The Mark Of The Lycan
840 Words
Chapter 3: The Mark of the Lycans
The palace was quieter than usual that evening. Guards stood stiff at every entrance, their armor gleaming under the moonlight. Word of the attack had already reached the King and Queen, and unease settled over the kingdom like a heavy fog.
Onjo sat on the balcony outside her chambers, staring at the flickering lights of the city below. She replayed every moment of the attack — the knife that nearly struck her head, the flash of claws, the icy smirk on Loi Mi Oen’s face. Her hands trembled slightly, but she forced them still.
She hated feeling weak.
Footsteps sounded behind her. Gae In stepped into the moonlight, her wolfish eyes dim with worry.
“You’ve been out here for hours,” Gae In said softly. “Are you still thinking about what he said?”
Onjo didn’t respond at first. She hugged her knees.
“He looked at me like… like he already owns my fate.”
Gae In’s brows furrowed. “Loi Mi Oen doesn’t own anything. You’re stronger than him.”
Onjo shook her head. “I trained for years, and today I froze. I couldn’t even protect us.”
Gae In kneeled beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Onjo… even Master Hyun said those weren’t normal attackers. They were trained to kill immortals.”
The balcony doors opened again. Master Hyun stepped out, his expression unreadable.
“Princess Onjo,” he said, bowing slightly, “the King and Queen request your presence.”
Onjo stood, heart pounding. “Is something wrong?”
Hyun hesitated. “The Lycan Pack is here. Their leader wishes to speak with you.”
Gae In raised a brow. “The tall one with the scar under his eye?”
“Yes,” Hyun replied. “Him.”
⸻
Inside the Hall of Moonstone
The hall shimmered with pale blue crystals. The Lycan Pack stood in a row before the throne — tall, powerful, and intimidating. Their leader, the same man who lifted Onjo from the ground earlier, stepped forward.
His presence was overwhelming — sharp, commanding. His silver eyes flicked toward her, and for a moment, Onjo forgot how to breathe.
King Yeon’s voice echoed through the hall.
“State your name, warrior.”
The Lycan bowed. “I am Kiran, Alpha of the Dawnfang Pack.”
So that was his name.
Queen So Yon studied him carefully.
“You saved our daughter’s life today.”
“It was an honor, Your Majesty,” Kiran replied. His eyes briefly met Onjo’s again. “But the attack was not random. Loi Mi Oen is gathering forces. He seeks the immortal… and whatever power she carries.”
A shiver ran down Onjo’s spine.
King Yeon and Queen So Yon exchanged a tense look.
Onjo noticed. “What are you not telling me?”
Her parents hesitated. For the first time, Onjo saw fear in their eyes.
Finally, King Yeon spoke.
“There is a prophecy. One that says an immortal will be born to save the world from the evil tyrant and his pack. But if the immortal fails… if she falls to the tyrant’s influence… the world will be doomed.”
Onjo froze, shock gripping her.
Gae In stepped forward. “What influence? What does that mean?”
Kiran answered grimly.
“Loi Mi Oen grows stronger by forcing power bonds. If he gains a connection with you — even a forced one — your immortal power and his dark power could merge. That would unleash a threat worse than anything this realm has ever faced.”
Onjo stared at him, stunned.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
Gae In crossed her arms. “And what does the prophecy mean by her ‘pack’?”
Queen So Yon rested a hand on Onjo’s shoulder.
“You must gather your pack — those destined to stand beside you. Only together can you defeat him. Some of your pack… are already here.” She turned toward the Lycans.
Kiran nodded once.
“We are part of your pack.”
Jaden, one of the Lycan warriors, stepped forward.
“Kiran, don’t forget why we came.”
Gae In eyed him suspiciously. “Why did you come?”
Kiran straightened.
“We’ve been hunting a monster known as the Beast of Hell. It has been terrorizing the realm — killing innocents, destroying villages. We tracked it for days. That’s when we stumbled upon the Evil Pack… and you.”
Jaden added, “If we don’t continue the hunt by tomorrow, we lose the trail.”
Onjo inhaled sharply, then lifted her chin.
“Then it’s decided. I’ll help you stop the beast.”
Her voice was steady, strong — but deep inside, her chest tightened with worry.
She didn’t know if she was ready.
She didn’t know if she had the strength.
But she knew one thing:
The fate of the realm was already moving toward her…
And she couldn’t turn back now.
- Writer
