she belongs to me

Maxwell’s face twisted in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

Zenobia didn’t flinch. She held Orion’s golden gaze and repeated, “Take me away from here.”

A low hum rumbled in Orion’s chest, and something dark flickered in his eyes. “Now that,” he said , “is an interesting request.”

Maxwell took a sharp step forward, his hands clenching into fists. “Zenobia, stop. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

She turned to him, her expression cold. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

His jaw tightened. “You’re going to run away with him? A Lycan? Our enemy?”

Orion chuckled, the deep sound rolling through the air like a storm approaching. “Funny,” he mused. “You call me the enemy, but you treat your mate worse than one.”

Maxwell shot him a glare. “Stay out of this.”

Orion only smirked. “Oh, but it is my business now.” He turned his gaze back to Zenobia. “You want to leave, little wolf? Then say it again. Say it like you mean it.”

Zenobia straightened, meeting his challenge. “Take me away from here. I don’t belong here anymore.”

Orion tilted his head, studying her. Then, in one fluid motion, he moved closer, his presence overwhelming, suffocating. He reached out, his fingers brushing a stray strand of her damp hair from her face.

“Hmm,” he mused, his voice dripping with something unreadable. “You’re a bold one.”

Maxwell growled and stepped forward again. “Don’t touch her.”

Orion didn’t even spare him a glance. “Or what?”

Maxwell’s breathing turned ragged. “Zenobia, please. Don’t do this.”

She let out a sharp laugh. “Now you say please?” Her eyes burned with frustration. “Where was that when you rejected me? When you humiliated me? When you treated me like I was nothing?”

Maxwell flinched, but his voice remained desperate. “I was wrong. But running to him—you think that’s the answer?”

“I think it’s the only choice I have left.”

Silence stretched between them.

Amber, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally found her voice. “Zeno… are you sure about this?”

Zenobia turned to her, her expression softening. “Are you still my friend?”

Amber swallowed hard. “Of course I am.”

Zenobia exhaled. “Then come with me.”

Amber’s heart pounded. She glanced at Maxwell, then at Orion, then back to Zenobia. Leaving meant stepping into the unknown, into danger. But staying meant watching her best friend walk away alone.

Amber’s voice was small but firm. “Okay.”

Maxwell’s entire body tensed. “Amber, no. You don’t understand what you’re getting into.”

Amber’s lips pressed together, but she didn’t back down.

Orion chuckled again, this time darker. He turned to Maxwell, amusement and something more wicked glinting in his golden eyes. “I must say, this is quite entertaining.”

Maxwell’s eyes burned with fury. “You think this is funny?”

Orion smiled lazily. “I think it’s pathetic.” He reached for Zenobia then, gripping her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look up at him. “It’s amusing how they never realize what they have until it’s slipping through their fingers.”

Zenobia’s breath caught. His grip was firm but not cruel, his touch cold against her warm skin. She should have felt fear. But she didn’t.

Maxwell stepped forward again, his desperation turning to rage. “Get your hands off her.”

Orion smirked but didn’t move. Instead, he lowered his head, inhaling deeply as if committing Zenobia’s scent to memory. “Mmm.” His voice was a low purr. “Sweet.”

Zenobia shivered, though she wasn’t sure if it was from his closeness or something deeper.

Maxwell snapped.

His body moved before his mind did, lunging forward, hand reaching out—

Orion caught his wrist mid-air.

The shift in atmosphere was instant.

Gone was the teasing smirk. Gone was the lazy amusement.

In its place was something dark, something dangerous.

Orion squeezed.

A sharp crack echoed in the night air.

Maxwell gasped, his knees almost buckling as pain shot up his arm.

Orion’s golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight, cold and merciless. His voice was no longer playful—it was a command, a warning, a death sentence wrapped in silk.

“You dare touch what you’ve thrown away?” His fingers tightened just slightly, and Maxwell’s face twisted in pain. “You think you have the right to stop me?”

Maxwell tried to yank his arm back, but Orion held firm.

“She is mine now.” Orion’s voice was low, lethal. “And you will never touch her again.”

Zenobia’s breath hitched.

Maxwell gritted his teeth, his pride forcing him to glare despite the pain. “She’s not yours.”

