The Hunt Begins

Chapter 9

"The target... is you."

The words echoed through Lyra's mind.

For a moment, she couldn't breathe.

Around her, Shadow Hollow erupted into activity.

Warriors rushed through the streets.

Orders were shouted.

Weapons were distributed.

The entire city had shifted into battle mode.

Lyra barely noticed.

Her thoughts were trapped on one question.

Why?

Why would Kael issue a kingdom-wide hunt for her?

Five years ago, he had rejected her.

Now he was hunting her?

Had her existence become that unbearable to him?

The thought hurt more than she cared to admit.

Ronan dismissed the guard.

The moment they were alone, Lyra turned toward him.

"Tell me everything."

Ronan's expression remained grim.

"The scouts intercepted messages sent to every major pack."

"And?"

"The order bears the Alpha King's seal."

A knot formed in her stomach.

Kael's seal.

Not a rumor.

Not speculation.

Proof.

"He wants me dead."

Ronan was silent.

That silence spoke volumes.

Lyra laughed bitterly.

Of course.

She should have known.

Rejection wasn't enough.

Banishment wasn't enough.

Now he wanted to erase her completely.

The pain quickly transformed into anger.

Good.

Anger was easier to carry.

---

Miles away, inside Stormfang Castle, Kael Stormfang slammed a document onto his desk.

His silver eyes blazed with fury.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The messenger standing before him paled.

"My King?"

Kael shoved the parchment forward.

A familiar royal seal glinted in the candlelight.

His seal.

Yet he had never seen the document before.

The messenger swallowed nervously.

"The hunt order was distributed this morning."

A dangerous silence filled the room.

"Distributed by whom?"

"No one knows."

Kael's wolf growled beneath his skin.

Someone was using his authority.

Someone powerful.

Someone bold enough to forge royal commands.

Slowly, he picked up the parchment again.

His gaze settled on the target's name.

Lyra Blackwood.

His chest tightened unexpectedly.

Five years.

Five years and her name still affected him.

The memory of her standing beneath the moon flashed through his mind.

The devastation in her eyes.

The heartbreak.

The betrayal.

For reasons he didn't fully understand, guilt stirred inside him.

A feeling he had spent years trying to ignore.

"Find out who sent this order."

His voice became deadly calm.

"And cancel every hunt immediately."

The messenger bowed.

"At once, my King."

As the man hurried away, Kael stared out the window.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

And somehow...

Lyra was at the center of it.

---

Shadow Hollow

The next morning, Lyra joined Ronan in the strategy hall.

A massive map covered the center table.

Red markers had been placed across the kingdom.

Far too many red markers.

Lyra frowned.

"What are those?"

"Pack hunting parties."

Her stomach dropped.

There were dozens.

Perhaps hundreds.

Every major territory had deployed wolves.

Not because they hated her.

Because they believed they were obeying their king.

The realization chilled her.

One lie.

One forged order.

And an entire kingdom had turned against her.

Mara entered the room carrying a bundle of scrolls.

"More reports."

Ronan accepted them.

His expression darkened with each one.

"What?"

He looked up.

"The hunters are getting closer."

A heavy silence followed.

Then another voice spoke.

"Good."

Everyone turned.

An elderly woman stood in the doorway.

Lyra had never seen her before.

Her silver hair fell to her waist.

Ancient wisdom gleamed in her eyes.

Ronan immediately straightened.

To Lyra's surprise, even the Rogue King seemed respectful.

"Grandmother."

The woman ignored him completely.

Her gaze settled on Lyra.

A strange feeling washed over her.

As though the woman could see straight through her.

"You've finally arrived."

Lyra blinked.

"What?"

The old woman smiled.

"The Moon Queen."

The room froze.

Mara nearly dropped the scrolls.

Even Ronan looked uncomfortable.

Lyra stared at the woman.

"I'm not a queen."

"No."

The old woman agreed.

"Not yet."

Then she stepped closer.

Her smile disappeared.

And her next words sent ice through Lyra's veins.

"The hunters are the least of your problems."

A chill spread through the room.

"What do you mean?" Ronan asked.

The old woman's eyes never left Lyra.

"Because the man hunting her..."

She paused.

"...has already entered Shadow Hollow."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Someone inside the city?

A spy?

An assassin?

The old woman nodded slowly.

As if confirming their fears.

Then she delivered the final blow.

"And he is closer to Lyra than any of you realize. 

The enemy is no longer outside the city walls.