Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 181: Don’t Screw Up

"Lorelai?"

The distant sound of a man’s voice echoed softly in Lorelai’s mind, tugging at the edges of her subconscious. Her eyelids twitched faintly each time her name was repeated, the voice growing increasingly insistent.

"Lorelai?"

Again, he called out to her, his tone laced with urgency, yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free from the suffocating grip of the dream that held her captive.

"Rhaegar..."

Her lips barely moved, whispering his name as a single tear slid down her pale cheek. Still, her eyes remained shut, heavy with exhaustion and unwilling to open.

Naveen, standing nearby, observed the scene with an arched brow and a flicker of surprise in her sharp blue gaze. "She did it," she murmured. "She broke the spell. She was able to remember you on her own."

Rhaegar, who had been cradling his wife’s fragile body with a tenderness that belied his powerful frame, snapped his amber eyes to Lorelai. His heart thundered in his chest as hope surged through him like wildfire.

Guiding her through the very secret passage she had once shown him ten years ago—when he was the one fleeing for his life—Rhaegar had been forced to trust her instincts as the bond that tethered their minds faded. He had assumed she had succumbed to exhaustion, both mental and physical, the strain too great to bear.

The sight of Lorelai’s tiny, nearly lifeless body had sent a wave of anguish through Rhaegar, but relief soon followed, blooming like a fragile flower amidst the wreckage of his heart.

Though she looked impossibly frail, barely clinging to life, she was alive. And that was enough.

"You are so strong, Lorelai," Rhaegar murmured softly. He gently ran the back of his hand along the curve of her face, his touch tender, as though afraid she might shatter. "You have always been strong. And you were the one who gave me a chance to become strong too. Now, it’s finally time to pay you back in full."

Carefully, he handed her limp body to one of his subordinates. With a curt nod, he issued his first command. "Take her to safety. Althea’s blood magic has saturated the royal grounds. She must have sensed our presence the moment we crossed the gates."

Turning sharply, Rhaegar fixed his amber gaze on Gian. "Start preparing our men. The nomads have the palace surrounded, so no one will be able to escape. Our task is simple: eliminate anyone who resists or attempts to protect the queen and her son. They are not human. Remember that."

Gian acknowledged the order with a firm nod, immediately gathering several men to carry it out. Their footsteps faded into the tension-filled silence, leaving only Alim standing by Rhaegar’s side.

Alim’s brow furrowed slightly, confusion flickering across his face. "What about me? You still haven’t given me any orders."

Rhaegar shifted his intense gaze to Alim, his voice steady, "You are going to protect your queen. Lorelai and Naveen—their safety is your top priority. Lorelai may have broken Althea’s spell, but we don’t know how permanent this shift is. If anything out of the ordinary happens... I need someone like you to be there for them."

Alim met his king’s gaze, his calm demeanor unwavering despite the magnitude of the task.

Though Gian was equally strong, Rhaegar knew Alim’s value lay elsewhere. His composure, sharp intellect, and ability to think rationally under pressure made him indispensable in moments of uncertainty. Protecting others required more than brute strength—it required a steadfast mind and an unyielding heart.

"Very well," Alim finally replied, inclining his head with a quiet nod.

"Thank you," Rhaegar murmured, his voice tinged with gratitude as he placed a firm hand on Alim’s shoulder. His gaze lingered on Lorelai, a mix of confidence and sorrow flickering in his amber eyes.

It will all be over soon, I promise.

***

The main palace was engulfed in flames, the fiery inferno roaring as tall orange tongues devoured everything in their path. The heat radiated like a living beast, consuming walls, furniture, and memories alike.

Kai stood motionless amidst the chaos, his crimson eyes aglow with an eerie reflection of the destruction around him. The inferno seemed to mirror the turmoil brewing inside him. Somewhere in the annex, his prized hunting dogs were trapped, their frenzied howls swallowed by the crackling of the fire. He didn’t care.

She was gone. Lorelai had escaped. He could feel it.

His knuckles whitened as he gripped the hilt of his sword tighter, his lips twitching with the ghost of a bitter smile that threatened to spill into unhinged laughter.

"Haaa..." A deep, guttural exhale escaped him as he ran a trembling hand through his disheveled white hair, the strands glinting eerily in the firelight.

"Kai," a sharp voice sliced through the crackling chaos, forcing his head to snap toward its source.

Althea emerged from the smoke and shadows, her presence commanding and formidable.

The flickering light of the flames illuminated her true form—long, stark white hair cascading like silk down her back, and eyes a deep, unnerving shade of red. Her expression was unreadable, yet her steps exuded purpose as she approached, the black cane in her hand clicking against the scorched ground with every stride.

Kai turned fully to face her, his jaw clenched, his chest heaving from emotions that threatened to drown him.

She stopped right in front of him, their bodies almost touching, and spread her thin lips into a wide, unsettling grin.

Kai’s gaze flicked over her, noting every detail. Clad entirely in black, her attire hinted at armor beneath, sleek but unmistakably designed for battle. The tip of her cane gleamed ominously—a sharp, spear-like point that made its dual purpose unmistakable.

That weapon alone was enough to confirm his growing suspicion.

"The beasts are here," Althea said coldly, her tone as unyielding as steel. "My spells are fully activated now, so none of them can escape. You know what to do, don’t you?"

She raised an eyebrow, her eyes devoid of light, filled only with a void-like emptiness that sent a shiver down his spine. Kai nodded reflexively, though the fury in his veins hadn’t subsided.

Althea stepped closer, her voice lowering into a venomous hiss. "Find the girl and bring her to me—alive. She cannot die. Leave the Lycan King to me."

Her long, icy fingers shot out, grasping his chin with a grip that sent sharp, electrifying pain coursing through his face. He winced but didn’t pull away, knowing better than to defy her.

"And," she added, her grip tightening slightly, her crimson eyes drilling into his soul, "make sure you return to me once the girl is in your hands—understood?"

Kai managed a strained nod, the ache in his jaw making him bite back a growl.

Althea finally released him, brushing her fingers off as though discarding something dirty. She straightened, her commanding presence dominating the space.

"This is what we’ve been preparing for," she reminded him. "Don’t you dare screw this up for me."