Claimed By The King(s) Of Kings

Aina

Aina practically tumbled out of the elevator doors when they opened into the grand foyer, her polished shoes squeaking loudly against the pristine marble floor. Her face was still burning with an intense, humiliating heat, and every breath felt short and ragged.

She pressed both hands against her glowing cheeks, leaning her back against a heavy stone pillar just out of sight of the main reception desk.

"Get a grip, Aina. Just get a damn grip," she whispered violently to herself, taking deep, shaky breaths. "He was drunk. He was totally intoxicated on moon-wine or bourbon or whatever that terrifying cedarwood-and-alcohol smell was. He didn’t know what he was doing. He thought you were a pretty boy! That’s all! He didn’t recognize you... right?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, her mind frantically rewinding the last three minutes. The way his heavy, calloused thumb had caressed her cheek. The absolute velvet rasp in his voice when he called her beautiful. The sickening, delicious heat that had pooled in her stomach when his lips were inches from hers.

And worse than all of that—the static spark. The unmistakable, electric pull of the mate bond humming under her skin the exact second she touched him.

First there was the Headmaster, whose dark eyes made her soul feel exposed. Then there were the three terrifying, towering wolf princes, Malric, Vance, and now Theo.

"Four," she whimpered into her hands, counting them off on her fingers with horrified precision. "Four monstrous, absurdly attractive, completely psychotic Alphas. Is the Goddess having a stroke up there? Who hands out mates like party favors?!"

A sudden burst of loud laughter echoed from the main entrance doors, startling Aina out of her quiet existential breakdown.

She quickly straightened her blazer, smoothed down her newly trimmed fringe, and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. Taking one last deep, stabilizing breath, she stepped out from behind the pillar and joined the flow of students streaming out of the residential tower toward the dining hall.

The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of pine needles and damp earth from the surrounding forests. The campus pathways were lit by glowing magical lanterns suspended in mid-air, casting a warm, golden light over the stone bridges and manicured gardens.

"Travis! Hey! Travis!"

Aina turned around to see Chloe skipping a few steps to catch up, waving frantically at her. Walking beside her were Delilah and Beatrice, both looking effortlessly stylish in their evening uniform slacks and tailored waistcoats.

"Hey guys," Aina said, forcing a calm smile as she slowed her pace so they could catch up.

"Look at you!" Chloe squealed, circling Aina like an overly enthusiastic puppy. "Oh my stars! Your hair! And your uniform actually fits now! You look like a whole new person!"

Delilah tilted her head, her dark eyes glittering with appreciation as she took in Aina’s sleek wolf-cut and tailored suit. "Well, well. Look who decided to stop hiding behind a bag of potatoes. I must admit, Whitelock, you clean up remarkably well. Molly is going to lose her mind when she sees you."

Aina rubbed the back of her neck, feeling a genuine flush of pride replace her lingering anxiety. "Thanks. I... uh... decided I couldn’t go another day looking like a walking tent. Plus, I did the hair myself."

"You cut that yourself?" Beatrice asked, raising a dark eyebrow in genuine surprise as she casually cracked her knuckles. "Not bad, freshman. You might actually survive standing next to our princess without looking like her footman."

"Where is Molly, anyway?" Aina asked, looking around the crowded pathway as they approached the grand archway of the dining hall.

"She had a last-minute emergency meeting with the Royal Event Planning Committee," Delilah said, waving her hand dismissively. "Apparently, someone moved the date of the Annual Iron Fang Bash to this coming Friday, so the planning committee is in a total frenzy trying to organize security and catering."

Aina’s stomach dropped a fraction. "The Iron Fang Bash? What’s that?"

"Just the biggest, trashiest, most wild party of the semester," Beatrice sneered lightly. "Hosted exclusively by the wolf princes. Every high-ranking student goes, drinks too much, and acts like a wild animal. Frankly, it’s exhausting, but Molly usually forces us to attend for at least an hour."

"Right... wild party. Sounds great," Aina mumbled, silently praying that her name wouldn’t come up anywhere near that event.

They pushed through the heavy wooden doors into the dining hall. The room was already bustling with activity, filled with the appetizing smells of roasted meats, rich garlic sauces, and freshly baked bread.

As the four of them walked toward the grand seating area, Aina noticed the subtle shift in the room’s atmosphere. Heads turned, whispers rippled through the long tables, and students openly gaped at her transformation. But before Aina could get too self-conscious, a loud, heavy thud echoed from the raised dais at the back of the hall.

