Chapter 4 The Rogue Wolf's Arrival

Ophelia stood near the window, fingers pressed against the cold glass, eyes fixed on the palace's sprawling grounds. The sun was setting, therefore lengthy shadows were created over the courtyard. Though the night was lovely, a great tension remained in the air.

As Lucian neared her, his presence filling the space, his footfall shattered the stillness. His silky, authoritative voice made her heart race.

Lucian started, his voice calm, "Ophelia, you've been warned already. Rebellion has no place in the palace.

Trying to control her breathing, she turned to face him. I am not revolting. I'm simply... trying to fit in here. Though she meant for her remarks to be harsher, they were softer. Still, one could not ignore the inner struggle she felt.

Lucian moved nearer, watching her with his black gaze narrowing. Though he didn't touch her, the heat between them was unmistakable. You are now mine, he hissed quietly and menacingly. Should you attempt to flee, penalties will follow.

Unwilling to reveal any weakness, Ophelia tightened her hands. I am not your property, Lucian. You have no say over me.

His lips curved into a little grin that did not reach his eyes. Controlling you is not necessary. You will discover that by yourself.

Callum Nightshade showed up at the door as though called for by the growing tension. The gloom of the corridor framed his tall, thin physique. His black hair was unkempt and his deep-set eyes shone with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Your tension hasn't lessened, Callum said, his voice reflecting the same mocking edge that appeared to characterize him.

Turning towards him, Ophelia's heart raced as the mysterious renegade wolf caught her attention like a magnet. Callum, a renegade, a danger, and now on the council of the Lycan Kings, had a reputation that came before him. But there was something about him that made her uncomfortable, something she could not identify.

Lucian's look turned to Callum, his face tightening. Lucian warned, his voice deep and menacing, "Stay away from her." "She's under my guard."

Unfazed by the danger, Callum grinned. I will, Lucian. Don't worry, he continued, his voice oozing with laughter. "I just like seeing you attempt to manage unmanageable stuff.

Ophelia saw the two guys trade a glance that made her spine tingle. Like the quiet before a storm, the air between them was charged. She found herself caught in the centre of something far larger than she had ever dreamed.

Ophelia was haunted by the burden of Callum's enigmatic remarks and the tension of the days after his arrival. She felt as though she were on the brink of something far more hazardous than she grasped.

Unable to rest, she roamed the palace for the next several hours. The formerly magnificent and powerful walls now felt claustrophobic. The opulent furniture and rich tapestries provided no solace.

She thought back to Callum. Every second his dark, knowing gaze tormented her. He had said she was significant, more so than she understood. But why is that? What was his meaning?

Surrounded by the tall, old shelves with their antique books providing no answers, she ended up at the library. But there, on the table, was an ancient, weathered book without a title, its pages yellowed with age that I had not previously seen. Though the language was odd, inscribed in unreadable symbols, a shiver shot through her the instant she touched it.

What do you see?

Startled by the gentle voice, Ophelia turned. Framed by the weak hallway light, Callum stood at the entrance. Though his look was strong this time, there was no ridicule; simply interest.

Her heart pounding, she shut the book fast. "Not anything."

Like a predator stalking its prey, Callum moved closer quietly and smoothly. You don't know what you're up against, do you? he said, nearly whispering in a low tone.

Unwilling to reveal the terror that seized her, Ophelia stood motionless.

Callum went on, his voice tinged with unusual anger, "Ophelia, your bloodline is not only for show. You are not only a pawn in their game. They are exploiting you. You don't have to follow their rules.

She looked at him, doubtful whether to trust him. Should she have faith in him? The enigmatic words, the cautions, they seemed like a trap, yet her gut said there was truth hidden in them.

Callum moved closer, his breath warm on her ear. You are more than simply a pawn. You are the future of the kingdom.

Ophelia's heart raced in her chest. Was she more than a pawn? Her ancestry was more than a weapon. His words weighed heavy on her chest.

She wished to enquire further, but Callum spun around and left her alone with more questions than solutions.

The next several days seemed to be the eye of a hurricane. Ophelia attempted to keep some sort of peace despite the rising palace tension. Most of her time was spent in her room reading Lucian's books about the history of the kingdom, politics, and the heritage of the Lycan Kings. But none of it was clear.

Once under tight control, her feelings were starting to spiral. Lucian's harsh might, Tyler's unexpected presence, and Callum's enigmatic alerts all tugged her in every way. She didn't know what to believe or who to trust.

Her mind a maelstrom, she sat by the window gazing out at the moonlit garden below. Overhead, far and untouchable, the stars sparkled precisely like the life she had once known. As her thoughts drifted back to Tyler, the guy who had once been her universe, her fingers grazed the chilly glass of the window.

