《His Miracle Luna-the Forsaken Lycan Queen》


 Chapter 1

    Elena''s POV


    I looked around my room with a sense of warmth slowly creeping into my cold heart. In this very same roomst year, I was left alone by my husband on our wedding night, feeling cold and alone.


    Instead of the cuddles and kisses I was expecting, I received hurried words of goodbye from him, for the King called him to fight in a battle against the Rogues.


    And for the year that came, I was in charge of all the pack issues as I awaited for hiseback.


    Standing in front of the empty halls, I stared at the picture of the only family I had left, my husband, the Alpha of Swiftridge Pack - Bryson Renner.


    Yes, the only family I had...


    Years ago, my father and six brothers died in an unfortunate attack from the Rogues alongside most of our pack''s significant members. With their absence, my inws treated me well. So, when my father-inw was injured in a war, I didn''t think twice about using every means I had to help the new family I had, the Swiftridge Pack.


    Though no one asked, I worked to be the best Luna they needed. I would even use my own inheritance to improve the living of their packs and ensure that Bryson''s mother, Courtney, who was sick, was well taken care of. I''ve looked around for the best doctor to check on her and brought every medicine she needed, no matter what the cost.


    Although I''ve been a full-time housewife who''s very different from the warrior I''ve been brought up to be, I''m still looking forward to my bright future after reuniting with my Alpha husband.


    I smiled as I admired his photo on the wall. He''s a great warrior on the battlefield, but when he was with me, he was nothing but sweet and gentlemanly.


    Due to my mother''sst wish, I turned my back from being a warrior and heeded her wishes for me to get married, have children, and lead a peaceful life.


    And on herst day in the hospital, Bryson came to her bedside and vowed to her that he''d treat me well for the rest of his life.


    Now, the war had ended, and he won another battle that brought glory to the kingdom. Joyful of his return, I held a grand celebratory event to wee him back.


    I was wearing a beautiful midnight blue gown with sparkles on its hem, and I did my makeup and hair. I prepared so well for this, but as I walked toward the hall where the celebration was being held, my inws couldn''t even look at me, and the other elders and high-ranking members stared at me with sympathy.


    What''s happening? I wondered in confusion.


    My questions were then thrown out of the window the second I saw Brysoning down the stage. A smile immediately formed on my lips as I watched him walk closer and closer to me.


    His brown eyes were sparkling with...


    My eyes narrowed.


    "Elena, I need to talk to you," he spoke so earnestly that his baritone voice brought a chill to my spine.


    "Elena, I''ve found my fated mate." His words hung in the air after he repeated them, and I saw him smile with a depth of joy I had never seen before.


    His hazelnut eyes sparkled with unbridled joy, a stark contrast to the storm raging


    in my heart, as he continued, "...and I am marrying her."


    My wolf, Ava, whimpered inside of me while I froze in bewilderment.


    When I opened my lips, ready to refute, he thoughtlessly handed me a letter with the familiar seal of the kingdom.


    A cold sweat formed on my forehead, and my legs almost became weak at the sight of it. Thest time I received that letter was when the kingdom showed their earnest gratitude and apology when my father and six brothers died in war.


    "W-what''s that?" I asked.


    Thest time I received it, I lost the people I love. What would I lose now?


    As I grabbed the letter and read it, Bryson spoke, "The King, himself, granted a verdict for my marriage with Glenda. She''ll be joining our pack."


    It wasn''t a question or a suggestion. It''s a statement.


    Glenda... So, she''s his fated mate. How could I not know her? She''s, after all, a well-known warrior.


    Straightening up my back and keeping calm, I asked, "Glenda... She''s a respected warrior from the kingdom, looked up to by every woman and valued by the royal family''s safety forces. Will she be willing to marry you without any title?"


    "Without a title? Of course, she''ll be my legal wife and Luna, just like you. You and her will be equal in everything, standing side by side in handling our pack''s affairs. Legal? Same as me?


    I sneered in utter disbelief. "The same? Do you really think making things legal won''t change the fact that she''s a mistress?"


    "Don''t call her that! She''s my fated mate, and we earned this marriage by battling through death in the rogue war. You just have to live with that!"


    Live with that? That phrase made my ear twitch as it repeatedly echoed in me.


    The audacity he had to say such a thing right in my face was beyond me.


    "Are you hearing yourself?" I asked, looking at him with eyes filled with betrayal. "Have you forgotten what you promised me on our marriage a year ago?"


    He was stunned for a bit. His eyes dimmed as he got lost in thoughts before they glinted with guilt that quickly vanished.


    A year ago, right after our marriage ceremony, he brought me to thekeside near the venue where our ceremony was held.


    The moonlight shone before us, and he pulled me beside him, holding me by my waist while we stared at the moon.


    He slowly turned his head and whispered his vow right into my ears, which brought butterflies to my belly and warmth to my heart.


    "Remember this day, my Love. From today onwards, I''d love no one else but you. You''ll be the only woman in my life."


    My heart was pumping so wild with happiness. I turned my head and met his gaze. "What if you find your fated mate?"


    Holding my chin with his thumb and index finger, he lifted my head up and made me stare closer at him. "It won''t change a thing."


    I thought I was very lucky then, but it turned out. It was just a blissful dream I was so cruelly woken up from.


    That same man who promised me a lifetime was now looking at me with indifference as he firmly said, "Forget about that. I was clueless then. I love Glenda, and the moon goddess blessed us. We were meant for each other."


    I felt like something in me vanished, and I felt so empty. But despite that, I need answers. Staring at him, I indifferently said, "I want to talk to her."


    "Elena!" he growled protectively.


    He took a threatening step toward me. "Don''t you dare cause any unnecessary trouble! You are still a Luna. As long as you properly serve my family and this pack, I promise to give you a child in the future."


    I looked at him in disbelief.


    I never thought he''d be so arrogant, totally different from the person he was when


    he asked my mother for my hand in marriage.


    A child? Serve? What did he take me for, a servant? And since when did a child be a piece of reward?


    The more he spoke, the more absurd he sounded to me. It''s ridiculous! Raising my head high, I took a deep breath and pursed my lips as I uttered with conviction, "Then, as the current and only Luna of this pack, I ammanding that you bring her to me."

 Chapter 2

    Elena''s POV


    After the celebration ceremony, I have not seen Bryson for days. He didn''t bring Glenda over, and I wasn''t keen on going to them since my Luna work was piling up.


    Right now, I was flipping through countless books and pages to keep track of this year''s finances when thendline on my desk suddenly rang.


    Sighing, I ced the file down and answered, "Hello?"


    "I''m sorry, Luna, but I can''t do this anymore. I won''t be treating Mrs. Courtney any further, and I hope you understand." Dr. Montgomery decided to announce it, which took me in shock.


    "Thank you, Dr." That was all I could say as I personally left my office and met him in the corridor to formally thank him for all his help.


    He took a nce back at Courtney''s room and sighed. "This family is just too selfish! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t havested long in here."


    Oh... So, that''s what happened. Dr. Montgomery had been our family doctor for years. Aside from terrible remarks he must have gotten from them, Glenda''s presence probably agitated him the most.


    I could only smile a little, knowing he cared for me.


    I was about to leave when I heardughter echoing from Courtney''s room. Hearing another female''s voice, my blood ran cold.


    Without thinking twice, I opened the door and saw Courtney lying on the bed while Bryson and Glenda were hand in hand at the side,ughing at something.


    As soon as they saw mee in, their smiles immediately faded away, as if I were a nightmareing to them.


    The familiar short-haired woman was the first to react. She came forward and looked at me with those pair of brown eyes that dimmed with masks of pretense. "I''ve heard you want to meet me, Luna. I''m just about to see youter."


    "Is that so?" I asked with authority.


    Watching my husband worriedly walk forward to continue holding another woman''s hand to show support brought a chill to my heart. It''s as though a string in me was being pulled, and blood was dripping onto it.


    "Your name rings a bell from every corner of the kingdom. Every other woman praises and looks upon you with your distinguished skills and honor. At such a level, let me ask if you are willing to share a position with me?" I asked.


    Pointedly looking at her, I continued, "To share not just my title but also my husband?"


    "Elena!" Bryson warningly shouted out, but I merely gave him a re.


    Unexpectedly, Glenda put her hand on Bryson''s chest and calmed him down. "It''s okay," she whispered.


    I swallowed as I watched Bryson''s breathing instantly calm. I haven''t even managed to do that...


    Smiling calmly at me, Glenda fired back, "The real question here, Luna, is if you are."


    I squinted my eyes at her straightforwardness. After staring at the two of them and rewinding the moment I witnessed earlier of how lovely the three of them looked, I sighed.


    "Of course, I am willing to be civil with you," I replied. I heard Courtney and Bryson sigh in relief, while Glenda remained and looked at me with doubt.


    Of course, I was willing. After all, we won''t be sharing anything; I''ll give her everything while I detach myself from this pack, this ce, and my husband.


    She snickered. "No need to pretend to me, Luna. Sympathetic acts are only useful to men, but I''m no man."


    Iughed at that and vaguely said, "There''s no y in here, Glenda. If you both want to be each other, then why should I put a block on it?"


    Snickering, I added, "And sympathetic acts, you say? I don''t need to act to gain one, Glenda. You made it so easy. The second you stepped into this pack and tried to wreck my marriage, everyone already gave it to me."


    "Don''t overdo it, Elena! I''ve let you talk to her so as not to disgrace her!" Bryson immediately came to her rescue.


    "Yes, you have to calm down, Elena. It''s all legal. The king gave his word and permission. You have to willingly ept it," Courtney added.


    So what now? They were both on her side?


    "As I said to you, as long as you behave, I''ll give you a child. After that..." he tightened his hold on Glenda. "I won''t enter your bedroom ever again."


    "See, my Bryson here is very generous already. He''s even willing to give you a child. Don''t take things the hard way," Glenda said boldly.


    I couldn''t imagine where she was getting all her audacity. My Bryson? MY? They were not even married yet, and she was acting like she had already imed him.


    "Look, it shows my son still cares for you. Don''t be angry, okay? If he dares to mistreat you, I''ll scold him myself," Courtney said as she pulled me closer to her bed and patted my hand while sweetly gazing into my eyes.


    I knew well though that she was only saying that to ease me with this situation.


    I let out a bitterugh. "A child to shut me up? Are you all hearing yourselves?"


    I couldn''t believe them. They all sounded so ridiculous!


    "What more do you want? You''ll keep your title and everything. You''ll just have someone to share it with you and help you. In my eyes, it''s an advantage." Courtney shrugged.


    ¡°And besides, if it''s power you are looking for, Glenda and I will mostly be back to war asionally. You''ll be the one in charge of everything like thest year. Nothing much will change, and you''ll care for your child and maybe soon..." Bryson stopped midway and looked sweetly at Glenda as he continued, "You''ll be looking after me and Glenda''s child."


    That... finally ended all of myst bits of patience. Now, they even want to turn me into their own personal nanny.


    How convenient for all of them! They have my inheritance to use like their


    personal bank, myself as their servant, and now a nanny?


    Just the thought of that brought fire through my veins.


    I felt like everything in me was sucked in. My entire body froze, and my heart went


    cold.


    Looking at Bryson, I stared at him with dimmed eyes and firmly said in an Alpha tone, ¡°Let''s just end this. Reject me, and let''s get a divorce."

 Chapter 3

    Elena''s POV


    Silence momentarily filled the air after I said that as if they were weighing things out and hade to a realization.


    Severing our tiespletely would be the best solution for all this mess.


    For the entire year, I had been an exceptional Luna, bringing improvements to our pack in every aspect. I was even using my own money to finance everything because the Swiftridge Pack didn''t have enough finances of their own.


    Well, they must have realized it.


    If I leave, the pack would feel my absence so bad, and that would cause a massive stir in the pack as the members would significantly feel the impact of my absence.


    I watched as Bryson clenched his teeth in frustration as if contemting what he should do.


    And by the looks of it, he wasn''t the only one who fell into a dilemma because not even a secondter, I observed Glenda''s hold on his arm tighten.


    She pulled Bryson aside and boldly talked to Elena with a raised chin. "I don''t think you''ll be daring enough to do that. Just to remind you, there''s a consequence in rejecting a mate. You might be a Luna, and Bryson might just be your chosen mate. That''s why you think you can handle it, but let''s face it: your body isn''t as resilient as a warrior''s body."


    It''s true. Rejecting a mate would severely damage your bond with each other, and it''s like losing another part of you. Most higher ranks, like the Lycan family, the Alphas, Lunas, and Betas, usually find rejections manageable because of our natural strength, but it would still hurt so much.


    Some low-level members like Omegas even died from it.


    I smirked in confidence after hearing their so-called concerns. "Really?"


    I was a direct-born pup from alpha, and I''m far more trained than warriors my age. I think I could handle it just fine.


    Looking at Bryson with a smug expression, I arrogantly asked, "Do you think the same? Between the two of us, who do you think will suffer most from a rejection?"


    Of course, I could be smug about it. I had been taking care of his sick mother for a year and all of the pack members. Even if theybined all of the pack''s money, they couldn''t probably pay what I''ve spent for them.


    But then again, they probably think that I was obliged to do all that ¨C to go far and beyond for them.


    Trying so hard to keep his cool, he replied, "Is that even a question, Elena?"


    Spreading his arms, he motioned to the entire pack. "Where else could you belong but here? Do you really think you can have somewhere to go if we reject each other and you leave here?"


    My eyes suddenly went nk in pain as I was reminded of the family and pack I''d lost.


    "That''s why..." He took a sigh, sympathizing with me. "I won''t reject you and put you all through that pain. It''s for your future, Elena."


    "Look, Bryson is already being so generous with you. You should be thankful." Glenda clung her arm to Bryson again. "Don''t y tricks, okay? Don''t say such words like rejection, like you''re talking about the weather, just to seek sympathy from the members. It will make you look more... pathetic."


    Couldn''t handle her endless interruptions anymore, I finally spoke up.


    "Who are you to interrupt us? This is a conversation between me and my husband!" I asked nonchntly and signed for Zara toe forward. Immediately, Zara approached us and bowed her head.


    "Luna", she greeted.


    I nodded in Glenda''s direction. "Send this outsider away."


    "Right away, Luna." Zara didn''t waste any time and came rushing to pull Glenda away.


    As soon as her hand touched Glenda, I saw Bryson taking protective but hesitant steps.


    Zara then halted a second and looked back and forth between Bryson and Glenda as she scolded them, "You two are very ungrateful!"


    I watched her in stunned as she did that, and so was Bryson. He''s an alpha, so I knew he would burst because of that.


    Immediately, I took a step forward to protect her. As he raised his hand in the air and was about to p Zara, I moved in between them and grabbed his wrist, totally stopping him effortlessly.


    I heard gasped from Courtney and Glenda while Bryson was looking at me with wide eyes, not to mention his jaw almost dropped from shock. However, I didn''t care how surprised they probably were that I was actually strong.


    After all, they didn''t bother enough to actually get to know me.


    "How dare you hit my people?" I asked in a cold yet calm voice that brought chills


    to their spine before I pushed him back and blocked his path from Zara.


    My demeanor changed utterly as I exuded Luna''s power while I looked at Bryson with ring eyes.


    If Bryson weren''t an Alpha, he''d probably shiver as well.


    "She''s the one who-"


    "I don''t care what she has done or what happened. When ites to my people, my Omega, I''m the only one who can punish them." My gaze turned sharp. "They answer only to me and no one else."


    With that, I turned around and pulled Zara with me, leaving them in a haze of shock.


    "Luna, are you okay?" Zara worriedly asked while watching me pace around the room as I sorted my thoughts.


    I raised my hand and told her to wait for a second.


    After a while, I heaved a sigh and went serious.


    Looking at Zara, I saw her observing me, and I let out a small smile as I looked at her with conviction.


    "I know what to do now."


    "That is..."


    I smiled. If he couldn''t reject me because he needed me, then I''d tie his hands like


    he did to me.


    Staring at Zara, I determinedly voiced out, "I''ll meet with the Lycan King."

 Chapter 4

    Elena''s POV


    ¡°Let me in!¡± I shouted from the top of my lungs.


    The kingdom''s guard trembled with hesitation as he blocked my path. "Luna, you don''t have an invitation or ess to the kingdom. You can''t..."


    "You''re much more powerful than these guards. Just push your way in!" Ava insisted, but this just wasn''t the power one had.


    We were in the kingdom, and there were rules to follow or great consequences would be faced. As much as possible, I didn''t want to use violence.


    Standing in front of the massive wooden border gate of the kingdom, I stood with grace while wearing clothes I never thought I''d be wearing again.


    I wore my booths, brown leggings, and high-ss thin armor. Though it was lightweight, it could suppress even a silver sword. Wearing this, I was reminded of my days when I trained to be a warrior, my skills excelling even better than those of other male wolves, even my brothers.


    "Tell the King that I ask for his time. This is urgent and of great importance," I insisted with a firm voice.


    The guards looked at each other before one of them finally sighed and went inside.


    "Luna, the King will surely not appreciate you barging in here with those clothes as if you are ready for a war."


    Looking him dead in the eyes, I replied, "What I wear is none of your business."


    "I am just giving you¡ª"


    He halted from speaking when the other guard came running toward us. Bowing, he ryed the King''s words. "The King firmly stated that he could no longer take it back since he had already sent out the verdict. You are wasting your time here, Luna. Please understand."


    He outstretched his hand toward the exit, urging me to leave.


    Instead of turning around, I grabbed his wrist and twisted it, making him kneel in pain as he looked at me beggingly while the other guard pointed a spear at me. "Luna, let him go. If you use violence, we can''t guarantee not fighting back."


    I sent him a sharp gaze. "Look and listen carefully, and go and tell the king again that I insist on seeing him. That the daughter and only heir of the Ironpaw that served this kingdom are here to see him."


    At first, I had no n of calling them names, but they were pushing my buttons. After all of my family and pack''s sacrifices, I won''t ept any disregard, not even from the royal family themselves.


    We''ve been a loyal pack since ancient times. I could understand that Bryson had forced their hands on this marriage, but not letting me see him for a discussion was beyond what I could stomach.


    "What''s happening here?" A deep voice echoed from behind me, suddenly halting my force.


    The guards immediately went to their positions and bowed their heads in respect. "Prince Deacon... She... I mean... Luna Elena is trying to see the King without an invitation."


    Prince Deacon? The... god of war? He''s here?


    I had never seen Prince Deacon, or maybe I did when I was younger, but I just couldn''t remember him. I froze on my spot as I felt his overwhelming presence near me.


    It was said that if there were someone to be feared in the entire kingdom after the King, it would be Prince Deacon. And it wasn''t because he was the prince, but because he was so skilled in fighting that he never fought a war and lost.


    Rumor had it that even some packs of Rogues fear his name.


    "Is that so?" he asked, and I felt his breath fanning behind my neck.


    Swallowing, I slowly turned around and went face-to-face with him.


    Oh, Moon Goddess! He''s dashing!


    I never met a man that could make me swoon over. Not even Bryson the first time I met him.


    Power and danger were exuding all around him. He''s wearing thin woven armor that''s almost the same as what my parents gifted me, and his hair was styled to be messy, but that only gave him more appeal.


    "Well, are you speaking or what?" Prince Deacon coldly said.


    "I... Yes, right, I have important matters to discuss with the King." I wanted to p my head so much for stuttering.


    His hazel eyes dimmed as he stared closely at me for who knew how long before he nodded his head.


    "Well, didn''t you hear her? It''s important," he said as if it were a matter of fact. "But the King..."


    The guard was about to refute, but one nce from Prince Deacon and the guards immediately stepped aside and made way for me.


    "Thank you," I whispered before I hurried inside before they all changed their minds.


    Halfway through the way, though, I halted on my steps as I felt lingering eyes behind me.


    But when I turned around, all I saw was Prince Deacon''s back as he walked the other path.


    For some reason, I felt an invisible string of unexinable emotions rush through me, but as I couldn''t understand it, I simply turned back around to meet the King.


    "Luna Elena, it''s been a while. So, it seems you still managed to make your way here," King Desmond greeted me with a smile as he gestured to one of the chairs in front of him.


    Great, he wasn''t mad.


    Instead of going there, I went straight in front of him and kneeled on one knee - a warrior''s style of showing deep respect.


    "My King, it is a pleasure to see you again," I greeted.


    Since the Ironpaw Pack was a first-tier pack and brought great merits to the kingdom, our pack and the king had close ties with each other. When I was a child, I used to remember the King being still a prince.


    He''d usually visit our pack and always bring me some gifts. I even remembered ying with him in the yard a bit.


    But it was all nothing but a blissful moment. After all, we have all grown up and are now dealing with our own responsibilities and positions.


    "Stand up, please..." He stood up from his seat and guided me to sit on one of the avable chairs.


    Sighing, he looked down a bit before meeting my gaze and apologetically said, "Elena... I''ve already given my word. If I take it back, it will bring more problems than it does now. I''m so sorry."


    Elena...


    It''s been so long since he called me by that name. At least, not after he became the King. Being the King means holding more responsibilities and having more boundaries he must keep, and I understand that.


    I understand it so well, and that''s why I would never ask for something I know won''t happen.


    Looking up at him, I stared into his solemn and deep brown eyes as I thoughtfully stated, "Please grant my wish to divorce Bryson."


    "What? What did you say?" He was utterly taken aback. His eyes went wide, and he stared at me with a mixture of shock, sadness, and guilt.


    "I want to divorce my husband. I want to divorce Alpha Bryson Renner of the Swiftridge Pack." This time, I said it with a firmer voice.


    "Do you know what it meant? You''ll have to go back to the Ironpaw. You''ll be alone there. I can''t imagine how saddening that will be." He sat down on the chair beside me, looking at me withfort in his eyes.


    "I am the daughter of my parents. I will ept no disrespect, nor will I ever share


    my husband with anyone. To honor my parents, I''ll rebuild our pack and live a better life."


    With that, I stood up, showing a sign that there was no chance I''d be backing down.


    Standing up, he stared at me solemnly and asked, "Are you sure you can leave him? Don''t you love Bryson?"


    Love... What was love anyway? I married because of my mother''s wishes, and I also trained to be a great Luna for her sake. Yes, Bryson had been good with me before, and I looked forward to spending my future with him.


    But could it ever be considered love? I wasn''t sure.


    But about whether I could leave him or not? That''s an easy answer.


    Without hesitation, I said with a bitter smirk, "Since he doesn''t want me, I won''t push myself in between them. Glenda can pick up my trash for all I care."


    He squinted his eyes and meaningfully asked, "Won''t you regret it?" Letting out a smileced with a hint of relief, I replied, "Only if I stay to spend my uncertain, miserable future with him."


    He took his time and had a sip of his drink. "Then I shall..."

 Chapter 5

    Bryson''s POV


    After the party and facing Elena, exhaustion got the best of me. That was partly due to the number of people I needed to entertain but primarily because of Elena''s stubbornness.


    I could understand where she wasing from, though. She was right. I indeed vowed to her that I wouldn''t marry and love another woman aside from her. But that was before I met my fated mate.


    But what really took me by utter surprise was when she managed to block my hand. I could almost not move my hand when she grabbed it, but I think it was only because I was shocked by her action.


    "Yeah, keep telling yourself that." My wolf mocked me.


    I tried not to mind him and just sighed. Soon enough, when Elena sees her fated mate, she''ll probably understand me.


    "Really? Will you?" Drake, my wolf, suddenly asked me.


    On cue, a sudden jolt of unknown pain cursed through my heart. Would I really be fine? But I mean, we were already married, she couldn''t go to him, right?


    But that thought aside, being with Glenda was the most blissful moment of my life. Unlike Elena, she''s a warrior. She understands my pain and thoughts. We had fought alongside each other for a long time.


    Slumped on my office chair, I browse a series of documents regarding the post- report we must send to the kingdom. I was in the middle of it when a knock echoed.


    "Come in," I nonchntly said, continuing what I was doing.


    ¡°Alpha, a messenger sent this to us just a few seconds ago,¡± Collin Henry, my Beta, told me as he ced something on my desk.


    "Okay, just leave it there."


    I didn''t pay much attention to it because we usually get letters after a battle, which were mostly just congrattory messages.


    But when I saw Collin''s shadows still looming in front of me, I looked up. "Anything else?"


    He pushed the letter forward. "I think you should read this."


    Following his hand, my eyes widened in surprise to see a letter with the King''s stamp on it.


    "I''ll leave you to it."


    After Collins closed the door after him, I slowly opened the letter, anticipating it to be another congrattory letter for my uing mating ceremony with Glenda.


    However, when I read the first line of it after unfolding, my hands immediately halted.


    "It is with great pleasure to know that you have returned to the kingdom with glorious victory, but I advise you not to use this achievement as a ticket to being arrogant. Above and foremost, it is your utmost duty as a man, a husband, and an Alpha to mind your family business before anything else."


    One... Two... Three... I stared at the letter for a couple of seconds before my hands subconsciously fisted, causing the paper to get crumpled.


    Elena! She talked with the King! What a scheming bi-


    Then suddenly, Glenda''s words to mest night echoed in my mind. "I''m scared, Babe. I don''t think Luna Elena will let us go so quickly. She looks kind and all that, but I feel like, in reality, she''s just hiding her true self and scheming behind us."


    When Glenda said that, I even told her that she might just be overthinking it, but now... I was proven wrong. With her doing this, she''s only proving to me more and more how right I was to choose Glenda over her.


    I couldn''t believe that I was being sympathetic to her a couple of minutes ago when she obviously didn''t have any brains and already caused trouble!


    mming my hands on the desk, I stood up in irritation and took long strides outside of my office beforeing straight to our bedroom.


    When I came inside, I realized that she wasn''t there.


    Wasn''t she home yet? Wasn''t she too old to throw tantrums like this? Unbelievable!


    When she didn''te back to our roomst night, I thought it was just a phase and she''d get over it sooner. I didn''t realize, though, that she could be this ridiculous.


    "Hey! Where''s your Luna?" I asked frustratedly at one of the Omegas who happened to be walking past.


    Trembling, she kept her head bowed down. "S-she''s in her office, Alpha."


    My brows furrowed. What is she on about now?


    "What time did shee back?"


    She fidgeted her fingers for a while, thinking. "At around seven in the morning..." "Move along!" I shouted, and she went on.


    Seven o''clock? I looked at my wristwatch. It''s nine now. Where did she sleepst night, then?


    Without knocking, I barged into her room and found Elena reading a couple of documents.


    "What do you want, Alpha Bryson?" she snarled.


    "What''s your problem? I can''t believe you''ll do this! Didn''t I tell you not to cause


    any trouble?" I growled back at her instead as I threw the King''s letter at her face.


    Her face scrunched up in confusion.


    Huh! As if she didn''t know what she had done.


    "Trouble? Is it my problem that the King is trying to lecture you?" she asked,


    crossing her arms over her shoulder.


    "He wouldn''t have sent me this letter if you hadn''t talked to him!"


    "Alright, I did talk to him, but "


    ¡°So you admitted it! You talked to him!" I cut her off, fuming with anger. ¡°What did you tell him, huh? Did you ask him to revoke his verdict to marry me and Glenda? Is that what you did?"


    Every second I was talking to her just ignited the fire burning in my veins even more. I couldn''t believe she could be this inconsiderate and insensitive.


    For a year, she had done great as a Luna. I thought by now she would know how to act and that she must not bring shame to our pack. But what did I get? Disappointment!


    ¡°I didn''t admit anything! As I was saying, I talked to the king, but I didn''t ask him to separate you and your lovely fated mate, nor did I ask him to stop the marriage,¡± she said straight to my face.


    I looked at her, stunned. Bitterly, I let out a smile and shook my head. "How can you lie so upright?"


    Her jaw drops. Great! More acts!


    I couldn''t believe she could be this pretentious, very different from Glenda, who always says what she actually means. Now I knew why Glenda was my fated mate; it was because she was a whole lot better than Elena.


    It turned out that Elena was just wearing a mask for the time I thought I knew her.


    Now, I''m more confident that I''d never regret my choice of loving Glenda as she''s the one who was really meant for me.


    "Lie?" She sneered. "I wasn''t lying about anything."


    "Listen here," I pointed at her,pletely fed up now. "Don''t cause any trouble again, or I swear to the Moon Goddess that I''ll never give you a child! Do you understand me?"


    She stared at me dumbfounded. She must have thought I would go soft on her, but she''s wrong. What she did was a huge mess. How could she talk to the Lycan


    King?


    She didn''t only ruin her reputation, but mine and the entire pack as well.


    Suddenly, she walked past me and opened the door wide. She pointed outside and pursed her lips, firmly demanding, "Get out! I''ve got enough of your


    nonsense; get the hell out of my room!"


    Fury built up on my chest. Insolent people should be taught a lesson!


    With that, I moved with agility and pushed her to the wall with force, but that caused her to almost break...

 Chapter 6

    Elena''s POV


    Reacting quickly, I shifted to the side and dodged his arm, which was about to touch me. Then, I tightly grabbed hold of it and twisted his arm onto his back.


    He was momentarily shocked, but he moved by instinct as well and maneuvered his body to face me and free from my hold. As soon as he faced me, I raised my leg and sent a fierce kick that sent him to his back and knocked the tall vases behind him, causing a loud noise to echo everywhere.


    "What''s happening here?" Courtney, escorted by Glenda, rushed inside the room with a furious expression as she found her son fixing his dusted clothes in the middle of the shards of the broken vase.


    "Why don''t you ask your son?" I fired back and grabbed my phone from my desk before turning around and leaving, but Courtney suddenly spoke.


    "Wait! Don''t leave yet. I have something to say to you." Courtney reached out and held my hand tightly as she called me out, sessfully halting my steps.


    "What is it?" I asked coldly.


    She pursed her lips and demanded, "I won''t interfere with your disputes, but Glenda and Bryson''s mating ceremony is nearing. I want you to handle everything about it. From nning to paying. And I want it to be a grand wedding."


    My jaw almost dropped from shock as I looked at Courtney speechlessly.


    I snickered and pointed at myself. "So basically, you want me to PAY for all of the expenses. Is that right?"


    She even mockingly gave me a brief nce.


    ¡°What''s the problem with that? You are the Luna; Luna''s money belongs to the pack!" She pointed out so boldly as if she was not openly showing her greed.


    After a year, it finally dawned on me that she was only treating me well before because they had used me.


    "I don''t need her money, Mom. I can take care of my own wedding," Bryson suddenly butted in.


    I raised my brow and shrugged my shoulders. "Okay, since you said you can¡ª¡±


    "No! My son didn''t mean that. Don''t mind him." Courtney immediately said as she went on and scolded Bryson, "Don''t be stupid. We both know we don''t have enough money. Elena should take care of this."


    "Yes!" Glenda followed suit. "Don''t forget that you are the Luna of this pack. Everything you have already belonged to Bryson''s family the second you married him."


    So, she wanted to leech off of me as well? So much for being arrogant earlier.


    I stared at Bryson, waiting for his reaction as Glenda''s true color slowly showed.


    Seeing as he was still contemting, I shrugged my shoulders and decided to make things easier for him.


    Staring coldly, I smirked at him and whispered, "Well, give me an IOU, and I''ll lend you all the money you need."


    Feigning innocence, I smirked in victory to see his gloomy face before I turned around to sit beside Courtney on her bed. I nodded my head and replied, "Of course, I''ll pay for it."


    "Someone has to, right?" I smiled at Courtney while giving a knowing nce at Bryson, who I had just seen swallowed.


    "Really? Oh, I always knew you were kind!" she eximed, holding my hand like a precious gem and praising me happily. I was some kind of dog she coaxed into wagging its tail.


    I wanted to pull it away from repulse, knowing she didn''t mean all of her words, but I chose to go with it anyway.


    Putting my other hand on the hand she had on mine, I added, "Is there anything more you need? I''ll buy it."


    Her eyes instantly sparkled upon hearing that. Her face, which seemed haggard earlier, and her weak body suddenly energized.


    "Oh, now that you said it... Glenda and Bryson also need their wedding clothes. Oh! And..." She pped her hand. "...new clothes for our entire family to attend the ceremony. Everyone will be there, and we need to be on our best looks."


    "Mom, that''s enough." Bryson tried to butt in awkwardly, trying to stop Courtney from making more demands that would put him in greater debt.


    "Oh, let her be, Bryson. Your Mom just wants to make everything perfect for us. She''s actually so sweet."


    I almost rolled my eyes when Glenda chipped in, feeling her words had weight.


    Nodding happily, I went on, "Yes, yes, of course. I''ll surely pay for everything you guys wanted. Skies the limit."


    "Oh, you''re a real angel." Courtney wanted to hug me, but I shifted from my seat a bit to avoid her.


    Then, I looked mockingly at Bryson. "You heard what they wanted. You can start writing an IOU."


    "What?" In cue, Coutney''s hold on my hand suddenly vanished, and she furiously red at me. "IOU? What do you mean by that?"


    Shrugging, I replied, "Exactly as it sounds."


    "How can you be so cheap?" She pointed a finger at me. "Bryson is your husband! Don''t you feel shame asking your husband for an IOU? And you''re Luna! How disgraceful!"


    "Son, just reject this bitch and let her suffer!" Courtney uttered before she looked back at me and snickered. "Heard that? Transfer all of your money to us now if you know what''s good for you."


    Bryson stepped in and shouted, "No! I''ll never ept a penny from her! I just want every member, pack, and the Lycan King to know how worse of a Luna she


    is!"


    "But Babe..." Glenda cut him off. She sweetly came to his side and said in a low and worried voice. "The pack needs that money. Without it, we won''t survive."


    He clenched his jaws in frustration before he shifted his gaze to me and nodded. "They''re right, with all the trouble you did, the least you can do is to transfer all your wealth to the pack before you leave."


    "Have you gone mad?" I smirked,ughing mockingly at all of us. "I won''t leave you even a single damn penny! Mark my words!"


    "Do you really want to be rejected at this instant?" he threatened.


    "Think carefully, Elena," Glenda added.


    I stood up properly and nonchntly shrugged. "Do whatever you want. You won''t still get anything from me."


    "The moment you married into this pack, all of you, including what you have, are the pack''s property. Sign it off, and we can all have peace. I''ll reject you, and you can go wherever you want." He then snickered, "That is if you can even find anywhere else to go."


    He must really think I wouldn''t manage to survive unless I rely on him.


    Confidently smirking, I took a closer step toward him and stared him down. "If you want to have my money, fight for it like a warrior. Beat me, and I''ll sign off all of my inheritance to you as you wanted."

 Chapter 7

    Elena''s POV


    Standing on the podium of the pack, everyone was cheering for either Bryson''s victory or mine. We were wearing our training gear and mouthpieces as we circled each other calctingly.


    "Just give up. Don''t hurt yourself, Elena," Bryson warned.


    I smirked. "Put your worry to yourself instead."


    With that, I made the first move and sent a hard punch to his stomach, which made him back away and whimper. He looked at me with utter surprise, unaware that I could fight.


    When many of the members stood up from their seats to cheer, I saw Bryson''s jaw clenched in anger, and the light in his eyes dimmed with seriousness.


    Okay, now we''re really on.


    We moved at the speed of light, sending punches and kicks to each other several times, but every time, I''d seed in hitting him while I managed to block most of his attacks.


    When the right time came, I taunted, "Don''t take it to heart."


    After saying that, I used my leg to put pressure on his until he fell, and then I used my arms to hold him on the ground until he tapped me three times.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, let''s congratte Luna Elena!"


    Everyone cheered, and I raised my hand in celebration. It was news worth stunning many of the members. I smirked and nced at Bryson''s defeated and humiliated face.


    It''s funny how easy I defeated him though, almost killing me to boredom.


    Then suddenly, while I stared at his defeated face, Prince Deacon''s cold appearance flushed in my mind.


    He''s the known god of war. Best of the best.


    Thinking of that, I couldn''t help but wonder what it would be like if I spar with him.


    A smile subconsciously formed in my lips at the thought of that. Now, that would be exciting.


    "Are you that happy?" Bryson asked frustratedly and that''s when I realized my smile hadn''t vanished yet.


    He must be furious. After all, a Luna like me who had never been to war, defeated an Alpha and a rewarded warrior like him. His ego was probably bleeding right now, just as I wanted.


    "I never knew you could fight." Bryson and I were now in the changing area to remove our gear.


    I shrugged and removed my mouthpiece. "You never took the time to know anything."


    "I..."


    His words were cut off when the door was mmed open. Courtney and Glenda came rushing inside.


    With her eyes zing and her face red, Courtney hysterically screamed at me. "This is uneptable!"


    Fixing my hair afterpletely removing all my gears, I crossed my arms and smiled. "I won fair and square, Courtney. As we discussed, I won''t be giving any of you a penny!"


    She stomped her feet and looked gravely at Bryson. "I want this cheap woman out of this pack! Someone as vicious as her doesn''t belong here."


    "Yes, Babe, just reject her now. She''ll just cause trouble again in the future." Glenda was supporting Courtney and looking at me with anger.


    What? Did shee here as well, wanting to covet with my money? Well, sorry for her, but my money wasn''t for a mistress like her.


    Not so surprisingly, Bryson stood in front of me with a serious expression.


    Sighing, he said with sadness and a hint of worry, "Let''s not make it hard for everyone anymore. You should have heeded my words before. Then you would have been able to stay here and be a Luna."


    "Save your useless pity."


    "As you want, I''ll reject you." Taking a deep breath, he stared at me and started the rejection process, "I, Bryson Renner, Alpha of the Swiftridge Pack..."


    This was it... I told myself as I waited for him to finish and prepare myself for the uing pain that would curse through my body.


    If it wasn''t for the fact that I value my mother''s opinion when she handed me over


    to Bryson, I would have rejected him the second I got the news he''ll marry another.


    He continued, "... reject you, El-"


    "Wait! What do you think you''re doing, Alpha Bryson?" A baritone voice boomed in the room, making all four of us look toward the doorway.


    Standing there was a man in his 30s. Though he looked a bit older, his body was bulky, and he exuded a superior demeanor.


    "Beta Jude," we all greeted.


    "What do we owe for your visit?" Bryson asked.


    Beta Jude was King Desmond''s Beta and would rarely go out of his way without the King visiting another pack. Mostly, he''d be fighting rogues or doing much more important things thaning here to watch a dispute between an Alpha and Luna.


    Beta Jude kept his stance and asked again, "What do you think you''re doing?"


    Bryson hesitantly looked at me before he replied, "Luna Elena and I had toe to our terms with each other, and now, I''m rejecting her."


    Letting out a small sarcasticugh, Beta Jude asked, "What makes you think you are qualified to do so?"


    Confusion was stered on our faces upon hearing him say that. What did he mean?


    Rejection was a process, and it was known that only those of higher ranks could reject their mates. But Bryson and I were on the same rank. That''s why we could decide on our own.


    "My son and this stubborn woman are of the same rank," Courtney said, which caused Beta Jude to re at her.


    "I''d watch my tongue if I were you," he warned.


    With that, he took a respectful step toward me and bowed his head respectfully. "I''m here to give you the Lycan King''s instructions, Luna Elena.¡±


    My heart pumped with nervousness as I wondered which verdict the King had reached.


    Did he agree with the divorce?


    Opening a letter with the King''s logo, he started reading, "Feeling remorseful for Elena Dooley''s family and pack from being ughtered and with the sense of utmost gratitude for the heroic acts and sacrifices of her father and brother for the Kingdom... King Desmond henceforth promotes Elena Dooley as the first enthroned Princess in the Kingdom and agrees to her request to sever ties with Alpha Bryson."


    My eyes widened in shock, and my heart pumped in joy. It''s more than what I had expected.


    "What? Princess?" Glenda said on the sideline.


    I stared at Beta Jude in disbelief as he smiled at me.


    ¡°Congrattions, Princess Elena," he said as he handed me the letter. I read


    through the text, and it was indeed as he said.


    The first letter from the King brought me joy after all this time. I held it close to my heart, silently thankful to King Desmond.


    Pointedly looking at me, Beta Jude gestured toward Alpha Bryson, "As you may, Princess."


    Smiling victoriously, I stood in front of Bryson with cold demeanor and relief knowing my mother would understand my reasons after I got the King''s blessings. "I, Elena Dooley, Princess of Lycan Kingdom..."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 8

    Elena''s POV


    "Wait, don''t-"Bryson looked at me in panic as he took a step forward near me. He reached


    out his hand, seemingly wanting to hold me, but I moved with agility and stepped back.


    Standing tall, I decisively and firmly uttered the formal separation of our bond. "I, Elena Dooley,


    Princess of Lycan Kingdom, reject you, Bryson Renner, Alpha of Swiftridge Pack, as my mate."


    "Aghhh!"


    Bryson clutched his chest and bent down as he fell to his knees. His face grimaced, and his


    breathing became rugged. He couldn''t help but shout while his other fist was punching the


    ground, as though all of his actions would lessen the burning pain he was in.


    I froze on the spot and fisted my hands together while my breathing hitched. Though the pain


    would be felt more by the rejected mate, I still could feel a bit of pain and a slight sense of


    emptiness in me as the string that attached us was cut off.


    Courtney pushed me to the side and attentively crouched down to hold Bryson. Gazing up at


    me, she scolded, "Look what you''ve done! You have no mercy!"


    "You, ungrateful b***h!" Glenda followed suit, pointing a finger at me as she stood between


    me and Bryson.


    "How dare you!" A calm and yet domineering voice echoed in the room, taking all of our


    attention. "I must hear no more insolent remarks from any of you! This is the Princess you are


    speaking to!"


    ¡°But she-? Glenda tried to retort, but Beta Jude instantly sent her a fierce re.


    Squinting his eyes, he threateningly uttered, "One more word, and you''ll face the consequence!


    That immediately shut them all up, bringing silence around us, which made Bryson''s heavy


    breaths of pain seem so loud.


    His chest fell and rose heavily. He kept his eyes closed and breathed through his mouth. After


    a few minutes that felt like forever, he finally stood up and clung to his chest.


    Though the most challenging and most painful part of the breaking of our mate bond was done, he''d still feel a bearable pain for a couple of days. And maybe he''ll even feel empty.


    < Chapter 8


    +8 Points>


    "You''ve been nning for this from the start, aren''t you?" He looked at me with usation.


    I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. "What if I am?"


    He sighed and shook his head, calmly trying to exin, "Glenda is nothing but my second wife


    and additional Luna. You''re my first. Why do you have to do this?"


    My eyes widened, as did Glenda''s.


    Where was he getting the audacity to say such things?


    "First? Second?" I asked in disbelief.


    Snickering, I looked at him like he had just grown another head on his neck. "Do you need a


    doctor, Bryson? You seem to have been so forgetfultely!"


    His lips turned into a thin line.


    I gave him no chance to utter another word, though. I repeated what he had told me before:


    You''re the one who said that she and I would be on equal footing!"


    "That''s not what-"


    "Don''t turn everyone here into a fool, Bryson!" I shouted, pointing at all of us.


    Everyone heard and saw what he chose to do. He chose Glenda over me! How he acted was


    even worse than what he said either. He said I''d be on equal footing with Glenda when, in fact, .


    they just wanted me to be their puppet.


    "That woman of yours didn''t want topete with me for a man, but guess what?" Smirking, I


    nodded and nced at Glenda, who was supporting him in standing. "I disdain to share my


    man even more!"


    "I never said that!" Glenda rebut.


    I wanted to roll my eyes. All of them became so forgetful of everything they said to


    me.


    "Oh, please, don''t be a hypocrite now! You were so bold when you talked to me before," I told


    her before I looked at each and every one of them with cold, menacing eyes. "All of you are!"


    With that, I turned around and attempted to leave but halted midway.


    "Elena..." Bryson called out solemnly.


    His eyes dimmed with sadness as he looked at me profoundly and emotionally, asking, "Don''t


    you love me anymore?"


    Staring him right into his eyes, I coldly replied, "I don''t think I ever did."


    < Chapter 8


    "Thank


    you


    +8 Points >


    foring here." That was myst words to Beta Jude as I passed him and went back to my room, no longer minding the gasps I heard and Bryson''s call.


    "Luna, are we leaving now? For good?" Zara asked as she found me packing my bags and went to help me.


    Smiling, I nodded at her, and she started packing the other bags.


    However, Elyse came in after she left to get our other things. Elyse is the wife of Max Renner, Bryson''s brother.


    As she was the only one who didn''t bully me, I stopped what I was doing and let her in.


    Though she didn''t bully me, she didn''t help me either.


    "Luna Elena... May I have a word with you?" she asked.


    I gave her a small smile. "It''s Elena... I''m no longer you''re Luna.¡±


    "But earlier..."


    She wanted to ask me more things, but I was no longer up for small talk. So, I asked


    straightaway, "What do you want?"


    "Please, can''t you re-think this? I''m sure Alpha Bryson loves you." She looked down as she


    said that.


    I hid a bitter smile. She couldn''t even look at me because she didn''t believe her own words.


    ¡°But I don''t love him..." I replied nonchntly while silently adding, ¡®Not anymore.''


    She looked at me intensely and asked, "But if you leave. Where will you go?"


    "I think that''s my business alone now." With that, I closed mynguage and gestured to leave.


    "But..."


    "No words you can say can change my mind, Elyse." With thosest words, I saw hope leave


    her eyes as I closed the door and went downstairs to meet Zara.


    "Let''s go."


    "Lu-I mean, Princess, I''ve talked with the other servants we brought from the Ironpaw Pack, and they..." Zara gave me a smile, and on cue, dozens of the familiar faces of servants came


    out with bags in their hands.


    I looked at them with amazement, warmth cursing through my heart. ¡°You''re all here..."


    "We''ve always been loyal to the Ironpaw Pack, Princess. We''ll be wherever you are," they said


    < Chapter 8


    and nodded with each other in agreement.


    We were already at the pack''s gate when a tall figure suddenly stood on our path


    with his arms spread open.


    +8 Points >


    "You can''t leave!" Bryson looked at me thoughtfully as he used his alpha tone, demanding me


    to stay.


    I smirked. As I was a born Alpha female and a promoted Princess, he should


    know better that


    his Alpha tone wouldn''t work on me.


    Tilting my head, I mockingly asked, "Have you turned deaf now, Bryson? It''s the King''s Beta


    himself who rified that I could."


    Staring at him intensely, my eyes dimmed, and my voice became deep. "And I would."


    "No paper has been signed yet! You''re still my wife!" he countered.


    "But the words of the King and the letter of notification from him bear more weight,


    now, does it?" I pointed at him while gesturing at the crumpled paper in his hands.


    "You can''t do this, Elena. You can''t leave me."


    I stared at him for a while, wondering where was he getting the audacity to ask


    me to stay.


    Sighing, I shook my head in disappointment as I gave him onest stare and felt


    the


    heaviness in my chest lightening a little.


    "Now you get to be with your fated mate and I''ll get to have my freedom back.....


    Goodbye,


    Alpha Bryson."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 9

    +8 Points >


    Bryson''s POV


    I looked at the woman who was taking steps away from me and wondered why I was frozen in


    my spot. The pain was still cursing through my body, and yet I felt so numb as I stared at her


    retreating figure.


    Why was I feeling affected?


    My eyes flickered when I saw Elena''s footsteps halting midway, but then my heart


    immediately tingled with unexinable emotions when she continued walking until


    she


    vanished from my sight.


    My heart cramped in pain again, almost making me crawl if it weren''t for Glenda, who hastily


    supported me.


    "Bryson, are you okay?" Glenda asked, but I kept silent.


    ''No, I''m not,'' I thought as I pushed her away and went back to my study room in hopes of


    rxing.


    ¡°Here, drink this, Alpha. The pain should subside and be more bearable in a few minutes." One


    of the pack doctors gave me a potion, which I immediately gulped down.


    The drink burnt through my throat, but it was iparable to the burn and pain the mate rejection had brought my body.


    "What should we do now? A party ising up this weekend! I need to buy a gown! My friends willugh at me if I wear a cheap dress! Babe!" Glenda whined as she sat beside me


    and pouted like a child.


    "Shut up, Glenda!" My mother scolded.


    I sighed in relief. I just got rejected, and the pain was still burning through my skin. All I wanted was to rest and not worry about the aftermath of what happened. "But Auntie-


    "There are more important things at hand," my mother coughed. "Bryson, son, I need to see a doctor and take my medicine... Everyone who specializes in my illness is expensive. How will I


    "Bryon, look what you''ve done!" Elyse stood in front of the living room, in the middle of all of


    114


    < Chapter 9


    us, and looked at me with me while she had her hands on her waist.


    +8 Points>


    Sighing in frustration, she pulled out a book record from her shoulder bag and harshly dropped it on the table. "Look! We need a whole lot of allowance for the servant''s wage, not to mention our daily food and necessities! Where will we get all of these now?"


    I raised my arm and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Can we not talk about this now?"


    Elyse looked at me with disappointment before she shifted her gaze at Glenda and snickered. "Why did you even pick her?"


    Looking at her from head to toe, she sarcastically asked, "How did you end up liking her?


    There''s no other woman more suitable to be a Luna than Elena."


    "Elyse! Watch your words!" Though I''m not in good shape right now, I''m still the Alpha and


    ept no disrespect.


    Since the potion from the pack doctor already started taking effect, I stood up and warned her


    further, "Glenda is my fated mate. Show her some respect."


    Hearing my tone, she backed away, but that didn''t stop her.


    Angrily, she grabbed the record book and pursed her lips. Giving Glenda a quick, disdained


    nce, she sarcastically added, "I doubt if she can even bring money in our pack in the future,


    much more take care of


    your mother."


    I nced at Glenda, who remained silent at the side.


    Before I could even observe Glenda''s reaction further, Elyse went on, "Look what you''ve lost!


    Elena took care of Aunt Courtney withoutint for a year and provided for this pack, but


    what did you give her in return?"


    She pointed at Glenda. "You betrayed Elena for this woman here, and you let Elena get bullied!


    I can''t believe you!"


    I clenched my fist in anger. I don''t know where Elyse was getting her guts to scold me, but her


    words hit me so that I couldn''t scold her back.


    Suddenly, Elena''s eyes filled with betrayal, and pain shed before me. The way how her lips


    trembled when she asked me about my vow never to rece her with anyone. The sweet


    woman who did everything for my pack on her own for the entire year I''m gone.


    And then there''s Glenda... the woman who told me that we needed Elena''s money to keep the


    pack running.


    I sighed, my head aching more from all of the chaos.


    < Chapter 9


    "Let''s talk about this on another day," I said firmly, giving no room for more discussion.


    "Son..."


    +8 Points >


    "Alpha..."


    "Babe..."


    I heard their calls, but I didn''t mind them further and went straight to my room, frustratedly and furiously mming myself down in bed.


    "Did I do something wrong?" I voiced out, but it was intended for Drake, my wolf. When we got married, Elena''s smiles and the glint in her eyes kept reying in my head,


    mixing with Glenda''s fierce skills as we battled with the Rogues during the war.


    "I don''t know. All I know is that I want to be with our destined mate, but..."


    "But what?" I urged when Drake suddenly got silent.


    I felt the pain that cursed through him as he sighed. "But I can''t bear to leave Elena either."


    I clenched my heart and closed my eyes, remembering the days I would tirelesslye to the


    Ironpaw Pack to spend time with Elena.


    "Aren''t you tired?" Elena asked while she stood in the middle of the meadows with


    a basket in


    her hand as she caught the fruits I was picking for her from the trees.


    I sent her a wide smile. "I''ll even wait for an eternity just to have you say yes to


    my proposal."


    I still remember how red her cheeks became then. No matter how exhausted I


    was from Alpha duties and wars, I''d still find the time to pursue her.


    I sighed. It still felt like yesterday, but now everything changed. "Babe!" Glenda''s voice echoed as she hastily opened my door and came inside.


    Jolted, I sat up. "What is it?"


    She pouted her pink and voluptuous lips as she approached me with those big, bright eyes, worriedly asking, "What should we do? We didn''t get Elena''s money."


    I gestured for her to get closer and held her hands, pulling her to stand in front of me. Looking up at her, I asked calmly, "Can''t you support the pack with me?" Why should it matter if we have money or not? We may not be as wealthy as Elena, and the pack won''t be as great as before, but we could work together to keep it moving until everything gets better.


    < Chapter 9


    +8 Points >


    Something glinted in her eyes that vanished so quickly. She looked down at me, and her pout


    deepened while her eyes glistened with sadness: " But I want to focus on helping you on the battlefield instead. You and me... together."


    Of course, Glenda was trained to be a warrior. She''s used to being in the field instead of a


    housewife like Elena.


    I didn''t pursue the matters anymore, as the sadness in her eyes was pulling at the


    strings in


    my heart.


    "Hmph! Don''t worry, even if Elena leaves, I know you''ll rule this pack way better than her!" she tried to encourage me. "Who does she think she is? I doubt if she can do better things outside of this pack. She knows nothing. If she didn''t have her money, no one would like her. For all we know, the king probably only pitied her! She must have acted pitifully in front of him!"


    "Don''t worry!" she raised her arms and held my face in between her palms, making my hands


    automatically wrap around her waist to embrace her.


    Lovingly, she said, "We will win many wars together, and you''ll rule this pack greatly. We''ll both


    have money and glory!"


    I smiled. "You never fail to amaze me."


    ''This is right. She''s my fated mate. I chose the right thing,'' I told myself, partly because it was what my heart said and partly to convince the half of me that was in doubt.


    "But let''s not worry about that. For now..."


    Glenda let out a seductive smirk as her hands slowly slid toward my chest. Bending down, I saw the sight of her cleavage, making my breathing hitch and my heartbeat elerate.


    Her lips teased my ears, and she whispered, "Why don''t I give you a better pain reliever?"


    My pants immediately tightened as I heard the meaning behind her words.


    She bit her lips and pushed me down to the bed as she crawled her way on top of


    me.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 10

    Elena''s POV


    +8 Points >


    "Home sweet home," Imented as I got out of the car. I stood in front of the massive steel


    gates covered with vines and dust, a vivid symbol of how long I''ve been gone.


    I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes, feeling the cold breeze brush against my skin, and


    the familiar scent of the pine woods from the forest filled my nose.


    I miss this ce.


    The first ce I stopped by was the ce where my family was buried. One after another, I ced flowers on their graveyards that surprisingly looked clean.


    "Whose there?" I shouted in alertness as I stood up and looked around.


    I couldn''t be wrong. I''m pretty sure someone was staring at me. Squinting my eyes, I observed


    every blow of wind, every movement of grasses and trees, and every sound in the


    surroundings.


    Shifting, I looked at the bushes not so far from me. "Come out! Now!"


    My eyes widened.


    "She''s just a child..." Ava uttered in shock.


    The little girl looked at me cluelessly, but her eyes were filled with fear. She kept her distance


    while fidgeting with her fingers.


    Cautiously, I crouched down to her level and asked gently, "Hey, pup, who are you?"


    "M-miss Elena... Is that you? I-is that really you?"


    Suddenly, a man''s trembling voice echoed. My breathing hitched, and I stood up hastily as I


    turned around.


    My eyes narrowed as I stared at the man before me. He''s a tall and muscr man with messy


    hair. His sharp and handsome face was covered with dirt, while his ssed eyes had a bit of droplets on them.


    He''s wearing working clothes. Was he the one who cleaned my family''s graves?


    "You know me? You looked familiar..."


    I''m positive I know who he was. It felt like his name was at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn''t


    < Chapter 10


    make words of it.


    "I''m so d you''re back, Miss Elena. I''m Jayden. Jayden Lawrence."


    Lawrence?


    My eyes widened, and a wide smile curved on my lips.


    +8 Points >


    "You''re Jayden? Wow, you looked different! Better even!" I praised him, very d to meet him


    again.


    He''s the son of my father''s Beta, and we grew up together. We used to y with each other


    until we both became busy with our own training.


    Unfortunately, his father died as well.


    Thinking of that, my smile vanished. ncing at my family''s grave, I asked him, "Did you


    clean their graves?"


    He nodded. "I did, all of their..."


    That''s when I realized that each member''s graves were cleaned. Though the entire pack wasn''t


    properly managed, it''s obvious he gave great care to their graves.


    "Where are the others?" I asked.


    After the attack, all of those high-ranking members died fighting. The loyal


    servants came


    with me to the Swiftridge Pack to take care of me, while the ordinary werewolves who


    managed to survive were left in this abandoned pack.


    "There''s only a few of us left here. Others went to another. The ones who stayed are at their


    work. Like Ashely here, they have to work for another pack to fend for their family. But they all


    stille back here."


    I smiled at the little girl who ran into Jayden''s arms. So her name is Ashley.


    "I''m so d you''re back. Are you here for good? Will you take over as the Alpha and bring back


    the pack to its former glory?"


    I stared at each of my family''s gravestones and counted back to the countless times they brought merit to the kingdom.


    Though our pack had perished, it couldn''t be forgotten how many times our pack''s warriors had defeated a swamped of Rogues that brought risk to the kingdom.


    All their sacrifices and their deaths shall note in vain.


    < Chapter 10


    Pursing my lips, I took a deep breath and determinedly voiced out, "Yes, I''m back."


    After meeting Jayden, I first went to my old room to settle my things, and so did all the


    servants.


    +8 Points >


    With Jayden''s help, I instructed them to start cleaning up the ce to bring it back to life.


    The kids who were left behind by their parents who were working were also so d and went


    to join them in cleaning.


    Finally, alone in the room, sadness engulfed me as the reality finally hit me. Now, everything


    would change.


    Feeling the sun shine through my window still, I stood up and wandered around the room.


    Looking through the north side of my wall, where my weapons were disyed, I was flooded


    with memories.


    My hands slid through my training gears, remembering my father''s proud smiles every time I managed to pass through his blocks and punch him in ourbats.


    And then there are my guns, bows and arrows, spears, and other weapons of every kind and


    size, which skills I''ve mastered thanks to my six brothers who happily trained me despite


    being a woman.


    However, despite that, I remained knowledgeable in every Luna task because learning those things was my bonding with my mother.


    This ce used to be full of life, now... it''s all just memories.


    "It''s okay, we''ll make more beautiful memories..." Avaforted me.


    A knock on my door then pulled me out of my thoughts. "Miss Elena."


    "Jayden."


    He looked at me hesitantly as he swallowed his nervousness. After taking a deep breath, he


    looked me in the eye and determinedly said, "Please ept me as your Beta!"


    His eyes glinted with so much passion and hope that reflected the vision I had within me. It''s as though I almost see a broken self from him who was trying to make up for what''s been


    lost.


    Seeing that his determination reflected my own, I smiled.


    "Then, it will be my pleasure." After all, his father was my father''s Beta, and he was trained well by him.


    < Chapter 10


    I have no doubts he''d do well in being my Beta.


    A smile formed on his lips. "Thank you. I''ll make sure not to disappoint you."


    "I know you won''t."


    +8 Points >


    "And with that being said," he stared, eyes dimming with firmness and thirst for justice, which


    brought out the curiosity in me.


    gave all


    pieces.


    my attention to him as I listened to his next words, which shook my thoughts to


    "I think someone framed us, causing our pack to be ruthlessly massacred."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 11

    Elena''s POV


    "What did you say?" I furrowed my brows and looked at him calctedly.


    My heart pounded loudly in my chest when he said that, but those were the kind of words that shouldn''t be said so quickly. "Jayden, this is not a small usation. You shouldn''t be saying this like this recklessly."


    Unfazed, he stood up straight and confidently shook his head, exining, "I''m not, Alpha


    Elena. I''ve been thinking about it, and after reminiscing about the past, I can''t help but think


    there''s more to what we know."


    The past? What made him think so?


    I leaned back on my chair and gave him my full attention. "borate."


    "When your father, Alpha Daco, and your brothers sessfully won the battle against the


    rogues, the Rogues didn''t attack us for revenge. Why wait for a year before they attacked us?"


    I remembered that. For decades, the Rogues and the kingdom had been fighting at the border


    to im the Withered Hintend, which was rich in Blood Cress and Mountain Mace-the


    golden herbs for werewolves.


    Those were rare herbs that could be a poison, but when used properly, they are an antidote for


    Silver and Wolfsbane poisoning.


    Anyone who have im of thend would not only have more territory, but earn more leverage


    in pharmacological industry.


    Thatnd had been under the management of the Rogue King after they massacred my pack


    while Bryson and Glenda were at the border and fighting.


    Though Bryson and Glenda won the fight and managed to subdue the Rogues from advancing in the kingdom, they didn''t win in iming back the Withered Hintend.


    "Maybe they are preparing for it," I said in hesitation.


    "But that''s more questionable..." Jaden replied with furrowed brows.


    Yes, indeed... Thinking deeply about it, it''s more confusing.


    They willingly divided their resources to attack and m******e my pack while they were fighting Bryson and the kingdom''s warriors at the border, which made Bryson and Glenda''s victory


    < Chapter 11


    easier.


    Why would they sacrifice losing a war to kill my pack? How furious and vengeful could they possibly be?


    "And why the sudden change of heart? The rampage? Even wars have their principles, and


    both parties abide by those principles for decades." Jayden pointed one after another.


    +8 Points >


    Since the beginning of time, though war had been a constant thing in packs and Rogues, we hade to a silent consensus that no innocent lives should be ended. The battles shall stay in the battleground.


    I sighed, trying to make sense of all of it. "They lost the Withered Hintend when my father and brother fought with them. They probably lost their patience."


    "For decades, the owner of thatnd kept changing. Both parties abided. No kids, women, and


    elders should be perished," he added, voicing out the same doubts I''ve formed in my mind.


    It was the first time the Rogues broke the silent consensus and went on the rampage,


    breaking through all barriers just to m******e a pack.


    If they really wanted power ornd, they should have attacked the kingdom directly or imed the Ironpaw Pack''snd, but they didn''t.


    They were just there to kill.


    My eyes dimmed with seriousness, feeling the burning fury surging through my veins. "If your hunch is right, we need to investigate this further. And if someone''s really behind this, I''ll turn heaven and earth to punish the mastermind behind this." The pups, the elders, my parents, and my brothers... All of them died an unjust killing. If there''s really someone who deliberately caused this, I''d make sure they would suffer a great


    consequence.


    Jayden stepped forward and determinedly uttered, "I''ll do whatever''s needed to help."


    I nodded. I knew he had the same desire as me to fight for the pack we''d lost, but we couldn''t make drastic movements right now, not when the pack wasn''t back to its feet yet.


    Pushing a document of restoration ns I''ve been doing for hours since my arrival, I instructed him, "For the meantime, you shall handle our inner affairs. We''re restoring the pack


    to its normal functions."


    His eyes glinted with joy as he grabbed the document from me, flipping each page with


    excitement.


    < Chapter 11


    +8 Points >


    It''s not yet a full-blown n, but at least it would be enough to physically restore the entire pack''s ce and give it life again. It''s to clean every premise, restore the border fence, and fix the broken houses and equipment. All of this was more ofbor work.


    Suddenly, the light in his eyes lessened when he realized something. "But the other members


    are not-''


    I knew his worries. There are only a very few of us left in our pack. However, with all the servants who came with me and the hands of those who stayed in this abandoned pack, willing to set aside their egos to work with another pack to fend for themselves, I am confident that we would get through this.


    Looking at him, I diligently said, "No matter how many we are, we shall rise again. Notify all of the members that are working for the other pack."


    Smiling, I dominatingly added, "Their Alpha is calling them back."


    Hoped relinquished in Jayden''s eyes. He straightened his back and nodded. "Right away."


    He turned to leave and was about to reach for the door, but then I suddenly remembered


    something.


    "Wait," I called out. "Order someone to get my remaining things from the Swiftridge pack-


    every single piece of it."


    There were still a lot of things I''d left back there that I couldn''t carry. The furniture and jewelry


    gifted to me by the royal family and my parents were still in there.


    Jayden agreed to it and bowed his head before he left to execute all of my orders.


    I was just about to stand and rest when a knock suddenly came to the door. After sighing, I told them to get in, and a servant entered with a small envelope in her hand.


    "Alpha Elena," she greeted as she approached me.


    Handing the small envelope with a bulge inside it, she reported, ¡°This arrived three hours after


    our arrival."


    My eyes narrowed in confusion, but I still grabbed it. Opening the envelope, a sh drive dropped onto my palm. "Where did thise from?"


    "One of the shadow knights dropped it off."


    Startled, I stood up, and my hands tightened on the sh drive. "What? Are you


    sure?"


    "Yes, Alpha. The knight was branded with a crescent moon''s scar and had a Glimpse Card


    +8 Points >


    < Chapter 11


    with him."


    Crescent moon... Glimpse card... There''s no way those two could be


    counterfeited...


    After the servant left, I wasted no time and grabbed myptop. Upon inserting the


    sh drive,


    though, I saw that the contents were all encrypted.


    What''s so important that the data were all hidden?


    Taking a deep breath, I opened myputer''s CMD processor and started


    hacking my way through the encrypted file.


    "This is..." my fingers halted from the keyboard when I read what was on the file,


    and only one


    thing came into my mind.


    I need to go see the King!


    9.9.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 12

    Elena''s POV


    With the printed copy of the encrypted file from the sh drive in my hand, I entered and was guided by the pce guards inside the King''s office. "This way..."


    "Elena, you''ve visited again." King Desmond delightedly greeted me as he stood up from his seat and gestured me towards one of the sofas while one of his servants keenly served me a


    cup of tea.


    Wasting no time, I handed the papers to him, still breathing heavily from the anxiety surging in me. "King Desmond, I.have to talk to you about something."


    "That''s a lemon tea, it will help you feel better. You look a bit anxious. Are you upset about


    Bryson and Glenda''s uing wedding?"


    I looked at him in surprise. Wedding? So, they still manage to go through with it.


    I observed my emotions, but I didn''t feel anything. Hence, I shook my head and replied with a


    smile. "He and I were done. I don''t care about his affairs anymore."


    He stared at me for a while, probably seeing through my eyes if what I was saying was true,


    before asking, "Then what''s bothering you?"


    "I got a very important information that''s needed your attention, King Desmond.


    My Seniorrade from Custodes sent me this yesterday." I pointed at the message on the paper.


    In fact, inside the sh drive was an encrypted letter with a warning concerning the kingdom''s


    safety.


    His brows furrowed. "Is this real?"


    Though I haven''t seen it for myself, I have confidence that what myrade told me was true. ¡°There''s been sightings that the packs in the North and the Rogues are colluding with each


    other to start a rebellion."


    After reading the letter, he ced it down. Skeptical, he asked in a deep tone, "Are you sure your informant is to.be trusted? That''s a huge usation. If this is wrong and we make drastic measures, it will cause chaos in the kingdom."


    Suddenly, I was reminded of what I told Jayden the day before. They are almost the same thoughts; they are just said in different words.


    < Chapter 12


    +8 Points>


    Confidently, I urged further, "No, King. We need to send more troops to the Northern battlefield, or we might lose this time."


    Seeing as the King was still doubting, I clenched my fist and pursed my lips as I outright lied to him, "This message was encrypted and sent to me by myrade, Rendell West."


    "Rendell West? One of the Custodes Warriors?" he asked in shock.


    The truth is that it was sent by Franches Delmor, my female seniorrade, but in the world of the battlefield, Comrade Rendell''s name carries more weight. After all, Rendell was one of the Generals who led battalions to many sessful wars in the East.


    So, without buttering an eye, I replied, "Yes, King Desmond."


    "Let me see that again and show the sh drive."


    While he examined the letter and the sh drive, I kept on insisting, "Please, time


    is direly needed right now. You have to send more troops."


    After a while, he ced down the drive and the paper, shaking his head. "My brother is overseeing the Northern battlefields, and I''ve received great news all this time. There''s probably been a mistake. Besides, all our troops are out with their important missions right now."


    "And this..." he tapped on the sh drive, eyes dimming with seriousness. "There''s no emblem or any warrior''s stamp in here showing it''s really from Rendell. We can''t turn everything upside down by a piece of information that came out of nowhere."


    My chest tightened.


    "I''m sure it''s not a mistake. And..." I clenched my teeth. If it''s troops he''s worried about, I know people who are avable. I took a deep breath and continued, "Bryson and Glenda''s troops are avable."


    He became tense, and all worries and skepticism in his eyes vanished, reced with disappointment and disbelief as he stood up and looked down at me. "Is this what''s this about?"


    "What?" I asked,pletely confused.


    "You say you don''t care, but here you are, finding excuses to stop their wedding and send them into a battle that''s probably not even needed!" He tapped the desk, voice escting with anger as he shook his head.


    I just told him I don''t care about that cheating bastard anymore! Why would I put myself in all


    < Chapter 12


    this trouble just for a man who couldn''t keep his vow?


    +8 Points>


    "That''s not "I tried to rebut, but his eyes dimmed with fury, and dominance radiated around


    him, bringing a chill to my spine.


    He momentarily closed his eyes and calmed himself. Once his heavy breathing slowed down,


    he sighed and scolded me in a gentler but still furious tone, "Elena, I know you''ve suffered injustice, and that''s why I helped you. Don''t go overboard."


    "But this message-"


    When he heard me trying to insist, he got more furious and mmed his hands on the table,


    creating a deafening sound echo in the entire room, making me jolt in shock.


    Leaning down, he stared at me with his dark eyes as he reprimanded me, "Elena, I thought you


    were better than this! How can you let your emotions get the best out of you? Even daring to


    meddle with battlefields? This is a life-and-death situation! I thought you knew better than


    anyone."


    Standing up, he called out, "Guards!"


    My eyes widened as I watched a couple of pce guards enter the room and go behind me.


    "I don''t want this to happen again, Elena," he formally uttered before turning around and


    adding without looking at me, "Escort Elena out of here."


    Standing outside the pce kingdom, I stared at the massive gates as King Desmond''s words


    echoed in my mind.


    ''This is a life-and-death situation! I thought you knew better than anyone.''


    I let out a bitter smile as I was reminded of the days I saw my father and brother''s


    dead


    bodies being carried back to our pack. The days when my pack was covered with blood and dead bodies after we were ruthlessly attacked and my members were massacred.


    "You''re right, King Desmond. I do know it better than anyone."


    Since childhood, I have been taught how to fight. I''ve been trained to be an exceptional warrior and a responsible Luna. I was brought up with the principle of


    protecting the kingdom and my pack.


    Love? That''s the least of my worries.


    With that, I turned around with one thought.


    If the king can''t help me, then I will help the best way I know how.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 13

    Elena''s POV


    As soon as I arrived back in the Ironpaw Pack, I hurried back to my room and


    started packing


    clothes and a small ration of food.


    When I got down, I bumped into Jayden, who was carrying logs he had cleaned


    up from the front yard on his shoulder and had hastily put them down. He looked


    at me from head to toe before his eyes glinted with realization.


    "Alpha Elena, are you leaving?" Panic was evident in his voice.


    "You scared him," Ava joked.


    Jayden probably thought I''d leave the pack again.


    1. 1.


    Tapping his shoulders, I assured him, "Don''t worry, I just have important matters


    to attend to. While I''m away, adhere to the restoration ns I gave you."


    He wiped his sweat with the towel hanging from his pants pocket and asked concerningly, "Do you need help? I''ll go with you."


    Shaking my head, I replied. ¡°No need. I''ll be back soon."


    After I gave him some reminders, I left the pack from the backyard and shifted to my massive ck wolf, but all my paws had white furs.


    I bit on my bag and ran through the forest into the north. A smile formed on my lips as I watched the trees blur before my eyes. The wind brushed through my silk-soft furs while my paws dug prints in the dirt.


    "I never felt so free! Elena, this is awesome!" Ava shouted, radiating the same feeling in me


    that brought warmth to my empty and cold heart.


    The scent of woods and dirt suddenly smelled like the most fragrance scent I''ve ever smelled. It''s peaceful and captivating, like the sound of insects and animals I heard in the background.


    For the first time in a long time, I felt free. I was in myplete form with my wolf, all senses heightened, and I could feel my power and strength radiating from my paws to every end of


    my fur.


    "I never thought this would take this long," Iined to Ava as I caught my breath before slurping another gulp of fresh water from the pond we saw in the middle of the forest.


    < Chapter 13


    +8 Points >


    It''s been three days since we were traveling. All the food I packed was already finished by the second day, and my paws turned ck from the dirt while my ck fur was now a shade of


    grey.


    After drinking, I jumped into the water and cleaned myself before I went on the journey again.


    "Finally!" Avamented, exhausted as I was, as we reached the northern border camp near


    the Withered Hintend.


    A wooden fence surrounded the camp, while the front was built with a brick defense wall.


    ''Why are there very few warriors at the gate?'' I wondered while I peeked from behind the tree near the camp after I shifted to my human form and changed into brown fitted leather pants, a


    white shirt, and a camouge jacket over it.


    Paired with mybat boots, I''d say I rocked this outfit. I missed wearing something like this.


    Something akin to a warrior.


    Ava, as confused as I was, asked as well. "And where''s the food trucks?"


    Looking around the camp, there was no sign of any delivery trucks. There weren''t even tire marks on the dirt that showed delivery from the previous day.


    Then, I remembered what King Desmond said. He said Prince Deacon had been updating him,


    and he received nothing but great news.


    "They probably think the war has ended and let down their guard," I said, feeling more anxious


    and worried.


    This was probably what the Rogues wanted to happen. They wereying low as they nned


    for rebellion so the frontline here in the Northern area would let down their guard.


    Sighing, I stood up straight, clung my bag on my shoulder, and confidently approached the


    camp.


    "Hep! Who are you?" One of the only two guards who was guarding the camp stretched his


    hand out to block my path.


    The other guard then pointed his spear at me with squinted eyes, ready to strike at any


    moment.


    My body instinct was telling me to stand in a defensive position, but I calmed myself and looked at them calmly to avoid preventing them from attacking and seeing me as their enemy.


    "Are you a spy from the Rogues? Inform the Prince!" The one with an outstretched hand


    shouted.


    < Chapter 13


    Immediately, a few more injured guards lookedpletely exhausted, stood up from the defense wall, and became alert.


    +8 Points >


    I looked around, and my heart clenched in pain to see how many of them were gravely injured. By how few they were in there as well, I think many of them lost their lives.


    Seeing that, I became filled with more conviction. I have to warn the Prince.


    Unfazed by the spear pointing at my neck, I firmly introduced myself. "I''m Elena Dooley, daughter of Alpha Daco Dooley."


    They snickered and looked at each other as they raised their brows at me in disbelief. ¡°Who are you kidding? What''s your proof that you are her?"


    "Is this enough proof?" I asked, showing them our pack''s emblem carved in the silver thumb


    ring I was wearing.


    Good thing I decided to wear this.


    "I-" The guards looked at me in surprise, almost speechless.


    After all, my father was a legend. If the Prince was the god of war, my father was


    the god of


    death, as they call him.


    He''s the best general thisnd had ever recognized, and every warrior looked up to his bravery


    and heroic acts.


