Owain froze.
Not because he didn't understand the words—
but because they didn't make sense.
Wolf King?
Him?
No.
He had been an Alpha once.
A protector.
A guardian.
A warrior—
But never a king.
The title hit the air like a crack of thunder, vibrating the abyss around them. The golden fire dimmed. The throne behind Kanah shuddered as though reacting to the declaration.
Owain clutched Kanah tighter.
"Don't call me that."
The Beast King smiled faintly.
"It isn't a title I gave you."
Owain's jaw flexed.
Kanah weakly pressed her fingers against his chest, trying to sit up in his arms.
"Owain…?"
He lowered her gently, helping her sit against him while keeping a protective arm around her waist.
"Take it slow," he whispered.
"You're burning hot—your body isn't ready for this."
She trembled, forehead resting against his shoulder.
"My chest… it hurts…"
Owain's eyes softened.
"I know. I know, sweetheart. I've got you."
Her cheeks flushed faintly at the endearment—weak, exhausted, but aware enough to feel it.
The Beast King watched them calmly.
"You feel her pain as your own now, don't you?"
Owain stiffened.
The Beast King continued:
"That happens only when a wolf's bond reaches the highest tier."
Owain's breath caught.
"No. That's—no wolf has—"
"A Wolf King can."
Kanah's breath hitched.
"Owain… he's lying… isn't he…?"
Owain stroked her back, trying to soothe her shaking.
But his hands trembled.
Because he didn't know.
The Throne Reacts
The ground trembled again.
Golden fire surged along the throne's base and shot into the air—
a column of blazing power that spiraled around Kanah and Owain both.
Kanah gasped.
Owain bared his teeth.
"Get away from us—!!"
But the fire didn't burn.
It wrapped.
It examined.
It recognized.
Gerrin's distant voice echoed from the cracking abyss above:
"Owain—KANAH—!! WE'RE COMING THROUGH—!!"
Helion:
"Hold on! Just stay alive for five seconds—!!"
Yllas:
"OWAIN, PROTECT HER—THE REALM IS BREAKING—!!"
Owain snarled at them without turning.
"DON'T COME DOWN HERE—!! THE THRONE IS ACTIVE—!!"
"WE DON'T CARE—!!" Helion shouted.
But the throne's fire pulsed in warning.
"Only those chosen may enter."
Yllas cursed.
Gerrin slammed his staff into the collapsing ground above.
"OWAIN!
KANAH!
WHAT IS THE THRONE DOING—!?"
Owain didn't answer.
Because the throne was speaking directly into him.
Into them.
"She is the Queen."
The flame wrapped around Kanah's chest, outlining the golden sigil now burned into her skin.
Owain's pulse spiked.
"DON'T TOUCH HER—!!"
The throne ignored him.
"And you…"
The fire snaked around Owain's arm.
He tried to tear away—
—but the flame didn't burn.
It resonated.
As if recognizing something buried deep inside him.
The Beast King's eyes glowed.
"There it is."
Owain snarled back:
"There is NOTHING."
The Beast King chuckled.
"Then why does the throne respond to you?"
Owain froze.
The throne responded.
The flame vibrated—
Then solidified into a mark.
A second sigil.
Burning along Owain's forearm.
Owain's breath caught.
Kanah weakly lifted her head.
"Owain… what's… what's happening…?"
He pressed her closer.
"I don't know, I don't know, but I won't let it take you again—"
The throne pulsed.
Kanah cried out—a soft, startled sound.
Owain snapped:
"HEY—STOP—STOP TOUCHING HER—!!"
The throne's fire withdrew from Kanah—
And wrapped around Owain.
Burning into his skin like molten iron.
Owain roared in pain.
"Owain—!! OWAIN—!!" Kanah cried, grabbing his arms desperately.
"LET HIM GO—!! STOP—PLEASE—STOP—!!"
Her heart trembled through their bond.
Owain felt it.
Felt every desperate pulse.
It fueled him.
Owain threw his head back, snarling:
"LET—HER—LIVE—!!"
The golden fire rushed into him.
Kanah screamed as the surge nearly knocked her unconscious.
"Owain—Owain—please—STOP FIGHTING—!! PLEASE—!!"
But Owain didn't stop.
He embraced it.
He absorbed it.
He took everything.
Because if the throne needed a vessel—
it wasn't going to be her.
The throne pulsed one final time—
And the sigil burned into his forearm exploded in light.
When it faded—
Owain fell to one knee.
Panting.
Shaking.
Barely conscious.
Kanah grabbed his face in both hands.
"Owain—OWAIN—!! Please—open your eyes—PLEASE—!!"
His eyes lifted slowly.
They glowed.
Not amber.
Not gold.
Both.
Intertwined.
Kanah froze.
"Owain… your eyes…"
He exhaled.
Voice hoarse.
"That… hurt."
She sobbed and hugged him tightly.
"You idiot—don't do that—don't take everything for me—don't—"
"I promised," he whispered into her hair, "to live with you. Not leave you."
Kanah cried harder.
He held her weakly, resting his forehead against her shoulder.
