Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 157: Who Was It?

The wolf’s lifeless eyes were honey-colored—the kind of hue that might have once ignited a familiar warmth in her chest. Yet now, that warmth was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by the icy stillness of dead embers, sending shivers crawling down her spine.

Something about the wolf nagged at her, tugging at a memory buried too deep to retrieve. The tingling sensation in her head warned her that perhaps it was better left forgotten.

"Well?" Kai’s voice broke the silence, sharp and insistent. "What do you think?"

Lorelai swallowed hard, her throat tightening. She didn’t want to appear timid in front of her fiancé. "It’s... beautiful," she managed, her voice steady despite the unease prickling at her skin.

"Ha!" Kai’s loud exclamation cut through the room like a crack of thunder, making Lorelai flinch. The stillness of the trophy room only amplified the sudden noise, jarring her senses.

"Do you like wolves?" he pressed, his tone almost mocking as he took a step closer to her. "Since when? You used to scowl at me whenever I brought you pelts from my hunting trips."

Lorelai hesitated, chewing on her lower lip. She couldn’t say for sure whether she liked wolves or not. Nor could she recall how many times she had berated Kai for his hunting habits in the past. But as his intense gaze bore into her, demanding an answer, she realized that only one response would satisfy him.

"I love everything you give me, Your Majesty," she said softly.

Her words rang hollow, devoid of the emotion he so desperately sought. Kai’s frown deepened, disappointment flickering across his features. Still, he forced a smile and stepped closer, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek.

"Really... Well, I promised you a picnic, didn’t I? Let’s go, then. Everything has been prepared for our departure."

As they stepped out of the palace, Lorelai paused, surprised to find no carriages waiting for their trip.

"Are we not going far?" she asked, glancing at Kai.

He responded with a small, knowing smile. "We’re heading to the orchards just outside the capital. You like apple orchards, don’t you?"

Her reply came automatically, almost reflexively. "I do."

Memories of her childhood flooded her mind—the times she’d spent at the apple orchards behind the palace gardens. Before her injury, those orchards had been her sanctuary. She had loved horseback riding back then, and the winding paths through the orchards, leading to the royal forest, had been her favorite escape.

But after the accident that injured her hip, the doctors had strictly forbidden horseback riding. Since then, carriages had become her only mode of travel.

Now, standing at the back exit of the main palace, Lorelai’s heart raced with an unexpected surge of warmth and nostalgia. A horse was brought out to them, its sleek coat gleaming under the golden afternoon sun, each strand of fur catching the light like polished silk.

"Did you take the pain medications I instructed you to?" Kai asked, his voice firm but gentle as he took the horse’s leather reins and guided the animal to face her.

Lorelai nodded, her fingers tightening around the folds of her dress. She struggled to suppress the wide smile threatening to break across her pale, expressionless face.

"Then, let me help you."

With surprising gentleness, Kai placed his hands around Lorelai’s slender waist and lifted her into the saddle. Once she was settled, he mounted the horse behind her, positioning himself close enough that his strong arms framed her body protectively.

The princess felt her body instinctively relax as she leaned slightly back against him, her ears catching the faint rustle of his vest brushing against her gown.

The medicine Marianna had given her after breakfast had done little to dull the persistent throbbing in her right hip. Yet, as she caught sight of Kai’s boyishly excited expression, Lorelai couldn’t bring herself to admit the truth. She smiled faintly instead, determined to endure.

Kai nudged the horse forward with a gentle press of his heels, and the animal broke into a soft gallop. The rhythmic jolts of movement sent sharp, radiating pain through Lorelai’s hip, making her flinch involuntarily. Her breath hitched as she leaned back further, pressing herself firmly against Kai’s chest, seeking both support and comfort.

Her eyes shut tightly, and tears clung stubbornly to her lashes, threatening to spill. But no matter how much it hurt, she couldn’t let herself falter—not now. She couldn’t bear to disappoint him again.

The horse’s steady pace carried them deeper into the path, and Lorelai forced herself to focus on something, anything, to distract from the pain. A sudden, sweet fragrance filled the air, fresh and earthy. Her eyes fluttered open, and she realized they had finally arrived at the orchard.

Rushing through the seemingly endless rows of apple trees and flower bushes, Lorelai found it hard to focus. The red and pink circles of ripe apples and wild roses blurred together, merging like vivid lights against the dark green canvas of leaves.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, a pair of orange lights flickered to her right. Her body froze, every muscle locking into place as an icy chill coursed through her veins, threatening to shatter her composure.

Does this remind you of the meadow where you became my queen?

The disembodied voice whispered through her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. She blinked rapidly, her heart hammering in her chest. Slowly, her vision cleared, and the strange, suffocating sensation receded, leaving her shaken and unsure.

Startled, Lorelai tilted her head upward, meeting Kai’s curious gaze. His eyes reflected the dappled sunlight filtering through the orchard. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"Did you say something, Your Majesty?" she asked hesitantly, her tone harboring a faint hope.

"No," he replied, his brow furrowing slightly. "Why? Did you hear something?"

Lorelai quickly lowered her gaze, fixing her stare on the horse’s head as it bobbed rhythmically with each step. Her mind swirled with questions. This was the second time today she had heard a voice—an unfamiliar, haunting voice.

But who was it?