    Seeing as they were still in shock, I cut them off and urgently announced, "I need to see the


    Prince. I have very important matters to discuss with him.¡±


    The one with the spear blinked off a couple of times before he stood up properly, retracted his


    spear, and cleared his throat.


    With a gentler tone, he formally exined, "This is the battlefield. Even if you really are Alpha


    Daco''s daughter, we can''t just let you in as you will."


    I sighed helplessly, thinking if I should just barge my way in to see the prince.


    Taking a deep breath, I clenched my fist and took a step forward, ready to fight my way through. Then, a monotonous and dominating deep voice echoed from inside the camp, followed by heavy steps approaching us.


    "What''s happening here?" The man with the captivating voice asked.


    "Prince Deacon." They called, but I was so dumbfounded that I froze in my ce


    as I stared at


    the man who just stood in front of me and managed to take my breath away.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 14

    Elena''s POV


    My heart was pounding fast and loud, so much so that it almost felt like it would burst out of my chest any second.


    His hazel eyes stared down at my brown eyes, almost capturing my soul in the process, and melting my strength made my legs feel weak.


    Oh, damn, how could he have this much effect on me?


    He tilted his head and looked at me seriously as he spoke in his deep voice, "Elena Dooley.


    This is the battlefield, it''s no ce for you.".


    My breathing hitched. I knew that I wasn''t an official warrior despite my


    background as a Custodes apprentice, but still, the information I have worth every


    hassle..


    I stared at his face, which was so familiar and yet so different from how I first saw him at the


    kingdom''s pce.


    His sharp jaws were now covered with a long beard, and I could barely see his lips. There''s a gaze on the side of his cheek near his temple, and his hair is tied in the back of his head with


    a cut fabric.


    But despite the change in his appearance, his godly face couldn''t be hidden by the beard on his face. And his hazel eyes glinted with a shade of brightness despite the dimness that


    masked it.


    Control yourself, Elena.


    Taking a deep breath, I stood up properly and replied with a slight bow, "It''s been a long time,


    Prince Deacon."


    "You''vee a long way. Why so?" he asked, finally taking a step back from me, giving me


    enough room to breathe back the air I thought I had lost moments ago.


    I looked around, finding the warriors and guards looking at me curiously. Thinking it wouldn''t


    be best for them to hear the details and cause premature panic, I cleared my throat and said


    instead, "I have intel about the battle that needs your attention."


    He observed me for a while, seemingly seeing if I was serious. Later on, he nodded and


    gestured inside.


    < Chapter 14


    "Alright then."


    +8 Points >


    With that, I followed him, making sure to keep at least a foot of distance between us. One, out of respect, out of respect. Though I was already appointed as a Princess, he didn''t know about that, so he was still higher rank than me.


    Secondly, because being so close to him was somehow making me uneasy.


    He stopped at one of the massive greenish-brown tents and pushed open the barrier fabric to


    enter.


    "Thank you," I said in gratitude after he kept holding the heavy barrier to let me in.


    My eyes wandered, and I saw the massive bed made of wood, with grasses on top of it, covered with thick fabric to make itfortable. The wrinkled nket made it obvious that he


    had used it for a long time.


    He sat down at one of the cut-off logs made into a stool, gestured at the other stool, and let


    me sit.


    In between us was a huge table filled with maps marked with stones and gs. I learned this from my childhood: the gs indicated the base of the enemy and allies, and they varied in


    color, while the stones were the obstacle.


    Weapons were also hung around the tent''s wall, while generated bulbs were tied on the tent''s


    roof.


    "Since you''re so positive it''s a military emergency, let me hear it." The prince spoke, stopping my wandering eyes from observing my surroundings, which had be a habit of mine over


    the years.


    After all, being vignt saves lives.


    Pulling out the printed letter from my bag, I handed it over to him. "This is the data from myrade, which I received four days ago about the rebellion being formed here. The packs and Rogues are joining hands."


    "Why didn''t you tell the King about this?" he asked in confusion as he read through the letter. He thenmented, "It would have saved you a lot of travel and hassle."


    I sighed, feeling helpless again. I remembered the disappointment in the King''s voice. "I did,


    but he didn''t believe me."


    "He didn''t? And why is that?"


    I thought for a while before I generally exined, "I couldn''t prove that it''s from myrade."


    < Chapter 14


    "And who''s that?"


    "Rendell West."


    +8 Points >


    As soon as I said Rendell''s name, his eyes flicked briefly after the prominent recognition, whichter changed to further confusion. "If I remember correctly, my brother admires him very much. He would have believed it without hesitation." Should I tell him?


    I mean, I''m already here, and he seems more open about the letter''s contents than the King. It


    wouldn''t bring harm if I told the truth, would it?


    After a few moments of hesitation, I heaved a sigh and exined, "Actually... It''s from my female seniorrade, Hester Adams. But I thought saying Rendell''s name would expedite


    everything. But the King didn''t believe me."


    It didn''t even take a minute before he closed the letter and put it back on the


    table.


    My heart ran wild. Did he not believe me as well? Would he send me back like the


    King?


    Anxiety ran through me, especially when he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.


    Immediately, one of the warriors outside his tent came in. "Prince."


    "Increase the number of guards doing parameters around the camp," hemanded, making


    me look back at him in surprise. I moved so fast that I almost had a whish. "Right away, Prince."


    "Y-you...believe me?" I stuttered in disbelief while staring at his bright, captivating


    hazel eyes.


    Raising his brow, he asked back, "Are you lying?"


    My eyes widened, and I hastily raised my arms to form an "X" shape as I vehemently denied,"


    No! No, of course not, but..."


    Leaning on his chair, he smiled and exined, "Hester Adams might not be as popr as Rendell West, but she''s still an honorable warrior. If she took the hassle of sending this


    warning, I''m sure it''s something to worry about.¡±


    I heaved a sigh of relief as the heaviness in my chest finally vanished. With his words, I finally felt my tensed body rx as I leaned my elbow on the table. "What''s wrong? Are you exhausted?" he asked worriedly, leaning forward to examine me, which wreaked havoc on the butterflies in my stomach.


    < Chapter 14


    +8 Points >


    Taking a few breaths, I exined, "I... I''ve never run for that long before. I think


    I''ve reached my limit."


    He let out a smile, stood up from his stool, leaned across the table, and suddenly tapped my forehead teasingly with the back of his two fingers, taking me back, especially when hemented, "Fool!"


    "Hey! I helped you! How-?


    I stutteringly tried to defend myself, but he suddenly let out a smallugh before


    his demeanor went serious.


    "Thank you," he whispered, face only inches apart from me while his hazel eyes stared deep into my soul, sucking my sense.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 15

    Elena''s POV


    Staring at his mesmerizing eyes took my breath away, especially considering how close we were to each other right now.


    As if he knew his effect on me, he let out a smug smirk before he sat back down from his seat and pushed a cup of tea toward me. "Here, this will rx your nerves.


    Finally, I could breathe, but I looked at him calctively as I felt his words had two meanings. Shaking those thoughts away, I epted it. "Thank you, Prince Deacon."


    I lifted it to my lips and let the correct temperature of the tea and tasted its fresh but sweet and sour taste lingered on my tongue while I watched his turn intoplete ckness.


    He''s mind-linking someone.


    Curious, I opened my link as well and listened.


    "Prepare some food and send it to my barrack."


    My brows furrowed in both confusion and shock as I ced down my half- finished tea.


    When his eyes turned back to its beautiful, mesmerizing hazel eyes, I asked, "Are you not going to ask for the King''s reinforcement? You haven''t called out for an emergency meeting countermeasures as well. Why?"


    I mean, I just told him that there would be a rebellion, and he said he believed me, and yet there he was, giving an order about food preparation?


    Was he that confident in his skills? Did he not really believe me? Does he justck a sense of urgency and danger?


    But then, when he spoke, he proved all of my thoughts wrong.


    "It will take time for the new batch of supplies to be delivered and much more to recruit more recruits. Furthermore, I need more evidence before sending the issue to the King."


    After hearing his reasons, I nodded in understanding. He did have a good reason.


    Besides, the king didn''t believe the letter I showed him. If he learned that I went here and it''s the same thing the prince was basing his judgment without more proof to back it up, he might just get even more mad. Then, even the prince might face his wrath.


    < Chapter 15


    +8 Points >


    Drown in my own thoughts as I was reminded once again of the King''s wrath, I involuntarily bit the side of my cheek while I anxiously tapped my fingers on the table, taking deep breaths.


    "You did good," he suddenly said, which made me blink and look at him dumbfoundedly as I furrowed my brows and tilted my head.


    "What?" he asked with a raised brow.


    I let out a smallugh and shook my head, reminded of his earlier words, before I nonchntly replied, "You did call me a fool earlier."


    He stared at me for a while as he sipped his own tea before his eyes dimmed and his demeanor turned back to the serious man I''d first met. "Youing here helps me prepare early, but you should not have risked yourself. I''ll be sending you back to Swiftridge in a few


    days."


    Hearing that, I was jolted back to reality, and my eyes widened. With great disagreement, I


    uttered in a controlled voice so it wouldn''te out as a shout. "No!"


    He was, after all, still the prince.


    "You want to stay? This is a battlefield, Elena. Not a child''s yhouse." His voice was filled


    with angst as he roughly put down his teacup on the saucer, which made a loud sound.


    Anymore rougher, and it would have broken to pieces.


    To say I didn''t feel a chill from his response would be a lie, but I swallowed as much fear as I


    could and kept my chin raised as I reasoned, "My father and brothers died fighting. I''ll stay


    and contribute to the kingdom as well. I''ll fight and defend our kingdom."


    "Are you hearing yourself?" He shook his head and looked at me as though another head grew


    from my neck.


    I fisted my hands and told him something that I was sure would entice him. "I''ve already sent


    messages to myrades and friends who trained with me before. They''ll stand with us."


    I polished and improved my skills as a warrior when I entered the Custodes. It''s a hidden


    training ground only for the most skilled werewolves seen with potential by the masters.


    Though I didn''t be a warrior after leaving because I heeded my mother''s wishes for me to live as a Luna, all of my training and connections remained intact.


    But then again, no one knew about that except my family. We didn''t hide it, but we didn''t unt


    it either.


    "No! You are a woman! You shouldn''t be in here, dirtying your hands with blood!" he strongly


    disagrees, but his reason picked me to anger.


    +8 Points >


    I would have rolled my eyes and dissed him if he wasn''t the prince. What kind of thinking was


    that? We weren''t in the old age anymore; even Glenda was a looked-up warrior - not that she actually deserved that.


    Instead ofining, I merely stood my ground and firmly said, "I''m already here, so I''ll stay.


    33


    "Exactly!" he shouted and mmed his hands on the table as he went on, "Why are you here


    in the first ce? You should have let your husband do the hard work for you! Wars are not a


    ce for a woman."


    I inwardly snickered. Husband? What could I expect from that ex of mine?


    "The King won''t believe him either," I replied instead.


    As he was always at war, I knew that he wasn''t up to date with the news in the kingdom.


    Besides, I think my personal life had nothing to do with the issue at hand, so I don''t feel the


    need to correct him.


    However, unexpectedly, his eyes dimmed with dangerous glint, and his lips pursed into a thin


    line as his sharp jaws cleaned in anger. "Then he should have been the one who traveled this


    far to meet me! How can a man, much more, an Alpha, let his wife face danger while he hides


    back in his pack? This is ridiculous!"


    Well, Prince Deacon, you''ll be surprised how unqualified Bryson was as a


    husband and an Alpha...


    if only you knew everything.


    Simply, I shrugged my shoulders. "What happened already happened. I''m here already."


    Narrowing his eyes, he calmed down a bit from my causal reply andmented, "You''re stubborn, you know that."


    Letting out a small smile as I was reminded of my parents and brother''s words, Iughingly replied, "I''ve been told one or twice."


    When I saw him calm down, though, I turned serious as I stared at his hazel eyes


    to watch his every reaction as I asked, "For real, why did you believe me so


    easily?"


    "On the war at the border, I found it bizarre how Alpha Bryon and his troops won the battle so easily and quickly," he reasons.


    So, Jayden and I weren''t the only ones who hade to that conclusion. That made our theory even more believable when the prince had doubts. <chapter 15<="" p=""></chapter>


    +8 Points >


    I fidgeted with my fingers under the table as I hesitated whether or not to share what Jayden and I thought about it.


    Could I trust him? I mean, he trusted me easily, and though he might seem cold and serious, dangerous even, there''s something in him that makes me feel safe andfortable.


    He believed me. I have to give him the same benefit of the doubt.


    With those thoughts, I started, "Actually, I think it had something to do with the


    massac-''


    I closed my eyes in embarrassment and was interrupted by the loud rumbling sound from my stomach.


    I could only imagine my face looking like a bright tomato, especially when I heard


    his


    "Someone''s hungry."


    1

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 16

    Elena''s POV


    I looked at him sheepishly and justughed my embarrassment off, hoping he''d forget about this soon enough.


    Just in time, though, one of the warriors came with a wooden basket filled with food and


    ced it down on the table.


    "Do you need anything else, Prince?" he asked as he put two canteen bottles of water in front


    of us.


    "No," he simply replied and raised his hand as a gesture that he could leave.


    The warrior gave us a small bow before he turned and left.


    "Do you eat this kind of food?" he asked while unpacking the things from the basket.


    Leaning in, I took a closer look, and a smile formed on my lips as I saw the familiar delectable


    foods especially made for battles for both convenience and nutrients.


    There were four kinds of MRE in there, which was an abbreviation for Meal Ready-to-Eat foods.


    Basically, it''s a small pouch containing one meal. If you dip it in water, the self- heating pad


    inside it will activate, and it will cook by itself within minutes.


    And vo, there''s rice and dish.


    Aside from that, there were also some freshly harvested fruits and baked potatoes from the nearby forest.


    "Are you kidding me? These are awesome!" I shouted as I grabbed the MREs and started


    dipping them in the basin with water beside us.


    He let out a small smile of amusement as he prepared the fruits. He watched me as I prepared the MRES effortlessly. "You don''t look like a Luna."


    I halted and looked at him questioningly.


    He stopped cutting the apples and bananas. While holding the small knife, he shook his head. "You''re indeed an apprentice of Custodes."


    Nodding my head to gesture at him cutting the fruits and cing the utensils and tes on


    the table, Imented, "You don''t look like a prince as well."


    "Well, minus the fact that you act scary and dominant," I added jokingly in a small voice as I


    < Chapter 16


    unwrapped and poured the MRES on the tes he prepared.


    +8 Points >


    "Don''t push it," hemented back, eyes sending me sharp gaze, but I didn''t feel any fear as I thought he wasn''t seriously angry.


    "Damn! He looks hot!" Avamented, feeling giddy as she jumped around in my mind.


    I bit my inside cheeks, and I tried to hide the smile in me.


    His eyes were captivating, and the way he looked and spoke, with his monotonous and deep


    voice, was like a soul catcher that could make any woman swoon.


    "But we''re not any woman," my wolf pridefully said.


    "And yet, there you are already swooning," I teased.


    "I''m so not! It''s you!"


    Our teasing session ended when Prince Deacon pushed the canteen of water in front of me.


    Keep eating, and don''t doze off. You need to replenish your nutrients after that long run."


    Touched that he was paying enough attention, I smiled happily as I grabbed my spoon and


    continued eating one after another until I felt full.


    "Oh, that''s heaven!" Imented satisfyingly as I leaned back on the pole beside me as a


    foundation of the tent and rubbed the suddenly appearing bump on my tummy from all the


    food I ate.


    Imagine, I''ve finished two MRES. TWO!


    He shook his head. "You''re easily satisfied. It''s not a Michelin meal."


    "It''s not, but it''s the same food my family and I would eat when we were out far to train," I replied, happily reminded of those memories when my family was stillplete.


    "I''m sorry about what happened to your father and brothers,¡± he said, still unaware of the


    m******e my entire pack had faced.


    I gave him a forced smile and nodded. "It''s not your fault."


    It''s not, but I''m bound to find who was behind that dreadful event. And whoever the culprit was,


    I''d make sure they paid the price.


    33


    "Prince... Luna Elena..." The same warrior who brought us the meal came in again and greeted


    1. us.


    "We''ve finished the preparation for Luna Elena''s stay."


    214


    < Chapter 16


    I looked at Prince Deacon in surprise.


    My ce? Would that mean he already agreed to my stay?


    Rejoice filled my heart.


    "So... I can stay..." I started saying, suppressing my joy and the urge to jump in joy.


    +8 Points


    He only looked at me and didn''t reply, but then again, silence means yes, right? That''s just what I''d believe in.


    "I''ve had them arrange you a room, but we don''t have any female Omega in here. All of us here were males. I hope you don''t mind," he thoughtfully said as a male Omega came in and gave me a bow, even looking a bit hesitant.


    I smiled calmly and waved my hand casually. "Oh, it''s okay. I don''t need anyone to serve me."


    "But thank you, I appreciate the thought," I said, shifting my eyes back and forth from Prince Deacon and the Omega.


    "But..."


    I raised my hand andughed a little. "I''ve been alone this past three days in the forest without enough food and clothes; I''m not a weak she-wolf, Prince Deacon. I''ll manage."


    His eyes then narrowed as if he suddenly realized something.


    He raised his head and dismissed the warrior and the Omega before he looked back at me and pointedly asked, "Did my brother know that you came here?"


    I swallowed. He finally caught on.


    If the King knew, there''s no way he''d send me here without an escort or even enough supply tost for my entire journey.


    "I..." I blinked a couple of times and looked at him cautiously before I replied, "Well... I actually


    came here... secretly."


    "Have you lost your mind?" he shouted, jolting me in surprise from my seat.


    He''s angry. No... he''s furious!


    "I... Well..." I took a deep breath andposed myself. "He didn''t believe me, and I think this


    matter is urgent, so..."


    "How could you do this? What were you thinking?" he asked, standing as he towered over me


    with both his hands on the table.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 17

    Elena''s POV


    I swallowed, feeling overwhelmed by the dominating demeanor radiating all over him, proving that he was the Prince and the god of war that everyone feared to be an enemy of.


    He was towering over me. His pupils dted in anger, and fire seemingly glowed beneath its dimness, showing the built-up fury within him while the veins on his neck protruded.


    I''m so dead.


    Chill cursed through my every vein as I suddenly felt so small in front of him. I leaned as far back as I could and was even having difficulty looking straight into


    his eyes.


    Damn! I''m an Alpha and a newly appointed Princess; I couldn''t believe I could be subdued so


    much like this by his demeanor.


    "As a Luna, did you even think twice before you impulsively did this?" he started, but I only


    kept quiet, supposed by his anger.


    I think it would be best to let him calm down a bit first before I reason with him.


    He tapped his index fingertip on the table while sending zing fire of gaze my way, continuing with his scolding, "Going to the battlefield without the King''s order? You must be


    the foolish woman I''ve known!"


    Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. Does he even go out much from the battlefield to meet several


    women? I doubt not.


    For him, war was probably everything he had his mind on.


    "It''s punishable by demotion, fine, and twenty whips!" he narrated, making me cringe in pain at just the thought of the whips because those were made of sharp silver thorns.


    "Well, what more choice do I have? I can''t just turn a blind eye when I get the news from myrade while knowing the entire kingdom might be in danger, can I?" I finally managed to voice out while I was pinching my legs underneath the


    table so that I could look at his zing eyes for a few seconds.


    His hands slid toward the side of the table, and he gripped the side near me as he leaned over


    the table and stared into my face.


    With gritted teeth, he asked, "If you weren''t so lucky and have faced Rogues on your way here,


    < Chapter 17


    how will I face your mother, huh?"


    +8 Points >


    My brows furrowed, and my eyes narrowed as I stared at him in confusion, especially when I saw an unknown emotion briefly glint in his hazel eyes, masked with fury and dimness.


    Why exactly was he so angry about?


    If I didn''t know better, I would have thought he was worried about me. But then again, we only


    met twice, so why would he?


    Of course, I knew about the punishment, and I''ve thought about that beforeing in here. Butpared to those things and the tragedy that we all might face if we don''t give the issue a proper solution, I was more fearful than any whips.


    Title and money? If it''s for something more splendid, like the lives of many, I''d readily give


    those things up.


    Besides, I''m the one who''d face the King''s wrath and punishment so why was he so on edge?


    And my mother?


    I just wanted to shake my head.


    He''s really living under the rock, doesn''t he?


    He should visit the kingdom more and know what''s happening. I mean, not everything was


    about war.


    Sighing, I just replied calmly and gently, hoping he''d also be calm. "But I''m fine."


    I even stood up and made a small, slow twirl in front of him to show that, aside from


    exhaustion, I was actually doing well.


    "Get the doctor in here!" he shouted, jolting me.


    "No need!" I even reached out my hand to stop him, but one re from him and my mouth


    was immediately zipped shut.


    "Give her a thorough check-up," he instructed the doctor, who hastily arrived.


    So, now I''m here, sitting on the edge very ufortably on the edge of his bed while the doctor was checking my every limb to see if I had injuries while he was standing behind the


    doctor, supervising.


    I could see sweat forming on the doctor''s forehead from his excessive supervision. It''s so over


    the top that even bruises were treated with ointments.


    < Chapter 17


    +8 Points >


    I told them it was fine and there was no need to waste the supplies that should be given more


    to the warriors, but every time I tried to speak, Prince Deacon would shut me up.


    "Thank you." I smiled as we stood outside the tent I would be staying in.


    I told him not to walk me here, but he insisted..


    He nodded his head and opened the fabric door for me to enter, but before I halted halfway


    and turned swiftly to face him when I remembered something, but because of that, my foot took a wrong step, and I almost fell if it weren''t for his fast reaction.


    His arm wrapped around my waist, and his left arm was around my shoulder while my upper body was still bent down a bit.


    My heart was pumping loudly and fast, and I involuntarily swallowed as my breathing hitched.


    "Careful."


    ¡°I..... uh..... I just remembered; we should probably recruit more warriors." I stutteringly said.


    I was breathing heavily, and my lips parted as I tried to get some more air while I stared at his


    soul-sucking hazel eyes.


    After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away after steadying me on my feet, but he


    didn''t step away, so we were still standing so close.


    His breath fanned through my face as he replied, "There will be recruitment


    tomorrow, but you


    won''t be attending."


    His words were firmed, and there was no room for negotiation.


    "Rest."


    Those were hisst words before he turned and left, leaving me staring at his


    vanishing figure


    with wild butterflies in my stomach and a ticking-bomb-like heart..


    ˜ò

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 18

    Elena''s POV


    I heard the synchronized footsteps of warriors taunting nearby and instantly woke up. After


    blinking for a while, I stretched out and sighed as I looked around.


    Because I was exhausted from all the running for the past three days, I went straight to bed


    after Prince Deacon left and slept, so I didn''t have enough time to check out the ce.


    The bed I was on was smaller than the one in the Prince''s tent. Unlike the one in Prince


    Deacon''s, the ground didn''t have any floorings, but the lighting, tables, and chairs were almost


    the same.


    What I found notable was that there was a separator on one of the corners to hide me when I


    was changing, which I very much appreciated.


    Since they were all men, none needed it, so I reckon they probably made it in haste for me. It''s


    made of wood andrge leaves and straws.


    I''ve changed intofortable pants and a simple shirt and still paired it with mybat


    boots.


    Just in time, as I finished changing, someone called out.


    "Luna Elena? This is Beta Tyson, and I''m here to call you for a meal."


    I came out, and a gentleman in his 30s with a beard and long hair bowed to greet me. Though his hair was tied back, a few strands of his hair were loose in front of his face.


    "Nice to meet you, Beta Tyson." It was the first time I saw him.


    He gestured through the way, and I followed him toward the massive open tent where many of


    the warriors were eating.


    "Oh, no need. I can do this." I smiled at him in gratitude as I grabbed the MRE from him and prepared it myself.


    "Where''s Prince Deacon? Won''t he have his breakfast?" I asked when I looked around and


    didn''t find him.


    "The prince''s schedule is always swamped. Aside from patrolling, he''s also training the new


    warriors," he exined.


    My spoon stopped mid-way through my meal, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. "


    < Chapter 18


    Patrolling?"


    Does he even patrol by himself? The border warriors could do that.


    +8 Points >


    Beta Tyson nodded his head. ¡°Yes, he said patrolling is an important task. Though we have warriors assigned for that, he''d still do a few rounds daily at random times."


    Hearing that, I admire him even more. He''s very diligent and hard-working. He really takes


    things seriously.


    "Oh, and by the way, Luna. Two of your friends arrived today. They''re already at the main camp


    being inspected."


    My face instantly brightened up upon hearing that.


    "Really?"


    When he nodded, I started eating faster, excited about seeing my friends. It felt like forever


    since Ist saw them.


    "Hey! yer! We miss you!" A woman with shag brown hair whose wearing warrior clothes ran toward me and immediately engulfed me in an embrace.


    "I missed you too, Maise," I coughed up after almost being strangled to death by her death


    trap embrace.


    "Oohhh, there''s a lot of hotties here," Saige uttered in excitement as she winked, causing me to


    Saige had long red hair wrapped in a bun. Though she wore warrior clothes, her belly button and waist were bare. We tease her sometimes and call her the Honey Trap because of her


    beauty, and she sure knows how to use her charm.


    Though she''s deadly with her fist, she''s way more deadly once she starts trapping men in her inescapable trap of charm.


    "Finally, we''re here! In the flesh!"


    We had our arms around each other''s shoulders as we stood in line, looking far at the entire


    camp.


    All three of us were apprentices who trained in Custodes, and it''s our dream to fight in a battle and give our share of skills, but when I got married, the two of them also stayed behind,


    waiting for myeback.


    "I''ll leave you first to catch up."


    < Chapter 18


    I sheepishly looked at Beta Tyson, who was still in front of me. "Thank you."


    +8 Points >


    "Oh, do you happen to know where the recruitment is taking ce?" I asked before he left.


    He looked a little hesitant for a while but then nodded. "It''s on the east side of the main camp.


    "Here, have these." I pushed some MREs to Maise''s and Saige''s side as they sat with me.


    At first, our table was filled withughter and reminiscences, but then it became filled with


    fury as I narrated what had happened to my wrecked marriage.


    "Those homewreckers!" Maise mmed her fist on the table where everything moved, and


    those around us nced at it.


    "Chill out," I said in a calm voice and gestured around us.


    "How could we calm down when that bastard and wanna-be-Luna treated you like that?" Saige replied instead.


    Maise then clenched her hands and started stretching it like she was ready for a fight. "I


    swear, I''d teach those two a lesson they''ll never forget when I see them."


    "Alright, that''s enough. On to the good stuff," I said excitedly, trying to change the subject as I


    stood up and grabbed their hands.


    They both looked at me with questions, but I didn''t answer them and just pulled them toward


    the recruitment area, where we saw a long queue of unlisted warriors trying to apply.


    "Now, this is what I''m talking about." Maise finally came down and queued with


    me.


    Our hearts were pumping with excitement as our dreams were not at arm''s reach, but it all


    shuttered when we reached the recruiter who scrutinizingly stared at each of us with prejudice


    as he mercilessly said the words we never thought we''d hear as a Custodes apprentices.


    "You''re not qualified. Leave!"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 19

    Elena''s POV


    I looked at the man before me,pletely dumbfounded by his judgment. He didn''t even ask questions about our background or anything, and he dared to reject us just like that.


    "Excuse me?"


    "What nonsense are you spouting about?"


    Saige and Maise respectively spoke. But while Saige merely had her arms crossed over her chest, Maise had her hands mmed over the table, which angered the recruiter, and she stood up with a red face that portrayed a bulldog who was about to go on a rampage.


    "You three, don''t cause a stir in here! This is a battlefield camp and not some yground for women like you!" he shouted.


    The three of us looked at each other with hungry jaws for a while before we all looked back at the recruiter with a fierce re.


    What''s his reason?


    "Huh! And yet you have a homewrecker she-wolf as a general! The double standard here is just beyond my understanding!" Maise blown up.


    "Homewrecker?" The recruiter looked confused before he snickered, "Are you talking about


    General Glenda?"


    "Who else?" Saige snickered


    "You useless women! Get out of here; you''re dying the line!" he pointed at the long queue after us before he threw a ss of water our way. Luckily, we were agile and managed to avoid it before it drenched us.


    "And how dare you all try topare yourselves to General Glenda? You won''t even be


    in line.


    They even started pointing fingers at us.


    "Yes, how dare them?"


    "They''re delusional!"


    "They''re just women and not fit to be a warrior. What a joke!"


    < Chapter 19


    +8 Points >


    "General Glenda is trained in a pce. What about this woman? Where do they


    evene


    from?"


    They all spoke, throwing insults at us while praising Glenda like she was some kind of hero.


    "You heard that? Everyone thinks that way, so stop causing dys and rant your stupid feelings off somewhere else!" he shouted and took a threatening step forward to push me


    away.


    However, seeing his dirty, stupid pawsing my way to touch me and push me like a piece


    of trash, I lose myst strand of patience.


    Just as his right hand was about to reach into my left arm and were an inch away from me, I


    grabbed his wrist with my right hand before I swiftly moved around so my back would be on


    his front, and I bent down while pulling his arm before sessfully throwing him to the


    ground.


    He grounded in pain as he looked up at me with utter shock.


    Moving fast, he jumped up and started attacking me, but no matter how fast he moved, I


    boundedly avoided his attacks by shifting my footing.


    I rolled my eyes when I got bored enough. "Is that all you got?"


    Smirking, I taunted, "You had the audacity to judge me and my friends when you can''t even


    take a hit at me? Come on, just one touch."


    "Stop ying games! I''m not even done yet!" he shouted, moving faster and with more fury


    than he unhinged his ws and was ready to cause an injury.


    "Come on, yer, finish this off. I''m bored enough already," Saigemented while sitting at


    the recruiter''s table.


    With that, I used my leg to bnce him before pulling it up, which took him down. Without


    hesitation, I stepped on his chest and let the small heel of my botos dig into his skin.


    ring, I hissed, "p***y!"


    "That was..."


    "Wow..."


    "Did I see it right?"


    We heard everyone whisper in shock while Maise gave me a thumbs-up and mouthed, "Atta girl!"


    < Chapter 19


    Meanwhile, Saige stared at her nails in boredom, fully knowing that it wasn''t even half my capabilities.


    "What''s happening here?"


    +8 Points >


    I froze at my ce when I heard that baritone voice that made everyone bow their heads in respect.


    "Elena?" he asked, waiting for me to speak.


    I took a deep breath before I raised my feet and gave the recruiter ast kick on


    the side that made him cough in pain.


    Slowly, I turned around and faced Prince Deacon.


    Still angered by our unjust treatment, though, I kept a stern face and crossed my


    arm.


    Briefly ncing at the recruiter, who was still holding his side in pain, I replied, "That wuss of a man you have here to recruit had the audacity to reject us without proper evaluation. And he''s


    reason..."


    I took a step forward at him and snickered as I gestured to myself and my friends, "Was


    because we''re a woman!"


    "My friends came here from a long way to give aid, and here''s how they were being treated." I stood tall and faced him without fear. "Prince Deacon, as their general here, do you think the same? Is this how you lowly look at female warriors as well?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 20

    Elena''s POV


    Prince Deacon looked at the recruiter for a while before he shifted his gaze and directed it to


    Tyson, who was behind him. "Tell me, since when did we start recruiting warriors based on


    gender?"


    Tyson stood tall and cleared his throat, looking disapprovingly at the recruiter. "Never heard of


    any memo about that, Prince."


    "Exactly, so... What''s happening here?"


    It''s impressive how Prince Deacon kept a straight face and a calm voice, but his words still


    weighed so much that I observed the others getting a chill on their spine.


    "It''s my fault, Prince Deacon."


    My brows raised in surprise when the recruiter readily admitted it. He put his arms on his back


    and stood up properly in an attention matter or warriors.


    "Oh?" Saige sidemented as she finally stood up from the table and sent the recruiter the


    same look of disbelief as Maise was doing.


    The recruiter looked at each of us with a hint of surprise, admiration, and fear. Swallowing, he


    went on, ¡°I never really thought in my life that I''d ever be stepped on and defeated by a


    she-wolf. It''s acking on my part, Prince Deacon."


    "She..." The recruiter stared at me while pointing respectfully with his hand, almost lost for


    words, as he kept parting and closing his lips like a fish.


    "She''s what? Speak properly," Tyson urged impatiently.


    Clearing his throat, the recruiter came back to his senses. "It''s amazing! Her agility and reaction time were top-notch! She''s even faster than General Glenda and... her skills! I had


    never met a woman so great! She''s probably even better with the other warriors I recruited


    before!"


    Hearing his words, Beta Tyson was surprised, as were the men in the queue who had been insulting us earlier.


    I raised a brow at the recruiter. I must say, though he was arrogant and prejudiced earlier, he did know how to see talent. He wasn''t so egoistic as to turn his eyes blind and easily epted his defeat.


    < Chapter 20


    +8 Points >


    "You heard that?" I asked Prince Deacon confidently while gesturing at the recruiter, who was nodding his head in agreement.


    Smiling with pride, I raised an eyebrow and raised my arms to gesture to Maise and Saige, who walked beside me. "Can we join the troops?"


    His eyes narrowed as he looked at the three of us for a little while before he sighed. "You''re all


    an apprentice of Custodes; of course, you''re more qualified than the others."


    We heard the gasp of the men behind us, and we all smirked with pride.


    "But..." Prince Deacon added, which halted my inside celebratory dance.


    I stared at him and waited for his verdict.


    "What?"


    He nodded at Maise and Saige. "Only the two of them can join the troops."


    My smilepletely vanished, and I clenched my hands into a fist.


    "What? But why?" I asked him, dismay and anger radiating through my being.


    Stepping forward, I raised my chin and looked straight into his hazel eyes, silently challenging


    him to answer me with a logical reason.


    "Process their entry," he ordered to the recruiter instead before he turned around and left.


    "Elena..." Maise and Saige looked at me hesitantly, but I nodded at them and gestured for


    them to follow the recruiter.


    "I''ll handle it. Go on."


    With that, I ran in the direction Prince Deacon went.


    "Wait!" I shouted.


    He and Beta Tyson halted and turned to look at me. When Beta Tyson, the seriousness


    covering my face, gave Prince Deacon a look and bid his goodbye to us before leaving us


    alone.


    "Why can''t I join? You just said that I''m qualified as a Custodes apprentice," Iined after


    following him inside his tent without asking for permission and going straight to sit on one of


    the log seats.


    He looked at me with dumbfound and a hint of shock at my boldness, but what could he do?


    Even I, myself couldn''t stop myself from being infuriated.


    < Chapter 20


    +8 Points >


    He removed his training gear and angrily mmed it on his bed before he faced


    me. "You''re a Luna, for goddess''s sake, Elena!"


    He pointed outside. "You can''t just go and fight in a battle just because you feel like it."


    "Feel like it?" I scoffed! "I want to fight for our kingdom! I''m skilled, and I have been trained for


    years in this! I even easily outwin your recruiter, who is a high-ranking warrior! Stop being so


    difficult!"


    "Now, I''m the one being difficult?"


    He looked at me with dark eyes as if I snapped his control.


    In a sh of light, he was already in front of me and had been pinned against the


    wooden pole


    while dangerously staring into my eyes. "You''re life matters!"


    Iughed at that. "Don''t be a hypocrite, Prince Deacon! You''re a prince of f**k''s sake! If it''s a


    matter of life, you value more!"


    What''s his real deal?


    I couldn''t understand what was running through that thick head of his. Why was


    he being so...


    protective?


    We didn''t even know each other!


    His hold on my arm tightened, making me squirm. "You''re hurting me," I whispered, and as


    though he was burned, he immediately let go of me and took a step back.


    With pursed lips, he repeated, "You can''t, and you won''t join the troops. That''s final."


    Feeling wronged, I walked toward the exit. While holding the fabric door with my back on him, I slightly turned my head, pursed my lips into a thin line, and uttered with conviction, "I''ll prove


    it to you. I''m not just a Luna. I''m also a warrior you wouldn''t want to lose."


    2


    ...


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    113

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 21

    Bryson''s POV


    I sat in the middle of the Swiftridge Pack''s grand hall today wearing a midnight blue tuxedo with perfectly styled hair and expensive champagne in my ss while looking with terror at the scene that was unfolding in front of me here at my marriage ceremony with Glenda. Something should be excited about, but instead, I''m feeling the opposite.


    Six days... It''s been exactly six days since Elena rejected me and left the pack. It''s been six days without her, and the pain brought by the rejection was still lingering in my heart.


    They said the pain should''ve only been for a day or two, so why was I still feeling this way?


    Six days after Elena left, with every penny I umted from begging from every pack, friend, and Alphas I knew, I finally managed to bring my wedding ceremony


    with Glenda into action.


    With limited funds, we could only do a limited number of things, including the venue, guest numbers, decorations, and food.


    Though it wasn''t poorly created, it still wasn''t as grand as my wedding with Elena.


    It''s just a simple decoration with one hundred listed guests. Every seat was reserved and specifically arranged to amodate the nobles and high-ranking warriors.


    Unexpectedly, without my knowledge, Glenda invited thirty warriors who


    unmannerly and insensitively took the front seats dedicated to the generals and nobles.


    "Do something about this!" I discreetly said through gritted teeth while motioning towards her guest.


    She looked at me dumbfoundedly, "They are my friends.¡±


    "Who''s not on the guest list!" I pointed out.


    "You know what, loosen up a bit." She didn''t even take me seriously and merely stood up to mingle with the other warriors.


    Many of the arriving nobles and generals stood up from the back and looked at me with dismay as they shook their heads before leaving without hesitation.


    My grip on the champagne tightened.


    I looked at the warriors with Glenda and found them unaffected. They raised their sses, overflowing with drink, and cheered loudly.


    They evenughed and put their arms together, jumping around in circles without care that they nudged the table and chairs.


    It''s a total mess.


    Frustrated, I gulped my drink in one go and infuriatingly left the venue. Why else should I stay and make a fool of myself in here when the ceremony had been ruined!


    The loud sound from the venue started to fade away as I walked through the empty hallway, loosening my necktie and removing my coat, which I thoughtlessly threw at the couch of the pack house as soon as I arrived.


    I stopped at the center of the stairs, looking up to where I would usually see Elena waiting for me before when we were just engaged.


    Suddenly, I started seeing her projection, and my legs moved on their own ord, bringing me to her room.


    With pain in my heart, I sat on the edge of her bed and let my palm slide on the soft nket. I took a whiff of the room, where her floral and sweet scent still lingered in the air.


    The room was already empty after a member of Ironpaw Pack grabbed her things, but I could still imagine her moving around in this room and that sweet, innocent smile stered on her lips when she first saw meing back.


    I could hear her sweet voice and praises from when I was still courting her.


    ''I''m a fool,'' Imented to myself as I felt the void in my heart. I snickered, realizing it was no longer the rejected bond that pained me but my own feelings as I missed her.


    Feeling lost and stuffy, I unbuttoned the first two buttons of my shirt and took a walk around the forest.


    I was feeling so down that I didn''t realize I''d been staying at the cliff for hours on the border side of the pack until the sun rose and its light shone through me. Exhausted and sleepless, I walked like a zombie back to the pack house, but as soon as I arrived at the master bedroom, what greeted me was a pillow that was knocked onto my head.


    "What the hell, Glenda?"


    "Don''t what the hell at me! Where the hell were youst night? It''s our wedding night!" she shouted as she strolled toward me and pushed me on the chest, making me stumble back from the loss of bnce.


    Then, she started poking me with her finger. "And how dare you leave the ceremony? You humiliated me!"


    "Humiliated you?" I scoffed in disbelief. Is she fucking hearing herself?


    "You''re the one who humiliated both of us! Why did you make those uninvited guestse and take the seats of those high-ranking members? Not only that, but you all got drunk and went around. How can you act so recklessly when you''re now the Luna of this pack!" I shouted back and pushed her back, making her stumble and sit on the bed that was behind her.


    She looked at me dumbfoundedly. "What, are you regretting marrying me now and leaving that woman?" When I didn''t answer, she snickered. "I can''t believe this! Are you still thinking of Elena?!"


    I kept my mouth shut, and that''s when realization hit her.


    Furious, she stood up and pped me hard, making me turn my face in the other direction. I wouldn''t be surprised if there''s a mark on my face. After all, she''s strong as she''s a warrior.


    "How dare you! I''m your Alpha!" I shouted and raised my arm, ready to p her back, but the door suddenly creaked when it was opened.


    Collin, my Beta, came in a rush. His face was stoic as his eyes wandered between me and Glenda before he spoke, Alpha, Luna, you were both summoned by the King to go to the Withered Hintend in the Northern Area to provide support.''


    31

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 22

    Bryson''s POV


    "King Desmond, Glenda, and I are here to receive your orders and ready to lead troops to the Withered Hintend any second at your words," I respectfully greeted as I kneeled down on one knee with Glenda doing, the same beside me.


    We ced our right arm''s elbow on top of our bended knee and bowed our heads in respect to the King


    "You may raise."


    After hearing that, Glenda and I stood upright with arms on either side of us.


    Once the King gestured for the seats on the side, we sat down and waited for him to speak. Looking at his bothered face, a feeling of anxiety rushed through my veins.


    Did something happen?


    He let out a sigh as he grabbed the goblet beside him, gulping down its contents before looking up at me. "I need the two of you to lead troops in the Withered Hintend as soon as possible."


    "May we know what happened?" I asked.


    "Yes, isn''t Prince Deacon already in there? Thest time I heard, everything was under control."


    I gave Glenda a discreet hiss and red at her. How could she dare speak like that, almost like questioning the king? However, her eyes were focused on King Desmond, uncaring about what I said.


    "That''s what I thought as well, but some of the border packs had colluded with the Rogues and were in for a rebellion."


    "A rebellion? We need to hurry then." Feeling the urgency of the matter, I couldn''t help but stand up.


    Rogues were trouble enough. How dare those packs join the Rogues andmit treason?


    The King then surprisingly sigh. "If only I listened to Elena''s warning sooner. THis wouldn''t have happened.''


    My eyes widened. Did I heard him right?


    "Elena?" My head turned so fast at Glenda when she asked that. So, I heard it correctly.


    The King nodded.


    "Is she our intel?" I asked.


    How could she know something as confidential as that? And it''s about the war. There''s no way she could have any ideas about military knowledge. Much more know about it faster than I know.


    Glenda looked at me before she turned to the King and hesitantly asked, "Then... Has it been confirmed? Elena is not a warrior. How can she possibly..."


    "It''s been confirmed. Prince Deacon told me about it himself. What''s important now is for the two of you to reach the camp in the Northern Area before the rebellion starts. I need you there to aid the Prince and his troops."


    I took a step forward, ready to ept his order and aid in stopping the chaos, but...


    "I''ll lead the troops and promise to perish those traitors and Rogues, King Desmond."


    My brows furrowed as I looked to my left, where Glenda had already taken a step forward, standing on the same


    level as me.


    The King nodded. "Both of you will be there. Alpha Bryson will be the General, and you will be the Deputy General, Luna Glenda. I am looking forward for both of you to aid the Prince well."


    "You can rest assured, King Desmond," I replied the exact moment Glenda spoke. "Your Highness, Bryson and I can handle this manner in no time. This is a piece of cake for us. Why not make us themander instead?" she asked.


    My eyes widened, and I shifted to look at her ridiculously. What was she thinking?


    "Glenda!" I hissed.


    Then, a loud bang was heard, jolting both of us. Turning around, I saw the king with red-fuming eyes as he mmed his hands on his throne''s armrest before standing dominantly before us.


    It''s already an honor to aid Prince Deacon - the god of war. How dare Glenda try to rank him out? She''s being ridiculously arrogant! She''ll both get us killed with her attitude like that.


    How could I not see her arrogance before?


    "Nonsense! How can a mere general like you want to be the mainmander when the Prince is in there? And not just any prince but the man who led many battles to sess?" King Desmond asked, voice booming the entire hall.


    "I-You''re Highness, I was..."


    Seeing her stutter, I took a step forward. "We apologize, King Desmond. It''s not what she meant."


    The King sneered, sarcastically replying, "Sure, it''s not."


    "You can mark my words, Your Highness. Bryson and I will win this war."


    Smirking, King Desmond said, "You better."


    With that, Glenda and I left the pce. I took onest look at the pce before we left the gate. As soon as we were out of the guard''s ears, I halted and mingly looked at Glenda. "What was that about?"


    "I can''t believe that shrew ex of yours actually went to the king! What was she thinking?" She pointed at the pce with a scornful look on her face. "Did she want to earn points with the king, huh? She''s dreaming!" she pointed out.


    "Stop! What do you think were you thinking asking to be amander back there? And your actions! You were talking with the King! Look, you angered him!" I scolded.


    She''s right, though. I don''t know how Elena learned about the Withered Hintend threat or what her n was when she came to the king.


    If she had some intel, she should havee to me first. The king would unquestionably believe me, and the issue wouldn''t have escted this far because the King would take action in an instant!


    When I jolted back from my thoughts, I saw Glenda ring at me. "What''s your problem? Is it because of Elena? You''ve been so distant to me? What, do you regret breaking up with her?"


    "What are you talking about?" I asked.


    I was talking about her attitude towards the King earlier. How did things jump to Elena''s matter?


    "I don''t care about Elena, okay? She''s history!" I pointed out.


    I thought that would make her feel better, but she only sneered in disbelief.


    She took a step closer to me, looked me seriously in the eye and poked my chest


    with a finger. "Listen. To me, marrying is the biggest blessing in your life. In no time, I''ll help you get more honors from the Kingdom, which that shrew will never be able to give you!"


    ,


    "I..." she interrupted me before I could speak.


    "Just you wait! I''ll make you stop thinking of that woman and win this battle!"


    Then, something in her eyes glinted.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 23

    Elena''s POV


    "What was that?"


    "Did you hear that?"


    "Are those swords shing?"


    Maisy, Saige, and I had jolted awake from our sleep almost simultaneously, throwing the nket on top of us and getting up from bed with alertness.


    At first, Prince Deacan wanted to give them another tent to share, but I said they could stay with me. After all, we had a lot of things to catch up on.


    But what we didn''t expect was to wake up in the middle of the night from a series of screams, bombs, and sounds of shing swords.


    We all looked at each other and nodded in understanding. In less than a minute, we had ourbat clothes on.


    "Let''s give them aid. I''ll go to the front. Mais while peaking from the in-between of the


    you''re in the west. Saige, you''re on the east side," Imanded fabric door.


    But before we could step out, one of the soldiers rushed in. Luna Elena, I''m sorry for barging in. I need to evacuate you as per Prince''s ord-"


    He didn''t manage to finish his words when he looked up and saw my appearance. His eyes wandered between the three of us, shock evident in his eyes as he looked up and down between us, who were wearing warrior clothes.


    And it''s not just simple warrior clothes. It''s a top-of-the-line outfit from the Custodes. Though it''s thin and light, it''s far heavier duty than the average. It''s even par with those things the royals use.


    "There''s no way I''ll run from this. We need to help," I replied, pulling him out of his thoughts.


    "Yeah, ande on! We''re made for this!"


    "We literally trained for this."


    Maige and Saige added.


    "But-"


    I smirked, took a step beside him, and tapped his shoulder. "Worry about yourself more.''


    With that, we all ran to our designated path.


    A huge smile formed on my lips as I smelled the mixture of wood, blood, and dirt from the surroundings while the screams of pain were like music in my ears.


    Sadistic? No... It''s just I''m born to be a warrior. This is where I belong in a fight, not some house where I must act like a delicate porcin.


    I ran with the wind, quickly bent mid-way, and grabbed a sword. Every time I jumped in the air, I''dnd on my foot with a smirking knowing that one or two Rogues were slit in the throat.


    After a long time, I felt free and powerful. But more than that, I felt useful.


    Bloods splurt out everywhere. I could even feel the hot blood dripping on my face.


    UNUS


    "There you are..." I whispered as I saw Prince Deacon in the middle of the field, fighting a whole lot of Rogues. Wiping the blood blocking my sight with the back of my hands, I smirked and ran toward him.


    "Not on my watch!" I shouted as I ran and jumped in the air, my footnding on the back of a Rogue that was about to pull a sneak attack on the Prince''s back.


    I bent down and held his head up to give myself ess to his neck. With my eyes staring at Prince Deacan''s wide eyes, I put my sword on the Rogue''s neck and killed him.


    "You-"


    Kicking the Rogue''s body away, I stood beside the Prince. "Don''t expect for a second I''ll run with that warrior you sent to me. I''m more capable than you give me credit for."


    "I told you many times. You''re a Luna. You shouldn''t be here," he protested as he held my wrist and pulled me in his back while striking a Rogue from behind me.


    Moving swiftly, I held his arm for support and bent down to kick the man behind


    me.


    As we stood up again and faced each other, I winked at him and nodded at more rushing Rogues toward us. "I''ll bet you I can kill more than you."


    His jaw clenched, but he said no more as I turned around, and we stood back-to- back with each other.


    "Don''t forget to headcount, Your Highness," I jokingly and livelymented before I focused and battled more Rogues.


    "That was awesome!" Maggie rejoiced as shended on her butt beside me on the ground with our backs leaning on a wooden pole.


    Saige ran up to us and threw each of us a bottle of water as shemented, "Tell me about it."


    Hundreds of Rogues attacked us, but it was almost a piece of cake for all of us.


    Most of the warriors were even surprised. Though there weren''t many of them, Prince Deacon was the god of war and fought remarkably as expected. But they didn''t expect the three of us, female warriors, to be up par with the Prince''s skills.


    We were now taking a rest while others were cleaning the battleground a bit. We heard cheers and praises from the warriors, even from those who had doubted us before.


    I''d say it''s a fulfilling feeling.


    I was drinking my water when the water almost choked me as I saw the dominating man approaching me.


    His steps were heavy as his boots dipped in the mud. His hands gripped his sword so hard that his knuckles had turned white while blood dripped on the sword. His hair was in a sexy mess, and blood and sweat mixed on the side of his face.


    The darkness of his eyes brought a chill to my spine. How could someone be so devilishly handsome like him?


    He stopped right before me, making me swallow as I dropped my bottle to the side. He sheathed his sword so smoothly and looked down on me.


    "Are you injured?" his voice was deep andced with controlled anger.


    Silence filled the surroundings, afraid to add fuel to his igniting emotion.


    I swallowed and calmed myself as I pulled every courage in me.


    Reminding myself of my bet with him, my nerves became alive again.


    I smiled proudly, shook my head, and asked, "How many did you kill?"


    He stared at me for a while before finally moving and pulling out a clean handkerchief inside his warrior shield. Bending down to my level, he started wiping my blooded face.


    Oh, damn... what is he doing?


    My body froze, my breathing hitched, and my heart went wild. His face was so close to me, and I could vividly smell his intoxicating wood and minty scent.


    After he wiped my face, his hands lingered on my cheek. Eyes focused on mine, he replied in a deep and husky voice, "You perished hundreds of them. You were amazing


    Not interesting at all


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    Very interesting

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 24

    Deacon''s POV


    There it was again, that bright smile that seemingly reached the sky, those sparkling eyes like stars, and that joyfulugh that could liven up even the crying clouds.


    I was breathing heavily as I walked toward Elena, who had Herself carelessly mmed on the ground, back leaning on a post log with one leg stretched out while the other bent with her elbow leaning on it as she drank water from the bottle so carelessly that some water spilled to her face. It seemed intentional, though, as if she was trying to refresh herself from that long, exhausting battle.


    "How many did you kill?" she asked excitedly and so casually, as if it were not Rogues we were talking about. Pride rose in my heart. It seemed like it was just a piece of cake for her.


    Caressing her cheek after I''ve wiped her face clean, I praised her for killing hundreds of Rogues, which was probably triple what my average warrior managed to do.


    And all that without much coteral on her part.


    My eyes wandered on her face, which was still as wless as it was when she came, only that her hair hid a small cut on her forehead. Being so close to her, I also saw the callouses on her hand, just right in between her thumb and index finger, a sign she''d been training diligently with swords before.


    There were some bruises on her ankles and arms, but they were already fading. Though worry had filled my heart to see her battling instead of being in safety, I couldn''t help but feel proud of her exceptional skills.


    "Of course, I told you, I''m good!" she proudly replied.


    I let out a small smile and tapped her head, purposely messing with her tightly tied hair. "Now I see, you are indeed worthy of being an apprentice of Custodes."


    She tilted her head a bit and proudly stared at me as she boasted more, ¡°You should have never doubted me in the first ce."


    I didn''t..... I just didn''t want you to get hurt...


    I stared into her sparkling brown eyes, and something in me instantly jolted as I was pulled back in time to the ce where I first saw those mesmerizing eyes.


    Bing the god of war wasn''t a natural gift I was born with. It''s something I worked hard for. Since I was young, I''ve been training days and nights to be the best warrior until such time that my father granted me the opportunity to be a student of Daco Dooley, Elena''s father.


    At the age of sixteen, I was exhausted from all the extensive training Daco was giving me. He didn''t care that I was a prince; he went all out, showing no mercy, making me the best among the best.


    Bruises were all over my body, and exhaustion was vivid in my face.


    One afternoon, Iy on a tree branch, feeling the fresh air and letting it heal my holistically tired body. I was on the verge of giving up training, but then I suddenly heard this beautiful and joyousugh, followed by soft footsteps cascading on the grass.


    I looked down through the tree leaves to see this warm and bright girl, about twelve years old. Shey down on the grass and lifted her hands to the sky, looking at the clouds through her finger.


    Her smile reached her eyes while she hummed a song.


    She looked so happy, like a ray of sunshine.


    Come on, your brothers are waiting for you!"


    "Their back?" she immediately stood up and happily ran to the woman who called her. Peaking through, I realized that it was Megan Dooley, the Luna of Ironridge Pack.


    So... she''s the only daughter of my master, Daco Dooley."


    I jumped down from the tree, feeling as refreshed as ever. I stared at her


    retreating figure as she happily skipped steps with her mother, excited to greet her brothers.


    That was the first time I saw her... and she still looked like that now.


    Seeing her on the ground in her warrior clothes and blood sttered on her clothes, I couldn''t believe how many years had passed. I never thought that girl would be this good at fighting.


    But despite her skills and the deaths she had in her hands today, her face and eyes remained glowing, just as I. remembered them to be.


    I stood up properly and nodded at her, gesturing at her position. "Stand up, don''t sit there like a man.


    She only smiled at me and leaned her head on the log behind her as she looked up at me. Pouting, sheined, "But I''m too tired."


    Cute...


    Couldn''t help it. I leaned toward her and subconsciously pinched her cheeks lightly. "Of course, you''re tired. You killed a lot today. You should return to your tent and rest instead of staying here in the battleground with blood and dirt."


    She only pouted even more, but then I saw how the part where I pinched her started getting red. Hence, I let go even if I wasn''t holding her tight.


    Sighing, I decided to give her news that I knew would bring life to her. "Set up a team of your own. You''ll be part of the frontline from now on."


    "What?" As expected, she immediately stood up, looking jumpy in excitement.


    "Don''t make me repeat what I said!" I said indifferently, trying to hide the smile forming on my lips.


    "You heard that?" she jumped, turned around, and shouted at her friends who was now standing as well and nodding hteir heads at her.


    I watched as she turned around and pulled her two friends to her, who rejoiced by making handshakes, pping their hands, and cheering.


    Watching her brought joy to my heart.


    After letting her rejoice for a while, though, I cleared my throat to get her attention.


    "Come with me. I have something to talk to you about," I said, making her stop and look at me seriously.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 25

    Elena''s POV


    After Prince Deacon said he wanted to tell me something, immediately gulped down the entire bottle of water and stood up to follow him back to his barracks.


    A jolt of excitement surged through me, making my stomach flutter as Prince Deacon''s intoxicating scent filled the air. He slowed his pace to match mine after noticing I was walking behind him to show respect for his rank.


    I pierced my lips, and my breathing hitched as we walked in synced back to his tent; though we were filled with silence, my excited heartbeat seemingly became our background music.


    I didn''t know as well why he had this effect on me; probably because he treated me well or because it was just his dominating, aloof, and unpredictable behavior.


    When we arrived, he ced a cup of refreshing drink in front of me before he sat down opposite my seat.


    See, he''s a prince, and he''s doing all these. Whose woman wouldn''t have her heart fast-beating?


    "I''ve investigated how Glenda and Bryson''s winning on the Dead Border is rted to the other packs colluding rebellion with the Rogues."


    When he said that, everything I was feeling vanished as I became filled with overwhelming shock and curiosity. The Dead border was the border on the Southern battlefield, which Bryson and Glenda had won before.


    I dropped the cup of tea and looked at him seriously. I leaned closer to the table and asked, "What did you get?" He pulled a letter or some kind of document from the drawer beside him and pushed it toward me. Nodding at it in a gesture, he told me to open it.


    Wasting no time, I unfolded the letter and had my eyes wondered at each of the letters, words, and sentences on it. And while I do so, I feel like the oxygen in my lungs is being sucked out as the terrifying and inhuman truth fills my brain.


    "This... I..."


    I was even lost for words.


    "Is this the truth? It''s what really happened?" I asked in almost a whisper.


    He sped his hands on the table and nodded at me. His eyes were dark as he stared at me seriously.


    Then, with a deep and serious voice, he replied, "I was shocked when I saw that, too. But we''ve checked it out a couple of times, and my men confirmed it."


    "So, Glenda mistaken an Alpha''s heir as a Rogue while training near the Dead Border and inhumanly tortured him every day until hemitted suicide from all the physical pain and emotional damage it caused?"


    It sounded like a question, but it''s more of a statement. Nheless, I heard Prince Deacon''s sigh and whis saddened hod.


    Now I understand. Glenda caused a father to lose a son and a pack to lose an Alpha heir.


    Even if she was unaware, how could she torture Rogues like that? We kill, captive, and do many things just to save and protect our kingdom. But torturing someone daily, especially a young like the Alpha''s son, was too much. Anyone would plot revenge for that. But the more profound question was, how was my pack rted to this?


    If this was the cause of revenge, why did they massacre my pack instead? Why not plot revenge on Glenda instead?


    "Ava... There''s probably more to this. I need to know more." I told my wolf.


    "Yes, we need to know." I could feel the anger filling her as she said that. "You can ask Prince Daecon for help. I know he will be d to help as it''s also rted to the issue. And most of all, he had the power and connection to do so."


    I contemted for a bit. It was indeed a good idea, but after some thought, I knew that it was not the right time


    yet.


    "There''s still a more important matter to handle in thisnd. I don''t want to bother him with more issues in the Southernnds while we are here. We have to end this first, I replied to her.


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry, I know time is important. I''ll ask Senior Warrior Frqaqnches for help first."


    She seemed satisfied with the other and rxed after hearing it. Every second matters in investigating the past, as every second that passed was every possible second that a clue was vanishing.


    "What''s on your mind? Where did you go?" Prince Daecon''s deep voice suddenly pulled me from my own thoughts.


    I blinked a couple of times and tried to y it cool. I gave him a small smile and waved my hand. "Oh, sorry, I was just talking with my wolf."


    He nodded his head.


    "Oh, before I forget. This might be a good news to you. I just received a memo from the kingdom. Alpha Bryson ising here to give aid in war."


    "What?!"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 26

    Elena''s POV


    As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I instantly regretted it.


    "Is there a problem?" Prince Deacon asked,pletely confused, which wasn''t surprising as he wasn''t aware of my divorce from Bryson.


    It''s only natural for him to think that I''d be happy to see my so-called ''husband''. Unbeknownst to him, I feel nothing but difort and anger at the possibility of seeing my ex-husband with his general, whom he reced me with as his wife and Luna of his pack.


    Shaking my head, I stood up and gave him a forced smile while secretly feeling the scorching pain surging through my veins and into my heart. "No, I was just surprised, is all."


    "If there''s nothing more, then I''ll..." I pointed outside. "I''ll have my rest first." Bryson''sing here, for sure Glenda would be with him...


    Those were my thoughts before I sshed my face with cold water from a basin to clean the dried blood around my face that Prince Deacon didn''tpletely wipe off.


    Through the small mirror, I observed my face, which was once expressive and turned into a stone.


    They made me like this. Their betrayal vanished all my care for them. Now, all I had for them was hatred.


    "Hey, girl! How''s your talk with Prince Deacon?" Saige asked as soon as she went inside my tent without notice. Maise and Saige walked in as if they owned the ce andfortably went to find a ce to stay.


    Saige leaned on the table, half sitting on it, while Maise recklessly went straight to my bed and mmed herself down.


    "Why is your bed better than us?" she asked, voiceced with another meaning.


    "You''re overthinking it," was all I replied before I sat on one of the logs and faced them both.


    "Bryson ising here to aid," I told them, wiping my face dry.


    "What?"


    "That bastard is?"


    They both became alert, voices filled with hatred and sharpness.


    "I don''t understand." Maise suddenly sat up from bed and stared at me with narrowed and judgeful eyes. "Why did you even marry him in the first ce?"


    My jaw hung open. We have been friends for so long, and I still couldn''t get used to how tant she was. Her mouth literally had no filter.


    She waved her hand in the air. "I mean,e on! You''re you!" She exaggeratedly pointed at me v er palms and gestured me from head to toe. "You are well- praised by our masters in Custodes, and everyone envies you for your exceptional skills."


    "Yes..." Saige added. "So why did you settled for less?"


    "Exactly! Why gave it all up for a useless asshole like Alpha Bryson?" Maige asked before her face immediately scrunched up in disgust. "Not that he''s even worthy to be called an Alpha."


    "Did you really love him?"


    When Saige asked that, I wiped my emotions off my face. I stood up, dismayed, and shook my head as I ced the towel onto a hanger before leaning on one of the post logs.


    While I did so, my mind travel to the past when my Bryson''s name could still sent butterflies in my stomach and his eyes could still make me swoon over.


    Giving a bitter smile, I shook my head and simply replied instead, "I did it for my mother. She had been


    devastated after the loss of my father and brothers, and she didn''t want me on the battlefield anymore, risking my life every day..."


    I love my mother so much. Back then, she was the only one have left and was already on verge of death. I didn''t want to see her leaving full of worry about my life.


    "But why him?" Maise asked again as if Bryson was the worst person in the world.


    I sighed before letting out a bitterugh. Back then, I thought it wasn''t the bad decision. He was so sweet and he made me smile. He made me feel like everything he said was the truth; that he could give me a happy marriage life.


    Shrugging my shoulders, I replied, "He courted, and he was initially okay... I thought he could be a great husband


    After all, he vowed to my mother that he would only marry me and no one else."


    My eyes shifted at each of them as I said in a low voice while almost hearing Bryson''s words before. "He said he won''t leave me... Not even for his fated mate..."


    Huffing, I added, "But I guess it was all just bullshit from the start."


    I was so foolish to think he would do as he said. After all, its his fated mate we were talking about.


    "Oh, that asshole! Is he even a man?! Don''t dwell or be said for a man like him!" "Yes, we got your back, whatever you want. Do you want us to teach him a lesson?"


    Saige and Maise uttered, respectively. They were now both standing and looking at me, sadness flickering in their eyes before they went forward and engulfed me in their embrace.


    I leaned my head on their shoulders and asked what''s been upying my mind for a while. "Do you think should I tell Prince Deacon the truth about me and Bryson?"


    Since the warriors and Prince Deacon weren''t always in the inner kingdom, they weren''t current with the events.


    Hearing that, they pulled away from me and nced at each other before they thoughtfully stared at me and shook their heads. "Absolutely not."


    "For real! Let theme clean on their own and face their own music. It''s what they should do and not you." Saige nodded her head eagerly.


    Maise, on the other hand, bumped her fist on her other palm and uttered, ¡°Let''s see how far their arrogance can take them!"


    I couldn''t help but smile at how supportive they were.


    "Enough of this! We just won! We need to celebrate this!" Saige suddenly said before pulling out a bottle of whiskey from her back. It turned out it had been in between her belt all along.


    We allughed and cheered at the sight of it before we ran to the chairs and table.


    +26 BONUS


    We raised our hands and shouted as Saige opened the bottle and its delectable, pungent scent of alcoholic spirit filled our nose.


    I grabbed the bottle to drink first, but just as its opening was about to reach my lips, a baritone voice sent butterflies to my stomach, halting my hands halfway in the air.


    "I went here to tell you guys something, instead up catching someone sneaking a drink."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 27

    Elena''s POV


    +25 BORUS


    We all turned around to meet Prince Deacon''s humorous eyes despite the sternness we had heard in his voice seconds earlier.


    Seeing as he was merely teasing, I smiled and raised the bottle. "Come on, Prince Deacon, it''s only a little drink."


    "A little?" He raised his brows as he approached our table and grabbed the drink from my hand. He lifted it to his nose and took a quick sniff. "A little drink but of a whisky... Really?"


    I shrugged my shoulders and kept silent.


    "It''s only for a celebration, Prince Deacon. Don''t be a party pooper!" Maise uttered, once again, with a mouth out of control.


    Saige and I looked at her with wide eyes before we cautiously looked back at Prince Deacon, expecting him to be angry.


    Unexpectedly, he only shook his head and grinned. "Enough with the excuses,dies. We can''t have you all tipsy or drunk while in a war, could we?"


    "But..."


    "No more words. Rules are rules, This..." He gestured to the bottle he was holding and put it on his back. "I''ll be keeping this. You guys rest up first. It''s been a long night."


    I stared at his back as he turned around. Though disappointed as I was an inch away from having a drink, I couldn''t help but be mesmerized with him.


    Though he appeared aloof and dominant before, he was surprisingly down-to- earth and easy to go with once he warmed up to people. For a prince, he was very approachable. No... he didn''t even seem like a prince with how humble he


    was.


    ego of roy


    He had authority and lead ship, but I saw which was a fresh attitude from the royals. "Wait... Didn''t he say he was here about something?" Maisy tapped my arm.


    Saige nodded and pointed at Prince Deacon in the same confusion. "Was he just here to stop us from drinking?" "Oh, right!" Prince Deacon halted just a step away from leaving the tent door and looked back at us as if he heard us. "You''re all invited to join all the warriors tomorrow night for a proper celebration after we clear the battleground."


    Then, his smile widened into a teasing grin. "You guys can have your fill then."


    With that, he gave me a quick wink that sucked my soul before hepletely left, leaving my heart hanging with unknown emotions.


    "Is that really the prince?"


    "I can''t believe it!"


    "He''s so humble. He''s actually joking with us!


    "Right? As the god of war, I thought he''d be more scary."


    I heard Maise and Saige talking and praising Prince Deacon, but all I could hear


    now was the deafening sound of my heart pounding in my chest.


    The next evening, I wore a simple ck fitted crop top paired with brown and green camouge khakis andbat boots. As I approached the gathering in the back area of the camp, the ce that was once filled with screams of pain was now filled with lively chatters.


    Long logs were ced everywhere, and a bonfire was in the middle of each


    group. The entire ce was filled with warriors. Though some had injuries, they all cheered together in celebration.


    "Yes, she is good. Better than I expected!"


    "I couldn''t believe a woman like Luna Elena could be so fierce in battle."


    "I didn''t expect it as well!"


    When I heard my name distinctively from various groups, a smile instantly formed on my lips. They had already epted me. Far different from when I first came here.


    I was about to step forward and grab drinks and snacks when I met eyes with an older warrior who was still buffed and looked strong for his age.


    He suddenly stood up and tapped those beside him to shut up as he raised his ss. "To Luna Elena, who is fiercer than men in battle!"


    Everyone cheered, and for the first time, I felt my face heat up from all the praise. I tapped my cheeks to calm down and waved my hand in humble disagreement. Suddenly, after they quieted down, the elder warrior''s eyes stared at me deeper before a proud smile crept into his lips. "You remind me so much of your father, Elena. I''m Harold Dwayne, you can call me Uncle Dwayne if you want. Your father was one of the greatest men I''ve fought alongside him."


    Warmth filled my soul, and a smile formed on my lips as my eyes softened at the mention of my father. "T-thank you... I hope I can live up to his name, though I still have a long way to go."


    Someone handed me a drink, and they scooted over to give me a space. I halted for a second when I realized that the space was beside Prince Deacon.


    "What, afraid to sit with me?" he teased.


    Exaggeratedly, I mmed myself beside him. "Who''s afraid?"


    We stared at each other for a while, almost lost in each other''s eyes, when Uncle Dwayne suddenly spoke again. His words were like cold water drenching my body.


    "Alpha Bryson and his pack were very blessed to be married to you."


    My chest instantly tightened as a bitter smile threatened to escape my lips, but I tried to hide it and only gave him an empty nce.


    "He''s right! Let me tell you this, Luna Elena. If Alpha Bryson ever mistreats you, he''ll have all of us teach him a lesson, isn''t that right?" Tyson, Prince Deacon''s Beta, added, which caused the others to shout and raise their sses in agreement.


    I swallowed the pain filling my heart as I watched all of them being protective and supportive They were filled with smiles, totally clueless about the recent happenings in the kingdom.


    ''he same time.


    Opening my lips, I nned toe clean but then remembered my friend''s advice. Hence, I closed it again.


    "Did Bryson bully you?"


    My heart skipped a beat as I almost had a whish when I turned to look at Prince Deacon,

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 28

    Elena''s POV


    My heart momentarily stopped beating as his deep brown eyes lingered in me, seemingly reading my mind and soul through my eyes and searching for the truth.


    His stare was so deep I feared he could read through the pain I was trying so hard to hide deep inside me. But for some reason, I couldn''t look away.


    Swallowing, I slowly shook my head and forced a smile. "No, of course not. He wouldn''t dare."


    A smile lingered on my lips, but I knew that I couldn''t force the sadness in my eyes as I felt the hollow pain in my chest that was getting heavier as Bryson''s name hung in the air.


    Deep down in me, I wanted to lessen the burden that was causing the clench in my chest, but I couldn''t utter a single word. Every time I parted my lips, I''d see the smiles on the faces of the warriors as they thought I had a happy marriage.


    I couldn''t do it. It''s not the proper time nor the proper ce.


    "When you''re ready to speak, remember that I''d be here to listen," he uttered as he grabbed a jag of drink and poured my cup.


    I scoffed. Of course, what did I even expect? He''s the prince and the god of war. He''s not someone that could easily be lied to.


    Silently, I smiled back at him as I raised my hand and received the cup he just filled. But by doing so, my fingers identally brushed into his, and our eyes collided, making the air between us suddenly shift in an unknown direction.


    "Cheers!"


    We looked away from each other, and I coughed away my nerves as I shifted my gaze as well after hearing the warriors cheering and seeing them raise their cups.


    Like them, Prince Deacon and I did the same, and we all gulped our cup''s contents in one go.


    Drink after drink, we all talked about various things,ughing and enjoying the moment. But after some moments, things got serious again when Prince Deacon called for our attention.


    "I hope every one of you had your fun tonight, but it''s without hiding that we are still at war," he stared as he gestured to the entire campsite.


    After looking around, he went serious and continued, "I have been thinking for a while now, and I''vee to a decision that we won''t have to wait for rogues to attack."


    Standing up, his voice became more dominant. "Their games won''t y us. Instead, we will attack them on our terms and lead this war!"


    I looked around and watched as everyone went silent in shock. Little by little, then, the crowd became filled with low murmurs.


    It''s evident that no one expected the Prince to be convicted of an offense this soon, and frankly, I didn''t expect it either, especially since we still didn''t have any aid or an increase in supplies.


    Narrowing my eyes, I stared at him and tried to think things out from his own perspective.


    Why offense? Why so early? How was he nning to win this with ack of hands and supplies?


    Then... after some thoughts... a bulb seemingly suddenly light in my head.


    Clearing my throat, I grabbed their attention, but my eyes remained on Prince Deacon''s.


    "You''re nning to strike for a few times, aren''t you? Three times, to be exact. The first two attacks will be feint distractions. The third will be the real blow," I asked, confidently voicing his thoughts.


    A small smile formed on his lips, and his eyes flickered with... Was it pride that I was seeing?


    For unknown reasons, my heart jumped in joy from receiving an appraisal from him.


    After a few seconds of silence, he nodded his head and smirked with pride. "You''ve been paying attention."


    Paying attention? My heart pounded. Did he see me staring at him, or did he mean paying attention to the state of war we were in?


    Trying to calm myself, I simply believed it was thetter and kept my sanity intact.


    When he moved his head, gesturing for me to move closer, my heart beat faster as I shifted and sat closer to him. I couldn''t exin it, but there was something about Prince Deacon''s gaze that was affecting my functioning,


    I could feel the weight of everyone''s gazes on me, but all that was pulling me was


    Prince Deacon''s gaze, which seemingly warmly burned through my heart.


    I was still lost in his stare when, at the most unexpected moment, he raised his hand and gently pinched my cheek. His warm fingertips made me feel his warmth, further heating my probably already flushed face.


    "Indeed, you''re a natural talent, Elena. An excellent warrior in every sense," he pointed out in a deep voice, eyes staring at me.


    Right there and then, every breath I had was sucked out, and my eyes widened as time seemingly stopped and everyone around us faded into the background.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 29

    Elena''s POV


    I couldn''t deny how my heart stuttered at his words of praise, but what really froze me and took my breath away was his hands lingering longer than necessary on my cheek


    It started as a pinch, but it feels more like a caress right now.


    "I''m looking forward to you and Bryson''s chemistry in battleship. I''m sure you guys would fight side-by-side so well as husband and wife," he suddenly uttered, making all the butterflies in my stomach die down and my frozen body rushedly thawed.


    What''s he doing to me? It''s like he''s bringing me on a rollercoaster ride with his words and unpredictable actions.


    His hands finally fell on his side while he waited for my reply, but I could only look away. Suddenly, myp became very interesting as thousands of thoughts ran through my head.


    I knew he was clueless about my rtionship status just as much as every warrior


    in here. But when I heard them congratting me and Bryson''s name left Prince''s Deacon''s lips, I couldn''t help but debate with myself.


    Should I tell him that I''m already divorced and have it done with before Bryson arrives? But how?


    Doubts and fear gnawed at me, leaving me utterly undecided as turmoil filled my mind, making me indecisive about what to do.


    Fidgeting with my fingers, I brushed it off with a nonsense remark, but when I looked up to speak, I found the space beside me empty.


    Where did he go?


    We were still talking. Why did he suddenly leave? I shook my head. He''s really unpredictable.


    I swivel my eyes around to look for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Not even his shadow was within my eyesight.


    Uncle Harold and the other warriors kept talking livelier and having their drinks, but I lost all interest. After a few drinks with them, I finally decided to stand up and dejectedly returned to my tent.


    As the night became more profound, so did my restless thoughts. Iy awake on my bed with Maise and Saige resting on my side.