Then there was Callum. She still remembered his remarks. She was not only a pawn. But then who was she?

A commotion outside her window surprised her and she stood swiftly, her heart beating.

Though the courtyard was vacant, she might have sworn she saw a shadowy figure move. She leaned closer, trying to see.

Once more, a shadow moved towards the window.

Ophelia's breath caught. It was he. Tyler

But the more she searched, the more the figure appeared to disappear into the gloom, so stunning and perplexing her. What was going on? Who was now observing her?

Still breathing fast, she shut the window unsure whether what she had saw was genuine or perhaps a nighttime illusion.

Ophelia moved along the big hall, her feet deliberate and heavy, the faint light flickering in the corners. Usually chilly and sterile in the palace, the air today felt thicker with an odd tension. She had stayed away from Callum since the night of his enigmatic warning, but destiny had a way of bringing them together when she least expected it.

Ophelia paused just inside the library entrance, where Callum waited comfortably resting against the big wooden doorframe. His dark eyes, shining with joy, tracked her every action. Though his presence in the room made her uneasy, there was something else, something far less clear-cut, that made her both cautious and interested.

You seem to have been ignoring me. Callum's voice sliced through the stillness, smooth as silk but tinged with a lethal edge.

Ophelia tensed up, determined not to let her instincts give her away. Callum, I didn't request your attention, she responded, trying to be as forceful as she could. I have to be here.

His gaze stayed on hers as he smirked. Certainly. But I have been observing you, Ophelia. You are not only one in this realm. You have more power than you know.

His words made her gasp sharply. Though she felt her defenses were beginning to break, she retorted, "I'm not a puppet."

Callum stepped closer to her, pushing off the doorframe. I never claimed you were, his voice falling to a whisper. Ophelia, you may be far more than a queen. You might be the one in charge of this realm.

Ophelia flinched a little, her heart racing in her chest. She said, her voice tight, "What are you talking about?"

Callum's eyes black with unvoiced intentions never left. "Come with me," he whispered, his words just above a whisper but their impact was clear. "And you'll be more than just a queen. You will be the one in charge of this realm.

She held her breath in her throat. The concept was enticing, even hazardous. But the danger, what would it cost her to decide thus? She could not believe him. But something deep inside her stirred. Could she pull it off? Could she fight Lucian and take charge of her destiny?

Torn between the temptation of power and the necessity to safeguard what little she had left of herself, Ophelia paused.

Though the palace had always been magnificent, today it seemed like a jail. Ophelia roamed the marble corridors, Callum's proposal still weighing in her heart. She could not get rid of the impression that the walls were closing in on her. Though she wanted to dismiss the rogue wolf's comments, the offer remained in her head like a shadow she could not escape.

Lucian's unexpected arrival broke her train of thought. He emerged before her as if he had been waiting in the shadows, his tall figure silhouetted against the dim light of the passageway.

"Ophelia," Lucian said firmly, his tone lacking any softness. We have to speak.

His voice made her uneasy. The last thing she wanted to do was have another talk about her 'position' in this kingdom, but the desperation in his gaze told her she had no option.

Lucian said, his voice tinged with something deeper that Ophelia couldn't identify, "You've been talking to Callum."

She asked, arms crossed and chin up angrily, "Is that a problem?"

Lucian's eyes darkened as a storm started to form behind them. It's when he starts telling you falsehoods. Callum is risky, Ophelia. He has always been.

Ophelia's heart sank, but she would not reveal dread. I'm not a kid, Lucian. I can decide for myself.

Lucian stepped closer, his gaze fixed on hers. The distance between them became unreasonably small, and for a brief minute, Ophelia believed she could drown in the intensity of his stare. Lucian cautioned, his voice quieter but yet sharp with threat, "Don't be foolish." No matter what he's told you, he has his own agenda that excludes you.

Trying to remain composed, she swallowed. Your protection is not required.

Lucian's expression stiffened, the mask of apathy falling for only a second. Reaching out his hand, he gently brushed her arm, a gesture so slight it could have been imagined.

Ophelia, keep away from him. You don't realize what you're up against, Lucian said, his tone turning urgent. The fear, the protectiveness, the unmistakable certainty now. He was concerned about what Callum could do to her; he was also concerned that Ophelia would select anything, or someone, else.

Ophelia's heart raced. She wanted to scream that she didn't need his protection, that she could make her own choices, to draw away. But she couldn't. Their attraction was unarguable.

Ophelia felt deep down, though, that Lucian's remarks reflected a place of control rather than worry. What scared him? What made Callum so disturbed by Callum's simple presence?

Her head full of mixed feelings, she walked away from Lucian's gripping presence, turning away before she could speak. She wanted solutions, but the cost of looking for them appeared more than ever.