Elena's POV:
I held my breath, my mind racing through a list of potential candidates, but none of them seemed to fit the look of sheer adoration on Blair's face.
Her lips parted, and she uttered a title, not a name. "The new Lycan King."
I blinked, processing. My mind came up completely blank. "...Who?"
"The Lycan King!" Blair's eyes were practically glowing. "The one who took the throne from Corbin Draven four years ago! Our King!"
The news hit me like a physical shock. I had been so disconnected from the werewolf world for the last five years, I'd missed a monumental shift in power. I knew Corbin was the king—he had been for decades. The idea that he'd been replaced was unthinkable.
"Wait, Uncle Corbin stepped down? When did that happen?" I demanded, my voice a harsh whisper.
"He didn't step down," Blair explained, her voice hushed with reverence. "He was defeated. The new king won the throne by Challenge. The details are secret, of course, but the rumor is, he beat King Corbin with a single move."
I couldn't fathom it. In my memory, Corbin Draven was an invincible force of nature.
"What's his name?" I asked.
Blair shook her head. "No one knows his full name. He's a complete mystery. He never makes public appearances. Everyone just calls him the Lycan King. Some say he's from one of the ancient Royal bloodlines."
I tried to absorb the information, but it felt more like a myth than reality. "And you've… met him?"
Her blush returned with a vengeance. "No. I've only seen a blurry, long-distance photo from his coronation. But I've heard all about him in letters from Uncle Corbin." That explained it. Her connection to the old king gave her access to insider information.
She launched into a breathless account of the new king's accomplishments. He had reformed outdated pack laws, tightened control over rogues, and single-handedly raised the strength and prosperity of all the allied packs.
"He's young, but he's brilliant and ruthless and fair," Blair gushed, her voice filled with hero-worship. "He's the future of our people, Ellie."
As she spoke, an image formed in my mind: a powerful, enigmatic leader, a figure of legend.
This image was the polar opposite of Rick Miller. One was a great leader bringing hope to his people; the other was a campus bully who got his kicks from intimidating Omegas.
The two couldn't be more different.
I looked at my starry-eyed friend and couldn't resist a gentle tease. "So, you're planning on becoming queen to our mysterious king?"
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, but she nodded bravely. "It's every she-wolf's dream to be mated to a strong Alpha, isn't it? I know it's just a fantasy, though."
She let out a small sigh. "A man like him… his fated mate would have to be someone just as legendary."
I felt a pang of sympathy for her. Little did she know, his fated mate was sitting right across from her, and had just mentally categorized the king as an arrogant jerk. The irony was a bitter taste in my mouth.
I patted her shoulder. "Hey, you never know. Maybe you'll get a chance to meet him when we go back."
Her eyes lit up again. "You think so? Is it possible?"
"We're going back for the Pack Run," I reminded her. "It's a huge event. All the important Alphas will be there. Maybe the new king will make an appearance."
The hope I'd given her was like a shot of adrenaline. Her entire posture changed, buzzing with newfound purpose.
"To see the King!" she declared in a fierce whisper, clenching her fist. "We are going to ace these finals!"
I smiled as she immediately buried her nose back in her textbook, her focus absolute.
I let my own mind drift, comparing the two figures one last time. The legendary Lycan King and the campus Alpha, Rick Miller.
One was a god in the heavens, the other was mud on the ground.
I completely dismissed the fleeting, ridiculous thought I'd had earlier about the scent. It was impossible. Absolutely, utterly impossible.