    But as every second passed, I felt like my head would explode from all the worries that were rushing into me. Frustrated, I sighed deeply and abruptly sat up, nodding to Maise and Saige.


    "Elena?


    What''s wrong?" Saige sat up while rubbing her eyes, still looking half asleep with her half-open eyes and messy hair. ¡°I''ve half-awake felt you being restless all night."


    "Yeah, is everything alright?" Maisy also sat up and worriedly looked at me.


    Suddenly, I felt a surge of guilt for waking them after they had their share of long nights. Not to mention that they were probably still feeling a bit tipsy.


    Sighing, I shook my head and let out a bitter smile. "It''s nothing... It''s just... I feel like everytg is out of track!"


    I ran my hand through my hair, trying to relieve the clenching pain burdening within me.


    My hands turned into a fist, and I heard my own voice tremble. I momentarily became on the edge of breaking down, and a delta tear ran down my cheeks.


    "Silly, you don''t have to shoulder everything you know? We are here for you." I felt Saige''s arms circled around my waist from the back as she leaned her head on my shoulder.


    Maisy then shifted from her seat and went in front of me as she tapped my knees before gesturing to herself." Come on, let''s hear it and share your burden."


    Damn! I''m so lucky to have them as friends.


    After some contemtion, I sighed and replied, "I''m just worried... If they learn that Bryson and I are already divorced, they might think that I''mpeting with... with her..."


    Maige raised her brows. "And what''s wrong with that? You are obviously way better than her in every aspect!"


    "See!" I pointed out. "Even you guys think I''mpeting with her."


    "Well... aren''t you?" Saige asked, letting go of me and shifting in front of me as well. Both of them looked at me with focus.


    I aggressively shook my head. "No! I''m here to honor my father and brothers and continue their legacy!"


    Sadness and worry filled me even more. The second I freed Bryson, I no longer cared about their affairs, I won''t let them decide my future actions.


    I was here for a dignified reason, and I didn''t want it to be misinterpreted as an act of jealousy or an insult to my family.


    Maise and Saige nced at each other before they nodded in understanding.


    "I did remember you saying before that you want to be a general warrior like your father," Saige affirmed, which eased my clenched heart a bit.


    Maise tapped my shoulder. "Don''t worry. As long as we know the truth, and so did the Prince and the King, none of the other''s thoughts matters. After all, they''re the ones who will decide who stays on the battlefield and who gets promotion or not." "Exactly!" Saige added. "Besides, I think Prince Deacon values your talent so much. I''m sure he wouldn''t think like that."


    Still feeling dejected, I sighed and stood up. "I don''t know. I''ll go and have some fresh air first."


    "Elena..." they tried to call me, but I had already stepped out, feeling the overwhelming turmoil in my head.


    However, just as I was about to turn and wander around, I was stopped by the voice I had been looking for earlier and had been missing-the one that had triggered my worries.


    "Elena... I thought you might be awake. Come outside with me. I-" Prince Deacon''s words halted as I raised my head, and he saw through my reddened eyes.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 30

    Elena''s POV


    The cold breeze of the night wing brushed through my skin but the one that brought a chill to my spine was the deep stare of the man in front of me, which immediately changed to worry and caution as soon as he observed my


    face.


    "Prince, I..." I hastily looked away as if his stare burned me before I discreetly brushed the tears from the corner of my eyes and cleared my throat.


    But then I felt his warm hand gently grasping my wrist. "Don''t hide your face. I already saw it. Something''s wrong, isn''t it?"


    I looked back at him and was instantly taken aback by the faint shadow of tenderness visible in his eyes under the glow of the moonlight.


    "Do you want to talk?" he asked in a voiceced with concern that made me feelforted and even... a bit exposed, as if my inner thoughts were vulnerable in his presence.


    His stare was so mysterious yet full of emotions, something I never saw in anyone''s eyes before. At least, not while looking at me.


    When I realized that he was still waiting for my answer, I asked myself, "Do I?"


    Could I tell him my worries? We were not even close together. We didn''t know each other until now.


    But before I could reply, I felt him pulling me somewhere, and as if my body had its own mind, I just let him drag me to who knows where.


    "This is beautiful...." I whispered as the view in front of me took my breath away.


    He brought me to a cliff at the back of the forest of the campsite. We sat at the edge with our legs dangling in the air.


    The bright full moon and Milky Way filled with stars brightened our ce while the spring running beneath the cliff with the birds chirping on the surrounding trees felt like music in our ears.


    Being here was so rxing, seemingly seeping out all my worries and pain.


    I closed my eyes and felt the night breeze brush through my face, letting my loose hair move in the wind''s direction.


    But then my breathing hitched once more when I felt a warm hand covering my hand, which was leaning on the ground for support. Opening my eyes, I met Prince Deacon''s eyes. "Take your time. You don''t need to say anything if you don''t want to. But remember that if you ever want to talk, I''m just here.¡±


    His words, tone, facial expression-just everything about him right now screamed sincerity, which brought warmth to my heart and seemingly healed a portion of the wound in my soul.


    I kept staring at him as he did while his grasp on my hand became firmer as if to promise me that his words were genuine.


    Later, his other hand raised. I thought he''d caress my cheeks again, but then I felt the back through my cheeks as he helped me push the loose strands of my hair to the back of my ear,


    is fingers brush


    My chest rose and fell heavily as my breathing became ragged. My mind went nk, uncertain of what was happening, especially when his face slowly approached mine.


    I couldn''t look away or speak. I was frozen.


    Inch by inch, his face got closer to my mind, and my eyes felt like they had their own mind and were starting to


    close.


    "Grrrrr..."


    The sound of a wild wolf''s growl in the forest was like ice-cold water that was thrown on us. Prince Deacon hastily removed his hands from mine and pulled back. "I''m sorry, I... I didn''t mean to. I was just..."


    "It... It''s okay," I replied immediately, trying to kill the formed awkwardness as I let out a small smile.


    We were once again covered in silence, just admiring the scenery before us.


    "Thank you," I whispered, finally having the courage to speak to him as my heart calmed down.


    He tilted his head, asking, ¡°For what?"


    Gesturing around us, I replied, "For being here. Things had been overwhelming...


    I at least became more rxed now, especially with the Rogues and war...''


    He nodded his head before something shed in his eyes. "You''ll be safe out there, won''t you? I know you are skilled. You''ve proved it again and again. But still..."


    I smiled, knowing what he meant, before I joked, "Don''t worry. I''ll alwayse back in one piece, no matter which battle you throw me into."


    "Good!" Heughed, shook his head at my smugness, and joked, "Because I don''t want to clean up your mess if you, a Luna,e back all bruised and buttered."


    "Huh!¡± I scoffed. "A person who can beat me like that hasn''t been born yet!"


    "That confident?" he asked.


    "Of course!"


    Hearing that, he stood up and brushed off the dirt from his clothes before he extended his hand to me. "Let''s see then."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 31

    Elena''s POV


    I furrowed my brows as I looked at Prince Deacon curiously but he merely tilted his head and gestured at his extended hand.


    Shrugging, I epted his help and stood up. As I dusted my clothes clean, I asked, "What do you mean?"


    He leaned teasingly forward to me and narrowed his eyes. "You didn''t think I came to find you just tofort you, did I?"


    I cleared my throat, thankful for the darkness hiding the blush on my face. "Of course not."


    It''s the truth, though. I never thought about that, but I forgot that he probably came to me for something.


    He tapped my forehead with the back of his finger before he turned around and waved his hand forward. "Come on, I''ll show you."


    Pouting, I wrapped my forehead and followed his footsteps until we reached the main camp tent where strategic meetings were held.


    As usual, he pulled the door fabric for me and let mee in first like the very gentleman he was far from benign an egoistic Prince.


    "Prince..."


    "Luna Elena..."


    Greetings filled the air as soon as we entered. All the high-ranking warriors were inside, including Uncle Harold, who gave me a slight bow and a huge smile.


    What''s going on?


    As confused and curious as I was, I kept my mouth shut and watched as Prince Deacon made his way to the center, and I followed beside him.


    In front of everyone was a massive wooden table with the border map spread across it. Glimpsing at him, I found that the gentleness and glint of ray in his eyes earlier had already vanished and had been reced with deep determination and seriousness.


    He tapped his finger on the map beside the red g and looked at me. "Elena, you will lead a team in here."


    I''ll lead a team?!


    I followed his fingers. "It''s the border of the Rogues. We''re starting the attack?"


    Prince Deacon nodded his head. "In this mark right here," he ced a stone at the specific area on the entire ce covered by the red gs and continued, "is where their food and supplies are. I want you to breach this. Our goal is to cripple them and shake their morale."


    "I understand. You can count on me." I nodded my head with determination.


    I''ve waited for this opportunity for a long time-a day when I could showcase my skills and be a real warrior like my father and brothers.


    I focused on him and visualized every n he discussed with us. His n was foolproof, which is why he was called the god of war in the first ce. Amazingly, he figured these all out in a short moment.


    His eyes shifted to Uncle Harold before he pointed at our border. "We''ll also have a few of our warriors pretending


    to be severely injured. Make sure it''s obvious to the lingering enemies to make them think we are vulnerable. That way, some of their resources would be divided as they attack here."


    Uncle Harold smirked, understanding the n. "The Rogues would focus on what they thought were our weak link, making them blinded. Luna Elena then could forge through with the ambush undetected."


    Prince Deacon then let out a confident smirk and gave me a look. "And I''ll be there attacking to create a diversion for you."


    Suddenly, he raised his hand and tapped my shoulder. "Stay sharp, Elena. You got this."


    I smirked back at him. "I know."


    What, did he think he''s the only one with confidence?


    He let out a smallugh before he dismissed all of us to prepare for the attack.


    Prince Deacon let me choose my team to lead. Since we were in for an ambush, I chose those with great agility andbat skills in human and wolf form.


    "Are you sure you don''t want us to go with you?" Saige asked with worry while I was tying mybat shoes securely.


    Standing up, I nodded my head and smiled at her and Maise


    I walked a few steps and opened the fabric door before gesturing outside, where everyone was preparing for their acts. Some of the warriors were already lying on the ground with fake blood and injuries, while others were busy preparing their weapons.


    "Look, I need you guys to be here and help protect the camp." I turned and faced them again. "Prince Deacon and I would be at the Rogue''s camp for the ambush. As much as I know how talented Uncle Harold and the warriors are, I''d feel more assured if you guys were here to aid them."


    After all, they were warriors of Custodes, and their skills were something to look up to. They''re someone I trust.


    "It''s time."


    Prince Deacon''s voice fanned on my back. I turned at him and nodded my head with determination.


    The air became filled with anticipation as we all went through specific roles. Heightening all my senses, I ran through with my team and led them to the outskirts of the Rogue''s camp without hesitation while following Prince Deacon''s team.


    As they prepared to attack, I led my members discreetly to the side and raided the Rogue''s supplies. Everything went smoothly, and we perished with everyone who came our way as we grabbed all the rice grains and barrels of


    weapons.


    ¡°Luna Elena, we need to move! We''ve secured the supplies!" one of my team members uttered, so I raised my hand and motioned for everyone to secure it and return to the base.


    But then, as I nced up toward the main battlefield, my heart skipped.


    Prince Deacon, leading his team of warriors in the distance, had been separated from the main unit. And now, a group of Rogue warriors had surrounded him, closing in with raised weapons.


    The scene froze before me, and the sounds of shing metal and shouts blurred around me, I couldn''t tear my eyes away. I knew he was skilled, but there was only so much one man could do against such odds.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 32

    Deacon''s POV


    Excitement rushed through my veins as I ran through the gate of Rogue''s camp, ready to ughter anyoneing my way.


    With a silver de in one hand and an elongated wolf w in another, I dashed forward like a shadow. Before others could even turn to look at me, my de struck through them.


    Shouts and cries quickly filled the area as blood reeked through our noses. My team surged forward without hesitation as we made way for Elena''s team.


    A small smile formed on my lips as I saw in my peripheral vision how she fearlessly led her team toward the supply area of the Rogues.


    Each of her strikes was precise and deadly, almost mirroring my own skills. As her figure vanished before my eyes, I continued rushing forward. But before I realized that I was too upied admiring her, a dozen Rogues were already surrounding


    me.


    "Look at you! Stop daydreaming!" Raker, my wolf, shouted as he tried to put some sense into me.


    I looked around and analyzed the situation. Some were in wolf form, while the others had spears or swords in front of them.


    The wolf in dirty brown fur opened its mouth and let out a roar. He must be a high-ranking member, as what he let out was a growl ofmand.


    "I was just looking," I replied, brushing off his scolding.


    "Yeah, right!"


    After hearing his sarcastic remark, I focus on the real matter.


    Heightening my senses, I felt their every movement and breath. As they rushed forward to attack me, I instinctively bent down, making their weapons tangled above me while my sword was above my head, preventing their des from scratching me.


    Putting both my hands on my de, I twisted it and used the force from my legs as I pushed upward, throwing them to the sides. Without wasting time, I jumped from the one closest to me and struck him with my de before I moved forward to the rest.


    Just as thest Rogue in human form that surrounded me fell to the ground, the one in wolf form growled and jumped on me. However, it only took me a quick shift to avoid his attack, and I jumped behind him. Throwing my de, engulfed his neck with my arms and strangled him until he lost hisst breath and fell.


    While wiping off my sweat, I picked up my sword, and that''s when I saw Elena standing in the middle of the battlefield in a daze while her team was rushing back to secure the stolen supplies.


    She was staring at me with those beautiful eyee filled with worry.


    Damn! I couldn''t help but inwardly curse as I stared at her dazzling eyes. Even at a distance, I couldn''t believe that her expression could stir something within me.


    "Look at you, whipped ass! You''re so caught up at her! You''re so not taking all this seriously. Careful, or she''ll kick your ass and beat you in count kill!" Rakermented on it, making me smirk.


    Reminded of that, I stared back at Elena with teasing eyes as I gestured to the dead Rogues around me. Smugly, I shrugged my shoulders and wiped off an imaginary dirt on my shoulder.


    425 BORUS


    With a mischievous smirk, I narrowed my eyes and mouthed, "Think you can kee


    up?"


    Understanding what I meant, the worry in her eyes immediately vanished, and her face instantly lightened up, A grin shed on her lips, and a fiery determination covered Her face.


    "Game on," she mouthed as we both looked away simultaneously.


    The familiar rush of battle pulsed through my veins as I kept fighting thoseing at me. Still, I couldn''t help but gaze back in her direction from time to time, loving


    to see how she was relentlessly and precisely striking down the Rogues before her one after another like they were nothing.


    Pride filled my heart. She grew up so well, far more skilled than before.


    "Focus on the fight, Deacon!" Raker shouted, taunting me.


    As if on cue, someone attacked me from the side, which I luckily blocked with my hand.


    "What are you doing? Are you still on this war or just fighting to impress?" he teased.


    I smirked as I twisted my wrist and turned my de to kill the one who attacked me. With another nce at Elena, I replied, "Why can''t it be both?"


    I could almost see my world shaking his head at me, but Iughed it off. Looking around, I found no need to actually take things too seriously as the number of Rogues was thinning already, but just then... something made my blood cold.


    My eyes instantly turned red as fury raged through my soul when I nced back at Elena and saw one of the Rogues got passed through her defense and shed her arm.


    Without hesitation, I went on a rampage and moved with the wind. Those getting in my way couldn''t even butt their eyes before I killed them as I rushed to where Elena was.


    A deadly roar came out of my lips as I approached Elena, protectively getting between her and the rest of the Rogues around her.


    I knew she was capable enough, but there was no way I''d let any of them hurt her. Especially not on my watch!


    My fury lessened when I felt a hand on my arm.


    I thought she''d be in pain, but she only looked at me confusingly with teasement


    in her eyes. "What are you doing here? Stealing my kills?"


    There was even a smirk on her lips as if she just hadn''t been cut.


    But what caught me off guard more was how her angelic face was now filled with dirt and splurts of blood.


    My hand voluntarily raised to her jawline, wiping off the blood on her.


    "Admit it, Deacon. You are dead over heels for her," my wolf remarked again.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 33

    Elena''s POV


    My heartbeat pounded inside my chest like crazy as I stared at his eyes and felt the warmth his hand was giving me as he brushed the blood off my face.


    "His touch is amazing! Don''t pretend you don''t like it!" Ava teased, loving how Prince Deacon always managed to find a reason to touch me somehow.


    He remained silent for a moment, as did I as if we weren''t in the middle of a battle. Our surroundings seemingly blurred out, and the air between us was wrapped in a warm and loving atmosphere.


    His eyes were filled with gentleness and warmth, very different from the rage and death reflecting on it when he was fighting earlier.


    Finally, a smirk came out of his lips, and he cleared his throat. He shook his head in disagreement. "It was never about the stealing kills, Elena."


    He uttered, making my palpating heart stop beating as I sucked in a breath.


    "You like him, don''t you?" Ava teased further.


    "Shut up!" I shouted. "There are still Rogues to kill!" I scolded as I saw more Roguesing our way through my peripheral vision.


    Probably realizing my daziness, he jokingly tapped my forehead like usual and teased, "Besides, I can''t have you getting scratched up out here, can we? I''d be out of a rival."


    Going with how he tried to ease up the situation, I rolled my eyes as a faint smile instantly tagged my lips.


    Pulling away first, I remarked, ¡°Now, now, don''t ck off, Prince Deacon."


    With that, we leaned on each other''s back as we faced those Rogues circling around, no further fooling around until the filled went silent as we sessfully imed the Fort Scelp city, the front line city before the Withered Hintend. Though it was a small city, it was a very strategic area as it was the front line and had the Rogue''s food and supplies.


    Standing on the rooftop of one of the abandoned buildings, I watched as the other warriors and omegas cleaned the surrounding areas, making sure the fallen Rogues were really dead and that the surrounding border of the city was secured for our full im.


    "We managed to save everything here. They didn''t get a chance to burn a single barrel,¡± I turned with a huge smile as I felt Prince Deacon joining me.


    He removed his cape and draped it around behind me, his action giving me more warmth than the cape itself.


    His eyes


    softened as he stared at me. "Here, have a drink," he said as he handed me a water bag.


    dly, I epted it and gulped as much as I could until I felt refreshed.


    "Thanks, it''s-" My words were cut off when he suddenly raised his hand and put it above my head, patting me tenderly.


    He leaned down, face just two inches away from me. His eyes remained staring at mine while against my lips as he praised me, "You did exceptionally well, Elena. Today''s sess is becau resilience."


    breath fanned


    of your skill and


    My heart went wild, and butterflies filled my stomach with excitement. I couldn''t exin it, but his praise always


    felt like a huge achievement for me. Unknowingly, I started yearning for more. "Oh! He can keep doing this anytime!" Avamented, obviously as excited as I was, about how great we felt about Prince Deacon''s treatment of us.


    The next day, after a good night''s rest, Prince Deacon called everyone for a post- battle analysis. We were once again in the main tent, discussing how things turned out.


    "Thanks to Elena''s leadership, the supplies have been fully secured, and we''ve taken back the Fort Scelp. She set an example for all of us today," Prince Deacon suddenly emphasized at the end, making the warriors p their hands and cheer for me.


    I looked down and discreetly touched my warm cheeks, so sure that I was probably turning into a tomato right now from all the attention I was getting.


    Nheless, after calming my nerves, I looked back up at them and bowed my head to show my gratitude for their admiration.


    "Father and brothers, look, I''m getting there. I''m continuing your legacy..." I inwardly said, feeling the warmth wrapping my soul as I imagined my father and siblings looking at me with pride in their eyes as their training and teachings for me didn''t go to waste.


    But just as the meeting was about to wrap up, Tyson, Prince Deacon''s Beta, suddenly went out after a warrior discreetly called him.


    I followed him with my gaze until he came back short afterward and approached Prince Deacon, who was beside


    1. me.


    I stared at him with curiosity as he approached with a tense facial expression.


    In a low voice that''s just enough for Prince Deacon and all high-ranking warriors


    to hear, he reported, "Alpha Bryson and General Glenda are set to arrive at camp in three days, sir."


    My heart dropped as my newfound confidence wavered in an instant. The air around me suddenly became heavy as the trouble hidden beneath my heart resurfaced, stirring troubling emotions within me.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 34

    Elena''s POV


    My chest tightened as I stared at Beta Tyson, dazed upon hearing the news he brought. My body went still, and my chest rose and fell heavily as thoughts about Bryson and Glenda consumed my mind.


    Calm down, Elena.


    I kept trying to convince myself. After all, I knew that they woulde here sooner orter, and it was just a matter of when.


    Besides, I shouldn''t let their presence weigh on me. After all, I came here with my own purpose, and it had nothing to do with them. And like Maise and Saige told me, they''re the ones responsible for this mess, so they should be the ones to handle whateverester.


    Finally getting out of my daze, I was surprised to see Prince Deacon ncing at me with unreadable emotion in his eyes before he shifted his nce at Beta Tyson and let a low growl escape his lips, making both me and Beta Tyson take a deep breath.


    "It would''ve been nice if those reinforcements had arrived before we finished a battle. What a useless team! They could at least pretend to keep up," he grumbled, his face looking tauntingly stern, making the atmosphere in the entire room turn cold and quiet.


    Tyson looked around, speechless, before ncing at me with an awkward stance. Swallowing, I kept my eyes straight and pretended not to care. After all, I shouldn''t intervene as it wasn''t any of my business.


    For all I care, Prince Deacon could even punish them, and I''d be at the side enjoying the show. 1


    When everyone was quiet, Prince Deacon shook his head with disappointment and nodded at everyone.


    Without missing a beat, they all turned around to leave, and the room was immediately vacant in a matter of seconds, including Beta Tyson, who rushed out.


    Seeing as I was the only one left, I gave Prince Deacon a slight bow and turned to leave as it was as vivid as day that he wasn''t in a good mood.


    "I''d like to show you somewhere, but it''s not exactly a battlefield or meeting room. Head back, freshen up, and meet me by the camp entrance in half an hour," he casually uttered, halting me from taking further steps.


    Turning around, I observed his face, which was, unfortunately, void of emotions.


    I arched my brows, curious and surprised by his unexpected and mysterious invitation. I wanted to ask more, but the sternness in his face and cold demeanor surrounding him stopped me.


    "I understand," I replied in a small voice and turned around to leave.


    As Prince Deacon demanded, I freshened up and changed into casual clothes, a grey halter crop top with an unbuttoned mustard dress shirt and jeans paired with my running shoes. After I brushed my hair and tied it into a high ponytail, I left my tent and waited for him at the entrance, ensuring I was at least five minutes before him so as to trigger his bad mood further.


    ched and the


    But to my surprise, he was already there, leaning slightly at the wooden post with one leg ou other bent, leaning to the same post where his back was. His face was slightly bent down, making him handsomely mysterious with the moonlight shining on it.


    I stopped midway as my breath was taken away at how godly he was looking now, far more handsome than ever.


    4


    Unlike his usual appearance, he had his beard shaved cleanly, giving me a perfect view of his sharp jaws. And I couldn''t help but swallow when I saw that his hair was still slightly damp and neatly came back with little droplets dripping from its tip.


    For the first time, I saw him wearing a simple white shirt that perfectly outlines his muscr body and perfectly shaped biceps.


    For a moment, I could hardly recognize that he was the same man I had been fighting side-by-side in a battle. Now, I understood why so many women was wishing to be with him and how they were constantly admiring him to be the most handsome man in the kingdom.


    Who wouldn''t want to be with a man like him? He''s effortlessly dashing and powerful. Moreover, his aloof expression and mysterious stance made him even more captivating as they highlighted his features even more and brought out his striking eyes.


    "I... I''m sorry, was Ite?" I asked, almost stuttering from shock when he suddenly looked up and stood up properly after noticing me.


    My eyes narrowed when an unreadable glint in his eyes briefly shed.


    He remained silent, eyes sweeping from my head to toe before a subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips, eyes specifically lingering a longer second on my exposed belly button.


    A flush instantly made its way to my cheeks as I realized where his warm gaze was, especially when he finally opened his lips.


    "You look beautiful, Elena."


    "And you look... well, different. I barely recognized you.''


    His smirk grew, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he observed my reaction.


    Feeling overwhelmed with his stare, I asked to change the subject, "Where exactly are you taking me?"


    Instead of answering me, he merely sent a mysterious nce at my way and gestured me to follow him. He tucked one of his hands in his jeans pocket while his other hand swang at his side, which was close to mine.


    "Where would he possibly take me?" I asked myself as I followed him through the small trail leading to the forest. The road was getting darker and darker as the trees covered the moonlight.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 35

    Deacon''s POV


    The night breeze remained calm as I led Elena down a quiet path deep into the woods, which differed from the loud sound of my pondering heart being so close to her.


    My hands swayed near hers. We were so close to each other, but I dared not hold her hand, as she was, after all, already married and taken.


    That thought of reality was still like a sharp knife constantly being pierced through my heart.


    Constantly, I would discreetly nce at her to find her ncing back at me every once in a while, her eyes filled with curiosity. But she remained silent and followed my steady pace, which surprised me as well, as I wondered how I managed to do that with her so close to me and with her scent engulfing my every being


    Halting halfway, I nced at her as I reached my arms up to hold one of the branches of the trees blocking our path.


    "Are we here yet?" she asked, looking around but only seeing many green trees and bushes.


    I shook my head before I pulled the branches aside, opening up the hidden path toward tombstones surrounded by greenery and small hills, where food and letters were offered.


    Looking at her surprised face, I smiled. "Now, we are."


    Finally, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the tombstones. I found her frozen at her ce.


    The moonlight perfectly lit the tombstones, highlighting the engraving on the nameless stones. "There are some who bring lights to the world that even after they left, the light remains."


    Small stones surrounded the tombstone, representing the memory of fallen warriors who once served along the border with her father.


    After Daco Dooely sessfully imed the entire West side of the kingdom, hisst conquest was the North, which I took over after his death. The people from this border created this ce to show gratitude for saving them.


    "Is this... what I think it is?" she whispered, tears threatening to roll from the corner of her eyes down to her flush cheeks as she tried to restrain the grief that was visible on her face after recognizing the initials of her father and brothers engraved on the stones.


    "Your father and brothers... they were among the finest warriors the border has ever known. They fought with everything they had, and everyone is very thankful for their sacrifices," Prince Deacon softly uttered as he gently pulled me closer, showing the withered flowers on the side of the stones and the letters left beneath the stones where some were already brown, stained with its age.


    I watched her hands shake slightly before she took a small step forward, kneeling on one knee as she raised her hand and slowly brushed her fingers through the engravings on the stones where her father''s initials were.


    I watched her silently as she bowed her head, shoulders trembling slightly.


    At first, I nned to give her a moment, but seeing so much grief in her eyes and how she was trying to be so strong, I gave in to my feelings.


    After taking a few deep breaths, I finally stepped forward and bent down beside her before I reassuringly wrapped one arm around her shoulder in hopes to provide a bit offort to her grieving heart.


    When I felt her lean closer to me, I took the initiative to pull her closer and warp her into my embrace.


    "He was a great warrior and an honorable man. He would be proud of what you''re doing here, Elena," I whispered


    I through her ears as I tapped back.


    She didn''t reply. Instead, she leaned closer and pressed her face against my shoulder. From the side of my eyes, i could slightly see the glitter of a quiet tear that traced down her cheek and dried by my clothes.


    As if connected to her, I started feeling pain, cursing through my heart at the side of her grieving face.


    "I know he would be... And I''ll make them even more proud I''ll be a better warrior." Her voice was muffled through my shirt, but I understood her meaning.


    Suddenly, I was reminded of her eager, lovely face when she was young, trying to train with her brothers in every weapon and skill. Later, she went and trained officially as an apprentice in Custodes.


    With her skills andbat background as a Custodes apprentice, where her skills were recognized as one of the best, she would have been a great asset in war. But then, instead of directly joining the warriors on the actual battlefield, she left the battlefield andid low in marriage.


    Up until now, it''s still a question to me why she decided to do that after her years of hard work to be as great as her father.


    Was her decision something that had to do with Bryson? Did she fall in love so deeply with him that she turned her back on the battlefield and left her dream of being a warrior to be Bryson''s Luna?


    That thought pained me, though, as it showed how inseparable she was from Bryson. I looked down at her, realizing that soon Bryson would be here, and she''d be further from my grasp.


    After a while, Elena pulled back from me, making me see the trace of sorrow on her face, but beneath that was the overflowing determination to move forward. Giving her a faint smile, I stood up and offered her a hand, which she epted. "Thank you; this made me feel better," she replied, motioning to the letters and evidence of many people''s gratitude for her family.


    "Anytime." Then, I gave her a small smile and led her back. Before we reached the camp, I sadly told her in a fake chirpy voice, "You''ll feel better in a while. After all, your husband will be here soon."


    I didn''t know why I said those, but those words left a lingering bitterness in my mouth.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 36

    Third Person''s POV


    It was alreadyte at night, but King Desmond was still at his office, fully awake and excited as his eyes scanned thetest report sent by the Kingdom''s messenger from the Northern battlefield.


    His Beta, Jude, stood by his side, feeling the same dness from the good news they received. All the worries they had felt days ago vanished when they learned that the threat Princess Elena had told them about had been proven


    to be true.


    "Excellent! Outstanding!" King Desmond couldn''t help but keep uttering words of praise as he read Prince Deacon and Princess Elena''s aplishments.


    At first, he couldn''t believe that they managed to handle the Rogue threat on their own and take back one of the important Rogue-controlled cities, which was a vital step in reiming the entire northern side of the kingdom.


    King Desmond excitedly tapped the table and announced, "Remember, as soon as they get back, they shall receive a reward for their bravery and outstanding sess!"


    Seeing the pride in the King''s eyes, Beta Jude couldn''t help but voice out his thoughts as well. "They are indeed amazing, Sir. I expected as much from Prince Deacon, but I couldn''t believe that Princess Elena was hiding her true skills and strength. She''s indeed a Dooley!"


    Hearing Jude announces Princess Elena''s aplishment and outstanding skills, King Desmond is stoned in his ce.


    Feeling a surge of regret within him, he let out a deep sigh. He slowly put down the report on his table as he remembered how he mercilessly scolded Elena and insensitively used her of being controlled by her jealousy and making wrongful decisions.


    "She''s probably ming me for questioning her motives before and not believing her," he sadly shared his worries with Beta Jude.


    "I think Princess Elena is good in nature like her father and brothers. I think she will understand your stance, Sir," Jude uttered and bowed his head in respect.


    However, instead of feelingforted by his words, King Desmond was more saddened.


    "I should not have judged her so fast. She deserves to know that I see her in a different light now."


    Jude nodded in agreement before the both of them were surrounded by silence as they tried to think of an idea that would best fit as a form of sincere apology to Elena. After all, the King knew that a verbal apology wouldn''t suffice to thaw the pain he caused her.


    Suddenly, after a few moments, Jude''s eyes lightened up with an idea.


    With a bright smile, he encouragingly advised, "As you said, sir, Princess Elena is well-deserved for a reward. Maybe once she returns, you can introduce her to a strong and honorable Alpha she could stand side-by-side with. A partner of honor and standing.


    11


    The King listened to his words, thoughtfully weighing everything out, but then his head slowly shook after some thoughts, making Jude curious.


    "Is... it too much, sir?" he asked.


    "No... not too much. Just unnecessary."


    What the king said utterly confused Jude.


    Seeing his reaction, King Desmond exined his thoughts, Seeing as she ran to the battlefield without hesitation right after her divorce, I think marriage may not be what she seeks. I think she has the heart of a warrior, Jude. Titles and territories may mean more to her than any mate could. She''s earned that, don''t you think?"


    Right then, Glenda''s name flushed in King Desmond''s mind. With Glenda''s skills, she was looked up to by the kingdom and was granted the first female general, which even men who weren''t Alphas could hardly earn.


    But Elena...


    Thinking of Elena''s decisive acts, fearlessness, and outstanding skills on the northern battlefield, the King found that Elena proved herself to be something more... something more outstanding and with greater potential that was even surpassing Glenda''s.


    A glint shed in his eyes as he thoughtfully looked at Jude" Perhaps it''s time to create a new honorable title, one greater than General Glenda''s.¡±


    "Should I handle it now, sir?" Jude asked, but the King shook his head and replied, "No, let''s wait for her return first and ask her what she really wants."


    Meanwhile, in the Northern Bordends, the camp buzzed with news that Alpha Bryon and General Glenda''s troops had quickened their travel and would be arriving soon.


    Everyone was outside, gathering and having dinner as they awaited their arrival. But their excitement was not to look forward, as they had many achievements in the Southern Bordend, but to be merely curious about the man who was paired with Elena.


    On the other hand, Deacon and Elena, along with the other high-ranking warriors, stood quietly in the main tent, talking about their battle strategies.


    However, unbeknownst to Elena and everyone else, Deacon''s gaze lingered on her, and the edges of his mouth lifted in a faint smile as he watched her study the maps with sharp focus. Something about her-strength mixed with an unbreakable resilience-stirred his admiration, and he realized that a deeper emotion was forming in his


    heart.


    Elena looked up, surprised, as she caught him glimpsing at her. Instead of looking away from awkwardness, they both held their gazes longer than they intended.


    But before any of them could look away, footsteps echoed outside the tent before Tyson entered, reporting, Alpha Bryson and Glenda Glenda have arrived at the border. They are entering the camp now."


    The news sent a jolt through the air, and Elena''s expression hardened, though she held herposure with unshakable grace.


    On the other hand, Deacon nced back at her and noted the slight changes in her expression, which he couldn''t distinguish whether it was from joy or something else.


    Indifferently, he nodded his head at Tyson and gestured outside, "Let them in then."


    As Deacon said that, the tent''s doors were pulled to the side, and two familiar figures dressed in battle armor entered the tent....

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 37

    Deacon''s POV


    "Prince Deacon! I, Alpha Bryson, together with General Glenda, greet you! We''re sent here to aid you, feeling honored to be at your disposal," Bryson said as soon as he came in and kneeled at his one knee, which Glenda followed.


    I stared at him before I returned his gesture with a curt nod


    Upon seeing my response, his face became bitter, but he dared not say anything as he stood back up with Glenda in an attention stance-standing straight, with hands on their sides.


    As they waited for my words, my eyes shifted to Elena, who was surprisingly not turning around to greet her husband. Instead, she remained standing with her back behind them, and her eyes still focused on the battle map on the table.


    My eyes narrowed in confusion as I observed her facial expression, which was void of emotion.


    Did they have a fight? Was that why she was here?


    It''s clear that they were in some tension, but I could not pinpoint what exactly it


    was.


    Knowing only time could tell, I turned back around at Bryson and sternly looked at him before I sarcasticallymented, "I''m d you and your troops made it here. You''re quite fast, aren''t you? We already fought and won three battles while awaiting your reinforcement."


    I smirked after seeing how he stiffened from my remarks, eyes momentarily looking away from me.


    That''s right. He should be ashamed. He was just recognized for his victory in his previous battle, yet he''s already idling around andckingpetency.


    His jaw clenched, and his hands fisted on his side as he bowed his head before me. "My deepest apology for the dy, Prince Deacon. Our journey was slower than anticipated as there were some obstacles and weather changes along the way."


    I shook my head intently, showing my dismay, but I still waved my hand and indifferently said, "I understand."


    Silence engulfed the surrounding area, but it was soon broken when Harold stood up from his seat and went to greet Bryson.


    Excitedly, he tapped Bryson''s on his shoulder and greeted him with a warm and huge smile. "Well,te or not, there''s only one thing I can say to you. You, Alpha Bryson, married yourself an exceptional woman. Not only is your wife a capable Luna, but also an outstanding warrior. You are very blessed!"


    "Thank you for your praise."


    My brows furrowed, and my eyes flickered as I heard Glenda''s words. She even took a step forward, radiating with pride, as she replied to Harold as if he was pertaining to her


    What''s going on?


    Bryson, mirroring Glenda''s delight, smiled. "Thank you for your kind words as well, Harold. Indeed, I am ry."


    As confused as I was, Harold''s eyes flickered between Glenda and Bryson before he reluctantly nodded at them."


    "Right..." he replied in a low voice, sounding less enthusiastic than he was moments ago.


    ncing at Elena, who remained quiet, I looked back at Bryson and decided to press on the matter. Curiosity and


    anger built up in me, and a wild hunch formed in


    my


    mind


    Taking a heavy step forward and closer to Elena, I sharply spoke to test my hunch. "Indeed, a great marriage. Then, why don''t you greet your Luna and ask how she''s doing? As you must know, she was injured in the front line."


    Trying to see if my hunch was correct, I deliberately omitted the name and only referred to his wife as "Luna".


    "Injured?" Bryson was immediately alerted as his brows furrowed with utter confusion.


    To everyone''s surprise, though, instead of calling Elena, he turned to his side and held Glenda on either side of his shoulder, earnestly observing her body. "When were you injured? Why didn''t you tell me?"


    The atmosphere immediately went cold around us, and fury built up inside me. My eyes threatened to turn red as the urge to attack Bryson intensified within me.


    "I..." Glenda looked around, confused. "I wasn''t injured, Babe..."


    The silence after hearing Glenda''s endearment for Bryson was so deafening and heavy that it seemed as if chaos was threatening to unfold any second.


    As a prince, I had to control my emotions and avoid wreaking havoc for as long as I could, but Harold was different.


    His face fell, and his eyes turned sharp and fury. His eyes shifted to gaze at Elena''s unmoving back.


    Elena''s eyes met mine before she let out a small smile and turned around. "It''s been a long time."


    Elena''s greeting froze both Bryson and Glenda. But while Bryson''s face remained in shock, Glenda''s turned sharp.


    I felt a low growl threaten to escape my lips as I watched their expression, but I withheld myself and watched how Elena would handle this matter.


    Glenda looked disgustedly at Elena before she asked in a soft voice that hid a mocking tone, "What is this? Why didn''t you tell everyone that you''re already divorced, Elena."


    My first tightened as I tried to stop myself from wringing Glenda''s neck right now, and seeing how Elena''s knuckles turned white from how hard she was fisting her hand, I took a step beside her and reassuringly ced a


    hand on her shoulder.


    She nced at me, meeting my eyes, and so I nodded my head at her, silently telling her that I got her back no matter what she decided to do.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 38

    Elena''s POV


    At first, I was trembling with mixed emotions of anger, pain, and disgust as I watched Bryson and Glenda support each other, especially when I heard Glenda''s intentional remark, which was clearly intended to put me on edge.


    And I''d be honest, I almost lost my calm after seeing her shamelessness and audacity to ask me such a question.


    Thankfully, Prince Deacon came to my side. And like these recent days, his touch seemingly had a magic effect on me that always brought me warmth andfort and kept me on my toes.


    Straightening my back, I gazed back at Glenda and let out an unbothered smile.


    "Well, I find it unnecessary to publicly announce such trivial matters, especially when it is I who..." I gave Bryson a quick nce before I smirked, "rejected him."


    Turning my gaze back at Glenda, my smirk widened as I pointed out, "Now, there''s no need for me to be so cruel and further implicate damage to your Alpha''s pride by broadcasting it to the entire kingdom, is there?"


    Satisfaction filled my eyes when I saw Glenda gritting her teeth in anger while Bryson clenched his jaws but could only look down a bit from humiliation after he heard the gasp around us.


    I was about to taunt Bryson even more upon seeing how his expression darkened and how his face shrunken from humiliation. Still, then I felt Prince Deacon''s grasp on my shoulder tightening, indicating his anger.


    ncing at him through my peripheral vision, I saw his face darkening so deeply and his demeanorpletely bing deadly. Fearing he might lose control out of concern for me, I immediately raised my hand and patted the hand he had on my shoulder in an attempt to calm him down by gesturing that I could handle it.


    Surprisingly, he listened as I felt his tight hold loosening again.


    A secondter, he cleared his throat before he looked down at me, "Elena, kindly enlighten us why you rejected Alpha Bryson?"


    His voice was steady and stern, but I could feel that he was on edge and trying hard to avoid teaching Bryson a lesson.


    My eyes shifted between Bryson and Glenda as I exined in a loud voice, loud enough for everyone to hear: "My dear ex-husband here and his new wife used the merits they received in war to have King Desmond grant them a wedding."


    Bryson took a small step forward and red at me, threatening me to stop, but I only smirked at him as disdain crawled through my veins every second I saw him.


    Looking around, I continued, "Since they asked for my blessing, who am I to refuse? Hence, I made the most fitting decision by granting Alpha Bryson a divorce and officially rejecting him."


    "You''re a disgrace!"


    To everyone''s surprise, Uncle Harold''s voice let out a deafening scream as he pointed his finger at Bryson, not minding that Bryson was an Alpha while he was only a General.


    His eyes were shifting between gold and brown, a sign that he was fighting with his wolf for control and also a sign of how furious he was right now.


    "Disloyalty to Elena is one thing, but to betray your own family... You''ve dishonored every oath you took!"


    When he said that, that''s when it hit me. He attended my wedding with Bryson. I was probably too focused on


    Bryson then and didn''t notice his appearance.


    "Stop ying the victim!" Glenda suddenly stepped forward in defense. "Bryson and I are fated mates. Besides, we fought for and earned our marriage. But you, Elena, while we are risking our lives, what are you doing?"


    Snickering, Glenda taunted, "Nothing!"


    "Then hold on to your marriage tightly, Glenda, as it seems you direly need it. Don''t worry..." I shifted my gaze at Bryson and smirked, "I won''t pick back up trash I already threw away."


    "You-" Bryson pointed at me, ready to scold me, but his loving wife came to his rescue instead, which kind of made him look more ipetent in my eyes.


    She stood tall in front of me and crossed her arms across her chest before she leaned forward. "It''s clear you are clueless about what''s it like to earn an honor and how to face hardships, not when you''ve hovered on your family''s name all your life."


    I knew she wanted me to go on a rampage, but sorry to disappoint her. I remained calm and unyielding


    Raising my hand, I patted her shoulder and smugly replied, "And I don''t want to understand either, nor do I want an honor that''s forced upon me through someone else''s betrayal."


    Rejoicement filled my heart as I saw her expression turn into pure rage, finally losing control as she stepped forward and raised her hand to p me.


    "Insolent!"


    Everyone stopped breathing as a deafening silence filled the room after Prince Deacon''s booming voice, mixed with a dominant growl, echoed around us, forcing most of them to lower their heads.


    Before Glenda''s hand reached my face, Prince Deacon stood between us, making her handnd on his chest instead.


    In a panic, Glenda hurriedly retracted her hand and took a step back beside Bryson.


    "Is this how the two generals honored by the King should be acting?" he scolded, bringing them to lower their heads in shame.


    Uncle Harold then followed suit,pletely losing control as he abruptly moved forward and delivered a solid punch to BRyson''s jaw, sending him wobbling.


    Uncle Harold uttered afterward, "Elena''s mother chose you to be her husband, but what did you do? You ruined her trust!"


    Glenda rushedly held on to Bryson for support before she angrily looked back at Uncle Harold, remorselessly shouting, "Elena''s mother is dead anyway. What''s there to grieve over now?"


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    Elena''s POV


    My gaze froze as my eyes started to grow red, but as I felt my heart clenching with pain and grief, I saw the slight grin that was about to form on Glenda''s lips.


    Not wanting her to feel any sense of satisfaction, I clenched my fist tightly and helped myself stay calm despite the overwhelming ounce of fury and grievance resurfacing in my heart. Thankfully, Prince Deacon gave me a nce of worry, which kept me straight upon seeing thefort in his eyes.


    I could feel the heavy weight as everyone''s gaze fell on me, waiting for my exnation. Taking a deep breath, I held my head high, calmed myself, and kept my breathing steady.


    Once the storm in me dispersed, I uttered in an unwavering voice, "The rogues that my father and brothers fought here... They didn''t just im territories. They went back and... massacred my entire family, my pack... everyone."


    Though I had to take a pause now and then as shes of their dead bodies shed in my mind, I ensured that my voice would remain stern.


    As expected, the room was filled with dead silence, and even our breathing sounded deafening.


    I looked around and found that every warrior in the room was left speechless and too stunned to move.


    Slowly, I looked at Prince Deacon and found him looking almost the same. The difference was that he was staring at me as if he were reading me like an open book and trying to see through all my pains and suffering.


    "So, speak up! Why didn''t you tell everyone about this when you came here?" Glenda broke the silence and scoffed with me in her eyes. "It''s just so convenient, right? What? Trying to use this as your card when you''re cornered?"


    I gritted in anger as she was getting more and more overbearing. I couldn''t believe a General like her would be so disrespectful and discourteous.


    "Enough, Glenda! You better keep your mouth zip before Ipletely lose my patience with you!"


    It turned out that I wasn''t the only one, as Prince Deacon also snapped. "Keep away from her!"


    Woken up by themotion, Uncle Harold woke up from his stun and approached me. In the process, he ruthlessly pushed Glenda to the side so hard that she stumbled back before he went to my side andfortingly wrapped an arm around my shoulder while pulling me to lean on him like a father would do.


    I looked up at him but was dumbfounded when I saw his red and glistening eyes.


    "I failed your parents... I should have been there to protect theirst child from such betrayal."


    My heart wavered when I heard his voice tremble.


    I swallowed hard as tears formed in my eyes. It''s been a long time since I found a parent figure who cared so much about me.


    rm smile


    Feeling the warmth of his words and arms, I raised my hand and tapped his shoulder, giving him and assuring him, "I''m okay, Uncle. Their memories and teachings were engraved in my heart; a. ose kept me going."


    When his eyes shook, I tiptoed and whispered, "It''s true. I''m okay."


    Pride shed in his eyes as he pulled away from me and discreetly wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes. He let


    out a smile and nodded at me. "Good! Your parents will be very proud to have a kind and strong child like you." "Ugh! Are we really doing this? Come on, you''re not in a fucking drama!" Glenda''s sound of fake vomit took our attention as shemented with disgust.


    I sent her a re, as did most of the warriors in the room. I was ready to fight her but was silent when Prince Deacon''s Lycan voice once again boomed inside the tent.


    His zing eyes were focused on Bryson, asking, "How many warriors did you bring?"


    Bryson jolted and stood properly as he bowed to Prince Deacon, replying, "We brought a battalion with us,posed of my troops and Glenda''s, totaling 400 warriors"


    Narrowing my eyes, I watched their exchange while wondering what Prince Deacon was talking about when he suddenly asked such a thing in the middle of the topic about my parents.


    He nodded his head and surprisingly let out a praise. "Good"


    A smile crept on Bryson''s face but vanished as fast as it was formed when Prince Deacon suddenly turned around to face me,manding, "From now on, you will lead those warriors, Elena."


    My eyes widened like a saucer from the sudden turn of events while Bryson and Glenda let out a noticeable gasp.


    I looked around, but the other warriors were simply nodding their heads and supporting Prince Deacon''smand, everyone but the two shrews in front of


    me.


    "What right does she have? She''s not even a warrior!" Glenda protested.


    As soon as she said those, snickers filled the room. Prince Deacon raised his brow and smirked, "Oh, yeah, well, this woman you pertain not to be a warrior just killed hundreds of Rogues while your troops are taking your time ining here for aid."


    His voice was calm, but the coldness in his tone was so evident that it brought us chills even when the words were not directed at us.


    "I don''t believe it!" She sent me a re and pointed a finger at me as she used me, "Are power and titles now being handed out like a piece of paper because of a family background and no longer because of skills?"


    My eyes narrowed as I tilted my head and stared at her dumbfoundedly. Was she that bold or reckless that she''d question even a Prince...


    Prince Deacon took a step forward and murderously leaned forward to Glenda as he spoke in a menacing voice: " Who would daree into my camp without skills, Glenda? Or are you questioning my decisions and insights?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 40

    Elena''s POV


    Glenda froze as her words were caught in her throat upon feeling Prince Deacon''s powerful aura that demanded submission.


    Like the rest of us, there was no doubt that she felt that chilling sensation that crept to our spine, and hers would have been far worse as it was directed to her. Eventually, she could only look away, silent for once, probably realizing that its futile for her to argue further.


    ¡°Listen here, and listen well, Glenda. No matter how many merits you gained through war, there''s no amount of merit in this kingdom you could ever earn to have the privilege to disrespect me nor the King!" Prince Deacon uttered in a chilling voice as his eyes turned a glint of reddish-gold that''s a mark of Lycan wolves.


    "The King... I never..." she stuttered, as confused as I was.


    Indeed, Glenda was reckless and boldly retorted to Prince Deacon, but I never heard her badmouth the King-that would be like her asking for a death sentence.


    Abruptly, Prince Deacon grabbed my wrist and pulled me beside him. "I just received a letter that the King will personally grant Elena a remarkable reward after we return to the kingdom! Or are you saying she doesn''t deserve it as well?"


    My eyes widened. Did the King really do that, or was he only making things up for my sake?


    I shook my head. That''s impossible. He''s the prince, and he wouldn''t make things up like his for any matter.


    At first, she was in a panic, and I thought she would restrain herself and keep her mouth shut, but I spoke too soon because not even a minuteter, her eyes zed, and she once again went out of control.


    "That can''t be right! You guys can''t have this unfair favoritism and forget the sacrifices of those real warriors like me that worked hard for the-"


    Glenda''s following words turned muffled as Bryson''s hand came out of nowhere. He covered Glenda''s mouth from behind while pulling her back behind him. With a quick gesture, he told her to shut up, to which she surprisingly listened.


    "I''m sorry, Prince Deacon! Please forgive her on my behalf, and she was just surprised," Bryson stammered an apology with his head humbly bowed down while standing firmly between the fuming Prince Deacon and Glenda, whom he''s protectively hiding behind him.


    It seemed like Bryson still had a handful of sense as he stopped Glenda midway upon seeing Prince Deacon''s eyes turning more red and the veins on his neck bulging in madness.


    If he waste any second, Glenda''s words of disrespect would have caused her life as Prince Deacon might have shifted to slit her throat.


    If she had been unfortunate, it would have been the first time in a long time that everyone witnessed a Lycan shift into their werewolf form.


    Because Lycans were naturally stronger than average werewolves, they didn''t even need to shift to their wolf form to be stronger. Most of the time, they would only need their ws and fangs in a battle.


    "Discipline your wife, Bryson, or I''ll do the job for you!"


    Everyone held back their breaths, including me. Prince Deacon''s voice seemingly became two as his inner wolf''s growl echoed with his words.


    ¡°I... I understand, Prince. Please ept my apology on behalf of the two of us," Bryson once again said.


    My heart hardened as I witnessed him bravely shield Glenda from Prince Daecon''s wrath, even at his own expense. He even outright made excuses for her, which brought bitterness to me. Everything he was doing was like salt in my heart''s wound, which I thought had been long closed.


    I huffed and thought, ''Was that really how much he loved her?''


    I couldn''t even remember a single moment we had together when he tried to fight for me. Not even against his family.


    Prince Deacon nodded his head, seemingly epting his apology, but he kept moving toward him and ced a heavy hand on Bryson''s shoulder.


    Narrowing my eyes, I saw how Bryson squirmed as he endured the pain from Prince Deacon''s tightening grasp. "Remember, Generals..." his eyes flickering between Bryson and Glenda as he continued, "I need warriors who know how to follow orders and nothing else."


    With eyes lingering at Glenda, he added further, "I don''t need anyone else useless opinion. And if you can''t deal with that, then feel free to leave my border."


    Bryson nodded. "It won''t happen again, Alpha."


    "Good, I knew I could count on you!" Prince Deacon tapped his shoulder and moved away, a devilish smirk retaining on his lips.


    Now, this was the god of war that everyone was so afraid of. He lookedpletely merciless and deadly, an appearance I never saw in him since I came here. Not even during our battles with the Rogues.


    "You guys better rest on your quarters. The warriors outside will lead you," he muttered, dismissing them. They bowed their heads in respect to him. However, before they turned to leave, Glenda halted.


    She discreetly sent me a re of menace before turning to face Prince Deacon with a reek of thin contempt she was trying to hide,


    "Forgive me, Your Highness. Perhaps because of my humble background, I had no right to argue or seek fairness. As you advised, I will follow all orders."


    I scoffed in my mind. She was apologizing, and yet her words sounded more like


    aint than a word of realization for her mistake.


    Nheless, she bowed her head low before turning around. With arms clinging to Bryson, they made their way


    out.


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    Elena''s POV


    Though Bryson and Glenda had their arms linked together, Bryson managed to dy his step for half a second, just enough time for him to cast onest nce back at me


    Something in my heart flickered as I saw regret in his eyes before he vanished from my sight.


    Don''t be stupid, Elena!


    I wanted to smack and scold myself for feeling a fierce pain jolting in my heart whenever I encounter Bryson.


    He betrayed me, and I had already rejected him, and together with that was my vow to bury everyst bit of my feelings for him. I freed him and myself the second I divorced him, which was why it frustrate me inside whenever I felt pain in my heart whenever I see him.


    "Of course, whether you want it or not, he became a part of us, and once upon a time, we loved him," Ava reasoned.


    I blocked her out without wanting to hear Ava''s logical and truthful exnation.


    When the doors closed, Deacon approached me, his eyes searching my face with surprising tenderness.


    Though Bryson and Glenda left the room, a tense silence remained. I could still feel others'' lingering gaze upon me, but the grief and pain I was trying to hide earlier had now resurfaced, overwhelming my every being and making everything around me blur out.


    "Are you alright?" Prince Deacon finally voiced out his thoughts. His voice remained gentle and cautious even as he weighed how I was feeling.


    I raised my eyes and met his, which took my breath away. Like always, there was a gentleness in his eyes, but what caught me off guard was the sadness in his mesmerizing brown eyes, seemingly mirrored my grief.


    Seeing my immense pain through the orbs of his eyes, every brick Iy to form a wall around me shuttered into small pieces,pletely diminishing the wall between us. My heart trembled, and the tears I''d been withholding for so long welled up in the corner of my eyes, threatening to fall any minute now.


    Shaking, I raised my hands upon realizing that I was about to cry and hurriedly rubbed my eyes dry, not caring that it started to get hurt or that it turned red.


    "Don''t... You''ll hurt yourself," Prince Deacon concernly uttered, pulling my hands away from my face.


    I already cried so much for Bryson - a man not worthy of my time, let alone my tears. I wouldn''t cry for him anymore or any other matters. From now on, I have to be stronger.


    Taking a deep breath, I looked around every warrior like Uncle Harold, who was waiting for more details about my mother''s death that they were clueless about.


    ¡°Here, Elena.....¡± Uncle Harold uttered softly as he pushed a chair toward me, which I happily epted and


    thanked him for.


    Seating, I gripped the armrest as I recalled and narrated to them what happened that tragic day.


    I never thought I''de to recount the pain of the massacre, but they deserve to know it, too.


    "I was at Bryson''s house, in the Swiftridge Pack, when I got the news... that the Irownpaw Pack was attacked. I immediately rushed back, praying it was fake news. But when I got there..." my voice trembled as my fingertips dipped into the wooden armrest of the chair I was in.


    I felt Prince Deacon''s steady presence at my side, but the hunting images of those days filled my mind, and nofort or hold could make me feel better.


    In a whisper, I continued to retell with difficulty, "It was a scene of pure bloodshed. My mother... my young nephews, the Omegas who had been with our family for years... they were all gone. T-they''re bodies were ruthlessly left in the pool of their own blood and almost unrecognizable from all the cuts around their skin."


    I paused, feeling the memory of that day wash over me... The distinctive metallic scent of blood filled my nostrils as I took every step nearer the inside of the pack, and the chilling silence that had taken over what was once my family''s haven filled with joyfulughter.


    Closing my eyes, the pain I had felt back then seemingly still felt so raw right now, even after the months that had passed.


    I could feel the others looking at me with pain and sadness, but I paid them no attention as I fought with myself not to breakdown.


    Unexpectedly, I felt Prince Deacon moved towards me. He pushed one of my arms away from the armrest and sat on it before he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into aforting embrace filled with warmth and care.


    It didn''t heal the pain in my heart, but it was enough to keep me at bay and prevent me from breaking down.


    Once I calmed down, he loosened his hold a little and lowered his head near my


    ears, "Do you know which Rogues did that to your pack?"


    Rage cursed through my veins as my discussion with Jayden, my Beta in Ironpaw Pack, reyed in my mind.


    With controlled rage, I replied, "They were from the South


    "The South..." Prince Deacon whispered as realization clicked in his eyes.


    As if putting the pieces together, his jaw tightened as his eyesnded back on me.


    I saw how his dark gaze softened as sympathy and concern covered it. Standing,


    he looked at everyone and sternly ordered, "Everyone, out! Now!"


    Everyone jolted from their posts and hurriedly left the main tent.


    Thest to leave was Uncle Harold, who kept staring at me and looking hesitant


    to leave me alone, sorrow vividly visible in his eyes. "Your family would be proud to have such a daughter and sister, Elena."


    I wasn''t sure exactly how long Uncle Harold had known my family, but given by how much he was affected by everything, I''d say he was probably my parents'' best friend


    Realizing that this news shocked him and that he might needfort as much as I do, I forced a timid smile to show him I was okay.


    However, right after he left, a tear finally made its way down my cheek, betraying my long struggles to keep it in. As if those tears were magma that would burn me,


    I hurriedly tried to brush it away, but Prince Deacon''s gentle hand moved from my shoulder to my wrist, stopping me from restraining myself.


    With that, my chin trembled as tears continued to drop from my eyes one after another.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 42

    Deacon''s POV


    Elena and I stayed in that position for a while. I let her cry every single tear she had been withholding back for as long as she had tried to, even at the expense of drenching my shirt.


    My heart clenched as I heard her cry as if I was as heartbroken as she was. If only I could share half of her pain, I''d do so in a heartbeat. No... I''d even take all of it for her.


    Once she felt better and loosened her hold on me, I stood up and took off my shirt, not minding that I was now shirtless. After all, it was normal for male werewolves to be shirtless, especially during training.


    Having six brothers with her as she grew up, I''m sure she''s very used to it already.


    I opened one of the boxes on the corner of the tent and dug deep for the finest wines in there, along with two wine sses. Sitting on her opposite side, I filled the sses and handed one to her.


    "Thank you... I sure needed this," she forced a smile after letting out a small joke that was obviously a half-truth.


    As she sipped through her ss, I observed her face. There were dark circles under her eyes, her cheeks and nose were red, and her eyes were swelling.


    Now, I understood how she had changed so much-how the young, vibrant girl I used to watch happily jumping and joyously joying around at Ironpaw Pack''s yard had turned into a strong and fearless warrior.


    At a young age, she had been through a lot and experienced a lot of tragedy and betrayal most of her same age wouldn''t have gone through. All the pain and grief built up inside her dimmed the light that used to beam around her.


    Upon that realization, something stirred within me, waking up my inner urge to protect her at all costs.


    Watching her gulp down the ss of wine in one drink, I smiled and did the same.


    The more I know about her, the more I admire her. Despite everything, she managed to be strong and keep her cool for so long, facing everything on her own while still letting out a smile and selflessly helping andforting others.


    I didn''t notice that I was shamelessly staring at her for so long until when she put her ss down and cleared her throat, "Ask away."


    "What?" I asked, blinking.


    "Your face is filled with many questions. What do you want to know?" This time, she poured herself another drink. Taking a deep breath, I replied while she filled her ss. "I want to know it all, Elena. The marriage, the massacre, the divorce... and everything that happened in between. Everything you went through."


    She momentarily halted her movements and looked at me.


    Did I ask for too much?


    "If you can''t tell then-"


    My words were cut off when she nodded her head and replied in a small voice, "Okay."


    As she started to retell her side of the story, I kept my mouth shut and listened to each word, which revealedyers of injustice and cruelty she faced.


    "I only learned about my father and brother''s deaths when came down from the Custodes. Learning their


    sacrifice, I told my Mom that I wanted toe here and continue the battle my father hadn''t finished, but..."


    She let out a small smile filled with nothing but pain. ¡°But then... she started crying her eyes out. She didn''t want me to go. She begged me to stay and not follow my father''s and brothers'' paths. Instead, she wanted me to get married, have children, and lead a stable life. A life away from the continuous risk of getting killed."


    Elena let out a bitterugh and looked at me. "How can I refuse that?"


    After another drink, she nonchntly shrugged her shoulders and continued, "So, she hired someone to arrange a marriage for me, and there we found Bryson."


    I twirled the ss I had in my hand and took a sip, softlymenting, "From what


    I remember, you weren''t that obedient. Don''t get me wrong, you''re a great daughter, but not someone to be forced into marriage."


    "You''re right," sheughed a little before it turned into a frown again. "But then, our pack was only left with the elderly and weak she-wolves. I promised my Mom that I''d be a great Luna and marry. The agent she hired to help me get married found us many candidates, but we ended up choosing Bryson because of two reasons."


    She let out a mockingughced with bitterness and self-me as she gulped an entire ss again and frustratedly ran her fingers through her hair. "That liar promised he won''t have a mistress and that he would treat me well."


    "And the other reason?" I encourage her to speak further.


    ¡°He''s a warrior, but being their pack a small one and not greatly recognized, my mother knew he wouldn''t be sent on battles. At the thought, he''d be on reserve instead, so she felt reassured." She shook her head after, "But then fate yed a game, and things didn''t go as we expected."


    I watched in pain as her hand trembled in anger, and her chest rose and fell in heavy breath. "One year! For one year, I supported that cheater."


    Tears once again ran through her cheeks. I let go of the wine ss and gripped my chair so tightly that it was starting to break in my palms, but I didn''t dare stop her from letting out her anger and sharing her burdens.


    "For a year, I swallowed my dignity and took care of his sick mother. I built up his pack into glory and withstand all of his sister''s bullying. I even used my own inheritance to finance their pack and cure her mother, and what do I get?"


    She looked at me with eyes drowning with pain, "He came back with another woman on her side and a permit for another marriage..."


    Her voice was almost unbearable to hear with all the pain and grudge audible on it before she drank one more ss after another.


    How could they treat her like this?!


    I didn''t stop her from drinking and let her have her fill to numb her sorrows while


    my eyes dimmed with fury, silently vowing that I''d make all of those who gave her pain pay a hundred times more than what she experienced.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 43

    Elena''s POV


    Before I knew it, I already lost count of the sses I drank. Luckily, Prince Deacon only gave me a wine, and the fact that I wasn''t drunk after all that made me realize that it only had a low alcohol level.


    Narrowing my eyes, I looked at him to scold him, but then was gritted by his dimmed eyes filled with fury and his fingers with stains of blood on them.


    "What happened?" Panic coursed through my body. Hurriedly, I leaned forward and grabbed his hand, examining his fingers.


    But when I lifted up his hand, I found that the side of the armrest of the chair he was sitting on was chipped.


    I was so drawn into expressing my pain and burden to him that I didn''t think of how it might have affected him. He must have been angry upon hearing about all the mishaps I''ve experienced, considering how righteous he was.


    Feeling guilty, I grabbed my handkerchief and wiped off the blood from his fingers to find that it had already healed. Indeed, he''s a Lycan, healing way faster than werewolves.


    "Thank you..." I whispered while continuing to wipe the blood from his hand.


    "I didn''t do anything."


    Iughed at that. "No, you did a whole lot more than you imagined. Thank you for listening.''


    >>


    It wasn''t a lie, though. After telling him everything, the heaviness I''d been carrying over my shoulders was lifted off, and the clench in my heart had loosened enough for me to breathe.


    After a long time, I felt so relieved. Even Ava, who had been silently dwelling on my sorrows, felt better.


    Though I couldn''t exin how much he helped me, I still had to thank him.


    "If that''s what you say." He then patted my head.


    "I swear to you, Elena. I''ll make them pay for what they did to you," he suddenly vowed, taking me aback,


    I let go of him and looked at him in shock as I saw determination flickering in his eyes. It warmed my heart, but I shook my head at him. He''s the prince, and he has many responsibilities on his shoulders, so I couldn''t let him handle trivial matters in my life.


    Shaking my head, I smiled and exined, "There''s no need Besides, divorcing Bryson was one of my best decisions in life, and it gave me relief."


    It was the truth. My divorce and rejection of Bryson was my door to freedom. Itpletely separated me from the toxic binds that tied me with him, his family, and his pack.


    "And..." A mischievous glint formed on my lips as I swiveled my brows and added, "Seeing Glenda gritting in jealousy and Bryson fuming mad whenever they see me unbothered with what happened was so satisfying."


    Since I saw Glenda, she had been reeking with envy and jealousy. Despite the glory and honor she received as a warrior, she always wanted more and felt greedy to be above everyone else-not because she aimed for excellence but to be on top.


    Instead of using her influence as the kingdom''s first female general to encourage and give hope to others, Glenda had chosen to mock and belittle me for what she''d assumed was a privilege handed down to me by my father.


    She looked down on others only because she was a high-ranking warrior. Chapter 43


    Reflecting on that, I felt a surge of determination rose within me. I silently vowed


    to myself and the Moon Goddes that I would never be like Glenda.


    Sitting back on my chair, I leaned back and proudly smiled as my father''s teachings shed in my mind.


    Happily, I shared it with Prince Deacon. "My father had worked tirelessly and brought honor to Ironpaw Pack. We were known for bravery and loyalty. It''s the legacy he passed down to me and my pack, and I refused to damage that by sinking to Glenda''s level. I won''t use power for petty rivalry, so there is no need to take revenge for me."


    "What?" I asked when he kept staring at me with a huge smile that reached his eyes.


    He shook his head and raised his ss, asking me for a toast. Despite my confusion, I grabbed mine and clung to the ss with him.


    Before he put the rim of the ss on his lips, he replied, "You''re amazingly kind, you know? An angel."


    I almost gagged at the angel and put down''my drink,ughing. "I know you cheated, and this wine has too low of an alcohol level to be even called an alcohol. There''s no way you''re drunk right now topare me to an angel."


    "You got me! Rules are rules, right?" he uttered, winking at me, subtly reminding me of the first night he caught me sneaking a drink with Maise and Saige. "Cut me some ck, though. At least it still has some kick on it. It still has alcohol."


    I shook my head and took another sip before getting serious again, "My family won''t ever sumb to fate. I''ll see these through."


    "I know. I trust you, Elena. I know you''ll do your family''s name justice and bring light to what really happened that led to that massacre," he replied without missing a beat.


    Then, with a quiet resolve, he added, "And I''ll help you. I''ll look into the southern battlefield. Whatever caused the massacre will be exposed, and those responsible will be held ountable."


    My heart clenched at the mention of the southern battlefield.


    I knew his promise was sincere, yet the truth about that was tangled in deep conspiracies, like a web of lies and messed up schemes. Glenda and Bryson''s victory, the rise of Rogues, the massacre of my pack, and the formed rebellion here in the north... was all too coincidental.


    After reading the report Prince Deacon''s investigation team acquired and learning that Glenda and Bryson''s "victory" that they were so proud of was achieved through inhuman means, I was positive that these matters had a deeper cause hidden somewhere.


    We had to dig deeper.


    "No need. I appreciate your help, Prince Deacon, but I already asked one of my seniors in Custodes to investigate what happened in the South." I respectfully declined his offer.


    The North still had an issue of its own. I couldn''t be so selfish and divide his attention. After all, the safety of the northern bordend was more critical now.


    I froze for a while, though, when a thought suddenly came into my mind.


    This couldn''t be... connected to my grandfather, was it?


    Anxiety rushed into me once again as I was reminded that my grandfather was also in Southern Bordend back then. Thinning about all the tangled webs made me more agitated.


    As my thoughts spiraled deeper, I suddenly felt a thumb gently brushing my


    furrowed brows. "Don''t let this consume you," he uttered softly but firmly. "You''re


    not alone in this, Elena. I''ll be by your side, and I''ll make you


    to find out what really happened."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 44

    Glenda''s POV


    "This is absurd. We brought these warriors, and now I''m supposed to step back and let Elena lead them. After everything we did to get in her as fast as possible?" Iined to Bryson as soon as we got out of the main tent and got further enough to know the Prince wouldn''t hear me.


    Howe that unworthy, overprivileged, weak she-wolf like Elena wouldmand my troops and me? I couldn''t ept it!


    If it weren''t for her father and her brothers, no one would even look at her, let alone know her name!


    "Bryson, say something!" I demanded as I shook his arm when I noticed that he wasn''t paying attention to my words.


    When he finally looked up, I added, "This can''t be happening! We''ve been through so much in the South, it''s uneptable for them to just brush us off to the side!"


    "Calm down, Babe," he uttered in a calm and sweet voice as he swung his arm around my shoulder andnded a kiss on my temple. "It''s the Prince''smand. We can''t do anything about it. This is the North, and what he says goes."


    "Why shouldn''t I question it?" I shifted to my right to face him and harshly pushed away his arm as I continued, "I led our troops into battle, and I earned my rank. She''s just... riding on her family''s name!"


    I walked with fumes on my head, aggressively pushed open the door to our tent, and went inside, mming myself down on the poorly made-up bed.


    "Here, take this." He sat beside me and handed me a ss of water.


    I looked at him ridiculously and put the ss on the nightstand, staring at him with a deadly re.


    Seeing my reaction, he momentarily raised his hands in the air before putting it down and sighing. ¡°Okay, fine, let''s say it''s unfair - which it really is. But do you really think challenging Prince Deacon''s orders is going to help? Look, we''re here to provide reinforcements, not to make waves. It''s not our battlefield to make calls, to begin with."


    I scoffed and shook my head. Couldn''t he be more obscure? It''s as if he didn''t care at all! Besides, what was more infuriating was that Prince Deacon cut ourmanding power and made Elena our leader!


    I''m a high-ranking warrior! I''m a general, for goddess'' sake; who was she tomand me?!


    I raised my legs and seriously looked at him. "Can''t you be more ambitious? Look, can''t you see it? Just like how you are put in charge in the South because of her family, she also got the call this time for the same reason!"


    That''s right. If it weren''t for Elena''s grandfather getting injured and his uncle losing his hand, Bryson wouldn''t have been in charge. Since he''s their family''s husband, they entrusted the leadership to him.


    "Enough, okay. Elena''s family has done a lot for the kingdom, Glenda. Her grandfather was critically injured, and her uncle... well, you know he saved my life out there." Guilt could be seen in his face, making me roll my eyes at him.


    I raised my hand and touched his face, making him stare at me. "Listen, you don''t owe that shrew anything to feel guilty. If there''s anyone you owe, it''s no one else but her uncle. Don''t add her in the picture."


    He ran his fingers on his hair, messing with it only to make it look more stylish and make himself more handsome. Stressfully, he stood up and spread his arms, pointing out, "Now isn''t the time to pick fights. You''re a


    general, Glenda. Focus on the role you''ve earned, and leave Elena be."


    Triggered, I stood up and raised a brow at him, "Oh, now, I''m the one at fault? They''re the ones being unfair!"


    "That ex of yours is taking advantage of..." suddenly, a thought came into my head, cutting off my own words.


    A mischievous smirk shed on my lips, making Bryson look at me cautiously, asking, "What?"


    I picked up the loose strand of my hair and casually twirled it around my finger as


    I sat back on the edge of the bed and crossed my legs. "If that shrew wants to lead our troops, then so be it. Let''s see how long she can do it without making a fool of herself."


    Bryson hurriedly moved beside me and held my hand. He grabbed my attention and stared at me worriedly, "Don''t do anything reckless! Prince Deacon won''t tolerate insubordination. Haven''t you listened to him earlier?"


    I rolled my eyes. What a scaredy cat.


    "Oh, please, Babe!" I waved my hand nonchntly before confidently continuing, "You know me. I know what I''m doing."


    When I saw that he was still looking at me with doubts, I shrugged my shoulders and ced my other hand on his. "Besides, did you forget? We made those Rogues in Southern borders beg on their knees, and it''s all because of our own hard work."


    My hard work.


    Suddenly, as if remembering something, he momentarily entered a daze before blinking several times. "Speaking of that... You never told me how you got them to surrender. Did you burn their supply center?"


    "I... uh... Y-yes, that''s exactly what I did," I sturred in reply as I moved with agility and tried to avoid his eyes, feeling the fast and pounding heartbeat inside my chest.


    Bryson narrowed his eyes and caged me with his arms, staring deep into me. "Are you sure?"


    "Y-yes... I... Bryson! Do you really need every detail? I handled it, and that''s what matters," I snapped. I couldn''t handle the pressure he was giving me, so I pushed him away before standing up.


    After a sigh, I motioned outside where our troops were. "Let''s just focus on what''s next, alright? We have a lot of work to do."


    I walked out first and didn''t wait for him to follow. But as I passed through the door, a smirk formed on my lips, and I uttered, "Elena, I''ll crush you into pieces. You''ll wish you never tried to cross me."


    I''m the first female general in the kingdom, and I''ll show her what that title really means!

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 45

    Elena''s POV


    After thest night of drama, Prince Deacon walked me to my tent, and Iy on my bed, letting sleep consume me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt very refreshed as the weight I was carrying was no longer as heavy as before.


    Feeling energetic, I woke up and changed into mybat clothes before I tied my hair into a ponytail.


    Since I woke up in a great mood and the weather seemed so nice outside, I nned to go for a morning run.


    The warriors greeted me enthusiastically; some even offered me bread and drinks, but I respectfully rejected them, telling them I''d go for an exercise.


    "I always thought Prince Deacon was a man of honor and discipline. I heard he had always been imperial and would give punishment and merits to those deserving despite rank. It''s very disappointing that the god of war we looked up to is not as great as we thought he was."


    "Indeep, I never imagined that our kingdom would be lowered to this. How can they easily hand outranks based on familial merits? Warriors underwent training and sacrifices to be deserving, but what about her? Where are her battle scars? What can she be proud of?"


    1 halted at one behind the tents newly arranged at the backwn where the new troops bought by Bryson and Glenda were staying and wiped off my sweat. My brows furrowed as I beat them, talking about Prince Deacon.


    At first, my blood boiled, thinking they were badmouthing him, but when I heard more of their words, I scoffed, realizing what it was really about.


    What a petty tricks!


    Glenda was on it again. She really had no other tricks but to make schemes instead of fighting fair and square.


    I leaned back on one of the trees near me, basking under the sunlight while enjoying how Glenda sailed her made-up stories into rumors that made these warriors so easily manipted.


    "It''s almost insulting. We''ve fought hard to be here, yet she just gets promoted because of her father? As much as I respected Alpha Dooley, this is still not eptable! Guess it''s nice to be privileged and not have to earn anything," another warriormented as he grabbed one of the barbeques from the fire before aggressively biting on it as if it wronged him.


    Seeing how the others nodded like puppets and how they agreed so easily, I shook my head and finally decided to


    I clenched my fist a couple of times before I fully rxed. Once I had myposure, I stood up, strained, and walked toward them, intentionally bending to snatch one of their barbecues.


