The Court of Wolves gathered beneath the glass-domed ceiling of the Grand Hall, silver light spilling across the polished obsidian floor. Isabella sat on the lower throne to the right of the dais, the place reserved for the Queen—a position of presence, not yet of power.
Whispers rippled around her like restless shadows. The air itself was tight with expectation. She had been summoned by the council to discuss the upcoming Moon Convergence—a sacred gathering of all Alphas and Betas across the divided territories of Lycanthra.
In two nights' time, the full moon would rise, and every dominant wolf would bow before the ancient pact that bound their kind.
Lord Aric, one of the elder advisors, stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty," he began, his tone courteous but strained, "the Convergence preparations are nearly complete. The Alphas and Betas have begun to arrive. The Alpha King's presence, however, remains—"
The doors slammed open with a thunderous crash that silenced the hall.
Ryan strode in.
He had returned, and he looked every bit the legend whispered of him — the Alpha King reborn beneath the moonlight. His dark hair was damp from the rain, his jaw sharp as cut stone, his golden eyes burning with restrained power. Yet beneath the strength there lingered exhaustion… and something else — a scent of wildness, untamed and raw.
When she approached, she caught it — that faint, feral note of wolf musk and pine.
He smelled like the forest. Like freedom.
Like… a wet dog.
Her lips twitched before she could stop herself, though she said nothing.
From the dais, two of Ryan's brothers — Allen and Damon — exchanged amused looks.
"Well, well," Allen muttered just loud enough for the court to hear, "seems our noble Alpha returned straight from the hunt. The scent of glory still clings to him."
Damon grinned. "Glory, you say? Smells more like the kennels to me."
A ripple of laughter broke through the hall.
Ryan's jaw tightened. His eyes flashed dangerously toward his brothers, a low growl vibrating from his chest. The air around him thickened — a pulse of dominance that silenced the laughter in an instant.
Before he could reply, Isabella's voice cut through the tension.
"Enough," she said softly, but her tone carried the weight of command. "You shame your king with mockery. Is that how the brothers of Steel honor their dynasty?"
The hall fell silent.
Ryan turned to her slowly — fury still simmering behind his gaze. "You defend me now?"
She leaned closer, voice barely above a whisper. "No. I'm saving your pride."
He narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching in annoyance. "Careful, wife."
"Go bathe," she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear. "You smell of the wild."
His brows arched. "Then draw the bath for me."
She smiled sweetly. "That's what servants are for."
"Last time I checked," Ryan said, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr, "you were my servant."
"Last time I checked," she replied, her crimson eyes gleaming, "I was your wife."
"Even better," he countered.
Their words hung in the air like drawn blades, every ear in the court straining to catch the next exchange. But before Ryan could respond again, Isabella's voice rose — soft but edged with steel.
"Then you might want to remember, my King," she said, stepping closer, "that even the fiercest wolf can't lead if he's too busy chasing his own tail."
A stunned silence followed — then a few muffled snickers from the younger court members. Ryan's brothers grinned openly now, enjoying the sight of their almighty Alpha King being publicly bested.
Ryan stared at her, his fury barely contained… and then, with a sharp exhale, he turned on his heel and stormed from the hall.
The doors slammed behind him, the sound echoing through the chamber like thunder.
The Court's Murmurs
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Allen chuckled. "The Queen has sharper fangs than I expected."
"Sharper and bloodier," Damon added. "Perhaps our brother should sleep with one eye open."
A few nervous laughs followed, but most of the court remained silent, eyes flicking between Isabella and the empty throne.
Calen stepped forward cautiously. "Your Majesty… shall we proceed with the Convergence announcements?"
Isabella straightened, smoothing her gown. "Yes. The King will return when he's ready."
Her voice was calm, unshaken. "Until then, the moon waits for no one."
And with that, she ascended the throne beside his — her crimson gaze sweeping across the gathered wolves like a tide of fire and command.
For the first time in Lycanthra's history, the court bowed not just to their Alpha King… but to his Vampire Queen.