A dying lycan ( chapt.4)

The sun hung on the edge of the world, casting over it a soothing amber glow that filtered in past the towering great pines rimming the gargantuan grounds of the Emerald Pack.

Soft thrum of water splashing and soft thud of wet tunic rubbing my hands accompanied me as I vigorously scrubbed these tunics with the stone basin. Knuckles sore, fingers numb from exposure to cold water. But I never slack. Not when I know that Kaidën will notice the slightest wrinkle or blemish.

Wind whipped silver strands around my face, some clinging to my wet forehead as I attempted to flick them away with the back of my wrist. The pungent scent of pines and damp linen lingered in the air heavy. I steeled myself, focused on the task-until a gentle tap on the shoulder jolted me.

"Akira?"

Familiar voice, warm.

I turned around, letting out a breath that I hadn't even noticed I'd been holding. "Lyrien."

He was behind me, sunlight glinting in his bronze hair and his amber eyes worried look on his face. His soft smile was like a balm to my battered soul as he looked at my flushed face and trembling hands.

"You haven't eaten, have you?" he asked softly.

I rubbed my hands dry vigorously on my apron as warmth swept over my cheeks and my neck. "I will; after I'm done with Kaidens' clothes."

His jaw clenched at my answer, the nonchalance of him flashing with momentary anger. "Akira, Kaiden's not even here. He left for the borderlands-he won't be back in another seven days."

Seven days.

Just knowing he was out there comforted me a little; but the old habit of wariness weighed heavily. "Still. this has to be done before he gets back. Don't worry, it's just a little I should have had done in an hour. I don't want to get yelled at or starved again." I grumbled, allowing my sorrows and worrying to flow off my tongue.

"He starves you?" Lyrein snarled with a bit of rage in his voice.

Realizing that I had said too much, I pressed my eyes shut and pursed my lips.

"Leave the clothes, and all your woes," Lyrien spoke sternly. But before I could speak another word, he had wrapped his hand around mine-warm and firm-and pulled me back from the washing basin.

My heart pounded quickly, my flesh prickling where his fingers were wrapped around my own. "Lyrien, I-"

"No," he cut in, his smile uncoiling. "You should eat. Come along."

He took me through the stone corridors to the large dining hall, where sunlight filtered through the imposing windows, spreading golden light upon the long wooden tables. He seated me and called over a maid.

"Take her something to eat. Now," he ordered, then focused on me again.

I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "I don't want to be a bother-"

"You're not." His voice fell at that. "You've been through hell, Akira. And you're still here; still fighting. That's strength."

His words tightened my throat. No one had ever told me I was strong before-with some bitterness thrown in.

A fine assortment of hot bread, stew, and fruit was placed before the maids, before me specifically. It hit me hard, and before my reason could even fight back, I dived in, pride overwhelming hunger.

Lyrien smiled softly. "Slow down. It isn't going anywhere."

I laughed-it was soft, broken, a sound I barely recognized as my own.

Lyrien sat with me during meals, his words dropping away into silence about the memories of Emerald pack before Kaiden was crowned. He teased me and made me blush with his flirty looks, but I could not help but sense that warmth settle in my chest.

"Akira," he murmured after a pause, his eyes hard now. "If you ever need-"

But before he could finish the sentence, an almost predictable wave hit with a storm of dizziness, fierce and unexpected. A ring as my fork dropped between plate and table, and my eyes began to blur.

"Lyrien." I gasped, grasping at my stomach as the contents of my belly twisted in nausea.

His chair groaned loudly across the stone floor as he sprang to his feet. "You're pale-Akira, what is it?"

"I-I don't know," I gasped, my head reeling.

No hesitation, Lyrien swept me into his arms, his power effortless. "Hold on."

The world blurred past me as he walked along the corridors as he took me to the royal clinic.

"Doctor!" Lyrien growled at the healers as we rushed in.

But before any of them could even lay hands on me, all hell erupted outside, the corridors echoing with screams.

The doors to the royal clinic were thrown open, so the walls shook.

They burst in with shrieks and commotions, of guards, an all-too-familiar face.

Kaiden.

His armor was covered with blood, an arrow deep in his chest, black veins crawling around the wound-poisoned. His head was thrown back, death-white.

Gasp after gasp filled the room as guards placed him on the nearest cot, rushing to his side.

Every last remnant of Lyrien's easygoing demeanor was gone. Lost was the soft-spoken man who'd held me a second ago. Alpha power radiated from him, the air chill at his aura, commanding and enraged.

"What the hell just happened?" he snarled, his voice low and angry.

Kaiden's beta stepped forward, a grizzled wolf with a scar running down his cheek, blood smeared on his tunic. "We'd won the war. The enemy had retreated. We were. celebrating." His jaw clenched, and the shame burned across his face. "Then an arrow just came out of nowhere. Right into the King's chest."

"Who fired it?" Lyrien's voice was icy.

The beta faltered. "One of ours."

Silence broke into the room, heavy and stifling.

"One of our guards?" echoed Lyrien, aura clouding with rage.

The beta nodded. "Kaiden sent him before the poison could. Stole him stone dead. but not before the arrow hit."

Betrayal.

It's there in the air, gagging and smothering.

I sat frozen, dizziness forgotten, gazing at Kaiden's unmoving form. Even after everything he'd done to me, a cold hard knot of fear constricted my stomach.

Because if Kaiden died…