~Zayne~



'I said leave now!" My voice came again this laced with more anger.

Emily looked at me, her face a picture of despair.

Her eyes heated up, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.


She turned away from me storming out of my room.



'Emily, wait!!!"

I took a few steps forward to my door.

Regret soon creeped in.

I called her, my voice loud enough to reach her, but he didn't bother to.


'Argh

What is wrong with me!" I punched my wall enraged at myself for scolding Emily like that.

My punch left a big hole through the wall, evidence of my anger and my strength as well.


My heart was heavy, she didn't deserve that, but she was this close to knowing my secret. I can't let anyone know about it, especially not Emily.

What would she think of me if she found out? She'll probably be afraid of me and avoid me forever. I can't let her find out.


I need to see Rowan now!

I picked up my jacket and wore my shoes and left my room.

I headed in the direction of the warriors quarters, we're Rowan stays.

His room was just by the door to the hallway, making it easy for me to drop by his room without gaining much attention from the other warriors.

KNOCK

KNOCK


'Rowan opened up!!"

I yellex from outside the room, my voice tinged with urgency.


'Hey Zayne, what's the matter?" Rowan stood by the door, signalling me to enter.


I stormed into his room, my steps very quick.

'Rowan, didn't you know Emily followed you to the forest"

I was angry at Rowan, he was the one who obviously led Emily to me.


'NO, she couldn't. I was cautious, I swear I didn't see a soul following me to the forest!"


'Well she did"


'I'm sorry Zayne, I didn't know"


'Forget it"

Staying angry at Rowan, might be a bit too harsh on him, after all if he didn't come by to the forest, I would have to be walking back to the castle naked.


'Does she know?" Rowan asked.


'No, but she was asking too many questions. So I ranted at her to leave"

I said, finishing my statement with a tinge of regret evident in my voice.


'Why? you shouldn't have acted like that.

But you've apologised?"

Rowan asked, giving me a very critical look.


'NO I haven't" I can't go and apologise to her now, meeting Rowan was more important.


'Come on Zayne, why not?"


'Leave it, I came here to talk about more serious matters and l you can talk about is Emily.

And by the way if I decide to go and apologise, don't you think she'll demand answers"

Apologising to Emily right now may not be the best idea.

She's definitely going to want answers.

Why did I wake up naked in the forest two times?

Why did I react the way I did to her question?


And for these questions, I can't answer her.


'Zayne, if she comes to you with questions, just make sure you don't spill anything".

I said to Rowan in a stern voice before leaving his room.


Reaching my room, I noticed from a distance a figure just outside my door.

I squinted my eyes tightly to see who it was.

Cedric.

'Ahh!"

I rolled my eyes.

What does he want now?


'Hello Cedric!"

I said in a firm voice.

'Hello Sir. I hope you don't mind me disturbing but I have some news"

Cedric said, his voice shaking a little.

I stood for a moment, giving Cedric a piercing stare.

'Okay please be my guest"

I walked into my room and then Cedric.


'Sir as you know, it's the time of the year we the warriors organise the annual death match"

Cedric spoke standing by the door, he didn't even bother to sit down.

'Yes, but how does that concern me?"


The warriors death match is an annual festive tradition of the Lycan kingdom. Lycan warriors will fight each other, each one fighting at least once before the winner is decided.

Since it's only for warriors, I've never bothered joining in, only just watching it.


'Sir, this year might be different" Cedric said, finally getting me a bit intrigued to hear what he had to say.

'And different how?"


'Well Luther has ordered the competition be made for every male Lycan be warrior or not"


'Luther did what? Is he mad? Doesn't he know how risky it is to put a mere Lycan up against a warrior with years of experience.

So are you here to tell me to stop it?"


'NO sir, actually everyone is in support of Luther's idea.

The Lycans all want you to join in"


What? No way.

'Impossible, I can't"

There is no way I'm joining this.


'But sir, the Lycans were begging for you to join.

They want to watch their king in action"

Cedric countered.


I took a moment before answering Cedric. I was thinking it through.

'Phew!

Fine I will join '

Taking in a deep breath, I gave up my answer to Cedric.


'Yes! Thank you, your majesty!

I'll be leaving you now"

Cedric Siad, as he turned to leave. But his last words really gave me something to think about.

'Sir, my advice to you is get back your shape, you look a few bits off"


Cedric is right, I might have slacked off. I need to get back to my form, I can't afford to look like a fool in front of my Lycans.

I must head out to my training ground.


I got changed into a much lighter cloth, enabling me to move faster and sharply before going to the ground.


Reaching there, I heard distant voices. Their voices were friendly and happy.

They couldn't possibly be enemy intruders.


I walked gently and cautiously closer to the fields.

The voices became louder and seemed a bit friendly.

