The announcement came without warning,
Lyra was in the garden again the only place where the palace felt slightly less suffocating-when the sound of a horn echoed through the
Loud
Commanding.
Summoning
She turned, her brows furrowing slightly as servants and warriors began moving with sudden urgency. "What's happening?" she asked, stopping a
passing servant
The girl looked excited.
"The annual hunt, Princess" she said quickly. "It
starts tomorrow.
Lyra blinked once
A hunt
"Yes," the servant nodded. "All high ranking wolves participate. It's a test of strength, skill, and dominance.
A pause
Then-
She added, almost carefully-
"And this year... you've been invited."
Lyra's expression didn't change
But her eyes sharpened.
"Invited?" she repeated.
The servant hesitated.
"..Ur expected."
Of course
Lyra let out a quiet breath.
"Who decided that?"
A voice answered before the servant could
"I did."
Lyra tumed.
Kael
Standing a few steps away, his expression calm, unreadable. And beside him-
Her
That woman.
Always there.
Always close
Lyra's gaze flickered to her for a second
Then back to Kael
"You expect me to hunt?" she asked
Kael stepped closar.
Slow
Measured.
"I expect you to participate," he corrected.
Lyra tilted her head slightly
"And if I refuse?"
Kael's eyes darkened just a fraction.
"You won't."
Not a threat
A fact
Lyra let out a soft, humorless laugh.
"You seem very confident for someone who can't
even control his own bond."
Silence fell instantly.
The woman beside him stiffened slightly
Keel didin't react,
Not outwardly But the mark on his wrist flickered faintly
Lyra noticed
Of course she did.
"This hunt," Kael continued, ignoring her "is not just tradition. It's how strength is recognized."
He paused,
Then added-
"And how weakness is exposed."
The meaning was clear
Lyra's lips curved slightly.
"Then I suppose I'll fit right in," she said.
The sarcasm didn't go unnoticed.
Kael's gaze fingered on her for a second longer
than necessary.
Then-
"You'll ride with us at dawn," he said.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"I don't take orders."
Kael didn't respond
Didrit argue
He simply turned-
And walked away.
Like always.
The woman followed him
Of course she did.
That night-
Lyra stood in her room, staring at the outfit laid
out before her
Dark.
Practical
Nothing like the dresses she had been forced to
wear before
"A hunt" she murmured,
The Idea wasn't unfamiliar.
But this-
This was different
This wasn't sport.
This was survival.
A test.
A statement,
Her fingers brushed against the fabric.
"They want me to fail."
The realization came easily.
Of course they did,
A human.
Among wolves
In their territory,
Their rules,
Their strength
Lyra's eyes darkened.
Then I won't."
Dawn came cold and sharp.
The forest stretched endlessly before them, mist
curling between the trees like something alive,
Horses stood ready
Werlors gathered
And at the front-
Kael
Already mounted
Already waiting
Lyra approached without hesitation.
lcrioring the looks
Ignoring the whispers.
Ignoring hint.
Until-
"Princess."
The voice stopped her.
She turned.
The same woman stood beside her horse,
holding the rains
"I assume you know how to ride?" sha asked
tane light
Lyra took the reins from her without a word.
"I assume you know how to mind your business"
she replied calmly.
A pause
Then-
A faint smiki.
*This should be interesting"
Lyra mounted the harse in one smooth motion
Effortless
Confident.
Not what they expected.
Not at all.
Kael noticed
Of course he did.
But he said nothing.
The hunt began.
The moment the horn sounced, the forest came
alive.
Wolves moved fast.
Silent
Precise
Disappearing into the trees Ike shadows
Lyra followed.
Not as fast.
Not as fluid.
But steady.
Observing
Learning.
Aclapting
The forest was unfamiliar.
Unforgiving
Every sound mattered
Every movement counted.
She tightened her grip on the reins, her eyes
scanning the surroundings carefully,
This wasn't her world.
But that didn't mean she would lose.
Somewhere deeper in the forest-
Kael moved like a predator,
Effortless
Instinctive.
His senses sharp
His focus absolute.
This was where he belonged
Not in the palace.
Not in politics.
But here.
Where strength mattered.
Where nothing was forced.
Nothing was fake
He paused
His gaze shifting slightly
The bond
Still there
Faint
But presant
Unstable
Annoying
Stay out of trouble," he muttered under his
breath.
Hours passed.
The hunt grew intense.
The forest thicker.
Darker.
More dangerous.
Lyra slowed her horse slightly, her breathing steady but focused.
Something felt off.
Too quiet
Too still.
Her instincts sharpened.
Then-
A sound.
Low.
Close.
Behind her.
Lyra turned-
Too late.
A large beast lunged from the shadows, its eyes glowing, its teeth bared.
Her horse panicked.
Rearing sharply.
Lyra lost balance-
Falling.
Hard.
The air knocked from her lungs.
The beast advanced.
Fast.
Too fast.
Lyra pushed herself up, her hand reaching for
anything-
But there was nothing.
No weapon.
No time.
The beast lunged-
And then-
A blur.
A force.
A strike.
The creature was thrown back violently.
A low, dangerous growl filled the air.
Kael
Standing between her and the beast.
His eyes glowing.
Feral.
Deadly.
The creature hesitated.
Then fled into the forest.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Lyra sat there, breathing unevenly.
Kael didn't turn.
Didn't look at her.
"...Get up," he said coldly.
Lyra frowned.
"I didn't ask for your help."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"I didn't give it for you."
The words were instant.
Cutting.
Lyra pushed herself to her feet.
Dust brushing off her clothes.
"...Then next time, don't interfere."
A pause.
Then-
Kael turned slightly.
Not fully.
Never fully
"Next time," he said, his voice low, "try not to die."
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
"I was handling it."
Kael let out a short, humorless breath.
"Clearly."
Silence.
Tense.
Unfinished.
Then-
He turned away.
Again.
Walking back into the forest.
Like nothing happened.
Like she didn't matter.
Like saving her meant nothing.
Lyra stood there.
Still.
Her heart racing slightly.
Her wrist-
Burning.
The bond reacting again.
Stronger this time.
Her fingers tightened.
"...This is getting worse."
And deep down-
She knew.
This hunt...
Was only the beginning