~Emily~

The morning arrived quickly for me.


I woke up at dawn and went to the kitchen to prepare Zayne's breakfast myself. I knew fully well that neither Flora or Crystal would be in the kitchen, it was still curfew hour.

After a good night's test, all my fatigue vanished. And most of the minor cuts I suffered yesterday had all been healed. But for a few aches in my joints, I felt as good as ever.

I couldn't help myself but feel the distance between me and my goal was ever close.


I sneaked into Zayne's room, my feet soft and soundless and gently dropped the tray on his stool.

I left a note next to it, about my destination at the training grounds.


I left the castle and headed down to the training grounds. The curfew wasn't held in the town outside the castle.

A few town folks were already up and doing, and had resumed their work for the day.

I approached the training grounds and to no surprise it was almost empty.

Just how I liked it.

'Emily, over here!"

A familiar voice reached my ears. I turned and I couldn't believe my eyes.

Rowan! What is he doing here so early?

He stood at the centre of the grounds, waving vigorously at me.

I raced to meet with him.

'Come with me and I'll train you alone."

'Yes! Master Rowan, I will take the training seriously" I said, causing him to let out a light chuckle.

He was by me calling him my master, but that's the truth.

Soon we arrived at an area where the sandbags for grabbing were placed, Rowan stepped directly in front of me.

'Watch this. You have to use the power of your waist to throw a punch, and you have to throw a punch with your waist to get the maximum effect"

Rowan said as he demonstrated. At the moment he exerted his force, the veins on his muscles became more visible than ever. The tremendous force he attacked the sandbag with, made it sway around almost to detach from the shelf.

I was amazed by the strength and power of Rowan.

Up until now I have never seen Rowan in action. I assumed he was more a teacher than a warrior, but clearly my assumption was wrong.

He showed me how to throw punches, how to block and how to judge and anticipate an enemy's attack.

These skills of his were something I was simply not exposed to before.

It was as if I had opened the door to a new world, and I tried my very best to memorise the fighting technique he showed me.

Every move he made showed the strength of his body and his physique made him stand out in the entire training ground, which made me unable to take my eyes off his body.

Next, it was my turn to attack the sandbags. I tried my best to recall the moves Rowan used. I had a rough imitation of what he did.

But the result of mine was contrary it his. As I first landed on the sandbags, they didn't even shake a bit.

Lowered my head in disappointment, disappointment for myself.

I know there is a big gap between my strength and Rowan's, but the fact that I couldn't even move the sandbags was a diminishing result.

'Don't beat yourself up, Emily" Rowan vent placed his right hand on my shoulder as he spoke to me. His voice was very comforting.

'We will keep on trying, you're not supposed to get it on your first try" Rowan's words gave him some confidence boost I really needed.

'Your movement wasn't right. The power of the waist is not as you do. Move, I'll adjust your posture. ' Rowan said, his voice now more authoritative.

I did as he instructed, I moved in the standing posture.

He drew closer to my body, his powerful arms were gently placed by my waist as he carefully adjusted my body to the perfect position.

His body was very close to mine. I could smell the thick fragrance mixed with the sweat all over his body exuded a warm feeling.

'Rowan!!" A stern voice called out Rowan.

'Come with me for a minute!"

Zayne! Fuck.

What is he doing here? A strange feeling of guilt creeped into my soul. A feeling I couldn't explain.

Rowan made haste to meet Zayne at once. With Zayne's current mood, he dare not waste any moment.

From the distance I stood, I couldn't quite get what they were talking about.

But I could tell Zayne was far from happy. Was it about me and Rowan? I surely hope not.

'Hello? All lycans present here!" Zayne's voice rang out through the whole training ground.

'It's been a while since myself and my second in command here, Rowan had a good old combat!"

'So who would like it to happen again!"

An approving roar erupted from the crowd of Lycans at the grounds.

Zayne made his way to the ring.

'Come on Rowan, it's been a while we had a match"

I could hardly believe my ears when I heard that.

Zayne was going to have a match with Rowan! But why?

I looked over at him as Zayne stood high on the platform, his body strong as a mountain.

Although I knew he had great strength, I had never seen Zayne's full power, but I could soon find out.

Rowan reluctantly joined him in the ring, as they two stared down each other.

My eyes fixed in the direction of the ring. A shout of surprise soon burst out of the crowd.

Zayne charged in on Rowan, as the two began to brawl. The sound of fists hitting flesh reached my ears. Their punches were firm and powerful, enough to kill a mere Lycan and dare I say myself.

Their strength and speed were much superior than the other lycans at the training grounds. Their actions and movements were fast and intense.

The crowd watched in anticipation. Rarely do they see such high class match ups.

The head commander of the Lycan warriors and the king of the Lycan kingdom collided.

