Chapter 24: The Alpha King's Order

\-- Lyra's POV --

I couldn't get him out of my head.

Maximus Gray, the beast prince.

The way he stood in the library earlier... close enough that I could feel his presence but cold enough to make my chest tighten like I was standing at the edge of danger.

His golden eyes had pinned me in place. His scent... lilies and rain... wild and strange yet familiar... it wrapped around me like a memory I couldn't reach.

Why did it feel like I had known him before?

Why did it feel like I was forgetting something important every time I looked at him? Was he part of my... past? Should I ask him?

No, that cold prince wouldn't even dare talk to me... earlier was just a coincidence.

And the book... the one about the goddess and the wolf. It haunted me.

Every page... every line.

What's wrong with me!?

I shook my head hard as I scrubbed the table, trying to throw the thoughts away, but they clung like spiderwebs I couldn't shake off.

Then the door opened behind me.

I turned to see who it was... a stranger dressed in black and silver... the royal servant colors.

His face was calm, and his presence was warm.

"Hi, I am Rowan," he said in a firm but polite voice. "The Royal Servant. You are Lyra, am I correct?"

I nodded quickly, wiping my hands on my apron. "Yes... that's me."

"His Majesty, the Alpha King, requests your presence in the Throne Room."

My heart almost jumped out of my chest.

"The... Alpha King? Me?"

"Yes." Rowan's tone didn't change. "Please follow me."

I hesitated for only a moment, then nodded again.

Alpha King... But, why? Did I do something wrong?

He led me through the long halls of the palace. The walls towered on both sides, hung with banners of black and silver, the wolf sigil watching us as we passed.

My palms were sweating so badly I had to wipe them on my apron again.

The Throne Room doors looked twice as big when we stopped before them.

Rowan gave me a single look. "You may go inside. The King awaits."And then he left.

I stood there for a second, gathering my courage, then pushed the door open.

The Throne Room swallowed me whole.

A King sat on a majestic throne... silent, unshaken, and powerful. A middle-aged man with black hair streaked faintly with silver at the temples, yet despite the years, his face held the same sharp, commanding features I had seen... in Prince Maximus.

I knew at that moment, he's Prince Maximus' father.

"Kid," his deep voice rolled across the hall. "Come forward."

My legs felt stiff as I walked across the red carpet until I stood before him.

His eyes studied me sharply, like he could see more than just what was in front of him.

"I have a task for you," he said at last. "You will take supplies and a message to the Southern border camp. The guards there need food, healing herbs, and weapons. Deliver them."

I blinked. "Me, Your Majesty?" Was he wrong? Why me? I am just nothing but a little girl... a little rogue.

"Yes." His tone left no space for questions. "This will be your first duty outside the palace walls. Fail, and you will not like the consequence."

It felt like my heart jumped out from his words, I have no choice. I swallowed hard and nodded. "I... I won't fail, Y-Your Majesty."

The King waved his hand, dismissing me. "The supplies are ready outside. Take them now. The camp waits."

I bowed and turned to leave. The palace have so many servants, but why did the Alpha King chooses me..? I'm just a child, I don't know how old I really am, but with my features... I think 14 year-old? Although my mindset think otherwise.

When I was out of the palace, I saw a cart waiting at the gate, stacked with food, herbs, and weapons wrapped in rough cloth.

A soldier handed me the reins of a sturdy brown horse. "Here's the map to the camp," he said, passing me a folded sheet.

When I opened it, I was surprised at how easily I understood it. The lines, marks, and routes felt strangely clear to me, as if I had read maps all my life. Have I?

It was technical, detailed even, yet my mind caught everything at once... and I could not explain why.

"The camp's been tense," he suddenly warned quietly, making me to look at him. "Strange things happening near the treeline at night. Be careful."

Despite the fear curling in my stomach, I nodded. I had to do this or I'd be dead. I had survived harder things before, and I prayed I could get through this one too.

\---

The road was rough, but not too long. Trees closed in on both sides, their branches tangled together like claws blocking the light. As the sun sank lower, the shadows stretched long across the dirt path.

More than once, I felt it.

Eyes.

Watching me from the woods.

I gripped the reins tighter and kept moving, trying to tell myself it was nothing. But the feeling stayed, crawling up my spine like cold fingers.

By the time the camp walls appeared in the distance, the sky had already darkened to deep orange. Torches burned along the watchtowers, their flames snapping in the wind. Guards stood tense on the walls, hands on their weapons.

When they saw the cart and the palace colors, they moved quickly to open the gates. I caught the brief look of relief on their faces.

Inside, the camp was alive with movement.

Men hurried back and forth, boots thudding against the ground. Weapons were carried to the walls. Arrows were counted and checked. Blades were sharpened so quickly the sound of steel scraping against stone filled the air.

Everywhere I looked, there was movement. Fast. Nervous.

I handed the first bag to a soldier who ran toward me.

My voice shook a little as I said, “I was ordered by the Alpha King to deliver supplies and a message. Here are the supplies from the palace.”

The soldier nodded quickly and shouted for two more men to help him carry the bags. They grabbed them fast, rough in their movements, like they were racing against time.

I glanced around, trying not to stare but unable to help hearing the voices of the guards nearby.

“Shadows again,” one muttered. His eyes stayed locked on the dark tree line in the distance.

“They move too fast,” another said in a low, tense voice. “Red eyes. Always watching.”

A third spat on the ground. His hands tightened on his spear until his knuckles turned white. “Vampires,” he growled. “Be ready.”

The word hit me hard.

Vampires.

My stomach twisted... my hands went cold even though the night air wasn’t that chilly.

I hurried toward the camp commander, clutching the King’s letter like it was the only thing holding me together. My fingers were shaking when I handed it to him.

He read it fast, his eyes scanning each line, and then his jaw tightened. His whole face changed, going sharp and hard like stone.

He turned and barked orders in a loud, cutting voice that sliced through the noise of the camp.

“Light the walls! Get the weapons ready! Move faster!”

Soldiers ran to obey. Torches blazed to life along the gates. Arrows were handed out in bundles. Shields clanged as they were carried into place.

The air felt heavier.

Thicker.

I hugged myself without meaning to.

It started with the wind... shifting.

It swept through the camp cold and sudden, raising goosebumps on my arms. The horses near the gates tossed their heads and whinnied, backing up like they didn’t want to face whatever was coming.

The smell came next.

Rotten. Thick. Like blood mixed with smoke and something worse... something that made my stomach twist so hard I thought I might throw up.

Then the memory slammed into me.

The dungeon.

The screams.

The blood on the walls.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, but it didn’t help. The smell was the same.

The guards froze.

Everyone felt it.

I knew it because the whole camp went silent except for the sound of the wind.

Weapons were gripped tighter.

Eyes turned toward the tree line.

Waiting.

My own heart pounded so loud. Was this it?

Was this how I would die?