Chapter four- You're the king's woman

Chapter four- You're the king's woman

FLAP

I exhaled as my arrow successfully shot an antelope in its spine causing it to fall to the ground without a struggle. 

Mason sped past the antelope and I got another bow ready to be engaged.

Without fail, I shot down a wild pig in its neck, fatally ending its life.

Closely behind us were Mason's men picking up the kills.

As we entered a more open field with multiples of deers, I grabbed three arrows and shot at once. 

Two deers down.

Mason and I continued, with me shooting down animals until I suddenly felt dizzy and fell off his back.

"Lyra!" He cried, and I heard the faint sound of him shifting into his human form. The last thing I saw were his light brown eyes before darkness enveloped my body.

***

When I woke up, I was in a dim room surrounded by dark curtains. I sat up in bed and breathed deeply.

I felt tired, but I couldn't bear the stuffiness of the room. So I took the courage to stand and walk out of the room. As I moved aside the curtain at the exit of the hut, I saw that a group of people had gathered in front of my room. They surrounded a fireplace while happily eating roasted meat.

The older woman that had cared for me earlier was Cara and she was the one sharing the meat amongst everyone. Somehow this scene brought tears to my eyes, it reminded me of my old days with the Alpha and everyone else.

From the side, I spotted Mason hurrying towards me.

"Are you okay? You suddenly passed out!"

My hair danced behind my ears as he sped towards me.

I stared up at him, knowing I was not misidentifying the emotion in his eyes. It was that of concern.

"Mason, I'm fine," I said with a smile. I saw through the corner of my eyes, the other members staring at us. They all looked very happy.

Thankfully Mason didn't invite a healer to look at me so he didn't know of my illness. At this lovely moment, I didn't want to ruin anyone's mood.

"Lady, you hunted this meat for us, you should eat. Hurry and come here!" It was Madam Cara calling for me. I smiled at her.

"Come here," Mason led me towards the group. I sat close to the fire and I felt the heat warm me up which surprisingly made me feel better.

Mason collected the meat from Madam Cara and brought it to my lips. "Eat," he said.

I was taken aback by his action at first but then I opened my mouth and took the meat into my mouth.

"Thank—" I tried to say but he shut me up, "—Just eat, after all, you were the one who hunted the meat." He said dismissively. I turned to look at him and I noticed that he looked somewhat down, but he was trying hard not to show it and I think his men did not notice.

"Lady," 

"Yes?" I smiled kindly at the men who looked like they wanted to converse with me.

"You looked so cool— uh, I mean fierce when shooting the arrows!" He said after getting a sharp look from Mason.

"Thank you," I said.

"I respect you so much. You didn't miss a single shot."

"Even though you passed out due to exhaustion you're far stronger than some girls who only know how to look pretty,"

I couldn't take that as a compliment.

"Everyone in the pack has their own duties. Although we're all rogues with no home, since we all serve Mason as our King then we count as a pack. Hence, not a single person's duty shall be undermined. For example, you're wearing clean clothes, right?"

The rogue bowed his head upon realizing my point.

"You men don't have time to take care of your hygiene properly so it's the responsibility of the females in the pack to ensure you go around with neat clothes to prevent you from getting sick."

"Yes… Lady, you're correct, I really didn't think of that properly." The rogue replied while running his fingers through his neck nervously, his face filled with guilt. Several more rouges who seemed to have thought the same as him looked uncomfortable too.

I smiled at them, "Since you know better now, the only thing you can do is treat those females that wash for the pack with more consideration and care instead of looking down at them."

"Yes, thanks for the teaching, our Luna."

My eyes widened at the title and all the blood in my face rushed to my cheeks, "No, just call me Lyra."

"How can I do that? After all, you're our king's woman." 

"That's right,"

"Yes,"

The rogue got up from the fireplace along with his friends. Then they bowed to Mason before leaving.

Before I could think of words to counter that statement, they were already gone.

"Let's also go talk somewhere quiet,"

I looked at Mason who looked amused at my flushed expression.

We walked off to the serenity of the woods, accompanied by the movements of crickets and fireflies. As much as I didn't want to admit it, this was the best place to be.

I soaked in the silence with ease but then, he broke the silence.

"I… didn't believe you earlier, Iamsorry," he said the last part quickly and I smiled, not caring to pester him about it.

"It's okay, it's only normal that I prove myself if I want to be trusted."

"No, you shouldn't have to." He said quietly, but I heard. 

"From now on, I'll believe you." He said, which made me shake my head at him. So even a rogue king had a conscious.

He most probably felt guilty because I passed out during the hunt. He had no idea it was because of my personal issue.

"Can I… ask you?" He said after some time making me nod my head.

"Yes, you can ask me anything you want."

"Why did you leave your pack? You have the potential to be Beta."

"How do you know that I left my pack and I wasn't chased out?"

"Your will… is different. You seem like you have a direction outside of being a rogue."

I felt myself tense up under his close scrutiny. This gave away my secret thoughts and it seemed to somehow rile him up.

"Then let me tell you right now before you think further," he said loudly as he stood to his feet and turned away, "I'm not letting you go!" 

I exhaled and felt my heart pace increase as I watched him leave.