Chapter 5

Rhys stood at the sides, his knuckles white with tension as he watched Lyra ’s audacious behavior unfolds before him.

He was itching to leap forward and yank her out of the hall, but risking the Alpha King’s fury was a whole other story.

“What was going through her mind?” he muttered as he desperately tried to figure out how to put an end to her impulsive antics and make her see reason about becoming the Luna of the Alpha King.

“Dad,” Rhys reached out through their mind link, looking at Alpha Aiden who stood alongside Luna Viola by one of the hall’s pillars.

“Do something–”

But before he could finish his plea, the Alpha King’s voice cut through the heavy silence that hung in the air after Lyra ’s bold declaration.

“Very well,” Kian’s voice boomed, causing a collective gasp to echo through the room.

Lyra stood there, frozen in disbelief.

Had he really agreed so readily?

She had always prided herself on being bold and daring, especially when she volunteered to be his Luna, but she never imagined it would be this simple.

It was as if the universe had decided to cut her some slack for once.

“Are you really going to do this?” David, his loyal beta, questioned with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

He pushed his glasses up with a finger, his eyes moving from Lyra to Kian.

They had been inseparable since childhood, practically growing up as brothers due to their fathers’ close friendship.

David knew Kian like the back of his hand, so this decision to accept a she-wolf with an unknown background was definitely a curveball.

“What’s the harm? She’s got the right spirit, and let’s face it, nobody else in here is bold enough to step up to be my mate and Luna,”

Kian replied with a smirk that sent shivers down the spines of the unmated she-wolves.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” Alpha Aiden interjected, breaking the tension in the room.

He stepped forward, standing beside Lyra.

“I apologize for my pack member’s impulsive decision. While my mate and I raised her after taking her in, Lyra ’s background remains a mystery. Her bloodline is unknown, and she lacks experience in this role. It may not be wise to crown her as Queen Luna without considering these important factors.”

The guests nodded in agreement with AlphaA Aiden’s words.

Despite the King’s eagerness to choose a mate and Luna, they understood the importance of bloodline and experience in such a significant role.

After all, the Queen would not only lead the royal pack alongside the King but also the entire land of Verdentia.

“Did I ask for your opinion? Did I permit you to speak?” Kian’s tone turned icier than it already was, his Alpha aura was intense, filling the air with tension. Lyra swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his authority.

Even the proud leader of Incarnadine couldn’t help but bow in submission to the undeniable power of the Alpha of Alphas.

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty,” Alpha Aiden murmured, bowing his head with utmost respect.

On the sidelines, Luna Viola’s fist clenched tightly, her gaze shooting daggers at Lyra for the embarrassment she was causing their pack leader.

Ignoring the tension brewing around her, Lyra focused on trying to calm her jittery nerves as the atmosphere inside the palace grew increasingly stifling.

“Was she not recently deemed the future Luna of your esteemed pack? Surely, you and your mate didn’t neglect your duty in teaching her the weighty responsibilities that come with such important position within one of the most formidable packs in the nation.” Kian’s question lingered in the air, causing Alpha Aiden and Luna Viola to flinch.

Even Rhys, whose fists were already clenched so tightly they were turning white, felt himself trembling under the King’s imposing presence.

It came as no surprise that Kian was aware of what was happening within their pack, after all, Incarnadine was part of the prestigious ten high-ranking packs of Verdentia.

“Well, I do understand your concerns, so I will test her before entrusting her with the role,” Kian added, prompting Lyra to glance at him, their eyes meeting briefly.

She saw him quickly look away, as though trying to hide the emotions that his gaze held.

“In one week’s time, I will take her to Ardan Woods.” Gasps filled the room at the mere mention of Ardan Woods, the notorious forest teeming with rogues.

It was a place no one dared to enter except for the bravest members of strong packs or particularly powerful warriors.

A treacherous area where the most ferocious, untamed wolves roamed freely.

Lyra felt her heart quicken its pace, her palms becoming clammy, and her face draining of color.

Ardan Woods was where Alpha Aiden had saved her twelve years ago, a place that haunted her past and present, a memory she could never forget.

She swallowed hard as she locked eyes with the Alpha King again, his presence growing more overwhelming with each passing moment.

Her eyes then widened as she noticed his calm demeanor, his face betraying no emotion as he continued to speak.