The Beast King Reveals the Truth
The Beast King's voice cut through the moment.
"You stole from the throne.
Interesting."
Owain glared, still on one knee.
"I protected her."
"You took power that wasn't meant for you."
Owain bared his teeth.
"I don't care."
"Oh, I know," the Beast King smirked.
"And that is precisely why the throne responded."
Owain froze.
Kanah whispered shakily:
"What… what does that mean…?"
The Beast King stepped closer.
"The throne does not respond to beasts who want power."
He pointed at Kanah.
"It responds to those who need to rise."
He pointed at Owain.
"And those who need to stand beside them."
Kanah's heartbeat stuttered.
Owain stiffened.
The Beast King finished quietly:
"You are the Queen the throne chose."
"You," he said, eyes meeting Owain's,
"are the King it requires."
Owain whispered:
"I don't want a throne."
"That is why it chose you," the Beast King answered.
"A king who desires nothing but his mate rarely falls to corruption."
Kanah trembled.
Owain swallowed hard.
"What… do you want with us?"
The Beast King smiled.
"At last."
He lifted his hand.
And the abyss brightened.
"You asked the wrong question."
Owain's eyes narrowed.
Kanah clutched his arm.
The Beast King lowered his voice.
"You should have asked—
what happens
when a human Queen
and a Wolf King
claim the same throne."
Owain stood slowly.
Still shaking.
Still battered.
But in front of Kanah.
Always in front of her.
"What happens," Owain growled,
"is that we tear your throne apart if you come near her."
Kanah placed a hand over his.
The Beast King's smile faded into something darker.
"You misunderstand."
He stepped closer.
"For a thousand years, the throne has waited for this pairing."
Owain stilled.
Kanah's breath stopped.
The Beast King's eyes burned gold.
"A Queen born of despair."
He looked at her.
"Human."
"And a King born of loyalty."
He looked at Owain.
"Wolf."
He spread his arms.
"Together, they end my reign."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Owain whispered:
"…End you?"
The Beast King nodded once.
Calm.
Certain.
"Yes."
Kanah's pulse pounded.
"You're… you're the one we defeat in the prophecy?"
The Beast King smirked.
"I am the prophecy."
Kanah staggered.
Owain grabbed her instantly.
The Beast King's eyes softened.
Almost sadly.
"Your destiny," he said,
"is to kill me."
Kanah choked on a breath.
Owain whispered:
"No."
The Beast King tilted his head.
"No?"
Owain's voice hardened.
"We're not killing anyone."
The Beast King's smile returned.
"You will.
Or the throne will take her."
Kanah trembled violently.
"Owain…"
He pulled her close.
"No one is taking you."
The Beast King sighed.
"Then learn to wield what you stole."
Owain froze.
"What… I stole?"
The Beast King smiled.
"The throne's fire."
Owain looked at his arm—
And saw the golden sigil pulsing under his skin.
Kanah gasped softly.
"Owain…"
The Beast King's voice was calm.
"You took her pain.
You took her flames.
You took her burden."
He paused.
"And the throne gave you its power in return."
Owain's heart pounded.
Kanah whispered:
"Owain…
you're glowing…"
He looked down.
He was.
The sigil burned brighter.
The Beast King spoke:
"Rise, Wolf King."
Owain shook his head immediately.
"No."
"You must."
Owain's voice cracked.
"I don't want a throne."
The Beast King smiled faintly.
"That is why you deserve one."
The abyss rumbled.
The throne behind them pulsed.
Kanah looked up at Owain, voice trembling.
"Owain…
if I'm Queen…
then…"
Owain swallowed.
Heart shaking.
Bond shaking.
Life shaking.
He whispered:
"…then I stand beside you."
Kanah's eyes filled.
"Owain…"
But he wasn't done.
He cupped her face gently.
Painfully gently.
"And if I'm king…
then no one—
not even a prophecy—
is ever taking you from me again."
Kanah's breath hitched.
Her heart soared.
And then—
The Beast King stepped backward.
His voice echoed through the collapsing abyss:
"Then the Queen must choose her King."
Kanah froze.
Owain tensed.
The Beast King's smile sharpened—
As the ground cracked open beneath Kanah again.
Owain screamed:
"KANAH—!!"
She reached for him—
But golden hands pulled her backward.
The Beast King whispered:
"Choose wisely."
And Kanah was dragged into the throne's core.
Owain dove after her—
But the golden barrier slammed shut between them.
Kanah screamed:
"OWAIN—!! OWAIN—!!!"
Owain slammed his fists against the barrier.
"KANA—!! DON'T LET GO—!!"
She sobbed.
"OWAIN—I'M SCARED—!!"
His voice broke.
"I KNOW—JUST HOLD ON—!!
HOLD ON TO ME—!!"
But the throne whispered:
"Only the Queen chooses."
Owain's eyes widened in horror.
Kanah shook violently.
"Owain—what do I choose!? WHAT DO I CHOOSE!?"
Owain pressed his forehead to the barrier.
Voice raw.
Voice breaking.
Voice in love.
"Choose me."
Her breath froze.
He whispered:
"I'm right here.
Choose me."