Chapter 17 Seventeen

It was late afternoon, and the kingdom's training ground echoed with the sound of clashing steel and the grunts of wolves pushing themselves beyond their limits. Yet for me, for some reason, everything seemed distant, a blur of movement and noise seemed to only drown out by the storm inside my mind. "Focus, Brielle!" Lucas's voice pulled me back to my senses making me look up and found hime standing before me, his arms crossed, his piercing gaze scrutinizing my every move. "You can't expect to fight if your head is somewhere else." I flinched, as I looked down before fixing my position. "I'm sorry, Lucas. I just-" "Just nothing." He stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. "You've been distracted since we started. Do you think an enemy will wait patiently while you figure things out?" I bit my lip as frustration started welling up. "No." I answeered still biting my lip, this time even harder. "Then again." He returned back to his fighting position as if waiting for my attack. I hesitated, my eyes flickered past Lucas to the raised platform where the King stood, watching. His golden eyes, unreadable yet intense which sent my heart into turmoil. I had been training for weeks, then and I couldn't bother convincing myself anymore that everytime I stand myself to the training ground with the others, it wasn't for my own but it was to prove myself under his gaze. Yes I still couldn't shift into my wolf form, but I knew I've been doing well in training each day, just now I couldn't stop thinking about the warriors who had spoken to him before the training session began. I didn't know what news they brought, nor have I the courage to ask, not anyone and especially not King Marcus. But I am sure of one thing, King Marcus's warriors led by his very own trusted beta, Serio, had whispered trouble. Trouble caused by my old pack. By him... "Foxy!!!" Lucas once again called out, this time even louder. Just when I thought it was already too late for me to pay attention to his fists about to hit me by the stomach, yet I still barely managed to to position myself into a defense, Lucas's attack nearly knock me down. I barely managed to hold on as my stance started to waver. He let out a sharp breath, standing up straight. "Enough." "No! I can do it, I just-" "You just don't trust yourself right now." He said cutting me down, his voice wasn't harsh, but it carried disappointment. "If your mind is elsewhere, you are a liability." "I'm not a liability." I snapped, but my own voice lacked conviction. "Then prove it. Because right now, you are not fighting me. You are fighting whatever is in your head." I clenched my fists before I was finally able to meet his gaze. "It's my old pack..." I finally admitted. "I heard the warriors tell the King about them. About problems they're causing." Lucas's expression didn't change, but I sensed his understanding. "And?" I looked away. "I didn't hear what it's about exactly, I just heard them mention my old pack... Their Alpha… Alpha Alaric Barlow he's the one who rejected me." A moment of silence stretched between them. Then, Dorian sighed. "Foxy, do you think the King doesn't know that?" My eyes snapped up. "What?" "He knows. And I know too... We were there that night when he rejected you." He reminded, making me bit on my lip as the memory of King Marcus approched me on the same night I was about to be bound to Alaric. "I-I know he knew about my connection to Alaric, I just..." I sighed before shotting King Marcus a short glance. I was no longer surprise to find him staring at us, at me. "I'm just worried, though I already left my old pack... Shadow Walker Pack was once my home... For 18 years..." "Foxy, the King wouldn't have let you train under me if he thought you were still tethered to them. But right now, you're proving them right." My heart pounded. "I-" "Your past doesn't control you." Lucas interrupted. "But if you let it, it will ruin every chance you have to become something greater. Is that what you want?" I swallowed hard, glancing at the King again. His gaze was still on moine. Steady. Unwavering. He had given me a chance when no one else would. When I am already prepared to accept how weak I was, King Marcus gave me the chance to feel the way that I should. I failed on my own pack, and if I fail here again, I wouldn't just be proving Alaric right, that I was a hopeless case unworthy of becoming much more than a wolfless girl, unworthy of being his mate, his Luna... But I would be proving to myself that I was still that abandoned wolf, unwanted and weak. "No." I finally answered. Lucas nodded, stepping back into position. "Then fight." He ordered. And though my head was still swimming with thoughts, this time, I managed to focus on what's in front of me, of what needs to be done. I will just continue to worry later. I sat quietly and closed my eyes shut as the cool night breeze whispered through my room's balcony, the air carrying the scent of the forest beyond. When I opened my eyes, a smile escaped my lips when I looked up and I was greeted by the moon, its lights bathed the stone walls in silver. I was busy thinking and worrying about what could possible the Shadow Walker Pack had to do with the Kingdom, I was so lost in my own thoughts that I failed to pay attention to one of the King's servant who came in to my room unannouced. It wasn't long beofre the servant informed me that King Marcus was waiting for my presence. I missed him diring dinner, and for reason I felt a sudden excitement inside my chest as I hurried out to my door and followed the servant. "You wanted to see me?" I asked, the moment I came close to where he stand. I