Orion leaned in slightly, his grip still unrelenting. “And yet, she chose me over you.”

Maxwell’s expression shattered.

Orion finally released him with a rough shove, sending Maxwell stumbling back.

Zenobia took a steady breath, then turned to Amber. “We’re leaving.”

Amber hesitated only for a second before stepping to her side.

Maxwell looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. Maybe because he knew it wouldn’t change anything.

Orion’s hand came to rest on the small of Zenobia’s back.

“Shall we?” His voice was smooth, but there was something else there now—something possessive.

Zenobia nodded.

And with that, she walked away from Maxwell, from her past, from everything she once knew—

Straight into the arms of the devil himself.

Amber hesitated for only a second before stepping to Zenobia’s side.

Orion let out a low hum of approval, then, without warning, he scooped Zenobia into his arms.

A startled gasp left her lips. “What are you—?”

“Saving time,” he murmured smoothly, cradling her with ease. His grip was firm, unyielding, as if he had already decided she belonged there.

Zenobia’s heart pounded, but she didn’t resist.

Amber trailed behind them, her steps uncertain but determined. She cast one last glance at Maxwell, whose expression was a mixture of fury and helplessness.

And then, without looking back, they disappeared into the early hours of the day.

The early morning sun was beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the trees as Orion carried Zenobia in his arms. The cool air brushed against her skin, but his warmth was overwhelming. His grip was firm, secure—unshakable.

Zenobia shifted slightly, uncomfortable with how easily he handled her. “I can walk,” she muttered.

Orion didn’t even glance at her. “I know.”

Yet, he made no move to put her down.

Amber followed behind them in silence, her expression unreadable. The only sound was the crunch of leaves beneath their feet as they moved through the woods.

It wasn’t long before the towering walls of Orion’s palace came into view. The grand structure loomed ahead, dark stone rising against the early morning sky. The gates opened at his approach, and the moment they stepped inside, a group of maids rushed out to greet them.

Their expressions shifted from calm obedience to wide-eyed shock when they noticed the unfamiliar faces. None of them had expected visitors, let alone a rogue wolf being carried by their king.

Orion barely spared them a glance. “Mia.”

A dark-haired maid immediately stepped forward, bowing her head. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Take the girl to a room,” Orion instructed, tilting his head slightly toward Amber. “She’ll be staying here.”

Mia hesitated for only a fraction of a second before nodding. “Understood, Your Majesty.”

Amber looked at Zenobia, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

Zenobia smiled at her, a silent reassurance.

With a small breath, Amber turned and followed Mia down one of the long hallways, disappearing from view.

Orion, without another word, carried Zenobia further into the palace. She didn’t know where he was taking her, but she didn’t ask.

The halls were vast and dimly lit, the stone walls giving the place an eerie yet regal feel. There was no warmth in the architecture, only power. Strength.

When they finally reached a massive set of doors, Orion pushed them open with ease and stepped inside.

His chambers.

The space was grand—too grand. A massive bed with dark sheets sat in the center, the scent of leather and something distinctly him filling the air. The windows were large, the early morning light streaming in, casting long shadows on the walls.

Without a word, Orion strode over to the bed and dropped her onto the mattress.

Zenobia gasped slightly at the suddenness of it, her body sinking into the soft fabric. Before she could say anything, Orion crouched in front of her, his piercing golden eyes locked onto hers.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, voice low,and sweet.

Zenobia swallowed, caught off guard by the question.

She wasn’t sure what to say. She had done this blindly, acted on impulse, and now… now she was here. In his palace. In his chambers.

And goddamn it, this Lycan King was good looking.

It was almost distracting—the sharp angles of his face, the way his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, the sheer power radiating from him like a force of nature.

For a moment, she forgot herself.

Until she felt his hands on her feet.

Zenobia jolted slightly as his fingers pressed against her skin, rubbing slow, firm circles into her aching soles.

She blinked. “What… what are you doing?”

Orion didn’t stop. “Your feet must be sore.”

His touch was calculated, controlled, yet strangely soothing. She could feel the heat of his palms against her skin, the way his fingers worked methodically to ease the tension.

She should have pulled away. She should have told him to stop.

But she didn’t.

Because, for the first time in a long time, she didn’t want to.