Chapter 4

“Pull up your hood,” Rhys’s command pierced the air, causing Lyra to startle as they made their way to the main palace’s entrance.

Anya, who nestled closely against him, shot her a taunting smile, her gaze fixated on the red wavy hair cascading down her back.

“We merely wish to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to your appearance.” Anya’s voice dripped with mockery, her smile widening.

“Given the similarity in our hair and eyes, it would be rather embarrassing if anyone were to question your authenticity, especially within the palace walls, don’t you think?”

Lyra simply offered a serene smile, reaching up to draw the hood of her cloak over her head as they wanted.

“I understand,” she said with a knowing smile, fully aware that her obedience was getting on their nerves.

No matter how tough or degrading the task, Lyra always followed their orders without a hint of protest.

She knew they were trying to provoke her, but she refused to give them the satisfaction of a reaction from her.

“We’ll head in first.” Luna Viola chimed in, taking Alpha Aiden’s hand as they gracefully made their way towards the stairs. The night breeze picked up, causing the leaves of the trees outside to rustle and dance freely in the wind as they disappeared from view.

As the silence settled in, the air grew thick and suffocating, almost as if a fog had surrounded the three.

“Make sure you attend to Anya’s every request and don’t even think about standing out,” Rhys warned, his cold gaze lingering on Lyra from head to toe.

Despite her plain dress and cloak, her beauty still managed to catch his eye, much to his chagrin.

He clenched his jaw, unsettled by the unwavering gaze and the smile that tugged at Lyra’s lips.

“Yes, young master,” she replied obediently, causing Rhys to frown before Pulling Anya by the waist and continuing walking.

Lyra sighed and watched them go, unfazed by their treatment after enduring three months of relentless torment.

She had learned to let go of any feelings she once had for Rhys; after all, it was all a facade, and she had no reason to cling to illusions.

Her only focus now was survival, knowing that her life was in danger.

“Wow,” Lyra marveled, her words slipping out in awe as she took in the grand hall, three times larger than Incarnadine’s.

The space was filled with guests, music floating from various instruments, and decorations adorning every corner, creating a breathtaking sight.

It brought back memories of a place she had seen as a child.

“Fetch me some water,” Anya’s demand broke Lyra ’s reverie, prompting her to look at her and spring into action.

She quickly retrieved one glass of water from the refreshment table and turned to find them no longer in the crowd.

Perplexed, Lyra scanned the room, searching for any sign of them amidst the bustling guests.

With so many people around, spotting them was like finding a needle in a haystack.

“Where could they have disappeared to?” she pondered silently, her curiosity piqued.

Suddenly, she caught sight of Anya making her way up to the second floor, heading towards the balcony.

Without a second thought, Lyra swiftly weaved through the crowd, her intuition urging her to hasten her steps.

As she neared the door leading to the balcony, where Anya had vanished, Lyra gently peeked through the curtains and caught a glimpse of her with a mysterious man.

“Is this poison as potent as you claim, Dad?” Anya inquired, prompting Lyra ’s eyes to widen in alarm.

The mention of poison sent a chill down her spine, indicating that Anya meant serious business.

“Of course,” the silver pack beta assured confidently. “One drop and the victim is a goner for good.”

A mischievous grin adorned Anya’s face as she eyed the small bottle in her hands before slipping it discreetly into her purse.

“But who’s the unlucky target?” the beta asked with a hint of curiosity, observing Anya intently.

“Is it that orphan?”

“No… It’s Alpha Aiden,” Anya responded without a moment’s hesitation, leaving Lyra dumbfounded as she eavesdropped on their conversation from a safe distance.

“I’ll frame that wench for the deed and kill two birds with one stone. Once Rhys ascends to Alpha, I’ll become a Luna, and I can finally rid myself of that pest, Lyra. Perfect plan, don’t you think?”

A sinister chuckle escaped the beta’s lips, sending shivers down Lyra ’s spine. Swiftly and silently, she retreated before they could detect her presence, her heart racing in her chest and hands trembling with apprehension.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she steadied her nerves and returned to the table, placing the glass of water on which she had been holding all this while.

“What are you doing? Where’s Anya?” Rhys’s voice made Lyra flinch.

She turned around to face him, finding his gaze fixed on her with a serious expression.

A lump formed in her throat as she bit her lip, trying to collect her thoughts.

To spill the beans or not? That was the question swirling in Lyra ’s mind as she pondered what she had overheard. But then again, who was she kidding?

