Chapter 22: A White Lie

Ethan's POV 

I fell over when I heard the piercing scream coming from deep within the woods. I had focused hard on this particular wildebeest, but it ran off as I lost balance.

I'm not sure Kieran heard that. Since I'd lost the game, I could check out what was wrong with her.

I darted out using my senses to remember the direction the scream had come from.

It wasn't too long before I caught sight of it: a bigger wildebeest charging at full speed at the rocks. But rocks couldn't scream.

“Help me!" 

That was definitely her.

I went on all fours and bounded in the brook, charging at the wildebeest. I went straight for its neck, delivering my strongest bite. 

The wildebeest bellowed and galloped, trying to push me off. I clamped down with even more force, remembering that it would trample me the moment it shook me off.

The wildebeest galloped until it went limp, falling into the brook. Its blood mixed with the brook water as it flowed off.

I stood over the Omega. Fragile and badly scratched, she looked like she wouldn't survive the next few minutes. But I let her be.

I had already broken one rule of the hunting game—every wolf to his own defense.

Helping her further could put me at risk of getting caught by Alpha Kieran.

His disappointment will be no small issue.

I propped the Omega up, letting her sit up with her back to the stone wall.

“Lyra, if you're asked who killed the wildebeest, take responsibility for it. Never mention to anyone that I helped you here. Do I have your word?" 

She raised her weak eyes in confusion, almost as if she couldn't understand what I was saying to her.

I dragged the wildebeest out of the brook, and went back for her. Scooping her up in my arms, I crossed the brook and laid her against the wildebeest.

“Just stay here. Breathe slowly. You'll be fine. But remember to keep this a secret." 

She nodded. That was all I needed—her consent. 

Having surveyed the environment to be safe, I returned to my own hunting grounds.

I had heard nothing from Kieran. The hunt seemed good today.

After walking for some moments, I noticed I had a slight limp. I looked down at my legs. The right seemed to be twisted at an odd angle by the ankle. 

Ugh! Not now. I definitely had to settle for smaller prey—a prey not proportional to my injury. I scoffed and struggled my way through the woods. 

A huge rabbit should do. 

***

Lyra's POV 

When I finally came to, I remembered that I had been chased by a bear. That's what led to all of this in the first place. I staggered to my feet and kicked the wildebeest hard on its stomach. For the pain.

I looked at my scratched hands. They were marked with dried blood stains.

I crawled to the brook and looked at my reflection in the water. My face bore bloodied scratches too. I washed my face gingerly, noting how hot and painful it felt to touch.

My legs trembled underneath the weight of my body.

Flashes of the incident passed before my eyes occasionally, causing my heart to pound harder against my ribcage. I would have been with my mother, had Ethan not come to my rescue.

I began to see him in a different light. He saved me, and asked that I keep it a secret. Maybe he didn't want Alpha Kieran to know—he could get jealous. 

Jealous that someone other than him had it in mind to save me.

I raised my head when I heard laughter.

Alpha Kieran and Beta Ethan were approaching where I sat, both holding their game. 

Alpha Kieran had a wildebeest, only that it was much smaller than mine.

To my greatest surprise and utmost disappointment, Ethan held two huge rabbits in his left hand. What more, he walked with a limp.

I lowered my eyes in guilt.

“I guess the winner is already clear," Alpha Kieran began, but his voice seemed to give out on him when he looked closely at what I was leaning on. 

He turned to look at Ethan.

“Can you believe this?" 

Ethan is a good actor, for I was genuinely surprised at his feigned surprise.

“Goddess! Such a big kill for such a fragile Omega." 

“Lyra, did you do this all by yourself?" Alpha Kieran asked me directly with a hard stare.

“Yes, Alpha." I nodded 

“Look at her many scratches. She seems so drained of life," Ethan added in my defense.

“True," Alpha Kieran finally agreed.

“Now, how do we get all these back to the palace? I am pretty exhausted, just as you are, and Ethan has a limp." 

“Let's drag our kills out as far as we can out of the woods, return to the palace, and send the men's servants to come get them," Ethan suggested.

“Who then will watch over the game so they don't get stolen?" I asked, trying to include myself in the decision making process.

Both Ethan and Alpha Kieran sized me up.

"The weakest should stay,” they chorused.

I accepted my fate, and we began the journey back, taking our kills out of the woods.

Ethan handed me his rabbits while he pulled the wildebeest by its horns.

Once outside the woods, Ethan offered to return to the palace to get help, while he pleaded with Alpha Kieran to stay with me.

Somebody had to watch over me, of course.

“I must commend you; though small in size, and fragile to behold, you were able to conquer such an animal. Your determination is one to be reckoned with," Alpha Kieran encouraged me.

Ethan's heart. Ethan's strength. Not my determination. I'd have been dead by now with my determination.

I avoided his eyes carefully and pursed my lips, nodding like one who had truly achieved a great feat. I hope he couldn't smell my guilt.

“Thank you, Alpha," I replied, feeling less of myself with each passing moment. 

The sound of hooves approaching made my face light up with relief.

I smiled when I saw Ethan on horseback, while a troop of guards ran in twos on each side of the cart. With rhythmic movements and heaves, they hauled the wildebeests onto the cart while I held on to the rabbits. 

Finally, I got on the cart.

“Thank you," I mouthed to Ethan when we got close enough for communication.

His eyes said nothing, and his body language showed no acknowledgment.

Deep down, it broke me.

Maybe he was still angry about his injury.

How could I keep all this happenings secret, especially from Saana?

This is our little secret and no one must find out about it.