The three royal wolf princes—Malric, Vance, and a surprisingly present, groggy-looking Theo—marched straight down the central aisle. The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the trio sauntered over to a sprawling mahogany table set right at the far end of the hall.

Malric threw himself onto the massive leather-backed chair at the head of the table, his posture radiating pure, unadulterated dominance. Vance slouched into the seat beside him, nursing a bruised lip, while Theo collapsed into his chair, rubbing his eyes beneath his glasses with a low, miserable groan.

Aina froze in her tracks, her jaw dropping slightly as she recognized the table.

"Wait..." Aina whispered, grabbing Delilah’s sleeve. "Is that... is that where I sat yesterday?"

Delilah let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Ah. So you finally realize why you nearly got your head ripped off on your first day."

"You sat at the Royal Iron Fang Table, Travis," Beatrice said with a sly, wicked grin. "The end of the table in the center, belonged strictly to the Royal Family for generations. Nobody sits there. Ever. Not even the high-ranking alpha pack leaders sons dare to put a toe near those chairs. When you waltzed in, sat your tiny butt down, you basically spat on their royal bloodline."

Aina felt all the color drain from her face. "You’re kidding. I just thought it was an empty spot!"

"Well, now you know why Malric looked like he wanted to wear your skin as a coat," Beatrice added, thoroughly enjoying Aina’s horror.

"Come on, sit before you faint," Delilah said smoothly, pulling Aina toward a table where a few other lower-year girls were seated. "Let me give you a crash course on the monsters ruling this school so you don’t accidentally step on their toes again."

Aina sank into the leather chair, her eyes darting nervously toward the end of the hall.

"Well, now you know why Malric looked like he wanted to wear your skin as a coat," Beatrice added, thoroughly enjoying Aina’s horror.

"Come on, sit before you faint," Delilah said smoothly, pulling Aina toward a table where a few other lower-year girls were seated. "Let me give you a crash course on the monsters ruling this school so you don’t accidentally step on their toes again."

Aina sank into the leather chair, her eyes darting nervously toward the end of the hall.

"Okay, listen up," Delilah began, leaning over her empty plate. "First, you have Malric. Eldest brother, future Main King, absolute menace. He’s pure muscle, short-tempered, and lives for combat. He’s the most feared wolf on campus because his Alpha aura can literally force lower-ranking shifters to their knees without him lifting a finger."

"Terrifying. Got it," Aina muttered, adjusting her glasses.

"Then there’s Vance," Chloe chimed in, leaning her elbows on the table. "Second brother. He’s the charming, golden-boy poster child, but don’t let the smile fool you. He’s a total manipulator and a master fencer. He’s the most famous among the girls, always flirting, always causing drama, and constantly getting into trouble."

"And that one with the glasses?" Aina asked, her voice cracking slightly as her mind flashed back to the hallway incident five minutes ago.

"Theo is the wildcard," Beatrice answered, leaning back with her arms crossed. "Third brother. Brilliant, obsessed with tactical magic and academy strategy, but he drinks like a fish and stays up for three days straight doing Goddess knows what. He acts aloof and quiet, but when he snaps, he’s worse than Malric. Keep your distance from him especially, he doesn’t like people."

Too late for that, Aina thought hysterically, burying her face in her hands. He literally called me small and tried to kiss me in the corridor.

Before Delilah could continue the lesson, a sharp, resonant gong echoed through the grand hall, cutting through the chatter of hundreds of students.

At the front of the room, standing on the raised wooden podium, was Headmaster Roiner.

The entire dining hall fell dead, suffocatingly silent. Even the rowdy wolf packs at the side tables sat up straight. Roiner stood tall, clad in a sleek dark coat, his razor-sharp jawline and pale skin contrasting sharply with his piercing dark eyes. As a rare, ancient Lycan-Vampire hybrid, his aura was overwhelming, a dense, suffocating weight that instantly settled over the room.

"Good evening, students," Roiner’s voice boomed softly, effortlessly carrying to every corner of the massive room without him ever raising his volume. "I apologize for omitting my welcoming address yesterday. Unforeseen administrative matters required my immediate attention."

His eyes slowly swept across the sea of students. Aina shrank back, but as his gaze drifted over her table, she felt a sudden, distinct prickle of heat race down her spine. His dark eyes lingered on her for a fraction of a second longer than anyone else’s, a dangerous, knowing glint dancing in their depths before he looked away.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!