Derek’s mansion seemed to stretch on forever, with manicured gardens, towering trees, and hints of unimaginable wealth everywhere she looked. A few pack members moved about their daily routines down there, carrying on with life as if nothing had changed.

She needed a proper tour of this place if she was going to be his queen, even if it was only for twelve months.

"How did my life turn into a soap opera?" she muttered to the empty room. "What do I know about being a wife? I’m supposed to be studying law, not playing Queen of Dravengard."

With another heavy sigh, she headed into the bathroom to wash away the stress of the previous day. The space was pure luxury, but right now luxury wasn’t what she craved. She wanted freedom.

After a soothing shower, she threw on some comfy denim shorts and a simple caramel sweater, then stood in front of the connecting door to Derek’s bedroom. She hesitated for a second, wondering if it counted as invading his privacy. Was he still asleep? Then again, he had not exactly given her a rulebook, and if she was ever going to escape this place, she needed to know every inch of it.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The bedroom was empty, moody, and screamed "Derek" from every corner. It was all deep charcoal and matte black, with warm walnut wood slats behind a massive platform bed, cold and minimalist yet perfectly organised. There were no photos on the nightstands, no messy clothes piled anywhere, nothing to suggest a real person actually lived here. It felt more like a high-end showroom than a bedroom.

She did a quick, careful tour, making sure not to displace anything. Her stomach gave a loud, angry growl, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

She left the room and headed down the staircase, following the strong smell of coffee and the muffled clink of pans until she reached the kitchen.

A man stood at the stove with his back to her, wearing sweatpants and a tank top under a tied apron. He wasn’t Derek, but he was built like a tank, his arm muscles flexed as he flipped something in the pan.

He turned the second she stepped into the kitchen, his reflexes sharp. She recognised him immediately. He was one of Derek’s right-hand men. She struggled to find his name in her head.

"You look a lot better today," he said, handing her a steaming cup of coffee with a friendly smile.

"Good morning to you, too," Kira replied as she hopped onto a barstool. At least this one knew how to smile.

He chuckled, sliding a small tray of cream and sugar towards her. "Sleep okay?"

She nodded, then went straight for the goal. "Can I borrow your phone? I need to make a quick call."

"Sure," he said, reaching into his pocket. "But it has to be on speaker."

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