Carter

Satisfied with their submission, I gradually withdraw my aura, allowing the oppressive energy to dissipate into the air. The tension eases as the Lycans lift their heads, relief flickering across their faces. The leader straightens, his expression now marked with newfound respect.

“I apologize for misunderstanding you earlier,” he says, his tone measured and humble. “The king is currently away from the kingdom. However, I will arrange for the beta to meet with you in his place.”

I nod, offering him a warm smile. “Thank you, sir.”

With a final glance, the Lycans leap gracefully over the gates, their massive forms disappearing from view. The silence left in their wake is almost calming after the weight of the confrontation. I clap my hands, summoning a comfortable seating area. My guardians reappear in a flash of light, joining me on the seats as if nothing had happened.

“I’m sorry for sending you away earlier,” I say, looking at them with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t want to hurt you with my alpha aura like I did yesterday.”

Claude chuckles, shaking his head. “You don’t have to apologize for keeping us safe, Lenora. It was the right call.”

Arya, however, is more contemplative. “Thank you for that, Queen Lenora,” she begins. “Your aura is truly something else… We teleported all the way to the forest line, and we could still feel it. A thick black aura flowed out of you, and…” she hesitates, her brow furrowed. “It looked like it was almost taking the shape of a beast.”

Her words linger in the air, stirring a mix of curiosity and unease inside me. The idea of my aura manifesting into a beastlike form unsettles me. Could this be connected to the dark magic from my dream? Or perhaps something deeper, something I have yet to fully understand?

I don’t have much time to dwell on these thoughts before a massive shadow descends in front of us. A loud thud shakes the ground as a figure lands, and my eyes widen as I take in the sight of the lycan before me. He is even larger than the ones I faced earlier, his body rippling with muscle, towering over us like a living force of nature.

Without warning, he begins to shift. His lycan form melts away, fur retracting into skin, bones and muscles realigning as he transforms into the shape of a man. A very large, and very naked man.

The girls squeal in surprise, covering their eyes, while the men glare at him with a mix of annoyance and discomfort. I, on the other hand, am too stunned to react immediately. He stands before us unabashed, his muscular body gleaming in the sunlight, his sandy blonde hair tousled as if it had been swept by the wind. His bright blue eyes twinkle with amusement, and a playful grin tugs at his lips.

Before this awkwardness can drag on, I clap my hands again, instantly clothing him in a pair of track pants and a simple t-shirt. “There,” I say, my voice dry, “now we’re all a bit more comfortable.”

He laughs, an easy, carefree sound that somehow fits his demeanor perfectly. “Sorry about the show, ladies,” he says, still grinning. “Didn’t mean to make things awkward.” He crosses his arms, his gaze sweeping over us with a mixture of confidence and mischief. “I’m Carter, the beta of the lycan kingdom. And I have to say, that’s quite the handy ability you’ve got.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “It’s useful in moments like these, that’s for sure,” I reply, a hint of amusement creeping into my voice. He’s charming, there’s no denying that, but there’s also a sharpness in his eyes—he’s observing us, assessing the situation, even through the casual facade.

Carter seems like someone not to be underestimated.