Chapter Four

A heavy silence followed Lillian’s bold declaration. The Lycans in the court stared at her with varying expressions—some intrigued, others displeased. The idea of a human queen was clearly an insult to their traditions, but Lillian refused to let their judgment shake her.

Aedric’s golden eyes locked onto hers, unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he smirked.

"Very well," he said, his voice carrying through the great hall. "You will prove yourself."

A ripple of murmurs spread among the nobles, some scoffing while others watched with keen interest. Lillian clenched her fists, feeling like she had just stepped onto a battlefield she didn’t fully understand.

A tall woman stepped forward, her dark brown hair braided back, her green eyes sharp. Unlike the others, she didn’t look at Lillian with hostility—only curiosity.

"This is madness," Lord Fenrir muttered. "She will break before the next full moon."

"Then let her break," Aedric said, his voice steady. "Or let her rise. The Goddess does not make mistakes."

Lillian turned to him, heart pounding. "And what exactly do I need to prove?"

Aedric stepped down from his throne, each movement slow and deliberate as he approached her. The court seemed to hold its breath.

"You will train," he said simply.

Lillian frowned. "Train?"

"You wish to stand among us as queen?" His voice lowered, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. "Then you will learn to survive among us."

A flash of movement caught her attention. From the side of the hall, a warrior stepped forward—tall, broad, with dark skin and piercing silver eyes. His presence alone sent waves of authority through the room.

"Meet Commander Soren," Aedric said. "He will oversee your training."

Soren bowed his head slightly but said nothing. His expression was unreadable, though Lillian got the distinct impression that he was already evaluating her.

Lillian squared her shoulders. "And if I refuse?"

Aedric leaned in slightly, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "Then you will be weak. And the court will tear you apart."

A flicker of doubt crept into Lillian’s mind. This was a test, a way to either break her or force her to become something she wasn’t. But what choice did she have? If she wanted to survive in this kingdom, she needed to show them she wasn’t just some fragile human.

Lillian took a deep breath, meeting Aedric’s gaze with unwavering determination.

"Then let’s begin."

A slow, satisfied smile crossed Aedric’s lips. "Good."

But as she glanced around at the Lycans who still doubted her, she knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of the fight for her place in the Lycan Kingdom.

The court began to disperse, murmurs echoing through the great hall as the nobles and warriors exchanged glances. Some looked entertained by the prospect of a human attempting to survive among Lycans. Others, like Lord Fenrir, sneered in disdain.

Lillian exhaled slowly, keeping her head high as Aedric turned back toward his throne. She knew he had just thrown her into the fire, but she would rather burn than let them see her as weak.

Commander Soren approached her, his silver eyes assessing her with quiet intensity.

"You’ll meet me at dawn tomorrow," he said. His voice was smooth but firm, the kind that left no room for argument. "Training begins then."

Lillian nodded, though inside she was already dreading it. She had no real fighting experience. At best, she could run fast, and she knew how to use a knife for self-defense. But against Lycans?

She pushed the doubt away. One step at a time.

Before she could respond, a low chuckle came from nearby.

"This should be amusing."

Lillian turned to see a woman approaching—tall, dressed in fitted leather armor, her dark brown hair pulled into a high ponytail. Her green eyes were sharp with mischief.

"Who are you?" Lillian asked, eyeing her cautiously.

The woman smirked. "Astrid, Beta of the Lycan army." She crossed her arms. "I must admit, I didn’t think you’d accept the challenge. Most humans would have begged for a way out."

Lillian narrowed her eyes. "I’m not most humans."

Astrid chuckled. "No, I suppose you’re not. Which makes this very interesting."

Lillian wasn’t sure if she liked Astrid yet, but she seemed more amused than hostile—better than most of the Lycans she had met so far.

Lord Fenrir, however, was still watching her with open disgust. "Your training will be a waste of time," he said coldly. "A human will never survive among us. And she certainly will never be fit to rule."

Lillian felt the heat of anger rise in her chest, but before she could snap back, Aedric’s voice cut through the tension.

"Enough, Fenrir."

The Lycan lord stiffened, but he did not challenge the king. Instead, he cast Lillian one last glare before storming from the hall.

Aedric’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned and strode toward the large stone doors at the back of the room.

Lillian exhaled. What have I gotten myself into?

Astrid tilted her head. "Get some rest, human. You’ll need it."

With that, the Beta turned and walked away, leaving Lillian standing alone in the vast, unfamiliar hall of the Lycan court.

Tomorrow, the real battle would begin.