Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 141: Like Moth to Flame

Noticing Lorelai’s evident worry, Naveen handed her a large goblet filled with plum wine, her voice soft but steady.

"It’s perfectly normal to feel a little nervous, My Queen. The mating ritual is... different from the usual—" She cleared her throat awkwardly, her cheeks tinged pink, "—ahem, process."

The witch’s discomfort was evident; this was not a topic she was accustomed to addressing. Still, she pressed on, her tone growing gentler.

"The full moon will have a profound effect on King Rhaegar in many ways. However, rest assured—he will remain restrained enough to keep you safe."

"Safe?" Lorelai repeated, her voice rising slightly. The pleasant warmth from the plum wine seemed to vanish in an instant as Naveen’s words settled uncomfortably in her mind. "What do you mean by that? To keep me safe?"

Naveen’s expression mirrored the queen’s unease, her brows furrowing as she struggled to find the right words.

"Oh, dear," she murmured, her gaze darting away before meeting Lorelai’s again, now filled with quiet concern. "I suppose Rhaegar didn’t explain this to you because he didn’t want to overwhelm you. And perhaps... perhaps I shouldn’t be the one saying this either."

She paused, gnawing at her bottom lip as if weighing the wisdom of continuing. But with a resolute sigh, Naveen gestured for Lorelai to sit on a folded blanket nearby.

Once the princess complied, she placed both hands gently on Lorelai’s delicate shoulders, her eyes steady and full of sincerity.

"It’s better you are prepared. Mating under the full moon on a wedding night is a sacred ceremony—a profound union filled with intimacy and pleasure. However, when beasts partake in this official mating ritual, they are sometimes overtaken by their animal instincts. This can cause them to shift involuntarily into their beastly forms, driven by the moon’s power and their heightened emotions."

The weight of her words pressed down on Lorelai, whose green eyes widened with growing alarm. The witch hesitated for a moment before delivering the final revelation. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"While this is entirely natural when both partners are beasts," Naveen continued cautiously, "it can be... complicated when one partner is human. You might already understand the implications of that."

Lorelai bit her lower lip, her entire body tensing instinctively as she absorbed Naveen’s words.

Memories of that night flooded her mind—the night when Rhaegar came to her after fighting in the gladiator arena. When he shifted back into his human form, his body radiating raw power, his vigor was almost overwhelming. The intensity in his amber eyes had been enough to send shivers down her spine.

Now, the thought of seeing him in his wolf form during the mating ritual filled her with both curiosity and fear. Would she be able to handle it? What would it mean for their union?

"That is why he will be partially restrained," Naveen’s voice cut through the silence, pulling Lorelai out of her thoughts. "But it is crucial that you remain composed, no matter what happens. You must trust that Rhaegar would never harm you."

Lorelai nodded slowly, her resolve hardening despite the faint tremor in her chest. She had already promised Rhaegar she would trust him, and now was the time to uphold that promise. She was ready for whatever lay ahead.

"Now," Naveen said, rising to her feet and motioning for Lorelai to do the same, "I’ll lead you to the cave where the mating ceremony will take place. You’ll be completely alone, so there’s no need to fear any interruptions. The beasts know better than to linger near lycans in heat."

The witch’s final words carried a faint glimmer of amusement, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. With a graceful motion, she opened the tent’s entrance and extended her hand to Lorelai, guiding her out into the night.

As they walked toward the dark cave nestled behind a towering wall of ancient trees, Lorelai could still hear the distant sounds of the camp’s celebration. The laughter and lively music echoed through the forest, carrying with it a sense of cheerfulness that helped calm her fraying nerves.

"This is where I leave you," Naveen said suddenly, halting in her tracks. She let go of Lorelai’s hand, her expression softening with reassurance. "Just keep walking straight ahead and enter the cave. Rhaegar is already waiting for you."

Lorelai nodded and turned away, her feet rooted for a moment as if reluctant to take the next step.

She remained still, listening to the soft sound of Naveen’s retreating footsteps fading into the night. Once the quiet consumed her, she took a deep breath, mustering her courage, and finally began to walk forward.

The darkness surrounding the cave loomed before her, thick and almost menacing.

Yet, the faint orange glow of torchlight flickering from somewhere deep inside beckoned her, its warmth irresistible. She felt like a moth helplessly drawn to a flame, unable to resist its allure despite the unknown dangers it might hold.

Lost in her thoughts, Lorelai barely realized when she reached the entrance. Her feet, as if acting on their own, carried her inside without hesitation, the cool air of the cave brushing against her skin.

The dim orange light painted the rugged cave walls in restless patterns, the flame from the torches flickering and swaying with every subtle gust of wind that found its way in. The uneven, shadowy glow gave the space an almost otherworldly aura, both mysterious and enchanting.

Behind her, the full moon stood high, its silver light spilling into the cave’s entrance and casting an ethereal shimmer over her figure. Its cold, luminous glow contrasted with the warmth of the torchlight ahead, a strange harmony of light and shadow enveloping her.

But where is he..?

Her brows furrowed slightly as confusion began to creep in.

The cave wasn’t large—its size made it easy to survey the space at a glance. While the torches did not light up every corner, Lorelai felt certain that if anything or anyone were inside, she would have already seen them.

And yet, Rhaegar was nowhere to be found.

"Rhaegar..?" she called softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the stillness of the cave.

But the cave had other plans. The sound of her voice echoed against the stone walls, growing louder and more hollow with every repetition. The chilling reverberation wrapped around her, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Step farther. Your scent is already killing me."

Rhaegar’s low, gravelly voice emerged from the shadows of the cave’s farthest corner, wrapping around her like a command laced with a dangerous edge.

Startled, Lorelai obeyed instinctively, her heart racing as she took several hurried steps forward.

Her advance was abruptly halted when her body collided with something soft and sheer. She blinked in confusion, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric—a long, transparent red curtain hung from the ceiling of the cave, veiling a figure kneeling behind it.

As if drawn by an unseen force, Lorelai reached out, her trembling hands gripping the fabric. With a single pull, the curtain fell away, revealing a sight that stole her breath.

There he was—Rhaegar, his powerful form kneeling against the cold stone wall, his wrists bound in thick shackles that clinked softly as he moved. The flickering torchlight illuminated his bronzed skin, taut and gleaming, while shadows danced across the hard planes of his body.

"Rhaegar... why... you..."

Her voice faltered as she struggled to process the scene before her. The sight of him chained was both alarming and strangely intimate, stirring a storm of emotions she could barely name.

His smirk, dark and teasing, sent another shiver down her spine. The glint in his amber eyes was predatory, filled with something raw and untamed that made her pulse quicken.

"This..." Rhaegar drawled, his voice dripping with amusement as his gaze locked onto hers. "This is to get us started, princess. Until I get tired of it."