Marked by the Lycan King

39

“Ha!” Dante let out a dry laugh, the sound carrying the weariness of someone who had heard this request one too many times before. “Go inside and rest like the king says you should. Training among Lycans might not be suitable for your taste.”He brushed her off dismissively and turned back to the soldiers, already barking out new commands. The dismissal ignited something fierce in Myra. Agitation surged through her veins, unlocking a sudden burst of strength. Before she could second-guess herself, she sprinted toward him, fast and fluid. She delivered a sharp kick to his side, then spun and landed another to his back, using the momentum to flip gracefully over him.

Dante stumbled forward from the force, missing a few steps. He whirled around, eyes flashing with irritation, ready to vent, until he remembered exactly who she was. His expression tightened.

Myra met his gaze with a defiant, fighting look.

Dante finally relented with a heavy sigh. “Look, I’m just… I can’t just allow you to join the main army training, Myra.”

“I don’t plan on staying here long,” she shot back. “I just want to be strong enough to protect myself in case anything happens to me.”

“We live in a civilized world,” Dante rolled his eyes.

“That is still divided by power, blood, and lots of bushes," Myra retorted sharply, leaving both of them locked in a tense standoff.

“I can’t train you personally,” he said. “Matteo will have my head if he sees even a single scratch on your body.”

“We are all wolves,” Myra countered. “We heal quickly. Besides, I’m not fragile. I’ll take full responsibility for any injuries.”

Dante stared at her for a long moment, weighing his options, before letting out another deep sigh. “Fine. First of all, change out of that dress. I’ll take you to the female division of the army. You lot, another extra hour under the sun!”

The soldiers groaned audibly but didn’t dare complain out loud.

“They are females?” Myra said, her brows furrowing in confusion.

Dante coughed awkwardly. “You think we’re dumb? A bunch of misogynistic bastards who believe women are incompetent?” He shook his head. “You didn’t let me finish.”

Myra couldn’t respond, she was too stunned by the view that greeted her as they approached the separate training grounds. Hundreds of warrior women moved with lethal precision, chanting in unison as they trained. Their strength and discipline were undeniable.

“The reason I hesitated,” Dante explained, “is because you’re a guest of His Majesty. I don’t want you running to him complaining about being bullied.”

“It seems, Mr. Dante, that you underestimate me,” Myra replied coolly, lifting her chin. “I’m not just an ordinary wolf. I’m an Alpha. Pure bloodline. I’m not as weak as you imagine.”

Dante looked at her deeply, a flicker of respect crossing his features.

The leader of the female army jogged over to meet them. Myra offered her a polite smile and nod as Dante gave the woman quick instructions.

“Myra, meet Riley. She’ll be your trainer. There are special instructions because you’re His Majesty’s guest.”

“Nice to meet you, Riley.” Myra extended her hand.

Riley shook it firmly, a warm smile on her face. “Nice to meet you too, Myra. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Really now?” Myra’s voice cracked slightly. The last thing she wanted was excessive attention.

“I’ll take her to change,” Riley said. “Your outfit isn’t quite suitable.”

Myra followed her to the locker room and quickly changed into camouflage pants and a fitted black tank top. The outfit hugged her curves while allowing full mobility. She tied her ginger hair into a messy bun and stepped out, radiating enthusiasm and quiet determination.

Riley, who had been waiting, couldn’t hide her momentary awe. No wonder His Majesty keeps her by his side. Myra was an absolute stunning beauty, ethereal yet fierce.

“Shall we go?” Myra asked, stepping to her side.

Riley quickly composed herself. “Yes, we should.”

She led Myra to the immense training grounds. The women practicing close-quarters combat immediately stopped and stood at attention upon Riley’s arrival. Riley gave them a brief nod.

“We have an additional member today. This is Myra.”

Myra stepped forward and bowed her head respectfully. “Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you all. I’m thrilled to learn from you.”

Most of the warriors stared, stunned, not just by her polite words, but by her appearance. Ginger hair, striking green eyes, and a beauty that could only be described as goddess-like. The rumors had not been exaggerated.

The training ground buzzed with chaotic whispers. Speculation about her identity spread rapidly. Some eyes held envy; a few muttered jealous remarks under their breath.

Riley cleared her throat sharply, silencing the chatter. “Treat her well. She is His Majesty’s guest.”

The revelation hit like a boom. Almost everyone reacted with surprise. The formidable, cold Lycan King—who had always been indifferent to women, finally had someone by his side. Jealousy and resentment flickered in more than a few gazes. After all, Matteo was the ultimate prize in their world.

Riley turned to Myra. “Let’s test your current strength first. You’ll spar with one of us.”

Myra nodded confidently.

Stephanie, a buff and imposing woman with a muscular build, stepped forward. “I hope Her Ladyship isn’t scared. I chose a formidable opponent because I didn’t want to underestimate you with someone weaker.”

Myra smiled, a spark of challenge in her eyes. “Bring it on.”