Chapter 6

C6: Are You A Lycan

She saw they were two different colors. She subconsciously shivered at the raw power and energy the figure emitted.

The figure touched her cheeks softly. “Mine…” it purred hoarsely, and Raine felt a rush run down her spine, her cheeks heating up effortlessly at the mere sensation from its hand.

She woke up with furrowed brows.

She didn't know who that figure was or why it had been haunting her dreams for almost a year.

Eventually, after much effort to shut down her thoughts and ignore the burning sensation on her back, she drifted back to sleep.

Raine suddenly jolted up as she felt her body drenched in water. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the bright light coming from the door.

She saw Alice and a maid standing there, Alice had a smug look on her face. Her face contorted into a frown mixed with pain as she winced from the rough movement she had made earlier.

“Why… are you here?” she asked, her voice cracking from lack of water, and she was still sleepy.

“You're still in the mood to sleep, dear sister. You really do belong to the lowest rank,” Alice remarked as she stepped fully inside.

Squatting a few inches away from Raine, she crunched her nose.

“Disgusting. Anyway, I pleaded with mother to let you out so you can have your wounds treated. Isn't that nice of me?” she asked with a proud grin.

“Go and wash up. I wonder if the wines here aren't soiled by you,” she mused before leaving.

Raine pouted her lips, a fresh badge of tears ready to spill, but she held them back.

With great effort, she lifted herself up. The maid earlier was reluctant to help her.

Walking back to her room with difficulty, she saw that her bath was ready. She heaved in relief as she removed her clothes and stepped into the lukewarm water.

She clenched her fists as she sank deeper into it.

After a long and painful bath, she dragged herself back into the room and managed to put on a simple dress.

The door burst open, and she instinctively flung her head to the side.

Luna Indira took graceful strides into the room, her red hair packed upwards with a few strands of baby hair falling on the sides of her face.

She scanned her daughter with indifference before settling on one of the chairs, crossing her legs.

“Good morning, mother,” Raine greeted, carefully parting her pale, broken lips.

“Don't think you are free to whore around. You are still grounded,” Luna Indira said, ignoring her greeting as she eyed the dress and the small bag in her hand.

Luna Indira pursed her lips as her eyes lingered on the bag Raine carried.

She had sewn it for her beloved baby twenty years ago.

She had given it to her at the age of five, still hoping the absence of the fiery glint was not permanent.

But her hope slowly diminished, replaced with anger and hatred.

Raine bit her lips, fighting the urge to defend herself. She couldn't afford to lose the chance of seeing Raphael.

“The pack’s assistant physician will come and check your wounds. And don't think I want to do all these things. Thank your sister,” Luna Indira spoke coldly before leaving the room.

Raine simply nodded.

She knew it was too good to be real.

Even though a tiny part of her desperately wished the Moon Goddess had started softening her heart miraculously.

Training Ground…

Alice arrived in a carriage. She stepped down with a beautiful smile adorning her face, her father by her side.

They walked into the training ground and entered the strategy room. They invited his Beta, who joined them shortly after.

“Good morning, Alpha,” Beta Mascot said with a bow before sitting on a chair. Alice greeted him with a smile.

“Mascot, you have been a wonderful tutor to my dear daughter, but you have many warriors to train. That is why I want to hand her over to Raphael,” Alpha Elmore said calmly.

Beta Mascot looked confused for a moment. He knew very well that Raphael was an elite warrior, and if he were to tutor anyone, it would be other warriors.

He glanced at Alice, who looked elated to hear her father's wish, and sighed.

If that was what she wanted, then he had no say. Besides, the young lady was a big headache to him.

“If you say so, Alpha. And if you need any help, do not hesitate to seek me out,” he told Alice.

She sneered inwardly but still nodded with a sweet smile.

Alpha Elmore spoke with Raphael, who seemed reluctant to agree to the arrangement but could not disobey his Alpha.

They began their training after Alpha Elmore left the training ground.

Alice stood before him with a dazed look before snapping out of it when she realized he had been speaking to her.

“Go and pick a weapon of your choice,” he ordered.

Alice obeyed, striding to the side of the training field. She took a sword, recalling their first encounter.

“I pick this,” she said meekly, her voice soft.

Raphael simply nodded.

“Do you know why we use weapons instead of our claws?” he asked as he picked up his own sword.

“Yes, because they are beautiful and sharp,” she answered mindlessly as she watched his muscles flex.

“Wrong. They are sharp, yes. But we mainly use them to avoid vulnerability when we turn,” he spoke calmly.

Alice sneered.

“It's annoying that we can't shift halfway,” she said, striking the air.

Raphael shook his head.

“Those are for the Lycans,” he stated as he struck the wooden figure.

Alice froze and turned to him.

“But you can do that. Some of the warriors witnessed it when you shape-shifted halfway,” she said curiously, yet confused.

She had heard it from the warriors who were eager to get closer to her.

Raphael frowned for a moment, as if the topic was something he didn't want to discuss.

“Is it true or false?” she pressed on.

Raphael practically rolled his eyes in his head.

“Yes, I can,” he stated, swinging again, this time with extra force, though not too much.

Alice flinched.

“That… that means you are a Lycan?” she asked carefully.

Raphael turned to her with an intense stare that made her want to crawl away instantly.

The soft warrior she had seen with Raine had disappeared, replaced by a frightening male.

“What do you think?” he asked calmly.

Alice felt her heart drum loudly.

His gaze was too intense.