CHAPTER 4

The moment Elaine stepped into the building, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be. The high stone ceilings, polished floors, and watchful eyes of strangers felt welcoming rather than intimidating. Places like this were built for people who carried themselves with certainty. Elaine had never lacked that.

She was the better twin, and everyone knew it. Where Elena faded into corners, Elaine naturally stood at the center of every room she entered. Attention followed her without effort, settling on her as though it had always belonged there. She had long since stopped pretending not to enjoy it.

Students glanced her way as she moved through the hall, their curiosity obvious even when manners tried to hide it. Some recognized her name from the prophecy, while others simply stared because beauty often made people careless. Elaine met each look with calm ease, giving nothing away. Admiration was easiest to manage when expected.

Yet beneath her confidence, one thought refused to leave her alone. Since the night of the prophecy, the Moon Priestess’s words had returned again and again without invitation. You have something that belongs to your sister. Elaine had laughed then, but the memory no longer felt amusing.

“Hey, peasant.”

The voice came from a girl leaning beside the staircase, flanked by two others who looked too eager to be cruel on their own. Elaine turned slowly, more annoyed than offended. The girl’s smirk widened, clearly pleased to have her attention. Lycoria, it seemed, was full of people who mistook boldness for importance.

“Elaine,” she said, smiling in a way that never reached her eyes. “What?”

The girl blinked, thrown off balance by the calm reply. For a second, she looked less clever than she had a moment ago. Elaine took one measured step closer. The smile on her lips remained perfectly in place.

“My name is Elaine,” she said softly. “Don’t forget it.”

She walked away before the girl could answer. Whispers followed her almost at once, but none loud enough to matter. By the time she reached the training grounds, several heads had already turned in her direction again. Elaine lifted her chin and went to where her group was waiting.

“I’m Kael,” he said, his lips curving into an easy smile. “Before I’m a prince, I’m a student here just like the rest of you, so if you need guidance, come to me.” His voice carried warmth that settled the nerves running through the group. Even so, something restless moved beneath his calm expression.

His wolf had been unsettled since morning. It paced beneath his skin, alert and impatient for reasons he could not name. Something close enough disturbed its usual silence. Kael ignored it the way he ignored many inconvenient things.

“We’ll be starting with basic techniques today,” he continued. He stepped toward the nearest training dummy and picked up a practice sword. “I’ll reduce the pressure on your first day, but I won’t tolerate laziness.”

He placed one foot forward and moved in a single clean motion. The blade struck the dummy with a sharp crack, sending it crashing to the ground. Several students gasped while others stared openly. Kael glanced back at them with a playful smile.

“I’m impressive, I know,” he said, drawing laughter from the nervous students. Then his expression sharpened. “But if you train seriously, you’ll get there too. Everyone, grab a sword and take your stance.”

The group scattered toward the weapon rack. Steel clinked, boots shifted, and uncertain hands tightened around unfamiliar grips. Kael moved between them, correcting posture and grip. For first years, they were better than expected.

This batch had promise. Some were clumsy, some overconfident, and some frightened, but talent showed itself quickly. One student, however, drew his attention more than the others. Even when he looked away, his eyes seemed to return to her.

Golden blonde hair caught the sunlight each time she moved. Her strikes were not the strongest, but they were clean, elegant, and growing sharper with every attempt. She moved like someone determined to belong.

Elaine Hayes.

He knew the name before arriving. Half the academy had spoken of the twin chosen by prophecy, and most spoke only of the beautiful one. Watching her now, Kael understood why attention followed her so easily.

“Your Highness?”

A student’s voice pulled him back. Kael turned, peeling his gaze away from Elaine without changing expression. “Yes?” he asked, as though his focus had never drifted.

By the time drills ended, several students had dropped to the grass in exhaustion. Elaine took a cloth from an attendant and sat gracefully on the ground, drawing breath in measured pulls. Sweat clung lightly to her skin, but even tiredness seemed to flatter her. Kael looked over the group with approval.

“You did well,” he said. “For a first day, many of you handled yourselves naturally.” Pride sat easily in his voice, and relief spread through the students.

“You’re human.”

Elena’s breath hitched at once. Her mind scrambled for an excuse, but panic scattered every thought before she could hold onto one. “I... err...” was all she managed.

“Rowan, do you make it a habit to terrify newcomers on their first day?”

A playful voice carried across the training ground, light enough to cut through the tension. Elena turned and saw the crown prince jogging toward them, sunlight catching against his dark hair. Several students straightened the moment they noticed him.

Kael stopped beside them, wearing a warm, easy smile. “Don’t mind my friend,” he said, glancing at Rowan. “He enjoys looking intimidating far more than necessary.”

“I do not,” Rowan replied flatly.

Kael ignored him completely. He turned back to Elena and extended a hand toward her. “I’m Kael,” he said. “Welcome to Lycoria.”

Elena stared at the hand in front of her, frozen where she stood. This was nothing like the distant boy she had collided with in the corridor earlier. That version of him had seemed lost inside his own thoughts, while this one stood bright and effortless before an audience.

She had expected to go unnoticed here. Instead, the two most influential people she had seen since arriving now stood directly in front of her. One had uncovered her secret, and the other was so far above her station that speaking to him should have been impossible.

“Elena, are you alright?”

Her sister’s voice broke through the panic crowding Elena’s mind. She turned and found Elaine approaching with graceful confidence, golden hair catching the sunlight. “Y-yes,” Elena managed, though her pulse still refused to settle.

Elaine smiled before looking at Kael. “My sister is a little shy, Your Highness,” she said smoothly. Without hesitation, she placed her hand into the one Elena had failed to take. The surrounding students watched with interest.

“I’m not harassing anybody, Kael,” Rowan said, arms folding across his chest. “I was asking a question.”

But Kael barely heard him. His gaze had settled on Elaine’s blue eyes, clear and bright beneath the afternoon light. Something sharp jolted through him, sudden enough to steal the next breath from his lungs.

Beneath his calm expression, his wolf surged awake.

This was her.

His mate.