From a fair distance, I squinted my eyes tightly seeing the two figures who seemed to be training.

Rowan and…. Emily.


What are they doing here? If Emily wanted to train, why didn't she just call me?


I walked up to a nearby bush and squeezed myself behind it.

I watched as Rowan and Emily trained. I'm still not ready to talk to Emily, not yet.


As they trained, my sharp brain picked up a few observations.

Rowan seems to go very easy on Emily, why would he do that?

She needs to improve faster or she's never going to be ready to defend herself.


I had a tingle to walk up to them and pass out stern instructions to them.

But I can't right now.


They took a break, as Emily and Rowan sat by a nearby rock.

The distance between us wasn't much so I could hear what they were saying.


'Come on Rowan, please tell me"


'I'm sorry, I don't know anything. I was surprised as you were to find Zayne"


'Rowan, don't lie to me. Something is up with Zayne and I'm sure you know what it is.

Remember we don't keep secrets"


Rowan was looking a bit fluttered, is he about to give in?

No way, he can't.


'Hello guys!" I got up from the bush and walked in their direction.

They both seemed shocked to see me, their brows raised and their mouths partially opened.


'Zayne, I didn't know you were coming here. I hope you don't mind me and Emily training in your fields"

Rowan got up from the rock he was sitting on and approached me.


'No, not at all"

I walked past Rowan and towards Emily.

'Hey Emily"

I said in a calm voice. She then turned towards my direction.

Her brows were furrowed at me, her arms crossed.

'I'm leaving already!"

Emily said, her voice laced with anger.


She got up and walked away from me leaving in awe staring at her disappearing figure.


~Emily~


'How could he say such words to me!!"I said to myself, my voice shaking.

The tears rolled down mildly from the corner of my eyes.

Zayne's words and his stern voice were life knives piercing into my heart.

And why?

Just because I asked him a dumb question. As if I needed any other confirmation, Zayne is definitely keeping something big away from me.

But I will make sure to find out whatever it is.


KNOCK

KNOCK

A loud knock thundered round my room.


'Come in"

A large figure opened the door and walked into my room.

'Rowan? What are you doing here?" I was a bit surprised to see Rowan, especially by this time.

Normally he's either with Zayne working or at the fields, training.


'I heard about how Zayne reacted to you, I'm sorry.

Zayne sometimes can be a hothead, it's in his nature"

Rowan said he seemed to be justifying Zayne's actions rather than sympathise with me.


'Did Zayne send you?" I asked my voice a bit stern.


'Of course not, I'm here for you"


Rowan would you mind sneaking us to Zayne's training ground"

I need to clear my head with some action, possibly take my mind off Zayne.


'OK, sure"

Rowan hesitated a bit before answering.


We snuck up to the training grounds, it was a private area of the castle, so we really didn't have to worry about anyone other than Zayne.


'Alright attack me! I'll take it easy with you" Rowan set himself up in a defence stance.


I attacked with various quick fired punches and kicks, I managed to catch Rowan once, but aside from that all my attacks were all dodged or blocked.


'Emily, let's take a quick water break"

We took a seat on a sharp rock just by the fields.

'Rowan how did you know Zayne would be naked in the forest"

I finally asked Rowan the question pestering me all day.

'I didn't, it just happened"


'Come on Rowan, please tell me"


'I'm sorry, I don't know anything. I was surprised as you were to find Zayne"


'Rowan, don't lie to me. Something is up with Zayne and I'm sure you know what it is.

Remember we don't keep secrets"

I knew a little sweet talk and he might come around.

He looked set to say something when we heard a loud voice from behind us.


'Hello guys!"

I turned over to see the ever handsome figure of Zayne walking to us.

But this time I wasn't so happy or relieved seeing him, if anything I was angry. But for him Rowan might have given me the answers I need.

He won't tell me and now he's stopping others from.

What big secret are you hiding, Zayne?


'Hi Emily"

Zayne said to me in a gentle voice. My heart twitched as he behaved like everything was fine between us.

In anger I got up from the rock and walked out of the fields and away from Zayne.


Seeing him right now, will only deepen the cut of the wound he caused in my heart.


I hurried away from the training grounds, my legs stretched out, the cold breeze blew against me.


Reaching the courtyard, my steps slowed walking through the courtyard to the maid quarters.

On reaching my room, I heard voices coming from inside, my door was wide open but the room was dimly lit.


Not again! I won't let them do as they please.


Gently walking into my room, I managed to navigate the light switch.

My index finger flipping the switch on, the light radiated through the room.


I looked over to see Steph and Crystal, searching through my whole room.


'Steph what are you doing?"


She furrowed her brows, her face squeezed as she stared at me.

'What are you going to do Emily? Tell on your own sister"

She's right, I couldn't possibly muster the will to tell my own sister.