“If she managed to make it out alive after staying there for three hours, I will make her my Luna, and if not, then at least she’d die an honorable death. After all, she was bold enough to volunteer for this year’s Luna selection.”

As the words echoed in the room, Lyra couldn’t help but shudder.

It was a memory etched in her mind, like a painting she couldn’t erase.

She recalled the day vividly, the day she had sprinted through the dangers of Ardan’s wilderness to escape the clutches of ruthless warriors.

She was so focused on running that she didn’t notice the death coming her way; the rogues had lunged at her with their sharp fangs and claws, threatening to tear her apart.

Not only that but she also witnessed how warrior’s was killed in front of her very eyes.

She was just a ten-year-old with a small body back then, fighting for her life.

If not for the timely arrival of Alpha Aiden, she might not have lived to tell the tale.

The chilling memory haunted her, lurking in the depths of her subconscious.

And now, as Kian rose to his feet, his presence sending ripples of fear through the banquet hall, Lyra felt her heart race.

His every movement seemed to strike fear into the hearts of those around him, a silent threat lingering in the air.

“Well then… Enjoy the rest of the banquet.” Kian announced nonchalantly, his eyes locked onto Lyra .

She swallowed hard, meeting his intense stare once again. “And you, come with me.”

With a forceful declaration that made Lyra ’s heart race, she found herself following the

Alpha King up the stairs without hesitation. Each step felt heavier than the last as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her legs.

Glancing back, she saw Rhys and Anya watching her with expressions of disbelief as though she had suddenly sprouted an extra head.

Yet, they remained silent, knowing that there was nothing they could do to stop her.

Anya clenched her fist, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Her plan to frame Lyra for Alpha Aldous’ death was now a lost cause.

“What’s wrong? Keep moving,” David’s commanding voice snapped Lyra out of her thoughts, urging her to continue her steps up the grand staircase.

As they reached the door from which the Alpha King had emerged earlier, Lyra was met with a breathtaking sight.

The hallway was lined with paintings of Verdentia’s ancient heroes and beautiful flower decorations, the sight somehow soothing her turbulent emotions. Just as she began to relax in the beauty of the hall, Kian’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“You,” he commanded, halting in his tracks along with the royal guards behind her and the beta standing beside him.

“Remind me, what was your name again?”

“M-my name is Lyra , Your Majesty,” she stuttered, feeling the suffocating intensity of his red eyes now that they were standing face to face. The way Kian looked at her sent shivers down her spine, an unsettling sensation that she couldn’t shake.

“That’s right, Lyra ,” he stated, taking a step closer and looming over her.

“I will give you one final opportunity: do you still wish to volunteer to become my mate and Luna, despite the challenging trial I am about to set for you?” Lyra couldn’t help but flinch, her grip on her cloak tightening as she struggled to keep her balance.

Three hours in Ardan Woods? It was practically a suicide, something only a truly brave–or maybe a crazy wolf would attempt.

But Lyra had made up her mind to become the Luna of the Cursed Alpha King, and she wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

Besides, she was just ten when she faced the danger of Ardan Woods, she was now different, especially with her wolf Stella by her side.

For the past twelve years, Lyra had been honing her skills in secret, training to fight and defend herself.

And so with a determined look and a deep breath, Lyra faced Kian and answered confidently,

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kian studied her for a moment before reaching for the mask that concealed his features.

With a swift motion, he removed the mask, revealing a surprisingly handsome face.

There was a youthful allure mixed with a hint of intimidation that made it hard to believe he was called the tyrant Alpha King of Verdentia.

As Lyra laid eyes on his face, her breath caught in her throat. For a brief moment, she found herself forgetting he was the cursed Alpha King, unable to resist blurting out,

“So handsome.”

Lyra felt her cheeks flush as she hastily clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing the unintended bluntness of her words. But to her surprise, he didn’t seem the least bit put off by her slip-up.

Without a hint of mockery, Kian turned to his beta, who looked as shocked as Lyra felt by her own audacity.

“Take her to the west wing where she would be assigned a temporary residence,” he commanded with a regal air.

Beta David nodded obediently, his eyes following the Alpha King as he strode ahead, flanked by his royal guards.

As the silence settled, Lyra found herself standing alone with the beta.