Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Wedding Reception

The wedding reception was buzzing with people who looked like they belonged on magazine covers. Everyone was dressed to impress—sparkling jewels, sharp suits, flowing gowns that shimmered under the chandeliers. The air felt thick with expensive perfume, quiet laughter, and the low hum of power. Different kinds of shifters, different levels of importance, all mixed together in one glittering room.

Kira felt tiny in the middle of it all. No familiar faces. No friends from university. Just a sea of Lycans who stared at her like she was some rare animal on display. She kept her back straight anyway, fingers wrapped tightly around Derek’s arm. He was still terrifyingly tall, silent, and radiating that icy calm, but at least he was the one person here who had brought her into this chaos. Her back throbbed with every step, the whip marks burning under the fancy dress. She told herself she just had to get through tonight. Then she could collapse into bed and sleep like she’d been hit by a truck.

As she and Derek stepped down from the small podium where they’d been announced, people immediately closed in around them like water around a stone.

Nana appeared first, her face glowing with happiness. "Welcome to the dynasty, Chloe," she said as she squeezed Kira’s free hand.

Kira managed a real smile and nodded politely. A little stab of guilt twisted in her chest that she was lying to Nana about this marriage. Nana was the only person who had been kind to her since she arrived. No cold stares or whispered comments about her being a werewolf or wolfless. The maids who dressed her earlier had been super judgey, their eyes full of "eww, a werewolf," but Nana treated her like a queen.

"Congratulations, Your Grace," came a smooth voice next.

A stunning redhead in a deep emerald gown glided up. She smiled perfectly at Derek, then flicked her eyes toward Kira, just one quick glance. That glance alone said more than words could say.

Kira pretended not to notice.

Then a younger man approached, maybe twenty-three or twenty-four, tall and broad like the rest of them, with a cocky grin that screamed trouble in the best way. "Hello, cousin," he said to Derek.

Derek’s expression didn’t change at all. "Kai. What are you doing here?"

"I invited him," Nana said cheerfully from beside them. "It’s your wedding, darling. Everyone’s invited."

Kai’s eyes slid to Kira, and his grin grew wider, slow and appreciative. "I heard she was pretty. But nobody told me she was goddess-level beautiful." He held out his hand. "Hello, beautiful."

Heat rushed to Kira’s cheeks. A tiny, surprised smile tugged at her lips as she placed her hand in his. Kai bent low and pressed a light kiss to the back of her knuckles.

"I see why you managed to steal His Grace away from all the other females," he murmured, voice teasing, "especially Ru—"

Connor moved like lightning. He grabbed Kai by the collar and yanked him back with a friendly-but-firm shove. "Take your goofiness somewhere else, man."

Kira’s smile stretched a little wider. Okay, she already liked this guy. He was cheeky and fun in a room full of frozen statues. But she couldn’t help wondering—who was "Ru"? She glanced sideways at Derek. His face was stone-cold again. No flicker of amusement, or any hint of jealousy. Just that blank mask he wore so well. The only sign anything had touched him at all was a tiny muscle ticking along his jaw.

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