16SerenaI walked beside Kane in stiff silence, barely containing my fury. How dare he approach me after everything? My hands balled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. The royal gardens came into view, bursting with colorful blooms. I spun to face him, eyes ablaze. "Well? You have your five minutes. Speak before I change my mind and call the guards." Kane held up his hands placatingly. "Serena, I know you have every right to despise me. But please believe that I'm here only to help find our pups."A bitter laugh escaped me. "Our pups? You lost any claim to call them yours the day you told me that my unborn child was a bastard." My voice rose as pent up rage and hurt bubbled over. "Do you have any idea what I went through after your rejection?!" Tears pricked my eyes but I refused to let them fall. "I was heavy with your cubs and had nothing - no home, no family, no means to provide for them. I nearly died giving birth alone in the wilderness because of you!"Kane
17SerenaThe week passed in a flurry of preparations for the ball. As word spread, RSVPs poured in from neighboring kingdoms. I whiled away my hours in fittings, selecting the finest silks and jewels from the royal treasury for my gown. As the week passed in a flurry of preparations, I found my thoughts often drifting back to Kane, no matter how I tried distracting myself. Alone in my chambers in the evenings, I would sit holding Thomas and Evelyn's delicate silver necklace, tracing its teardrop moonstone pendant with my fingertips. May their gentle souls rest peacefully. Memories of their kindness when they took me in after Kane cast me out would flood back, bringing a fresh wave of grief and loneliness. I recalled nights sitting by the fire as Evelyn tended to my wounds, her gentle hands and soothing voice like a mother's. Thomas teaching me to read by the afternoon light streaming through the windows. Their love and acceptance had been my saving grace in the darkness that foll
18SerenaFrozen in place, my pulse thundered in my ears while my mind raced. Had all my guards disappeared into the night, leaving me defenseless? As the figure turned, a familiar face emerged from the shadows. "Kane!" I breathed in horror and rage. "What are you doing here? How did you get past the guards?"He took a step toward me, hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Serena, please. I just want to talk."I backed away, hand groping behind me for anything to use as a weapon. "You've said more than enough. Get out before I call for help!"Kane sighed in frustration. "Will you not listen to reason? I know what you must think of me, but the past is the past. We were happy once." Another step forward prompted a matching step back from me. "Happy?" I spat. "You made my life a living hell! Give me one good reason I shouldn't end you where you stand." His eyes flashed dangerously in the lamplight. "Because whether you like it or not, we are bound. I am your mate."My fingers closed aro
19SerenaRigel sputtered, caught off guard. But another bowed respectfully. "Forgive us, Your Highness. Old Rigel speaks out of turn."I held up a hand. "No need for apologies yet, friend. I welcome honest counsel, however gruffly delivered. Now Rigel, share your views - but choose words carefully."Rigel eyed me warily. "With respect, Princess, you've yet to face true hardship. War is no place for delicate sensibilities."I arched a brow at Rigel. "Pray tell, what do you know of my hardships?" I asked calmly. Rigel shifted, clearly unaccustomed to being questioned. "With respect Princess, I meant no offense. It's just that war ain't no place for a lady." "Is that so?" I replied evenly. "Then enlighten me, Rigel - what defines a lady, if not her character?"Rigel opened his mouth then closed it, at a loss. I pressed on. "You assume I am weak or delicate because of my title, my birth? Things over my control. But you should rather judge me for those within - my character, convictions
20SerenaMy heart raced as Luka's lips met mine tenderly. All thoughts of duty and rumors fled my mind, lost in the gentleness of his kiss. Too soon, he pulled away, gazing down at me with questions."Princess, I did not mean to overstep. Your duties and station..."I silenced him with a finger to his lips. "Please, say no more of duty right now. In this moment, I am but a woman seeking comfort in troubled times. And you have been the kindest of companions these past days."Luka gazed at me with such tenderness it made my breath catch. "There is no one I would rather stand beside as you weather life's storms, my princess. But I would never presume or compromise your position in any way."I smiled softly. "Then do not think of status or station for now.""Princess, we must be cautious. Your position demands it, and I would never endanger you." I knew he spoke wisdom, yet in that moment all I wanted was to lose myself in his embrace. "Please Luka, just a little while longer. No one
21Serena's PovThe ride north passed in a blur as our troops made haste. Each moment brought me closer to my first true test as commander. Luka rode beside me, his calm presence soothing my nerves. "The border is near," he said. "Whatever awaits us, know that I have faith in your leadership." I nodded gratefully, though my doubts remained. Too soon, the frontier came into view - and with it, signs of war. Plumes of black smoke rose from burning farms in the distance. My heart clenched at the suffering of innocents caught in this conflict."The orcs have breached the border," Luka said grimly, breaking the silence. "We must engage them swiftly before they advance further."I nodded, steeling my resolve. "Form ranks and charge on my command." With a blast of horns, our Lycan cavalry surged across the plains. As we approached the battlefield, the vastness of the enemy force came into focus - a horde of orcs, pillaging all in their path. As we drew nearer, the vast orc army came int
22SerenaLight pierced my eyes as I awoke in the healer's chambers some time later. My side ached fiercely but the wound had been stitched. King Maximus sat at my bedside, worry etched onto his face."You foolish girl," he rasped. "I told you war was no place for an untested ruler. Look what your arrogance has wrought!" I tried to speak but he silenced me. "Save your excuses. From now on you will obey my rule without question, do you understand?"Shame and disappointment weighed on me as I nodded weakly. The healers rushed to apply soothing salves, but no medicine could ease the failure in my heart. I had disobeyed my father and led our troops into peril without due care. Though the orcs had been routed, at what cost to myself and kingdom? I could only pray I had not compromised our security through rash action and inexperience.My body ached as I drifted in and out of consciousness. When finally I awoke again, the events of the battle came flooding back - our forces clashing with
23At dawn the next day, I prepared myself and snuck out of my room to go meet up with Kane at the stable, I hadn't told anyone about my plan, not even my father or Luka,While I trudged down the road to the stables, the searing pain in my sides reminded me that I was not healed and yet I was planning another journey, and intending to ride on a horse to an unknown place, with the hope of rescuing my cubs. I could not dare to sit idly by while children were out there somewhere.‘Mama is coming, babies, I'll do whatever it takes to rescue you both and be reunited with you! I swear this by the moon goddess’ I soliloquized to myself, wincing against the pain at my side, My booted feet made crunching noises on the graveled ground with each step, I hurried my feet to move faster, despite the pain in my stomach and the nerves that coursed through me.I was not prepared for the sight that greeted me when I finally walked up to the stables, I stared unwittingly at the sight before me; my fath