Claimed by King

Chapter 12: Unlikely Allies

(Juliana's POV)

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting golden light across the training clearing. I stood at its edge, my breath fogging in the crisp air as I watched the faint glow of my fingers fade away. My chest ached with exhaustion, but there was a quiet pride in the steadiness of my breathing, the control I had begun to carve from chaos.

"You're improving," the man said from behind me. He leaned against a tree, arms crossed, his piercing blue eyes studying me with a mix of approval and caution.

"Thanks," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow. "But I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing."

"Because you don't," he replied bluntly, pushing off the tree and walking toward me. "But you're closer than you were yesterday."

I narrowed my eyes at him, his casual confidence grating on my nerves.

"Do you always have to be so encouraging?" I asked, my tone dry.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"Only when I'm trying to keep someone alive."

After our session, I wandered back into the village, my muscles aching with every step. The villagers still regarded me with suspicion, their wary glances following me wherever I went. It didn't bother me as much as it had at first.

Not because I'd grown used to it, but because I was beginning to understand.

They were afraid—of me, of what I represented. And fear was easier to cling to than hope.

I paused by the well in the center of the village, leaning against its cool stone edge as I stared down into the dark water below. My reflection stared back, the faint scarlet tint in my eyes a constant reminder of what I was becoming.

"What now?" I whispered to myself, the question echoing softly.

"Now, you find me."

The voice was quiet but distinct, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

I whipped around, my heart racing, but the square was empty save for a few villagers milling about at a distance.

"What did you say?" I called out, my voice sharp.

But no one answered.

The rest of the day passed in uneasy silence. My wolf was restless, her presence shifting uneasily in the back of my mind.

"They're here," she murmured as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the village in shades of deep orange and shadow.

"Who's here?" I asked aloud, my voice barely audible.

But she didn't answer.

Night fell quickly, the village growing quiet as the villagers retreated into their homes. I sat by the fire in the small house where I had been staying, the warmth doing little to chase away the chill that crept through my veins.

The sound of footsteps outside made me tense, my hand instinctively reaching for the knife I kept at my side.

A knock at the door followed, soft but deliberate.

"Who is it?" I called, rising to my feet.

"It's me," a voice replied—familiar, but unexpected.

I opened the door cautiously, my grip on the knife tightening as Jaxon, the Royal Beta, stepped into the light.

"Jaxon?" I whispered, my mind racing. "What are you doing here?"

He looked at me, his expression grim but relieved.

"I've been looking for you," he said simply.

We sat across from each other by the fire, the flickering flames casting shadows across his face.

"I thought you were with the King," I said, my voice laced with suspicion.

"I was," he admitted, his gaze steady. "Until I realized what he was doing."

The weight in his voice made my chest tighten.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Jaxon hesitated, running a hand through his hair.

"The King isn't who we thought he was," he said finally. "He's... compromised. And he's not the only one."

I leaned forward, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Compromised how?"

Jaxon's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to the fire.

"Dark magic," he said, his voice low. "He's under someone's control—a witch, I think. And whoever it is, they're using him to hunt you."

The words hit me like a blow, the air leaving my lungs.

"Why?" I whispered.

"Because of what you are," he said, meeting my gaze. "Because of your mark. They're afraid of you, Juliana. And they'll do anything to keep you from realizing your full power."

The room was silent except for the crackling of the fire. My mind raced, pieces of the puzzle falling into place as I tried to make sense of everything.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked finally, my voice shaking.

Jaxon's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Because I owe you," he said simply. "And because you're the only one who can stop this."

The rest of the night passed in hurried whispers, Jaxon filling in the gaps of what I already suspected. The King's sudden turn against me, the witches' growing influence, the strange occurrences that seemed to follow me wherever I went—it all pointed to one undeniable truth.

I was a threat.

Not just to them, but to everything they were trying to build.

And that meant I couldn't run anymore.

As dawn broke over the mountains, I stood with Jaxon at the edge of the village, my heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.

"What now?" he asked, his voice quiet.

I tightened my grip on the strap of my bag, my resolve hardening.

"Now, we fight," I said.

And with that, we began our journey.