    They all went silent and looked at each other. Smirking, I gave each of them a meaningful smirk as I taunted, "A good warrior questions only what matters on the battlefield and not whispers in the wind like some gossip- addicted teenagers."


    Triggered, they stood up, one asking, "What do you mean by that?"


    I took a bite from the barbeque stick and shook my head, thinking, ¡°As a warrior, shouldn''t they be smarter than this?"


    I wanted to taunt them further, but I knew better than to act the role Glenda wanted me to be in.


    One of the warriors in the other group stood up and joined us. He was buff and had tattoos on his arm. He looked


    1


    straight into me without hesitation or fear, his arrogance vividly reeking on his face.


    He lifted his brow and kept his chin up, challengingly asking, ¡°You might be right, but don''t you think you owe us a little proof? We haven''t seen all this talk of your ''family glory'' or ''actual skills.""


    My smirk became wider upon his rebuttal, and I felt victorious before I pointed out, "Exactly, you haven''t seen anything yet, and you talked as if it''s really as you heard it to be."


    His lips instantly closed shut, and his jaw clenched. Steppin; closer to him, I stared at him with sternness and dominance as I added, "If you seek proof, then wait for a battle and see for yourselves. If you can''t wait..."


    I nodded at the other side where the other warriors were staying. "Then... by all means, ask those who have witnessed something."


    The more I heard the thought process of Glenda''s troops, the more disappointed I became. They didn''t even have the basic manners to greet the stationed warriors on this border and isted themselves on their own.


    They''re just as arrogant as their general.


    I was ready to leave after seeing them speechless, but they all suddenly bowed their head as footsteps echoed


    behind me.


    "Since when is leadership being questioned on the battlefield? Warriors follow their leaders instead of creating chaos. This is not time for a meaningless game like politics!" his voice bombarded the ce, making everyone nce at each other.


    However, unlike those disciplined and respectful warriors here, these southern warriors were as reckless as


    Glenda.


    "We don''t mean to defy anyone, Prince Deacon, but we''ve earned our ce here. We want to know that those leading us have done the same," one of them stepped forward, bold enough to look Prince Deacon in the eye.


    Keeping his patience, Pre Deacon nodded his head and exined anyway, "Elena''s role wasn''t just handed to her, and those who''ve seen her in battle understand that. Perhaps..."


    A smirk shed on his lips as if something hade into his mind, and he nced at me before continuing, "It''s time you do, too."


    "Then let her prove it... maybe against one of us," the arrogant tattooed guy earlier challenged.


    I immediately red at him at his reckless suggestion, reminding him, "A battle among allies isn''t the way to settle this. When the timees, you''ll see my worth. And if there''s any doubt left, you can voice it directly to me afterward."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 47

    Elena''s POV


    The crowd surrounding the area had dramatically increased and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a glimpse of Bryson and Glenda pushing through the crowd, smugly standing in front.


    With her arms defiantly crossed over her chest, Glenda shot me sharp res that could pierce through the chaos. Her expression held a blend of disdain and confidence, as if she was absolutely certain I was about to humiliate myself in front of everyone gathered. The tension between us thickened as we locked eyes in a silent, unyielding challenge.


    "Luna Elena, don''t think I''ll go easy on you just because you''re a woman," Gail''s arrogant voice cut through the moment, snapping my attention back to him.


    Entirely focusing on him, I smirked and calmly replied, "I wouldn''t expect anything less."


    I stood in the middle and stayed on the defense stand while keeping my eyes interlocked with Gail''s.


    With one of my hands raised, I extended my two fingers and gestured for him toe at me. "Show me what you got."


    Gail shifted his weight to his left foot and lunged forward, aiming to strike me with a swift, calcted move. But I held my ground, dodging his attack with a quick sidestep and, in that split second, caught his outstretched arm in a steady grip. Then, I raised my other hand and pressed my palm against him, sending him gliding backward.


    He stumbled, losing his bnce, and fell to the ground with a heavy thud, the air momentarily filled with the sound of his surprise.


    He looked up at me in shock as he gasped for air. All arrogance that was once in his face vanished into thin air like a popped bubble.


    "In battle, mere skills and brute strength simply won''t suffice," I dered, leaning closer to him, my gaze piercing as I spoke. ¡°In a real battle, one must master the art of reading their opponent, anticipating their every move, and outsmarting them at every turn. Grasp that lesson, and you''ll find yourself far better equipped to handle the chaos of the battlefield."


    As I stood up properly and straightened my clothes, I turned to the crowd gathering around us. The atmosphere suddenly changed as the newly arrived warriors whispered in awe.


    I saw their eyes, which were once filled with doubt, gleaming with newfound admiration and respect for me as their leader. But among other things, what truly captured my focus were the two familiar figures standing at the front of all of them.


    Their faces were a mixture of dumbfounded disbelief and contained fury.


    Staring back at them, I gave them a smirk filled with victory, which taunted them even further and strengthened the tension between us.


    Bryson narrowed his eyes on me as he grudgingly admitted, "I never expected you to be so skillful."


    "Skillful?" Gledna''s scoff sounded before I could even renounce a reply. She gave Bryson a quick nce before replying with her eyes still on me, "Please, are you blind? That warrior must have thrown the match on purpose. I don''t buy this stupid act."


    She emphasizes, Pointing at me, "She''s not a real warrior!"


    "Stop it. It''s already-"


    Bryson tried to control Glenda and held his arm to push her back, but unbeknownst to him, Glenda was beyond


    control.


    Recklessly, she pushed his arm away from her and strode toward thebat area. Standing before me, she stood tall and arrogant, speaking loudly to catch everyone''s attention and silence the murmurs around her.


    "Your Oscar-worthy performance is nearly convincing, Elena," she dered, her words dripping with condescension. "But I think it''s time we see a realbat, don''t you think?"


    She spoke and pointed a finger at me, her boldness radiating all over her. She fixed me with a confident gaze, certain I would falter in her formidable presence..


    The crowd had now split into sections, some cheering me with admiration while others believed her unfounded usations and started voicing their doubts against me.


    "That''s right, Luna Elena is probably faking it."


    "Yes, we never heard anything about her knowing how to fight."


    "It''s probably a scheme."


    A few warriors in the crowd continued to voice out, but I remained unbothered.


    Nonchntly, I leaned back against one of the woodenbat posts nearest me while keeping my gaze fixated on Glenda with an expression overflowing with boredom.


    I crossed my arms over my chest, tilted my head slightly, and stifled a yawn that crept up on me as I stared at her and intently waited for a couple of seconds for her to get more enraged.


    When I saw her getting more infuriated, I couldn''t help but smirk, finally deciding to stop her agony.


    "If you truly believe you''re more capable than I am," I said slowly, my voice dripping with nonchnce, "then by all means, go ahead and prove it."


    I spread my arms and gestured at thebat area before slowly standing and waiting for her.


    She sent me a sharp gaze and stepped forward. "I intend to. I''ll crush you so hard you wish you didn''te here, Elena."


    +2

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 48

    Deacon''s POV


    I stood at the side of thebat area, keeping my eyes open in anticipation of Elena''s n to teach those arrogant warriors a lesson.


    They weren''t new warriors, so I couldn''t understand how they could be so indisciplined and reckless with their words. Was the camaraderie on the battlefield no longer existing, or was it the training of those in the South that had been molded with envy and doubts that they could easily be manipted to judge their fellow warriors without basis?


    "Show me what you got."


    A smirk immediately formed on my lips when I heard Elena confidently calling out Gail to attack. She didn''t even walk around to calcte her opponent''s movement; she just stood there waiting for him to make the first move.


    And to everyone''s surprise, as much as my own, she knocked him down in a single but expertly executed move.


    I couldn''t help but raise my hand and p amidst the loud sound of cheers,


    gasps, and murmurs of surprise among the bystander warriors. Some of me even surged with the hope that maybe someday I could duel with her and see her actual capabilities - a battle without her holding back her strength.


    Pride beamed within me, and I couldn''t wait to stand beside her and scold those who even doubted her for a second.


    But just as I was about to take a step forward, Glenda started causing chaos, which instantly boiled my blood.


    "I intend to. I''ll crush you so hard you wish you didn''te here, Elena," Glenda said, moving into a fighting


    stance.


    "Enough!" I shouted as I jumped into thebat area with them, which caused Glenda, Elena, and Gail to stand up into an attentive stance.


    I looked at them and walked around them for a while as I calmed myself into not killing Glenda. Stopping in front of Gail, I nodded in Glenda''s direction before I asked him, ¡°General Glenda here said you threw defeat on your own. You have something to say to that?"


    Gail looked back and forth between Glenda, who was ring at her, and Elena, who didn''t even give her a nce. He kept quiet for a while before he swallowed his nerves and nodded.


    To everyone''s surprise, he approached Elena and bowed down. "I''m sorry, General Elena. I didn''t mean to doubt- your abilities, but you won this fair and square battle. I hope you can forgive me and ept my respect for your leadership, though it may be toote now."


    The warriors whispered at each other.


    Elena humbly extended her hand at him and gave him a smile, "Let''s fight side by side and be stronger along the -way."


    Seeing that, I took the opportunity and looked at the other warriors, asking in a booming voice, "Heard that? Is there anyone else doubting her ability?"


    Many of them shook their heads, while a few only kept their mouth shut.


    "That''s it?" Glenda''s voice echoed amidst the silence.


    I shifted my gaze at her and raised a brow, encouraging her to continue.


    She shook her head in disbelief and pointed at Elena. ¡°She won a singlebat, and everyone is just supposed to fall in line and be at her beck and call? A single victory can''t prove anything!"


    My jaw clenched, and I took a threatening step in front of her. Pursing my lips, I replied, "Glenda, the battlefield is no ce for your temper. But if you''re so determined to challenge her, there will be consequences."


    I knew that, with her reckless behavior and arrogance, she wouldn''t stop until she learned a lesson. So, instead of jeopardizing everyone''s safety by having a misunderstanding when the actual battle begins, it''s better to settle everything here now and end it once and for all.


    "By all means..." I stepped back and spread my arms to gesture at the middle of thebat area.


    She looked at me in shock and dumbfoundedly asked in disbelief, "You permit as to a duel?"


    "If you insist on this challenge, then understand the stakes. If you lose due to your arrogance and insubordination, you''ll receive tenshes with the silver whip, and all the merits you''ve earned here will mean nothing. But if Elena loses, nothing will change as she''d still lead the troops as decided."


    She involuntarily stepped back upon hearing that while Bryson hurriedly stepped into thebat arena and held onto Glenda. They kept sending each other nces, shocked at my condition.


    Even Elena, who had been looking unbothered for a while, hurriedly turned her head to look at me in shock.


    I only gave her a slight nod before shifting my eyes at Glenda again. Feeling impatient after a minute of their silence, I called out her attention. ¡°Well?"


    Intently looking at her, I taunted further, "So what will it be, General Glenda? Do you dare to challenge her, knowing the price you''ll pay if you face failure?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 49

    Deacon''s POV


    At first, Glenda was too dumbfounded to speak, but when she recovered, she looked at me speechlessly and with disbelief before she let out a scoff of disappointment and disgust.


    "So, that''s it then?" she asked, looking at me from head to toe before she pointed at Elena with judgment.


    "How can you favor her so much, Prince Deacon? I''ve looked up to you as the god of war. I never expected that you''d sumb to a seductress like her and give her a title she hasn''t earned!" She didn''t even hesitate to voice out her usation.


    The second she finished her sentence, my eyes gleamed dark, and I stared at her with a murderous re, letting a low and threatening growl escape my lips.


    In a blink of an eye, I dashed through her. I grabbed her neck as I effortlessly raised her in the air, fingers tightening at every word as I spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°Question my choices and impartiality again, Glenda, and you''ll learn just how little tolerance I have for disloyalty."


    My royal aura spread through the air, enveloping the area in tense, cold silence for a second before the sessive sound of gasps and hitched breath echoed as every warrior of all ranks bowed before me.


    From my peripheral vision, I could see the fear in their eyes as they all lowered their heads, fearing to nce at


    1. me.


    "P-prince..." her words were cut off by her gasp as I tightened my hands on her again.


    My eyes turned deadly sharp as a ze of reddish-gold glinted through my iris. With my voice mixed with my wolf''s deadly one, I coldly asked, "Favoritism? Seduction? How dare you use me of such a corrupt act!"


    She tried opening her lips, but she only ended up struggling to even form a word. "P-prince D-deacon..."


    Despite my deadly demeanor, Bryson rushed to rescue his "lovely" wife and dashed forward inside thebat


    area.


    Hurriedly, he fell to one knee, bowed his head, and beggingly exined with a made-up excuse, "P-please, Prince Deacon, forgive her insolence! Please let me apologize on her behalf... s-she didn''t mean to question your authority."


    I huffed at Bryson''s words and still didn''t spare him any nce. I tilted my head at Glenda like I was some kind of predator sizing up his prey.


    Tightening my hold on her, she struggled for breath, and her face slowly started to change from a blush of red to pale white.


    As she gasped for air, I leaned closer to her and uttered in pursed lips, "If Elena loses, she''ll not only lose her dignity but the effectiveness of her authority as well..."


    Pausing, I gave her a taunting smirk and continued, "And so, if you lose... you will suffer from the silver whip and forfeit all the merit you''ve earned. This is no game, Glenda, and I will not tolerate this level of disrespect."


    "Ugh... I..."


    She tried to utter a word but continued to struggle and ended up saying nother. As for whether it was a disrespectful rebut or an apology, I couldn''t care less.


    The surrounding, on the other hand, was filled with murmur. They tried to speak as low as possible, and I couldn''t grasp exactly what they were saying, but their voices sounded like mosquitos were starting to irritate me


    even more.


    Leaning closer, I coldly spoke near her ear, sending chills down her spine. "What kind of leader would I be if every warrior starts to think that they could question me so openly just because they want to? And you, being the first female general, isn''t an exception to my authority, Glenda


    I felt her swallow from my palms.


    My wolf and I rejoiced from the fear we gave her, but my anger wasn''t still dissipating. In contrast, her close presence made my anger boil even stronger.


    I was so close to snapping her neck when a soft and warm hand touched my extended arm.


    My heartbeat instantly elevated, and my undivided re fixated on Glenda slowly shifted to my arm.


    Following the owner of these wless hands, I met Elena''s mesmerizing eyes, which made mine slowly be gentle.


    Her face remained calm and void of emotions, but her eyes were seemingly trying to reach out to mine, pulling my restless and angry self and wolf into a state of calmness.


    And the grip of her hand that gave my arm a small squeeze instantly grounded


    me.


    Taking a few deep breaths, I loosened my hold on Glenda''s neck and harshly dropped her. Without Bryson''s quick response to catching her, she would have fallen to the ground and faced humiliation.


    I gave Elena a slight nod, and she finally let go of me. Shifting my eyes back to Glenda, I watched her gasp for air but still felt no mercy.


    She deserves it!


    With a firm voice, Imanded, "Rest and prepare for the match. It shall begin in


    no time."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 50

    0


    Elena''s POV


    I stood at the side in calmness as I watched Bryson and Glenda muttering with each other, asionally giving me a side nce of disgust and hatred.


    Seeing them like that only made meugh a little at how petty they both could be.


    "Tell me about it! Especially that woman! Titled as the first female general, and she acts so petty, she almost looks pitiful! Where''s the manner and grace in her that a general should have?" Ava sarcastically asked, and I could only imagine her rolling her eyes because of how annoyed her voice sounded right now.


    When the time came, and the duel was about to start, Glenda and I stood up and prepared to enter thebat area.


    As I did, I looked back at Prince Deacon and was once again mesmerized by his outstanding appearance, with the ray of setting sunlight giving him so much justice.


    Its glow cast a shadow across his gold and brown armor that still had dried bloodstains etched on its metal from the past battles he had been on. The sunlight brought light into his mysterious demeanor.


    I swallowed as I involuntarily admired his face, letting my eyes linger a little at his shaved beard, which had grown a little. As the harsh wind grazed his chapped skin, it enhanced themanding intensity in his gaze, making him appear resolute and mighty among the crowd of soldiers and generals gathered around.


    When I heard someone clear his throat, that''s when I was pulled back from my daze. Keeping myposure, I smiled at Prince Deacon and sincerely uttered, "Thank you."


    He raised his brow; a hint of confusion shed in his eyes, but he remained silent and asked nothing.


    Instead, he took a step closer to me and patted my head. "Don''t keep me waiting. Finish this quickly, and try not to disgrace me.


    There was an evident hint of teasing in his voice, so I merely smirked at him as I watched him turn around and go back to his seat.


    But deep down, I also knew there was a hint of seriousness in it. It might be an assumption I had or because of my gratitude for him for standing up for me. Either way, I''ll make sure to win.


    Staring at his back, I made a silent vow, "I''ll make you proud."


    As Glenda and I stood in the battle area, Prince Deacon stood up from his seat and faced all the warriors from all ranks who were there to watch.


    "Everyone! You are all witnesses to this fight. Keep in mind that everything has its consequences," he started before turning back around and looking at Glenda and me as he continued, "...that being said, if either of you falls here today, the consequences will be yours alone."


    He shifted his gaze between me and Glenda as he rified, Elena Dooely, losing will mean that you''ll your dignity and authority over your own troops. As for you, Glenda Harber, you shall be punished by getting whipped and losing your battle merits."


    "Is this understood?" he asked in a domineering voice.


    Glenda and I nodded our heads as we answered in unison, "Yes, Prince Deacon."


    As Glenda and I faced each other in preparation for the start, I could still feel Prince Deacon''s lingering eyes on me, which made my heart beat fast. However, I kept my eyes on Glenda and tried to keep myposure until I heard his footsteps walking back away to his chair.


    Glenda stood across from me with a rigid posture and lips curled in a cold sneer. Her battle robe, untouched by blood, swayed slightly in the dusk breeze as she kept ring at me with steely eyes.


    Suddenly, she let out scoffed and taunted, "Did you really think you''d step onto the battlefield and suddenly be better than me? You''ve got nerve, I''ll give you that. But we both know where you''d be without your father''s influence."


    I met her taunting eyes and kept my face with an indifferent expression while I listened to Ava''s words, "What an arrogant shrewd! Show her what you really got! Teach her a lesson!"


    I was about to answer Ava when a small stick was thrown in front of me.


    Bending down, I picked it up and examined it with a furrowed brow as I questionably looked at Prince Deacon, who threw it.


    It was a very ordinary stick that he seemed to have cut from one of the nearest trees. Sure, it look sturdy, but very ordinary that it wouldn''t be mistaken for a weapon.


    He nodded at me, and I smirked in understanding as the word ''restraint'' seemingly glinted in his eyes.


    He must have heard Glenda''s taunting and feared I would use all my strength on her. Worse, if I tried to use my ws, the likelihood of me killing her would be very high.


    My hands tightened on the stick, and I kept my expressions calm while letting my demeanor exude fierceness.


    "A stick? How noble of you, Elena. Do you think you can take me down with that?" she asked,ughing in mockery.


    When I kept silent, she got ready for an attack and uttered, "You never stood a chance on me, Elena. Not then, and definitely not now!"


    With herst words, she dashed forward with her ws up, ready to strike me.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 51

    Elena''s POV


    I narrowed my eyes as I followed Glenda''s movements. She acted like she was about to strike me with her ws, but in mid-air, she shifted her body and made a semi-roll as her other hand pulled out a silver dagger from her


    belt.


    My hand tightened on the stick as I saw how the dagger glinted through the natural surrounding lights, catching a glimpse of a silverish-ck glint.


    It''s poisonous!


    How viscous! Not only was she carrying a silver weapon that''s vital to werewolves - which was understandable on the battlefield- but carrying oneced with poison was too much.


    However, that probably wasn''t visible to the eyes of others. Since I was trained with Custodes, we also had a training session where we tried to be as familiar as possible with different deadly weapons and poisons.


    Nheless, her having a weapon while me having only a stick took a stir among the audience.


    "Luna Elena is only holding a stick. What was Prince Deacon thinking? General Glenda will kill her!" "How can she even ept a stick? A stick versus a de? That''s suicide! She''s so full of herself.""


    I heard the other warriors muttering outside thebat area, and I could only shake my head.


    A smirk formed on my lips as I saw Glenda approaching me in slow motion, and I managed to grasp her every


    movement.


    As she lunged the dagger forward straight to my chest, I moved with precision and shifted my body a little to the side as I raised my hand and pushed her extended arm away from me with the use of a stick.


    Gasps filled the area while I calmly stood with my hand on my back like nothing happened.


    She fell on the ground, slightly bent to keep her bnce. Looking up at me, her ring eyes showed a vivid trace of frustration.


    "Act like a real warrior and actually fight!" she shouted with anger.


    I met her eyes and seriously spoke with her in a tone a leader would use to teach her underlings. "A real warrior doesn''t waste energy on petty insults, especially not during a battle."


    Glenda clenched her jaw, and her hands tightened on her dagger as she positioned herself once again in a fighting stance.


    Scoffing, she added, "You really think you''re a real warrior? You''re just here because you''re jealous of me and Bryson. Don''t act almighty now when you don''t have what it takes to be boastful!"


    I let out a smallugh and nodded my head at myself, nonchntly shrugging, "I wasn''t the one making a monologue during a fight, now was I?"


    That ignited the fire on her even more. In a blink of an eye, she dashed forward to me and attacked me with her ws and dagger, one hand lunging one after another.


    I could hear her heavy breathing as she started to run out of breath from all her failed attacks.


    With every move she made, I would simply shift my body to the side and easily avoid her aims.


    She''s fast, and I''d give her that. But she wasn''t fast enough to get past through my eyes and reflexes.


    "Fight, you shrew!" she shouted in the middle of her attacks, totally frustrated and mad right now.


    "As you wish," I simply replied before raising my stick again.


    This time, I didn''t avoid her attack. I stood still and waited for her to lunge the dagger toward my chest.


    Her eyes widened mid-act, and a smile formed on her lips. She probably thought she''d get to harm me this time. To her frustration, as the tip of her dagger was two inches away from me, I swung my stick with so much force that she yelped in pain, and her hand lost grasp of the dagger.


    The dagger fell onto the ground with a deafening sound, and everyone went quiet in shock, letting only the dagger''s clinging sound and Glenda''s gasp of pain fill the


    air.


    I looked down at Glenda and found her grasping her wrist, which now had a


    slowly healing horizontal red mark. There were even a few stains of dotted blood


    on her skin from the slint of the stick that stroked her skin.


    After a few seconds of shockness, I finally heard a series of gasps and muttering around.


    "Did... did she just disarm Glenda with a stick?"


    "H-how was that possible?"


    "I can''t believe my eyes!"


    I nced sideways and hid a smile as I saw Prince Deacon sitting on the side


    with his arms crossed and a glinting pride in his eyes.


    "Don''t waste time, Elena. Finish it," he mouthed while keeping that stoic face of his intact, but my heart still went crazy as I could see the hidden pride and encouragement behind his nonchnt facial expression.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 52

    Elena''s POV


    Glenda was now more visibly enraged as her eyes were bloodshot, menacingly ring at me with her chest rising and falling heavily that synced with her ring nostril.


    She bent down and grabbed her fallen dagger with hernds tightening around its handle so hard that her knuckles had turned white.


    The crowd that had been momentarily silent hade back to life, the ground being divided between those who were now cheering for me and others who remained in Glenda''s support.


    "Come on, General Glenda, you can do this! Don''t go easy on her!"


    "She just got lucky, General Glenda. Don''t mind her!"


    Hearing their cheers, Glenda swiveled the dagger around her hand, gaining another wave of confidence.


    Meanwhile, another warrior shouted in the background, "Luck? Come on, are you blind? Didn''t you see the control Luna Elena has?"


    "Yeah! That control is outstanding; must have taken a lot of training."


    "She''s making General Glenda look like a rookie!"


    The chatters continued, and every second wasted listening to them, the more Glenda''s angst intensified.


    "A rookie... Don''t rejoice yet, Elena. I''ll show you why I''m the first female general, not you..." With that, she rushed in toward me with desperation and determination.


    However, the anger and envy that built up on her seemed to make her movements even sloppier than they were earlier.


    She threw another strike at me, but it was easier to defend myself right now. It didn''t even make me blink as I blocked her attack by holding her wrist that was holding the knife.


    Twisting it a bit, she dropped her knife again.


    She gritted her teeth and didn''t give up. Instead, she raised her other arm and attempted to w me, but I blocked it again with my other hand. Shifting my body, I bent down and pulled her with my back, making her roll from my back and drop hard onto the ground.


    Moving with agility, she swiveled her body and stood up. Extending both her ws, she paid no more attention to her dagger and started moving faster, aiming to scratch me as she swung her hands one after another.


    Though her speed doubled up, her aim wasn''t as urate as she looked like she was now blindingly attacking, with only hopes that at least one of her attacks would scratch me.


    I was in the middle of urately blocking all her attacks when I caught a glimpse


    of Prince Deacon looking at me. Meeting my eyes, he discreetly nodded his head with narrowed eyes.


    Inwardly sighing, I gave him an understanding nod as a silent reply that I''d end it already as he wanted.


    "What an impatient man."


    With that, I dropped the stick I was holding and bent down to avoid all her attacks above my waist before I took a side step and kicked her on her ankle with precision, knocking her down to the ground.


    It wasn''t enough to break her ankle, but I made sure it was enough to make it hurt like hell for her, at least for a


    little while.


    She clenched down in pain, holding her ankle and gasping for breath from exhaustion as she gave me a side nce for detest.


    As it was the unmistakable mark of the end, I approached her and stood in front of


    her, gazing at her nonchntly as I spoke, "I think this ends it."


    "You think you''re better than me? This... this doesn''t prove anything," she denied between her gasp for air.


    I shook my head and mentally pped my forehead at her stubbornness. It couldn''t be more evident that she lost; still, she couldn''t swallow her ego and had the pride of an eagle.


    Nodding at her, I stepped back and picked up the stick Prince Deacon gave me before calmly saying, "I don''t have to prove anything. You did that yourself."


    Turning my head, I gaze at Pre Deacon, who now has a small smile on his lips. Nodding his head, he stood up and entered thebat area.


    "I guess that ends that battle, and it''s as clear as day who the winner is," he casually stated as he approached us and watched Glenda slowly getting up to her feet, scowling and angst in her eyes.


    Standing in the middle, he cleared his throat and took everyone''s attention..


    Everyone kept silent and focused on him to listen.


    His eyes wandered as he spoke, "Let this be a reminder to each and every one of you, warriors... strength doesn''te from lineage or reputation.... Ites from discipline and skill."


    Glenda, being a reckless woman, couldn''t help herself and let out a scoff, which was heard by everyone.


    Prince Deacon''s ears flickered, and his eyes narrowed. He immediately gazed back at Glenda, continuing with a stern voice, "...and respect!"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 53

    Elena''s POV


    I stood beside Prince Deacon with my head held high and my hand still on the stick, waiting for more things to unfold. Knowing Glenda and her stubbornness, I knew she wouldn''t ept her defeat so easily.


    My eyes narrowed when Glenda''s breathing became heavier. Her jaws clenched, and her hands balled into a fist on her side as if she were trying to control herself, but... she ended up still losing it.


    "I don''t believe this!" Her voice shook a little bit as she looked at Prince Deacon, but the hate and disgust in her voice were audible.


    "This was a setup, wasn''t it? You conspired with thatst challenger to make a fool of me-both of you!" she dramatically used, eyes wondering a few seconds as she nced at thest challenger and sent him a re.


    I wanted to roll my eyes at how defensive she was being right now. Even if she thought thest challenger was a setup, how would she exin how she terribly lost the duel with me?


    "Maybe she''s part of the so-called conspiracy..." Ava, my wolf, teased.


    I wanted tough, but I held out myself.


    "Really, Glenda? Instead of owning up to your loss, you''re making up more excuses?" Prince Deacon shifted his gaze and stared at her with so much disappointment that it was even leaking from his voice.


    She tried to open her lips to speak, but a smallugh finally escaped my lips, taking her attention.


    Looking at her with disbelief, Imented, "Honestly, Glenda, maybe it''s time to check your head. You''re grasping at straws now."


    Anyone would have backed away from shame, but I forgot she didn''t have that.


    She kept her head high and took slow menacing steps towards me. Stopping just a few steps away and almost aligned with Prince Deacon, she let out a smirk. "I mayck your skill, Elena, but I have merited from the southern front. And let''s not forget-I''m Bryson''s Luna. That''s a title you''ll never take from me. You may gain all the honors you like, but you''ll always be behind me, the first female general.''


    As she said those, she gestured me toward Bryson by swiftly ncing at where he was.


    I scoffed at her statements. Now, she wasn''t even afraid to broadcast how she took another woman''s husband.


    ncing back and forth between her and Bryson, I shook my head in disgust and told her with disdain radiating all over me, "Keep your title, Glenda. I''d rather not take a position that requires constant whining to keep. Bryson''s Luna? You can have it."


    "What did you say?" she asked, writhing in anger.


    Tilting my head, I smirked as I asked, "Oh, have you gone deaf as well?"


    "You!" she shouted angrily, raising her arm to point the finger at me.


    When she saw I didn''t even butter my eyelids at her child-like tantrum, she became even angrier, and I narrowed my eyes when I saw how her legs started bending down.


    "She''ll lunge at you!" Ava warned, but I kept standing still.


    "Let her be. I can take her on," I mindlessly replied.


    As if on cue, she started dashing froward and lunged toward me with her ws up


    in the air. Her eyes were red


    with a thirst for vengeance, and her fangs were slowly showing etween her lips.


    "I''ll teach you a lesson, Elena-"


    Her words and actions were halted, and a painful gasp reced them when Pre Deacon suddenly outstretched his arm.


    His handnded heavily on Glenda''s shoulder, making her drop to the ground until her legs went weak and her knees met the dirt.


    Prince Deacon remained standing beside her with his hand on her shoulder, effortlessly holding her down while she tried not to squirm from the pain the pressure he was giving her.


    "If you wish to stay in the North, I''d suggest you reconsider your choices. Because


    I won''t tolerate this kind of behavior, Glenda. No matter what your title might be,"


    he uttered in a dangerously calm voice that sent chills to Glenda, wondering how she squirmed.


    Her bloodshot eyes, filled with anger, immediately wavered and were reced with a glint of fear.


    And that was when I noticed blood slowly dripping down her shoulder. My eyes widened when I looked closer and saw that Prince Deacon had his ws out, and it was digging into her skin.


    "P-Prince Deacon..." Bryson came into the arena and knelt beside her.


    This time, he didn''t apologize on her behalf.


    By how calm and yet dangerous Prince Deacon looked right now, I don''t think anyone would dare even to speak to try and change his mind.


    The surroundings went quiet for a full minute before Pre Deacon finally retracted his hand and ws, causing Glenda to dash forward as her blood sshed onto the ground.


    Bryson caught her fast and supported her to prevent her from falling with his arm wrapped around her shoulder.


    Looking to the side, Prince Deacon ordered, "Tyson, arrange a medic for Glenda. Seems she may need a full assessment."


    "Yes, Alpha," Beta Tyson went forward, but before he could reach Gledna, Prince Decon continued, "Have them especially pay attention to her head. It looks like a few screws need some tightening."


    Upon hearing that remark, I pursed my lips as tight as I could, almost losing myself intoughing out loud. ncing at Glenda, she had an opposite reaction, though. She was red with anger and humiliation.


    She tightened her hold on Bryson and clung to him tighter as if a child telling on him. However, his gaze remained on me as if trying to say something.


    My eyes narrowed as I looked back at him, but my view of him was immediately blocked when Prince Deacon stood right in front of me.


    "This is over. Let''s go," he said, guiding me back to the camp tents as the other warriors dispersed.


    Once we arrived inside his tent, he grabbed a towel from his rack and dipped it in a basin of water he poured hot


    water into.


    "Did you think about killing her back there?" he asked as he handed me the hot towel.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 54

    Elena''s POV


    My hand tightened at the towel Prince Deacon gave me while I paused, steadying my emotions and state of mind before I honestly replied, "The urge was there. But Glenda''s alive for a reason. If she has ties to the massacre, her death would bury the truth."


    "So, you n to use her to uncover the truth?" he asked, a dick of admiration visible in his eyes.


    I nodded and started wiping my sweat off. "Yes, that''s exactly what I thought of." Besides, I also need to know if my maternal grandfather was connected to those events.


    Nodding his head in agreement, eyes sharpening as hemented, "Smart move. If she''s involved with the rogues or had a hand in the ughter, letting her die without extracting the truth would be a mistake."


    "But..." he started as he stepped closer toward me. Staring at me intensely, he said, "If she falls in battle, it''s her fate. No one will me you for that."


    cing my arms down with the towel in my hand, I looked at him for a while and let out a heave of sigh before voicing out my worries, "It''s not just about her... I need to know if my grandfather was connected to all these. The idea of him being possibly part of the cause of these just doesn''t sit right with me."


    He gave me a soft smile as he took another step forward and ced a reassuring hand over my shoulder, giving it a small squeeze of encouragement. "Your grandfather is innocent, Elena. Whatever the truth was, we''ll uncover them."


    I stared back at his mesmerizing andforting eyes and gave him a smile as my troubling heart momentarily


    calmed down.


    Opening my lips, I was about to say my thanks to him when a knock on the wooden post outside was heard. Prince Deacon?"


    Prince Deacon cleared his throat and withdrew his hand from me before standing up straight while I took a step back and looked around in small awkwardness.


    "Come in," he instructed, and Tyson entered.


    He briefly gave me a nce between me and Prince Deacon and bowed his head with respect.


    "Prince Deacon..." he greeted, then his eyes shifted toward me. "Luna Elena, we received a package for you."


    I notice the box in his hand with my name on it only after he said that. Stepping forward, he ced it on the table.


    After settling it down, he gave his bows again and immediately went off without further words.


    "For me?" I asked without much thought as I stepped closer to the table where the package was while Prince Deacon and I were exchanging looks.


    When my eyes swept through the words printed on top, I let out a sigh of relief. "It''s from my Custodes senior."


    Nooked back at him and smiled. "She''s been helping me gather information about what happened and uncover the truth."


    Using my ws, I cut the tapes and opened the box insideid a file envelope.


    With my heart beating fast with excitement and curiosity, I untangled the tie of the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. However, as soon as I read the words in those reports, time seemed to stop.


    My gaze dimmed while I scanned the context of the report


    "What does it say?" I heard Prince Deacon ask while I felt its presence beside me.


    My breathing started to be heavy, and my hands trembled, causing the side of the paper where I was holding it to crumple a little.


    With my voice unsteady, I forced myself to answer Prince Deacon, "The rogues targeted my pack because Glenda pinned the brutal murder of Alpha Robert''s son on my grandfather. She imed that the southern front''smander at that time, who was my grandfather, was the one who ordered the massacre of a small tribe to cover it up. She dared exin that she was merely following orders."


    I looked at him as if to pull in courage and saw that his eyes dimmed just as mine did. His jaws also clenched, and I could feel the anger radiating all over him.


    I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself just slightly enough to continue speaking. "They burned that tribe to the ground and said it was a fire. But it wasn''t. It was a ughter."


    "Glenda imed she was following orders, but it''s clear now! She was the one who orchestrated the entire thing The rogues and the Moonke pack only retaliated so much because I thought my grandfather was behind it. And my pack..."


    Feeling weak with so much anger and too much revtion I was uncovering, I fell into a seat behind me. My hands tightened on the paper, shaking with so much anger. "They annihted us. Innocent lives were wiped out for a crime we didn''tmit."


    I heard his footsteps closing in. Pulling another chair close to mine, he sat down in front of me and held my hand, giving me strength and courage. With his eyes staring deeply into me, he uttered with a firm voice, "Elena, this wasn''t your grandfather''s doing. Glenda has blood on her hands, not him. And if the rogues and that pack are moving on the North now, and I''m sure it''s not just about territory.


    When I heard that, my face immediately lifted. Filled with shock and wonder, I asked, "What do you mean?"


    A glint in his eyes shed before he answered, "They''re luring Glenda out. They know she''s the real mastermind behind the murder of Alpha Robert''s son, and they want revenge."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 55

    Elena''s POV


    My chest was still feeling heavy, and anger was umting in my heart. Then, I felt another squeeze offort in my hand.


    Looking up, I met Prince Deacon''s eyes filled with determination and promise. "We''ll expose her, Elena. And when the truthes out, your grandfather''s name will be cleared."


    Taking a deep breath, I let the weight that filled me lose a bit.


    I nodded my head and was finally able to let out a small smile.


    After a few minutes offort, we finally ease up.


    Looking outside, we realized that it was alreadyte.


    "Do you want to dine here?" he asked, motioning toward the table.


    Standing up, I shook my head. "No, it''s alright. I want to have a rest as well."


    "Then, I''ll walk you back," he added as he pushed the tent''s fabric door out of my way.


    Giving him a smile, I assured him, "I''ll be okay, Prince Deacon. Thank you, but I really want to have some alone time for a while.".


    For a moment, he stared at me as if reading my eyes to see if I was really fine. After a while, he let out a sigh of defeat. "Alright, I''ll see you tomorrow."


    Walking under the moonlight, I took a slow steps back to my tent as I let the night breeze and moonshine to ease all my worries and calm my nerves.


    I was savoring the brief solitude I had for myself when a shadow loomed in front of me, making me halt in an instant.


    A familiar voice echoed in my ears before I could even raise my face. "Elena...¡±


    My heart stopped beating for a second as my legs instinctively moved backward. Crossing my arms together, I gave Bryson a stoic expression and didn''t say anything.


    "I... I want to say sorry for how Glenda acted earlier. I know that she''s out of line," he said, almost whispering it..


    A sneer couldn''t help but escape my lips. "Glenda''s actions speak for themselves, Bryson. No apology from you will change that."


    He nodded mindlessly but remained standing in front of me, making me raise my brows in judgment.


    After a few seconds, he frustratedlybed his hair with his fingers before letting out a heavy sigh. "I also wanted to say that... I didn''t... I never realized you were so capable. Watching you fight today... It was like seeing apletely different person."


    A hint of admiration shed in his eyes.


    If I had seen that before, my heart would probably jumped. But not anymore. Not this time around.


    Instead, I shed him with a smirk. ¡°Perhaps you never really looked at the person in front of you."


    I saw his body tense for a while, and he had a hard time swallowing a lump that had formed in his throat.


    Something in his eyes flickered for a moment before he asked with difficulty, "Do you regret it? Our marriage?"


    Hearing him having the audacity to ask that brought rage within me, causing me to sharply ask back, "That''s a question for you, Bryson. You made your choice. You left me."


    "I thought I was doing what was best... for both of us. But seeing you now, I can''t help but wonder... Did you ever truly love me?" he asked with a soft voice, eyes lingering in my eyes as if he was trying to read my soul.


    Too bad for him. I closed myself off from him the second he said he had another


    woman.


    My expression went cold, and I gazed at him with menacing eyes. Taking a firm step closer to him with narrowed eyes, I spoke steadily but sharply, ¡°Love you? I married you because I thought we could build something together. But love? You never earned it. You were too busy neglecting your duties as a husband to even try."


    How dare he ask me if I love him? I did a lot of things for him. Wasn''t my answer obvious enough, or was he too blinded to see all my efforts for the past year we had been married?


    It should be me asking him that question.


    He looked away with guilt, but I wasn''t done yet.


    Continuing, I pointed out, "And let''s not forget the facts, Bryson. You chose Glenda. You abandoned what we had, or could have had, without a second thought. So don''t you dare stand here and question my feelings!"


    I thought he''d have a bit of self-shame, but to my surprise, he looked back at me with disappointment and me in his eyes instead of feeling guilty and walking away.


    Sneering, hemented, "So it''s true! You never loved me"


    Hearing his remark made meugh with sarcasm. "Oh, forgive me, Bryson, for not pining over a man who discarded me like yesterday''s news."


    Taking a step back, I looked at him intently, shook my head in disappointment, and emphasized my disappointment in him. "You''ve lost the right to judge me. Or even ask these questions a long time ago, Bryson."


    With that remark, I was about to walk past him, but another familiar voice from a woman filled with sarcasm and usation filled my ears.


    "Well, isn''t this cozy?" Glendamented.


    Shifting my gaze, I found hering out from the side. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked back and forth between me and Bryson.


    "I leave for one moment, and here you are, rekindling your little me," she said, gesturing toward me.


    Letting out a smirk, I calmly replied, "Rekindling? Don''t tter yourself, Glenda. The only thing burning here is your delusion."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 56

    Elena''s POV


    Glenda''s eyes zed with fire as she sent me a re. Her chest rose and fell heavily, in sync with her ragged breath of fury.


    After hearing my words, she became even more mad. Losing control, she raised her hand and pointed a finger at me, using me almost desperately, "Don''t you dare deny it! I saw the way he looked at you during the fight. And now, here you are, alone together. What else am I supposed to think?"


    An involuntary sneer escaped my lips. Oh, so now, how her husband has acted has be my responsibility?


    I wanted to shake my head at how ridiculous she was being


    Raising my brows, I tilted my head and smirked. "Think whatever helps you sleep at night. But don''t drag me into your insecurities,"


    "Glenda, it''s not what it looks like. I was just..." Bryson rushed between us and held Glenda by her shoulders, but Glenda''s fierce eyes only focused on me.


    Without butting an eye, she angrily pushed Bryson away and stepped forward to approach me.


    "You''re nothing but a maniptive-"


    Losing patience, I pushed her finger away from my face. With a sharp gaze and pursed lips, I coldly said, " Enough, Glenda. I don''t have time for your petty usations or your drama."


    I smirked when she almost lost bnce with my push and took a step to the side involuntarily. It was only her hands that I initially wanted to push.


    Looking past her, I warned Bryson, "Control your Luna, Bryson. Or I will."


    With that, I strode past them and left them under the darkness. But while walking back toward my tent, I could still faintly hear them both arguing, which only made me shake my head and roll my eyes.


    ''So much drama.''


    The following day, I slowly opened my eyes, weakened by the bustling sound of ws and the footsteps of warriors training. Sitting up, I stretched my neck and glimpsed outside. The sun hadn''t risen yet, but everyone was already fully awake and filled with so much energy to train harder.


    After changing to mybat clothes, I stretched out in my room for a few minutes before I ran into the training ground, finding Prince Deacon supervising in the middle.


    Upon seeing me, a smile immediately formed on his lips.


    As I approached him, he walked and grabbed two boxing bandage wraps.


    "You''rete," he mocked with a smirk as he handed me the red wrap.


    epting it, I jokingly replied, "I know I''m amazing, but I also need a proper break afterst night''s circus."


    Not to mention that that shrewd couple even managed to still mess with me before I went home.


    "Fair. But no excuses. Today, you''ll need more than sharp words to keep up with me." With that, he guided me to sit on the log seats and grabbed the red strap from my hand.


    Only then did I notice that he already finished wrapping his hand.


    "I can do it," I debated when he suddenly grasped my hand to help me wrap the boxing bandage.


    He looked at me with those deep eyes and calmly replied, "know."


    But instead of letting me alone after his reply, he continued gently holding my hand and focused on perfecting it.


    My heart palpated so much that it felt like it would pop out from my chest, and my eyes felt glued to his perfect


    face.


    "Girl! He''ll melt if you don''t stop!" I was pulled out from the daze and coughed up heavily after I was pped so hard in the back with so much force that I almost fell t-faced to the ground after falling from my seat if it weren''t for my fast reflex..


    Standing up, I turned around and found Maise and Saige looking at me teasingly.


    I narrowed my eyes, confused by their reaction.


    "yer! I think you''re starting to fall into a pit of honey trap!" Saige nodded, gesturing toward my back. Following their gazes, my heart stopped beating, and my breathing hitched as I found prince deacon a few steps away from us.


    I could only pray that he was far enough not to hear what we were talking about. Luckily, Paige and Saige''s voices were lowpared to the blow they gave my back.


    Turning sharply back at them, I red in evident panic. "What are you guys saying? Shut the hell up!"


    "He''s done helping you for a while now." Maiseughed and gestured to my hand.


    I bit my lower lip shyly and forced myself to calm myself.


    After a few breaths, I looked back at Prince Deacon and opened and closed my wrapped hand in practice and destruction as I reasoned out, "Sorry, I... I was just thinking of something..."


    He raised his brows, lips lifting into a teaseful smirk. "Something... Like..."


    He didn''t catch on to the fact that I was checking him out, did he? That would be so embracing and a total nightmare.


    "Like you..." Maise whispered in my back, making me instinctively elbowed her.


    I heard her cough and grimaced in pain but paid no attention to her.


    Shaking my head, I responded to Prince Deacon. "I-it''s nothing."


    "W-What are you saying again?" I asked, hoping the awkwardness woulde


    to an end before I dug a hole and hid myself.


    "Ready to show me what you got?" he arrogantly asked, motioning to thebat


    area.


    Relief filled me when the atmosphere between us finally changed.


    Standing with confidence, I smirked. ¡°You bet I am. Prince or not. General or not. I''ll kick your ass.


    "I hope your skills will be as sharp as your words," he said as he jumped up on the mainbat tform.


    He extended his hand for me, but I jumped on my own instead and stood beside him with a mocking smirk. "I hope you''re as skilled as you were branded as."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 57

    Elena''s POV


    "A one-on-onebat?"


    "Did I see it right?"


    "Are they seriously doing it?"


    "Wow!"


    "I never saw anyonesting more than full minutes with Prince Deacon. Can a girl like her handle the god of war?"


    "General Glenda is one thing, but the Prince..."


    Murmurs filled the training area when the,warriors surrounding us noticed Prince Deacon entering thebat tform.


    We felt everyone halting from their training and approached the ring one after another until a crowd formed around us.


    All of them had their opinions voiced out, filled with surprise. But none of them seemed to think that I could win against Prince Deacon, much lessst for three minutes.


    "They have so much belief in you," I pointed out as I nced at the crowd and positioned myself in abat stance like he did..


    Smirking, he responded, "You think you can break that?"


    I replied to his remark with a smirk before I started sending a strike in his direction that he easily avoided.


    My eyes narrowed when he smirked at me, unaffected by my attack.


    After a few punches and kicks from each other that we all easily avoided, we looked at each other, and our smirks vanished as our eyes dimmed with seriousness.


    When our movements started getting severe, gasps were heard from our surroundings. Our movements evidently became faster, stronger, and more advanced.


    We moved as fast as the wind and smooth as the water flow, but we either sessfully avoided each other''s attacks or blocked them.


    After a minute, we decided to make things more challenging and removed our boxing wraps as we elongated our ws. The sound of ws colliding echoes through the training grounds. We circled each other calctively as we moved with swift and precise attacks.


    After a full two minutes, my footwork remained firm, and so did my movements, but I wouldn''t lie that I started feeling a bit tired, all while Prince Deacon still looked effortlessly, epting all my attacks and deflecting them.


    It almost looked like he was merely testing my skills.


    You''re a Custedes warrior, Elena. Be more serious!'' I scolded myself.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" he teasingly asked as he stepped back and looked at me with a raised brow.


    Narrowing my eyes, I focused on his every movement, even his breathing, reading his next move. When he moved his foot forward, I moved with agility and sent a fast and sudden strike on his shoulder.


    Smirking victoriously, I shook my head. "I guess not."


    "Not bad. But don''t get cocky." As soon as he said that, he swiftly grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards me before swiveling me around, which made my back collide with his chest. His arm was pressing my arm on my chest, restricting my movements.


    In a matter of seconds, he pushed me, and I almost fell to the ground, but in mid- air, I shifted my body and grabbed onto his arm, pulling myself back before sending another strike on him.


    Cheers filled the training area as everyone watched in excitement.


    "Wow! It''s already past three minutes!"


    "I can''t believe it!"


    "Even if Luna Elena can''t win, that''s already a great honor


    "She''s really great.''


    Our sparring ended after ten minutes, with me lying on the ground drenched in sweat and breathing heavily while Prince Deacon was standing above me with a smirk on his lips and barely a sweat on his forehead.


    Extending his hand, he said, "You did great."


    Nodding around, he added, "You even exceeded everyone''s expectations."


    "Don''t sweat about it," he added in an attempt tofort me about losing, but it ended up sounding more like a mockery than an actualfort, especially with that smirk stered on his face.


    Sitting up, I narrowed my eyes, pouted my lips, and jokingly pped his hand away as I forced myself to stand up. "As if I wasn''t drenched enough already."


    He let out a smallugh before he patted my head.


    "Hey!" I shouted instinctively when he suddenly messed up my hair.


    He met my re and smiled. "Go clean up."


    "Later!" I replied instead and ran to where Maise and Saige were.


    "I don''t know what was more impressive-your sparring skills or the fact that you made Prince Deacon break a sweat," Saige uttered as soon as I approached them.


    I grabbed the de she was cleaning and helped her. With my eyes following Pre Deacon''s retreating figure, I let out a huge smile and replied, "He needed the exercise."


    "Speaking of exercise, you should''ve seen Bryson trying to keep up in training today. Looked like he was dragging a sack of potatoes behind him." Maise let out a loud, udy-likeugh that took the other''s attention, making Saige p her


    senses.


    "What''s it''s true!"


    Handing back the de on the weapon rack, I sighed and looked far into the forest. "Let''s not get distracted. The Rogues are getting closer. We need to be ready."


    "You''re right. Let''s kick some ass." Maise replied, making me just shake my head with her confidence.


    After talking with them for a while, I ran back to my tent and took a shower to change into morefortable clothes.


    "Next time, I''ll make sure to win against you," I remarked as soon as I entered Prince Deacon''s tent and casually sat before him to grab a piece of fruit on his


    table.


    He raised his head. "Aren''t you cozy?"


    1 shrugged. "Can''t I?"


    We stared at each other for a while, the room filling with silence.


    Was I getting toofortable with him? Did I cross the line? I mean...


    My heart beat in my chest as panic and fear filled me, but then it was instantly reced when a beautiful smile appeared on his lips.


    "Feel at home then," he said, pushing the te closer to me, which brought a huge smile to my face.


    I was about to pop another slice of fruit in my mouth when Tyson suddenly entered the tent. "Prince Deacon, a news from the North arrived!"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 58

    Elena''s POV


    "What is it?" Prince Deacon asked face turned serious.


    "It looked like the Rogues were making more movements. They were furious by ourst attacks. They are preparing," Tyson replied and handed him a note with hand-drawn maps of tactics on it.


    Prince Deacon epted and observed it before questionably looking at Tyson.


    Clearing his throat, Tyson replied, "It''s from the perimeter warriors. They keenly observed the movements on the borders and the surroundings.


    "Excellent."


    After his praise, Tyson left.


    "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."


    Standing up, I let out a sigh. "I''m sure it will be."


    After that, we parted ways.


    When I woke up, it was still dark outside. Today would be thest war we would wage in this region-the North. If everything goes as nned, this will be the end.


    Since it''s a crucial battle, I intentionally woke up early to stretch out and train a little before we made our strike. Surprisingly, when I stepped out of my tent, I wasn''t the only one fueled up with determination, as hundreds of warriors were outside and already preparing.


    A smile formed on my lips when I turned to my right and saw Prince Deaconing out of his tent with the same reaction as mine.


    Approaching him, I praised, "You have a great toon."


    We all trained and finalized the preparation. Before the sunset, we were all lined up with Prince Deacon in front of


    1. us.


    The northern winds carried a bitter chill around us, filling us with anticipation, determination, and tension for what was about toe.


    In his majestic armor and domineering gait, sharp eyes, and assertive demeanor surrounding him, Prince Deacon faced us and cleared his throat to get everyone''s attention.


    He spoke in a steady andmanding tone: "This is our final stand in the North. Today, we reim every piece ofnd that the Rogues have stolen and drive them out for good. This is not just a battle for territory-it''s a battle for our future."


    His voice echoed among every troop, sending chills and goosebumps through our souls and fueling our determination for victory.


    Low growls of cheers filled the surroundings, bringing a smile to my face as I followed suit.


    This was the day that iming back what''s ours was already within our grasp. It would be seen how important this battle was as Prince Deacon led this himself.


    "Warriors, we''ll celebrate in our reimednds after this! With that, Prince Deacon raised his hand and took the first step out of the border and onto the Rogue''snd.


    With Prince Deacon''s troops only a few steps ahead, I led my team while the other troops followed us. Meanwhile,


    of utility members left behind, Glenda''s troops were stationed to remain in our border camp, ensure the safer


    and act as backups when needed.


    Seeing the entrance of the Rogue''s territory, we raised ourws and extended our fangs as we shouted and ran with agility.


    Our strategy was old, simple, but definitely effective. We''ll strike swiftly, breach theirnd, and push deep into their camp.


    Prince Deacon and I started the battle as we rushed in and struck the Rogue''s parameter warriors to death with our ws. One after another, they ran toward us but dropped like rugged dolls as soon as they reached two steps


    away.


    The warriors behind me and Prince Deacon even gasped in admiration and shock as they stood there for a while because no one was passing through both of us enough for them to get a share of the fun.


    After a while, more and more Rogues rushed in from their inside camp, causing the other warrior''s blood to liven up as they rushed forward and attacked.


    After shing someone''s throat, I halted for a second to wipe the blood that sshed on my face.


    I took a breath and nced back to the barracks where Glenda was guarding the parameters.


    Looking at Prince Deacon with questioning eyes after he halted in front of me as he knocked down a Rogue, I nodded toward Glenda and asked, "Do you trust her to follow orders?"


    "No," he answered without hesitation, making me furrow my brows.


    Out of dumbfoundedness, I just stood there feeling no sense of danger in the


    middle of the battle. I knew he had my back, and he did.


    He effortlessly took out thoseing our way.


    Letting out a breath of disbelief, I asked, ¡°Then, why..."


    Shrugging, he smirked. "I trust you to fix it if she doesn''t.


    I looked at him dumbfoundedly as he attacked forward with his troop, leaving me


    behind to protect the rear as we had decided while pushing through.


    Damn! Should I be honored by how much he trusted me or insulted by how he made me into a babysitter?

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 59

    Bryson''s POV


    Standing behind the main troops, all my focus was fixated on Elena, who was staring admiringly at Prince Deacon as he gave his starting speech in front.


    My hands clenched beside me. Those deep, admiring eyes she was wearing right now and giving another man used to sparkle only when I was in the room.


    Realizing how things had changed, I felt pain and bitterness creeping into my heart.


    Pain, bitterness, regret, guilt... Whatever was that unknown feeling that kept bothering me since she left my life, I''d sort that out at ater time. Right now, all I worried about was her safety.


    Since I knew her, she had been my Luna. She didn''t have proper training, and she wasn''t used to the battlefield. Though I saw firsthand that she had skills, being in an actual battle was way different.


    ''I''d protect you, Elena...'' I silently vowed as I followed, running after them.


    However, all my determination to help and protect her popped like a bubble as I stood frozen a few steps away from her and Prince Deacon.


    They both rushed side-by-side toward the battlefield without a hint of hesitation in their faces, seemingly energized even.


    They knocked off one Rogues after another effortlessly and even had the audacity to casually chat with each other as though they weren''t knocking out and slitting their throats during their mid-sentences.


    I swallowed with difficulty as a hard truth struck me. She didn''t need any protection, much less from me.


    When I saw them finally parting ways, with Pre Deacon proceeding to attack forward as nned while Elena guarded the rear, I was finally jolted back to reality.


    After signaling my troops to attack, I ran to her aid when I saw another Rogue trying to sneak attack her from the back.


    With agility, I ran in her direction and was about to strike the Rogue''s back with my w. But just a step away from doing so, Elena swiftly killed the one in front of her, turned around, and struck her ws to the Rogue''s stomach, making him cough blood.


    I stared at her with admiration as she retracted her hands and let the Rogue''s lifeless body fall to the ground.


    "You don''t need anyone''s protection, do you?" The question slipped my mouth before I could restrain myself.


    It shouldn''t even be a question because it''s obvious.


    She raised her brow at me with contempt before motioning to the Rogue beneath us. "What do you think?" she sarcastically asked.


    I was still drawn to her eyes when I saw her hand extending toward me from my peripheral vision.


    I almost cringed when I thought she was about to strike me, but then her arm passed through my face and struck a Rogue from my back instead.


    As she pulled the Rogue and pushed him harshly away from us, she sent me a menacing re, sharply scolding, Focus!"


    My heart throbbed as I watched the Rogue fly a few steps away from us. Itnded heavily on a tree trunk before


    lifelessly sliding down to the ground.


    "I" I opened my lips and was about to exin while stillzedly looking at the Rogue she attacked to save me, but then I saw a familiar figure approaching the battlefield someone who was riot supposed to be there.


    That''s Glenda... What was she doing here?


    Her face was distorted with anger and envy as she rampaged to attack those who came her way until she got closer and approached us.


    My brows furrowed, and my lips pursed into a thin line. "Glenda? What are you doing here?"


    I pointed at the barracks and shouted, "You should be on the barrack''s perimeter, guarding as you are ordered!"


    She clenched her jaw as her eyes traveled between me and Elena.


    "I''m here to help you earn military glory, Bryson. Or do you think I''d let her steal


    the spotlight?" She was fuming mad and even dared to point a finger at Elena while she looked at her with contempt.


    However, Elena didn''t seem affected and gave her a nonchnt stare.


    But as unaffected as she was, I felt the total opposite. I felt anger boiling within me


    and a headache cursing through my head. "How dare you disobey orders!"


    We were warriors! We follow orders. How dare she disobey it as she pleases? This was the battlefield and not a talent show, for goodness sake!


    Sending me a ming re, she bumped into my shoulder and walked past me, intending to join the fight.


    Hurriedly, I grabbed her by her arm, stopping her. "Stop! You weren''t at the strategy briefing! You don''t know the attack n!"


    She arrogantly shrugged off my hand and turned her head to look and sneer at me. "ns are for cowards! Glory is earned in battle, not in the post!


    11


    "This is not about merits or glory! It''s about-" I was about to scold her further. Still, she struggled free from my hold and rushed forward, pushing past various generals who all stared at her with utter shock and annoyance as they saw her recklessly attacking and jeopardizing the steelproof n Pre Deacon and everyone had discussed.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 60

    Elena''s POV


    My chest rose and fell in a heavy breath as I watched a ridiculous scene before


    me.


    For someone being arrogant and proud as the first female general, Glenda surprisingly could get even lower than I see her to be.


    She''s acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum after not receiving a candy she was crying about, causing chaos and calling out unnecessary attention.


    My eyes wandered around as I heard the restrained grasps from our surroundings and saw the other generals, who were busy fighting earlier, were not half- distracted. Their furious eyes were now following Glenda''s reckless


    movements.


    I pursed my lips and menacingly red at Bryson, who was shocked to meet my eyes. "Can''t you even put a leash on your shrewd Luna?"


    His jaw dropped. He blinked in shock and opened his lips. I didn''t know if it was to exin or protest, but I couldn''t care less.


    Walking past him, I pushed my way through Rogues and other warriors, moving swiftly until I was close enough to where Glenda was.


    Before her recklessness bes irreversible and jeopardizes our entire n, I ought to end it.


    Extending my hand, I grabbed her hand, not caring about the fact that my nails dug into her skin.


    "What are you doing?" she shouted, struggling to break free from my hold, even trying to unsp my hand from her wrist with her other hand, but it was all in vain.


    "For all I care, you can throw a tantrum at Swiftridge Pack as the new Luna, but don''t make a mess here like a fucking little kid!" I shouted as I dragged her back to where Bryson was.


    Angrily, I pushed her toward Bryson, and she almost fell, but Bryson attentively caught her and wrapped his arms around her.


    Motioning towards our surroundings, I continued, "Look around you. No one is free enough to be your babysitter, so for the love of the moon goddess, get back to your post and do what you are ordered!"


    Glenda red at me and pushed Bryson away as she stepped closer, holding her head high. "You don''t have a power over me!"


    I wanted to remind her that right now, General or not, I was the designated leader. At that moment, stance than her, but I didn''t want to prolong our fight here.1


    I had more


    Calming myself, I firmly said, "Leave now, Glenda! Our attack and defense have been rehearsed in advance; you didn''t participate in the drills, and your interference will only disrupt our ns."


    As a general, she should know better than to ruin battle strategies.


    I thought I could talk sense to her, but I waspletely wrong as I saw her lips formed into a smirk and her eyes sending me apetitive re.


    "Everyone!" she shouted, and all the troops under her halted and ran toward her, awaiting her order.


    She extended her hand and pointed toward the main camp where Prince Deacon was assigned to attack personally.


    "Charge! To charge is to earn military merit, and with meres reward." Her warriors cheered, and her first line of attack recklessly pushed forward as she said, passing through everyone mindlessly, disorienting other warriors as their formation was ruined.


    Because of that, the Rogues started to have an advantage and were fully forced to defend and attack, killing a few of our own warriors.


    "What are you doing? Follow them!" she shouted, ordering the rest of her troops to follow. But before she could repeat her words, Bryson aggressively grabbed her by the arm.


    I thought he''d pull her back, but I was as surprised as Glenda when a nerve- wracking pnded on her cheek.


    "Look what you''ve done!" he shouted with zing eyes as he pinched her by her jaw and forced her to look at the lifeless body of our warriors. "You''ve gotten them killed!"


    Her eyes glistened with thousands of emotions, and her voice trembled slightly as she exined. Her voice was a little squished due to Bryson''s hold on her. "I did this for you..."


    Bryson shook his head at her disappointedly before he harshly let go of her, making her stumble back a few steps.


    She walked to hold him and exin, but I only nced at them as I said, "Bring that drama elsewhere."


    "You-"


    "Everyone, heed my words!" I shouted, not minding the two drama queens and king as I ran around giving orders and trying to do everything to salvage what we had and bring everything back to its rightful course.


    I looked around, seeking the team I could pull to fill up the broken formation caused by Glenda''s troop.


    That''s when I caught a glimpse of Tyson, who had just fallen on his back and was currently inbat with a bulky


    rogue.


    I jumped toward them and pulled the Rogue by his cor, setting Tyson free. He hurriedly stood up and extended his ws, slushing the Rogue''s throat as soon as he got up after I threw him.


    "Tha-"He was about to thank me, but time was crucial, so I cut him off.


    "Lead your team and fill up the gaps on the side," I ordered Tyson as I pointed out where our warriors had been killed because of Glenda.


    "That... what happened?" he asked in shock but called his troop''s attention.


    I was about to reply, but I heard heavy footsteps behind me, approaching closely. "What else?"


    "That crazy female general went on a rampage!"


    Maise and Saige rushed in, overwhelmed by anger. They ripped out their sleeves, where a w mark was visible.


    "What happened?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 61

    Elena''s POV


    Saige looked at me like I had just grown another head on my neck. "Is that even a question?"


    She angrily tied her wound with her ripped sleeve. By the ck mark on the surroundings of the wound, I''d guess that she was struck by a silver weapon as


    well.


    "That annoying mistress of your ex is getting on our nerves! She''s making us all clean up the mess she created!¡± Maige shouted madness as she grabbed the closest Rogue in front of her and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying a few feet away..


    "I need to relieve some stress."


    "Me too! I need to vent it out: I have never had a woman since I got out of Custodes! She''s a menace. If this war doesn''t kill her, I just might."


    They bothruttered one after another.


    I let out a smallugh as I knew it was a small thing for them. They were stronger than that to be bent down by a wound. They were more annoyed than actually in pain.


    "Focus on the rogues. We can''t afford to let her distract us," I replied seriously, nodding to those surrounded by


    Rogues,


    They momentarily looked at each other before their eyes twinkled with determination and excitement. Giving me a teasing salute, they both turned around and ran forward, paving the way for the others as they aided everyone they needed assistance with.


    "Elena! You and your useless friends can dream on! Mark my words, and I''ll im back the military merits that are rightfully mine!" Glenda hysterically shouted as she tried to approach me with her ws, pointing at me while Bryson was carrying her by her waist and pulling her back.


    I shook my head at her and turned my head. I had more important things to focus on than waste my time on them.


    Right now, Prince Deacon needed me to ensure the safety of our rear battalion and surround the Rogues perfectly, ensuring steel-proof support as he advanced toward the center of the Rogue''s camp.


    I raised my hand and motioned it in a circle to signal our formation and to strengthen it. With authority, I shouted, "Everyone, protect the rear!"


    My team cheered in response to my words. I was nning to make rounds in the parameter and help the others, but then I caught a glimpse of the situation on the frontline, making my heart tremble with anxiousness and worry


    In the middle of the battleground was Prince Deacon, with his majestic demeanor, relentlessly surrounded by Rogues since he started the attack.


    Most of the Rogues around him seemed to be high-ranking, based on how skilled


    and bulky they looked. Furthermore, they were using silver weapons.


    My eyes narrowed when I saw a few weapons glistening under the light. Wolfsbane...


    Cowards! They were even using Wolfsbane to increase their percentage of winning.


    As much as I knew Prince Deacon could handle it, by the sweat on his forehead,


    I''d bet he was already feeling tired and may need a hand.


    +25 80905


    I looked around and ensured everything was in line first before I decisively ran toward the frontline.


    He was up par with one of the Rogues, both challenging their own strength as they moved with agility and threw punches, kicks, and scratches at each other.


    I rolled my eyes as I approached them and kicked the Rogue in the ankle, putting him off bnce. And as he fell mid-way to the ground, I twisted his head.


    Looking arrogantly at PRince Deacon, I smirked andmented, "You''re taking too long."


    "What are you doing here?" he asked as more Rogues surrounded us.


    I shrugged my shoulders.


    We both faced the Rogues as they surrounded us, slowly stepping forward to trap us in a smaller center. We moved and calcted their movements, circling around them until our backs bumped into each other.


    Letting out a breath, I finally replied, "I figured you might need a hand."


    I leaned my head toward his muscr back andmented, "And Glenda made quite a mess."


    He gave me a quick glimpse before his eyes wandered around. "Don''t worry about her. Someone is handling her."


    I followed his gaze and almost wanted tough when I saw Bryson having a hard time handling Glenda as he tried to drag her back to the camp, but she kept on struggling free from him.


    "As you say," I replied before we both threw a kicked started fighting those Rogues attacking us.


    Seeing as that they kept increasing in number, I pushed him forward. "Go, I''ll give you a head start!"


    He stared at me for a while to determine whether I could handle it. I nodded my head as I blocked every punch and w thrown my way and sessfully attacked back.


    Once reassured, he nodded and assuringly turned his back to push forward to themander''s camp.


    "He''s not here! Damn it!" Prince Deacon came out of the tent in anger as he grabbed those attacking me and defeated them himself with ease.


    If he was a great warrior earlier, he seemed invincible right now as he burned with


    fury.


    I just stood there as he effortlessly beat them one after another. Looking around, I saw that many of the Rogues were also already defeated, and their numbers were deting rapidly.


    I smiled, knowing victory was almost in our grasp. The only thing left was capturing themander.


    "Bad news!" Bryson approached us in heavy breathing, making me instantly alert as I didn''t find Glenda anywhere near him.


    With furrowed brows and clenched jaw, I asked, "What happened?"


    He looked at me with worry as he answered with difficulty, Glenda ran after themander!"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 62

    Elena''s POV


    "How much longer are we going to sit here, Elena? Glenda out there, captured, and you''re just-


    "Strategizing, Bryson. You should try it sometime," I sarcastically interrupted Bryson as I mmed my hands on the table, slightly moving everything on it.


    One of the warriors immediately and attentively reorganized it while I stood up properly and took a step back, calming myself from the anger building up in me.


    We would have won this fight so easily and ended it once and for all as nned, but no, Glenda just had to be a pain in the ass and ruin everything we had prepared for.


    So now, instead of celebrating, we were here in a makeshift camp near the battlefield, tending to the wounded soldiers anding up with a n on how to rescue Glenda who had been taken by the Rogues due to her arrogance and foolishness.


    I was already furious at Glenda''s actions, and here Bryson was acting like a sick puppy for losing his useless bone, approaching me with reckless anger and ridiculous words like he wasn''t a general who was supposed to have proper reasoning.


    Bryson let out a mocking scoff and looked at me with judgment and disbelief. "Strategizing? Is that how you describe doing nothing now? She''s been gone for hours-


    He was even pointing outside to make a point, making me even more furious as outside the tent were many of our warriors were wounded when they should be in the first ce if everyone went with the n.


    Closing my eyes, I calmed myself and straightened my back as I held my head high. Walking dangerously, I approached him and stared at him with a menacing re, asking, ¡°And you think charging blindly into rogue territory will bring her back? Or do you just want to join her in captivity?"


    Although we had killed many of them in the surprise attack earlier, many of them had already survived, and with the time they managed to get from getting Glenda, I''m sure they had already called for more backup and prepared


    for our attacks.


    Our element of surprise was now all useless.


    "Don''t you dare lecture me!" His voice rose, and the other warriors in the room gasped in shock as Bryson took a long stride forward and grabbed my wrist harshly.


    He pulled me closer to him as his hold on me tightened, nails almost nailing into my skin. His eyes were zing with fire as he bluntly used me, "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    He pointed in the forest''s direction and uttered with pursed lips, continuing, "You''re leaving her out there to suffer because of your petty grudges!"


    I pursed my lips and stared back at him,pletely unfazed. Instead of struggling, I didn''t show any fear or pain as I took a step closer to him.


    With firm authority in my voice, Imented, "You''re delusional if you think this has anything to do with our personal issue that was resolved long ago." Moving my wrist in a twisting manner, I easily made him loosen his grip on me.


    Backing away, I crossed my arms over my chest and stared the painful fact at him. "Glenda''s recklessness jeopardized this entire mission. We''re only standing here because the rest of us are trying to clean up her mess."


    the possibility that she''s not the hero you think she is."


    Entirely in shock and battle within himself as he processed my words, he blinked


    a couple of times and looked around, almost disoriented.


    After a little while, he calmed down and looked at me angrily, not believing my words. "That''s not true. You''re lying. You''re trying to ruin her image because she took your ce!"


    A bitter smirk immediately left my lips. Raising my brows, asked, "Took my ce?


    Is that what you think? That this is some childish rivalry?"


    I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief. "You''re more naive than I thought."


    He got even more infuriated hearing the words I threw in his direction. mming


    a hand on the table, he looked me dead in the eyes and threateningly demanded in pursed lips, "If you have something to say, then say it. Stop dancing around the truth."


    My expression darkened. How dare she threaten me.


    Indifferently, I tapped my fingers on my arms as though I was ying a piano and looked at him nkly. "You wouldn''t believe it even if I did. And frankly, I''m tired of trying to exin myself to someone too blind to see what''s right in front of him."


    I stood up properly and shook my head. Seeing a fool like him, I could only silently thank the moon goddess for paving the way for me to be free from Bryson.


    Tired from his endless barking, I walked past him, ready to leave.


    But just as I opened the door and a step away from getting free from his presence, he held my wrist to stop me. You can''t just walk away from this! We''re not done talking


    I closed my eyes and didn''t look back at him, answering in a low and exhausted voice. "Yes, we are. I''ve said everything I need to say. If you can''t handle it, that''s your problem."


    His hand tightened. "You''re being impossible, Elena! Glenda is out there, and you''re just chilling in here!"


    I was about to explode and turn to punch him, but Bryson''s hand was suddenly pulled away from me, harshly pushing him away.


    "Enough, Bryson." Prince Deacon''s Lycan voice echoed in the air, bringing chills to everyone, and his demeanor immediately forced all low-ranking wolves to lower their heads.


    ¡°(


    Brysonughed! Heughed! He actually had the audacity to let out a mockingugh! 1 clenched my fist, restraining myself from beating the life out of his miserable life. ¡°You mean your mess?" he usingly pointed out, causing the other generals in the room to look at him in fury as well from his audacity.


    Oblivious to the other''s reactions, he went on, "You''re supposed to lead, Elena. If you''d handled this better-"


    "Handled what better?" I cut him off.


    Shaking my head, I looked at him fiercely and asked with sarcasm, "The part where Glenda ignored direct orders? Or the part where she dragged half our troops into chaos for her own glory?"


    Bryon involuntarily took a step back in shock, speechless from the painful truth within my words.


    Taking a step forward at him, I asked sharply, "Tell me, Bryson, when you saw her charging ahead like a madwoman, why didn''t you stop her?"


    "I... I didn''t think-"


    I let out a mockingugh as he failed to form a reasonable excuse and stumbled at his own words.


    He started looking around, as if hoping someone woulde to his aid, but the others looked at him with the same me that was reflected in my eyes. When he started opening and closing his mouth like a fish gasping for air, I sneered and sharply added, ¡°Exactly. You didn''t think. And now you''re here ming me for the consequences of her stupid actions. If you cared so much about her safety, you should''ve pulled her back before she got herself caught." I wanted to roll my eyes. During the battle, they were like kids who were in tantrums and chasing each other around. They were a real disgrace!


    His jaws clenched in anger as he defeatedly looked away.


    Looking down, I found both of his hands clenched tightly, and his knuckles had turned white.


    After a little while of silence, he heaved a sigh and looked down. Calmly, he asked, "So what do we do now? Wait for the rogues to send us an invitation to save her? Those people are monsters! They would kill her..."


    He sounded so helpless and on edge.


    Bitterness flickered in my heart. He really cares so much for her.


    Crossing my arms, I looked at him seriously and sighed. "Now, we wait."


    "What? Are you fuckign serious?" he looked up at me, boiling with madness once


    again.


    2

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 63

    Elena''s POV


    "The Rogues are not going to release her, Elena! You know what they''ll do to her!" Bryson pointed out, voice breaking in pain and frustration as he looked at me with bloodshed eyes filled with so much emotion - worry, anger, fear, helplessness, and frustration.


    My eyes turned sharp as I felt pain cursing through my temples.


    This useless conversation had been prolonged for so long already. We''re almost going in circles. Everyst bit of my patience was being tested, and all I wanted to do right now was push Bryson away or knock some sense of his empty head.


    "And rushing in blindly will only get more people killed. Or have you forgotten the lives we''ve already lost today because of Glenda''s impulsive decisions?", I asked, reminding him.


    He clenched his fist and looked at me with disgust. "You''re just using this as an excuse, aren''t you? You''ve always hated Glenda, so now you are more than willing to leave her in the Rogue''s hands for your vengeance!"


    I stared at him nkly, silently thinking, ''Bryson, is this how low you think of me?''


    ''Oh Elena, how fool are you to fall for a bastard like him...'' I asked myself,pletely seeing how bad of a choice it was of mine to marry Bryson before.


    I sighed,pletely losing my energy to fight with him. "This has nothing to do with hate, Bryson. It''s about strategy and survival. Do you think I''m happy about this? About sitting here doing nothing? But the truth is, attacking recklessly will only make things worse."


    Blinded by hatred, all reason seemed to have left his brain.


    Sarcastically, he pointed at me with his hand and mockingly replied, "Oh, of course, you''re always the rational one. Always the one who knows best."


