The Trap is Set2
1160 Words
Selene stopped beside an old stone fountain
Moonlight symbols covered its surface despite the afternoon sun
The priestess rested one hand on the stone
"Tell me."
"Have you been sleeping well?"
Lyra blinked
"Mostly."
"And your wolf?"
"My wolf?"
"Has she been restless?"
Lyra hesitated
"Yes."
Selene nodded as though she expected that answer
"And Prince Kael?"
Lyra looked surprised
"What about him?"
"When you are together,does your bond feel stronger?"
Lyra lowered her eyes
"It does."
"Stronger than before."
"Yes."
Selene quietly closed her eyes.
For several seconds she said nothing
Lyra became more anxious
"Please tell me what's happening."
Selene finally looked at her
"There are moments,when fate begins to move."
Lyra frowned
"I don't understand."
"You aren't meant to."
"Not yet."
Lyra sighed softly
"You always answer questions with another mystery."
Selene laughed quietly
"Sometimes mysteries protect people."
"Protect them from what?"
Selene did not answer immediately
Instead she gently took Lyra's hands
"Listen carefully."
Lyra nodded
"The days ahead may test your heart."
Lyra's smile disappeared
"Should I be afraid?"
"No."
"Worried?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Selene's voice became softer
"Remain true to yourself."
"No matter what others say."
Lyra stared at her
"Is someone planning something?"
Selene slowly released her hands
"I cannot speak of what has not yet happened."
"Then why warn me?"
"Because kindness is often mistaken for weakness."
Lyra stood silently
The words settled heavily inside her heart
She wanted more answers
But she already knew Selene would say no more
Selene gently smiled again
"You still have many people waiting for your healing."
Lyra managed a small smile
"I do."
"Then don't keep them waiting."
As Lyra turned to leave, Selene remained standing beside the fountain
Her calm expression faded
She looked toward the distant Silvermoon Palace
Very quietly, so only she could hear, she whispered,
"The Moon is waking..."
The afternoon sun hung high above Silvermoon Kingdom as Alpha Prince Kael Blackthorne crossed the palace training grounds
The sharp sound of wooden practice swords striking each other echoed across the open field
Young warriors immediately stopped what they were doing and bowed
"My Prince."
Kael nodded
"At ease."
The warriors straightened
One of them smiled
"We've been waiting for you."
Kael removed the light cloak resting on his shoulders
"I only have a little time."
"That's enough."
The captain of the training squad stepped forward
"The coronation is only weeks away."
Kael smiled
"So everyone keeps reminding me."
The captain laughed
"Because after that day, we'll be answering to Alpha King Kael."
Kael picked up a wooden sword
"Then you'd better make sure your future king doesn't become rusty."
The warriors laughed
For the next several minutes, Kael sparred with them one by one
Although he held back, everyone could see why he was respected
He never mocked those weaker than him
He corrected mistakes instead of insulting them
Every time someone lost balance, he helped them back to their feet
After the final match, one young warrior bowed deeply
"My Prince..."
Kael wiped the sweat from his forehead
"Yes?"
"Will anything change after your coronation?"
Kael smiled
"It will."
The young wolf looked nervous
"Will you become... harder?"
Kael shook his head
"A crown shouldn't change who you are."
"It should remind you who you're responsible for."
Several warriors nodded in agreement
The captain folded his arms
"The kingdom is fortunate."
Kael smiled politely
"I only hope to lead well."
His thoughts drifted for a brief moment
To Lyra
He remembered the promise he had made inside her clinic
A quiet smile crossed his face
One of the warriors noticed
"My Prince?"
Kael looked back
"Nothing."
He picked up his cloak
"I should return to the palace."
Inside the royal council chamber, Duke Valerius sat exactly where he had been earlier
Nothing about him suggested impatience
He simply waited
A palace servant entered and bowed
"My lord."
Valerius lifted his eyes
"What news?"
"The prince has returned from the training grounds."
"And the healer?"
"She visited Moonveil Temple this morning."
Several nobles exchanged glances
One frowned
"The Moon Priestess?"
Another looked uneasy
"What business does an Omega have with Selene?"
Valerius remained silent for several moments
Then he calmly asked,
"Did anyone hear their conversation?"
"No, my lord."
"They spoke privately."
One noble leaned forward
"This concerns me."
"So does it concern me."
Another spoke
"If the Moon Priestess supports the Omega..."
Valerius slowly raised one hand
The room immediately fell silent.
"We deal with facts."
"Not assumptions."
He stood and slowly walked toward the long table
"Our first task remains unchanged."
A noble nodded
"Separate the prince from the Omega."
"Exactly."
"And how do we accomplish that?"
Valerius looked from one face to another
"With doubt."
Another noble frowned
"The prince trusts her."
Valerius smiled faintly
"Trust is rarely destroyed in one day."
"It disappears one question at a time."
The room grew quiet again
His calm voice carried more weight than shouting ever could
- Writer
