Rejected for my sister, Desired by the Lucan King

"Help..." The weak voice drifted through the forest, ten-year-old Vaelith Noctryss stopped walking and she looked around. The sun was already setting, her basket of herbs hung from her arm. Everyone in the pack knows children should never stay in the forest after sunset because rogues sometimes cross the border but she heard the voice again. "Please..." It sounded closer this time and Vaelith dropped her basket and ran toward the sound. She pushed branches away until she reached a small river and then she gasped. A boy lay on the ground, he could not be older than twelve, blood covered his clothes and deep claw marks tore across his chest. His breathing was weak and his eyes were barely opened and Vaelith knelt beside him. "Oh no..." She looked around but there was no one, only broken branches and bloody paw prints. The boy then grabbed her wrist. "Don't leave me..." His hand fell again and Vaelith bit her lip. "If I leave, you'll die." She quickly tore the bottom of her dress up using the cloth, and then she pressed against his wounds and the boy cried out. "I'm sorry," she said. "I have to stop the bleeding." She then ran to the river and filled her hands with water, s and she gently let him drink and his lips moved. "Thank... you..." Night slowly fell and the forest became darker. Wolves howled in the distance and Vaelith jumped every time she'd heard them. She was scared, v, very scared b but every time she looked at the injured boy, she shook her head. "I won't leave you." She gathered teddy branches and lit a small fire and then she sat beside him. Hours passed, Several times, the boy woke up and lost consciousness again and each time, Vaelith wiped the sweat from his face. When he began shivering, she removed her shawl and placed it over him. "You'll be fine," she whispered. "You have to be." Near midnight, bushes rustled and Vaelith quickly stood, her heart rang and a wild wolf appeared between the trees. It sniffed the air and Vaelith grabbed a burning branch from the fire. "Go away!" The wolf growled but she refused to move. "If you want him..." She raised the burning branch higher. "You have to go through me." The wolf stared at her. After a long moment, it turned and disappeared into the darkness. Vaelith finally let out the breath she had been holding and she sat again beside the boy. "You scared me," she muttered. Morning finally arrived, golden light shone through the trees and the boy slowly opened his eyes. This time, he looked much stronger and he blinked at Vaelith. "You stayed..." Vaelith smiled. "You finally woke up." He slowly sat up and then he noticed the torn pieces of her dress wrapped around his wounds. "You did all this?" She nodded. "You were hurt." He looked around. "The rogues..." "They're gone." "I heard them running before sunrise." The boy studied her face. "My name is Zyren." "I'm Vaelith." He repeated her name quietly. "Vaelith." Then he reached into his pocket and he took out a silver pendant shaped like a wolf. With effort, he broke it into two pieces and he gave one half to her. She looked at it in surprise. "What is this for?" "So I can find you again." She laughed. "What if you forget me?" "I won't." "What if you become someone important?" "I'll still remember." "What if many years pass?" He smiled. "I'll come back for you one day." Vaelith carefully closed her fingers around the pendant. "I'll keep it safe." Neither of them noticed another little girl standing behind a thick tree. Sylvarae. She watched everything and her eyes never left the silver pendant. Zyren stood with difficulty. "I have to go." "My family will be looking for me." Vaelith nodded. "Take care of yourself." "You too." He then took one last look at her before walking away. Vaelith watched until he disappeared and then she smiled to herself. Years passed. The frightened boy grew into a powerful man. Zyren Dravenhart became the future Alpha of Obsidianclaw Pack. On the day he returned home, the entire kingdom gathered to welcome him and Vaelith stood among the crowd and she smiled proudly. "He survived." Suddenly, Zyren raised his hand. "I have one request." The crowd became silent. "I've been searching for the girl who saved my life." Vaelith's heart raced and she reached into her pocket but her smile disappeared. The pendant was gone, she searched again but there was nothing and someone stepped forward. Sylvarae. She opened her hand and the silver pendant shone under the sunlight. "I believe you're looking for me." Vaelith's eyes widened, that was her pendant. Sylvarae stole it. Zyren walked toward Sylvarae and his eyes became warm. "So... it was you." Sylvarae lowered her head. "I never expected you to remember." "I could never forget." The crowd began clapping. "What a beautiful reunion." "The Moon Goddess truly blessed them." Vaelith opened her mouth, she wanted to speak, she wanted to tell the truth but she saw the happiness on Zyren's face and she slowly closed her mouth again. One day... The truth will come out by itself. She believed that. Months later... The entire kingdom gathered again. Today was Zyren's Alpha Ceremony, the High Elder raised both hands toward the moon. "The Moon Goddess shall now reveal the Alpha's fated mate." The temple became silent and a silver light suddenly fell from the sky. It circled around the crowd and then it rushed toward Vaelith. A warm feeling spread through her chest and her wolf stirred for the first time. One name echoed inside her heart. Zyren. At the same moment, Zyren turned and his eyes met hers. The silver light connected them for one brief second and the High Elder smiled. "The Moon Goddess has spoken." Joy filled Vaelith's face and tears gathered in her eyes. "He... he's my mate." She couldn't stop smiling. Without waiting another second, she ran through the palace. "Sylvarae!" "Sylvarae!" Her twin sister stepped out onto the balcony. "What happened?" Vaelith threw her arms around her. "I found my mate." Sylvarae laughed. "Really?" "Who is he?" Vaelith's cheeks became warm. "It's Zyren." And for a moment, Sylvarae said nothing and then she smiled. "I'm happy for you." Vaelith hugged her again. "I knew you'd understand." "I have to tell him." She quickly ran back inside the palace but Sylvarae watched her disappear. The smile slowly left her face and her eyes became dark with envy. She looked toward the sky and then her lips moved. "If I can steal your past..." She clenched her fist around the pendant hidden inside her sleeve. "I can steal your future too."