felt my heart pounded against her chest as it seemed to automatically drowned with unspoken worries. King Marcus turned to face me, his golden eyes was sharp, yet kindess was still visible, he studied me for a bried second when he finally turned to face me and leaned against the balcony railing. "Foxy..." King Marcus began, his voice deep and steady. "You've been too unfocused, restless. Someting worries you." It wasn't a qauestion. I swallowed hard. "I… I suppose I was... Unfocused... Worried..." He nodded. "I understand why." My breath caught in my throat, my eyes widened as I met his gaze. "Y-You do?" A sigh left his lips, he straigtened his back and turned to fully face me, I lift my chin to somehow level his height. King Marcus was tall, I only stood up to his shoulders. "Your old pack, led by Alpha Alaric Barlowe, is planning rebellion. They aim to take you back." I stiffened. I spent almost the whole day thinking about what Alaric had done, or what Marcus's warrios had whispered to Marcus this afternoon, I knew something was wrong, but to hear it confirmed from the King himself sent a chill down my spine. "Th-They want me back?" I asked though I already heard him the first time, since I left, I have never once think that something like this would happen. The night Alaric rejected me and chose Miya to be his mate instead, he made it clear that he doesn't want someone like me, not only tov be his mate, to be his luna, he doesn't want me in his pack. Leave... Before you embarass yourself even more... Alaric's cruel and painful words that night suddenly echoed from the back of my head, but I chose to not pay attention to it, instead I looked at King Marcus, confused. "The-they want me back, to Shadow Walker Pack?" I repeated the question, my heart pouding heavily against my ribcage. "They do." Marcus confirmed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Alaric seemeed to regret his decision. He believes reclaiming you will strengthen his power. He underestimates what I am willing to do to protect you." I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "I was nothing to them. To him... They thrown me away like I was some spoiled steak, so why now?" "Power..." Marcus said simply. "You are more valuable than they realized. But their regret changes nothing. You are under my protection now." He said, somehow his words made me feel safe, his voice was so comforting. "Do you want to go back?" He added, I took a deep breath and swallowen the lump in my thoat, my voice steadier than I expected. "Do you want me to go back?" I asked the same question and flinched when Marcus's expression darkened. "I-if they are only planning a rebellion because they want to take me back, maybe I could stop this, I can go back to Alaric before it's too lat-" "Absolutely not." I blinked at the intensity of his response. "Then… why ask me?" His gaze softened. "Because your choice matters, Foxy." For a moment, I was silent. Then, with newfound strength, I said- "I- Shadow Walker Pack was my home, it's where I was born, where my parents died... Now they are gone, Alpha Aric was gone, my pack will always be my home, but I don't have any reason to go back... I never want to go back." I said with full conviction. But I automatically looked away when I saw the satisfied smile spread across his face. "I had hoped you would say that." My ears twitched in surprise. "You did?" I slowly stepped back when King Marcus stepped closer, but then I stopped when I felt the warmth of his pressence too comforting, like a protective embrace. "I would not have let them take you, regardless of your answer. But to know you choose to stay of your own will… That pleases me greatly." Hearing those words, I felt something stir within me, something fierce, something freeing... Since my parents died, I had spent too long being bound by duty and rejection by the pack I call home. But here, in the Kingdom of Marcus, I seemed to find not just safety but choice. I felt an unfamiliar warmth in my heart, knowing that the Lycan King himself, was more than willing to stand by my side... Whether I am wolfless, or not.. A moment of silence stretched between us, and before I could stop myself, I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around Marcus's waist in an impulsive hug. The King went rigid, momentarily stunned. Then, amusement flickered in his golden eyes. "Well, well, this is unexpected." My entire body froze. I felt my brain caught up with what I had just done, and mortification crashed over me like a tidal wave. "I- I uhhh-" I yanked myself away as if I burned, my cheecks began to burn. "I didn't mean-I mean, I wasn't thinking-I- I-" Marcus chuckled, a deep, rich sound that only made my cheeks burn even hotter. "You didn't mean to throw yourself at me? That's disappointing." My eyes widened in horror. "That's not what I-" He smirked. "Are you sure? Because that was quite the dramatic embrace." I groaned as embarrassment began to swallow me whole, I covered my face with both hands. "C-can I jump off the balcony now?" Marcus laughed. "I'd rather you didn't. I'm rather fond of having you here." I peeked at him through my fingers, I was still beyond mortified. "Ahhh... You're enjoying this way too much." I said, still unable to look at him. "Absolutely!" H admitted shamelessly. "But in all seriousness, Foxy..." He paused as he stared at me. "I don't mind... You hugging me..." I huffed, still flustered beyond belief. "I'll just… You know... Pretend this never happened." "Oh no." Marcus said with a teasing glint in his eye. "I'll be remembering this for a long time." He teased and laughed when I groaned again, I know I'd never live this down.