    Arrogantly, he stepped toward the table and held one of the g piece markers, ying with it in his hand. ¡°Tell me, Elena, what grand strategy are you working on now? Because it sure looks like cowardice to me."


    Cowardice?


    Bryson was proving to me more and more how provoking he could be just when I thought he was already at his


    worst.


    "Cowardice? Do you even understand what''s at stake here? I asked through gritted teeth. "Glenda put herself in this position. She defied orders, disrupted the formation, and now she''s paying the price."


    Angrily, he put the piece marker on the table, which caused a banging sound, and murderously red at me. "So, what? You''re saying she deserves this?"


    Finally running out of patience, my tone turned shaper as I meaningfully asked him, "No one deserves what the Rogues will do to her. But let me ask you something, Bryson. Do you believe you won the war in the South because of Glenda? Do you honestly think you got that victory with clean hands?"


    Taken aback by my sudden question, he blinked a few times in silence before asking with confusion and furrowed brows. "What are you trying to say?"


    I snickered and looked at him pointedly as I leaned on a post with crossed arms. "Think, Bryson. Wars aren''t won by sheer luck or brute force. If not for a great strategy, then it only means that it was won by ugly, hard decisions that Glenda doesn''t want anyone to know about. So, before you throw your blind loyalty around, maybe consider


    the possibility that she''s not the hero you think she is."


    Entirely in shock and battle within himself as he processed my words, he blinked


    a couple of times and looked around, almost disoriented.


    After a little while, he calmed down and looked at me angrily, not believing my words. "That''s not true. You''re lying. You''re trying to ruin her image because she took your ce!"


    A bitter smirk immediately left my lips. Raising my brows, asked, "Took my ce?


    Is that what you think? That this is some childish rivalry?"


    I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief. "You''re more naive than I thought."


    He got even more infuriated hearing the words I threw in his direction. mming


    a hand on the table, he looked me dead in the eyes and threateningly demanded


    in pursed lips, "If you have something to say, then say it. Stop dancing around the truth."


    My expression darkened. How dare she threaten me.


    Indifferently, I tapped my fingers on my arms as though I was ying a piano and looked at him nkly. "You wouldn''t believe it even if I did. And frankly, I''m tired of trying to exin myself to someone too blind to see what''s right in front of him."


    I stood up properly and shook my head. Seeing a fool like him, I could only silently thank the moon goddess for paving the way for me to be free from Bryson.


    Tired from his endless barking, I walked past him, ready to leave.


    But just as I opened the door and a step away from getting free from his presence, he held my wrist to stop me. You can''t just walk away from this! We''re not done talking


    I closed my eyes and didn''t look back at him, answering in a low and exhausted voice. "Yes, we are. I''ve said everything I need to say. If you can''t handle it, that''s your problem."


    His hand tightened. "You''re being impossible, Elena! Glenda is out there, and you''re just chilling in here!"


    I was about to explode and turn to punch him, but Bryson''s hand was suddenly pulled away from me, harshly pushing him away.


    "Enough, Bryson." Prince Deacon''s Lycan voice echoed in the air, bringing chills to everyone, and his demeanor immediately forced all low-ranking wolves to lower their heads.

 Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 64

    Elena''s POV


    Bryson took a quick step back while my eyes remained on Prince Deacon, whose eyes had traveled down to my wrist, which had a mild mark from Bryson''s tightened grip


    His jaws clenched into anger as he raised his hand and gently touched the marks on my wrist. Looking deep into my eyes, he asked, "Are you okay?"


    I shook my head and gave a small smile. "I''m fine. It''s nothing.


    Still not letting go of my wrist, he turned his head sharply at Bryson. "Is the mess you and your wife had done not enough that you are making a fuss here now?¡±


    Bryson''s earlier fury against me had momentarily faltered, but the intensity of his eyes was still there.


    In disbelief, he asked, "Prince Deacon, you can''t seriously be siding with her. Glenda needs us" Prince Deacon stood before him and cut him off, "Glenda defied orders, Bryson. She made her choice. If you''re determined to find her, take your people and go. But don''t expect anyone else to clean up her mess."


    My eyes widened at his suggestion. I looked at him in shock, wondering if he was really serious about what he said, but his face showed no emotions, and his eyes were dimmed with an authoritative demeanor.


    Caught off guard by Prince Deacon''s indifference, Bryson bewilderingly asked, "You can''t be saying... You''re saying that...I should go alone?"


    Prince Deacon merely shrugged and pulled me back inside, guiding me to my seat as he did on the other chair beside me.


    I watched in silence as he looked casually at Bryson, replying while gesturing with his hand to go on, "You''re the one with the searing to save her. Either you lead as an example to show how it''s done as you find it so easy, so shut up. But let me rify. You won''t drag Elena hand her people or mine into this."


    Bryson''s fist and jaw clenched tightly. The anger burning within him was evident by how red his face had be from his suppressed rage. "So that''s it? You''ll just throw us into a battle and not even back us up when we came here to aid you?"


    Prince Deacon''s demeanor became colder as he leaned forward, elbows on the armrest and hands sped together. His eyes were devoid of emotion and staring deadly into Bryson''s.


    Opening his lips, the words that came from his throat were as deep as the ocean and cold as ice: "That''s right. You came to aid, and instead, you and your team brought nothing but disaster!"


    Bryson swallowed with difficulty as he took a step back.


    "I think you don''t want to test how far my patience goes tonight, Bryson. Or are you questioning m, authority now, too?" Prince Deacon continued, narrowing his eyes as he spoke with authority and fierceness.


    Bryons involuntarily shifted his gaze away from Prince Deacon, intimidated by his demeanor. Shoulders mming down in defeat, he replied in a small, pursed voice, "Fine. I''ll wait."


    After saying that, he gave me onest re before angrily turning around and leaving the tent, harshly closing the fabric door. His heavy footsteps could even be heard from outside, which said a lot since the ground was dirt.


    I rolled my eyes, thinking, "What a fucking child."


    Heaving a sigh of relief from his disappearance, I held my armrest and was about to stand up when Prince Deacon


    beat me to it. His hand suddenlynded on my shoulder, gently pushing me back to my seat.


    Standing up, he looked at me with a softened expression andmanded, "Elena, stay here. Don''t return to the barracks yet."


    Puzzled, I raised my brows. "Why? What''s going on?"


    Even though this was just a temporary camp, the premises had been fully checked and guarded. There won''t be likely any sudden attacks tonight. Would we be in a fight? If not, why else would we need to stay here?


    Prince Deacon let out a faint smile and nodded his head as though to gesture that it was the end of the discussion." You''ll understand soon enough. For now, just trust me."


    I stared into his eyes, seemingly staring deep into my soul and sucking me in. There''s so much trust in them that I couldn''t even bear to doubt his words.


    After a moment of thinking, I nodded my head slowly and decided to blindly trust him. "Alright. I''ll wait."


    After all, what harm could it bring? He''s the prince and the god of war. So far, all his decisions have been nothing but great. If it weren''t for those ridiculous couple, we would probably be on our way back now.


    Upon hearing my affirmation, he nodded and smiled with satisfaction. Tapping my head lightly, he instructed, " Good. Keep your people in ce, too. No unnecessary movement."


    After he left, I stood up and looked at my warriors scattered around the camp - lying down, resting, tending their wounds, or resupplying - and called out their attention, "Everyone!"


    Once they focused all their attention on me, I authoritatively ordered, "Stay here. No one moves without my order."


    As I ordered, everyone remained in their ce and discreetly continued what they were doing.


    Exhausted from the battle and confronting Bryson, I mmed down to the ground in the corner with a bottle of water in my hand, gulping from it now and then. Being on the corner was the greatest ce, so I could keep my eyes on everyone and observe what''s happening.


    If needed, I could be alerted fast and act on it.


    Heaving a sigh, I leaned back on the foundation post and leaned my head back, closing my eyes for a little while. Then, I felt someone sliding down and sitting beside me.


    "Elena, you don''t care what happens to Glenda, do you?" Maise cautiously asked as I felt Saige sitting down on either side.


    gave each of them a stare before shrugging my shoulders. "It''s not about whether I care or not. She made her choices, which jeopardized everything. This isn''t just about her. It''s about the kingdom and the entire battle." Saige mercilessly sneered. "I hope they finish her off. It''s no less than she deserves."


    Maise shrugged and annoyingly pointed out, "Yes! She has caused nothing but trouble. Maybe this is the moon goddess bncing the scales."


    I could hear them talking more, cursing and wishing for Glenda''s death, but their voices slowly faded as my thoughts fell back to the disaster that fell to my pack.


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 65

    Elena''s POV


    Reminders of what the Rogues had brought to my family and pack shed back into my mind so vividly that I felt I was back at the scene.


    It''s like a year ago again when I was standing in the middle of the frontwn of our pack house, frozen on my feet as the scent of blood pooling on the grass around the countless dead bodies of my pack members surrounded my nostrils like poison.


    The cries of those left behind who managed to survive in hiding still echoed in my ears as the entire once lovely pack had turned into a Halloween park early.


    My hands turned into fists, and my breathing became rugged and heavy as those memories shed before me.


    And above everything else, Glenda''s face suddenly popped into my mind, fueling my burning anger even bigger.


    "They didn''t deserve it... any of them..." I unknowingly whispered.


    "What?"


    "Did you say something, Elena?"


    I blinked a couple of times as I was brought back to reality. Only then did I realize that I had voiced out what I had in mind?


    Maise and Saige fell silent as they stared at me, waiting for my next words, but I kept silent.


    All the anger building up in me remained in my heart.


    Glenda made it happen. She''s why my pack crumbled and I lost most of the important people in my life.


    Do I wish her to die?


    That question made me scoff because it wasn''t that simple. It''s not just a matter of life and death. It''s not just about anger and vengeance. Rather, it is about justice.


    And quite frankly, no, I didn''t want her to die. But not because I''m some kind of saint but because I knew death would be an easy way out for a sinner like her.


    Instead, I want her to suffer and pay the price for her actions. She deserves to watch everything she values crumble into pieces, just as I did."


    "Elena? Are you okay?"


    I could hear Saige and Maise''s faint, worried voices, but everything was blurry around me against the turmoil in my heart that''s been suppressed way too long.


    Faintly, I heard Maise sigh and frustrated movements as her hands touched my arms, shaking. Are you listening? We''ve been talking for-"


    little. "Hey!


    Her words were interrupted by a familiar, deep voice that lifted me from drowning in sorrow and anger.


    ¡°I got it, Maise. You both can go,¡± Prince Deacon said, tapping them both on the shoulder.


    I stared at him as I watched my friends reluctantly look at him for a while before they nodded their heads and stood up.


    After they left, Prince Deacon mindlessly sat beside me and started unpacking the food he brought in front of me."


    You''ve done well-more than anyone could ask for. Eat. You''ll need the strength."


    He smiled as he continued serving the food, causing others to nce our way now and then.


    Once the anger in me slowly subsided by his presence, I managed to calm down and sigh. After watching his movements, I narrowed my eyes and jokinglymented, I can''t believe a prince is serving me food himself."


    He shrugged. "You need to fill your stomach."


    I narrowed my eyes. Why does it feel like he''s cheering me up before a disaster? Wearingly, I asked, "Why do I get the feeling you''re leading up to something?"


    His hands immediately halted as if he had been caught, and let out a smallugh. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I''m just looking for someone carrying too much on their shoulders.


    Hearing that obvious excuse made me sneer as a hint of bitterness coursed through me. Tapping my shoulder to show how strong it was, I pointed out, "I''ve carried worse.


    It was meant to be a joke, but when I saw how his expression dimmed, my hands about reaching for food halted mid-air, and hearing the seriousness in his following words made me swallow in difficulty.


    "And you''ll carry more before this is over. But soon, you''ll know the truth about your pack."


    "What truth?" I asked, fully alerted and more curious than ever.


    He stared at me for a long time as though he weighed how much I wanted to know about it. After a little while, he tapped my forehead with the back of his two fingers before standing up.


    I looked up at him and watched him dust off his clothes, gently ordering me, "Eat first. Rest. Then, we''ll talk. For now, just know that not everything is as it seems."


    What did he mean by that? Why speak in riddles?


    My hands held tightly on the food container as I watched him walk away.


    Looking down at the food in my hands, I sighed, feeling no appetite. But remembering his words, I had no choice but to force myself to take a few bites.


    I was meant to finish my food, but just halfway through it, I started feeling my eyelids getting heavier and heavier as exhaustion started cursing through my entire body.


    Before darknesspletely consumed me, I heard faint voices approaching me.


    "Look, Prince Deacon, she''s stubborn. She still hasn''t tended to her wounds."


    "I''ll take care of it."


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    Elena''s POV


    I felt small movements around me while still half asleep, but why was an intoxicating scent engulfing my nostrils? I''d give my best bet that it was Prince Deacon, who was already crouching beside me.


    "Here''s the kit, Prince Deacon."


    "Okay, I got it. Thank you."


    Not even a minuteter, I felt a stinging sensation from the small cut on my face.


    Fully awakening, I opened my eyes with a small groan and immediately sat up properly upon meeting Prince Deacon''s intense eyes.


    "I... I''ll do it myself, Prince Deacon," I stuttered as I raised my hand and was ready to grab the cotton applicator with disinfectant, but he moved with agility and dodged my hands.


    He shook his head and sternly ordered, "You''re exhausted. Just stay still."


    "Not exhausted enough," I reasoned, making his hand stop mid-air.


    I thought I had won the argument, but when he raised his brows and pointedly looked at me with questioning eyes, I swallowed, knowing I was about to lose.


    "Really? Is that why you fell asleep halfway through your meal with all wounds untended? I know all you had are bruises and cuts, but that''s no excuse not to mind it," he scolded.


    "Hold still. This will only take a minute," he added, holding me by my jaw and intently focusing on cleaning my wounds that I''m sure would heal in no time. They used some silver des, but it would still heal as it wasn''t that deep.


    Feeling my pounding heart, I looked away and let him tend to my wounds. His warm touch and intense stare made the butterflies in my stomach scatter wildly.


    "Why are you doing this?" Holding my breath, I bit the inside of my cheek and deeply prayed to the moon goddess that my face wasn''t as red as tomato right now as I asked.


    He halted for a second and pulled my face to the side to face him, forcing me to look back at his mesmerizing eyes. ¡°Because you''ve done more than enough for one day. Let someone else take care of you for once."


    But you are the prince... You''re someone I couldn''t afford to look after me.... Even if legally, I''m already holding the same title as you...


    Instead of responding, I took a deep breath and let him do what he wanted while I stared at his well-defined face.


    I couldn''t help but admire him more and more and felt this intense emotion of warmth that filled the wounds and void in my heart whenever I felt and saw how gentle and caring he was to me.


    Whether it was out of obligation as the leader, a pure gentleman act, or something more, I didi. ow. But for now, I think I''d just go with the flow and enjoy the moment


    For some reason, his presence always gave him a sense of warmth andfort. Hence, before I knew it, despite my palpating heart, I started feeling drowsy again.


    I heard him let out a small smile but kept my eyes closed as I felt him close the medic¨ªne kit, slide down beside me, and drape his coat over me.


    "You should get some sleep," he whispered as I felt his hand guiding my head to lean on his shoulder.


    Feeling rxed, I leaned it and kept my eyes closed for a rest.


    However, before I let sleep consume me, I asked what had been bothering me for a while now.


    "Why are we still waiting here, Prince Deacon? Are we really not going to make a move yet against the Rogues and aid Glenda?" Due to the drowsiness, my words came out softly.


    My breathing hitched when I felt his hand pushing a few loose strands of my hair on the back of my ears.


    "Because I can''t trust anyone''s words... not yet. There''s more at y here than you know. Agreements... Secrets... Misunderstanding... things I''m still piecing together." Though his tone was gentle, the conviction and determinationced in it were vivid.


    Seeing that I couldn''t get anything out of him, I could only sigh and shake my head a little.


    With immense curiosity still flooding my mind, I hid it by sighing and joking a little, "I thought you were the god of war. Why are you being so cryptic and poetic recently?"


    Couldn''t help it. I shifted my head and looked up at him to meet his eyes.


    He leaned down and stared at me for a while before that beautiful and captivating martly smirk formed on his lips.


    "And you''re always so stubborn. Rest, Elena. You''ll need your strength for what''sing," he said sternly as he slid his palm from my eyebrows down to my eyes and nose, emphasizing for me to keep my eyes shut and rest.


    Leaning deep into his shoulder, I followed his words and let all my worries vanish for a while, knowing he''d protect and look after me.


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 67

    Elena''s POV


    I was awakened by the sunlight shining on my face. Stirring awake on my seat, I shifted and stretched out my lips, but then I felt something fall on myp. Looking down, a smile instantly formed on my lips as I saw the maroon cape of Prince Deacon draped on me.


    Holding it close, I looked around and found my warriors busy doing their own thing. But what put me in an awkward situation was the teasing glint in Maise and Saige''s eyes while they stared at me with knowing eyes.


    Clearing my throat, I groggily asked, "Where''s Prince Deacon?"


    "Miss him already?" Saige teased, moving her brows in a wave.


    Narrowing my eyes, I hissed, "Shut up."


    Maise, on the other hand, let out a smallugh but did answer properly. "He left


    before sunrise. He just said that we all should stay put and wait."


    Shrugging, she added, "Aside from that, he didn''t say anything more."


    I frown in disappointment. Why be so secretive?


    Sighing, I stood up and brushed off all the dust and dirt from my clothes before properly folding Prince Deacon''s


    cape.


    I had just ced it on the table when heavy footsteps and the rushed sound of the tent''s door opening took everyone''s attention.


    My eyes instantly rolled at that, knowing who it was already without even turning to look.


    "Elena, this has gone on long enough. I can''t wait anymore. I''m taking my people and going after Glenda." Bryson rushed in, spelling sharply as he outrightly demanded.


    I turned around to face him. Leaning on the table, I tilted my head and stared at him as if he had just grown another head on his neck.


    "You can''t stop me," he repeated.


    That caused me to let out a mockingugh before turning to a serious facial expression. Folding my arms over my shoulders, I shrugged and coldly replied, "Who''s stopping you? Go... You''re not under mymand."


    He looked at me in disbelief.


    I wanted tough when I saw his fisted hands on either side of his body and his ring nostrils. He was really trying so hard to suppress his out-of-ce anger.


    Cleaning his jaws and pursing his lips, he asked, "That''s it? You''re just going to let me walk into enemy territory, knowing we''re outnumbered?"


    Oh, so you know? That makes you even more stupid, then.


    Shrugging, I nonchntly replied, "You know what you are going into. Your decisions aren''t my responsibility."


    His brows furrowed, and his lips turned into a thin line as he took an angry step toward me. Looking at me disgustedly, he asked, "How can you be so cold- blooded? You know what we''re up against. Glenda might not survive much longer if we just let her be!"


    Prince Deacon told us to wait, and that''s what I''d do. Though he might not tell me every detail, I trust him and his


    capabilities enough to follow him, knowing he had his reasons blindly.


    Shrugging, I merely replied, "And you might not either. But that''s not my problem."


    A smirk instantly formed on my lips when I saw his fist shake in anger as he maintained hisposure.


    He stared at me for a little while, taking a couple of deep breaths before closing his eyes. After he opened them again, his demeanor looked more gentle,


    Opening his lips, his voice became gentler as he helplessly and hopefully begged, "Elena... please. I''ll admit I was wrong before, and I know my begging probably bears no weight for you. Please, you can punish me however you want, but we''ve been sitting here all day!"


    He let out a frustrated groan as he gestured at our stagnant surroundings. "Glenda can''t hold on any longer. I know you hate her, but once we find her, we''ll apologize properly to you. I''ll make her apologize to you..."


    Staring deeply into my eyes, he finally gets to his point, "Just... please... lend me some warriors."


    All that drama just so he could borrow warriors from me. Who did he think he was that I''d let my own warriors recklessly enter a battle that may cost their lives?


    I pursed my lips and coldly stared him down, repeating the exact words and


    reasons I''ve been trying to push through his thick skull since yesterday."This isn''t about personal grudges you think we all had for each other, Bryson. It''s about strategy and safety. It''s about what''s right."


    Sternly, I told him, "I can''t lend you anyone."


    Bryson exhaled sharply, his frustration vividly boiling all over his body. He stepped closer to me and spoke with a trembling voice of desperation, "What will it take, Elena? Tell me!"


    I sighed and half-seated on the table, looking at him with boredom. I just woke up, and I''m already exhausted. He''s here again, and we''re about to go full circle again with his stubbornness and peanut-size brain head.


    Tiringly, I looked at him and opened my mouth to tell him to leave but before I could do so, a loud sneer took our attention.


    "Pathetic!"


    My eyes widened as I quickly shifted my gaze to Maise. She kept her head high


    as she approached Bryson fearlessly. "You think you''re in any position to negotiate? How can an Alpha like you be so pathetic?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 68

    Elena''s POV


    I turned and saw Saige standing pretty on the side and shrugging her shoulders, caring less that Maise had lost patience. In fact, she even shrugged her shoulders and smiled, looking very excited about what was about to unfold.


    His ego and position, which Maise stumped on without batting an eye, were damaged, causing Bryson to whip his head around so fast and throw a deadly re at Maise.


    His demeanor darkened, and his wolf''s voice mixed into his own as he spoke, "And who do you think you are? You''re nothing more than her worthlesspdog. What gives you the right to talk down to me?"


    I shook my head at that, knowing full well that he just made things out of hand with that remark.


    Maise was far from apdog. She''s a Custodes warrior, for goddess'' sake, but of course, Bryson was so ignorant and full of himself to even know that. Heck, he wasn''t even aware of who I really am.


    She might not be a royal or high-ranking werewolf, but her years of training and badge as a warrior from Custodes made her strong enough to be at par even with the royals.


    Unfazed, Maise let out a smirk and fearlessly stepped forward, intensifying the tension in the air.


    Feeling the changes, Bryson involuntarily clenched his fists. In the blink of an eye, they were throwing punches at each other, making me stand up properly in supervision while the other nearby warriors came around to watch.


    After a few minutes of letting them vent out their steam, I finally intervened.


    "Enough!" I sharply and loudly called out to them as I stood in between them, catching both of their fists,pletely halting their duel.


    "Oh,e on, I haven''t even sweat yet," Maisemented purposely, taunting Bryson even more.


    I sighed and stared at Bryson, silently shaking my head at his appearance. It''s a great shame for him to not be able to win against Maise. What''s more, he actually got hit a couple of times while Maise remained untouched.


    Bryson struggled back to his feet with a bruised face and wounded pride. "What the hell, Elena?" he asked with venom dripping from his tone.


    "This is a campsite, and we are all on the same side. I already let you both vent out some steam. What more do you want?" I sarcastically asked, but that only made him send me a bloodshot re even more.


    "Glenda needs someone to save her, and all of you are just idling here!" he frustratedly shouted.


    I was about to give him another riddle-like reply, but then I heard sounds from the forest. After listening for a while, I smirked in understanding.


    Sighing, I gestured toward the forest and told Bryson, "Glenda is in the forest. The Moonke Pack wants justice for their wrongfully killed Alpha heir. And if you had any sense, you''d realize they''re not retreating because they want her. Think, Bryson. Why are the Rogues and that pack so desperate to capture her and her subordinates?"


    He stared nkly at me before looking around, lookingpletely lost before he frustratedly looked back at me, snapping, "What are you talking about? What sounds? I don''t hear anything!"


    Hearing him say that was like music in my ears.


    Maise and Saige snickered behind me while I coldly smirked, feeling victorious. "Exactly. That''s why you''re not in charge."


    Turning away, I was about to make the best of my time, but then he suddenly yanked me back.


    His eyes glint with helplessness as he pleadingly asked, "What exactly is going on? How did you know where Glenda was?"


    I yanked my arm out of his grasp and boldly replied, "Figure it out. Or don''t. Either way, you''ll know the truth soon enough."


    A bitter smile shed on his lips as he shook his head and looked at me with disdain as though he couldn''t recognize who was before him. "You''re ruthless, Elena. You''ll do anything to satisfy your grudge, even if it means risking Glenda''s life. This is about revenge, isn''t it? Revenge for her taking your husband. Because I can''t think of any reason why else you will be this messed up!"


    Without warning, I raised my hand and pped Bryson hard across his pathetic face-the sound echoed through the camp, and I could see from my peripheral vision how some of the warriors took a discreet and cautious step back.


    In a low and dangerous tone, I warned, "Careful, Bryson. You''re treading on thin ice."


    Bryson involuntarily took a step back. I smirked as I saw how the adams apple in his neck moved as he swallowed his nerves with difficulty.


    Nheless, he remained defiant and still responded in a wavering tone, "What? Did I say something wrong? You hate her so much you''d rather see her die than lift a finger to help."


    "This has nothing to do with Glenda or your pathetic assumptions. This is about justice. And if you weren''t so blinded by your own guilt, you''d see it," I meaningfully said, clenching my hands into a fist and stopping myself halfway from pping him back to his senses.


    Maise stepped forward and was about to punch at him, but I raised my hand and firmly stated, keeping my eyes on Bryson, "No. He''s not worth it."


    Bryson''s face had finally turned red from a mixture of anger and embarrassment, but after recovering, he asked in a low voice, "Justice? What justice?"


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    hapter 69


    Glenda''s POV


    ''What are those?'' I asked as I slowly stirred awake with a dull ache pounding in my head.


    I could hear the echoes ofughter and the deafening screams all around me, but


    I could not open my eyes yet. I groaned in pain as it slowly registered to me, the pain radiating all over my body.


    As the burning sensation finally radiated all over me, I screamed, and my eyes opened in a jolt. I looked around in panic and found around ten of my subordinates in their worst condition. They were bound by chains on their ankles and almost looked dead. Blood was dripping from their countless non-healing wounds, and theyy on the dirty floor with shallow breathing.


    The room was a disgusting, wet, and cold abandoned ce. The air smelled like damp earth, sweat, and blood mixed together.


    I tried to struggle free, and that''s when I realized that I was bound by chains against the wall with my wrists and ankles tied. I clenched my jaws as I saw the burnt marks from the silver chains tightly wrapped around my limbs.


    What happened? How did we end up here?


    Closing my eyes, the series of events shed before me, crushing through my brain like sharp knives, making me scream as I recalled what had happened.


    "Get off me!" That was myst straw as I used every force I could master and set myself free from Bryson''s hold.


    My eyes wandered around, and I saw Elena and Prince Deacon fighting side by side, which immediately made my boiling blood run on fire. Fuming with madness, I ran toward the main camp of the Rogues with one thought in mind, "The glory would be mine and mine alone!"


    Prince Deacon was ahead of me which made me frustrated but a smirk immediately formed on my lips when I noticed the generalmander of the Rogues escaping.


    I ran after him and called out, "Where do you think you''re running to?"


    He halted on his feet and raised his hands in surrender, making my heart pound with excitement. Victory was almost within my grasp.


    But when he turned around, I saw a devilish smirk instead of the dismay I was expecting to see on his face.


    "Wha-" Before I could question him, something hit the back of my head and I lost consciousness.


    Remembering how I fell into their trap made me grit my teeth in anger.


    "Those cowards!" I cursed under my breath.


    They actually colluded with Rogues to take me down. "I''ll make them regret this," I vowed silently.


    "I see you''re awake," a menacing voice echoed as the door opened, and five Rogues came in.


    No!


    I narrowed my eyes and sniffed the air.


    "You fucking cowards!" I angrily shouted after confirming that they weren''t Rogues but werewolves. And by the thirst for revenge in their eyes, I''d make the best guess and say they''re from Moonke Pack.


    Instead of feeling remorse, they merely let out augh.


    I looked around and was slightly rmed at how my warriors squirmed at the


    mere sight of them, crawling back as close to the wall in fright,


    themmented


    "It''s about time! It''s getting boring torturing a lifeless doll!" one as he stretched his neck and approached the lined-up silver torture weapons at the side, intentionally sliding his hand slowly on each item to bring fear in me. Like hell, they could make me afraid!


    I spit and looked at him with fierce eyes, bravely mocking, You think you won? Traitors! Colluding with Rogues? You''re a disgrace to your kind!"


    One of the pack members, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar running across his cheek, steps forward. He looked down at me with a sneer, mocking, "Still got fight in you, I see. That arrogance in you brought you in trouble in the first ce. It''s time to put you in ce."


    The groupughed, their voices echoing harshly in the confined space. I red at them, feeling no fear but all


    anger.


    Scoffing, I replied, "Do your worst. You''re just fucking cowards trying to do something far from your capabilities. Isn''t that why you seek help from the Rogues?"


    The one on the side grabbed the bag of silver dart knives andughed devilishly. "And yet you are the one rotting in chains..."


    Theirughter grew louder, and before I knew it, I was screaming at the top of my lungs as one knife after another struck me.


    "General..."


    "Shut up!" I shouted in a weak voice as one of the wounded warriors tried to call my name as if that would help us.


    The members of Moonke Packughed and were excited upon hearing my weakened voice. "You bitch can still speak?"


    Upon saying that, my head was again dipped into the barrel for the nth time. I was no longer chained but I was so weak to fight them. They''ve cursed me countlessly while punishing me in so many ways.


    They''d drown me or use me as a target for their darts and knives, even putting score on my body and having a fuckingpetition. I never felt so humiliated in my life.


    "You fucking bastards. I''d kill you!" I cursed with conviction after they pulled my head back up but then a scream from me followed as another one of them pulled my head harshly and threw me to the side.


    "Hold her up!" A demanding voice sounded as the one who had been watching from the side finally stood up, causing me to feel a pint of fear.


    I''d say he''s a high-ranking wolf by the demeanor radiating in him. He pulled out something from and my eyes widened in immense fear from the side of it.


    firece


    I tried struggling but the two men holding me were beyond my strength.


    "That''s right. Cry... Cry and remorse until you wish you killed yourself before you caused someone''s death!" The man in charge uttered in a calm but cold and deadly voice as he raised the marking steel with "Sicarius" on it, ready to mark it on my forehead.


    "No!" I shouted.


    He merely smirked and marked my forehead, saying, "Everyone ought to know you''re a murderer and not a


    glorious warrior!"


    That''s all I could remember before I took a deep breath and lost consciousness.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 70

    Elena''s POV


    "What justice are you on about?" Bryson continued to ask, but I only let out a smirk and walked away.


    Someone as dense andcking inmon sense as he didn''t deserve my attention. Besides, sooner orter, he''d know the truth by himself. Being in the dark for now probably was his best torture.


    "I''m not done talking yet! Don''t turn your back on me!" Bryson demanded, making me halt as my blood boiled in


    anger.


    Who the fuck did he think he was?


    Turning back to face him, I was ready to smack the life out of him when Prince Deacon suddenly arrived and stood between us.


    "Prince Deacon..." Both Bryson and I greeted him simultaneously and stopped our conversation,


    A slight smile formed on my lips when Prince Deacon didn''t even acknowledge him and turned his back from his, facing me.


    "Elena, take your team ande with me," he firmly stated before he looked back at Bryson''sce with annoyance, adding, "Bring Bryson, too. We''ve got work to do."


    I nodded my head and walked past him, entering the camp tent again, not minding the victorious smile that was now stered on Bryson''s face.


    "Everyone, gear up!"


    Upon hearing me, everyone moved with agility and picked up their weapons as they went out one after another, lining up properly into their positions.


    Prince Deacon and I stood in front, walking dominantly with Bryson a step behind


    us.


    While in the middle of the walk toward the forest, I looked at Prince Deacon and asked him since I was still clueless. "What''s the n? Or is this another one of your ''figure it out as we go'' strategies?"


    Not that I was scared because I knew he wouldn''t lead us astray, but it would still be nice to know what the n


    was.


    But instead of answering me, he only gave me a meaningful look and smirked. "You know me too well, Elena. But trust me, you''ll want to be there for this."


    I stared at him and looked into his eyes, which were full of so much sincerity that I could only nod.


    However, our stares were cut off when heavy and fast footsteps approached us. I immediately rolled my eyes, already knowing who it was.


    Bryson caught up with us with a mix of frustration and curiosity.


    He looked between me and Prince Deacon while taking heavy breaths before asking desperately, "Are we going to rescue Glenda? We don''t have time for games if she''s still alive."


    Bryson was even looking at Prince Deacon so intently like he was begging and so helpless.


    Prince Deacon, however, didn''t answer him. Instead, he halted from walking and calmly looked at Bryson as he said, "You should focus on the mission instead of worrying about someone who''s caused more problems than she''s worth."


    Bryon''s face flushed with anger but he suppressed it and took a step back.


    Unfortunately, Prince Deacon wasn''t done sprinkling salt to his wound yet. Because instead of walking again, he shifted his eyes on me.


    Bryson followed his gaze, but Prince Daecon''s next words surprised both of us.


    "You made a great decision on getting a divorce."


    I pursed my lips and withhold myughter as I followed Prince Deacon who started walking again as if he said nothing. Looking back, I small snicker from me still mange to escape when I saw Bryson''s face that had turned red from humiliation.


    We were already a few feet away when Bryson ran after us again. Though gritted teeth, he angrily asked, "How can you say that? She''s a warrior-she''s one of us!"


    Prince Deacon took a sharp hale and nced sideways at Bryson, replying in a stern and cold tone, "And you think that excuses her actions? She''s the reason we''re in this mess to begin with."


    I bit the inside of my cheek and kept silent, refraining from smirking orughing upon seeing Bryson in fumes. After that, we continued to walk in silence as we went deeper into the forest. Since the sun had already set and the forest were bing filed with more and more trees, it became even more dark as the moonlight was covered.


    Fortunately, we were werewolves and our vision were more heightened that normal beings. But that also meant that we had to use more of our energy to activate our werewolf senses.


    Finally, Prince Deacon stopped and I found that we had arrived. We were in the middle of the forest and unlike the path we took, it was empty and the moonlight perfectly shone in there, giving us light.


    At first there was no one there, but then with a single sniff in the air we all became alerted upon smelling numerous Rogues and other werewolves nearby.


    My eyes narrowed when I nced at Prince Deacon who remained rxed. "What''s happening?"


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    Elena''s POV


    "Why are you so unbothered? Can''t you hear and smell that Rogues are lurking around..." I pointed out while confusingly staring at Prince Deacon.


    There''s no way he couldn''t have sensed that. As a royal member, a Lycan, and the god of war, I knew that his skills and inborn capabilities as a werewolf were far more advanced than any of us here.


    He looked at me and gave me a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry. It''s all under control."


    Raising his hand, he closed his fist and ordered, "Stand down."


    Everyone was as confused as me, but we all followed his orders and went back to our orderly-mannered position.


    Second after, our suspicion was rified as about ten pack members, and a few Rogues behind them came out of their hiding and faced us.


    "So... these were the pack colluding with the Rogues." I thought as I stared at them,


    In front of them, those who were acting as their leader didn''t look so old. In fact, I guess he was probably just around the same age range as us. But from the dominance and demeanor radiating in him, I''d say that though he wasn''t an Alpha, he had the blood of one. Hence, probably an heir.


    He''s tall with stubble on his face, dimmed and vengeful eyesced with pain, and a lean but muscr physique.


    "You''re not a Rogue..." I voiced out with certainty while staring at their leader, who seemingly had his focus on me as well.


    He was about to open his lips to reply, but he was interrupted when Bryson suddenly rushed from behind and moved forward.


    Without warning, he held him by the cor and angrily questioned one after another, "You fucking traitor! Where is Glenda? What have you done to her? What were you thinking!"


    The leader, with his imposing figure, didn''t even look bothered and easily pulled Bryson''s hands away from him before brushing him off to the side as if Bryson weighed nothing.


    Ignoring his stares and growling, he walked forward and stepped in front of me. With a calm and yet cold voice, he spoke, "Elena. I need to speak with you."


    "Alone," he immediately added when my eyes wandered around, taking back my attention before I could even meet anyone''s eyes.


    I sharply narrowed my eyes and stared at him, studying his face and expression, reading his intent.


    Discreetly tapping my fingers on my side, I was lost in deep thought about whether I shoulde with him.


    However, just as I was in deep confusion, I felt a presence close to me that instantly brought me almness.


    Prince Deacon quietly stood beside me and leaned a little bit, whispering in my ears, "Do you want me toe with you."


    I shifted my gaze and stared at him.


    He was the one who brought us here, and he knew exactly who we were meeting, which exined why he wasn''t confused or alert earlier.


    Seeing as he wasn''t scared nor in attack mode, I realized that there might be more to this than what I was


    imagining. Besides, I remembered how he said I''d be d toe here.


    Feeling at ease and putting my trust in his judgment, I shook my head and faintly smiled. ¡°No need. I''ve got this." Besides, if things didn''t go as we expected, I''m pretty sure could handle them. And even if not, I had the god of war to back me up.


    "Okay, let''s talk," I replied to him and followed him.


    However, after just a step, 1 halted and looked back at Bryson. Giving him a sharp gaze, I ordered, "You''reing with me. Let''s see what he has to say."


    I had a strong hunch that we would know the truth behind the massacre and the reason why their pack colluded with the Rogues, and I''d want Bryson to hear that from the enemies themselves so he''d wake up from his stupidity. Hoping his blindness would be cured.


    Bryson hesitated and nced back and forth between me and the leader before nodding reluctantly.


    I wanted to roll my eyes. He acted recklessly and bravely earlier when he


    attacked the leader, yet hesitated when he was adequately invited.


    After walking for a couple of feet and away from the view of the others, we halted


    under the giant tree, and the leader faced us.


    "Let me formally introduce myself. I am James Stewart, the alpha heir of


    Moonke Pack," he said with a dimmed expression on his face.


    Raising my brows, I added, "And the current leader of the Rogues."


    He nodded his head.


    However, before he could reply and tell his intent, Bryson awoke and started yelling, "How dare you? You''re the Alpha''s son, and you''ve sunk so low as to collude with the Rogues? Have you got no shame?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 72

    Elena''s POV


    Hearing Bryson, James let out a chuckle, his expression unbothered by Bryson''s usations.


    James took a dangerous step toward Bryon, eyes burning with fire, but his body remained rxed, and his voice was calm as he replied, "Shame? That''s rich,ing from someone who can''t even keep his own house in order." However, Bryon seemingly didn''t process his words properly, or he just didn''t care enough as through his head.


    they.


    right


    Still fuming, he kept yelling, "You''re a traitor! Do you even understand the weight of what you''ve done? You''ve betrayed your pack, your family-"


    ¡°Spare me your righteous outrage!¡± James cut him off, voice overflowing with venom. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward and clenched his jaws, dangerously asking, Do you really think your pack is any better? Do you think they''re innocent in all this? Do you really think your precious Glenda has clean hands?"


    I smirked. Seemed like James knew the truth.


    When I saw that Bryon was about to contradict again, I pulled him back and red at him.


    Looking at both of them, I firmly spoke, "Enough, both of you. Let''s skip the theatrics. You wanted to speak to me -so speak."


    James'' expression changed. His face turned dimmed, but there wasn''t as much anger on it as it had been before. Taking a step closer to me, he even became calmer, and he deliberately lowered his voice.


    Looking at me, he seriously stated, "This isn''t just about Glenda. It''s about what happens next. You know as well as I do that this won''t end cleanly."


    A cold smirk shed on my lips, knowing fully what he was talking about. It''s about how my pack was wrongly murdered. It''s about how I lost everything and everyone important to me because of a misunderstanding.


    It''s about how my life turned upside down because of a death that shouldn''t have happened in the first ce. Reminded of all of those, my blood boiled with anger.


    Clenching my fist, I suppressed my emotions and coldly replied, "What happens next depends on you. So choose your words carefully."


    He took a couple of deep breaths and momentarily closed his eyes before sincerely looking at me. Then he formally and remorsefully confessed, "Elena Dooley, I am here to address a grave mistake. The massacre of your pack... was not ordered by us, not by the Moonke Pack. It was never meant to happen.¡±


    My gaze on him turned even colder. Pursing my lips, my voice came out fiercer despite withholding my rage. "Not ordered by you? Then who should I hold ountable for the blood of my family?"


    Though I already knew the answer, my heart still wanted to hear it clearly from them, confirming all my suspicions.


    James nced at Bryson in disgust before looking back at me and firmly replying, "It was Glenc


    Looking at Bryson with a murderous re, he continued, "She ughtered rogues without mercy and in the most gruesome way, finding joy in it, along with several small border towns. The lives of innocent women, children, and the elderly meant nothing to her."


    "She pinned the me on your grandfather, the general at the time. And that, Elena, is what sparked the rogue


    king''s retaliation," he continued, looking at me intently while I clenched my jaw.


    By the tightness of my fist, I wouldn''t even have to look to confirm that my knuckles probably already look white right now.


    "That''s a lie! Glenda served the kingdom loyally. Why would she do that?" Bryson immediately stepped forward to fight for his lover, believing her so earnestly despite all the hints and evidence around him.


    James snickered as his eyesnded on Bryson, shaking his head in dismay,menting, "Are you really an Alpha? I never seen someone so much of a fool."


    Bryson was about to reply, but James once again brushed him off and focused his attention on me.


    With a regretful but steady voice, he continued to narrate, "The rogue king had a code, one we were sworn to uphold-no massacre of civilians, no bloodshed of the helpless. Glenda broke that code. The massacre of your family was an unnned vengeance from enraged Rogues who lost their own. For that, I must apologize, not to your kingdom, but to you, Elena. Your family paid the price for crimes they did notmit."


    My inside trembled, and tears threatened to form in the corner of my eyes upon hearing the truth right from his mouth.


    I clenched my trembling fist and fought my trembling chin as I stopped tears from rolling my cheeks. I was frozen and couldn''t speak as hatred built up on me.


    "What are you talking about?" Bryson asked,pletely confused.


    Jamed disregard his question and took a cautious step toward me, continuing in a helpless and regretful tone, Our pack, including the rogue king and all Rogues, admire your father, Elena. Your father once led troops into battle against the Rogues, but he strictly followed the agreement between the two kingdomes and never harmed civilians. Every time, he would merely attack up to the border and retreat after the win. I deeply regret the tragic massacre your pack had face, and this is what we owe you."


    I stared at him as he stood properly and lowered his upper body, giving me a proper bow, but instead of feeling relief, the rage in me heightened.


    In a low and controlled voice, I voiced out bitterly, "My family... They were defenseless. The men had already died on the battlefield, and the rest were children, elders, and women."


    Scoffing, I sarcastically uttered, "You owe me an apology? Apologies won''t bring them back."


    James lowered his head in shame.


    When he lifted his head and was about to speak again, Bryson shamelessly interjected, "You can''t just me- Glenda!"


    His words were like a sharp knife being struck to my heart, making me shift my gaze on him with zing eyes and pounding rage in my heart.


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    Elena''s POV


    "How blind can you fucking be?" I shouted, no longer able to suppress my anger.


    Here, the truth about my pack''s massacre was unfolding, and he had the guts to still fight for the honor of his mate, who was worth less than trash.


    Bryson turned his head on me, looking back and forth between James and me as he defended blindly, "What proof do you have? What death? Is this about the death of Alpha''s son? What? Is he your brother? Kurt Stewart? He was tortured and driven to suicide by your people! Don''t point the me at the innocent!"


    Not the only one triggered by Bryson''s foolishness, James tarned his head and took a dangerous step toward Bryson. He looked at him with disdain and asked, "The Alpha''s son? Do not speak to me about him."


    James'' demeanorpletely changed. His jaws clenched, and his entire demeanor seemed to have been covered with burning fire. "Glenda abused her position of power! She massacred innocents and even tortured and killed my brother, who did nothing wrong!"


    He pointed at Bryson with so much hatred, but his voice cracked in his next words. "He''s just an ambitious and hard-working man training from dust to dawn to be the next and rightful Alpha, but your beloved woman captured and relentlessly tortured him!"


    Taking a step forward at Bryon, who was dumbfounded, he asked, "Now, tell me. Are you really sure that your woman is as innocent as you believe her to be?"


    Bryon remained silent.


    While they talk, my thoughts swirl before I feel so empty. With a low voice, I spoke, "The rogues do not owe the kingdom... you only owe my family."


    I raised my head and stared at James, voicing out my pain, Glenda, as a general, as a warrior, killed innocently and would face the punishment she deserved. But my family... Most of the men died on the battlefield, and the rest, old, weak, women, and children, were also massacred without mercy."


    Once again, James apologized, but then he raised up and looked at Bryson as he stated, "We only owe Elena and her family an apology. As for my brother who died in injustice, we would ept no apology."


    Looking intently at Bryson, James coldly added, "It''s an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth..."


    Seeing as Bryson was still too dumbfounded to even recklessly voice out his defense and blind anger, I stepped in between them and seriously looked at James.


    Taking a deep breath and deciding to be rational, I said, "This meeting isn''t just about apologies. It''s about justice. No words could bring back what was lo-"


    My words were cut off when I smelled Prince Deacon''s familiar scent and heard his steady footsteps.


    He emerged from the shadows and stood beside me. Rationally, he said, "Both sides have blood on their hands, and if we do not settle this here, it will only lead to more deaths."


    Turning his eyes on me, he raised his hand and gave me aforting gesture by squeezing my shoulder. Gesturing to James, he exined, "The pack that betrayed the kingdom does not want to remain Rogues forever."


    Indeed, since they colluded with the Rogues, that would sooner orter make


    them a Rogue. They would be cast out from their pack and the kingdom.


    My chin trembled upon hearing that, debating inside of what I should do.


    I wanted tough. Prince Deacon probably overestimated me and thought I could stay so rational right now.


    With a trembling chin, I looked up at him and snapped, "And what do they want? Redemption? Forgiveness? My family didn''t get either of those."


    I was shaking, but Prince Deacon tapped my shoulder and intently looked into my eyes, bringing me temporaryfort. His eyes seemingly said that I should listen first.


    As he gestured to James, I followed his gaze and waited.


    James stared at me, sincerely stating, "We want to resolve this. The rogue king does not seek this kind of war, nor do we. Those of my members from the Moonke pack who betrayed the kingdom wish to return to it, but not without addressing what was done. The crimes of Glenda, the massacre of your family, the suicide of my brother- all of it must be ounted for. We musty it to rest here, or it will consume us all."


    As much as I hated it, it made sense, and it''s the most rational thing to do, not for everyone we lost, but for everyone still living. All we could do was make up for the pain we had in our hearts and pray that the punishments we brought to those who sinned were enough tofort the injustice we felt.


    We were looking at each other, weighing everything in our hearts, when a dragging sound took our attention. Turning around, we saw Bryson almost stumbling back and shaking his head in disbelief.


    He raised his voice, looking at me crazily while pointing a finger at James. "Elena, you''re not seriously going to listen to this, are you? Glenda is loyal to the kingdom. She fought for us, bled for us-"


    Blowing with rage, I cut him off in a raised voice, "And she ughtered innocents


    for her own gain, Bryson! Open your eyes. Glenda''s loyalty was to herself and her ambitions, not the kingdom, not definitely not its people. That blood is on her hands, not mine."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 74

    Elena''s POV


    Bryson trembled in anger as he took a step forward, looking at me with zing eyes as if he wanted to send aser right through my head and kill me. With a shaking voice filled with rage, he spoke, "You''re cold, Elena. You always have been since everything happened. Is this the revenge you plotted for what happened between us? For Glenda taking-"


    Every word he said, he would take a small threatening, step toward me. Just as he was about to reach me, I was nning to teach him a lesson. However, Prince Deacon already took action.


    Without warning, he stepped in front of me, blocking me from Bryson, and pushed him on the chest,manding, "Enough, Bryson. If you can''t control your mouth, leave this discussion to those who can."


    Prince Deacon''s jaws were clenched together, and his hands were balled into fists. Peaking from behind him, I could see his menacing eyes and dimmed expression.


    Seeing that he might lose control and attack Bryon if he made another remark, my hands voluntarily moved. I ced my hand on his arm in hopes that he would calm down.


    Surprisingly, he looked down at me and took a couple of deep breaths.


    1 sent a re in Bryson''s direction to see that he still had his hand on his chest and was breathing heavily. Though he calmed down from Prince Deacon''s push, the rage in him was still building up.


    Sighing, I turned my head and faced James. "If you really want to resolve this, then it starts with Glenda. She needs to answer for what she''s done."


    What she had done was a grave sin. She didn''t only kill the pack''s Alpha heir, but she also ughtered the innocents and lied to the kingdom. May it be Moonke, Rogues, or even the kingdom, she would surely receive the punishment she deserve. If not, even more.


    Pursing my lips, I stared at James, who had guilt in his eyes, and continued, "As for the rest... the kingdom may forgive your pack. But I won''t."


    What I lost was something they could never bring back. The injustice my pack had faced was not something a simple apology could fix. Just as Glenda''s apology won''t solve their grievance for Kurt''s death, none of their efforts would be enough to pay for the massacre of my pack


    James lowered his head in shame and nodded solemnly. "I understand."


    Looking up at me, he looked at me with determination and vowed, "Justice will be served, Elena, You have my word."


    I only stared at him and gave no reply. No words or deeds could fix everything. But just like everyone else, we were all victims. Glenda was the true monster in this tale. And she would answer for her crimes.


    My hand, holding Prince Deacon''s arm, tightened as I felt the atmosphere around us be weighed down by all the revtions and emotions that engulfed us.


    e somber. We were


    Feeling my emotions, I felt Prince Deacon''s other hand sping my hand and pushing it down until my handsnded on his. He squeezed it and stared at me with a look of encouragement.


    Closing my eyes, I took a couple of deep breaths and calmed my trembling nerves before I looked back at James again to find him filled with guilt and pain. My heart trembled, knowing he had lost someone he valued as well.


    Standing tall, I cleared my throat and spoke with professionalism. "Hundreds of warriors, including Glenda... were either killed, seriously injured, or humiliated. Your revenge has been executed. You may never have peace with it, but justice had been served."


    Taking a pause, I took another deep breath to stop my voice from trembling and continued, "But I know for a fact that there are Rogues-those who massacred my family-who have returned to you. My revenge is not over yet. What you owe me, repay it with their lives."


    He just said he would make sure my justice would be served, and I want to believe that he would abide by his words. I stared at him with determination, but he didn''t look away.


    The same me, he was filled with conviction, which I admire Looking deep into my eyes, his next words brought me shock. "They are already dead."


    I blinked a couple of times and looked at him with questioning eyes.


    He lowered his head down and took a couple of deep breaths before he looked up, showing me his solemn eyes while speaking with a voice whose tone wasced with heavier sorrow and pain. "I killed them myself. I know... I know how it feels and how it should be. Their crimes against your family could not go unpunished. But... this shame, the pain brought by this massacre..."


    Looking at me with sadness, he shook his head slowly as he uttered, "It could never be forgotten..."


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    Elena''s POV


    James'' right... It could never be forgotten. The pain and the wounds that those deaths brought to us will always be engraved in our hearts. It would be like a thorn in our hearts that would make us bleed every now and then.


    But all we could do was live with it.


    A bitter smirk formed on my lips as my eyes glistened with suppressed tears. "I guess we aren''t so different, are we?"


    Shrugging my shoulders, I shook my head slowly as I bit the inside of my cheek and clenched my fist. "You lost your brother, and I... I lost everyone. The pain may never fade, but it has shaped us both."


    Seeing the pain and sorrow building up in his eyes, his body tensed, and his shoulders slouched, I opened my lips with hesitation and softened my tone as I spoke with empathy, "I know that I am not qualified to apologize for what happened to Kurt. But know this, the agony you and I feel today is something we will always carry. As much as it broke us, it molded us to be stronger."


    Those words seemed to have broken down his walls as his eyes glistened and his chin trembled, trying to contain his emotions. A small smile formed on his lips as he took a deep breath. "Your words... as ironic as it may seem, but theyforted me. Not for myself but for my pack. Your acknowledgment means more than you realize, Elena Dooely."


    He somehow always ended up calling me by my full name, but as weird as it might be if I heard it from others, it sounded greating from him. Whenever he called me by that, it seeminglyced with admiration and respect.


    Prince Deacon then squeezed my hand again before he let it go and stepped forward. ncing back and forth between me and James, he emphatically and authoritatively uttered, "The pain of the past cannot be undone, but actions in the present matter. This war was not just about territory or pride but about justice." Looking at James, Prince Deacon stared at him for a while and asked seriously, "Tell us, what does your pack intend to do now?"


    When we heard that, all the emotions swirling around us earlier disappeared, suddenly, it all came back to political conversation.


    James stood up properly and stretched his slouched shoulders earlier. Looking back at Prince Deacon, he spoke steadily, "Our pack will only reconcile in respect and with the memory of Elena''s family and pack."


    He said that while ncing at me. After that, he shrugged and looked back at Prince Deacon, shaking his head in emphasis, "Aside from her, owe no one else- neither the Rogues nor the kingdom-our allegiance. We will never interfere with the war again."


    James then shifted his gaze, his eyes sharpening. Looking at Bryson with narrowed eyes, he said, "This war for us ends with Glenda''s punishment being served."


    Upon hearing that, Bryson took a breath, his jaws clenched. He was about to take a step forward, but Prince Deacon gave him a sharp gaze, which he immediately recognized, causing him to freeze on his spot.


    After a slight pause, James smirked victoriously and continued with words provoking Bryson.


    "Humiliating her was our sole purpose for joining this war. Since justice has been served, we will now return to the kingdom to face the punishment we deserve."


    To say that I wasn''t surprised a little by that would be a lie. I couldn''t believe that he was very rational about all of this. He didn''t even try to hide what he did, nor did he try to make an excuse. He knew it was against thew but


    still did it anyway for justice and their family''s grievances.


    And he did all that with the knowledge and preparation to face punishment once he aplished his purpose. But as much as his words and actions increased my respect for him, they only heightened Bryson''s anger. Losing control, he stepped forward and recklessly pushed James, which didn''t affect him much. With golden eyes, his wolf and hebined with rage as he growled, "You fucking bastard! I''ll make you pay for what you did to Glenda! She isn''t the wrong one here! Stop putting the me on her for your mistakes!"


    I looked at Bryson, utterly dumbfounded, and shook my heal. He''s hopeless.


    James shook his head and let out a sneer. "You really need to have your brain and eyes checked on, Alpha Bryson." "Bryson, stop! You''re not helping!" I intervened just before he struck a punch on James.


    We just made a reconciliation, and I didn''t want it to be ruined because of his foolishness.


    But no matter what, Glenda is a warrior and part of the kingdom. We''re responsible for her.


    So, as much as I hated it, I sighed and asked James, "Allow us to take our people and retrieve Glenda, Believe me, this isn''t over-not for me, and definitely not for anyone who has suffered at her hands."


    "You had your turn. It''s time to return her to the kingdom and make her pay ording to thew," I added.


    James nodded his head at me with understanding in them.


    Then, his eyesnded on Bryson, face turning dark as he coldly spoke with finality, "Bryson, you fiercely defended Glenda. Do you truly want to know what your Luna has done? Go up the mountain. The state she is in now is a reflection of the sins she oncemitted."


    Bryson looked at him nkly before he took the first step and was ready to run up the mountain to save Glenda. But just as he took a couple of steps away, James left him with words that made him halt. "Face the truth, Alpha. Your Luna''s deeds have long been buried in lies. It''s time you unearth them yourself."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 76

    Elena''s POV


    Bryson looked back at James. His eyes fluttered for a while before he narrowed his eyes and made his eyes more stern, replying, "Keep on telling lies. I''ll only believe my mate.¡±


    What a fool!


    If I could just p him so hard, crack his head open, and reboot him to sanity, I would have done it long ago. How could someone like him, who easily threw me at the side when he found another woman, be so foolishly devoted?


    In the end, I just shook my head as James, Prince Deacon, and I looked at each other in disbelief.


    Since the private conversations were already done, Prince Deacon already called the warriors, and they followed us, lining up properly behind us.


    As they arrived, Bryson was already walking up the mountain. Seeing that, one of the warriors took a cautious step forward and whispered to me, "General, should we follow?"


    He gestured to Bryson, who was going alone.


    Seeing his back and weighing what they might witness, I immediately shook my head and raised my hand to tell him to halt.


    "It''s okay, I''ll go with him."


    "Will you be alright alone?" Prince Deacon asked before I could take a step forward. Looking back at him, I gave him a small smile of assurance and nodded my head.


    Without wasting any more time, I ran after Bryson, climbing from one rock after another with ease.


    While I was climbing, my wolf, Ava, suddenly resurfaced and asked, "You nned this, didn''t you? You''re only letting Brysone and retrieve Glenda so no one else sees what happened."


    Hearing her voicing out what I was thinking, I momentarily halted and sighed.


    As much as I hated Glenda, I couldn''t let my emotions and grievances get the best of me and cause more chaos than we already had.


    I shook my head and finally caught up with Bryson, but I didn''t speak with him and just continued to follow the path to the top.


    Shrugging, I replied to Ava in my mind. "Partly, but it''s not just about that. It''s about preserving the kingdom''s dignity. But once Bryson picks her up, the truth will surely spread. As much as we try to hide it, everyone else aside was surely not as blind as Bryson. Her humiliation will be known to all."


    After that, Ava let out a smallugh before disappearing into the back of my mind again.


    Finally, after a few more steps, we arrived at the house on top of the mountains. The owners seemed to be already prepared and were really already nning to give Glenda back to us because there were no guards at the door.


    I halted mid-way and gestured toward the door. "Go, I''ll wait for you here."


    Bryson took a couple of deep breaths, preparing himself for what he may have to see before he took a step forward and held the knob of the door.


    nning to just wait for them, I leaned back to one of the nearby trees and crossed my arms over my shoulder, watching his movements and waiting for him to open it.


    However, a minute had passed, and he was still standing there. "Any moment now, Bryson. What''s the hold-up? Aren''t you rushing earlier?"


    Sarcasm escaped my lips before I could withhold it. I thought he would blow up in rage as he did before, but he remained silent, slowly turning back to look at me with his hands still on the doorknob.


    "I... What if... What if... What if she''s dead?" he asked in a shaking voice, eyes wavering with uncertainty. He looked helpless and scared.


    I didn''t answer him and just stared back at him, face void of emotions.


    Seeing as I had no n to reply, he asked again, voiced with so much restraint that he tried hard not to break down. "Elena... is it true? Did Glenda massacre a vige of Rogues?"


    I blinked a couple of times in disbelief as I stared at him, reading his face. Was he seriously asking that? Did he really want an answer?


    Since Glenda was captivated, he had been very stubborn, defending her innocence relentlessly. Now that we were here and she was doors away from him,


    it seemed that everything was finally sinking into his thick brain.


    I stood up properly and remained calm as I replied to him with indifference, "If you want answers, ask her yourself."


    I nodded inside and confidently added, "She is, after all, still alive. There''s no way that James would have killed her."


    Bryson frowned at my words, but hope shed into his eyes "Why? Why would he let her live after all this? If what he said was as true as it was, why would he? And


    how could you be so sure?"


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    Elena''s POV


    I stared at Bryson as images of the desh bodies of faut pasted fires and le times


    Socffing, I thought, "How could 17


    Because both James and I lost the people we love dye to inte


    He knew as I do that death wasn''t a real punishment for the people whs sinned on gravely like Glenda f unlike me, who goes by the rules and respects the roles, one like James, Fame, both a tooth, and an eye for an eye."


    Just like what happened to Kurt, he probably wanted to break Glenda. He wanted to strip her of her dipity and reputation and force her to the edge until she decided tomit suicide just as how she profied at this ser


    death.


    Instead of exining it to him, I''ve chosen to reply. He wants her broken. That''s worse than death for some like Glenda."


    Bryson''s eyes widened, and that''s when I realized that I had failed to hide the venom in my voice.


    He stared at me for a long time as if reading me through my eyes and processing everything into his pee sted head before he hesitantly and fearfully asked, "And.... y-your family? Your pack? Was it her? Was she behind?"


    With shaking hands, he tightened his hold on the knob and stared at the door with doubtful eyes


    Running out of patience, Imanded, "Go in, Bryson. Ask her."


    Besides, it''s not like he would believe any of my words if I replied to him frankly. He already heard all of the answers earlier and still tried to deny the truth.


    He seemed to contemte for a while before straightening up and tensing up. Desperation crept into his face as he replied, "James'' words.... they can''t all be trusted. I need you toe in with me."


    I could only let out a dryugh upon hearing his reply. He''s obviously in denial. Standing property, I put my hand in my pocket and walked beside him. "Why? Are you afraid to face the truth alone? Or worried that Glenda will me you for leading me here?"


    His lips immediately pursed in anger. Sulking, he clenched his hands and sharply demanded, "Juste with 105, Elena."


    Smirking and shaking my head, I raised both my hands in mocking surrender. Gesturing toward the door, I ushered, "Fine. Let''s get this over with."


    The second Bryson turned on the knob and opened the door I couldn''t express the relief I felt as the torture of waiting finally came to an end.


    However, just one step inside, he had already stopped. I was wondering why, but before I could pushpletely open and look inside, the sickening scent of a mixture of fresh and dried blood with vomit, swear, pee, dust, and dirt inside reached my nose.


    Feeling weak and shocked by what he must have witnessed, Bryson involuntarily let go of the door, which opened widely.


    I looked around and saw the severe state Glenda was in, surrounded by some of her warriors who had fallen and


    died from the loss of blood and countless wounds.


    Stepping forward, I stared at her nkly, eyes wandering from her head down to her toes.


    I narrowed my eyes and stared at her forehead, which had anarking on it. By the swelling, I''d say it''s newly made and won''t heal, as it''s probably done with silver.


    "Sicarius..." I mouthed upon recognizing the familiar words.


    James really outdid himself.


    It''s been an ancient time,g but werewolves used to engrave our learnings and history in Latin. They said it was thenguage of the gods and goddesses... Though it wasn''t used anymore, most of us could still recognize some words, especially words such as "Sicarius" meaning Murderer.


    Now, no matter where she goes, everyone will know what she did unless she covers her forehead.


    Now, I realized. James could be really cruel. He just branded Glenda for the rest of her life.


    Glenda raised her head with difficulty and stretched her arms while still lying t on her stomach on the ground, looking up at Bryson. With her eyes closed, she called out, "Bryson... Is that you?"


    She started blinking her eyes and adjusting her vision when Bryson finally jolted back to reality.


    "Glenda... what did they do to you?" His voice broke as he ran toward her and held her in his arms like a fragile vase, which she might be right now.


    I kept my distance and stood by the door, waiting for them.


    Finally, Glenda managed to see properly and shifted her gaze,nding on me. I merely gave her a nk look, but as I expected, she wouldn''t like my presence.


    Despite feeling weak, she angrily looked at Bryson andined in a hoarse voice, "Bryson... you... you brought her here?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 78

    Elena''s POV


    I kept my cool and stared at Bryson as what I imagined would be Gelnda''s reaction unfolded before me.


    "I..." In panic, Bryson immediately shook his head and defensively replied, "I didn''t bring her. She... she followed me."


    I let out a scoff as I looked at him dumbfoundedly. What a coward!


    Hearing that, Glenda snarled despite her weakness and wed Bryson on his arm, but it didn''t go deep and immediately healed. "Don''t lie to me! You let her in... and make me face humiliation!"


    She looked at me and growled. "What now? Are you letting the other in and humiliating me even more? Because I''m sure that''s what you want. Isn''t ¡ª"


    Tired of this ridiculousness, I cut her off, "This isn''t about you, Glenda. This is about the truth. We already had a meeting with James Stewart, Alpha heir of the Moonke pack and current leader of the Rogues. Peace had been made. It''s time toe clean, Glenda."


    Glenda froze as her hand turned into a fist.


    Bryson, on the other hand, stared at Glenda''s trembling body. With hesitation in his eyes, he cautiously asked, You didn''t do it, did you? The death of Kurt? The massacre? The death of those innocent lives? Please tell me you didn''t... Tell me that the marks on you are just all false usations..."


    His voice trembled as he stared at her as if she were a stranger, hands loosening from her cheeks.


    Glenda''s eyes shifted between me and Bryson a couple of times before she leaned back andughed like a mad


    woman.


    "You..."


    Dumbfounded, Bryson hurriedly stood up and let Glenda fall from his arms as if he were disgusted by her touch. He shook his head drastically. With shaking hands, he pointed at her and uttered with disdain, "You really did it? Everything said was true?"


    Glendaughed and wiped off the blood from her lips. She crawled back to the wall and leaned her back on it before looking up at Bryson.


    Her face turned serious, and her eyes went dark. "Don''t act like a fuckign saint right now, Bryson. I did it for you, for us! Because of it, you gained glory, so don''t look at me like that!"


    "You''re insane! Those are against the principle of war!" he shouted, taking a step back.


    "Principle of war?" Glendaughed sarcastically and shook her head. "This is the real war! We gain and lose something. Who doesn''t have blood on their hands? Everyone had killed someone and caused someone''s grievance!"


    I shook my head. I couldn''t believe that she was still trying to justify her inhuman actions. "Ev that shouldn''t be crossed."


    ar had its line


    Looking down at her, I coldly added, ¡°Because once we cross that line, we won''t be warriors anymore. We''d be just a murderous beast."


    Titling my head slightly, I narrowed my eyes and said in a calm and low but chilly voice, "Like you..."


    "I can''t believe this... I... This can''t be..." Bryson took a couple of steps away from Glenda and leaned on the wall


    as if to gain support from it as his legs started to get weak..... I gave up everything for you... I..."


    Couldn''t help it anymore. I snickered. "Finally, you have opened your eyes, I see." "Elena..." he suddenly stared at me.


    I backed away from the look of regret and realization in his eyes. I uttered those words to provoke him, but I didn''t expect such a look in his eyes.


    "Elena... I was wrong. I regret everything. Leaving you, marrying her... all of it," he suddenly uttered one after another like he had been possessed by something.


    "You asshole! How dare you say that while I''m here! Don''t you forget, I''m your Luna!" Glenda shouted, forcing her body to the limit.


    I nced at her, thinking silently. "Now, you must have known the pain you had caused me before when you suddenly entered our lives."


    A cold smile left my lips as I stared at Bryson nkly before speaking with disdain, "Regret won''t change the past, Bryson. You made your choices. Now live with them."


    Bryson stepped toward me with a pleading expression, but before he could speak, a shadow emerged from the door and loomed behind me, making Bryson stand in his ce.


    "Are you ready to leave? It''s taking so long, so I came over. A breath brushed against my nape, sending electric currents through my body and making the butterflies in my stomach go wild.


    I swallowed themp on my throat and slowly turned around to face the man who only had his eyes on me despite the many things to be seen in this forsaken


    room.


    Staring at him, my voice softened as I asked, "You came to get me?"


    My heart was pounding so hard inside my chest while I got drawn in his eyes that didn''t even look away from mine since he arrived.


    "Oh, don''t be like this, Prince Deacon..." I silently thought to myself before pping my head in my mind and telling myself to wake up from daydreaming.


    I thought he wouldn''t answer so I cleared my throat and was ready to change the subject but he suddenly lifted up his hand and tapped my head. Letting out a small smile, his eyes twinkled as he replied in a sweet tone, "What else? Let''s go." His hand lowered to my shoulder as he guided me out of the door but we halted when we heard Bryson''s drastic call.


    "You''re just going to leave? Just like that? After all of this?" he asked one after another with desperation and frustration evident in his voice.


    Without ncing at him, I replied in a steady voice, "I''ve seen enough. There''s nothing more to say."


    Pulling Prince Deacon by the arm, we stepped out of the room, leaving Bryson dumbfounded v Glenda''s scream of remorse.


    hearing


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    Elena''s POV


    "What, you don''t like it?"


    I felt Prince Deacon''s warm handsnding on top of my shoulder, giving it a little


    squeeze as he leaned his face down near my cheek, asking.


    I swallowed with difficulty as I palpated from how close he was to me.


    Blinking a couple of times in disbelief, I stared at what was in front of me once again, making sure that what I was seeing was really what it was.


    In the middle of the backwn of the camp, there was a newly set up medium- sized tent. He opened the door for me, and the amazing aroma of meat greeted me. A meat!


    After months of being here with only dry foods and ready-to-eat meals, I never thought I''d be able to eat meat again. At least not while we were here.


    I salivated with desir,e and my stomach crumbled at the sight of well-presented medium-rare steak in front of us.


    "Are you kidding me? Is that even a question?" I asked with excitement as I gestured to the food inside.


    Prince Deaconughed wholeheartedly as he stepped forward and gestured to the log chair. "After you."


    Without hesitation, I sat down. I didn''t even wait for him to sit down before I started eating.


    I took a bite one after another, moaning in between with how deliciously it was cooked.


    Halfway through eating, I felt the burning gaze on me, making me halt from taking another slice into my mouth. Looking up, I found Prince Deacon''s amused expression and instantly blushed.


    Swallowing, I tilted my head and questioned, "What?"


    "Is there something on my face?" I even tried to wipe the side of my lips to make sure he didn''t immediately respond to me.


    In return, afortable and heart-warmingugh escaped his lips. "Slow down, Elena. It''s not going anywhere. You''re eating like you''ve been starving for days."


    As he said that, he even made a sweet gesture of adding three more sliced of meat to my te from his.


    Smiling back, I shrugged and enjoyed the moment, taking another slice into my mouth and savoring the juiciness of the meat


    "Maybe because I have been. You try surviving on dry rations and see how dainty you feel," Imented.


    He was about to open his lips to reply, but something crept into my mind, and I couldn''t help but ask in excitement, "Oh, do we have more of this? I need a second round!"


    "What? Forgetting we have been eating the same meal since you arrived?" he asked, makin freeze for a while and look at him sheepishly.


    However, my sillness just gave him more reason tough. Shaking his head amusingly, he added, "You''ve got all the grace of a warrior. I''ll give you that. But as for a nobledy''s temperament-''


    "Oops! Don''t even go there." I raised my hand to stop him from speaking as I swallowed the rest of the meat in my mouth before I continued proudly, "I don''t have it, and I don''t want it. Pass the water."


    I even shamelessly gestured toward the water near him, but he didn''t mind. He moved, let out a huge smile, and willingly poured me a ss of water before handing it over to me.


    "Oh, that was heaven," Imented with great satisfaction as I leaned on the table and rubbed my bloated stomach from finishing my te.


    "I contacted James before we went to the final war, you know?" Prince Deacon suddenly spoke, catching me off guard.


    I sat up straight and put all my attention on him. So, it turned out that the meal was just an appetizer for the real deal, which was his exnation of everything that happened.


    Leaning my arms on the table and upper body, I intently stared at him and raised my brows with curiosity, asking, "Before the war? Why didn''t you tell me?"


    Now, it exined how he was very calm and would always tell me that it would be all right. It turned out his vague answers, and riddle-like words weren''t so empty after all.


    "Because it wasn''t the right time. He needed to see this through his own way, and so did you. The Rogue massacre, Glenda''s actions, the betrayal of the kingdom... everything had to y out for the truth to surface," he thoroughly exined as he poured me another ss of water after I emptied mine in shock.


    Understanding what happened, I narrowed my eyes and jokingly looked at him with using eyes. "So you orchestrated this?"


    "Well... no... not technically. I didn''t orchestrate it. Rather, I facilitated it," he replied, putting emphasis on hisst words as he shook his head.


    Wasn''t that the same thing? Just described better?


    Iughed silently but continued to listen to him.


    "James wanted revenge for his brother''s death. I gave him a way to achieve it without starting another full-scale war. It''s a delicate bnce, Elena. They wanted justice, not chaos," he replied seriously.


    Indeed, in war, we lose and gain something. If Glenda hadn''t been so much a pain in the ass before, it would have gone even better. Then, we probably wouldn''t have lost people in the process.


    While sadness radiated into me, I crossed my arms and asked in worry. Worry that all his efforts would be wasted. "And now? Will they go to the kingdom? Will they truly stay loyal?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 80

    Elena''s POV


    Upon hearing my question, Prince Deacon nodded his head slowly, replying, "They will. They have to consider their pack''s survival, after all."


    He looked outside and meaningfully said, "The northern war might have ended today, but the war between the Rogues and the kingdom isn''t over... not entirely. For now, they''ve avenged their Alpha''s son without exposing the truth behind his death. If that everes out, they''ll have a stronger im to loyalty-they''ve already paid the price for their betrayal."


    I tilted my head, watching his expression carefully. His eyes looked distant, his brows furrowed, and his lips formed a frown.


    A small smile formed on my lips, seeing how he feltpassion even for those whomitted treason. "And you''re frowning because you''re still worried."


    He blinked out of a trance, looked back at me, and let out a softugh. Looking at me with admiration, hemented, "You know me too well."


    Leaning closer to his seat, I reached out and briefly squeezed his hand. "Don''t think too much about the future. Focus on what we''ve achieved today."


    "Don''t you hear that?" I asked, nodding outside, where we heard theughter and clinking of beers from the warriors celebrating victory.


    Looking intently back at him, I addedfortingly, "It''s enough for now."


    A whole-heartedugh escaped his lips, and the tension on his face immediately eased. Raising his hand, he tapped my head and teased, "The mighty Elena is actuallyforting me? What has the worlde to?"


    I narrowed my eyes at hisment and pushed his hand away from my head. Then, we bothughed, augh that echoed in the entire tent, giving us a lively atmosphere that was closest to the peace we had been aiming for for months.


    "What?" I asked, suddenly feeling conscious as he leaned back, sincerely and steadily gazing at me.


    I even looked at myself to see what he was staring at before looking back at him with a questioning gaze.


    Then... a smile formed on his lips as his gaze overflowed with pride. "You''ve honored your father and brother today. They''d be very proud of you."


    My breathing hit a halt, and the smile on my face vanished. An overwhelming warmth engulfed my entire being, and warm tears threatened to form in the corner of my eyes!


    Looking down to hide my trembling chin, I swallowed and whispered, "I just did what needed to be done."


    ¡°I.....¡± I stuttered when I felt his thumb and index finger lifting up my chin, guiding my f meet his gaze.


    Shaking his gaze, he replied, "No, Elena. You fulfilled your father''s wishes. You became an important member of ending the northern war and brought honor back to your family. Not many could have done what you did."


    My eyes glistened with unshed tears, and as I felt them trying to drip down my cheeks, I quickly looked away and tilted my head, blinking them back.


    "So that''s why he let me lead. He wanted me to have this moment, to prove myself."


    Somehow, he managed to know that this was a very important matter for me. Not just to prove myself and my


    capabilities but to bring back the glory that my family had lost.


    It was amusing how we barely knew each other, but he did thore for me than anyone in my life had ever done for me... more than my ex-husband had ever done for me.


    Looking back at him with a grateful smile, I firmly said, "Thank you... Thank you for being there and giving me a chance."


