Chapter 1
1098 Words
The Enemy at the Border
Lyra POV
I stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying a balm to the cut above my eyebrow. It stung a little, but I'd had worse injuries after training.
I looked at my reflection and scoffed.
"Me... the Luna?"
I shook my head.
"What is Father thinking? It's too soon."
A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned against the dressing table.
"I haven't even found my mate yet. How terrible is that?"
A soft knock came from my bedroom door.
Before I could answer, Aria walked in with her usual smile.
"Hey..."
I didn't reply.
"I know you're pissed off at Marcus."
"I'm not."
She folded her arms.
"Okay... then what's wrong?"
"You've shut everyone out."
"You didn't even eat dinner."
I stayed silent.
"Lyra..."
"At least answer me."
"ARIA!"
The moment I raised my voice, she froze.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Look..."
"It's the coronation."
She blinked.
"What about it?"
"I don't think I'm ready."
For a second she stared at me.
Then...
She laughed.
"You?"
"The brave and bold Princess Lyra Nightfang?"
"Not ready?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Haha..."
"Very funny."
She smiled.
"Come on, Lyra."
"It's you."
"Almost every man in the kingdom wants you."
"You're incredible on the battlefield."
"The girls adore you."
I looked away.
"Men wanting me doesn't mean one of them is my mate."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh..."
"So that's what this is about."
"What?"
"You and your love fantasy."
"Finding the right wolf."
"The Moon Goddess choosing your soulmate."
I groaned.
"Now you're mocking me."
Aria laughed before sighing.
"Alright."
"Come on."
"Your father's waiting in the dining hall."
I shook my head.
"No."
"I'm not eating tonight."
Her jaw dropped.
"What?!"
"I'm taking the patrol out."
"We're hunting around the border tonight."
"You remember?"
She slapped her forehead.
"Oh..."
"Right."
"I'm definitely skipping that."
"You have fun."
A grin spread across my face.
"Yeah."
"Have fuN STUFFING YOUR FACE, ARIAAA!"
"HEY!"
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at me.
I ducked.
The pillow slammed into the wall.
We both burst into laughter.
If only I knew...
That would be the last normal laugh I'd have for a very long time.
---
The cold wind howled through the towering pine trees as I tightened my grip around the silver dagger strapped to my thigh.
Something wasn't right.
The forest was too quiet.
And in werewolf territory...
Silence meant danger.
"Stay alert," I ordered.
The warriors behind me immediately straightened.
Marcus stepped beside me.
"Do you smell that?"
I stopped walking.
Slowly, I inhaled.
Pine.
Rain.
Wet earth.
Then...
Blood.
My heartbeat quickened.
And beneath that...
Another scent.
Cold.
Ancient.
One I would never mistake.
"Vampires."
The word alone made everyone tense.
They hadn't crossed our border in years.
Not since the Blood Moon War.
Not since thousands had died.
"They're close."
A branch snapped.
Everyone froze.
Another.
Then another.
I slowly lifted my head.
Red eyes.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
"ATTACK!"
The forest exploded into chaos.
Vampires rushed from the darkness.
Steel clashed.
Growls echoed through the trees.
I didn't hesitate.
My body shifted instantly.
Bones cracked.
Muscles stretched.
Silver fur burst from my skin.
Within seconds...
I stood as my wolf.
A massive silver she-wolf.
I lunged.
The first vampire barely reacted before I slammed him into a tree.
Another attacked from my left.
I dodged.
Claws slashed across his chest.
The battle spread through the forest.
Then...
Something happened.
A scent.
One I'd never smelled before.
Not blood.
Not death.
Something...
Different.
My wolf froze.
What...
Why are you stopping?
She didn't answer.
Instead...
She forced me to look toward the clearing.
There he was.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Crimson eyes glowing beneath the moonlight.
Unlike everyone else...
He wasn't fighting.
He was staring directly at me.
Like he knew me.
Like he'd been searching for me.
Our eyes met.
Everything disappeared.
The battle.
The screams.
The wind.
The cold.
There was only him.
Then...
A single word echoed inside my head.
Mate.
I stumbled backwards.
"No..."
"No..."
"This can't be."
"A vampire?"
Across the clearing...
His expression mirrored mine.
He'd heard it too.
For the first time in centuries...
The Moon Goddess had bound a werewolf princess...
To a vampire prince.
---
Lucien POV
I walked into the dining hall to find Father exactly where I expected.
Sitting at the head of the table.
Eating his dinner.
He looked up.
"Lucien, my boy."
"Father."
"Are they ready?"
"Yes."
His lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Good."
"The first attack will be tonight."
I frowned.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
His voice left no room for argument.
"Go."
I nodded once before turning away.
As I reached the doorway, I heard him lift his glass.
"Do not fail."
Those three words followed me all the way out.
---
I made my way to the training grounds where Damien was already waiting.
Soon, the strongest warriors in our kingdom stood before me.
"The king has given his orders."
"We attack tonight."
"We cross the border."
"And we take back what rightfully belongs to us."
The warriors roared.
Weapons were drawn.
Within minutes...
We were moving through the forest.
Damien walked beside me.
"So..."
"How do you feel?"
"About what?"
He looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.
"About becoming king!"
"Oh."
"That."
He laughed.
"'That?'"
"I'm about to be best friends with a king!"
I sighed.
"Trust me."
"It's not as exciting as it sounds."
He was about to reply when I raised my hand.
"Quiet."
He frowned.
"What?"
"Do you hear that?"
We crouched behind a bush.
A werewolf patrol.
Damien smirked.
"Well..."
"Look what we have here."
"Shut up."
Then...
I saw her.
A silver-haired werewolf standing at the front.
The moment my eyes landed on her...
My chest tightened.
I couldn't breathe.
What's happening to me?
Damien shoved my shoulder.
"Lucien?"
I blinked.
"I'm fine."
Without another word...
I signaled the attack.
The forest erupted into war.
---
The battle ended almost as quickly as it began.
Vampires.
Werewolves.
Bodies everywhere.
Then...
She stood before me.
The silver-haired princess.
One-on-one.
Ready to fight.
I prepared myself.
But before either of us could move...
A voice echoed inside my head.
Mate.
Everything stopped.
"No..."
Impossible.
A werewolf?
Her eyes widened just as much as mine.
She'd heard it too.
For the first time in my life...
I didn't know what terrified me more.
The battle...
Or the fact that my mate...
Was the very enemy I'd been raised to destroy.
- Writer