I watched intently and very keenly. Zayne was particularly serious, his brows were furrowed, his attacks were getting faster and thunderous and Rowan's defence was getting the more strained.

Suddenly, Zayne launched a heavy fist at Rowan, a split second where Hain guard was down. Sending Rowan flying off the ring.

'Rowan!!"

I rushed towards Rowan. His face was battered, his eyes were shut. I lifted him from the ground and placed his head gently on my arm.

'Rowan? Are you okay?" I asked, my voice laced with urgency.

His eyes fluttered open, his lips slightly parted, he let out a sharp cough.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words refused to come out.

A large shadow covered me from behind me. Zayne suddenly came to us. He stood in front of us, his face fierce and fearful.

He grabbed me by the collar of my cloth and yanked me up, my feet leaving the ground.

'I sent you here to train, Emily and nothing else.

Do you know the dangers after you and your sister? I need you to be ready, to be ready to defend yourself no matter what.

And yet you come here and flirt with my head in command"

His voice was loud and it reached the ears of every Lycan at the grounds.

Everyone looked towards us, I could feel their judging eyes fixed on me.

I felt so ashamed.

How could Zayne embarrass me like this?

He dropped me to the floor, my back landing hard.

'I need you guys to be serious, no more flirting or love play.

Emily you go back home, training for you today is over"

Zayne said as he walked away. I felt as if I had fallen into an abyss of humiliation.

I wanted to retort, but then I saw Rowan's red, swollen shoulder.

It was a bit of a serious injury and he needed immediate attention.

'Are you okay Rowan?" I knelt down to Rowan who still laid flat on the ground.

'Why did he do that to you?" I still couldn't believe Zayne would do this to one of best mates.

'It's okay, I'm OK.

Emily, you're very lucky" Rowan said as a broad smile covered his face.

How could he be smiling in so much pain? Is he okay at all Or did Zayne get him in the head as well?

'I've never seen Zayne so protective of a woman he loves, since Maya.

The reason he beat me up like this was because he was jealous, believe it or not.

He truly loves you Emily"

I couldn't believe my ears.

I went speechless as I stared blankly into Rowan's eyes.

'Rowan let me take you home" I said my voice was very faint and bleak.


I held his body over my shoulder, as I walked over to his room and gently laid him on his bed.

I turned over to walk out, when Rowan's words reached my ears.

'Do what he says Emily"

I didn't reply to his statement as I exited his room.

Soon the darkness fell upon the kingdom, and the castle was scarce and empty.

I retired to my room, laying my back on my soft bed and placing my head on the cosy pillows.

But even as I lay to sleep, my eyes shut close. My mind was restless. Rowan's words circled round in my mind.

Zayne loves me? Did he beat up Rowan like that, just because of me?

.

~Reta~

'Any progress on finding who it was?" I asked Thorn as he stepped into my room joining myself, Luther and Crystal.

'Unfortunately, NO. The only thing we know is that it was a girl who was spying on us that night"

'We are fucked guys, when that girl opens up her mouth, we will hung in an instant" Luther added. My heart twitched as he spoke.

He only brings negative vibes to everything and presumes a loss.

Nevertheless I have to get used to it, because I will rule the Lycan kingdom by his side.

'Wait, there is a way we can find out who was spying on us the other night"

Crystal said, causing a certain wave of curiosity in me.

'Tell us!"

'Luther"

Crystal turned in his direction, she wore a mischievous smile on her face.

'You will have to ask your brother who he spoke to that night"

'NO!" Luther got up from the couch, outrightly rejecting Crystal's idea.

As strange as it may be, I support Luther on this one.

It was too risky for several reasons.

For one, Zayne manages to tell Luther who he spoke to that night, and he finds out a week later she's gone. Zayne would surely suspect Luther the most.

The last thing we need is for Zayne to suspect.

'I'm with Luther on this one Crystal, it's too risky".

I said sparing Luther's blushes.

'OK, Guys we will have to break before anybody suspects anything"

I said as they all nodded their heads in agreement.

I stood up ahead of them and opened the door for them to leave.

And when Crystal left, not with a vigorous wave, I shut the door hard behind me.

'Phew!"

I let out a huge breath, before collapsing to my bed.

I took a glance at the window. The darkness had long spread its thick black wings over the Lycan kingdom. The view outside my window was thick black.

KNOCK

KNOCK

I was surprised to hear a person's knock on my door.

Who could that be by this time?

'Yes?"

My voice rang out, but there was no response.

I decided to stand up and check for myself.

I gently and cautiously reached for the door, there was an uneasy feeling circling in me.

What?!

No one is here!

There was not a single soul outside or anywhere near my room.

I heard a faint voice at a distance talking, its voice light as the wind.

'Rita Macaulay, TIK TOK!"