All Chapters of Second Chance with the Alpha King: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

LYRA’S POVHe moved like lightning.Three attacks. Back to back.The first was a swift jab toward my shoulder, the second a low sweep meant to take my legs out, and the third—a fainted uppercut that would’ve cracked my jaw if I hadn’t ducked just in time.I dodged them all.The crowd reacted before I even had time to gloat. A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by a loud “Whoo!” from somewhere in the back. Someone clapped. Another let out a low, impressed hum.My heart thudded. Not just from the fight—but from the realization.I was holding my own.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pause, straightening. His chest rose and fell a little faster now. His gaze found mine and one dark brow lifted and there was a grin at the edge of his lips. Then, as he passed me in a slow, circling motion, he leaned in just enough for me to hear. “I’m about to turn it up a notch.”A shiver traced my spine. I didn’t respond. Just adjusted my stance.He pivoted and came at me again—but this t

LYRA’S POVI was just about to snap back at him, say something that would wipe that smug command off his face. But Valrik just turned and walked away.Just like that.Like he hadn’t just manhandled me in front of an entire training camp. What. A. Man.I stood there for a moment, stunned. Furious. And maybe a little dizzy.Who does he think he is?I growled, flinging off my dirty clothes. My hair was a mess. My body ached from training and I needed a shower. I entered the bathroom and locked the door, turned on the water, and scrubbed at my skin like I could erase the feel of his hands. As far as the mate bond has not been acknowledged, the Alpha King had no right.He had no right to touch me like that.No right to carry me.No right to look at me like I belonged to him and then treat me like some problem to manage.I stepped under the spray, let the water pour over my shoulders, and muttered to myself: No way I’m doing what he says.Joaz was kind. Charming, even if annoyingly smug.

LYRA’S POVI froze for a second, stunned by what Mabel had just done. No one had stood up for me like that since I got here. I had once believed Callia was my best friend. My sister in every way that counted. But Callia and Rowan had betrayed me together, like it meant nothing. After that, I started to believe maybe I didn’t need friends at all—because no one could hurt you if you didn’t let anyone in. But now, standing beside Mabel, I realized… maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe there were still people that cared. Maybe I shouldn't leave my walls so high up. Brenna’s face twisted like she’d tasted something sour. “So that’s how it is?” she spat. “You’re picking her?”Mabel didn’t even blink. “No. I’m picking decency.” Her voice was steady, sharper than I’d ever heard it.“Oh, give me a break,” Brenna scoffed. “You think you’re better than us now?”“I think I know what kind of person I want to be,” Mabel said. “And it’s not someone who throws juice on another girl just to feel powerful.”

LYRA'S POVThe moment I saw Brenna standing above me, smirking with her arms folded across her chest, it hit me.This was a trap.I glared up at her through the pain clouding my vision. But the anger bubbling inside me burned hotter than the agony.“You planned this,” I spat, “You set me up!”Brenna didn’t even blink at the accusation. She just laughed. Her friends, clustered around her like a pack of hyenas, chuckled along. None of them looked remotely surprised to see me bleeding and broken at the bottom of a pit.Brenna leaned casually against the trunk of a nearby tree, “Don’t bother yelling,” she said with a shrug, “I tricked the border guards into leaving their posts. No one’s coming to save you.”Her smile widened, “You’re either gonna starve down there… or get torn apart by something worse.”“Where’s Mabel?” I gritted my teeth, “She wasn’t in her room this morning. What did you do to her?”“You don’t get to ask questions,” she snapped, “Worry about yourself, slut.”And witho

VALRIK’S POV“Where is Lyra!?” I yelled, asking for the umpteenth time. Having summoned an emergency meeting, I sat on my throne, and kneeling in front of me were the palace maids, soldiers, even a few Queen Luna candidates, their foreheads pressed to the ground. Some of the maids were on the verge of tears. A few soldiers could barely keep their bodies from collapsing completely.Only Joaz wasn't kneeling, lounging lazily against a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest. Fucking bastard. He should be on his knees too.Lyra had been missing for hours. Hours.I’d already torn the entire palace apart looking for her. And still—nothing.Igor roared inside me, thrashing against my control, nearly snapping free.It took everything I had to keep him chained down. Because if he came out in this state, he'd tear everyone apart. “M-My King,” one of the palace maids whispered from where she kneeled, “This morning, Miss Lyra went to look for Miss Mabel in her room. But Miss Mabel wasn’t