LOGINElsie's POV I walked quickly toward the mess hall, my mind working fast. I managed to request a fresh, steaming cup of herbal tea. Carrying the cup carefully so it wouldn't spill, I made my way over to the secondary training fields.The sun was quite high in the sky now, beaming down warmly on the dirt tracks, and I knew a refreshing gift like this would be incredibly welcome to anyone working out in the heat. I just really hoped my sudden act of kindness wouldn't look too suspicious.When I arrived at the clearing, I scanned the area and spotted Commander Hunter sitting on a massive pine tree stump. He was leaning forward, his sharp eyes intensely watching a pair of veteran warriors spar with wooden staffs.I walked straight up to him and offered the cup unceremoniously, thrusting it slightly toward his chest.Commander Hunter blinked, looking up at me in surprise. A rare expression of genuine gratitude crossed his rugged face as he reached out and took the warm clay cup from my han
Elsie’s POVWhen I was a safe distance away from the Lycan King's tent, my shaking hands finally found the strength to tie my dark cloth mask back over my nose and mouth. I forced my frantic pace to slow down, my boots dragging heavily through the dirt paths of the central square.But I was totally sulking.I bit my lower lip hard, a wave of hot frustration washing over me. Didn't I say I didn't even want a mate? I argued with myself, my mind scrambling for control. Didn't I decide that I wanted to be free, that I didn't want a dominant male telling me what to do or locking me away?So why the hell was I so deeply upset right now? Why did I feel this burning, suffocating anger toward the Lycan King deep down in my chest?Technically, the man didn't even know the truth. He had no idea I was a girl, let alone his fated mate, because my scent-concealing potion was doing its job perfectly. To him, I was just Elias, a scrawny male squire who attended to him. But my wolf was absolutely d
Quinn's POV The boy was back.I really should stop referring to him as just the boy in my head. His name was Elias.He seemed to have brought my morning food tray, placing it down carefully on the side table near the entrance. He was back to wearing that dark cloth mask, his posture incredibly stiff as he kept his eyes glued firmly to the rugs."Remove the mask," I commanded, my voice carrying a quiet but firm authority. "Anytime you are in my presence privately, always remove it."Elias hesitated for a split second, his fingers fumbling slightly against the strings at the back of his head, before he pulled the fabric down. The movement exposed his shockingly cute face once more. Although, I noticed right away that his face was terribly red.Why exactly were his cheeks burning like that? I stared at him, a bit amused. Had he genuinely never seen a fellow man underdressed before in his life?Oh, maybe not. He was still a scrawny teenager, so he probably hadn't spent much time around
Elsie's POVApart from the fact that it was completely unexpected and unwarranted, Commander Hunter’s tight grip on my collar had me absolutely terrified. My heart leapt right into my throat. With him pulling me that close, I was scared out of my mind that his large hands would brush against my chest and discover my thick fabric bindings.I choked back a gasp, my voice stuttering out as naturally low as I could force it. "W-what is it, sir?"His dark, piercing eyes locked onto mine, drilling straight through. His face was barely inches from mine, his expression hard as stone."You are about to become one of the closest persons to His Majesty," Commander Hunter said, his voice a low, deadly growl that vibrated with absolute seriousness. "If anything happens to him under your watch, or if you ever try to harm him in any way, you better hide well. Because if I find you, I will flay you alive myself."He hissed the final words right into my face, letting the threat hang heavy in the air.
Elsie's POVHe really did take the hit for me.I stood frozen in the damp dirt, staring at the shattered remains of the heavy training stone scattered around my boots. My mind spun in confusion. Why on earth would the Lycan King throw himself in front of a rogue wooden projectile just to protect what should be just a scrawny, low-ranking recruit? It didn't make any sense.Before I could even think of a logical explanation, a sudden wave of his dominance spread across the entire clearing. It was thick, heavy, and suffocating. I was absolutely certain it was only a tiny, minute part of it, but it was enough to make the air turn completely still. All around me, the other recruits groaned, their knees trembling as they struggled to just remain standing under the sheer weight of his aura.Well, for me, it somehow didn't feel oppressive at all.Instead of crushing my spirit, the vibrations of his dominance sent a strange, liquid heat shooting straight down my spine. My wolf practically wh
Elsie's POV I turned and ran toward the usual training clearing of my batch. The sun hadn't even risen yet, the sky a dark, misty blue. Most of the male recruits I passed along the paths still looked like they were literally sleeping on their feet, dragging their heavy wooden staffs through the dirt.I arrived at the clearing and immediately started my routine push-ups and core exercises. Commander Hunter required us to complete these grueling exercises every training morning before any actual sparring began. It wasn't any easier to complete with my bruised ribs, but at least my body was getting used to the brutal pace.Just as the sky began to lighten, Commander Hunter arrived at the clearing, his voice booming over the sound of grunting recruits. "Listen up! The first half of today's training will be conducted in your human form, and the second half will be as wolves. Follow me."He led our batch to the far side of the clearing, where a deadly-looking wooden contraption had been s







