Sera's Pov
A loud, sharp knock pounded against my door, jarring me awake.
I shot up, my mind still tangled in sleep, blinking against the dim morning light.
Another knock—no, a pounding.
"Get up. Training starts in fifteen minutes," a gruff voice called from outside.
Training.
Right.
I scrambled out of bed, my heart still heavy from the events of yesterday. My body protested the sudden movement, but I pushed past the stiffness, dragging myself toward my bags.
Fifteen minutes? That wasn't enough time to get ready.
I barely had time to brush and throw on clothes fit for training—black pants, a tank top, and boots—before the door swung open, and a warrior stood there, his expression void of patience. "Move."
I gritted my teeth and stepped out, falling into step with the other trainees being led through the castle.
The hallways were eerily quiet, the kind of silence that came from tension rather than peace. No one spoke. Some looked tired, others alert. The air carried the distinct scent of morning dew and sweat—wolves already awake and preparing for the brutal day ahead.
But I barely noticed any of that.
I was still trying to shake off the feeling in my chest.
For the first time in my life… I hadn't dreamt of him.
The moment we stepped outside, I felt the difference in the air.
The training grounds were massive—built for war.
A sprawling field stretched before me, lined with wooden training dummies, sparring rings, and various obstacle courses. Targets were positioned for long-range attacks, and a separate area housed racks of weapons—knives, swords, axes, bows.
The dirt beneath my boots was hard-packed from years of combat. This wasn't just a place for routine exercises. This was where soldiers were forged.
And now, I was expected to be one of them.
I was forced into his army.
A growl built in my throat, but I swallowed it back.
I wasn't weak.
I wouldn't let Lucian see me break.
I glanced at the others lining up around me. The group was diverse—warriors and betas of varying heights and builds, some young, some older, both men and women. They had come here with their Alphas, only to be left behind as collateral.
I noticed a few familiar faces—warriors from powerful packs, future Betas, heirs to warrior legacies. Some looked determined, others furious.
Then there were those watching me.
Whispers.
Lingering stares.
I didn't have to guess what they were thinking. They were at the meeting yesterday. They saw what happened.
I was the Alpha's daughter—the one stupid enough to announce that she was mated to him.
The one he humiliated in front of everyone.
My jaw clenched, but I kept my face blank.
I wasn't here to make friends.
A sudden wave of silence rippled through the training grounds, like a predator stepping into a den of wolves.
Lucian had arrived.
His presence was undeniable.
He walked with the confidence of a ruler, his every step exuding dominance. The wolves around me instinctively stiffened, some standing taller, others lowering their gazes.
Lucian wasn't dressed like a king today. He wore black combat gear, his sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful forearms lined with faint scars.
A warrior.
A leader.
A killer.
His golden eyes swept across the trainees, cold and calculating. Then, slowly, they landed on me.
The tension was immediate.
A dark smirk curled his lips as he strode forward, stopping just a few steps away from me.
"Look at all of you," Lucian drawled, his voice deep and commanding. "Abandoned by your packs. Left behind to fend for yourselves."
His gaze locked onto mine as he continued, his tone dripping with amusement.
"Some of you… unwanted."
I knew who that was aimed at.
He was testing me.
Waiting for me to lower my gaze.
Waiting for me to submit.
I lifted my chin, meeting his stare head-on.
I wouldn't flinch.
I wouldn't bow.
Lucian's smirk didn't fade. If anything, he looked… intrigued.
His attention moved away as he addressed the rest of the group. "You're here because I allow it. And you will train because I demand it. If you can't keep up, you won't last." His expression turned sharp. "Make no mistake—this isn't a favor. You are here because I don't trust any of you."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Now," Lucian continued, his voice smooth but deadly, "show me which of you deserve to stay."
The drills began.
It started simple—warm-ups, endurance exercises, basic sparring stances. Some struggled, others barely kept up.
I excelled.
I had been training since I could walk, raised to be the next Alpha of my pack. I knew how to fight. I knew how to endure.
Push-ups, lunges, running laps—I kept pace effortlessly. Some warriors glanced my way, realizing that the Alpha's daughter wasn't as fragile as they thought.
Lucian, however, remained unimpressed.
He watched from a distance, arms crossed, observing everything.
The weight of his gaze burned, but I refused to let it shake me.
They paired us off for sparring matches. My opponent was a broad-shouldered male from another pack. He smirked when he saw me—like he had already won.
Big mistake.
The second the fight started, I dropped him.
I used speed over strength, dodging his heavy swings before knocking him off balance and slamming him into the dirt.
The surrounding wolves muttered in surprise.
Lucian said nothing.
I glanced at him, searching for a reaction. But there was nothing—not anger, not approval. Just cold indifference.
It shouldn't have stung.
But it did.
The drills continued.
The sun climbed higher, sweat dripped down my back, and still, I kept pushing. Keep fighting.
And then—
A voice.
Loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Why even bother try to impress him? The King doesn't want a mate, especially a little girl who embarrassed herself in front of everyone."
Silence.
My entire body tensed.
I turned slowly, my heartbeat steady, dangerous.
A warrior stood a few feet away, smirking. His arms were crossed, and his gaze was full of mockery.
He had been at the meeting.
He had heard everything.
The other trainees stiffened, watching, waiting.
I stepped forward, tilting my head slightly. My voice was smooth, quiet—but it cut through the air like a knife.
"Say that again."
The smirk faltered.
I took another step. "Go on. Repeat yourself."
A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.
My wolf itched beneath my skin, waiting.
Lucian was watching.
Everyone was watching.
And I had never been one to back down from a fight.
Not now.
Not ever.