There was no way he would take her seriously. As she racked her brain for a way out of this sticky situation, Anya swooped in, flinging her arms around Rhys.

“What’s going on here?” Anya’s question hung in the air, but Lyra’s gaze darted to the purse in Anya’s hand.

“Are you trying to charm my mate?”

“No way,” Lyra shot back, but before she could explain further, a booming voice echoed through the grand hall, announcing the arrival of the Alpha King.

All eyes turned towards the staircase as the King emerged, flanked by his two royal guards and beta.

Bowing ensued, and silence reigned as he took his seat on the grand chair at the foot of the staircase.

Lyra’s heart raced as she studied the King, his presence sending shivers down her spine.

His long black hair was tied back, strands cascading over his shoulders.

Despite the mask concealing the upper half of his face, she could tell the rumors about him having a hideous appearance were just an exaggeration due to people’s fear of his reputation, as he was known for being cursed and ruthless.

“I don’t have time to waste,” he declared, his voice sending chills down their bones.

“We all know this is my third attempt at choosing Queen Luna. This year, instead of going through a whole bothersome process to find the right candidate, I’m just going to pick from these photos of the unmated she-wolves.”

His beta handed over the photos, and a murmur spread through the halls.

The she- wolves likely dragged to the banquet by their Alphas, trembled in fear, their faces draining of color.

Each one silently prayed to the Moon Goddess not to be chosen by the Alpha King.

As Kian, the King, shuffled the photos like a deck of cards, Lyra ’s gaze shifted to Anya’s purse.

With each breath, her mind cleared, determination sparking within her.

She knew that even if she managed to avoid being framed tonight, Anya wouldn’t rest until

she got rid of her.

With the Silver pack at her back, they wouldn’t stop until Lyra was out of the picture for good.

That much was certain. And so, driven by her desperate need to escape the Incarnadine Pack as soon as possible, she raised her hand, eyes blazing with resolve as she held her breath.

“I volunteer, Your Majesty,” she declared boldly, her voice ringing out with unwavering determination.

All eyes turned towards her, including Rhys’s, who looked like he had just seen a ghost.

“What are you doing?” he hissed through clenched teeth, but Lyra simply shot him a defiant glance before striding confidently towards the Alpha King.

The guests began to murmur amongst themselves, parting to make way for her, but the royal guards stepped in, blocking her path.

Suspicion hung in the air—not only she was wearing a cloak but also because no one had ever volunteered like this before.

“You certainly have nerves, young lady,”Kian’s voice rumbled ominously as he reclined in his armchair, resting his cheek on his knuckles.

“Remove your hood”

“What are you doing?” Stella’s voice echoed in Lyra’s mind, questioning her sanity, but she paid it no heed.

Slowly, she pulled back the hood, revealing her fiery red hair, and met the Alpha King’s gaze unflinchingly.

Her heart raced, drowning out the murmurs of the guests behind her.

“Good evening, Alpha King. I am Lyra, from the Incarnadine pack,” she greeted with poise and grace, earning a chuckle from Kian.

His eyes flickered towards Anya, who flinched,bbefore returning his gaze to Lyra , a sly smirk playing on his lips.

“Ah, so you’re the rumored future Luna of Incarnadine who was replaced by another she- wolf,” Kian mused, studying Lyra intently.

“What is your motive in volunteering yourself?”

“Do you wish for me to speak truthfully, Your Majesty?” she inquired, locking eyes with Kian in a manner that took him aback.

Fear typically prevented anyone from meeting his red eyes, but Lyra seemed unfazed by it.

Her boldness piqued his interest, but it also pissed him off for unknown reasons.

Lyra noticed the displeasure on his face and took a deep breath, steeling herself as she met the intense gaze of the Alpha King.

At that moment, the grand hall seemed to hold its breath, the air heavy with tension and anticipation.

And with a nod of confirmatiom from Kian, Lyra continued, her voice steady yet laced with an underlying current of desperation.

“Because no one is willing to be your Luna, but me,” she admitted, her fiery gaze locking with his, causing the guests to shift uneasily, whispers rippling through the hall.

The she-wolves from various packs watched in a mix of awe and fear, their eyes darting between Lyra nand the Alpha King, uncertain of what the outcome would be.

“So, please make me your Queen Luna.”Lyra’s voice resonated as she added, “I promise I will help you with your duties, all the while proving myself worthy enough to be your mate.”