The Lycan King's Outcast Omega (by Cara Anderson) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Alaric

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She moves through the training grounds with growing confidence now, no longer trying to make herself invisible. My beast purrs watching younger wolves seek her out, seeing her slowly claim her place in our pack. In the morning sun, her silver–blonde hair catches light like starfire.

“My King.” Garrett’s voice pulls me from my vigil. If his use of my title instead of my name didn’t, his expression tells me everything before he speaks. “Three more packs report attacks. The mutations are spreading.”

Ice slides down my spine as I read the reports. The attacks follow a pattern, but one that makes no sense – small packs and large ones, traditional and progressive, no clear connection except growing brutality.

“The Northern Alliance is demanding action,” Garrett continues. “They say as Lycan King—”

“I know what I am.” I rub the back of my neck, cringing when the words come out sharper than intended.

The council chamber buzzes with tension when I enter. Lord Marcus stands first, his aged face grave.

“My King, the situation becomes untenable. These creatures spread like poison through our territories.”

“Each pack has the right to handle threats as they see fit,” I remind them. “That autonomy has maintained peace for generations.”

“And if that autonomy leads to their destruction?” Victoria’s father challenges. “Already the River Pack has fallen silent. No word for days.”

My beast snarls at the threat to those under our protection, but centuries of tradition hold me back. I’ve never been the kind of king who rules through force, who demands other packs bend to my will.

“Perhaps,” Eris suggests smoothly, “it’s time for stronger leadership. A firm hand to guide all packs through

this crisis.”

The words carry daggers beneath their silk. She knows how I value pack independence, knows the political cost of overriding it.

When I finally escape to my study, my head pounds with the weight of impossible choices. Sage’s scent reaches me before she appears in my doorway, honeysuckle and rain calling to my beast.

“You missed dinner,” she says softly.

I grunt noncommittally, not looking up from territory maps. I can feel her hurt at my coldness, but the crown weighs heavy tonight. I can’t be what she needs right now.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” The word comes out clipped, final.

She hesitates, then moves closer. “Alaric-”

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Chapter 55

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“I said no.” My voice carries more growl than I intend. “I don’t need comfort right now. I need to focus.”

The scent of her pain hits me like a punch to the gut. My lycan rages as she withdraws, but I can’t find the words to fix it. Can’t explain how the weight of thousands of lives presses on my shoulders, how every choice could mean death for those who trust me to protect them.

Hours later, I find her in the garden, moonlight turning her ethereal. The sight steals my breath, makes me ache with things I don’t know how to express.

“I’m sorry,” I manage roughly. “Earlier, I—”

“It’s fine.” But her scent carries hurt still.

“No, it’s not.” I move closer, drawn by some gravity I can’t resist. “I’m not… I don’t know how to…”

“To what?”

“To be what you deserve.” The admission costs me. “To handle all of this and still be… enough.”

She turns finally, violet eyes searching my face. “I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to let me in sometimes.”

My beast whines at her gentle tone, at kindness I haven’t earned. “Packs are falling,” I tell her. “The mutations spread, and every Alpha wants me to tell them what to do, how to fight this. But if I override their autonomy, if I become the kind of king who rules through force…”

“You’re afraid of becoming a tyrant?”

“I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. Of losing what matters while trying to protect it.”

She touches my face, fingers tracing my scar. “Then let others help carry the weight sometimes. Let me-

“Sometimes,” she continues softly, “strength means knowing when to share burdens. The pack supports you because you’ve earned their trust, not because you force their obedience.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Isn’t it?” Her hand drops to my chest, right over my thundering heart. “You taught me about belonging, about choosing to trust. Maybe it’s time you listened to your own lessons.”

The animal within me surges at her touch, at her quiet wisdom. This is why she terrifies me sometimes – this ability to see straight through my walls, to understand things I can’t voice,

“The other Alphas…” I start.

“Respect you because you respect them.” She moves closer, and my arms wrap around her automatically. They’ll follow your lead not because you’re Lycan King, but because you’ve proven yourself worthy of following.”

In moments like these, when she speaks with such clarity about things I’ve struggled with for years, I almost tell her everything. Almost confess about the mate bond, about how perfectly she completes me. 1

Instead, I press my forehead to hers, breathing in our mingled scents. “How did you get so wise, sweetling?”

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Chapter 55

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