    It was still like yesterday when he was against me joining the Warriors, iming I was a Luna who needed protection. But then he warmed up to me upon seeing my real capabilities and even gave me an opportunity I never thought I''d get so


    soon.


    My eyes then narrowed because, while I was being emotional, Prince Deacon suddenly let out a mischievous smirk andmented, "Gratitude suits you. So, how do you n to repay me?"


    I scoffed, and my jaw dropped at hisst question. Blinking with a pretence of bewilderment, I asked, "Repay you?"


    Shaking my head, I went on with his words, "What do you want?"


    His gaze became intense as his grin turned into a mysterious smile. "For now... I have nothing in mind. But maybe I''ll need a favor from you someday."


    Shrugging his shoulders, he added, "Who knows."


    Teasingly, I stared at him and pointed out, "You... the Prince of our entire kingdom and the god of war... will need a favor from little ol'' me? That would be the sun rising from the west."


    Heughed at my words, as did I, but then I turned serious after a few seconds and leaned on the table separating


    1. us.


    Looking at him intently, I spoke seriously, "But whatever it might be, I''ll do it. You have my word."


    His smile became more expansive, and his tone went lighter as his eyes glinted with thoughtfulness. "I''ll remember that, Elena. I''ll remember."


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    Third Person''s POV


    The news of the victorious war in the northern zone spread across the kingdom like wildfire, reaching every corner of the kingdom. Every newspaper, article, poster, broadcast, and post was rted to the sessful fight against the Northern Rogues and the remation of the kingdom''snds.


    Together with the king''s overjoyed and proud deration of the historic moment for the kingdom, every media outline of every form buzzed with reports of the heroic deeds of a female general who had fought alongside Prince Deacon in reiming the lost territories along with great warriors.


    Names of warriors who made significant contributions were being whispered from pack to pack, member to member, but all were spection as no names had been released yet.


    However, being the only known female general in the kingdom, everyone assumed the female general was Glenda.


    Meanwhile, in the Swiftridge Pack, the Bryson family''s main residence was bustling with preparation for a grand banquet.


    Servants were rushing around under the sharp eye of Courtney, Bryson''s mother, who was directing them with an air of arrogance. The aroma of roasted meats and fine wine fills the air, but the tension simmered beneath the surface.


    For this grand weing party, she even took a loan just to boast to everyone.


    "Elysse, make sure everything is perfect! We must celebrate Bryson and Glenda''s victory! I want everyone to remember this night!" Courtneymanded, pointing at all the decorations at Bryson''s sister-inw.


    Elysse looked around nervously before hesitantly telling her, ¡°Luna, are you sure this banquet is a good idea? The guest list isn''t exactly... impressive."


    But instead of seeing the truth, Courtney angrily snapped, "Don''t be ridiculous. Everyone important will regret noting once they see what Bryson and Glenda have aplished. Elena may have been made a princess, but this victory will make her seem insignificant."


    "But why didn''t any high-ranking members ept the invitation? Don''t you think it''s strange? Did something happen?" Elyse asked again with worry.


    Courtney dismissed Elysse''s question and waved her hand in the air. "Those nobles are just jealous, that''s all. They can''t stand to see our family rising above theirs. Once Bryson and Glenda return, they''ll see how wrong they are and regret that they didn''te here."


    Later that evening, the banquet finally began, and the room became filled with chatters from the Swiftridge Pack members, other lower-ranking members, and distant family members they managed to invite from the neighbouring packs.


    Courtney stood in front with her hand tightening on the wine ss she was holding as her forced smile threatened to falter upon seeing the absence of the noble members.


    ble! They''ll regret


    "Where are the pack leaders? The council members? Even Glenda''s friends? This is un this when the truthes out," she frustratedly uttered, harshly putting her ss on the nearby table.


    Though she knew the other packs declined their invitation, she didn''t realized that even their neighbouring packs and those friends of Glenda wouldn''t attend as well.


    Gritting her teeth, she looked around, cursing under her breath, "All of you wait... I''ll make you all beg under my feet once my son and daughter-inw''s glory is officially announced!"


    The next morning, Courtney sat on the patio of the pack house, still fuming about the wrecked event she hostedst night, when Julie, Bryson''s cousin, suddenly rushed in with an expression mixed with panic, frustration, and disbelief.


    "Aunty! You wouldn''t believe this!" Julie started, panting. She stopped on the patio and grabbed a drink before continuing, "I''ve heard something... unusual. They say the female general mentioned in the news isn''t Glenda. It''s... that shrew, Elena."


    Instead of being alerted and dismayed, Courtney looked at Julie like she had another head grown on her neck andughed while shaking her head. "Elena? On the battlefield? Don''t be absurd. She wouldn''tst a day out there!"


    Julie bit her lower lip and looked hesitantly at Courtney.


    Seeing her expression, Courtney rolled her eyes and asked, "What?"


    "But the kingdom has posted the official list of contributors at the entrance to Parliament. They say her name is right at the top... alongside Prince Deacon..."


    Courtney''sughter immediately faded and was reced by a scowl. "That''s enough of nonsense! Call the driver! We''re going to see that ''list'' for ourselves."


    "But..." Julie hesitated, but Courtney sent her a deadly re and pointed a finger at her.


    "Now!" she shouted, jolting Julie to run inside and call the driver.


    While waiting for the driver, she went out of the patio and blurted out after a scoff, "Those stupid maggots will see! It''s my son and daughter-inw. Shrew that Elena, she''s probably spreading that fake news herself!"


    With that in mind, she called out some of the high-ranking officials to join her in confirming the results.


    Once the driver arrived, Julie and Elysse where already at the back of the car.


    As soon as Courtney entered, Elysse asked in shock while looking outside, "Why are there a lot of people? Are theying with us?"


    After a few minutes, they all arrived in Parliament Square, where a crowd had already gathered around the posted list of contributors, murmuring in admiration. Frustrated and hurrying, Courtney pushed through around people like they didn''t matter, causing murmurs and res to be sent on her way, but she kept shouting, "Make way! Let me see this so-called list. I''ll show you all the truth about Bryson and Glenda''s aplishments!"


    She pushed through the crowd with confidence, others following close behind her as they were filled with the same curiosity.


    Standing in front, she ced her hands on her waist and arrogantly scanned the list with her eyes until her expression froze and her hands dropped dead on her sides.


    On top of the list was Prince Deacon''s name followed by Elena''s name while the rest were the other significant warriors.


    Courtney felt her knees gone weak when she couldn''t find any trace of Glenda''s name. What made her face even redder was to find Bryson''s name right at the bottome of the list, indicating he''s position as a logistic and base defender.


    Murmurs filled the ce with the voices of thsoe Courtney brought with her. "Bryson was only in charge of logistics? And Glenda isn''t even on the list?"


    "Did we see that right? Elena led the battlefield? She''s the real hero!"


    Courtney''s face pales and heer hands trembled as she grips the edge of the announcement board.


    Stammering, she uttered, "T-this must be a mistake! There''s no way... Bryson... Glenda..."


    Elysse looked around and concerningly tugged at Courtney''s sleeves, "Luna, maybe we should go..."


    Hearing her aim to retreat, Courtney snapped again, "No! They must have overlooked something. This is impossible!"


    Hearing her making a fuss, the murmuring around grew even louder and Courtney''s embarassmeent deeper. "Didn''t they throw a banquetst night? They must have thought Bryson and Glenda were the ones who got the glory!" Someone uttered, letting out a mockingugh which made Courtney''s face turned red.


    Another snickered andmented, "How awkward. They should''ve checked the list first."


    Couy, red-faced and humiliated, stormed back to their car with Elysse and Julie railing behind her. As they climb in, Couy sat stiffly, her hands clenched


    in herp


    Gritting her teeth, she cursed before mming her clenched hands on herp. "Elena! That ungrateful girl! How dare she steal the spotlight? And Bryson... Glenda... what have they been doing all this time? I''ll make sure they answer for this humiliation!"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 82

    Elena''s POV


    Patrolling the borders of the newly reimednds with Saige, Maise, other Warriors, and some Omegas, we analyzed what must be done to rebuild and restore thend


    The sound of hammers and saws filled the air as Warriors, Omegas, and newly arrivedborers worked to rebuild the border posts that were destroyed during the war. Despite the end of war, Rogues still exist and it''s better to be prepared that sorryter.


    Soem of the posts were already rebuilt but despite the progress, it was still far from finish, making me still head on work.


    "Make sure the eastern tower is reinforced before the rainse. We can''t risk another copse. And send supplies to the other barracks in the south side, those men haven''t had a proper meal in days," I indicated at one of the warriors besides me whose keeping tabs of my orders


    Maise stared at me with admiration, making me take a step back and asked with a narrowed eyes, ¡°What?¡±


    She shook her head and proudly pointed out, "You sound like a seasoned general now, Elena."


    "She''s not the same woman we met years ago," Saige teased.


    Smiling faintly, I replied with a shrugged, "Maybe. But there''s still too much to do."


    pping my hands to change the athmosphere, I narrowed my eyes at them and firmly said, "No time forpliments."


    They bothugh and we were about to continue our patrol when the sound of approaching footsteps broke our


    momentum.


    I looked up to see Glenda striding into our direction, her expression a mix of anger and defiance.


    Saige and Maise rolled their eyes upon seeing her. They gave me a brief look and I nodded my head in gesture that I could handle it. Nodding their heads in understanding, they guided the others to continue as they lead the patrol on my behalf.


    I put my weight on my one side as I await for her to reach me, silently thinking with annoyance, "What now? Does she think storming in here will win her back the respect she lost? She should be tending to her shattered reputation, not looking for a fight."


    Since she arrived back, everyone would look at her with questioning and judgemental eyes. Most of the warriors even thought that she was vited by the appearance we found her in. Though she kept trying to exin to them, no one really listened nor believe her words.


    "Busy ying the hero, Elena? I hope I''m not interrupting your grand strategies," she mockingly uttered with a sneer ying on her lips.


    "Glenda. What do you want?" I asked, almost already feeling exhausted from being with her for a mere second.


    She took a step closer, sending me a murderous re, and bitterly replying, "You dia.e to save me, did you? I''ve been waiting for the truth toe out."


    I scoffed and crossed my arms. Looking at her straight into her eyes, I asked back, "I didn''te to save you. What truth are you waiting for, exactly?"


    Smirking, Glenda''s voiceced with so much venom as she pointed the finger at me, speaking like she discovered something unknown, "I knew you wanted me dead!"


    +25 BONES


    Gritting her teeth at me, she cursed and vowed, "You''re so malicious, Elena. Admit it! You thought I''d kill myself after what happened, don''t you?".


    Letting a fakeugh escape her lips, she continued, "But I won''t give you that satisfaction. I''ll live better than all of you. Wanting me to die isn''t that easy."


    I furrowed my brows while staring at her as she continued her bbering


    Where did she get that much arrogance? She already lost everything, and yet there she was, clinging to scraps of pride.


    I couldn''t understand why she cared so much about how everyone else viewed her or about Bryson. As a warrior, shouldn''t she be fighting for her own honor, not obsessing over men?"


    Shaking my head, I replied to her in exhaustion as I felt like I''d told her this countless times in different words and sentence structures already. "I don''t care whether you live or die, Glenda. If I truly wanted you dead, I''d have ten thousand ways to make it happen. Don''t mistake indifference for malice."


    Her eyes went wide as fury crept into her. In a matter of seconds, she turned red with rage and raised her hands, attacking me, "You-!"


    Before she couldnd a blow on me, though, I easily grabbed her wrist mid-air and twisted it, forcing Glenda to the ground.


    "Where does your unending arrogancee from, huh, Glenda? You dare to act out here, in this camp? Have you forgotten where you stand?" I firmly asked in disbelief.


    She tried to struggle from my grasp, but all her attempts were in vain. ring at me, she blurted, ¡°You think I''m afraid of you, Elena? You may have made great contributions, but in the end, you lost to me. Bryson''s Luna is me, not you."


    This again...


    I inwardly rolled my eyes as I''d heard that a thousand times. She clung to Bryson''s name as if that title ddefinedher worth. Why did she reduce herself to this? Was her pride as a warrior so meaningless to her?"


    Sneering, I harshly let her go and took a step back. Sarcastically looking at her, I replied, "Congrattions, then." My utterly indifferent tone seemingly sliced through Glenda''sposure. She snarled at my words and angrily uttered as she stood up, "You''re jealous! You just won''t admit it."


    Mockingly moving my head from side to side, I crossed my arms andzily uttered, "Yes, yes. I''m jealous. I''m so jealous that you became Bryson''s Luna. Jealous that you''re now the mistress of a poor family. Jealous that you get to take care of that fussing mother-inw day and night. Truly, what a dreame true, Today''s Bonus Offer

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    Elena''s POV


    Glenda stared at me with zing eyes, stomped her foot, and pointed her finger at me. She started screaming in rage, "You-!"


    Before she could start bbering about nonsense again, I interrupted her with a sigh and went on, "You''re wasting your time, Glenda. You''ve yet to receive your military punishment."


    "Silver whipping, wasn''t it?" I reminded her. "I suggest you prepare for that instead of further embarrassing yourself."


    After all, she had done, though the Rogues punished her for what they deemed was right, she was still not safe from the kingdom''sw. As she broke the rule of war, a warrior''s principles, and brought shame to the kingdom''s name, only right that she was to be punished.


    Glenda pursed her lips together and clenched her jaws before storming away like a little child throwing a tantrum.


    Staring at her as she walked away, I thought inwardly, "Let her seethe. She brought this on herself. Nhave more important things to worry about than her petty grudges and misced pride."


    Shaking my head, I turned around with care and went on to follow Maise and the others.


    "Finally!" Maise uttered as she mmed down to one of the seats and stretched her strained body after almost an entire day of us patrolling and helping on the rebuilding.


    "Think fast!" Saige shouted, alerting both Maise and us.


    Looking up, we saw a flying breading our way and immediately caught it. Saige let out a knowing smile as she took a bite from her own before sitting in front of us.


    Shaking my head, I raised the bread she gave me and opened it. "Thanks," I said before taking a bite.


    We sat around the campfire at the back of the main tent, where everyone was gathered, enjoying each other''spany. The mood was far lighter now that the war was over, but looking around, behind the smiles andughter, the scars the war brought us still lingered in the air as those injured still grimaced in pain and those who lost their life for the others were now six feet below the ground.


    In the middle of our eating, I watched both of my friends as theyughed with ease and couldn''t help but already feel like I was missing them.


    Without further ado, I asked, "Are you going back to the Custodes or back in the kingdom with me?"


    Maise tilted her head a bit and asked me, instead of replying, "What about you? Once we''re done here, what''s next? Are you heading back to the training grounds to teach us a few new tricks?"


    She even wiggled her brows in excitement to make an emphasis.


    I smiled faintly at her jokes and shook my head before letting out a smallugh. "And be back at the training grounds? Haven''t we spent enough time there? Besides, you don''t need me to babysit anymore."


    We allughed as we were reminded of the times we would have to look after our juniors or newly acquainted Custodes apprentice. We allugh about it and call it babysitting since we had nothing to do but watch them fail as a new apprentice and cry at failure.


    Saige excitedly pointed out, "Babysit? Come on, Elena, you''re practically a legend now. If we head back, everyone will be begging for your mentorship. But... the kingdom sounds more exciting."


    Maise then suddenly stooped up and even raised her hand up in the air. "I vote for the kingdom! Let''s see those nobles apud us for once. And Glenda.... Imagine the looks on their faces when they see her for what she really is."


    She hadn''t even finished speaking and was already jumping at the mere thought of it.


    My friends could indeed be ruthless when they were mad.


    Saige nodded her head and uttered after gulping down her beer. "Agreed. The kingdom it is. We''ve earned this. Let them cheer for the real heroes."


    I chuckled at their silliness and nodded my head at their words. "All right, the kingdom it is. But don''t get used to apuse. It fades faster than you think."


    The three of us were stillughing around from our silly jokes and reminiscing, but that instantly died down when Bryson started approaching us from a distance. My eyes narrowed as I observed his tense shoulders and hesitant expression.


    With my mood already dead, I sighed and asked indifferently, "Bryson, what brings you here?"


    He fidgetted for a while, looking everywhere but my eyes as though he was guilty of something. Merely seeing his expression already brought me a foreshadowing that whatever I''d hear next from him would bring me annoyance. Swallowing, he replied hesitantly, "I... I came to talk. Can we speak in private?"


    Looking at my friends, who were looking at him intently, I replied, "We''re all friends here, Bryson. Whatever you need to say, you can say it here."


    Taking a deep breath, Bryson spoke, "It''s about Glenda. I know she''s going to be punished. I... I was hoping you could speak to Prince Deacon. Ask him to show mercy... she''s still severely injured..."


    My brows instantly raised upon hearing his dumb question.


    Scoffing in disbelief, I asked, "Mercy? After everything she''s done?"


    "I know she''s made mistakes. But she''s still my mate... I can''t just stand by and watch her suffer..." he replied in a low voice.


    How could he say that? How could he be so dense and selfish to say those words?


    My eyes dimmed as I looked at him intently before replying in an ice-cold tone, "Did she show mercy to the people she betrayed? To the warriors who trusted her? No one pleads for them, Bryson. Why should I plead for her?"


    Bryson raised his head and looked at me with desperation, glinting in his eyes. "Because you''re better than her. You always have been. Please, Elena. I''m not asking for anyone to forgive her...Just..."


    He swallowed and stared at me before continuing, "Just leniency."


    I stared at him briefly before taking a deep breath and replying seriously, "You should take this up with Prince Deacon yourself. It''s not my ce to interfere."


    He desperately looked at me and hurriedly replied, "I already did. He refused to listen. That''s why I came to you."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 84

    Deacon''s POV


    One page after another, I flipped through the reports about the border, reviewing the recent rebuilding progress and maps of reimed areas.


    I was already halfway through it when Tyson suddenly rushed in, looking quite uneasy.


    "Prince..." he called out hesitantly.


    Furrowing my brows and feeling the possibility of the seriousness of what he


    might say, I put down the report, leaned back, crossed my arms, and gave my full attention to him. "What is it?"


    His eyes looked side to side for a while before hesitantly saying, "Prince, Miss Elena is here to see you."


    Something within myself rejoices from that news, making me sit up properly and ce my hands on the table quickly, a small smile threatening toe from my lips.


    "Send her in then, what''s the hold-up?" I asked.


    Usually, he would just send her in with a bit of notification, so I didn''t know what the sudden holdup was.


    I stared at him intently when he didn''t move to follow my order and watched as he swallowed with difficulty. After


    a few seconds, he sighed deeply and looked up at me before cautiously saying, "Before that... It seems like General Bryson went to see her earlier."


    That exined it.


    Raising my brows, I nonchntly asked back, "And?"


    "I just thought... maybe she''s here to plead for him. Or... to win him back..." he uttered with more hesitancy in his voice.


    My jaws clenched, and my hands turned into fists. The mere thought of that made my blood boil in unimaginable rage. "Do you think Elena would plead for a man like Bryson? Do you think she''d lower herself for him?"


    I couldn''t help but ask one after another with venom in my voice.


    He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Well... what if she still has feelings for him?"


    That struck thest straw in me. In the blink of an eye, I was already standing from my seat and sending a punch


    in his direction without hesitation.


    Tyson stumbled back with his head turning to the side from my punch, and his lip burst from the blow. Reaching in, he wiped the blood off and stood up properly, only to meet my murderous eyes


    "Elena looks down on Bryson. She always has. He is not worthy of her," I uttered firmly.


    But at the back of my mind, I was inwardly wishing that it was the truth and her conviction of rejecting that asshole was as high as I imagined because a man like him wasn''t even worthy of looking her way.


    Rubbing his strained jaw, Tyson looked me in the eyes and muttered without hesitau. "Then who is?"


    This time, he wasn''t asking my Beta but my best friend, who had always been by my side.


    He raised his brows, and a slight smirk shed on his lips as he asked, "Then who is?"


    My entire body froze as tension crawled in my whole body, and his question echoed in my mind repeatedly, making my heart pound so fast and hard inside my chest.


    *250**


    I swallowed with difficulty, eyes staring into oblivion as I thought of the words I should say, but I couldn''t seem to form any words to say.


    Then who is...


    Who else could be worthy of a priceless woman like Elena? couldn''t even think of another man. No... I wouldn''t dare to even think of a man because the mere thought of her being with someone else felt like poison in my body.


    Tyson stared at me, narrowing his eyes as he seemingly evaluated my expression before realization dawned in his eyes, and he slowly nodded his eyes.


    "Alpha... are you saying...?" he asked slowly with meaning in his eyes.


    Before he could say anything more and voice out the words had been trying so hard to conceal deep within me, I lost control and punched him again.


    He took a couple of deep breaths as he stretched his pained jaws.


    He tried opening his mouth again and said more things but was already heaving with anger and angrily pointed out at the door,manding, "Enough. Get out!"


    He nodded in understanding and turned to leave but stopped midday. Shifting his gaze, he looked at me with a serious expression. He reminded me meaningfully, "Onest thing. Do you remember what Elena''s mother said to you?" Memories of the past shed before me, making my eyes narrow as I stared at him dangerously. Without saying more words, I took a step forward and pushed him out, saying, "Send her in!"


    I watched as Tyson scurried off, leaving me alone to calm myself.


    From a distance I could hear him talking to Elena. Hearing her approaching


    footsteps, I closed my eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before rushing back to my seat as if nothing happened.


    "Elena. To what do I owe this honor?" I asked, masking all of my emotions brought by my memories with the conversation I had with her mother.


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 85

    Elena''s POV


    I was standing a few feet outside of Prince Deacon''s tent, waiting for his approval. Beforeing inside, I found beta Tyson outside and asked for the Prince for


    formality.


    Usually, he would just let me in, but today was different. I was waiting outside when I heard some noises, making my brows furrow. I wondered what was happening inside, but I stayed put.


    A few minutester, Beta Tyson came out with a burst of ligs and a serious expression as he respectfully stood in front of me and motioned inside, "You maye in now, Miss Elena."


    After thanking him, I cautiously came inside and found Price Deacon sittingfortably inside, waiting for me.


    "Elena. To what do I owe this honor?" he asked nonchntly with a small smirk hidden on his lips, obviously teasing me again.


    I simply rolled my eyes jokingly as I sat down in front of him. Leaning my elbows on the table and my torso forward, I opened my lips to talk about what I came here for when we heard light movements outside and a small glimpse of shadow on the side of the tent''s gaps.


    We both looked at each other and gave each other a knowing look, motioning outside.


    Raising an eyebrow, I whispered to him, "What''s wrong with Beta Tyson? He looks like he''s hiding from a Rogue attack."


    "I thought it was over?" I joked further, making Prince Deacon shake his head as he let out a smallugh.


    Suppressing a smirk, he replied, "Don''t mind him. He''s just... persistent."


    Our eyes looked back and forth between each other and Beta Tryson''s hiding ce before we stared at each other; eyes both shed with a mischievous glint before we slowly nodded our heads in silent understanding.


    Prince Deacon shifted his head to face Beta Tyson''s direction and deliberately raised his voice as he asked, ¡°Elena, don''t you think it''s strange how Tyson is acting so strange today?"


    I widened my eyes and dramatically yed along as I gasped. "You don''t think he''s a spy, would he? He can''t possibly betray us."


    My hands immediately covered my mouth to stop myughter.


    Prince Deacon shrugged. "I don''t know. Who knows."


    Narrowing my eyes, I watched as Beta Tyson''s shadow started moving around with uneasiness. Swallowing myughter, I decided to add more tension to him, "Do you think we should be more careful? What if he discloses our military secrets? What if it''s the kingdom''s secrets?"


    We heard something stumbling outside and had to pinch ourselves to stopughing out loud.


    "Maybe we should filter what we share with him from now on and..." Before Prince Deacon could even finish his sentence, the fabric door was pushed open, and Beta Tyson came in with a red face ar embarrassed and in panic.


    "I''m not a spy!" he uttered with a raised voice that was full of conviction. aking eyes, both looking


    I had to look away because I was in dilemma whether tough at our sess of teasing him or feel bad about how he looked right now.


    Prince Deacon, however, looked asposed as ever. He leaned back with his arms crossed over his chest and intently looked at Beta Tyson, asking, "Were you eavesdropping, Ty?"


    Calling him by his nickname should have already confirmed that we were just teasing him, but Beta Tyson was too flustered to even notice it.


    "I-I wasn''t eavesdropping! I just..." he looked around and pointed outside before continuing, ''... w-was passing by!"


    Looking stern, Prince Deacon asked further, "Passing by? So you decided to stand outside my tent for so long, breathing like a wounded bear?"


    "I... I..."


    I shook my head and grinned widely upon seeing Beta Tyson at the end of his wits and finally decided to end his suffering... But, of course, with still a few bits of final teasing. ¡°Rx, Beta. We were just talking about your excellent hiding skills. Truly a model for stealth training."


    His eyes went back and forth between me and Prince Deacon as if he was wounded before his face turned redder. "I ... I still have to do some patrol.." After saying that, he immediately turned around and ran outside.


    As soon as he vanished from our sight, Prince Deacon and I looked at each other before bursting intoughter, so much so that tears even started escaping the corner of my eyes, and my stomach hurt a bit.


    After a few minutes, we shook our heads to calm ourselves until ourughter finally faded away.


    However, as soon as ourughter faded and the light atmosphere lingering in the air faded, my thoughts grew back to what I came here for and unconsciously turned serious as my chest became heavy with emotions. "Something on your mind?" Prince Deacon asked, noticing my changes.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 86

    Elena''s POV


    After pinching my hand, I looked up at him solemnly and opened my lips only for a sigh to escape my lips instead


    of an answer.


    "It''s okay. What is it?" he asked again, encouraging me to speak my mind.


    Fidgeting with my fingers under the table, I calmed my emotions in turmoil and voiced out, "I was thinking... before we go back to the kingdom..... I just.....¡±


    Taking a pause, I took a deep breath before continuing, "I''d like to visit my father and brother''s graves onest time."


    I thought he would give it a few minutes of thought first, as we were busy with everything on our hands right now, but to my surprise, he mirrored my solemn eyes and rodded without thinking twice. "Of course. We''ll leave tomorrow morning. You deserve that moment with them."


    A smile immediately formed on my lips, and a sigh of relief unconsciously escaped my lips as the tension on my shoulders rxed.


    We talked for a while about some military-rted matters, and when he suddenly asked, "So... After we return to the kingdom, what are your ns?"


    I stared at him for a while, wondering why he suddenly asked, but the questioning eyes I gave him only made him ask further.


    "Do you n to stay as a warrior, or will you follow your mother''s wishes this time?" he rified.


    Bitterness filled me as I remembered the past and how my desire to fulfil those wishes had brought me the pain I was carrying now. I know that it wasn''t what my mother wanted when she made those wishes.


    Letting out a bitter smile, I softly replied, "I already followed her wishes once."


    "I got married, remember?" I tried to joke, but it came out in a bitter tone instead.


    >>


    He nodded his head in agreement. "It was a bad marriage indeed. Better to find a better one.''


    Hearing that, Iughed and shook my head in immense disagreement. "I already got married. It is what it is, and there''s no undoing of what has already happened." Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "Besides, whether a marriage is a good or bad decision... there''s really no way of knowing it for sure until we live through it. For a woman marriage is the greatest gamble, and I lost this round."


    Looking up at him with determined eyes, I replied with conviction, "I don''t n to gamble again."


    A smirkced with pride shed on his lips as he nodded his head. "A sound decision. Indeed, following her wishes once is enough. Besides, what''s so appealing about marriage anyway? I don''t n to marry either..."


    He stopped midway and intently looked into my eyes as if he was reading my soul, making my breathing hitch and my heart pound like crazy as I awaited his next words, which only brought more butterflies into my stomach.


    Especially when he said those next words in a soft and loving manner, "Unless... I find the suitable woman for me."


    My eyes lingered on him as if our gazes were flued into each other. His words echo in my mind like a broken record, but I dare not ask further.


    "We should rest. Tomorrow would be a long day..." He finally looked away first, seemingly freeing me from the trance his eyes had caged me in earlier.


    I let out a sigh as soon as I heard that. Tomorrow was the day Glenda would receive her punishment, and we were both sure there would be a lot of drama awaiting for us to witness.


    Standing up, he motioned toward the door, guiding me and walking me back to my tent as usual.


    Nodding my head, I stood up. "You''re right, and it will sure be a heck of a long day tomorrow."


    We both let out a softugh as we walked toward my tent.


    "So, I suggest you get as much sleep as you can get now," adviced after we stopped in front of my room. "Thank you, Prince Deacon." With that, we bid our goodbyes, and I separated.


    As I entered my room, I found that Maise and Saige were still not there. I didn''t get worried thinking that they might still be outside and having fun with the other warriors since they were still celebrating


    So, without worry and hesitation, I mmed myself down on the bed and stared at the ceiling as Pre Deacon''s sudden question and words earlier echoed in my mind again.


    My heartbeat went fast at the mere thought of it, and I couldn''t help but wonder if there was some hidden meaning behind those words.


    His words sounded a bit strange for some reason... Could he mean...


    Before my mind could jump into some ridiculous assumption, I immediately shook my head and scolded myself, No! That''s ridiculous!"


    I was just probably overthinking things and reading too much into his words.


    He probably just wanted me to stay as a general. After all, the kingdom needs young, capable leaders, and the King''s been desperate for reinforcementstely. Yup... that must be it...


    I thought as I let myself fall into sleep.


    66

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 87

    Elena''s POV


    Letting out a deep sigh and grabbing the coat from the hook near the fabric door of my tent, I wore it and stretched my shoulders as I looked outside and uttered with pursed lips. "Let''s get this over with."


    With my head held high and hands in my pocket, I ventured to the disciplinary grounds calmly.


    A few feet away from the centre grounds, I could already see the swarm of warriors crowding around the centre area of the disciplinary grounds. No one was saying anything, but everyone''s attention was in front, mixed with emotions.


    Some looked d, some appeared nosy, and the others were merely curious.


    . I pushed my way through the crowd until I reached in front and saw Glenda standing defiantly in front as if she was the one who had been wronged.


    She still managed to put her head up and straighten his back with arrogance. Her eyes were sending res to the warriors who were looking at her with judgement in their eyes, and her lips were pursed into thin lines.


    "You''re here," Prince Deaconmented as he gestured for me to stand beside him.


    Nodding my head, I approached him and discretely replied in a sarcastic manner, "I wouldn''t miss it for the world."


    Prince Deacon hid augh, making me let out a small smile for myself.


    "Come on, what are you waiting for? Isn''t this what you want? You must be rejoicing now!¡± Glenda threw word after word at me without hesitation, fire zing in her eyes


    My smile instantly vanished as I stared at her with dead eyes. "You''re merely reaping what you sow, Glenda. Don''t go pointing fingers now."


    "Seems not even a punishment can make you repent." The disappointment in Prince Deacon''s voice was so evident that the tension in the air tripled in an instant, and Glenda shut her mouth off.


    Raising his hand, Prince Deacon gestured to the punisher.


    He''s a bulky warrior, wearing the old warrior clothes of werewolves as part of the punishment ritual. Basically, he''s topless with a heavy metal skirt-like armor around his waist and a bond on his biceps.


    Taking heavy and strong steps forward, he firmly grabbed the silver whip from the table without hesitation and shed it through the air, letting everyone hear its monstrous sound of impact as it shed into the empty space.


    Almost everyone let out a gasp of shock at the punisher''s raw strength, adding the fact that the whip was made of silver and had thorns on it.


    "Let''s begin," Prince Deacon uttered as he sat down on his seat. Gestured by his eyes, I swallowed my awkwardness and sat down on the chair beside him as if I were his right hand.


    Since no one paid attention to it or read its meaning, I just didn''t mind it either.


    Glenda pursed her lips in expectation but didn''t waver in fear. Instead, she even had the guts to send a re in the punisher''s direction. "Come on. Let''s end this."


    The punisher raised his arm and was ready to strike when a voice boomed. "Wait!"


    Everyone''s eyes shifted to the source of the voice while the punisher''s hand that h,awhich in the air slowly, fell


    down on his side and he, looked around in confusion.


    "I''ll take the punishment for her," Bryson walked in front and stood beside Glenda.


    My eyes narrowed at him. I could see his eyes shaking, but he was trying to act strong, making me hide a grin in the corner of my lips.


    What was he on now?


    Gasps rippled through the crowd as the warriors looked at him in shock that reflected the same emotions glinting in Glenda''s eyes.


    "Bryson... You... I... Y-you don''t have to..." Glenda whispered as she stared at Bryson like a love-struck puppy.


    "I won''t let you bear this alone..." he held her by his shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes.


    I cringed and leaned to my side with my eyes still on them, disgustingly whispering to Prince Deacon. "Pathetic. He''s been a coward since we rescued her, and now he''s ying hero? Just right before her first strike?"


    "Redemption, maybe. Or just guilt. Either way, it doesn''t change the past," Prince Deacon uttered before he met the punisher''s eyes and nodded his head.


    After the punisher nodded his head and went back to his position, Prince Deacon shifted his gaze and gestured to the center for Bryson. "By all means." "Bryson, no..."


    "It''s okay. I do-" Bryson didn''t manage to finish his words as the silver whip shed though the air and onto his back, causing a loud shouting from his mouth.


    Glenda''s hands balled into a fist on her side as she watched in horror while the punisher strike Bryson''s back one after another without any side of mercy.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 88

    Elena''s POV


    "Elena, you bitch! Is this what you wanted to see, huh?" Glenda shouted in


    remorse as she red at me while Bryson continued to scream at every strike on his skin, blood soaking his shirt and dripping to the ground.


    It''s only been a few strikes, but a small pool of blood has already formed on his feet.


    A smirk finally freely left my lips, not even bothered to what others may think. They may call me ruthless, but my empathy for those two had been long emptied out by their betrayal.


    I shook my head before my smirk vanished and coldly stared at her. "You made a grave sin and someone''s paying for it. As a warrior, you should know that every action has its consequences."


    "You are really-"


    Her next words were interrupted by the nerve-wracking shout that came out of Bryson''s lips before he fell down on his knees and coughed up blood, but the punishment wasn''t done yet, as five more strikes were needed.


    "Bryson!" Glenda shouted in pain as she crouched down and held his hand tightly.


    However, she couldn''t stand his beat-up appearance and looked away, as did many other warriors, upon seeing how much blood was dripping from Bryson''s back and it was not healing.


    In fact, it would take weeks for that to heal as it would take time for his wolf to fight the silver that ran through his bloodstream.


    "Bryson... B-bry... B-Babe..." Tears glistened in her eyes as she kneeled down and caressed Bryson''s face with a stain of blood on the corner of his lips after hepletely copsed on the ground.


    I stare at them with a heart of stone, thinking that Bryson taking the punishment on her behalf properly hurt her far worse than if she received it herself. After all, they were fated mates.


    And that right there... was the punishment she deserved the most: experiencing the pain of seeing someone she loves suffer and be in pain because of her. But that would still never be tantamount to the suffering James and I had to face from the death of our loved ones all because of Glenda''s greed.


    Prince Deacon stood up, so I followed suit. His face remained zed with indifference as we waited for the punisher to clean his whip and put it back on the table. Right after he stood back on the side, Prince Deacon announced, "This concludes your warrior punishment, Glenda. And from now on, you are stripped of any military glory you gained here."


    With that, he waved his hand, and a couple of warriors immediately ran forward to help carry Bryson, who could not even stand by himself before he turned around to leave


    I was about to follow him, but Glenda''s voice stopped me again. "Are you happy now?"


    Looking back at her indifferently, I asked, "Go back and look at yourself in the mirror. I''m not the one you''re supposed to be asking that."


    ¡°Let''s go. Enough with that," Prince Deacon said without looking back.


    Hearing his voice, not even Glenda dared to reply as she gritted with anger while I ran after Prince Deacon.


    She''s the one who caused Bryson to be in that state. She had no right to point fingers at anyone right now. If she wanted someone to me, it should be herself alone.


    Dayster, we finally arrived back in the kingdom. Bryson could already stand, but he still had his wounds on his


    back and wrapped in bandages. Since he was still weak, he need a few more weeks to recover before he could be back in shape again.


    As we arrived at the kingdom''s city entrance, glorious cheers already filled the air. We hadn''t arrived at the main castle yet, but the weing of the ordinary pack members from neighbouring packs had already lifted every warrior''s spirits.


    Crowds lined up on the streets, cheering and thanking us as we marched toward the castle.


    At the pce gates, the Lycan King himself stood walting, his regal presencemanding respect. If that wasn''t the most glorious thing to receive from the king, I don''t know what else.


    "Elena Griffins. You have brought honor to this kingdom and fulfilled your father''s legacy," King Desmond proudly and happily announced as he approached me and tapped my shoulder.


    "It was a team effort, King Desmond," I replied as I gestured toward Prince Deacon beside me.


    King Desmondughed and nodded as his eyesnded on his brother. His tone became lighter and less political as he proudly hugged him and said, "And you, Deacon, have proven once again why you are irreceable. Together, you''ve shown what true leadership looks like."


    The King personally escorted us inside, with a few high-ranking members on the side, where the celebration awaited. As I approached the banquet hall, I felt the weight of the kingdom''s admiration for the warriors.


    Feeling the glory and achievement of our battle''s sess, the graves of my family shed into my eyes.


    The grand hall of the Lycan King''s pce was splendidly decorated with luxurious garments and essories. Exquisite dishes were served on tables, and warriors were honored. Prince Deacon and I sat at the long table near the king, which emphasized how important both of our contributions to the war were.


    As I nced around this extravagant banquet hall, my mind drifted back to the first celebration banquet I attended, which was held for Bryson''s sess.


    Back then, I was sitting at the center of attention after I prepared for that for so long, anticipating being reunited with my husband. My heart then was full of hope and determination to support Bryson as his Luna.


    But tonight, I sat beside Prince Deacon, no longer a dutiful wife or a Luna but a warrior whose efforts had won a


    war.


    My gaze again flicked to Bryson sitting far from us and barely given attention by the other. Looking at him, I noticed his posture was stiff and his shoulders hunched. The proud and arrogant man I once knew now seemed diminished as if the weight of his failures had finally caught up to him.


    "How the tables have turned," I silently thought, but I felt no satisfaction in his downfall, only a quiet detachment

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 89

    Third Person''s POV


    One after another, more and more high-ranking officials from every pack and every glorified warrior, both retired and currently serving, came into the hall, celebrating the great sess of reiming the northernnd.


    Pushing through the crowd, Courtney finally arrived, her expression sour and her teeth gritted as she scanned the ground with her zing, judging eyes.


    Her chest was rising and falling heavily with rage after she learned that it was Elena who was being praised by the King and every pack, but what added to fuel her rage into immeasurable fury was hearing the scandal Glenda fell into that spread through the entire kingdom like wildfire.


    Seconds after searching through the crowd, her eyes fell on Elena, sitting majestically near the king and prince. Their eyes met, and Courtney''s lips instantly pursed into a thin line while Elena''s remained empty.


    Courtney''s feet halted, and her hands fisted on her sides as she contemted whether to run up there and teach a wanna-be-bitch like Elena a lesson or just turn around.


    But seeing how King Desmond and Pre Deacon were currently on her side, Courtney childishly stamped her foot in annoyance and scanned the crowd once again, looking for Glenda.


    "That! I... Aghhh!" She pursed her lips, trying to conceal her anger upon seeing that her son, who was supposed to be receiving glory with his military skill, was sitting on the side with his head bowed down.


    "How dare they treat my son like this?" she thought to herself before she took a long stride to approach her son.


    "Why are you sitting here like a nobody? Where''s Glenda? Why isn''t she by your side?" Courtney asked, aggravated, looking around for any sign of Glenda, but all to no avail, as she didn''t even catch a glimpse of her shadow.


    Bryson shamefully looked up at his mother and gritted his teeth upon hearing Glenda''s name. "She didn''te?" Courtney let out a sneer and mmed her hands on the table. "She didn''te? After everything she caused, she doesn''t even have the decency to show up and support you?


    By now, Courtney''s patience was now on the edge of running out. Trying to calm herself, she snatched a ss of champagne from the circting servers and drank all of its contents in one gulp before mming the empty ss on the table.


    Bryson, feeling humiliated and on edge from everything, not to mention the pain in his back, abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.


    With a low but sharp voice, he spoke, "Leave it, Mom. I''m done with this conversation."


    Without waiting for her response, he stormed out of the hall, leaving Courtney flustered and with a red face. "What are you all looking at?" she barked at the bystanders who had been watching their exchange since she arrived.


    "Fuckign nobodies" she dared cursed under her breath when those people probably had a higher ranking than their low-ss pack could ever liave,


    Flustered and angered, she quickly followed Bryson, her protests echoing behind her,


    On the other hand, Glenda was sitting still inside her dimly it room at the Swiftridge Pack, staring remorsefully at her reflection in a small cracked mirror that still had drips of blood from her knuckles after she punched it moments ago.


    Her finger trailed softly on the scar on her face that was still fresh, a harsh reminder of the consequences she had to face. Grimcing from the pain as, her finger cascaded on it, her expression mixed with bitter defiance.


    Raging, Elena''s face shed in her mind, silently pushing every me of her misfortune onto Elena.


    "Elena..." She gritted her teeth, continuing, "You may have won this war, but you''re still nothing but a second-hand divorced woman."


    A slight smirk formed on her lips before she cracked a sarcasticugh. "No one


    will ever dare to marry you, no matter how much credit you gain."


    Raising her head with made-up confidence, she spoke in the mirror, "At least, on this matter, I''ll always have the upper hand."


    That thought, of fact, broughtfort to her wounded heart after her reputation was utterly damaged. Not to mention how it spread wildly to every corner of the kingdom and how she was supposedly "vited" by the Rogues... so much so that even Bryson started avoiding her.


    Despite that, Glenda hadn''t lost her hope, knowing Bryson wouldn''t manage to avoid her for long. After all, she was his fated mate.


    With the newfound glimpse of hope and courage, Glenda raised her hand and was about to grab a foundation to hide her scar when her room''s door suddenly bursted open.


    "Tell me right here and now! Glenda, were you vited by those bastards?" Courtnery''s voice boomed in the entire room. Glenda wouldn''t be surprised if it echoed through the hallway.


    Her eyes narrowed as she shifted from her seat and faced Courtney''s furious face, coldly replying, "For the nth time, no! I''m tired of repeating myself."


    Courtney sneered and almost spit at the sight of Glenda''s face. "Do you think people will believe you just cause'' you said it? You''ve ruined our family''s reputation!"


    She took a deep breath, pointed at the door, and sharply said, "Our entire pack! If you cared at all, you''d leave and spare us the shame."


    Hearing that, Glenda scoffed and stood arrogantly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Shame? That''s riching from a woman who''s done nothing but scheme and grovel for power. If your son hadn''t been so spineless, none of this would have happened!"


    Their loud voices filled the room like thunder, striking each other one after another.


    After some foul exchange of words, Courtney took a deep breath and regained herposure before saying, "If you truly care about Bryson, you''ll step aside. He can remarry Elena. With her title, we can restore everything- our family''s reputation, our pack''s wealth, and his position"


    "You''re nothing but a liability now," Couy straightforwardly uttered.


    Glenda stared at Couy for a few seconds before she bitterlyughed.


    Raising her brows and tilting her head, she smirked and asked, "You think Elena


    would take him back? She''s beyond him now Even if she did, do you think she''d tolerate your meddling? You''ve already lost an old hug."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 90

    Elena''s POV


    I snickered while leaning back on the chair, watching the drama unfold before me.


    As soon as I locked eyes with Courtney, I could already feel it in my guts that there would be chaos minutester. Her eyes were filled with anger as she stared at me.


    The hesitation as she halted on her steps was vivid in her eyes, especially after she gritted her teeth together. It seemed like she wanted to run toward me but contemted upon seeing where I was seated.


    In the end, I could only smirk and follow her with my eyes as she defeatedly took a turn towards Bryson''s location instead, with a red face.


    "What are you looking at? So engrossed..." I felt Prince Deacon tap my elbow with him, making me shift my gaze at him before gesturing to the corner where Bryson was seated.


    Following my gaze, a slight snicker immediately escaped his lips. Leaning his head closer to me, he uttered in a. low yet amused voice, ¡°Let me guess, more family theatrics?"


    Shaking my head, I let out a faint smile. "Some things just won''t change."


    And as if on cue, we watched them exchange heated words with each other. Though we couldn''t hear them, by how Courtney was looking around furiously, I''ll give my best bet and say she''s seeking Glenda.


    Unfortunately for her, Glenda didn''t attend the party. Which was for good or else there would be more chaos in


    here.


    "At least she still had the decency to hide," I thought to myself. Guess her arrogance decreased a little after all.


    "Here..."


    My attention was grabbed away from them when I heard Prince Deacon''s voice.


    I looked back at him and let out a huge smile when I saw him offering me champagne. dy, I grabbed mine and clung it with his ss before taking a sip with our eyes locked on each other and smirking, enjoying the show like some gossiper.


    "You know, ff, there was popcorn in here, and I''d also offer you one. Too bad," he added, and the fact that was very much likely to happen made me inwardlyugh.


    Acting disappointed and shock, I yed along, "Is it toote to order now?"


    Weughed at each other''s goofiness when it was interrupted by the sound of nging ss and a spoon.


    "May I take everyone''s attention, please?" King Desmond suddenly spoke, taking everyone''s attention, including mine and Prince Deacon''s, making us both hastily put down our sses.


    King Desmond stood up from his seat and raised his ss of champagne to the air, making everyone follow suit while awaiting his blessing words.


    "Today, we celerate the victory in the war on Northern Lands all thanks to my brother, Prince Deacon and Elena, who had been appointed as a Prncess not too long ago, and here she was already contributing greatly to our kingdom," King Desmond uttered, causing Prince Deacond to turn his head on me in shock swiftly.


    "Princess?" he asked.


    Lowering my head down a bit to hide myugh, I calmed myself down and looked up at him with a raised brow


    and a smirk before nodding my head. Shrugging my shoulders, I smugly but jokingly uttered, "You need to get out of your war cave sometimes, Deacon." Hearing me calling him by his name alone for the first time seemed to bring him deeper in shock as he just kept staring at me with his lips parted and body froze.


    Leaning closer to him, he added, "I guess we''re on the same level now, aren''t we?"


    After a few seconds, he scoffed,ughed and nodded. "You never seize to surprise me, Elena."


    We still drown in each other''s eyes, weighing emotions we couldn''t deny norpletely understand until we heard King Desmond continuing his toast speech. "And, of course, thank you for all the warriors who fought and came back home. But for those that sacrificed themselves for the kingdom, they''ll always be remembered? With that, King Desmond raised his ss, ending his speech with, "Let''s toast!"


    Everyone followed suit and raised their sses, murmuring their thanks, but my attention was shifted back to the crowd when I saw Bryson get fed up with Courtney and stand up to leave. After muttering some words of grievance, Courtney followed suit, and they left the hall.


    "They really know how to humiliate themselves," Prince Deaconmented after drinking his ss.


    Taking mine, I sat down like the rest and nonchntly replied, "Let them squabble. I''ve moved on. They''re nothing but a shadow of my past now."


    "Always been the strong one." I felt him hold my hand and give it a squeeze before he intensely stared into my eyes, adding, "But always remember that I''m here when you need someone to listen to you."


    My heart raced a million times as I stared at him. I felt the warmth in his eyes and hands as if I were engulfed in my own safe haven.


    We seemed a little lost in our own world when it was interrupted by a servant who cleared her throat, making Deacon let go of my hand and keep our distance.


    The servant bowed her head down to greet Deacon before she turned to me. "Princess Elena, the Mother Queen, is looking for you."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 91

    Elena''s POV


    "Liz? Why?" Deacon, hearing the servant, immediately asked.


    Probably due to his shock, his voice sounded a little bit off which startled the servant. Fear glistening in her eyes, she took a step back and nervously replied to Deacon, "I don''t know too, Prince Deacon."


    Standing up, I let out a smallugh to brighten the atmosphere and looked at Deacon questionably, "Seriously?" Realizing his tone, he cleared his throat. "Just a question."


    Tilting my head at him, I gave him a judgemental look. "How can she possibly know, Deacon? It''s not like Queen Liz will discuss it first. If that''s the case, there''s no need for me to go there now, is it?"


    "Very funny!" he sarcastically said, to which I simply replied with augh.


    Looking at everyone at the table, I bowed my head and respectfully bid my goodbye before turning around and following the servant to the east wing of the castle where King Desmond''s mother recided.


    Taking small steps, I savour the serene ambience of the other wing of the pce that shouts nothing but peace and serendipity. The old buildings were surrounded by lush gardens and quiet halls.


    Birds could be heard chirping from the giant trees on the outsidewns and butterflies could be seennding freely on beautiful variant flowers.


    With a smile on my face and still in my military uniform, I entered the Mother Queen''s chamber.


    Seating on a gold and blue rococo armchair in grace as she calmly took a sip of her coffee. As I walked in, she elegantly ced her cup on the saucer on the coffee table in front of her and a huge smile immediately formed on her lips as she caught my eyes.


    Standing up in excitement, she opened her arms in a wee gesture and happily uttered, "Elena, my dear! It''s been far too long."


    "Queen Liz," I greeted, taking a step forward.


    Elizabeth is the mother of King Desmond whom everyone referred to as Queen Liz. She''s one of those people who was known all over the kingdom for defying fate as she''s the former king - King Frowell''s chosen mate.,


    King Frowell and Queen Liz were childhood sweethearts and fell for each other dearly. Their love story was very popr in the kingdom as they went through a lot of hardships many opposed them being together at first- considering she wasn''t King Frowell''s fated mate but they still managed to be together.


    Later on, King Frowell met his fated mate who was Deacon''s mother, Dutches Diana. It was a bumpy road for them but they made it work nheless.


    Despite everything, Queen Liz remained a kind and understanding woman whom most women looked up to in the kingdom.


    "Come, have a seat!" she excitedly invited as she gestured to the other seat opposite hers.


    After giving her a respectful bow, I sat down as gracefully as my stiff metal warrior suit allowed me to.


    Despite her age and hint of silver hair, she still radiated with elegance and wisdom.


    Not even a secondter, the same servant who guided me here came back and served me a coffee which I thanked


    her for.


    While taking a sip, I couldn''t help but feel themp forming on my throat as I felt the intense gaze Queen Liz was giving me as she studied me.


    Putting down my coffee, I swallowed and looked back at her to see nothing but pride glimmering in her eyes.


    "You''ve done more for this kingdom than most men could ever dream of. Women across the packs hold their heads higher because of you. Your mother would be so proud," she said with so much pride and sweetness in her voice like how my mother used to speak to me.


    A smile faintly formed on my lips as I felt my chest tightening at the reminder of my mother.


    I knew that Queen Liz and my mom had always been close before. She would usually visit my pack or we woulde in here, but I was still a child then and could only remember bits of it.


    "Thank you, Queen Liz. I only did my duty," I humbly replied.


    To my surprise, Queen Liz leaned forward and reached for my hand that was on the table and ced her hand on top of mine gently. "I know you''re modest, but what you''ve aplished is extraordinary. You''ve proven that strength and honor are not confined to men."


    I merely nodded my head as I was unsure where our conversation was leading. After all, despite it being a bad decision, I wasn''t the first female honored by the kingdom as it was Glenda''s first.


    Nheless, I kept my mouth shut and waited for the Queen Mother to state her words further.


    After a couple of seconds of pause, she remained staring at me until her expression slowly softened and was reced with a caring gesture.


    Squeezing my hand a little, she started, "Elena, now that the war is behind us, it''s time to think about the future


    ...


    Future... What future?

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 92

    Elena''s POV


    My brows furrowed as I tried to read what was on Queen''s Liz mind.


    Staring intensively at me, she continued with a firmer voice, "-your future."


    Looking innocently at her, I asked in a small voice, "I don''t think I''m following you, Queen Liz."


    §ª


    Sighing, she pulled me closer to her which made me lean forward on the table, mimicking her posture.


    "You''ve given so much to the kingdom, but you shouldn''t have to carry the burden alone... Which is why..." she took a pause which for some unknown reason made my heart beat faster in anxiousness.


    But as she continued her words, the reason behind my fast-beating heart only intensified.


    "I would like to arrange a marriage for you...''


    Hearing her next words made my heart sink slightly, but I kept my expressionposed as I replied, "Queen L¨ªz, I appreciate your concern, but I''m not interested in marrying right now."


    My words were firm but respectful as I told her the same decision I uttered when Deacon asked me about it.


    Queen Liz tilted her head as she stared at me, reading my eyes. After a while, she replied in a gentle yet firm tone, "I understand, but you''ve been through so much. War has taken your father, your brother...and your... pack. You''ve lost a lot more than one can ever imagine..."


    Hearing her words reminded me of all the pain and tragedy had to face. But all those only fueled me to face the battlefield with a stronger heart rather than hiding behind marriage.


    I felt her hand squeezing mine harder as sadness and worryced in her voice. "I don''t want to see it take you as well. Your mother felt the same, didn''t she? She only wanted you safe."


    Queen Liz''s reasoning made my mind drift back to all the memories I had with my mother. Before I lost my father and brothers on the battlefield and before our pack were massacred, my mother was someone who advocated for a woman''s independence and dignity.


    I could still remember how she would often hold me close to her arms as a child while we watched my father and brothers train in our backyard.


    I could remember my excitement as I begged them to teach me as well. While other members were surprised by the umon desire of a she-wolf to train with swords and deadly weapons, my mother proudly handed me a training sword.


    Crouching down in front of me, I vividly remembered her words, "Elena, a woman must strive for dignity and not spend her entire life serving men like a beast of burden, A woman is just as capable as men and should have her own thoughts and live her life brilliantly."


    With those words, she pushed me towards my father and brothers as I first joined them in training which they happily weed me into.


    If it weren''t for all the tragic events we had, fear wouldn''t have grown in her heart which was the reason why she urged me to stay away from the battlefield and lead a quieter life.


    The smile on my lips turned bitter. Taking a deep breath after a moment of silence, I looked up at Queen Liz and replied honestly, "My mother did want me safe..."


    Taking a pause, I sighed and let out a thoughtful smile as I continued and rejected her offer gently, "But she also


    believed that a woman should live her life with purpose and dignity. Marriage... is not something I can consider lightly, Queen Liz."


    Queen Liz sighed but a mixture of understanding and concern crossed her face as she gently tapped my hand with her other hand before letting go.


    After taking another sip of her coffee, she looked nkly in the air for a while as if reminicing something from the past before smiling.


    Nodding her head, she admiringly replied, "Your mother had always been a wise woman, and I see so much of her in you."


    "Thank you, Queen Liz," I replied gratefully.


    "But Elena..." she concernly continued, "Life is unpredictable. A strong partner standing by your side who will shoulder some of the burdens you carry may be better."


    I smiled gratefully as I knew where she wasing from. As my mother''s friend, she was only concerned for me like a mother but I remained firm with my decision.


    Gently shaking my head, I respectfully replied, "I''ve already followed my mother''s wishes once, Queen Liz and got married but it didn''t end well as most members of the kingdom already know."


    Sighing with bitterness and a hint of relief after what I''ve been through with that marriage, I continued, "After that... I''m not ready to gamble my life on another marriage again, Queen Liz. But I''m very thankful for your thoughtfulness."


    She stared at me for a little while as if reading through my eyes before nodding in resignation. Leaning back on her chair in defeat, she sighed and lightly closed the topic, Very well. We''ll discuss thister when you feel ready For now, rest. You''ve more than earned it."


    We chitchatted for a few more minutes before I left her chamber with a heavy heart.


    Standing outside and looking up to the sky, I couldn''t help but wonder if my mother would approve of the life I chose to lead the second time around...


    Right now, I''m walking the thin line between the independence I sought and the high expectations that the kingdom had bestowed upon me as a female warrior.


    "Mom... I''m not certain if you''d be d of what I chose. But if not, I hope one day you''ll understand me."


    Because for now... I''d rather be a warrior than someone''s wife.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 93

    Deacon''s POV


    "Mom really adores her," my brother, King Desmond, uttered as he followed Elena''s figure like I did until she disappeared from our sight.


    Laughing a little, I replied, "Tell me about it.


    The party continued to prosper through the night. When the moonlight was covered by clouds and the warriors were enjoying themselves under the influence of alcohol, Desmond and I finally decided to call it a night and let the others serve those who remained.


    Entering his office, we were greeted by the rxing scent of aged wood and ink lingering in the air. While Desmond went straight to his chair, I stood formally in front of his desk with my posture straight and indifferent expression.


    His eyes surveyed me from head to toe before he raised his brows and let out a smirk. "Come on, Deacon! We''re brothers! We haven''t seen each other in a while, and you''re giving me that warrior look already."


    Standing up, he went to the mini bar on the left side of his room and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two rock crystal sses.


    "Whatever it is, let''s talk it out over a drink. You just won a war. Live a little!" he uttered, gesturing for me to sit on the opposite high chair of the bar from him while he filled the quarter of my ss with whiskey as he did with his.


    Raising my ss, I swivelled its content, watching it move before I inhaled deeply.


    "It''s serious," I replied before taking a gulp.


    Sighing as I put my ss down, I met his awaiting eyes and started, "Indeed, we won the war and gained back thends we lost, but there were...plications regarding Glenda and Bryson''s recent war they''ve won."


    His facial expression, which had looked chill earlier and expanded into a sibling bonding, immediately hardened, mirrored by how his grip tightened on his ss.


    He pursed his lips. "Go on."


    Without hesitation, I pulled the envelope from my back containing the confidential report rted to Glenda''s action.


    Tapping on the envelope with my finger, I narrated, "All the reasons for credits received by Glenda and Bryson were all fabricated. They didn''t win it in the right


    manner.


    "Do you mean to say there were downys?" he asked, voice turning firm andced with venom as his patience


    wore thin.


    I looked at him with knowing eyes in reply, making him let out a sharp exhale. "And the pack that colluded with the Rogues? Don''t tell me it''s rted to Glenda and Bryson"


    The air around us became heavy with tension, and despite the dim light shining on us, I could feel everything turn dimmer, especially upon seeing him finish his ss in one gulp.


    While pouring him another drink, I continued, "It''s all manipted by Glenda. Paving the way to victory through barbaric means that caused more than what she could chew herself. That''s why the Moonke pack colluded with the Rogues..."


    When I went silent as I observed his reaction like a fuming volcano about to erupt, he looked at me with zing


    eyes and growled, "There''s more. Tell me everything!"


    Leaning in, he uttered each of his next words with emphasis, "I. Want. Every. Details."


    Taking a deep breath, I stared at him cautiously for a while and read his body movements to see if he was in control of his raging wolf before I heaved a sigh. "So... this was what happened...¡±


    "I can''t believe we awarded those two ferocious people!" After hearing everything that happened, the tension of his grip on his ss shattered it to pieces, and blood dripped on his clenched palms.


    "Desmond..." I called you, wanting to calm him down, but he was far from calm. mming his hand on the table and standing domineeringly with his bulky body and gritting teeth, he imed, " Those two should be punished severely!" Both of his fists were tightly clenched together and leaning on the table.


    I nodded my head with understanding before reasoning out, ¡°Yes, but punishing them publicly would only stir unrest. The truth behind this war is messier than anyone could imagine. Revealing Glenda''s role in all this and how she caused it will create more chaos. The Moonke Pack will face downfall as well."


    "Deacon, do you even hear what you''re saying?" He looked at me like he didn''t recognize me, and he let out a scoff.


    With fierce eyes and a reprimanding voice, he shouted, "No matter what the reasons are, they colluded with the Rogues! The Rogues, Deacon!"


    "I know, but..."


    "So, they''re victims now? They still betrayed our kingdom! he shouted, not letting me finish my words.


    He stared at me with narrowed eyes and clenched jaws,pletely on the edge, as I saw his eyes flickering with golden shade. He''s fighting control with his wolf.


    "That is not a good sign...''

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 94

    Deacon''s POV


    Instead of replying, I pulled another ss from the side and poured him another drink. After cing it in front of him, I gave him time and let him calm down.


    Reasoning with him while being so on edge would bring no good anyway.


    For a few seconds, he stared at the drink and me before he let out an exasperated breath and sat down in defeat.


    Drinking the entire drink in one go, he mmed the ss on the table and nodded at me as a gesture to continue.


    "If Glenda is punished, the truth behind Alpha Robert''s son''s death will be exposed. That pack lost their heir because of her recklessness. They were grieving and were thirsty for justice. If the truth spreads, their entire reputation will crumble, and we risk losing them altogether."


    He exhaled through his nose, thinking. "They could have sought us through."


    "Their petition would have been discarded." Hearing that, he looked up at me in shock. Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "There''s no solid evidence and witnesses were killed."


    Beforehand, proving the evil death Glenda made was so hard to get that we had to dig so deep just to get it. If it weren''t for Elena''srade from the Custodes, I believe it would have been near to impossible.


    Finally able to understand the cruciality of the situation, he nodded and exhaled in defeat before asking questions one after another. "And the Alpha Robet''s family? Will they still continue to collude with the pack? Their revenge? Glenda''s still alive. Are you sure this won''t be a problem in the future?"


    Reaching for my own ss, I swivelled it on the table before raising it a little near to my lips. "Alpha Robert''s younger son and new heir, James, already made it clear that he has no interest in dragging the kingdom into a dispute. He only aimed for one thing, and that is Glenda. He already punished her the way he wanted, which is far worse than death."


    With that, I took a sip as I remembered the brand on Glenda''s face, which James put on her, and she''d had to curry for a lifetime.


    Desmond rubbed his temple in frustration before letting out a low chuckle and shaking his head. "That woman has brought nothing but trouble."


    Laughing dryly, I shook my head and scoffed.


    "You''re not wrong,¡± I said, raising my ss toward him to offer a toast.


    After drinking, Desmond leaned back, mulling over the situation. "We can''t expose her, but we can''t let her walk free either. A quiet punishment... We should do one that satisfies the pack but doesn''t invite questions."


    I nodded, pleased that the King saw reason. Though she already received the military punishment that Bryson took on her behalf, military and kingdom punishment are different things after all.


    "I will see to it."


    We drank a couple more drinks until the tension in the air thinned, and his irritationpletely came to ease. Before we knew it, we were already halfway through the bottle, and that''s when one of the servants suddenly entered.


    "King... Prince..." he greeted before focusing his attention on Desmond,


    reporting, "The celebration hade to aplete end. Princess Elena was also safely sent back to her residence."


    He dismissed him with his hand before he took a long sip before setting his gaze back on me. "Elena."


    My hand stilled over my ss as I met his intense eyes. "What about her?". "What do you think about her?" he pushed.


    I took a swift sip from my ss and replied as nonchntly as I could, "She''s a great warrior. The kingdom is lucky to have her. If it weren''t for her aid, things would probably have gone south."


    A smirk suddenly formed on his lips. Tilting his head as if he were testing me, he uttered, "You hold her in high regard."


    I looked away from him and stared at my ss instead, simply swirling it around.


    Not waiting for my response, he continued, "You''re right. She''s strong. Powerful. And her status is unquestionable. The kingdom needs a Queen like her."


    Queen... He better not be thinking what I think he was thinking.


    Taking a slow sip, I looked at him with an unreadable gaze as I masked my emotions. "Are you suggesting something?"


    Leaning forward, he smiled with excitement and shrugged. "I''m just saying that she would make a fine match..." He stared at me with a knowing look and slowly continued, "...for someone of high standing."


    Tilting my head, I narrowed my eyes. "Is that so?"


    Desmond took another sip, watching me closely as he asked, "You disagree?"


    Setting my ss down with a quiet clink, my lips curved into the barest smirk. "Oh, I agree. The question is... who do you think is worthy of her?"


    Desmond''s eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned back in his seat. I watched as he took slow movements to pick up the whiskey and refill his ss before taking a sip with his eyes remaining on me.


    My hands clenched under the table. Never thought I''d be feeling anxious waiting for an answer from Desmond until Elena''s name came into the sentence.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 95

    [SAMANTHA''s Point of View]


    I couldn''t go on like this.


    I couldn''t give up.


    My body already wanted to give up, but my mind never wanted to. I was exhausted and desperately wanted to end my suffering, unsure if I could endure another round of torture from the masked man. To be honest, I was surprised that when I woke up after he hit me with that silver chain, he offered me water and food. Part of me wanted to refuse and thought that it was his way to prolong my suffering. However, my body betrayed me, allowing the masked man to feed me with a spoon while I remained chained to the metal bed. I was so sick mentally, but I needed it. I needed the energy to survive to get away from here. I had to swallow my pride and the food to get more strength, just enough to get out of these chains.


    Despite the sharp pain from my broken rib, I managed to breathe slowly and evenly. I looked down at my feet, and the tips of my toes were already ck, as if they would fall off any moment if I kept moving them. I hissed when I tried to arch my aching back and looked around the dark empty room, hoping the masked guy wasn''t around.


    I breathed. In. Out. In. Out.


    My chest rose and fell. I closed my eyes as I concentrated on my wolf and tried my hardest to ignore the pain all over my body. My tongue was like a piece of sandpaper in my mouth as I swallowed hard. My throat was raw and burning. Before, when I used to call my wolf and tried to reach for her from deep within me, it was like reaching for someone under deep, clear water. But at that moment, the feeling was as if I was in the mouth of an angry volcano. It was hellish, and I never wanted to linger, but I had to.


    I had to reach my wolf.


    Where are you? I need you now! I hissed at her. You can''t leave me like this! You will also die with me!


    Please!!!


    Despite the burns and the excruciating pain of both the reality and the mental torture it caused me, I did my best to reach for her and wake her power inside me. It wasn''t easy. My whole body was battered with silver chains and burns, and the only thing that was keeping me from giving up was my love for my children and my desire to see my destined mate again-to be with my family again.


    There''s no way I would let my enemies win without me putting up a fight.


    I thought you already forgot about me.


    Those cold, soft words from my wolf made me gasp.


    My back arched as I felt the indescribable heat flowing throughout me, spreading from my chest to all over my body. Every muscle in my body rxed as if I had received a lukewarm water bath. It brought me back to life.


    Every pulse in my body calmed down and the torturing pain stopped for a minute as I felt the flesh on my wrists and ankles regenerate slowly, building tissues all over the exposed bones.


    My eyes sharpened My teeth elongated and my body shivered as the power surged all over me. For a second, I forget the wounds, the unbearable pain that put me into deep despair for so many days.


    My body was healing until I gained the strength to clench my teeth and fist. I managed to free my hands from the silver chains as my werewolf strength took over my small body. I let out a piercing scream.


    I screamed all the pain and the agony of being imprisoned in that cursed ce. Of me being taken away from my


    twins. I let out a scream filled with anger, followed by a vicious snarl.


    Golden orbs appeared around my eyes as I searched for the masked guy in the darkness. My breath was swift and heavy. I wanted his blood. I wanted them to drip on my paws and ws, and just as I swore to him, I wanted him to be ripped into ribbons.


    The metal shackles nged on the cemented floor and echoed throughout the dark, small room.


    "What the-"


    His voice was enough for me to locate where he was.


    The ground trembled when I leaped and shifted to my werewolf in mid-air. Inded on four feet, snarling like a wild beast as I headed straight to his position. His scent was so vivid, and it was making me wild. I had never felt so bloodthirsty before until I met this bastard. I wanted him dead! Oh, he was so f*cking dead!


    "NO!!!"


    I pounced at him, attacking fast in a single assault with my razor-sharp teeth ready to tear his shoulder apart. But he was quick and luckily dodged, but was sent flying and was thrown violently against the wall of the building. He gasped as the air was forced out of his lungs from the impact and he coughed fresh, crimson blood. I didn''t waste a second and aimed to rip his head off his shoulders, but he kicked himself away from the wall, putting distance between us, just enough for me not to be able to reach him with my sharp, lethal ws.


    He couldn''t get away from me!


    I roared. The masked man was petrified at the bloodcurdling sound that reached his very bones. It was my chance, and so I rammed him against the wall with strength that made fissures on it. His head hung between my sharp ws. The force was so powerful he coughed blood, and that weakened him enough for me to trap him and take his mask off, hooking the fabric with my teeth.


    And I couldn''t believe my eyes as a familiar face disyed in front of me, bloody with his broken nose, terribly bleeding.


    ETHAN! I eximed in my head.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 96

    [ALPHA DOMINIC''s Point of View]


    Liam and I searched for every old building surrounding the Silver Crescent pack. Ten hours had passed, and there was no trace of Samantha in any of them. No scent. No sign that she was brought there.


    "Perhaps you should get some rest, Alpha. I know you are upset, but we can continue the search tomorrow," Liam suggested as he patted me on the shoulder. I just shifted back to my human form and put on some pants. My face was dark with fear and worry while I stared into the woods with gritted teeth.


    "No. There''s no way I can sleep anyway knowing she''s out the door and probably hurt Liam." I snarled quietly as I slumped on a huge rock and rested my elbows on my knees.


    I was indeed exhausted and was near my limit without having enough sleep for two days. I didn''t know what was happening to my mate and what the abductor was doing to her-what he wanted from her. I had a terrible feeling she''s in pain somewhere. I could feel it through the bond. I could feel her crying for help, and I''m so furious that I couldn''t do anything because I had no idea where that bastard brought her or hid her!


    "You look awful, Dominic," Liam, who was one of my closest friends in the pack, the most loyal Bet¨¤ I got here, uttered my name, which meant he was deadly worried about me. "I know you are worried about Samantha, but Ethan and the Gamma Search Team are doing their best to find her. You have to get some rest because your twins need you as well. You can''t burn yourself out because we have no idea what kind of enemy we are dealing with here. We must be ready for strong enemies because we never know when they will appear."


    My eyes narrowed because Liam was right. We were not sure what kind of enemies we were facing as we searched for my mate. It must be someone powerful enough to make a deal with a witch.


    Everyone in the pack knew that these kinds of services from witches were ridiculously expensive if it was about masking a criminal''s identity and erasing their traces. It wasn''t some kind of a cheap ritual they performed.


    It was as if the abductor''s existence and Samantha''s werepletely gone, and now we had no idea where we should start looking.


    Richard Bet was still the primary suspect, though. But will extract that information right out of his own mouth once I have enough evidence.


    I stood from the rock and studied the area around the thick forest. "No. We haven''t searched the east part yet. I need five men to follow me. You can go home if you like, Liam." I hissed as I jumped down the rock, squaring my shoulders. I tilted my head to the side and the bones in my neck crunched satisfyingly.


    Liam let out a groan and stood from his seat as well. He smiled at me helplessly, "As if I can go home without you."


    "Good," I smirked at him and then gestured for five more Gammas to follow us to the east.


    We all shifted back to our Werewolf form. Even without the silver light of the moon, the dark forest was still visible with my werewolf eyes. I led the team to search and study the area until I noticed something strange-the rustling of something moving that was not too far from our location.


    It looked as though it was following us.


    Then in a blink of an eye, it was already in front of me. A giant dark brown wolf with razor-sharp teeth was aiming for tny neck.


    [Dominic!]


    The panic in Liam''s voice didn''t do me good. I managed to dodge the teeth but not the bastard''s huge ws. My


    eyes widened in pain and roared when he drew a long line on my back with his w, ripping it open. Blood gushed out from the wound and I fell on the ground, limping.


    Liam attacked but the giant enemy rammed him straight against a tree. He let out a loud yelp, and I immediately moved to my feet to get the beast away from him, but he was so incredibly strong that the five Gammas around him were sent flying as he tackled them.


    He red at me with his crimson eyes, with his saliva dripping on his mouth. I thought I had seen this before. A hybrid? I looked for more signs but didn''t see anything that made him look like a vampire as well. I noticed that the dark paint on the side of his belly was like a handprint.


    I had seen it before, but my mind was too focused on fighting the giant beast. [ck ws] I screamed at Liam through mind-link as soon as I remembered, [F*cking bastards! What are they doing in this part of the forest?!]


    More of them appeared from behind the trees. The five Gammas did their best to stop the two while Liam was busy with the spotted brown one. The dark brown, whom I supposed was their pack leader, attacked, and I snarled. I used my Alpha strength as we exchanged attacks. He was swift and deadly but not on my level. His strengthpensated for his speed. He got slower, so I took the chance. He leaped and I caught his front right leg with my teeth, ripping the g*dd*mned thing away from his shoulder.


    His howl of agony echoed all over the forest, alerting the rest of his pack. Liam looked at me, checking if I was still in one piece and was relieved when the bastards ran together with their leader, carrying his torn leg with his teeth.


    My vision turned blurry for a second and I panted. When I looked down, there was already a pool of fresh blood underneath me.


    [Alpha! You''re bleeding!] One of the Gammas approached me and helped me lean against a giant old tree. [Those *ssholes!] Liam snarled, his eyes filled with rage, [They coated their ws with silver!]


    [Makes sense why my wounds didn''t close.] I groaned. The pain was distracting, but I refused to stay in one ce. [What are the ck ws doing in this part of the forest?! thought that organization was banned by the Shifter''s Council?!]


    [I don''t have any clue, Alpha.] Liam answered but was more concerned with the wound bleeding on my back. [We have to go back to the Pack Manor and make sure to treat that wound. You can''t go on like this, Dominic. As your Beta, you have to listen. I can''t let you go after those bastards when you''re heavily injured like this.]


    [It''s as if they are following us.] I spoke to Liam, darting a nce at the area where the ck ws had retreated. [ They know we are looking for Samantha! I have a feeling they have something to do with what is happening, Liam!


    1


    So it wasn''t just Richard Bet who was curious about Samantha''s family background. There was more perplexing to it-to know that the ck ws, a notorious group of criminals, were involved in this.


    Where are you, Samantha... I whispered through our mate bond, but there was no response.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 97

    Elena''s POV


    After


    my talk with Mother Queen Liz, I was driven back to the Ironpaw Pack. The second I came back, I was mesmerized by the pack''s appearance, which brought back good memories.


    "You sure outdid yourself," I praised in almost a whisper as tears formed in the corner of my eyes.


    In slow steps, I looked around at my pack. Gone were the blood stains, wrecked infrastructure, and broken things scattered around the ce. It''s almost as if nothing happened. Like there wasn''t a fight here... Like the massacre never happened.


    "I''m just doing my job, Luna... I mean, Princess Elena," Jayden uttered with pride, a huge smile stered on his lips.


    Smiling, I stepped forward and ced a hand on his shoulder. "You did well. Really well."


    Since I went backte, we caught up with each other for a bit together with the few members who were beyond delighted to see me again.


    It turned out that taking Jaden as my Beta was the best choice I made in a long time. Not only did he manage to sessfully execute my instructions in bringing the pack''s appearance to its former glory, but he also managed to help the pack members settle back in.


    He coordinated with the other packs and managed to bring back all the surviving pack members who went to the other packs to work, bringing back our pack to order.


