A Deal With the King I can't breathe . The moment the Alpha King steps further into the hall , it's like all the air is sucked from my lungs . My chest tightens , a violent pressure clamping down until I feel like I'm suffocating . My head dips without warning , heavy as stone , falling forward like it no longer belongs to me . What … the hell is happening ? Why can't I control my body ? I gasp for air - ragged , shallow breaths that scrape painfully through my throat , but it's like trying to breathe through water . Every inhale burns . My vision swims . Is it his aura ? Can it really be this strong ? I've felt dominant wolves before . Alphas with enough presence to make your knees buckle like Jack , yet I don't . But this - this is different . This is something else . It's not just power . It's not fear . It's not even pain . It's everything . And it crushes me . I want to lift my head , to see him , but my body stays frozen , trembling under the weight of something I can't name . My fingers twitch uselessly against the burning silver chains , but I can't move . It's like I'm not even inside myself anymore . Just a soul caged in flesh that won't respond . Then I see it . His shadow . It stretches along the gleaming marble , stopping right beside me . My breath stalls . He's here . Standing close - so close I can feel the heat of his presence seeping into my skin. Seconds pass . Then more . It turns into minutes , and he still doesn't move . He just stands there . Why ? Why is he just standing there ? Is he staring at me ? My heart thuds unevenly . Loud . Wild . And I still don't look up . I can't . Not because I'm afraid . But because it feels wrong . Like looking at him would shatter something sacred . Like I'd break apart in ways I'd never recover from , The air between us is suffocating and electric - thick with something ancient and deep . But it's not a mate bond . No sparks or pull or aching need . This is different . It's peace . A kind of impossible peace that stills every broken part of me , quiets the storm in my chest , even without my wolf . Like … I'm home . And I hate it . I hate that I feel this way about a man I've never met . The father of the woman trying to kill me . " Dad , " Lady Celestia's voice snaps through the air like a whip , sharp with irritation . " Why are you just standing there ? Sit on your throne and make the judgement already ! " She grabs his arm , tugging him like a spoiled child . I don't see it . But I feel it . Like she's dragging him away from some invisible thread connecting us . And for once … I'm grateful to her . Even if I secretly want to watch her burn . The Alpha King finally moves , the air shifting as his presence glides away . I hear the soft thud of boots ascending the steps toward the throne . 1/5 A Deal With the king +25 Bonus Lady Celestia's heels follow quickly after , her perfume dragging behind her like poison . I release the breath I didn't know I was holding , my chest still aching . But it's not over . I can feel his gaze . Heavy . Burning . Still on me . " Look at me , " he says . Just two words . But my heart stops . The voice - it slams into me like a wave . Familiar in a way that hurts . I know it . I've heard it before . Somewhere distant . Maybe in a dream . Maybe in a memory that isn't mine . And suddenly , a sharp pain erupts in my skull . I hiss , trying to lift my head - trying to obey - but nothing happens . I don't move . I can't move . My limbs stay locked . My neck stiff . My eyes fixed on the ground like they're glued there . What the hell is wrong with me ? He's the Alpha King . His command should override everything . Everyone obeys him . So why can't I ? Is it because I've lost my wolf ? Is that why my body won't submit ? Or … is it something else ? " Dad , I told you … " Celestia hisses from above , voice full of venom . " * She's fucking annoying and stubborn . So disrespectful and deserves death - * AH ! " There's a sharp yelp , followed by a string of curses . " Dad , this throne … burned me ! " she cries out , full of shock and disbelief . " Something's wrong with it ! " My lips twitch . I don't look up , but I don't need to . I can hear the smirk in the Alpha King's voice . " Celestia , stop being dramatic and sit down . " There's a pause . I imagine her pouting . Her stupid , flawless face twisted in spoiled frustration . " I'm not lying ! " she snaps , and I can tell she's trying again . More silence . Then a hiss of pain and the scrape of her chair being pushed back . " Dad , I swear , it won't let me sit . I don't understand- " The Alpha King's voice is sharper now , touched with genuine surprise . ' How come your throne is suddenly burning you … when it was made for you ? " Silence hangs for a moment . Even he didn't expect that . " I - I don't know , Dad , " she stammers . " Maybe … maybe something's wrong with it . But it's not important , really . Let's not waste any more time . Please . Just give- " & Chat With the King +25 Bonus She stops . Probably realising he's no longer listening - because I can feel his gaze on me . I still can't look up . Not until I understand this feeling , until I remember why his voice sounds like a key turning in the lock of my soul . And why another part is terrified of what I'll see when I finally look at him . A monster ? A man ? A father ? " I will give you one chance to defend yourself to tell me why I shouldn't rip your head off . " His voice crashes down from the throne like thunder . Deep , powerful … but there's something in it . A crack . Just a whisper of something that doesn't fit the image of a ruthless Alpha King . I frown slightly . Did his voice break just now ? " What ? " I whisper , but I don't say it loud enough . I'm too stunned . From the corner of the room , I hear a sharp gasp - followed by a high - pitched voice filled with fury . W ww w at a wall all naturalight all i " Daddy , what are you doing ? You don't need to listen to her ! I told you what she did , how she defied me - your royal authority ! " Celestia's voice sounds like nails on glass . Hysterical . Childish . Desperate . There's a long pause . Then the king's voice again , this time sharper . Cold . " Keep quiet , Celestia , and stop embarrassing me- and yourself . I am the King here . " If I weren't kneeling in front of him with my life on the line , I might have laughed . It bubbles in my throat anyway . For once , someone is telling her to shut the hell up - and that someone is her father . I don't laugh though . I breathe . Deep , slow , controlled . I don't want to die laughing . " So , " the Alpha King says , voice lower now , like he's trying not to let mething show , " go ahead . Kali , right ? " He says my name like he's tasting it , rolling it on his tongue , almost mocking - but not quite . For the first time , it doesn't sound like my name . It sounds foreign , like it doesn't belong to me anymore . I stay silent . " I did my research , " he continues , " I know Alpha Jack is your mate. But that doesn't mean I should tolerate your disrespect to my daughter- the future Alpha Queen . " He pauses deliberately , and I feel the weight of the word queen like it's meant crush me . " Disrespecting royalty earns punishment . Laying a hand on royalty … " His tone drops . s . " That's death . " My fingers clench against the cold stone beneath me . Laying a hand - like I went out of my way to attack her . Like I'm not the one who was ambushed , provoked , pushed until I snapped . " So , " he says , " tell me why should I spare your life ? " I open my mouth . Nothing comes out . Not because I'm guilty . But because why the hell do I have to defend myself for being innocent ? I didn't do anything wrong . But I say nothing - and the silence screams louder than Celestia ever could . The king's voice breaks again . " I see . You don't want to talk . Or maybe … you are guilty . And I should kill you . " flinch . That crack in his voice again - it's not weakness . It's conflict . He doesn't want to do this . But he will . For his daughter . For the crown . Then something shifts . He leans forward - I feel it more than I see it - and his tone changes . " But I'm in a good mood . And … because of the respect I have for Jack , I want to give you a chance to live . " 3/5 A Deal With the King +25 Bonus A door opens behind me . Heavy boots . A guard marches in , tossing a leather bag at my feet . The thud echoes . Gold spills out in bright , gleaming coins that catch the firelight . It glints like blood . " Take the gold , " the king says , "and run . Disappear . Never return - not to this pack , not to your mate . Start a new life . Far from here . That should be enough to live very well . " For the first time , I breathe . Still not looking up , I say slowly , " What if I make my own deal ? " The room goes still again . I can feel Celestia seething . The king doesn't respond . " I'll give you twice - no , three times - your gold . " I lift my head slightly , eyes still downcast but voice steady . " Take it , Alpha King . And leave me and my mate the fuck alone . " Silence . Then … He laughs . It's deep . Unpredictable . And it scares the hell out of me . My spine stiffens . Shit . I crossed a line . Did I just dig my own grave ? But then he leans back , and there's something in his voice I can't quite place . " Now I understand , " he murmurs , almost to himself . " Now I see why Jack is completely whipped by you . " My heart skips a beat . " You're bold . Reckless . " A pause . Then , with something close to admiration- " One stubborn little she - wolf , " And then " I love it . "