CHAPTER 003

Keira's POV

I got up early in the morning to meet up for training. I had so much on my mind, but a day out in the fields, shooting arrows, could help take my mind off things.

I went out into the quiet morning, only to see my teacher there on the field waiting for me.

Did the man ever take a break?

I walked towards him, already knowing the exact words he was going to say.

"You stood me up yesterday," he said, and I shrugged.

"I'm sorry, teacher. I told you not to come."

"Does the teacher answer to the student, or does the student answer to the teacher?" he asked, and I shook my head. I really needed this to get my mind away from Zeke and Lyra.

"The Luna Archery Tournament is a few months away, Keira. I'm hoping you know that."

"Well, did you? You decided to teach my sister too, knowing fully well I will compete against her."

"I am the archery instructor of the pack, not your personal instructor, Miss Keira," he said, and I shrugged.

"But I can't deny you are my best student," he said, and I smiled instead.

He pointed towards the targets across the training field.

"Ten arrows. One breath between every shot." He was back to instructing like he'd never said that.

I reached into the quiver strapped across my back as I pulled out the first arrow. The bow kissed my fingers as I drew it back.

Eyes on the target. In my mind, I silently counted to three. Tapping my finger on the bow with each number. I let the direction of the wind lead my arrow instead of against it.

I took in a deep breath. Paused. And then I released. The arrow tore through the morning air and buried itself dead centre of the target.

This… this was what it felt like. This was home.

I felt excitement rush through me as I picked another arrow and pointed it towards the target, waiting for the wind to lead me.

But a figure up ahead made my hands sway, and I squinted, trying to take a closer look. Up ahead was the Lycan King. Standing there with all majesty and villainous venom, staring straight at me.

For a second, a stupid thought bled through my mind, and my arrow was already pointing at him before I had realised.

How about I end him instead? Then Zeke wouldn't have to protect Lyra from him. Then… I wouldn't have to make the choice I had decided to make.

An arrow couldn't kill a Lycan King. But for some silly moment, I believed my arrow could pierce through his heart.

The wind was with me… guiding my fingers, and I let out a breath. And fired.

He saw me. He watched everything I did with an amused smile playing on his lips. He thrived on this, I realised, but it was too late. The arrow was already in the air.

"Oh, Moon Goddess," I whispered, but then watched as the arrow fell short to the ground. Not even close to him.

"Failed," I heard my teacher's voice, and I turned immediately.

"What?"

"One must be clear-headed when aiming at the target, but you let your emotions rile you up. You always have a bad temper, which is not good for someone who is to lead," he said, and I frowned.

"Clear your head, stay focused, and rise above emotions. Then no matter how big the target is… you'll always get it," he said, and the words resonated deep with me.

I turned back to Magnus, but he wasn't there anymore. The space he had been in was empty.

After practice, I showered and came down for breakfast and stopped just outside the dining room when I heard my mother's voice, sharp and pleading at once.

"She can't go to him," my mother was saying. "Please. Not Lyra."

I stayed still, my hand resting against the wall. Through the doorway, I could see Lyra at the table, her shoulders shaking, tears streaming down her face.

"I heard he's terrifying," Lyra sobbed. "I don't want anything to do with him. Please, Mum, don't make me go."

"If anyone should go," my mother said, "it should be Keira. She has Alpha blood. She would last longer against someone like him."

The reason we had adopted Lyra was because my mum didn't see me as her daughter. I had been born as a twin, with my brother who was a true heir, but an accident had happened, and I had watched him die.

My mother still blamed me for it even if I could barely remember. But something told me that there was more to it than I could remember.

I walked into the dining room, my spine straight even though my heart wasn't.

"Dad, I—"

"Aren't you ashamed to even show your face?" my mother cut in before I could finish. "Hiding behind your younger sister, after everything, after stealing the man she loved?"

Rage shot through me so fast I could barely breathe around it. My hands curled into fists at my sides. "Lyra is not my sister," I snapped.

My mother's frown deepened, disdain written all over her face.

"There she goes. The wicked child. As if you ever cherished the sibling you actually had. You let him die."

"Mum, we were five," I shouted, tears spilling down my face before I could stop them. "We were both five years old. I couldn't have saved him even if I tried."

"Rebecca, we agreed to stop bringing that up," my father scolded her softly.

She didn't answer me, and I breathed out, trying to steady my voice for what I was about to say next.

"I have had a long thought about everything and have decided to step up as the future leader of the pack."

"Stop with the speech and get to the point already," my mother said.

"I have decided that Zeke should be married to Lyra," I said, and they looked up at me in surprise.

"What do you mean? You're Zeke's mate!" my father said.

"But he's only ever loved Lyra, like mother said. So I've decided to be the bride of the Lycan King instead.”