    Before we knew it, it was already midnight. I only had a few hours of sleep before I woke up early.


    The sun wasn''t up yet, but I was already in my office, browsing through a thousand files, sorting out the taxes, finances, and ns for the pack. Since we had been gone for a long time, there were a lot of things to do to get things back to how they used to be.


    After finishing another file, I heaved a sigh and finished another cup of coffee beside me. Tried, I leaned back on my chair and rested my head on top of my backrest, looking at the flickering light on the ceiling.


    "You look exhausted, Princess. Rest a little, or I''ll start scolding you like... Princess or not..." Zara started fussing as soon as she entered my office and saw the five empty cups of coffee and the two mountainous piles of files on my table.


    A soft smile instantly made way on my lips from the evidence worrying her voice. "I''ll rest soon, Zara."


    I sat upright and grabbed another cup, but as soon as I lifted it, I realized it was already empty.


    With my shoulders down in dismay, I looked at Zara beggingly and opened my lips to ask for more, but she immediately shook her head and raised her hand.


    ¡°Oh! No! You''ve already had enough. I can''t give you more. Omega or not, I am here to take care of you and not give you poison, Princess," she dramatically said, making meugh as I gave in.


    "Fine, then just ve me


    My words were cut off by a knock on the door and Jayden''s head peeking through seconds after. "Princess, a royal messenger is here for you."


    My brows furrowed. "What?"


    He opened the door and guided a guard inside. Indeed, it''s royal messenger.


    "What can I do for you?" I asked, sitting upright.


    "Princess Elena," he greeted first before he continued, "Queen Luna requests an audience with you."


    Queen Luna? Queen Celine? Why? What for?


    Suddenly, I seem to be being called out by the royal family, and I don''t know if it''s


    a good thing or not. Yes, I''ve been promoted as a Princess, but that''s nothing but a title.


    Princess or not, it won''t change the fact that I''m not royalty and not on the same level as they were.


    "Okay, wait for me."


    With that, I dismissed all of them and quickly changed into a pink square neckline maxi dress that fell above my knee and a red doll shoes. While walking down the stairs and toward the front gate, where the car was waiting with the messenger, I proactively brushed my hair and let few strands loose on the side of my face.


    The drive didn''t take too long. Before I knew it, I was already standing in front of the Queen''s room with an Omega on my side, announcing my arrival.


    "Elena,¡± Queen Celine greeted brightly.


    Queen Celine was about a year older than me, but that didn''t show in her appearance. She''s slender with curves at the right ces. Her skin were fair, and her hair cascaded wlessly down to the middle of her back.


    She''s the epitome of beauty. Her chestnut eyes were captivating, and her demeanor shouted nothing but elegance and purity. Looking at her gave me a sense of peace and assurance, which was perfect for a Queen, mother of all Lunas and werewolves.


    "You called for me, Queen Celine?" I respectfully asked as entered her room.


    "Yes, have a seat." She gestured as she led me to her room''s balcony, where two chairs and a table were settled in. After pouring me a cup of drink, she said, ¡°I''ve been wanting to speak with you."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 98

    Elena''s POV


    "I''m honoured, Your Majesty," I replied, not knowing what else there was to say.


    She looked at me and studied me for a moment before she let out a sigh. Though there was a smile on her face, I could see the worry behind the glint in her eyes.


    "You''re truly an impressive woman, Elena. Your strength on the battlefield, your loyalty to the kingdom... Your capabilities just seem limitless, and I admire you greatly." Queen Celine smiled as she pushed the cup in front of


    1. me.


    To show eptance, I held it in my hands but didn''t drink it as I replied humbly, "I only serve the kingdom as best as I can."


    It''s the truth though. I had no other thoughts when I went into the battle. I just wanted to serve my kingdom, the same kingdom I grew up in and living in. The ce my family protected.


    My smile hung in the air as silence filled us. Queen Celine tilted her head and watched me carefully, which made my heart race from the unknown.


    "And yet, there are other ways to serve the kingdom, aren''t there?" she said meaningfully, bringing chill ran down to my spine but I kept my expression as calm as I could.


    "Your Majesty, I''m not sure I understand," I uttered, shaking my head a little to emphasise my confusion.


    Suddenly, Queen Celine''s gaze sharpened slightly, which made me swallow in nervousness.


    Though her smile remained, I could feel the chill in her voice and sadness in her eyes.


    Looking at me intently, she voiced out, "The King intends to marry you."


    As soon as she threw those words, I was bbergasted. I blinked a couple of times inplete shock as I processed if I heard her correctly.


    "I... M-marry..." I whispered in disbelief.


    Sadness, envy, anger, and so much more emotions glinted in her eyes. It''s all to much that despite the bitter smile on her lips and the calm demeanor she tried to maintain, I could feel the thick tension in the air and pain radiating off of her.


    My breathing became heavier as I kept my eyes on her with furrowed brows,pletely lost.


    It made no sense! This is absurd!


    I knew for a fact that the king only see me as his younger sister or probably even


    a niece. Yes, he might love me, but there''s no way in hell that he love me in that way.


    Between him and me... It''s all care akin to what we have to family.


    Why would he suddenly-


    And then, it all clicked. My heart stopped, and my lips parted in shock upon realisation.


    It''s because of power.


    It wasn''t for love, care, or any emotional equation. It''s all about power.


    Inhaling slowly, I steadied myself and stop myself from feeling disgusted or angry. Instead, I looked at Queen


    Celine calmly and let out a polite smile.


    "Your Majesty, I deeply appreciate your kindness... and the King''s as well. But I have always thought of you both as my elder siblings, I stated clearly while keeping my eyes on hers to show her my sincerity.


    I knew how it felt to be betrayed, and there was no way I would do that to another woman. I won''t let her feel the same pain I experience.


    Besides, marriage was not part of my n at that moment, especially if the reason behind it was power. Hearing my words, Queen Celine''s eyes widened with shock before her lips curved into a soft smile.


    Stretching her hand, she grabbed her cup and took a sip of juice as the hostility in her eyes faded.


    Looking more at ease, she ced the cup down gracefully andughed lightly. Nodding her head with happiness, she uttered, "I see... so that''s how you view us."


    I studied her for a while and saw how her shoulders became lighter and how her eyes brightened.


    Watching her head nod slightly, I let out a shige smile. Queen Celine wasn''t a fool, it''s evident that she understood what I meant behind my words - that there''s no way would I ever agree into this marriage.


    Not now and not never would I ever get married to King Desmond.


    With that, the tension that built up between us earlier immediately vanished into thin air, and the coldness that enveloped us turned into a nket of warmth and familiarity.


    Queen Celine reached out her hand toward me. Seeing her intention, I stretched out my hand as well and let her hold me. Squeezing it gently, she stared at me and lovingly said, "I would love to have a sister like you."


    Hearing that, I exhaled with relief, knowing we hade to an understanding. Squeezing her hand back, I genuinely replied, "I feel the same, Your Majesty."


    We stared at each other for a while before we let out augh


    "To our sisterhood!" Queen Celine uttered with delight as she raised her ss for


    a toast.


    Acting a bit silly, I raised mine, too, and we had a toast. For about an hour or two, we talked about some non-scene girly stuff while drinking and admiring the view outside of her balcony, which refreshed me.


    After we finished talking, I stepped out of her room and was ready to go back to Ironpaw Pack. I was taking my time walking in the garden that I''d passed through before reaching the main gate as I processed everything that had happened recently - how the Queen mother, Queen, King, and almost everyone else was so interested in my marital status.


    It just doesn''t sit right for me. Why was everyone so bothered whether I got married or not when I just got out of the wrong one?


    I barely had time to dwell on it before I saw a familiar figure leaning against a stone pir next to the excited.


    His hazel eyes were locked onto me. It was unreadable but intense, taking my breath away.


    ¡°Elena,¡± he murmured, pushing off the pir as I approached.


    Stopping in front of him, I tilted her head. "You look troubled."


    Deacon didn''t respond immediately. Then, after a long pause, his voice came out low and firm. "We need to talk."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 99

    Deacon''s POV


    I have fought countless battles, fought against numerous impossible odds, and stared death in the face without flinching, but seeing Elena striding toward me with grace and a huge smile on her lips while wearing her casual clothes brought me to oblivion, and I found myself momentarily stunned.


    It''s the first time I see her in a dress with her hair without a tie, and it''s like the sunlight shone on her as if she were the only beautiful thing in this world.


    Her soft hair flowed with the wind, her eyes looked at me, and she gleamed with quiet confidence.


    For the first time, I realised just how breathtakingly beautiful she was-every second longer I stared at her, it made her even more beautiful.


    "We need to talk,¡± I uttered nonchntly, trying to hide my obvious dumbfoundedness.


    Shrugging her shoulders, she replied, "Sure, what is it about?"


    "It''s-"


    But before I could speak, she looked at me from head to though and waved her hand. ¡°But before anything else..."


    She gestured toward my clothes. "Deacon, why are you still wearing yesterday''s clothes?"


    Her voice snapped mepletely out of daze. Clearing my throat, I crossed my arms over my chest. "I stayed at the Kingdom''s pack housest night."


    That''s all I could say because I couldn''t tell her how I hadn''t had any sleep yet sincest night because my conversation with Desmond haunted me worse than a nightmare.


    Raising her brows, she yfully asked, "Rough night?"


    Laughing, I shook my head to dismiss the idea before gesturing at her. "You look... different today."


    I had to swallow my admiration and tried hard not to let my feelings slip out of my tone.


    Elena tilted her head and shrugged her shoulders, casually replying, "I''m a noblewoman, Deacon. Or have you forgotten?"


    Chuckling, I nodded my head in agreement. "True, but you don''t always look the part."


    Elena rolled her eyes, but amusement flickered in her gaze. "You say that as if I spend my days rolling in the mud."


    Shrugging, I teased further, "Not mud. But blood? Definitely.


    Elena huffed augh. "Have you forgotten? Months before you won''t even look at me as a warrior and kept pertaining to me as a Luna."


    "You''re not letting that one go, would you?" I asked, reminded of the first time she arrived on the battlefield.


    But unlike what she said, it''s not because I didn''t see her as a warrior. Rather, it''s because I was worried for her safety.


    "Damn right, I won''t," she replied before her expression turned curious. "For real, what are you doing standing here, Deacon?"


    "Checking in." I paused before taking slow steps, leading the way as we talked. "I heard you met with Celine."


    Elena''s gaze sharpened, making me halt for a while as I waited for her reply.


    She stopped as well and narrowed her eyes. "And how would you know that?"


    Smirking, I mysteriously and smugly replied to hide the fact that I was always keeping a check on her. "I have my ways."


    Thankfully, Elena didn''t press, but she did give me a sceptical look. "She mentioned something..." she paused hesitantly. "... interesting."


    "Oh?" I arched my brow and continued walking with her.


    Elena crossed her arms and looked straight ahead as if she was hiding her emotions. I gave her as much time as she needed, patiently waiting for her to open up.


    Finally, she heaved a sigh. "The King wants to marry me."


    My smile disappeared instantly. And a flicker of dimness crossed over my expression before I managed to mask it as fast as possible.


    "And how do you feel about that?" I asked slowly.


    Elena''s response was immediate but firm. "I see King Desmond as a brother. Nothing more, nothing less."


    Upon hearing her answer, relief filled my heart.


    But just as soon as relief filled me, it vanished instantly and was reced by a


    twisting pain as I heard her next words. "Just as I see you as a brother."


    Brother? A freaking brother?!


    Something within me seemed to have snapped.


    I had protected her, fought beside her, and cared for her more than amander


    should, but she... she just saw me as nothing more than a brother?


    And here I thought we were having a great time during the battle. I knew she didn''t see me as a husband or anything romantic, but I never expected her to push me into a zone that''s so hard to climb out of.


    My jaw tightened, but I forced myself to remain nonchnt


    After calming myself, I nodded and asked casually, "Good. Il let the King know."


    Elena nodded, seemingly satisfied with my reply.


    "Take care," I added as we reached the gate, watching as she left while feeling the dissatisfaction lingering in my heart.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 100

    Deacon''s POV


    After Elena''s car vanished from my site, I only let myself lose a little bit of control as I kicked the pebble near my feet.


    I calmed myself first and walked my raging fumes off for a while before heaving a sigh and striding towards Desmond''s office.


    Standing in front of his door, I momentarily closed my eyes and told myself to keep calm knowing for sure that as soon as I entered there, Desmond and I would be in another unpleasant conversation.


    Just as I raised my hand and was about to knock, I heard his voice as if he was waiting for me.


    "Come in, lil'' brother," he confidently called from the inside, and I never found him more annoying than ever.


    Twisting the door''s handle, I came in and stood right in front of his desk, where I found him buried in a document.


    As soon as I arrived, he put it down, leaned back on his chair, and gave his undying attention to me.


    "Well, well. I assume you''ve spoken to Elena?" he asked with that annoying smirk on his lips that I wanted nothing more than to rip off his face ruthlessly.


    Clenching my jaw and fisting my hands in a ball at my sides to control my boiling blood, I coldly told him, "She has no interest in marrying you, so I suggest you just forget about all this absurd idea."


    I thought he''d panic just a little, but he didn''t even blink. In fact, he remained rxed.


    Of course, he would. He''s the King. He can do anything he wants.


    Instead, Desmondughed,pletely unfazed. "She did, didn''t she?"


    Grabbing his ss of wine from the side of his desk, he took a slow sip before looking at me, asking, ¡°Did she say why?"


    I merely gave him a knowing look, not having any intention to verbally answer it as I was sure that he knew the reason just as much as I did.


    And by the way, his smirk widened, I guessed it correctly.


    sping his hands together, he leaned forward on his desk. He looked at me with mocking eyes as he let out a smallugh, "Let me guess... she sees me as a brother?"


    I took a deep breath but didn''t reply, as my silence was enough as an answer. For some reason, I couldn''t voice it out either because I couldn''t help but be reminded that she thought of me the same-way.


    Just when I thought he''d be disheartened by the idea of inarrying her, he, once again, proved me wrong,


    Laughing, he shook his head with great amusement before slowing down and staring at me intently. "And you, Deacon? What did she say about you?"


    My fingers twitched on my side as I felt the rage in me starting to run out of control. He knew my answer already but kept looking at me mockingly and taunted me to reply in words.


    He wanted me to say that Elena saw me as nothing more than a brother, but after


    a few moments, I still couldn''t bring myself to utter those words as if saying them out loud would make it feel more real.


    "Any day now, Deacon,'' he pushed.


    Sighing, I pursed my lips into a thin line and almost grudgingly replied, "The same."


    Desmond hummed in thought and tilted his head as he amusingly studied my face like I''m a freaking puzzle.


    "Elena sees you as a brother too?" heughed mockingly as he gestured toward me, continuing, ¡°And yet, here you stand, seething like a jealous suitor."


    I closed my eyes and calmed myself. He was really testing my patience.


    Refusing to bite his bait, I calmed down and rationally replied, "If that''s the case, then there''s no need to push this ridiculous idea any further."


    Sighing dramatically, he set his ss down with deliberate care. "Come on, Deacon. You see, that''s where you''re mistaken. Since she doesn''t have a mate, it''s about time that she finds one."


    "What are you nning?" I asked with narrowed eyes.


    For pete''s sake, she just got divorced!


    Desmond''ss smirk sharpened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.


    "Jude!" he called out to his Beta, who immediately came in.


    Keeping his eyes on me, he instructed Jude, "Announce it to the entire kingdom.


    If Elena does not find a suitable mate within three months... I, the king, will marry her."


    "K-King-" Jude was as shocked as I was.


    Jude was about to say more but one sharp gaze from Desmond, and he nodded his head and excused himself, leaving Desmond and me alone in this small room that was suddenly enveloped in an unspeakable tension and cold air.


    mming my hands on his table, I leaned in and hissed, "You''re forcing her into an ultimatum."


    Unfazed, he merely shrugged. "I''m giving her an opportunity."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 101

    Elena''s POV


    Marriage... Marriage... Marriage...


    I couldn''t count how many times I''ve heard about it in recent days. People were so bothered about my marriage that they were either trying to be a wingman or giving tinnecessary free advice.


    Hence, when I returned to the Ironpaw Pack andy my back in thefort of my soft bed, no one could imagine the relief I felt as rxation cursed through my entire body


    But then again, being rxed and having a peaceful moment that wouldst a minute seemed to be a luxury I couldn''t have. Just a few secondster, Zara knocked on the door and informed me that Beta Jude was here to officially hand me a royal decree.


    ''What can it possibly be about?''


    A royal decree? I was there earlier. Why didn''t they give it there?


    It... I can''t possibly have something to do with what Queen Celine said, did it?


    But I rified it to her. I''m sure she talked it out with the King already...


    Despite the confusion, I fixed my wrinkled clothes and messed-up hair as I rushed downstairs, where I found Jayden amodating Jude.


    Jude was having a small talk with Jayden. He stood upright with his hand on his back, holding what I could presume was the letter of decree.


    "Jude, what do I owe the visit? I just came from the pce moments ago," I greeted, cutting his conversation with Jayden short.


    Giving me a slight bow, he greeted me before showing his hands and pulling out the purple sealed envelope with the royal stamp on it.


    "May I?" he asked, gesturing to open the decree and present it to me.


    I gave Jayden and Zara a knowing look, which they immediately understood. They hurriedly stood behind me in an upright and formal position to receive the King''s letter. Once we settled, I looked back at Jude and nodded my head.


    He ripped the envelope open and folded open the letter, reading, "By the decree of the Lycan King - should Princess Elena not find a suitable mate within three months, His Majesty, King Desmond, will take her as his secondary Queen."


    As soon as his words reached my ears, I was bbergasted. I was stoned in my ce, and my mind instantly went to oblivion.


    The disbelief I felt was so overwhelming that I thought I heard him wrong. After a long moment of silence, I blinked a couple of times and stutteringly asked, "...W- what?"


    Jude remainedposed and folded the letter to its original appearance before putting it back in the envelope.


    He then nced at his watch before extending his hand to hand me the letter. "By this time, the King''s orders have been announced throughout the kingdom.".


    If I had fallen into nkness earlier, right now, my mind whirled, and a storm was seemingly formed within me.


    Swallowing and trying to keep my breathing calm, 1 rocked my brain and forced every gear of it to work as I processed this shocking news.


    However, the longer I processed it, the more confused I felt and the more questions formed in my head.


    I just couldn''t understand what the fuse was all about.


    If King Desmond really wished to marry me, there wouldn''t be a need for this ridiculous three-month ultimatum. He''s the King, for pete''s sake. He could simply dere it and be done with it. After all, no one in this kingdom had the power of any kind - may it be status or skills to challenge him, nor would anyone dare to do


    So.


    So... Why are the three months for? What''s he ying at?


    It''s not that I wasn''t grateful for the time I had to n and make possible changes to it, but still...


    Taking a deep breath, I looked up and met Jude''s eyes. Narrowing my eyes, I intently look at him for a couple of seconds to grab his attention and put pressure on him before asking firmly, "What''s all this? What does the King really want? This is not him."


    I''ve known him for so long, and he treated me as nothing more than a younger sister he needed to look after because of our familial bond... It''s just... It''s all too sudden and absurd. None of it made any sense.


    Jude remainedposed, nonchntly staring at me without offering further exnation.


    Of course, what was I expecting? He wouldn''t be the King''s Beta if he couldn''t take a high amount of heat.


    I cleaned my fist in hopelessness and confusion, knowing there was nothing much I could do.


    What should I do?


    No one in the kingdom would dare topete with the Lycan King for a woman.


    His deration undoubtedly effectively ensured that no one woulde forward


    to marry me even if I ended up choosing a man as my mate, not that I was nning to.


    I closed my eyes in frustration.


    Damn, I''m freaking cornered!

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 102

    Elena''s POV


    "Princess, are you alright?"


    I jolted from my deep thoughts upon hearing Zara''s voice. Blinking back to reality,


    I met her worried eyes before dazily nodding my head.


    Sighing, she poured me a ss of orange juice and showed me a small smile. "Just call me if you need me."


    Lost in time, I grabbed the ss and took a slow sip while looking far ahead and feeling the wind blow my hair back.


    After Jude left, I was left in a trance, wondering what I should do to escape the marriage decree King Desmond announced. However, I''ve been here in the backyard of the packhouse, staring at the forest ahead and still out of any possible solution.


    "Damn, girl. I know you''re hot, but not this hot!" Saige''s voice made me jump from my seat, and her words caused me to spit my drink out in shock.


    Hurriedly, I grabbed tissues from the box on the table and wiped my mouth dry.


    Shifting my gaze behind me, I saw Saige and Maige side-by-side approaching


    me.


    "What are you guys doing here?" I asked in utter shock.


    They were both wearing their warrior attire, Saige''s high ponytailed red hair swinging as she walked while Maige''s dominance radiated in the air.


    Instead of applying, Maige took a long stride toward me and grabbed one of the chairs. Its metal feet cascaded on the cemented floor, making a creaking sound. She turned the chair around and sat down, with legs on either side and the backrest in front of her, where she rested her arms.


    Smirking at me, she added fuel to the fire Saige started, "She''s right! What did you do to make the King head over heels for you that he''s willing to cast aside his Luna?"


    As Saige sat on the other chair, I shifted my gaze between them back and forth a couple of times before rolling my


    eyes.


    They were obviously joking around and trying to lighten up my mood, which they seeded, but just a little.


    Sighing, I threw the napkin to the side and gulped the rest of the juice in one drink.


    "Tell me about it. I want to know it myself. This is so chaotic!" Iined.


    It''s true, though. He already had his Luna... His Queen... I knew for a fact that he loved her so much, just as everyone in the kingdom knew. After all, she''s his fated


    mate.


    So I couldn''t understand why he was making all of theseplicated for all of us.


    "She''s his fated mate, you know? He loves her... I don''t know why..." I voiced out in a low voice.


    "Oh, please... Their men! Lust, power, and so many factors exist as their reason as an excuse for their discontentment and greed just so they could justify their cheating," Saige uttered without hesitation, fanning her hand in the air in disgust.


    Because of her words filled with bitterness, Maige and I gave her an intense, knowing look.


    "What?" she asked upon feeling our gaze.


    Maige scoffed and shook her head. "For someone titled as a seductress, you''re very bitter. You know that?"


    "Come on," Saigeined and looked at her nails with boredom. "I can make these men wrap around my fingers because I got them all figured out. There''s no such thing as real love."


    She said those words so nonchntly, but Maige and I knew better. Her seduction and bitterness toward men were a facade-a shield she made herself to protect herself from heartbreak that broke her years ago.


    Seeing the glint of sadness that shed in her eyes for a millisecond, I pped my hands and grabbed their attention as I changed the subject. "Tell me, why are you guys here?"


    "And..." I gestured at their clothes before continuing, "The war has ended. Why are you guys in your warrior attire?"


    They gave each other a look and raised their brows before letting out a small smile.


    I swirled the ss of juice in my hand, waiting for their answer.


    "Well, we''ll be heading back to the Custodes soon. One of the masters called for us. We just stopped by to see how you''re holding up," Maige started, worry evident in her thoughtful eyes that were usually radiated with fierceness.


    Saige, on the other hand, extended her hand and put it on top of mine, which was holding the ss. "We were about to leave, but then we heard the news."


    I looked at each of them, memorizing their faces, knowing that it would be a long time before we reunited again. After a little while, I shook my head and gave them


    a small reassuring smile, showing that I was strong enough to handle it.


    Shrugging my shoulders, I replied in a forced uplift tone. "It''s nothing I can handle."


    "You-"


    "But-"


    They were about to say more, but I continued, cutting them off. "I really appreciate you guys standing by me during the war."


    We all stare at each other, already missing our moments together. As much as I wanted them to be here with me, we all knew that they couldn''t disobey the master of Custodes. They were, after all, our trainers.


    So, instead, our silent look at each other showed that we''d just make the best out of ourst day until our paths crossed again.


    "Oh, please. Do you really think we came here for you?" Maige asked usingly after a scoff. Making my jaw drop.


    "W-what?" I stuttered.


    Saige tried hard to hide her smile and yed along. ¡°Yeah, we came here to battle and have fun putting our training to good use."


    "She thinks so highly of herself, doesn''t she?" Maise turned to Saige while they both gave me a side look of fake judgment.


    "Oh, really? That''s where you guys are going?" I asked yfully as I slowly stood up, alerting them.


    Before they knew it, I was already grabbing the garden hose nearby and spraying it in their direction, filling the backyard with our sillyughters.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 103

    Bryson''s POV


    As if Glenda''s scandal wasn''t enough humiliation, my mother decided that barging in at the kingdom''s party and running her mouth wild would be a cherry on top of everything I was facing now.


    Frustrated, I left the kingdom and went back to the pack with her following behind me, still as frustrated as she first came to me.


    The irritation I was feeling was intensifying every second I heard her voice. I just got back from the war, and she wasn''t even asking how I was doing or what really happened. No... instead, her sole worry was that she had nothing to use to boast out.


    As soon as we got back to the pack house, she threw her bag on the couch and turned to look at Julie and me, disdainfully saying, "Where the hell is Glenda?"


    She raised her hand and pointed nowhere specifically, continuing, "That woman brought nothing but shame to this family!"


    She gritted with anger and shook her head with utmost disappointment. "After everything you''ve done and sacrificed, son... we gained nothing but disgrace!"


    "Mom, can you-" I wanted her to stop, but she won''t even let me finish my words. Exasperatedly, she scoffed. "Did you see how they look at us? We became aughing stock! A joke! A fuckign joke, Bryson!"


    Julie, adding fuel to my mom''s uproar, stood beside her and mocked, "Who would believe it? The once-proud warrior is not shackled to a fallen woman. She was barely tolerated before, and now? No one in the kingdom believes her innocence!"


    "This is unfair!" My mom shouted. "After everything my son has done, we should be living in wealth. Instead, look at this!" she pointed around us and kept talking as though I wasn''t in the room with them. "We are struggling, and it''s all because of that pathetic liar, Glenda!"


    "Struggling?" An ice-cold voice echoed from the staircase, making us all shift our gaze up.


    On the top of the stairs, slowly climbing down, was Glenda. Her face was ice- cold, and her eyes were zing with fire. She menacingly stared at my mom without holding any emotions back.


    As soon as her footnded on thest step, she faced my mother and let out a sarcasticughced with bitterness, making her shoulder shake in rhythm. "Oh please, Courtney, who are you trying to fool?"


    My mother''s eyes widened, and her nostrils red as she pointed at Glenda furiously. She was about to scold her, but Glenda was far from done.


    With her head held high, forehead hidden behind her newly crooked cut bangs, she arrogantly uttered, "You''re only struggling because you thought your son would marry into wealth!"


    Scoffing, she smirked and continued, "You thought Elena would secure your ce in the high society, and that''s the same way you thought when I came into the picture..."


    Looking at my mom from head to toe, Glenda shook her head and mocked, "But look at you now- still pining for a future that you''ll never have!"


    "You have no right to speak to her like that!" Julie stepped in, hiding my Mom behind her and bravely pointing a finger at Glenda, who looked utterly unfazed.


    When Julie saw that the smugness on Glenda''s face wasn''t wavering, she got even more frustrated to the point that the reason ran out of her head, and sheunched forward to attack Glenda.


    I took a step forward to butt in, but I haven''t taken much step closer to them yet. Glenda had already shoved Julie to the side without taking a step from where she stood and staggered her with a smirk.


    Looking down at Julie, who fell on the floor and red at her, Glenda mocked her with a devilish grin. "And what are you going to do about it? Whine to your brother? Or better yet... beg Elena to fix your mess?"


    "That''s it!" Julie shouted, and before anyone could register what was happening, Glenda and Julie were already making a mess in the living room as theyunched at each other with their ws and punches.


    I shook my head and couldn''t believe that Glenda would actually fight back. She''s a warrior, for goodness sake! Julie had no fight with her.


    Furious, I rushed forward and rushed in the middle of them Grabbing Glenda by her arm, I harshly pulled her back. "Enough! Have you lost your mind?"


    I pointed behind us where Julie was berthing hard with a wound on her arm, and my Mom was sitting on the couch with her hand over her aching chest from fury. "This is my family you''re attacking!"


    Since we went to the war, I already saw how she could be over-the-top, but she should at least know her limit. After all, it''s my mom and cousin.


    Pulling her arm from me, sheughed hysterically and looked at me in disbelief. "Family?"


    Smirking with bitterness, she scoffed and looked at me with eyes filled with anger. "They''re nothing but leeches! They only care about power, wealth, and status- none of which you have any more!"


    Pointing to herself, she looked at me as though I betrayed her. "And then what? When things go south, they me me for it?"


    Mom let out an exasperated gasp after hearing Glenda. Fueled by anger, she stood up from her seat with heavy breathing and took an agitated step forward while firmly pointing a finger at her, "You ungrateful bitch!"


    "Oh, I''m grateful?" Glenda scoffed, raising her brows at my mom while pointing at herself with dumbfoundedness. "What have you ever done for me, old hug?"


    Narrowing her eyes, she didn''t back down and took a step forward, intimidating my mom. "You look down on me now because I lost my fame. So what now? Do you regret letting Elena go? Do you want toe running back to her?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 104

    Bryson''s POV


    Elena... Regret?


    Seeing what Glenda hade to be, regret was an understatement of what I feel for losing her. And by the look of it, as much as everyone was silent, everyone in the pack felt the impact of losing her.


    Nodding her head with sarcastess, Glenda continued, "Well, good luck with that! Just so you know, none of this is my fault. You''re simply choking on the consequences of the choices you''ve made!"


    My mother''s breathing escted, and she clenched her chest. She looked at Glenda with wide eyes and pursed lips. "Watch your mouth!" I scolded in a low but dangerous voice as my patience finally snapped.


    "What? All I said is true-"


    Before Glenda could continue, I stood between her and my mom and, without hesitation, pped her face hard.


    From the impact of my p, her head turned to the side. She slowly turned her head to look at me with shock as the red handprint on her cheek slowly faded away.


    Slowly, her shock turned enraged. Her eyes turned abination of red and gold from fury as her wolf shared her feelings. In a blur, her nails elongated into ws, and she swung her hand toward my face.


    My fast reflex kicked in. I took a step sideways without thinking, forgetting my mother was behind.


    A loud shout of pain immediately echoed in the entire room as my mother


    slumped back to the ground, clutching her arm with blood seeping through her sleeves after she tried to block Gledna''s ws.


    "Mom!" I shouted, hurriedly crouching down to aid her.


    "I... I didn''t..."


    I heard Gledna''s low voice, which was almost a whisper, and turned to shoot her a murderous re. I was about to shout at her, but she didn''t give me a chance as she took a step back with wide eyes, realizing what she caused.


    Without another word, she turned around and bolted away.


    "Mom! Mom!" I shouted as I grabbed the towel Julie handed over to me and covered my mom''s injury. Because of her condition called Banelock, she wasn''t healing fast like the rest of us.


    Julie was panicking beside me. Hysterically saying, "What do we do? We need a real doctor now!"


    I held my mom in my arms and carried her upstairs to her room. As I wasying her down, she strugglingly whispered, "Elena... Elena can call the doctor from the pce..."


    Hearing Elena''s name, my body stiffened, momentarily halting fromying my mom entirely down on the bed.


    I didn''t know how many seconds I froze out, but I only went back to reality when I felt my mom''s struggles. Immediately, I put her down.


    I hadn''t fully stood up properly yet when Julie came to my side and encouraged me, "Alpha Bryson, please... Mom needs it. Will you let her suffer? Our pack''s doctor can''t help. He''s not as skilled as Dr. Montgomery."


    My jaws constantly clenched, and my hands tightened into fists on my sides. Closing my eyes momentarily for control, I softly but firmly said, "No."


    Julie and Mom''s eyes widened in shock, and they looked at me with confusion.


    "I divorced Elena. I won''t go crawling back to her. I made my decision, and I''ll deal with the consequences." Looking at each of them, I alded, "And so shall you and this entire pack."


    Bewildered, my mom looked at me with the me lightning in her eyes. "And what about me? You think your pride is worth more than my well-being?"


    I swallowed my guilt and looked away, saying nothing.


    She''s my mom. As much as she gets on my nerves most of the time, she''s still my mother, and I wanted what was best for her. However... What happened between me and Elena was so bad that I didn''t have to face her again.


    If I were to ask what was the biggest mistake in my life, that would be leaving Elena for a woman like Glenda. My hands end even more at that realization, nails digging into my palms and a little blood oozing from the wound. I was a fool to listen to my mother say that Glenda would do us more good from her military credits. I was a fool to think that because she''s my fated mate, she''s whom I was supposed to be with.


    I was a fool to take Elena for granted, and I couldn''t regret anything more than leaving and hurting her.


    Julie didn''t like what I said and scoffed on the side. "Have you forgotten? Then the fool loves you! I''m sure she wille running back here when you call her and tell her what happened to your mom!"


    The weight of regret on my shoulders became heavier than I could handle, and I could feel my heart clenching in pain.


    I let out a bitterugh, remembering how cold Elena was to me when we were on the northern side, lookingpletely over me.


    Shaking my head, I announced, "No, she hates me. Elena hates me more than anything right now. Not after how I treated her. How we treated her and tossed her to the side."


    My mom coughed in pain and tried to push herself up a bit from the bed. Looking at me intensely, she scoffed and uttered with arrogance, "Then fix this. Get rid of


    that slut, Glenda! Divorce her and get Elena back!"


    I looked back at my mother so fast and in utter shock.


    How could she say that like it''s a very easy thing to do? Wasn''t she even feeling a


    little bit of guilt after how we treated Elena?


    Pursing my lips, I firmly said, "I can''t..."


    My mom snarled and tightened the wrap on her arm. Breathing heavily, she determinedly said, "then I will!"


    I looked at her in shock and met her hardened gaze. My eyes narrowed, and my


    heart pounded as I saw a scheme forming in her head.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 105

    Elena''s POV


    "That was fun! I will miss this!" Saige eximed as soon as she flopped herself down on the couch of the living room after putting down a couple of bags on the coffee table.


    Maise, on the other hand, was busy admiring her newly bought set of daggers and other weapon-rted essories with a huge smile on her face. "Shut up. Do you hear that?"


    "Hear what?" I asked after I handed the things I bought from the mall to Zara.


    I went near to Maise to listen more carefully as did Saige, but we heard nothing. Maise looked up with a grin on her face and showed us one of her daggers. "The sound of this beautiful baby as my fingertips glided on its sharp edge."


    Siage and I looked at each other before shaking our heads and sitting back down in our own seats. What did we even expect?


    I settled on my seat, drinking a ss of juice Zara served as soon as we arrived. I watched both of my friends as they enjoyed the fruit of our shopping spree, both joy and sadness rushing through my veins knowing they soon needed to leave to get back to Custodes.


    "Okay, enough of that. Why don''t we-" My words were cut off when Jayden cam¨¦ rushing in from the main door, breathing heavily.


    "Princess..." he called out, urgency vivid in his voice.


    Alerted, the three of us stood.


    "What happened?" I asked.


    Taking a few deep breaths, Jayden finally calmed down and stood up properly before pointing outside. "Princess, there''s trouble at the gate. Alpha Bryson''s mother is cursing a scene."


    My face scrunched up as did Maise''s and Saige''s.


    Maise scoffed. "What do they want now?"


    "Looks like those leeches haven''t had enough humiliation, Saige replied.


    I shook my head. Both of my friends were really not holding back on their words.


    Unlike them, who werepletely triggered, I turned my attention to Jayden and raised my brows, calmly asking, "Courtney? Why? What happened? What''s she doing here?"


    Jayden aggressively shook his head,pletely in distress. ''She''s outside yelling and making total chaos!"


    "What''s she on about?" I asked indifferently. I''ve lived with Courtney for a year. Her tongue was as sharp as a sword and her attitude was just so much worse than one could tolerate. However, I''ve faced her ridiculous wrath for so long that I had been partly immune to it by now.


    "She''s using you of all sorts of things in front of the pack. She''s making so much scene that most of the members are all by the gate right now, and she''s saying that you''ve wronged her family, especially Alpha Bryson." Looking seriously at me, he cautiously added, "She''s insisting that you betrayed them." My face turned stoic... I nodded my head. ¡°All right, I got it.


    With that, Jayden bowed his head and went back first to handle the issue while I remained inside and calmed my


    nerves which were starting to boil with rage.


    "That woman has no shame. How dare shee here after everything that happened," Maise infuriated eximed, ready to run to the door and teach her a lesson but I held her back.


    "I''ll go. I''ll handle it. No need to escte it further," I replied as I grabbed my ss and gulped the rest of its contents, suddenly feeling a hint of regret that I didn''t let Zara serve us wine instead.


    Taking a step ahead of them, I stopped at the door and looked back at Saige and Maise, softly reminding them, " Let''s go, but keep your distance. Just be ready in case things get out of hand."


    Not that it would be...


    As soon as I opened the door, my steps instantly came to a halt as I heard themotion.


    "Where''s your Luna, huh? Where is Elena?" Courtney shouted from the top of her lungs without holding anything back.


    "What happened to her?" Saige asked with disgust, nodding to Courtney''s arm.


    My eyes narrowed as I put my focus on Courtney. Indeed, her arm was wrapped with gauze and I was positive that there''s a small hint of blood in the middle of it. She was clutching it and grimacing in pain every now and then, but she still had the energy to cause drama.


    Making sure everyone was hearing her, she looked at the front door of the pack house and shouted, "i''ve always treated you well, Elena!"


    With the door only slightly a jar, I was sure she couldn''t see us. But that didn''t matter because I''m positive that she''s not really here to talk to me. Rather, she came here to push me into the corner by poisoning my members'' minds and turning them against me.


    Dramatically cruising without tears, she continued, "I took you in after your pack was destroyed! We gave you a ce to stay and even helped you settle in after you asked for a divorce! And this is how you repay me?"


    I heard the gasp of the bystander, and a small smirk of satisfaction yed on her lips that she tried to hide. Pointing a finger in the pack house''s direction, she shouted, "I get that you want to be on your own and stand on your own fame, but how can you refuse to acknowledge the kindness I''ve shown you and even brought things back with your when you left?"


    "Is she on some kind of drugs?"


    "She''s delusional! We should really get in there and knock her head. That might fix her.''


    Saige and Maise uttered one after another, disdain overflowing in their tone.


    My hand on the knob of the door tightened, ready to open it and rush out with my friends, but I was halted when Zara and Jayden pushed through the crowds and faced Courtney without a glint of fear on their faces.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 106

    Elena''s POV


    Zara, without hesitation, pped Courtney''s hand, which was pointing, and firmly said, "With all due respect, Luna Courtney, but you have no shame!"


    The jaws of everyone around them dropped in shock at Zara''s words while Courtney gasped in rage.


    Courtney was just about to open her lips to scold her, but Zara wasn''t done. "After everything that happened, how can you have the guts to stand here and use Princess Elena? Did you forget that she''s the one who had to endure your son''s betrayal? Not to mention all of your bullying?"


    "Damn, your Omega doesn''t really hold back," Saigemented with pride in her voice.


    Completely enraged, Courtney stepped in and raised her hand, ready to throw a p on Zara''s way. "You low-life, Omega! How dare you speak to me-"


    "Don''t forget where you are, Luna Courtney. This is not your pack,¡± Jayson stepped in and blocked Croutney''s hand while pushing Zara behind him.


    Jayden''s beta demeanour radiated all over him as he looked at Courtney with authority, and with an unwavering voice, he uttered, "Let''s also not forget the facts, Luna Courtney. Everything that Princess Elena brought back with her was hers, to begin with. It''s her inheritance from our pack and her family. Every piece of furniture and every item in that house was hers. You can''t take credit for what was never yours to give!"


    Courtney''s eyes widened,pletely flustered from the truths Jayden''s words carried.


    She tried to maintain herposure and rebut, "But I-"


    "But nothing!" Zara cut her off. "Your pack is the one that left her hanging. Alpha Bryson even swore that he''d never set foot in Princess Elena''s room again after marrying General Glenda!"


    After saying that, Zara scoffed in disgust, adding, "As if there''s any chance. The second they got married, he left her to go to war, and the second he came back, he wanted to marry another woman. They never even spent a single night together! Princess Elena''s the one who was abandoned and betrayed. Don''t make it look like otherwise!"


    Their surroundings became filled with whispers and gasps, making Courtney look around, hiding her panic, quite terribly.


    "That''s... that''s not true! I''ve always been there for her, always-" She tried to defend herself, but she was once again cut off by Jayden.


    "You seem to be forgetting, Luna Courtney, that you didn''t offer any help when Elena was fighting for her own rights as the Luna and rightful wife of Alpha Bryson." Jayden crossed his arms and sternly looked at her as he continued, "And when Alpha Bryson made it clear he''d never be with her, you never once stepped in to prevent that. Now youe here, trying to smear her name? What exactly do you want, huh?"


    "Maybe she''s hoping we''ll believe her nonsense, but I see right through it the second she steps in here," Zara uttered with visible disdain.


    "Look here, Lun Courtney." Zara crossed her arm over her chest. "Princess Elena doesn''t need you. Not before, not now, and never. So don''t waste your time here making up stories worse than myths."


    Courtney''s eyes flicked around on her surroundings once more and faced the growing scorn from our pack members.


    She started seeing how some of them were pointing a finger at her or throwing res in her direction, making her


    +20 BONUS


    voice as she tried to make up an excuse... "I... I never meant like that. I.. I was just... I''m doing this for my son!"


    "You''re protecting your son? Or protecting your family''s gered? Do you think you cane here and smear Luna''s name without consequences? Look around, Luna Courtney. You''re the one being humiliated right now, and no one else is," Jayden coldly told her, gesturing to their surroundings.


    To back up his words, the murmurs from the crowd even became louder, intentionally letting her hear their hurtful words.


    In a panic, Courtney took a step back, eyes darting around nervously as she realized she lost in the game she started. "This isn''t over... You''ll see! You''ll all see... Elena, you''ll regret not looking back at Bryson!"


    With that, she stormed off while continuing to mutter under her breath despite how terribly her dignity might have been shattered.


    Narrowing my eyes, I saw someone hiding from the gate post and followed Courtney in leaving, I scoffed and shook my head upon realising that it was Julie.


    "You know, I like your people. They got guts!" Maise said proudly as she tapped my shoulders.


    Opening the door widely, Saige admiringly looked at Zara and Jayden before she thoughtfully gazed at me. ¡°I''ll be rest assured in going back now in Custodes, knowing that you have people who''ll fight for you no matter the ranks, status, and everything else."


    Once the crowd dispersed, Jayden came back to me.


    He tried to open his lips to exin, but I cut him off, softly saying with gratitude, "Thank you, Jayden. You and Zara handled it well. I couldn''t be more thankful to have you both by my side."


    Jayden and Zara looked at each other, faces turning a slight crimson from being flustered before they looked back at me and shook their heads.


    Bowing his head in respect, Jayden replied, "It''s nothing, Princess. They were in the wrong from the start. They''ll learn not to challenge you again."


    "We''ll always be here for you, Princess," Zara cheerfully added.


    I smiled widely, but then my eyes caught a glimpse of the gate where I hadst seen Courtney and Julie''s retreating figures.


    Silently, I thought, "I never asked for any of this. I didn''t want any revenge. But now... now they''ll know who they''re truly dealing with."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 107

    Deacon''s POV


    Seating at my desk, surrounded with a mountain pile of papers, the weight of the day''s reports started pressing down on me.


    Days like here were the reason why I preferred being on the battlefield and a general, than being on the pce working through paperworks. Not only did I had to work on reports about happening in the kingdom as a prince, but I also had to review the strategies, supplies, and safety protocols aroudn the entire kingdom as a general.


    I knew it''s a bit ironic to wish to be in a war, considering the lives taken from it...


    Thinking about that, I sighed and went back to focusing on the reports, knowing that enduring reading through these files of words and working my hands out for signatures were much better than attending a warrior''s wake.


    I was in the middle of reviewing the safety protocols at the border when a knock came in, which brought a control smile on my lips.


    "That means break," I thought to myself.


    "Come in," I ordered as I leaned back on my seat.


    The relief I felt thinking I''d had a break instantly vanished when my beta, Tyson, came inside with a constipated expression on his face.


    "Duchess Diana arrived early this morning. Like you instructed, she''d be staying in your wing of the pce at the biggest room on the ground floor..." The hesitation on his face told me that everything weren''t going as smoothly as it should be.


    "But-"I sighed and motioned for him to continue, "I hear a but in there."


    Heaving a sigh, Tyson continued, "But right after settlign her things down in her room, she started renovating the entire residence and spending quite a huge sum of money."


    "What?"


    My head instantly pulsated with impending headache upon hearing that.


    My mom always live on the other pce. She and Desmond''s mother both came to terms about their setup. Queen Liz was generous enough to ept that my mom was someone important in my father''s life and so did my mother.


    Being Queen Liz the true love of my father, my mother lived outside which she waspletely okay with. She didn''t hate it, after all everyone still respected her as a Duchess and she had all the luxury in the world, without needing to work with any Queen responsibility. But most of the times, she just live sovishly that''s it way too much.


    She''s always been excessive and I got use to it by now, but that didn''t mean she could turn my residence upside down when she''s only here to visit. Not to mention, it''s not her ce. She had her own ce to waste her wealth


    1. in.


    "What is she doign now?" I asked through pursed lips, trying to stop myself from getting agitated.


    "I just got a word that she just spent a fortune renovating the backyard into a luxurious garden. The entire courtyard looks like a pce from a fairytale now..." With a cautious expression, he continued slowly, "And apparently, Duchess Diana also brought along your sister, Princess Kathleen to stay."


    "What?" I stood up in shock. "What the hell? A fortune? Thest time I checked, we didn''t need to throw avish garden party."


    Her bringing back our youngest sister was something I could handle. Kathleen might be a bit spoiled brat as she''s a girl and also the youngest of us, but she''s adorable and nice when she''s not throwing a tantrum.


    What I couldn''t handlw was how my Mom turn my residence into avish ce and use my hard-earned money for that, which was soemthing I''ll surely turn back after she leave, that''s too much.


    Motioning at the door, I said with a sigh knowing well that might not change anything anyway. "Tell her to stop wasting money."


    And it turned out, my Mom''s attitude weren''t apelte secret as Tyson read her too well already, making him let out a small grin. Well, you know how she is. Everything she does, she does grandly."


    He was about to turn around and leave to do as I say and try to control my mother''s spending when he halted midway and snapped his fingers. "Right, I almost forgot."


    Turning to face me, he reported, "I got news that Bryson''s mother caused a sc at Ironpaw pack today."


    "Elena''s Pack? What happened?" I asked attentively, causing Tsyon to send me a teasing look which I wioed off from his face by narrowing my eyes.


    Shrugging his shoulder, he narrated, "Apparently, she was going around using Elena of all sorts of shitty things, iming she treated Elena like a daughter, gave her everything she needed after her divorce. That she was wellpensated and all that."


    Shaking my head, I sat down and clenched my jaw at the thougths of Courtney making a fuse. "Bryson''s mother really has no shame. She kept spreading lies every chances she get and think she can continue to y the victim." Raising my head, I asked through gritted teeth, "What happened next? Did she got away with it?"


    Amusement glinted on Tyson''s eyes and he smirked. "Not exactly. Elena''s Beta and her servant stepped in, refuting her every false im. They narrated the truth that it was all Princess Elena''s dowry and how Alpha Bryson disregarded her. Her pack members were about to burst into a fight for her."


    Let me tell you, her members got some solid loyalty not to mention fearless," he added with interest.


    "Just like their Luna," I replied with a smirk.


    "I can imagine Luna Courtney fuming mad right now," I added with a small alugh.


    Tysonughed as well. "Tell me about it. Their entire family became a subject of scorn right now. I heard Press Elena also heard all of it."


    Hearing that brought frown upon me. "She must be feel awful about it." Shaking my head, I continued, "Courtney is probably doing this to manipte everyone, especially when her new daughter-inw turned out not to be as great as she first thought her to be."


    "That''s not all. There''s more..." Tyson said cautiously, making me look up at him with full attention."


    "What is it?"


    His next words brought anxiousness in my heart.


    "It''s about the king''s proposal to Princess Elena to be a Queen."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 108

    Deacon''s POV


    "What do you mean? What did you get?" I asked with full attention. I even motioned for him to sit down as I thought this would be a long talk.


    Abiding by mymand, he sat down and rested his one arm on the table, looking worried andpletely at ease.


    This time, he wasn''t merely talking as tiny Beta, but as my best friend. "I think the King''s true intention behind this marriage with Princess Elena isn''t as easy as it seems think he wants to use her as leverage against you."


    My brows furrowed, and my body stiffened. Gazing at him sharply, I coldly said, "Exin."


    He shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, everyone close to you with an eye could see that you got a thing for Press Elena. Though no one could probably tell how deep it was, think the King knows as well. And as you may know, Princess Elena is no ordinary woman."


    I leaned back in my seat as I considered his words. What he said actually made sense, especially thinking back on the King''s actions and double-meaning words.


    He''s the king, and if he really wanted to marry Elena just for the sake of marrying her, he didn''t need to give her an ultimatum.


    "Think about it, if Princess Elena marries the King, she''ll have to gain his favor and he''d have control over her, her father''s loyal servants, her people, and even..." he paused, looking at me intently before continuing, "...and even a full control over you."


    My face dimmed. "What do you mean?"


    "Whether you like it or not, you are a valuable asset in the kingdom, and the king is aware of that. You''re amander respected by every toon in the kingdom. You''re the symbol ofmand that a king should have," he voiced out in a lower voice.


    It''s something that everyone knew but no one dared to say.


    My father, the previous king, bestowed me with the power ofmand after I earned the respect of many warriors with my ability. Hence, after he died, Desmond got full control over the kingdom as the king, but since the warriors follow mymand, it''s good to say that I control the army.


    If one gives it a deep thought, I''m a great threat to the throne. If I retaliate, there''s


    a chance I could outthrone him with the warriors in mymand.


    Was that what he was worried about? But we always had been on good terms. Or was it not as good as I thought it was?


    "So, what you are saying is that-"


    Tyson intently looked at me for a while as if to prepare me for what he was about to say next. ¡°What I''m saying is that whether he marries her or you marry Elena, that power could slip away from you. The King may take it from you."


    As good as my rtionship with the king was, Tyson was right. He''s the king, after all. With power and many things in the equation, I wouldn''t be surprised if there are under-the-table intentions I dare not to see through.


    Gritting my teeth, I replied in a low but firm voice after analysing his words and sorting my thoughts. "He wants to use Elena as a pawn."


    Laughing bitterly, I added, "So, technically, he would use her to get to me. And you''re right, he knows that I won''t


    give up themand so easily. But if it''s for Elena... I wouldn''t think twice."


    The thought of that made ny fist clench tightly as the frustration built up in me. ¡°I won''t let her be a pawn in a political game, nor do I ept to be y on that kind of game. Elena deserves better than to be a bargaining chip."


    "You''re right. She''s a woman of principle, and she wouldn''t like that kind of thing." He nodded.


    Silence then filled us. After a while of observing me, he leaned on the table and seriously asked, "You still want to marry her, don''t you? If so, you can step back now. Voluntarily let go of it and let Elena handle the king''s proposals herself. I think she''ll prefer that."


    I nodded in understanding. "I know. She wouldn''t want anyone making decisions for her and putting her in the corner."


    Besides, I''d want her to marry me because she wanted to aid not because she thinks I only wanted to save her from the corner my brother had pushed her into.


    Sighing, the face of Elena''s mother shed in my eyes again, and I whispered, "I''ve made promises before, Tyson, And now, I need to keep them."


    Standing from my desk, I paced around the room slowly as I tried to blow some steam off.


    After taking a breath out, I sighed and leaned my hands on the desk while nodding my head in conviction. "I''ll return themand. We are not sure what Desmond really wants, but being the king, he''s capable of anything If he really wants to marry Elena, that mightplicate things. But if it''s really for the power, I didn''t want it to be the cause of Elena''s frustration. She doesn''t deserve that."


    Nodding his head in understanding, Tyson also stood up, asking, "Then what do you n to do next?"


    I paused for a while, steadying my breath with my thoughts "I''ll do as what I promised her mother. I''ll marry her when she''s ready and time forbids it. But tomorrow, I''d talk to her about this matter."


    Since my father, the previous king, bestowed this power on me personally, if I surrender it to my brother, he''d bepelled to give me some kind ofpensation. By then, I could ask him to have Elena married to me. But I didn''t want to force Elena into anything either, so talking to her would be the best idea.


    Tsyon agreed, but then after a short pause, he added, "Hopefully, that will appease the king. After all, the loyalist warriors of Elena''s father are now following Elena. Whoever shmarriesry may post a threat in the throne."


    I shook my head, dismissing it for now, andmanded, "Inform the Ironpaw Pack that I''d visit their pack and meet their Luna first thing in the morning.


    Her military power wasn''t that influential yet to worry the king. Even if it was, I''d cross the bridge when we got there. For now, I''d face what''s ahead of us.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 109

    Elena''s POV


    "You''ve been pacing all morning, Princess Elena."


    Zara''s words brought me out from my own thoughts while paced around. Halting by the window, I crossed my arms after opening it to let the morning breeze and sunlight calm my nerves.


    ncing at Zara, who was arranging the flowers on the vase on the living room table, she smirked at me and teasingly noted, "It''s rare for me to see you this anxious. Is it because Prince Deacon ising?"


    Trying hard to hide my inner feelings and the turmoil I''m having in my mind, I scoffed and turned away to face outside, pretending to admire thewn.


    "Anxious? Hardly." I let out a fakeugh, which sounded more like a terrible scoff. Clearing my throat to save myself from self-humiliation, I added, "I''m just... curious.


    Last night, at ate time, one of his personal messengers cane in the pack and informed that he''d be visiting the pack first thing in the morning and asked for my presence. The thing was, he didn''t specify why he wasing here, which unintentionally made me think all night about hundreds of possibilities as to why.


    Turning back to face Zara, I leaned back on the window and blubbered, "I mean, if he''s here to discuss the warriors or war-rted matters, he could''ve just called for me, right? Whye here personally?"


    He''s a prince, for goodness sake. And even if he''s not, he''s the general. Despite being a Luna or bestowed Princess, I''m still beneath his level. And for someone of high rank as he was, there''s literally no need for him to pay anyone a visit.


    If he wanted to talk to someone, he could just ask them toe and see him anytime he wanted.


    "Maybe he''s noting here as a warrior to visit arade, but as a man wanting to meet a woman." She even swayed her brows in effect of her countless teasing, which I wouldn''t deny to have worked because I felt my cheek heating up.


    It''s one of the possibilities I''ve thought about, but pushed to the deepest back of my mind, knowing that''s next to impossible.


    I''m a divorced woman... A man of good upbringing and title like him wouldn''t waste his time on someone like me. At least not in a romantic manner.


    I knew that there was some attraction between us, especially during the battle, but


    it might just be a heat-of-the- moment thing. After all, there weren''t any official


    things, and if we think deeply about it, he might just be really being kind.


    "You think so too, don''t you?" Zara squilled in a controlled manner, but still recieved a re from me, making her stop in an instant.


    Shaking my head while hiding the small smile forming in the corner of my lips, I said, ¡°That doesn''t sound like Deacon at all. Perhaps..."


    Stopping for a while, I sighed and voiced out the most believable reason, "Maybe he''sing here to formally offer me a position."


    After all, he made it clear before we came back that he wanted me in the toon. In his own words, I''m one with talent and capable of being a general, standing among them and leading troops.


    "Yeah, keep telling-"


    $25 BOBUS


    Zara''s words were cut off when a knock echoed through the main door, making one of the servants hurry towards


    It.


    Meanwhile, Zara and I looked at each other, her eyes filled with excitement while mine were filled with anxiety.


    My feet felt like it was glued on the floor and I had to take a couple of deep beaths to calm myself while I watched the servant twist the knob of the door and slowly open it.


    Looking at the ajar door that''s slowly opening, my heart pounded inside my chest, and everything went in a slow motion, especially when I fully saw Deacon''s appearance, making me stand up properly and pray that my jaw hadn''t dropped on the ground.


    There he was, standing in his majestic appearance. Gone were the warrior outfit and the long beard.


    He stood with dominance and confidence radiating around him, dressed in a midnight blue three-piece suit. His hair wasbed in a neat but messy effect, while his jawline was entuated by the sharp angle of his regal clothing.


    By the way, his clothing fit him perfectly; it''s my best guess that it''s bespoke for him.


    After feeling a discreet pinch on my side from Zara, I blinked a couple of times to pull myself out of daze.


    I''ve seen Deacon a lot of times in many kind of appearance covered in mud, dirt, or blood, clothed in armor, training clothes, and many more but I still couldn''t help but me mesmerised by how strikingly good he looked today ¨C looking nothing like a warrior, but a noble prince that he was.


    Seeing through my failed attempt to hide my admiration for him, he let out a smirk and took it as an opportunity to tease me. "Elena, I know I''m handsome, but are you going to make me stand at the door all day?"


    I heard Zara stifle augh beside me.


    "You''re unusually well-dressed today, Deacon. nning to attend a royal gathering after this?" I covered my embarrassment with an awfuleback to tease.


    Chuckling, he shook his head. "No. Just thought I''d make an effort for once. Didn''t expect to leave you speechless, though."


    I could see by the glint in his eyes that he was satisfied with my reaction, which I didn''t know whether to look at it in a good or bad way.


    "Alright, enough of this. You don''t make personal visits for nothing, so tell me why are you here?" I tried to act cool as I stepped aside and motioned for him to enter.


    Taking a step forward inside, his teasing expression vanished, and he spoke with an unreadable expression, Let''s talk inside."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 110

    Deacon''s POV


    No one could possibly imagine how hard I tried to hide my fast beating heart from the excitement I felt the moment I locked eyes with Elena and found her looking at me with so much admiration.


    I woke up early and did my best to look like the version of me she hadn''t seen yet, the prince. And to say that I was satisfied with how she reacted was beyond words. Needless to say, I could proudly state that the time I spent making sure I look my best was all worth it.


    She tried to y it cool, and believe me when I say that she wasn''t the only one because it''s taking every bit of my control not to stride toward her and pull her into my arms.


    Especially when she''s out of her military attire and back to being the princess that she was, she''s wearing a strapless, deep blue, flowy dress that fell about an inch or two below her knee paired with a white long sleeve zer where the body part onlynds until her breast line. Was it called a crop top or something?


    Whatever it was called, itplemented her so much that it made her even more beautiful, especially with her hair tied in a low ponytail and ced on the side of her neck with its wavy strands softly on her corbone down to the top of her dress.


    She looked like a princess... No, she looks like a Queen. My Queen.


    To be honest, I was just as momentarily taken aback as she was. Unfortunately for her, I managed to pull myself back together before her and teased her first, giving me the opportunity to see her cheeks sh with a crimson red blush.


    "Have a seat first." She gestured to the chair in the living room.


    I looked around and found the ce great with its homey and peaceful vibe. The windows were wide open, bringing in fresh air, and the bloomed fresh flowers decorating the vase on the table let this amazing floral scent fill the room.


    Right after I sat down, Elena gracefully sat on the chair opposite to mine, radiating with the elegance of a true princess. A thinyer of tension surrounded us, but it wasn''t from hostility but by the overwhelming control we put ourselves in.


    "Have some refreshments first." As if feeling the tension themselves, one of the Omegas whom I usually see with Elena came forward with a bright smile on her face as she ced a pitcher of orange juice on the table and served each of us a ss.


    I grabbed the ss and let the cold crystal ss set on my fingers before I raised


    it up on my lips, eyes lingering on Elena. Taking a slow sip, I watch her as she tries to act casually but involuntarily takes a huge gulp, which is more than necessary.


    Seeing the reaction I''m getting from her, I couldn''t help but feel an excitement in my heart. Trying to hide it, I let out a smile while taking a sip and kept my face nk as soon as I let my ss down.


    "Thank you, Zara."


    So, that''s her name.


    After Zara, Elena''s Omega, refilled our sses, she took a couple of steps back but didn''t leave the room.


    "So, why are you here?" she asked, staring at me as she awaited an answer, but I was so mesmerised by her appearance that I was momentarily stunned. And it''s not helping that I''m secretly feeling anxious about what I really came here for.


    My lips had parted, and I was ready to speak when we heard footsteps and someone cleared their throat, catching,


    our attention.


    By the doorway, a man came in. He bowed his head in greeting with respect before standing beside Zara.


    I narrowed my eyes and observed him. By his stance and demeanor, I''d say he was high ranking, which was confirmed when Zara bowed to him and greeted him as well


    "What is it, Jayden?" Elena asked.


    The man, Jayden, shifted ufortably in his ce before he took a deep breath and uttered with conviction," Since both of you are unmarried, it may be inappropriate for both of you to be left alone together..."


    ncing at each of us, he cautiously continued, "Especially with all the current issues around. Hence, I greatly advise that Zara and I remain on the premises during the meeting."


    I thought Elena would be angered by Jayden''s presumptions, but she merely crossed her legs and smirked slightly. "Afraid we''ll cause a scandal and anger the king?"


    Standing straight, Jayden didn''t back down. "Just ensuring propriety, Princess."


    After giving Elena and me a firm nod, he stepped back with Zara. "We''ll be behind the door if you need anything''


    With that, they left, but not far enough that we''d be technically alone. Just far enough to give us the illusion that


    we were.


    Seeing his authority and his rational thinking, there wasn''t any doubt that he was her Beta.


    Turning to face Elena, I voiced out my opinion. "I see you got a strict Beta."


    "And I''m lucky to have him. He keep things here in line, making almost everything for me sail smoothly." Pride glinted in her eyes, and I couldn''t be more grateful that she had great people around her. People who would stay loyal to her.


    After hearing from Tyson that they protected her from Courtney without a hint of fear, I already knew that they were good subordinates.


    "I assume you''re here to discuss military matters?" She cut the silence as soon as Jayden and Zara''s figures left out of sight.


    Clearing my throat, I stared deep into her eyes, rested my hands on the table with my sped hands, and leaned forward as I uttered in a deep and firm voice, "No, I''m here for something personal."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 111

    Deacon''s POV


    She froze for a second as she was caught off guard by my calm but serious reply, making me hold my breath as I awaited her reaction.


    After a short pause, she blinked her eyes, unfreezing from her daze and leaned back in her seat. She tilted her head and stared at me, studying me. "That''s... far from many reasons I expected for your visit."


    My hands sped tighter, building up my courage, and I tried to sustain my calmness.


    Hundreds of battles. Liters of blood. Countless dead bodies hade my way, but I had never felt as nervous as I was now, sitting opposite the woman I''ve always looked forward to marrying while she studied my every


    movement.


    Taking deep breaths, I pulled myself together and tried to speak in a calm and gentle tone, not wanting to scare


    her off.


    "The Lycan King, my brother, has given you three months to choose a husband." I stared cautiously, watching her every reaction.


    When she didn''t say anything and her face remained nk of emotions, I continued, "I wanted to ask if you''ve given it any thought yet. Anyone in mind?"


    00


    I didn''t want to sound like I was prying, but I really needed to know before I told her my preposition. But that didn''t stop me from holding my breath, worrying that she might answer that she had a man in mind and that man happened not to be


    me.


    If that were really to happen, it''s something I''d never be ready for.


    She tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair, eyes nk of emotions. She didn''t look surprised or anything. In fact, she seemed like she had no interest in any of it, as if she wasn''t given any ultimatum that she had to be worried about. "None."


    If I was anxious earlier that she might have someone she wanted who might not be me, her vivid disinterest in marriage unexpectedly brought me disappointment, which I hid behind my neutral expression.


    Leaning back on my seat, I rested my hands on the armrest, fingers tightening on the end underneath the table, asking nonchntly, "None at all?¡±


    "Why should I? Marriage is not something I find urgent. I''ve said that to you before. And the King''s ultimatum won''t change that." Shrugging her shoulders without worries, she continued, "At least not now."


    ¡°So.....¡± stared at her, studying her reactions as I cautiously pushed further. ¡°No one has really caught your interest?"


    I didn''t know what answer I wanted from her. Shouldn''t I be happy that it turned out that I had no rival in love with her? But, damn, does love could make someone so foolish,


    Elena probably found my unusual prying, so she chuckled, which surprised me.


    Easing out, tension finally slowly vanishing between us, she replied hoently, "Deacon, I spent thest few months right after my divorce on a battlefield with you.''


    Shaking her head, she emphasised, "I got no time to entertain suitors nor see anyone as a matter of fact aside from your and myrades. So, no, I haven''t formed any sort of interest to anyone."


    Silence stretched between us while I stared at her with hidden dumbfoundedness.


    I felt my heart skip a beat.


    That''s right; she was on the battlefield with us, surrounded by only men. Countless men, including me. She spent months with us, and she''s here now, wearing a beautiful dress and looking like a goddess, telling me right to my face that she developed no interest in anyone.


    Did that include me? Did she really never feel anything?


    I know that I controlled myself during the battle, but I''m pretty sure that I also took care of her more than a general would treat hisrades. Did she really not feel anything, or were my advances slower than a frog for her to notice anything?


    But then what about her reactions towards me when I get near her? What about the rush of blood on her cheeks when I make a subtle, flirtatious attempt? Were all those just my imagination brought on by my delusion out of my desire to marry her?


    After around half a minute of silence between us, Elena seemed to have caught on to something and narrowed her eyes slightly.


    Leaning on the table, she looked at me intensely and asked, "Did youe here to help me with this marriage issue, Deacon?"


    A small smile formed on her lips after a while. And with her slightly raised brows, it''s almost like she''s teasing


    I remained calm and silent for a little while before I involuntarily tightened my jaws


    and met her eyes. With a steady and unwavering voice, I nodded my head.


    "Yes. I''m here to help."


    Looking at me cautiously, she asked, "How?"


    Sitting straight, I firmly replied, "I want to you be your husband."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 112

    Elena''s POV


    1 sat in there, in front of Deacon, utterly dumbfounded and roned on my seat while looking at him nddy, trying to process what I heard from him as I couldn''t believe my own ears,


    Did he say what I think he said?


    He never ceased to surprise me, making me feel xil kinds emotions I never felt before, but this was the first time I actually felt like I was at aplete loss for words


    ¡°..... ahh.....¡± I stuttered, not knowing how to reply.


    In the end, I could only blink a couple of times in disbelief and utterer in pure shock, "What?"


    With my heart still pounding in my chest and oxygen seemingly being pulled from my lungs, I let out an awkwardugh filled with disbelief.


    Shaking my head and crossing my arms in a subconscious move to keep my emotions safe from these butterflies he''s giving my stomach, Imented, "You can''t be serious, Deacon. You and I..."


    Pointing at him and me back and forth, I continued, "We...we barely knew each other before this war."


    I admit he brought me feelings I never felt before, not even with Bryson. But those were exciting emotions that I wasn''t sure if it wouldst a lifetime or if it were even true to begin with.


    "But he''s not a bad choice, isn''t he? He''s hot!" Ava, my wolf, popped in my mind and teased me.


    I pierced my palm with my nails underneath the table to stop myself from blushing after Ava''s teasing


    "Shut up!" I scolded beforepletely shutting her down until I calmed myself, but with how my heart kept betraying my inner indenial by its fast beat and hard pound, I''d say that would take a long time.


    She probably had to wait for Deacon to leave my sight.


    Probably feeling the tension building up within me, Deacon leaned back in a casual manner, a mocking smirk rugging at his lips before he let out a soft chuckle. With a motion of his hand, hemented, "You can rest at ease, Elena. I''m just joking."


    I stared at him like another head grown from his neck.


    Tilting my head, I observe him and pay attention to his tone. Though it was light and supposedly lightened up the tension in the air between us brought by his sudden words earlier, it brought my stomach into a twist instead.


    It was joke? A joke?!


    "Well, that so-called joke freakignly brought me on a rollercoaster ride with zing fire and near death experience every second of it," I thought dramatically, scolding him in my mind.


    My mind went into total chaos, and I was having a hard time finding words to refute him. If I was speechless earlier, right now was even indescribable.


    Luckily or not, before I could find words to use to respond to him, he strained from his seat, and his gaze turned serious.


    Now, he meant business, and hopefully, no more words would turn my emotions upside down.


    "But in all honestly, I do need a wife." Using his hands to emphasise, he added, "Like in general."


    "What?" I asked the same question I did earlier, but no, I had more confusion than shock.


    "My brother is set on arranging marriage for me, and so far I have no interest in the candidates he''s sending my way," he exined, which made my brows furrow even more.


    What was the king on about recently? Was he too bored in his life or something? Why was everything and everyone got something to do with marriage?.


    "You can''t defy it?" I asked when he didn''t reply.


    Shrugging, he gave me a knowing smile. "You know it as well as I do. He might be my brother, but he''s still the king. I just thought that since we were both pressured into entering a marriage, we might as well do it on our own terms.¡±


    Now, that piques my interest even more.


    "What are you proposing, exactly?" I asked.


    Yes, his proposal and change of mood brought me in a turmoil, maybe even a bit of dismay, but now that he''s speaking rationally, I found it sounding more reasonable.


    "What I mean is that if we decide to marry each other, we can at least control our lives," he said as a matter of fact.


    "So... let me get this straight. You are proposing a marriage of convenience?" I stared at him, waiting for his answer, feeling skeptical if I understood him well.


    To my surprise, he nodded his head. "Exactly. Think about it, you don''t need to worry about marrying someone unworthy of you just because you''re pressured into entering one, and it won''t be a forced political marriage either."


    "And..." He took a pause, watching my observation before thoughtfully continuing, "If by any chance you meet someone you truly want to be in the future, we can get a divorce. No questions asked."


    I couldn''t believe what I was hearing. Him... A prince and a greatmander were actually offering me a marriage for convenience. For all I know, there''s a long line of noble women lining up to marry him.


    "Why don''t you just wait for someone you love? I know you can do something to buy yourself some time. Why get pulled into the pressure?"


    He''s a prince and amander. The one on the other end of the lien might be the king, and he might have no power to outrule him, but he has what it takes to give himself more time, unlike me.


    I saw hesitation in his eyes, and he pinched his fingers as he quietly replied, "Because the person I want to marry is..." Heaving a sigh of disappointment and pain, he continued, "She''s already married to someone else."


    My breath hitched upon hearing it, and out of nowhere, something sharp seemingly pricked my chest.


    So, he already loves someone? Who was it? Do I know her?


    Why was I in pain? It''s not like it''s any of my business if he loves someone or not..


    "I see..." Was all I could reply, feeling confused myself.


    Silence lingered between us as I sorted my thoughts and emotions, but all to no avail. Echaling slowly, I replied, "I need time to think about this."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 113

    Elena''s POV


    "How long do you n to make him stay there?"


    Jayden''s voice echoed, pulling me out of my deep thoughts Sitting on the patio of the graden of the backyard, I put my hands behind me on the pavement and leaned back to look up at Jayden, who had worry pasted all over his face.


    Sighing, I told him, "I just need to sort my thoughts is all."


    He nodded his head in understanding before crouching down to my level and handing me a ss of wine. Winking knowingly, hemented, "I guessed you might need some boost."


    Laughing a little, I asked, "Boast of confidence to make rejection?"


    Standing up, he bobbed his head inughter and seriously said, "More like confidence, to be honest."


    With that, he turned around and left me with my jaws dropped on the ground.


    I think I''ve given them too much freedom to speak their mind, and they have be too bold. Nheless, I always appreciate his and Zara''s honestments and advice.


    Staying seated on the step of the porch of the backyard garden, I took a sip from the wine ss with eyes on the various bushes of flowers in front of me. Being surrounded by flowers gave me a sense of peace, and the fresh breeze and sunlight shining on my skin helped calm my nerves.


    Up until now, I still couldn''t believe what Deacon told me and what he offered me. In all honesty and practically speaking, I''d say his offer was a good one. In fact, it''s a win-win.


    However, hearing that he currently has a woman whom he loves, I couldn''t help but think twice, worrying that I might end up falling for him and that it would never be reciprocated.


    More importantly, I fear I''d be heartbroken. Looking at it in the big picture, Deacon''s a gentle and principled man. It''s not hard to like him, not to mention that I''m undeniably attracted to him.


    "Well, it''s him or the king. Take your pick," Ava forced her way in through my mind just to sarcastically give her opinion before vanishing again, making me want to smack her head only if it didn''t mean I''d be smacking my own head to do that.


    I didn''t know how much time I was staying in the garden with Deacon waiting in the living room until I grabbed the wine ss from the side and tried to take a sip from it, only to realize that it was already empty.


    "Thanks, Jayde-" I started to say as I saw the neck of the wine ss just as someone started pouring me a refill. Looking up to thank Jayden, I almost drop the ss, and I realise that it''s Deacon.


    Clearing my throat, I corrected myself, "Thank you."


    Setting down the wine on the side, he sat down beside me. Looking up ahead like me, he calmly said, "Elena, I meant what I said. My heart is set on that one woman, and..." He turned his head to meet my eyes. "That will never change."


    I caught my breath, staring into his eyes filled with determination that felt like a sharp knife being struck into me instead.


    Completely taken aback, I hesitantly asked in a soft voice, "You sound so... devoted."


    A bitter smirk subconsciously escaped my lips, which I hid by taking a gulp of wine. "Why suddenly bring this


    up?"


    Was this his way of convincing me to agree to his proposal? If so, I think it''s a really bad kind of strategy.


    Grabbing the empty wine ss I ced down, he refilled it and to my surprise, he took a sip from it. On the same ss I just drank from like it didn''t matter.


    I was looking at him in shock, but he went on like he did nothing unusual. "I''m telling you think because I don''t want to let the king dictate me life."


    Finishing the wine in one gulp, he stared at me.


    "I need a wife, and you need a husband," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "He will force us to marriage one way or another; you with him or another man, and me with whomever got a lucky draw with the piles of noble women he found."


    He shrugged his shoulders. "So, might as well do it ourselves. Besides, I know you well enough. We have the same principles on the battlefield. We''re both warriors, and we understand each other. Who else would suit us than each other?"


    I sighed and shook my head. "We can''t. As good as it is, we both know it''s not that simple. The king won''t approve of it. Our title aloneplicates everything."


    He''s a prince withmand in warriors, and I''m a legacy of my father. I was bestowed the title of a princess, anding back from a victorious war as a decorated warrior brought back my father''s loyalists to respect me.


    If we both get married, our power wouldbine, and it would be a threat to the king. I might not be politically inclined, but I have enough awareness to know that no matter how kind a king might be, it''s something any king wouldn''t look past on so easily.


    Looking at him intently, I answered properly, "So I''ll have to decline the offer."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 114

    Elena''s POV


    I thought Deacon would feel dejected from my straight answer, but to my surprise,


    he leaned back with ease, a smirk forming on his lips. ¡°And that is exactly why you should marry me."


    My brows furrowed. Am I too stupid for Deacon''s mind?


    Seeing my confusion, he chuckled a little. "Do you think Desmond would rather see you marry someone like Bryson if you decided not to marry him?"


    I stared at him, and disgust immediately rushed through me upon hearing Bryson''s name and remembering my messed up marriage with him.


    Scoffing, I shook my head with great disdain, eximing, "Now, that''s an unearthly terrifying thought!"


    Deacon shamelesslyughed at my reaction. I watched him in admiration as he freelyughed, unlike the emotionally restricted person he was during the battle.


    After a few minutes, he finally calmed down. Pointing at me, he smirked as if I had just proven his point, which I might indeed have. "That''s exactly why. No matter what his real intention was, I think Desmond is looking out for you. At least for your pack."


    I raised my brows at him, motioning for him to continue.


    "He''s not looking for your happiness by forcing your hand to be in marriage. Rather, I believe that he wants to ensure that there''s a capable man beside you to help you manage your pack - and the capable warriors your pack has," he exined.


    What he said actually made sense. Though most of my packmembers died, our pack still remained the best training ground in the entire kingdom. Most of the greatest known warriors were from our pack, and with me back, I could rebuild what was gone when our pack vanished.


    At this point, I''m almost on the verge of instantly agreeing with him.


    Though I knew I didn''t need any help, since I''m already pushed in the corner, I''d rather marry him than any other man I didn''t know enough and might just be after my money or title. And there''s no way I''d marry the king who''s like my uncle and hurt a lovely Queen like Liz.


    Turning to him, I teased, "And you really believe you''re the best option for that?"


    "I know I am," he answered seriously, making meugh.


    While shaking my head and chucking, Imented, "You''re so smug, Prince Daecon."


    Shrugging, he smirked with confidence. "Only telling the truth."


    Leaning forward, face almost close to mine, he asked in a deep voice that brought current within me. "Are you gonna deny it?"


    I stared into his eyes. With his face only a few inches away from mine, I could even see my own reflection through his eyes.


    Our closeness with each other made my heart pound. My hands clenched at my sides for control while I swallowed with the nerves that had formed in my throat.


    Turning my head to the side, no longer able to handle his stare, I cleared my throat.


    Shifting and seating a little far away from him, I diverted beth our attention by getting back to the topic. "If I agree to this..." I started, deep in thought.


    Taking deep breaths and a moment, I looked at him and seriouslyid my cards. "If I ever agree with this... I want you to know that divorce will be out of the picture."


    He was stunned by my words, his lips parting in shock.


    Not giving him time to recover, I continued, "So, if you ever fall in love with someone else, the best she can ever be is a concubine. I''ve been divorced once, and I will not allow my pack''s name to be tarnished further."


    When I first had my divorce, my pack was already gone, and I wasn''t the Ironpaw Pack''s Luna. That scandal tainted nothing but my name alone. But things had changed. If I got married and divorced again, many people would be affected, and most of those were my members, and I couldn''t let that happen.


    I wouldn''t forsake my own people for my own happiness.


    Staring at him, I watched his expressions change in the slightest manner. He pursed his lips, looking like he was constipated as he tried to control his emotions, which he was trying to hide - emotions I only caught a second of a glimpse of and couldn''t be sure what they were.


    All I knew was that his eyes widened in shock and a slow smile formed on his lips, which immediately became a smirk, making me think twice if it weren''t a smirk to begin with.


    "Then it''s settled. Divorce won''t be an issue, nor a mistress. I can spend a lifetime with you, Elena, if that''s what you want. I have no interest in anyone else. Like I said, I only love one person, and she''s already married," he replied without hesitation.


    I stared at him in shock. "Now, I''m more curious about her Who is she? If you love her so much, why not fight for her?"


    Looking away, I caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes. "Because she doesn''t know... and perhaps never will." "She must be extraordinary for you to hold onto these feelings for so long," I whispered. Whoever that woman was, she''s one hell of a lucky girl to have a man like Deacon be head over heels for her. "That she is. I once asked for her hand to her mother, hoping for a chance, but maybe she thinks I''m not worthy of her daughter because she married her off to another man." My heart clenched upon hearing the bitterness in his words.


    Who would ever think a prince like him to be unworthy?


    I stared at him, tons of thoughtsing into my mind. He didn''t even want to tell me her name.


    "You are really an honorable man. It''s their loss," I said genuinely.


    He wouldn''t even tell me who she was. He probably didn''t want to tarnish her name. A real gentleman he was.


    "Elena, for the love of the goddess, just say yes or no. We are not in battle-stop stalling and be straightforward!" he said, frustratedly, catching me off guard.


    Jolted, I blurted out, "Fine! Yes!"

 e Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 115

    Elena''s POV


    Shit! What in the world did 1 just say?


    I closed my eyes in embarrassment, hands discreetly pinching the side of my legs at how my reply to him ended up sounding more excited and desperate than what I was intending to show which was annoyed and frustrated.


    Without a doubt, his proposal was the best solution so far for this matter regarding marriage. Besides, every time I found a reason to reject him, he always managed to refutet and turn the tables in such a way that everything became favorable to us getting married.


    If it wasn''t obvious how much devoted he was to that one girl he loved, I would be feeling all over the moon right now. I don''t love him. I''m sure I didn''t.


    At least, not right now. But the attraction was there. And hopefully, I won''t be biting my own head off for agreeing to this marriage without room for divorce despite knowing had no room in his heart.


    The good thing was that we had talked about this marriage like a business matter, making everything clear to me right from the start and having those clear lines would keep me from thinking and acting in a rational matter. Hence, that attraction would etiehr always be just like that a mere attraction, or would even vanish in the long


    run.


    I heard a muffledugh beside me, and that''s when I jolted back to reality, realizing how stupid I probably looked right now.


    Looking up at him, I narrowed my eyes and hid my humiliation with a re and frown. "I... I can''t believe I just agreed to marry you."


    Grinning from ear to ear, he raised the refilled wine ss, its rim teasingly touching his soft lips. Pleasure radiated all over him, he nodded his head in affirmation to my words. "You did. And rather eas,y I must say."


    To add effect to his mocking, he raised his hand and looked at his wrist watch. "Not even half a day." Staring at me pointedly, he smirked, "I was expecting a bit more resistance."


    With that, as if to celebrate his victory, he took a sip of wine with his eyes not leaving mine and his smirk getting even bigger through the wine ss.


    Bitting the side of my cheek, I crossed my arms and stood up. Looking down at him, I sent him a sharp gaze. "Do you want me to take it back?"


    "Now, hey! Don''t y dirty." He rushed to put down the wine ss and stood up. Raising his hands up in mock surrender, he shook his head with determination. "Absolutely not! We''re now engaged. No take-backs."


    I couldn''t help but let out a chuckle from his actions. He looked like he was joking around and mocking, but there was something in his eyes that was filled with so much emotion and genuineness that I couldn''t help but feel like there was more to what he was saying.


    "Lucky for you, you got a lifetime to know whatever that is," Ava uttered,ing out of the dark as she went in a zoomies in my head, happy that we''re engaged again.


    He''s not our mate, but she likes teasing me, so here she was, being all giddy.


    Princess... Prince..." Zara came outside and greeted us. Standing on the side, she motioned inside, informing, " The lunch has been prepared in the dining.¡±


    "It''s already lunchtime?" I asked in surprise, but Deaconughed beside me, taking the opportunity to tease me


    further.


    "You mean, only lunch time?" he asked, emphasizing how he managed to make me agree so fast.


    Rolling my eyes, I walked past him and to the dining table.


    Right after the servants served us drinks and left, Deacon grabbed his utensils as did I. While cutting his steak, he gave me nces as he seriously spoke, "But now that we''re engaged, we should set some rules. It''s after all, a marriage for convenience."


    "Fair enough. Now, we''re talking properly," Imented as serious as he was.


    Being clear with each other and knowing what our roles were would be helpful for us to live in a harmonious


    manner.


    In the middle of the meal, we kept brainstorming andying our cards on the table, establishing boundaries that would affect both our personal and business lives.


    Wiping his lips with the towel napkin after taking hisst bite of steak, he concluded, "So, that''s it. I''ll take care of external matters, which meant military, politics, and anything beyond our residence. While you''ll handle all the pack matters."


    I raised an eyebrow and acted offended. "So, I''m in charge of making sure the house doesn''t burn down?"


    Smirking, he nodded his head. "Essentially. Though, given your track record on the battlefield, I''d be more worried about it burning down because of you."


    "Excuse me?" I asked, dramatically cing a hand over my chest.


    He shook his head in amusement, but then his smile vanished when something seemingly crossed his mind. "I have to warn you, though. My mom and cousin are currently in my residence, and they might stay to lie with us."


    "And..." I said in a hanging manner, feeling like there was more to what he wanted to say.


    Cautiously, he continued, "And... they can be quite... Well... He shrugged. "Challenging."


    +25 BOXES

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 116

    Elena''s POV


    Iughed it off, thinking he was joking. I simply set my utensils down and finished my water. Leaning back in my seat, I looked at him seriously. "You''re really the one criticising them first?"


    "You''re being too kind. I''m being serious. They''ll be living with us. For how long, I don''t know. But what I''m sure of is that they could be challenging to handle," he exined


    The gears in my head started moving as I tried to process his words. Seeing the seriousness in his face, I knew he was really worried.


    But how bad could they really be? I managed to handle Courtney, and I don''t think anyone could suppress her rudeness and greediness.


    Besides, Deacon''s mother was the Duchess, and his cousin was technically a princess. They were of royalty. With those titles, it''s no surprise if they had some attitude, considering they literally had a crown on their heads.


    Seeing how down-to-earth and kind Deacon was a real surprising fact.


    Feeling his worried gaze lingering on my face, I decided to finally free him from his inner turmoil of guilt.


    Instead, I sped my hands together and rested them on the table, leaning forward. Staring into his eyes, I teased in a serious yet intrigued manner, "So, is this why you don''t want to marry anyone else? You know no woman can survive them."


    I joked instead, hoping to ease his tension, which I immediately seeded in doing.


    Once again, I heard hisughter. Nodding his head, he yed along, "more or less."


    Shrugging, he continued, "I won''t deny it. My Mom is a bit of a handful, and she managed to scare off more women than I can count."


    "But you?" he said, eyes gazing from my head to toe before nodding with approval. "I''m sure you''ll be fine. You can handle yourself."


    I raised my brow at how much confidence he bestowed upon me. "And if I can''t?"


    Sitting up straight, he knocked his knuckles on his muscr chest and vowed, "I won''t let them trouble you."


    "Damn, right, you better not." I nodded before the yful tone vanished from my voice as I seriously uttered, Because if you won''t, I''ll handle them myself."


    LL


    "Don''t worry, we''ll make this work." With that, he stood up, motioning to his wristwatch to say that he still had some other matters to do.


    We had small talk as I walked him to the gate.


    "See you soon," I bid farewell.


    With his hand on the opened door of his car, he stared at me and gave me another sweet smile. "See you soon, my fiance."


    Right after he left, I felt the emptiness of the room as the surroundings went back to being surrounded with silence.


    "So, you agreed to marry Prince Deacon?" I was greeted by Jayden''s casual question as soon as I entered the pack house, almost startling me.


    I hadn''t even replied yet when Zara giggled from the other side of the room and looked at Jayden with boastfulness. "See, I told you she''d say yes."


    Rolling my eyes andzily nodding my head, I walked toward the couch and sat down. Crossing my legs, I looked at them pointedly and firmly said, "Yes, I am.¡±


    "Just like that?" Jayden asked with concern as he walked toward me and sat on the other seat.


    I knew what he was worried about. I just got back from a bad marriage, not to mention we just started getting the Ironpaw Pack back to its former glory.


    "You do realize what this means, don''t you? If you marry Deacon, his influence increases. The King will see him as a bigger threat," he added before I could reply, voicing out the same worry I had earlier.


    I shrugged my shoulders, nonchntly leaning forward to grab a piece of candy. "Deacon is handling that. He''ll talk to the king."


    ¡°Besides..." I immediately added when I saw his worry intensifying by how his face scrunched up. "This is the best option. We talked about it. It''s pure business, which is way better than marrying the King and getting sandwiched in political drama or marrying a random nobleman I know nothing about."


    "But... what aboutter?" Waking up from her excitement and seeing the bigger picture, Zara came forward with sadness in her eyes.


    Looking down, she fidgeted with her fingers. "What if Prince Deacon falls for someone else? What if he wants to back out? What if he pushes you away and hurts you?"


    My heart both warmed and ached to see Zara affected by the pain inflicted by my marriage with Bryson.


    But Bryson and Deacon had a huge gap between them. I had full trust with Deacon, and we''ve talked about it. It''s nothing emotional.


    Hence, I simply shrugged my shoulders, uncaringly replying. "He can take a concubine for all I care."


    Zara and Jayde exchanged nces, surprised.


    "You''re really fine with that?" Zara quietly asked, and I nodded without hesitation.. "Yeah, I am. Why won''t I?"


    As soon as those words came out of my mouth, something small twinged inside of me. Okay, I''m still a being. I would probably care a little, but I''m sure it won''t affect me in any way, much less leave me heartbroken.


    Taking a deep breath, I looked at both of them and gave them a determined stare. "This marriage is just to solve a problem. There doesn''t need to be any emotions involved. It''s just business."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 117

    Deacon''s POV


    I was tapping my fingers on a ced down leather partition in the backseat of the car with my eyes looking outside, watching the drifting shadows of the trees and roads we passed by.


    ¡°That''s a nice smile in there,¡± Tyson pointed out, looking through me with the rear view mirror.


    My smile got even bigger, but I sent hini a re in between making him clear his throat and continue focusing on his driving instead.


    Who wouldn''t be wearing a huge smile as I do when the woman I had always dreamt of marrying just said yes to me? Yes, it might not be in a conventional way or out of love, but knowing she had that part of her ready to be with me made me happy.


    What brought me more happiness was how she was the one who opened the idea of not having a divorce.


    But the joy I felt slowly vanished as I got closer back to the pce, closer to where the hard part really lies. The part where I had to ensure I paved the way to this marriage as smoothly as I could.


    "We''re here," Tyson said.


    Taking a deep breath, I put on the usual emotionless expression I have and stepped out of the car.


    The servants and other members bowed their heads and greeted me as I walked toward the royal chamber, which inyman''s terms was Desmond''s office.


    He was sitting behind his table filled with confidential documents and other things he was reviewing. Beside hisptop was a bottle of wine.


    He was about to take a sip of wine from his ss when I entered.


    cing his ss down on the table, he leaned back on his seat with a raised brow. "Brother. What''s the rush? No knocking and all that?"


    "Your Highness," I greeted formally, making him sit properly and look at me with a raised brow.


    Clearing his throat, he formally addressed me, "Prince Deacon. To what do I owe the pleasure?"


    Bowing my head slightly, I said in a steady voice, "I havee to return my militarymand, Your Majesty."


    With that being said, I pulled out a jade token from my coat pocket - the proof of decree from thete king, my father, of giving me themand over the warriors of the kingdom.


    He looked at me for a little while, observing my face and looking intently into my eyes, probably seeing if I was telling the truth or if my decision were firm.


    sping his hands together and resting them on his table, he leaned forward,pletely intrigued, and asked, Is that right? And what prompts this sudden decision?"


    I shook my head. "There''s nothing sudden about this. I have fulfilled my duties. The war is over, and now...¡±


    With Elena''s face shing in my mind, I let out a small smile. "Now, it''s time for me to focus on other matters. Matters that are more important than deaths andnds."


    Desmond studied me keenly, tapping his fingers against the table. "Other matters, you say?"


    At first, he looked skeptical, but thenter, a small smirk shed into his lips. "You mean... Elena?"


    ((


    We stared into each other''s eyes for a while, weighing the tension that slowly built up around us. Keeping my face expressionless, I nodded my head and replied with conviction, "Yes, all because of her. I want to marry her."


    There''s no backing down now. I did promise Elena''s mother that I''d marry her after the war, and now I''m doing what I promised and asked of her.


    Chuckling, Desmond shook his head and leaned back on his seat, looking at me with a knowing look. "So, my three -month deadline did push you into taking action."


    "Elena..." Taking a small sip of wine with his eyes still on me, he took his time before continuing, "Elena is indeed a real rare treasure, Deacon. Her lineage.. Her skills and capability as a warrior... Her knowledge... You are not just getting a wife, but an entire legacy."


    His voice and how he said it made it seem like he was praising and giving congrattions to me, but there''s a hint of anxiousness in it. Obviously, he was threatened by that legacy he was praising


    Meeting his gaze, I uttered without hesitation. "My decision has nothing to do with her lineage, her legacy... and not even her skills. I want to marry her because she''s Elena and not what she could and couldn''t do or what her pack or surname represents."


    Desmond let out a small scoff as he tilted his head a little, every emotion vanishing from his face as though he had put on a mask right there and then. "Ah... you''re a real romantic, huh? I thought you''re more pragmatic."


    Leaning in cautiously, he asked with a hint of mockery, "And how do you intend to marry her exactly? Shall I prepare a grand royal wedding for you or something?" "No!" I immediately answered, shaking my head. "I don''t want Elena paraded as some royal trophy. I want the wedding to be private, personal, and intimate."


    Elena wasn''t not the kind of woman. Never been one. She didn''t want to be sandwiched into this political mess or be paraded like some kind of an item, and I didn''t want her to feel that as she married me.


    What I want her to feel was that marrying me was one of the greatest decisions of her life. I didn''t want this marriage to be another troll in her heart that would make her hate the mere idea of marriage.


    Amused by my reason, he let out a small chuckle before smirking. "You truly are serious about this, huh? Then I suppose you should start preparing for a greater battle worse than me or any political matters."


    Narrowing my eyes, I asked, "And what that might be? Is there something and someone far worse of a battle than the king is?"


    Smirking, he gave me a pointed look. "Your mother."


    Hearing that, I immediately felt like I had some kind of terrible headache.


    I shook my head and chuckled dryly, "I expected as much."


    pping his head as he stood up and stretched out, he stood beside me and tapped my shoulder encouragingly. Then may the Moon Goddess have mercy on you, my little brother."


    Putting a ss in front of me, he poured me a wine while letting out a teasingugh. "If there''s anything that could bring the Great Prince Deacon Duncan to his knees, it''s his mother''s wrath."


    Gulping the entire ss of wine, I stood up and let out a sigh. With a small smirk, I bowed a little before taking my leave. "I''ll handle it."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 118

    Deacon''s POV


    My mother was a diva. She''s used to living in the elite society, and her being the second wife of my father probably brought the worst in her, making her even more spoiled in the process of my father trying topensate for the fact that the one he really loved was Queen Liz.


    Everyone knew about my mother and how she was. It''s not a secret, which was why even my brother was aware of what a headache my mother would be.


    She''d definitely discriminate and try to push Elena away. Because despite her now being titled as a princess, it wouldn''t mask the fact that she wasn''t a royal blood in the first ce and that she''s a divorced woman.


    I expected that I''d be receiving her wrath as soon as I got Desmond''s approval for marriage, which was probably way easier than facing my mother. But what I didn''t expect was for it to be a lot harder than I thought it would be.


    "You must be out of your mind!" My mom''s loud voice, filled with disbelief and wrath, was what greeted me when I came back to my residence.


    Guess rumors spread fast. My brother''s office was on the other wing of the pce, and it didn''t take me long to get back to my side of the wing, but my mother already knew about it.


    My mother was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed. She''s sipping a cup of tea with an expression on her face like stone, and her eyes felt like it was sendingsers straight through my head.


    Crossing my arms and standing my ground, I stood tall in front of the coffee table, facing her without fear. "I see you''ve heard the news already."


    She harshly ced the cup of tea on the table, causing some of it to drip on the table. Looking at me with eyes filled with zing fury, she hissed, "Do you really think I will just sit idly by while you humiliate our family?"


    "Humiliate?" I repeated in utter disbelief of her choice of words.


    With furrowed brows, I sat down on the single sofa, dominance exuding off of me. "I''m marrying a great warrior with a bilites far beyond what this kingdom has seen. A heroine! A woman of honor. What''s humiliating about that?"


    Looking straight into her eyes, I added, "If more, we should be honored."


    Losing control, she grabbed her teacup and threw it against the wall, shattering it into pieces. Raising her voice, she rattled, "A discarded woman, Deacon! Why leave that one out, huh?"


    "Mo-


    Interrupting me, she stood up, totally fueled with emotions far more than fury and ridicule. ¡°She''s a woman thrown away by a man who is not even half your worth, Deacon! This unbelievable! Alpha Bryson casted her aside like a spoiled meat, and you- you''re my son, Deacon! This is the kingdom. Are you really bringing her here?"


    "Yes! Yes, I will!" I replied with conviction, heated by the conversation she''s fueling on too much, making me stand as well and stand to face her.


    Shaking her head with obvious refusal, she let out a mockingugh. "Over my dead body."


    Putting my arms on my side from crossing them over my chest, I let out a smirk and stared intently into her eyes. If that''s what it takes."


    Her eyes widened in shock before turning into a pure re. She clenched her fist and vowed, "If that second-hand girl dared to step into my house, I will see to it that she never walks out"


    (6


    Pointing a finger at me, she threatened, "Mark my words, Deacon. I will chop off her legs before I let her sit beside you.


    I wanted tough as she kept on yapping about me bringing Elena in here when this was my residence in the first ce, my wing, my part of the pce... mine and not hers. Hers was outside the pce, and she''s just supposed to be here for a little while, and suddenly she''s acting like it''s hers and she runs to this ce.


    Sitting back down, I exhaled a heavy breath and almost rolled my eyes before I calmly leaned back in my chair. " You''ve always been dramatic, Mom."


    Nodding at the seat, signalling her to sit back down if she''d actually listen, I continued, "I grew up listening to all of your outbursts, remember?"


    Laughing a little, I shook my head. "If you approve of this so easily... that will be a strange thing."


    She looked at me for a while, taking a couple of deep breaths to try to calm herself before she sat back down. Don''t try to mock me, son! You''re the prince! How can you marry a discarded woman? She doesn''t even have a proper family to support her. All she has is a battlefield to call her home."


    Crossing my arms, I intently stared at her and calmly reasoned, "And yet, this woman youbel as a discarded woman has achieved more on the battlefield than most men in the kingdom."


    Taking a deep breath, I narrowed my eyes and seriously added, "Do not insult


    Elena in front of me again, Mom." To my surprise, my mom let out augh despite the hint of threat in my words.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 119

    Deacon''s POV


    I stared at my mom, waiting for what more she had to say because herugh was thest thing I expected from her.


    But when thatugh turned into sarcasm and into mockery, that''s when I shook my head.


    What else did I expect from her?


    She continued, "That''s what it is, isn''t it? You admire her swordsmanship, her rough ways? But can''t you see? A woman like that is exactly the opposite of what should fit as your wife! How can you bring disgrace to our name?"


    By now, she was beyond hysterical. She waved her hand and called for a servant, who served her another cup. Just that this time, instead of tea, she was served with a ss of wine in which she finished in one gulp, making the servant turn back around to refill her ss before she could even go further.


    Heaving a sigh, I tried to reason with her. "Mom, if you think I care about such things you and so many peoplebel as disgraceful, then you''ve truly forgotten who I am."


    With my legs open, I leaned my elbows on my knees and intently looked into her eyes. "You are talking to your son, the very person who carved his own path with blood and steel."


    More than as a prince, I''ve been known as the greatmander who could kill countless Rogues without making


    a sweat.


    Shaking my head, I thoughtfully told my mom, "Titles mean little to me, Mom. You keep saying that Elena is unworthy of me, but I don''t see anyone more fitting to stand by my side more than her."


    Her brows furrowed, looking at me with anger and disbelief in her eyes. "I can''t believe this! You are ignoring my wishes, Deacon! Have you lost every respect you have for me? For your own mother?"


    I stared at my mom for a little while, knowing this conversation would be going nowhere and that I could only hope time would make things better, as it usually does when it concerns her.


    Shrugging, I smiled a little and calmly told her, "I respect you, Mom. I really do, which is why I''m telling you this now. If you despise Elena so much, you are wee to stay in the main wing of the pce instead ofing to my wing."


    The room fell into deafening silence as my mom and I stared at each other, calcting each other''s emotions. Tension built up in the air so much so that the servants standing at the side exchanged nervous nces.


    I watched as my mom''s hands rested on the armrest of the couch, gripping it tightly while her face was contorted with so much disbelief.


    "You... You will exile your own mother for a woman?" she asked in utter disbelief.


    Letting out a cold smile, I simply answered, "No, I''m simply giving you a choice. If you cannot respect my decision, then you can spare both of us: you from seeing it unfold, and me from being sandwiched in the middle."


    Tears started to form in the corner of her eyes as she shook her head in frustration. "I can''t believe I raised an ungrateful child like you! After everything I have done for you-"


    "What have you done? You did everything for yourself, Mom. Don''t use me as an excuse!" Linterrupted her, making her gasp in anger.


    Despite her reaction, I continued, "I have made my decision, Mom. If you continue to refuse to ept it, then perhaps I should discuss this matter with Queen Liz instead. After all, she''s my nominal mother."


    ¦£


    Her face turned red, and she clenched her fist beside her with her lips trembling as she red at me like she wanted me dead. She knew she waspletely defeated, but she still seethed.


    Her voice cracked with anger and helplessness. "You will regret this."


    Tilting my head slightly, I said with confidence, "I doubt that."


    With that, I stood up and left, leaving her seated there,pletely stunned and furious.


    Completely exhausted from encountering my brother and my mother on the same day, I mmed myself down on my seat in my office, massaging my temple from the impending headache I knew I''d be getting for the next few days.


    In fact, if it would only be for a few days, it would be a huge blessing. But knowing my mom, that would be an impossible wish as this might go on for weeks or a couple of months.


    "Prince..."


    Tycon knocked on my door, peeking his head and looking at me with caution.


    "What is it?" I asked, feeling anxious as his face spoke like he was just about to tell me something troubling. "I just got word that your mother sent someone to invite Princess Elena for an audience," he reported.


    "What did you say?" I stood up,pletely perplexed. It wasn''t even an hour yet and my mom was already making her moves.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 120

    Elena''s POV


    I was rxing in thefort of my bed after having a long conversation with Jayden and Zara, feelingpletely exhausted.


    They were very worried about me, which was why I had to make them understand


    that this decision of mine was for the best.


    Hence, after everything was settled, including the manners concerning the marriage, I couldn''t help but feel relieved.


    But all that relief vanished when Jayden knocked on my door a few hourster to say that a messenger from the pce came and handed over a letter


    "What is it about?" I asked, following him downstairs to receive the letter.


    The messenger said he didn''t know what it was about either and simply handed the letter to me.


    Sitting down, I unsealed the envelope to get the letter and unfolded it, but the content of it brought me to utter shock.


    Countless questions ran through my mind.


    "What is it?" Jayden asked in worry upon seeing my reaction, but I felt so speechless that I only handed the letter over to him instead of saying it.


    His eyes browsed the letter before a frown formed on his lips. "This... this doesn''t feel right. Prince Deacon''s mother is known for her sharp tongue. She will never approve of you. What if she humiliates you in the pce?"


    "Duchess Diana wants to see you?" Zara asked in shock as she stepped closer to us, realizing the situation.


    I merely nodded my head as I let out a sigh.


    Crossing her arms on the top of the backrest of the chair Jayden sat on, she voiced out, "Why is she suddenly summoning you? It can''t just be for a polite chat, will it? She''ll surely try to make things difficult for you."


    "Difficult?" I chuckled lightly after recovering from shock


    Why did the royal family keep summoning me? When did my life suddenly turn this chaotic?


    I shook my head and heaved a sigh,pletely calm now. "I''d be disappointed if she didn''t. Don''t worry, you guys, she won''t darey a finger on me, especially not in the pce."


    Shrugging nonchntly, I spoke the truth, "At most, she''ll throw a few insults my way."


    Grumbling, Jayden said, "That''s still uneptable."


    Suddenly reminded of how Deacon warned me about her mother and how I told him I''d fight back if she bullied me, I couldn''t help but let out a smallugh. I just didn''t expect this moment toe this early, which surprised me because I thought it would be after marriage or at least after things got official.


    Knowing Deacon had my back, I smirked, "Rx. Worst case scenario, I''ll smash her residence. That should make us even."


    While Zara and Jaydenughed, we heard a loud gasp followed by the sound of nging trays and shattering sses.


    Following the source of the sound, we found a servant whose face was full of terror. "Please, Princess, don''t say


    such things! That''s the royal pce!"


    Snorting, Zara brushed off her worry, "Rx, with the Queen mother, Queen Liz, on Princess''s side, the Duchess can''t do anything outrageous to her."


    "Exactly." I grinned with confidence. "And besides, I have no intention of backing down and ying the soft girl, anyway. Let''s just get this over with."


    With that, I stood up and went to my room to change clothes, ready for another kind of battle.


    Looking in the mirror, I looked at myself in satisfaction. Since the Duchess was known for being the stereotypical member of the royal family, I took the time to doll up myself. Gone were the warriors, and came in the Luna version of myself.


    I wore a heart-neckline royal blue dress made of a flowy material and used a white crop top jacket to make it more modest. After I put on my white heels and diamond ne and curled my hair, Hooked perfect... like the princess I was newly titled as.


    When I came out of my room and ventured downstairs, I found Zara and Jayden at the bottom of the stairs looking at me,pletely mesmerized, making me smirk in pleasure knowing that my effort was rewarded.


    "You look amazing!" Zaramented.


    Still in a daze, Jayden whispered, "Just like a princess.''


    00


    As I stepped down, I smiled at them. "Thank you, guys. Now, let''s go."


    Stopping halfway through the door, I turned around. "Oh, and Jayden, you don''t need to go with me. You go handle the matters in here. Zara and I can handle it."


    "But-"


    He was about to refuse being left behind out of worry for my safety, but I cut him off, "But nothing. Don''t worry. I can handle it. Besides, if youe there, the Duchess will feel like we''re onto her and see it in a wrong way." With that, Zara and I went outside and got into the car.


    "Here we go," I said with a sigh as we stepped out of the car after a few minutes as we arrived at the pce. It was already dark, and the night breeze was cold, but I had a feeling that the coldness I''d be facingter couldn''t bepared to this.


    212

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 121

    Deacon''s POV


    I couldn''t believe that my mom would be moving so fast that she had already summoned Elena. Now, I couldn''t be more thankful to myself that I had warned her early about my mom, but I''m pretty sure that she was still surprised by it, especially with how early she had to face her.


    Shaking my head, I stood up.


    "Where are you going, Prince Deacon?" Tyson asked, looking clueless as he stepped aside from the door and followed me with questions in his eyes.


    "You... You''re not nning to go to the Duchess and stop her, aren''t you? Because I think that will only make her even more irritated and have her hate Princess Elena even more," he cautiously said as he tried to give me some


    advice.


    Halting, I looked at him and gave him a smirk. "She''s my mother. I know her much more than you do."


    Tapping his shoulder, I added, "Don''t worry, it''s not her I''m going to."


    Furrowing his brows, he followed me, asking, "Who then? The king, I don''t think he''d help, though."


    Smirking wider, I answered, "The Queen Mother... I''m meeting Queen Liz."


    Getting his answer, he stopped following me while I went straight to the Queen Mother''s wing. The servants greeted me as I passed through the hallway, and when I arrived at her ce, her personal servant announced my arrival.


    I waited for a few minutes outside before she came back and opened the door for me. "Prince, the Queen is ready to meet you."


    After taking her, I walked inside and followed the servant who guided me into the balcony at the garden where the Queen was seated on the chair.


    "Deacon." She gave me a sweet smile as she gestured to the seat in front of her and signaled her servant to pour me a drink.


    "What did youe here for?" She asked me with curiosity, but with the look she was giving me, I''d say she already had an idea why I came here.


    "Your Majesty, I came here to formally inform you that I will be marrying Elena." Looking at her with seriousness, I added, "The king has already been informed about it."


    Amusement shed into her eyes. Raising a brow, she asked, "Is that so?"


    Laughing a little, she continued, "And here I thought you''d never get married and have a wife in your life. I thought you''d live your entire life on the battlefield and marry the blood and death."


    A smirk-shed into my lips. "Perhaps I just haven''t met the right person yet... Well, until now, that is."


    This was what I liked about the Queen Mother. She''s sweet and very easy to talk to. She could tease every now and then, and she was not the type to make a fuse out of everything. To say the least, she''s probably more of a mother to me than my actual mother.


    She nodded her head in amusement and delight as she raised her teacup and took a sip from it, "Elena is a strong-willed girl, but she is without a doubt a goodd."


    cing down her teacup, her smile widened. "I had hope that someone worthy of her would see her value, and I


    couldn''t be more d that it was you."


    I smiled upon hearing her blessing and approval. At least there''s someone in this


    cold pce who seems genuinely happy about my marriage with Elena.


    Nodding my head, my smile got brighter while I thought of Elena. "She indeed is. She deserves every respect there is and..."


    My smile vanished after I was reminded of my mother...


    "And what?" Queen Liz asked, rmed,


    Shaking my head in dismay, I continued, "...and not the trouble she''ll face because of my mother."


    Looking up at her, I shrugged and shook my head in sadness. ¡°You know how she can be."


    Hearing that, her face dimmed a little as well, and she scoffed, "Considering your mother''s pride, things will indeed be difficult for both of you, especially Elena. But don''t worry..."


    Smiling, she raised her brow and gave me a knowing look. She won''t have the final say, and I will ensure that sweet Elena will not face any mistreatment in this kingdom"


    Hearing that, I couldn''t help but smile, knowing that I had gone to the right person for help.


    Grabbing the teacup in front of me, I raised it and cheered with the Queen. "I appreciate it, Your Majesty. I couldn''t thank you enough in advance."


    After taking a sip, she rested it down on the coaster and smiled knowingly at me. "You just came back from war and are already busy with so many things. Don''t forget to take care of yourself."


    With that, she signaled, and a servant came in with a box in her hand and handed it over to me.


    Reluctantly, I epted it and opened it with curiosity to find the finest sets of medicinal pills, creams, and ointments.


    "You always know what I need," I said with utmost gratitude as I closed it. Today''s Bomus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 122

    Elena''s POV


    "I''m so d to see you again, Elena. I heard about you and Deacon..." Queen Liz greeted me with a huge smile on her face as she led me to the balcony of her


    room.


    "Yes, it just... It happened." I smiled brightly as I walked gracefully to the balcony and leaned my arms on the fence while looking out at the magnificent view outside.


    Since Deagon and I started this, we might as well make it as real as possible.


    Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "Deacon and I went to war together... We fought side by side and faced obstacles far beyond what one could imagine... It''s almost like a sweet-blooded fairytale if that makes sense."


    The queen and I bothugh at our statement. "And that''s the weirdest yet loveliest description of love I ever heard."


    Iughed even harder at the Queen''s statement. "Well, that''s it. Our camaraderie developed into something deeper, so when we came back and he proposed... I had nothing more to say but yes."


    We chit-chat a little and shared a fewughs before she went closer to me and held both my hands with hers. She looked at me seriously and met my eyes. "I don''t think things are as simple and as magical as they all may seem, but I''ll always be here to support you and Deacon."


    The gratitude I felt at that moment was immeasurable. "Thank you."


    I looked outside and gestured, "I guess... I should go and meet the Duchess now." Shrugging, I added awkwardly, "...to avoid further troubles."


    Knowing what I meant, sheughed and sent me to the doors.


    "Let''s go, Zara,¡± I called as we went down and was immediately met by the Duchess'' attendant, who had apparently been waiting there since we arrived.


    As soon as we stepped outside the Mother Queen''s residence, the scorching heat of the sun zed our skin, and the more we walked around, especially on my heels, the more exhausted I became.


    "Princess..." Zara walked closer beside and discreetly whispered in my ear, "Why does it feel like they''re dragging us in circles?"


    I pulled a handkerchief from my pouch and wiped the sweat from my brow. Shaking my head while looking at the attendant who was leading us, I forced augh. "That''s because they are."


    Zara looked at me in surprise.


    "The Duchess is stalling." Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "It''s a ssic tactic. She wants to wear me down before we even get to her."


    "Oh... okay, careful," I said as I held her arm in support when she stumbled back. "Are you okay?" I asked.


    She blinked her eyes a couple of times and held her head. Panting, she exined, "It''s probably because of the heat. I feel a little dizzy."


    I nodded my head in understanding. Zara''s an Omega and didn''t undergo training


    like I did. ¡°Here, take some medicine. It will help.¡±


    From the corner of my eye, I could feel the attendant watching us with scrutiny


    thatter on turned to fascination, especially after Zara almost instantly regained herposure.


    "That''s..." The attendant hesitantly continued, "That medicine is a miracle worker."


    I looked at her for a while before nonchntly shrugging and grabbing more from


    my pouch to hand her a few. " It''s nothing special. Want one?"


    At first, she was hesitant, but after seeing that I was really intending to give her one, she nodded and epted it. After all, she looked as exhausted as Zara was earlier.


    Feeling better, the attendant sighed and smiled before gestring to the hallway. "Thank you, Princess. In this case, allow me to take you through a shaded path, it will be much cooler."


    Zara discreetly shot me a smirk, which I reciprocated as we followed the attendant to the hallway where we were shaded from the sun, and the afternoon''s breeze from the trees cooled our skin.


    "I''m so proud of you, Princess. Winning people over with kindness," Zara whispered with pride, making meugh a little.


    "Better than letting them drag us through the sun like we''re pack mules," I whispered back and shrugged like it''s a small matter.


    "Here we are, Princess," the attendant gestured to the residence that was located


    on the back of Deacon''s, just right behind the garden area.


    ¡°Princess Elena, the Duchess has been expecting you." A servant greeted us outside the door.


    "I''ll wait for you here, Princess," Zara uttered when I looked at her before she gestured to the bench in the garden that''s shaded by the massive tree.


    I nodded my head and muttered under my breath, "This is it..."


    When the double doors were opened, I almost choked from the sight that weed me. The entire ce wasvishly decorated with high-ss furniture and essories The chandelier in the living area also seemed to be made from diamonds.


    "So, you''re finally here." A cold voice caught my attention, only then did I realized that Duchess Diana was seated on the single sofa with her arms crossed while wearing a displeased expression on her face, probably as sharp as the corners of the diamonds above us.


    Nheless, I kept a calm demeanor and smiled politely while I met her sharp gaze. "I wouldn''t want to keep you waiting too long, Duchess."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 123

    Elena''s POV


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Diana," I formally greeted and lowered my head in traditional respect.


    I heard her scoff as her nails made sounds as she tapped them on the gold armrest of her chair. "Raise your head. I want to see the face that bewitched my son."


    I forced a smile and internally stopped myself from showing the annoyance that was slowly building up within me from the real meanings under her words that I vividly understood.


    She leaned her back to the chair and raised her chin with her thumb and index finger while she narrowed her eyes and looked at me from head to toe like she was examining an object she wanted to buy from an auction.


    "Hmph. Seductive, yes..." Standing up, she slowly approached me and walked around me. With a sharp tongue, she leaned forward and hissed beside my car, "But seductive doesn''t mean worthy."


    I kept anyposure and met her eyes without fear. "That wasn''t my intention, Duchess. I didn''t seduce your son, nor do I have any ns to do so. I just stand by his side and support him in his battles."


    She halted and faced me, lips pursing in anger and eyes zing with scrutiny. "How dare you argue with me in my own residence? You think that mouth makes you brave?"


    The countless gold bangles on her wrist made a clinking sound as she angrily pointed a finger at me.


    Despite that, I kept myposure and quietly replied, "I dare not argue, Duchess. I am only speaking the truth." "You insolent little bitch!" She raised her hand and was ready to strike.


    I didn''t blink or avoid her attack. Instead, I kept my cool and just when her palm was an inch away from my face, I raised mine and stopped her by holding her wrist as gently as I could."


    "Please, Duchess. If I displeased you and you are that eager to strike me, perhaps find a servant." Meeting her eyes, I smiled a little as I continued, "I''d hate for you to hurt yourself."


    She shook even more with anger upon hearing my voice. "You-" She could even form a word while pointing a finger at me.


    Stepping back, I let go of her hand and exined, "Please understand my concern, Duchess. I''ve been trained in martial arts for years. I''m a warrior who has a master who specialisms in the art of internal force, and so not even a w can hurt me that easily. I just don''t want to be the cause of you hurting your hand when you strike my face."


    Her eyes widened, and the veins on her neck protruded on her skin. "You-! Guards!"


    I hid augh when she actually called a guard, and in an instant, there were two of them who rushed forward and waited for her order.


    ring at me, she ordered, "Hit this insolent stunk as hard as you can until she vomits that pride out of her stinky mouth!"


    Bowing down, the two guards replied, "As youmanded-"


    Without hesitation, the bulkier guard stood in front of me without fear and went forward to p me as hard as he could. This time, I didn''t do anything and stood still, waiting for his attack.


    But as soon as his hand was a millimetre away from my face, he stumbled back and crouched down while holding the hand he used to p me. He was in so much pain that he couldn''t contain his scream.


    "What... what have you done?" Duchess Diane staggered back with wide eyes,pletely stunned.


    While still in shock, one of the pce maids came rushing and helped the guard, pulling him away while two new guards and maids came in, standing at the side. They were probably afraid that their Duchess would get hurt.


    Meeting her eyes, I stood taller and held my head high. "I have warned you, Duchess. It''s just how it is."


    Duchess Diane''s breathing hitched. She tried it as much as she could, but my keen eyes and hearing could still see through her facade of acting strong.


    Walking backwards without taking her eyes off me, she sat back down. "What a Bulgarian woman! You''re not fit to be a Princess for my son!"


    I walked and stood before her. Though I kept my eyes a little low out of respect, I kept my voice steady and showed no weakness. "I didn''t ask to deserve him, nor do I need confirmation for that, Duchess. Deacon and I fought with each other, and we bled together. I''m a warrior, and I''m willing to shield him even at the expense of my own pain. If that makes me unworthy, then perhaps our idea of worthiness doesn''t match."


    This time, she could no longer hide her anger. Her chest rose and fell heavily as her breathing became ragged. She clutched her chest while giving me a deadly re. ¡°You really think so highly of yourself. About this marriage, we''ll see..."


    N?dding her head, she grudgingly said, "I won''t hold you ountable for the same you brought here today because of your current contribution. But that glory you got recently won''t save you every time!"


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 124

    Elena''s POV


    I wanted tough at the Duchess'' remark. I didn''t ask her for forgiveness, and yet she felt like I hadmitted a grave sin that needed forgiveness, and wanted to act like the better person.


    Going with the flow, she sat, I yed with it and bowed my head a little out of respect while keeping my dignity." Thank you, Duchess Diana." Looking back up at her, I smile and kindly add, "But about my marriage with Deacon ... It''s something the two of us will decide. I am willing to marry him, and should he continue with it... I guess no one else has the right to determine my worth."


    "Ha!" Hearing my words, Duchess Diana''s patience snapped. She mmed her hand on her chair as she stood up, looking at me with narrowed eyes.


    Dripping with disdain, she smirked devilishly andmented sarcastically, "What a humble servant at best, ying a goody-two-shoes act. Mark my words, you insolent woman, once whatever potion you gave my son wears off, he''ll abandon you like he did to others before. Don''t forget who you are. You''re just a used woman that Alpha Bryson threw away. You''re not one that my son will take seriously."


    Laughing mockingly, she shook her head and looked at me like I was a piece of ant she could easily stamp on, Here I am taking pity on you and trying to save you from humiliation, but I see no gratitude from you.


    66


    Her way of doing things was indeed twisted, and her words were sharp, but she was straightforward and wasn''t using a mask to face me. I give her credit for that.


    With an unwavering voice, I nodded my head. "I understand your concern, Duchess. But it seems the news that reached your ears isn''t urate. Let me straighten it out. It is I who initiated my divorce with Bryson and not the other way around."


    Shaking my head, I keep my head high. "There''s no shame in my past.''


    >>


    Her jaws dropped, and she looked at me in disbelief for a couple of moments beforeughing mockingly. "You are really shameless. How can a woman of dignity speak so proudly of her divorce like you are doing now?"


    Stepping closer, she tilted her head a little in a mocking stance. "Look here, Elena. No matter who initiated it, it doesn''t change the fact that you''re divorced. Marrying again will ruin your reputation forever and will bring a huge scandal not only for you and the kingdom, but also to my son. Do you really think Deacon is so foolish to tie himself to a woman with such a disgraceful past?"


    I wouldn''t lie, I feel anger radiating in me from her constant belittling, and a cold air surrounds me, intensifying the already tense air around us.


    With cold eyes, I replied with a controlled voice, "I don''t regret any of the past decisions I made, Duchess. What''s more questionable is how only women are expected to bear the shame of remarriage. Meanwhile, men are free to marry over and over again without a word spoken against them."


    Having a sigh, I calmed myself and added as politely as I could. "Even the Lycan King, himself, spoke highly of me and called me a role model among women. If you like, you can ask him."


    A scoff of disbelief immediately escaped her lips. She shook her head dramatically and smirked at me. "Such a ring lie. The king will never say such a thing, much less praise a woman like.....¡± Scoffing with disdain, she continued while pointing at me, "...you!"


    "Duchess, I meant no disrespect, but times had changed, and so did some things. Now, even women are praised and given a title, which the King is very vocal about. But you..."


    >>


    I intentionally pause longer, taunting her a little before continuing with soft but firm words, "You chose to cling


    to the outdated way of doing things where women are stomped on and are constantly expected to be an obedient doll. If that''s what you want, I''m afraid I''ll disappoint you.


    "I see what you''re doing. You''re trying to manipte your way into royalty by pretending you want to advocate for women, and you got your ws on my son. You can act all dignified as you want to y, but we both know it''s all for your selfish reasons."


    "Then perhaps you should marry someone more suitable... someone who is not my son," she uttered coldly before spreading her arms and gesturing around. "Why cling to him when there are other options avable to you? I have many candidates in mind who suit my son. Women who would never shame our family like you have."


    Things were taking longer than I wanted them to be, and every word we exchanged was only tiring me out. I didn''t want to disrespect or hurt her because she''s Deacon''s mother, but it also didn''t mean that I''d let her stomp on me.


    I already made those mistakes once when I got married to Bryson, and I won''t do it again.


    Hardening my eyes a little, I cleared my throat and replied firmly, "I already gave my word to Deacon when he proposed to me. I will marry him, not for titles or power, but out of my own integrity. If you think I can be swayed by your words, you are mistaken, Duchess. I will not abandon mymitment to anyone."


    Her eyes narrowed with simmering rage. "You truly refuse to bow down to me, huh? How dare you refuse my wishes? How dare a woman like you think you have the power to stand up to me?"


    A smile escaped my lips when I heard her words. "Forgive me, Duchess. But I won''t be bowing down to anyone''s wishes but to the man I marry. Since he chose me, I''ll stand by his side and won''t be swayed by others'' words."


    The Duchess clenched her teeth and sat back down, thumping her chest with her fist while looking at me like she wanted to kill me. "You are impossible! You''ve ruined any chance of me epting you!"


    4 nodded my head in understanding. "I understand that you are angry, but you cannot break me, Duchess. I''ve faced far worse in my life, and nothing you say or do will change who I am now."


    She red at me with her chest heaving with frustration. It looked like she wanted to retort again, but we heard the door suddenly swinging open.


    "Mom?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 125

    Elena''s POV


    My eyes shifted to the door just as the Duchess'' eyes did. And there, a girl peeked from the door with a huge smile


    on her face.


    Her eyes wandered around first before she stepped fully inside, showcasing her beautiful cocktail dress, styled with glitter on the hem.


    "Mom, I hear Princess Elena is here!" She came in and jumped in joy as she confronted her mother.


    She''s about 5 feet tall, and I''d say around fifteen years old from her appearance and demeanour. Her eyes were glistening with curiosity, and she was all giddy, making little jumps in ce.


    Duchess Diana wasn''t even given enough time to reply with all her energy as she turned around and looked until her eyes met mine.


    She froze for a little while, staring at me like she was starstruck.


    "Princess Katherine." I bowed a little and greeted her with respect. Despite our same title and age difference, she''s still a full-fledged princess and deserves respect. Besides, she''s also Deacon''s cousin, so... Might as well.


    "You are really here! Wow, you look gorgeous, more like a fairy! Are you really that brave warrior who fought alongside my brother against those rogues?" She uttered in one breath while taking steps closer to me, her smile only getting wider with each word she uttered.


    If stars could spark from someone''s eyes, there would be a gxy in this room already.


    I nodded a little, clueless on how to react to her overwhelming reaction. "Yes, it is indeed me."


    She surprisingly gasped and rushed to my side, sping both her hands into my left and looking up at me. "Oh my goddess! You are really here! You saved my cousin from that battle!" 1


    I shook my head and humbly replied, "I only fought by his side. Your cousin is a great warrior who doesn''t need saving."


    "Nonsense!" She shouted. "I heard if it weren''t for your warning, they would have been ambushed!"


    I was already lost for words; luckily, Duchess Diana''s anger came in good use this time.


    A mming sound echoed in the entire residence as she mmed her hand on her armrest. "Kat! Why are you here? Who let you in without my invitation?"


    Throwing her a re, she snapped at her, "Stop making a fuss! She''s just a warrior; it''s part of her job to fight."


    Princess Katherine''s face instantly turned sour, and she defiantly faced Duchess Diana. "Aunty, she protected our kingdom. She deserves all the recognition she gets. Besides she still has some injury, why aren''t you asking her to sit?"


    "Shut it, Kat! Warriors get injured on a daily basis. We can''t baby them just because of a small wound." Duc. Diana stared at me while throwing those cold words.


    Princess Kathereing crossed her arms in anger as she looked at her with disbelief. "Of course, she does need to be cared for. How will you feel if my cousin gets hurt? I''m sure her family is worried about her too."


    While sadness hit my heart, Deacon''s mother unsurprisingly found it funny. She scoffed and rolled her eyes as soon as she heard Princess Katherine''s words and coldly hissed, "She''s more an orphan, who''ll care for her when all her family is dead and her husband threw her away?"


    The air stiffened with a cold breeze, and the demeanour turned dark as fury shed in my eyes and fire burned through my veins.


    I tried to control my voice, but it still went out a little too steely. "My father and brothers might be gone, but they''re lives were sacrificed for this kingdom you stand on Looking at her with my head held high, I continued, " Their names deserve honor and not your scorn, Duchess."


    Duchess Diana''s jaws clenched and her body shook from anger as she pointed a finger at me... "You are really one insolent bitch!"


    Clutching her chest, which was pounding hard, she fell into her seat and


    massaged her pounding temple, swallowing the rest of her retorts.


    With her eyes closed, she waved her hands in a gesture of dismissal. "I''m tired. Escort her out."


    One of the maids came rushing to aid her, but she pushed them away and hissed. "I''m fine. Just get them out of my sight, especially that insolent woman!"


    "dly." I thought silently as I swallowed the smile that was threatening to form on my lips.


    Bowing my head a little again, I bid my goodbye. "Goodbye, Duchess Diana." Looking up at her intense look, I smirk a little. ¡°Until we meet again. Hopefully, you''ll be there at the wedding."


    With that, I turned around while I enjoyed hearing the sharpness of her breath after she flinched at my words.


    The door closed behind me, and I was walking with grace, but I was halted when I felt someone tugging at my dress, only to find Princess Kathering. "I like you! You don''t even flinch at Aunt''s dominance, and you''re fearless!"


    So, a genuine smile instantly spread on my lips. "Well, there''s really nothing to be afraid of."


    It''s nothing that I couldn''t handle.


    She raised her hands and made a thumbs-up. "You''re my idol! And you''ll be my cousin-inw after you marry my cousin!"


    She even pped her hands dramatically, making me chuckle.


    "We''ll see what fate decides, Princess Kat."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 126

    Elena''s POV


    My smile got even brighter as I stared at her innocent eyes and lovely smile. She has that bright sunshine around her like I used to have before. Looking at her was like seeing a walking beam of joy.


    "What do you mean by fate? It''s not sure yet?" she asked so innocently, making meugh a little.


    Shrugging, I smiled gently and teased a little. "It means I''ll definitely be your sister if your cousin doesn''t change his mind."


    She giggled at my words before letting out a joking scoff. "He''d be a fool if he did that. Everyone talks about how amazing you are! You''re the most admired general now."


    I patted her head and shook my head. She''s so adorable. "What a sweet tongue you have."


    Tapping her nose, I added, "I only did what must be done. And don''t tell that to your cousin, he''d be jealous. He''s the best of all."


    She pursed her lips and touched her chin while thinking for a bit before shrugging as she gave in. "Well, you''re right, but still, you''re the best female general."


    Her bright face immediately turned sour, though. "Not that General Glenda."


    I raised my brows in shock, couldn''t believe that Glenda''s venom was so strong that even a fifteen-year-old child would be mad enough to add and see through her scheme.


    Not done yet, she leaned closer to me and continued to criticise, "She''s always so cold and rude. I don''t like it here one bit!"


    "You shouldn''t speak badly of others, Your Highness,'' I said in a soft voice.


    There might be angst between Glenda and me, but no madness in this world shall ruin a child''s innocence.


    "But-" she sounded like she still wanted to protest, but her words were cut off when the door opened slightly and one of the servants came out.


    Bowing slightly, she softly informed, "Princess Katherine, the Duchess is looking for you."


    Katherine frowned in dismay and huffed before facing me with a small smile as she held my handfortingly." Don''t worry. My mom''s bark is worse than her bite. When you get to know her, you''ll realise that she''s really kind."


    A wry smile formed on my lips as I replied dryly, "Yes, of course she is very kind." Reminded of the Duchess'' tantrums earlier, I added with a smallugh, ¡°... and very funny too."


    Too innocent to see my sarcasm, she jumped in joy. "She is, sis, isn''t she? I think so too."


    Her innocent reaction only made me like her even more, and I messed up her hair.


    "Alright, you go ahead. You''re mom''s looking for you. I''ll see you another time."


    I was about to turn around again with Zara following me behind, but she suddenly held my hand again, stopping me. With a frown on her lips and her googly eyes, she asked "When will you visit again? I want to hear the story about the battle. In detail!"


    I ruffled her hair and smiled widely as I nced at the giant door behind her. Looking down at her, I bent down a little so our eyes would be on the same level. "Don''t worry, I have a feeling your mom will call me again."


    The servant''s eyes, who was calling for Katherine earlier, suddenly flickered from what she heard, only making me even more sure that my assumption was right. The Duchess won''t go down that easily.


    "Promise me! You''ll tell me everything next time."


    I nodded my head in defeat. "I will surely do."


    With that, we waved hands with each other while I waited for her topletely enter the residence before turning around with Zara walking by my side.


    "Princess, how was it? Was the Duchess harsh with you?" Zara asked worriedly as soon as we were left alone by ourselves with the guide a bit far ahead of us.


    I shook my head and let out a small smile. "Let''s just say that it wasn''t so bright." "Come on, let''s stop by the Queen''s pavilion first. I''m sure you and I both will appreciate a drink." With that, I walked ahead of us with our eyes squinted and hands covering our faces from the bright sun.


    "You-ha! You''re now her nemesis, Elena! Finally, someone gave that old peacock a lesson." Queen Liz''s bright and softughter echoed from her balcony, where we were already seated, including Zara.


    Queen''s smile was so huge while she watched me and Zara gulping down the cold drink before us as if we had been thirsty for a year.


    Taking another sip from the juice, I modestly replied, "I was only answering her questions, Queen Liz."


    "Don''t be modest. I had people listening. The moment she brought up your past and you shut her down? Magnificent."


    My eyes widened from the Queen''s honesty. ncing at Zara, I found her giving me the same look of surprise before we burst into a giggle.


    "I think she''ll think twice now before calling someone names.''

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 127

    Elena''s POV


    Queen Liz and Iughed at Zara''s sudden outburst.


    "Seemed like I wasn''t the only one triggered by the Duchess'' words," Queen Liz said, making all of usugh.


    Suddenly, despite the scorching heat outside and the torment the Duchess tried to throw at my way, being in here made things feel a bit lighter.


    "This juice is a lifesaver. I thought my skin would melt on that walk back," I exaggeratedly said as I gulped another ss in one go.


    Leaning back to her seat with her head back and arms spread, Zarained, "Oh, tell me about it, Princess. I can barely feel my legs!"


    "But seriously, the same woman now dreads your next visit Elena, you''ve just made life here in this dull pce a whole level more exciting," Queen Liz uttered before taking a sip of her drink.


    She didn''t even look fazed by all that was happening to it. It seemed like drama was a normal thing in the pce, and it had now be more like an entertainment than an actual problem, from how often it happened.


    Tapping my fingers on the table after putting my ss down, I looked at the bright sky outside and shrugged. Honestly... Duchess Diana isn''t as difficult as I thought. Once you get past the sharp tone, she''s... manageable." Queen Liz almost spat out the juice from her mouth as she snorted from my choice of words. "Manageable? Child, the entire pce tiptoes around that woman. Even the guards tremble when she passes."


    I nodded my head in understanding and smiled. ¡°I can see why. She''s strong¡ª willed."


    "She''s like a wild dog guarding scraps, willing to bite anyone who gets too close. I avoid her out of survival, Queen Liz replied with honesty, and I didn''t argue, but I watched her calm demeanour and unfading smile.


    She''s fearless.


    If the Duchess were a wild dog, then Queen Liz would be the one with a whip that trained her. They just have a different way of handling things. While the Queen was all bright and kind, the Duchess was sharp and straightforward. But both shouldn''t be underestimated.


    "Princess, slow down. I''ve run out of count of your sses of juice already. It''s too cold. Your wounds aren''t fully healed yet," Zara worriedly reminded me as I poured my ss again.


    Shrugging, I still continued. "I''m thirsty."


    "Mom?" Our chit-chat was cut off when we heard a deep voice that echoed from


    the main room, followed by heavy and firm footsteps that slowly got louder as they got closer to us.


    Peeking out to the balcony, King Desmond smirked teasingly at us.


    Leaning back in her chair, the Queen crossed her arms and raised a brow, teasingly asking, "Came to disturb my peace, have you?


    Zara excused herself respectfully as she gestured for the King to take her seat.


    Approaching the seat, King Desmond bowed a little to his mom and gave me a small nod of greeting before sitting down majestically. "I heard there''s a little fun in here."


    Focusing his gaze on me, he smiled. ¡°You should visit more often. Mom seems..." Narrowing his eyes, he looked


    at the Queen and continue with a joking smirk, "Unusually fond of you."


    Laughing a little, I raised my hand and touched my chest, dramatically remarking, "I am honoured."


    Heughed a little before his demeanour turned a little serious. Crossing his legs, he sped his hands and rested them on his knee. "But I didn''te for pleasantries. I''m tired of paperwork. Thought hearing of the battlefield might wake me up."


    "And that''s my que. You guys talk. I''ll have a walk around the garden." The Queen stood up, making me alert.


    "No, you don''t need to leave. I-"


    She showed her palm and gestured for me to sit back down It''s alright. I don''t want this boring stuff."


    With that; sheughed and left me alone with the king.


    As soon as she vanished, I straightened up. "What would you like to know?"


    "I heard that during the battle, you are the front line of one of the teams while Bryson''s troops are behind you, giving you aid. So, basically, you are a team and assist each other. Right?" he asked.


    I didn''t know where he was going with this topic, but I just nodded and answered honestly, "Yes, I guess you can say that."


    Confusion and curiosity formed in his eyes. "How did it go?


    I shrugged. "Well, as it''s reported, everything ran smoothly."


    I didn''t bother to add the fact that Bryson failed at some point and didn''t manage


    to handle Glenda properly.


    They already got their punishment, and I didn''t want to further tattle meaninglessly.


    Tilting my head, I studied his face and cautiously asked, "Uhmmm, if I may, why are you asking, King Desmond?"


    Unpping his hand, he rested it on his armrest, and his finger started tapping it. Raising a brow at me, he nonchntly shrugged and shook his head. "It''s nothing. I''m just curious."


    Gestured at me, he continued, "I mean, given your history with each other, I''d say it was a risky pairing. Was Deacon trying to test you both?"


    I kept my expression neutral as my heart pounded, feeling the tension in the air


    and reading right through the meaning behind his questions.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 128

    Elena''s POV


    Not even for a second did I question Deacon''s choices during the battle. Not back then, and not now.


    The trust I had in him wasn''t blind either. It was earned.


    It was built steadily through everything I''d witnessed, from the way he carried himself among the ranks to the way his soldiers listened to him without hesitation. He was calcting. Fair. A strategist through and through. And that''s one of the many reasons why I admire him not only as a person but also as a leader.


    And besides, whatever personal disagreements Bryson and might''ve had, they had no ce on the battlefield. In war, we fought as one. We bled under the same purpose.


    That''s why when the king asked me such a question, where he was obviously trying to find dirt on Deacon, I got irritated a little, which I tried hard to hide. He was still, after all, the King.


    When I didn''t respond right away, King Desmond leaned back in his chair in a rxed manner, but his calcting eyes didn''t escape my gaze.


    He tilted his head and gave a casual shrug.


    "Or maybe..." he said slowly before adding, "he didn''t think at all. That kind of reckless judgment could''ve easily backfired. Especially with someone like Glenda in the picture."


    Seeing how he was crossing the line already, I sighed.


    Without wavering or flinching from the intimidating demeanour he was radiating, I met his eyes head-on and firmly answered, "Deacon made the right call."


    With a calm but steady voice, I continued, "Bryson and I are warriors. We don''t bring our personal issues to the battlefield. The breach happened because Glenda disobeyed direct orders. That failure''s hers-not his."


    For a second, King Desmond didn''t move. He just looked at me with something unreadable glinting behind his eyes. Then, to my surprise, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.


    "Not even married yet,¡± he mused, ¡°and you''re already defending him so fiercely. No hesitation at all."


    My brows twitched slightly at that. I had assumed-perhaps naively-that King Desmond and Deacon were on better terms.


    But this... this felt strange. What was he on about? A test? A warning? Or maybe just a game he enjoyed ying. "I just spoke the truth," I replied evenly, not giving him the satisfaction of a reaction.


    But that smirk of his deepened as if my calmness amused him more.


    "Interesting," he muttered, more to himself than to me. Then he chuckled low in his throat-soft, amused, but not entirely light-hearted..


    And despite everything, he looked... pleased?


    He uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, and reached for his ss. The crystal clinked softly as he lifted it to his lips and took a slow sip. "Good answer," he said finally. "Bold. Direct. Full of integrity."


    He nodded once, his gaze sharp as ever. "And your loyalty to my brother is...mendable. You didn''t just stand with him on the battlefield-you defended him in this room, without even blinking."


    "My loyalty," I replied coolly, "lies with what''s right. Deacon happened to be right. He made the call. And in war,


    there''s no such thing as a afe decision. Every move''s a gable. Every risk could go either way."


    I shrugged, like it wasn''t something that haunted people long after the battle had ended. Like we didn''t all carry the weight of choices, both good a


    bad.


    Just then, I saw Queen Liz walking back in from my peripheral vision.. As she stepped gracefully into the room, her presence instantly shifted the air.


    "What are you guys on about?" she asked brightly.


    Standing up from my seat, I offered them a polite smile while shifting my gaze between them.


    "I shouldn''t keep you from your family time," I said smoothly, offering them a respectful nod. "I''ll take my leave now."


    I had no intention of staying to y whatever game King Desmond thought he''d


    started. I was drained- physically from the heat, emotionally from the tightrope


    walk that was conversation with the Duchess, and mentally from this...


    interrogation. Besides, I''d already danced to his tune once. I was marrying, wasn''t


    I?


    toward the parking lot, my he" a


    steady rhythm against the marble. Zara stayed silent for a few steps


    As Zara and I stepped out of the pce, the sun hit us like a wall of heat. We


    crossed the polished stone courtyard


    before she leaned slightly closer.


    "Why did it feel like... the king was interrogating you?" she whispered, eyes wide as she nced over her shoulder.


    I shifted my purse to my other hand, raising it to shield my eyes from the blinding sun. "Because he was." "My palms are sweating," she muttered, even shaking her voice a bit to emphasise her feeling as she continued, " He looked so friendly, but it felt like he had a knife behind his back the whole time."


    I let out a dry, humourlessugh. "Wee to royalty."


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 129

    King Desmond''s POV


    As soon as the door closed behind Elena, I cracked upughing. Looking at my Mom while pointing at the door, I said, "Did you see her face? I haven''t seen Elena that flustered since we were kids when she fell into the pond!"


    My mom walked slowly toward me with narrowed eyes before she pped me on the back of my head. "Mom! I''m the king!"


    She raised her brows strictly like she used to do when I was being naughty as a kid. With her arms on her hips, she firmly stated, "And I''m your mother."


    Frowning, she sat opposite her and shook her head. "She''s not that little girl anymore, Desmond. Don''t keep teasing her. She already endured more than enough with the tragedy she faced."


    "I wasn''t being cruel, Mom. I just wanted to see..." My smile widened as I continued, "I just want to see if there''s really a spark."


    She shook her head like she had had enough of me and waved her hand in dismissal. "If you''re too bored, go back to your Luna to y instead of ying cupid or whatever game this is. Elena is different, don''t add her to your list to be yed with."


    Seeing that she was really annoyed, I raised both my arms up in surrender. "All right, no more teasing, Mom." I was drinking another ss when my Beta came in and set down a scroll on the table before leaving again. Nodding at it, I smiled proudly. "That''s my wedding gift for Deacon. Take a look, Mom."


    She looked at me for a second before untying the ribbon and unscolling it, looking at the list of gifts that was prepared.


    "Diamond jewellery... Tailored clothes... A set of pce-carved furniture..." She looked up at me with wide eyes. You''ve really gone all out."


    "Of course, it''s not just any wedding. It''s Deacon''s, Mom. It has to be special." Deacon''s my only brother, and that would never change, no matter what obstacles we face, and no matter what dirty politics were in front of us.


    She continued to scan the list when her eyes narrowed. "You even added far more things. Even things for Elena. Why?"


    A hint of sadness shed within me as I smiled with pain. "Her brother is not just myrade, Mom. He''s my best friend."


    Shrugging, I forced a smile and added, "I just thought that if he were here, he''d probably prepare far more than this."


    "You know Elena is their treasure." Iughed at the memories.


    Elena was the only girl among all of the men, and they all treated her like a princess. They taught her everything they knew and far more. All they ever wanted was her to be happy.


    2


    She looked down onest time at the scroll before gently rolling it back to how it was earlier and tying a knot around it. "I never knew my son was so thoughtful."


    She gave me a teasing smile until we both shared augh.


    "Now, that''s our secret, Mom. I''m the King. They can''t know I have a soft spot," I joked back before we clung our sses into a toast.


    Once ourughter subsided, she sighed and became more serious as she met my eyes. "Tell me the truth, son. Why are you testing Elena?


    Knowing that my mom won''t let this matter go, I sighed after a small pause and seriously replied, "I just wanted to see if there''s genuine feelings between her and my brother... To see if she''ll defend him. Not just because she had to, but because she really meant it."


    "And?" she dragged her tone, waiting for my answer.


    A smile formed on my lips as I nodded my head wifir satisfaction. ¡°She did. Without hesitation or stutter. There isn''t even a flicker of doubt in her eyes."


    Shaking my head with amusement, I added, ¡°She really trusts him and maybe... even really likes him."


    "Of course, she is. She''s a very nice girl." My mom''s tone turned sad as she continued, "It''s a pity that after all the tragedy she faced from the death of her family, she had to experience betrayal and divorce."


    Hearing that, my lips pursed and my hands tightened on the ss. "Bryson doesn''t deserve her. He never did." Probably seeing the tension within me, my mom extended her arm across the table and held my hand that was resting on top. "All is well now, son. Look, you granted her divorce, made her a princess, and you''re now entrusting her to your brother. Time will slowly heal all the wounds that the past has created."


    Sighing with relief, I looked at my mom with a smile. "At least, no matter how things started and came into this, we know that there was really sincerity between them."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 130

    King Desmond''s POV


    After my talk with my mom, I left the room and went to the rooftop, my hands leaning against the cemented fence as I looked out over the quiet forest in front of me. I watched over the entire kingdom, where there were barely any lights, and tranquillity filled the surroundings.


    The cold night breeze brushed against my face and skin, its chilly sensation simr to the slow freezing of my heart.


    A painful smile formed on my lips as I thought about the uing marriage between my brother and Elena. I sighed and shook my head to dismiss any unpleasant thoughts that wereing into my mind.


    I was indeed happy for my brother, and he''d always be my brother, whom I would cherish. But despite all the games I made them think I was ying, it''s true that there''s a part of me that was serious about my marriage proposal toward Elena.


    The chill in my heart was slowly spreading through my body when I suddenly felt warmth radiating from my side. My mother stood beside me, her back leaning against the fence. Looking at me sideways, she calmly uttered in a heavy voice, "Your father... The former king... he once loved another woman.¡±


    My hand slipped off the fence, and I stood up in shock as I faced her.


    "W-what... Another woman?" I asked with a shaky voice and a heavy heart.


    Turning to the side, she faced and looked me straight in the eyes, answering calmly, "Yes... Elena''s mother."


    I stood frozen on my feet as I listened to my mother continue, "But he never acted on it. He kept his feelings hidden. Your father is a good man. He was loyal to the oath he took, not only to me but also to hisrade, Elena''s father."


    "D-did she know?" I asked in a voice that almost sounded like a whisper.


    With a sad smile, she shook her head and heaved a sigh. "No. She died never learning about it... And he carried that feelings until hisst breath."


    The air thickened between us as I try to process this shciking revtion. I never once thought that there were such thing. After all, my parent''s rtionship was good, almost perfect even.


    "And you... Did you ever minded it, Mom?" I coouldn''t fathom how she could handle such thing.


    I thought I''d see pain in her eyes. Still, I guess I didn''t knew my mother well enough because to my surprise, she let otu a genuine smile as she shrugged her shoulders and calmly replied, "I never expected a hopeless romantic story with your father when we got married and I became a Luna, son."


    Raising her hand, she held my cheek and smiledfortingly at me. "Love wasn''t my duty. I was here to bear heirs, rule ebesidehim, and guide this kingdom. Our love might not be a traditional one, but we wererades and we love each other in our own way."


    "So you do love him..."


    She let out a smalughh and turned to look out of the balcony, mimicking my previous stance earlier before she came. "I admired him. I admire your father for his restraint and endless capabilities. He stayed true to his mission and purged corruption. He upheld peace with objectivity and protected the weak."


    Then sadness shadowed her eyes. Shaking her head, she disappoitningly ssighed "But those rot he cleaned before apparently came to ruin everything he worked hard for. After his death, the nobles started to grow bold again and


    crawl their way back in. Corruption has started to take new roots."


    "Which is why..." she letoutu another warm smile and faced me with so much love and pride in her eyes. "Which is why you cannot fight this alone, son."


    Tilting her head, she continued, "Rely on your brother, especially to him who never once seeks the throne, but serves it well."


    I looked down as I felt my heartclenchedd tighter. "Why are you telling me all this, Mom? You know my brother and I are always on good terms."


    Upon hearing that, she immediately let out a loudugh. "Oh, son. You can fool everyone else, but not me. I carried you for 9 months andhave been with you until now. We both know that your marriage proposal to Elena wasn''t an.empty one, as even your Lunathinksk it is."


    My eyes lifted up to meet hers, heart poundign fast in my heart. I never once voiced out that truth.


    "Mom-"


    Before I could say anything, she interrupted. "Son, you have lost something. But you have gained something, too."


    I stared at her for a long while as my eyes shook from hearing the truth. Seems like history had repeated itself. Like my father, I had feeings for another but we could only hide it and carry it alone until our death...


    Taking a deep breaht, Iposed myself bfoer exhaling. With my head held high, I nodded my head at her and firmly replied, "I know what to do. Thank you, Mom." Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 131

    Elena''s POV


    We were nearing the ce where our car was parked when Zara suddenly nudged me.


    "What?" I asked in confusion and followed the direction she was signalling, finding many high-ranking officials gathered in the nearby garden shed with Deacon.


    "Should we greet him?" Zara whispered as I kept my eyes on Deacon. After a bit of inner contemtion, I nodded my head and started to walk.


    "Gentlemen," I greeted, interrupting their conversation.


    Slowly, Deacon, who had his back to me, turned around with a look of surprise in his eyes. "Done already?" he asked.


    Laughing a little, I raised a brow at him as I gestured to the time on his watch. "Looks like you are expecting for longer? I even gave Queen Liz a visit."


    His lips stretched into a smile as he stared at me with admiration. "I didn''t know my wife-to-be was so capable." Standing up, he went beside me and waved his hand at his friends before guiding me a few feet away from them. With a bit more privacy around us, I became more serious and said, "We need to talk."


    -He was taken aback for a little while as he weighed my expression before he sighed and gestured to his car a few meters away from us. "Alright then, let''s get in."


    As we stood beside his car, I turned my head to Zara and gestured to our car. "You can go back to the pack house first. I''ll be with Prince Deacon for a while. Call me if you need something."


    She looked at me for a while, a bit hesitant. "Are you sure?"


    I nodded my head without thinking twice. "Absolutely.


    Shrugging, she nodded her head and smiled. "Okay, Princess."


    With a teasing look in her eyes, she added, "I won''t argue with you. Have fun!"


    She gave me a teasing look, even wiggling her brows before she got into the car, making both Deacon and meugh.


    Shaking his head, Deaconmented, "Zara is the bravest omega of a princess I''ve ever known."


    "That''s because she''s not just my omega. She''s my friend," I uttered genuinely.


    Zara had been there for me since I could remember. When I was a child, she''d be my ymate. When I was studying, she was my helper. And when I became a warrior, she avoided me with everything I needed.


    Up until now, she would go far and beyond her job description just to make sure I had everything I needed.


    "Come on," Deacon invited as he opened the door of the passenger car for me.


    After saying my thanks, I sat down inside and put on my seatbelt.


    "Tell me, what is it?" he asked as soon as he gotfortable in his seat.


    After recounting what happened inside the Mother Queen''s residence earlier, I could only let out a sigh. "The king


    He visited Queen Liz earlier when I was there, and we had a conversation. He started questioning the


    effectiveness of your decision and seeing my thoughts about it as testing my loyalty toward you."


    Instead of being angry, I was surprised that he looked even amused about it. "That looks like something he would do, actually."


    "What happened next?" he asked, his fingers tapping the steering wheel while his other arm rested on the window.


    I shrugged and smiled at him. "I told him the truth. That war isn''t clean, and you made the best calls under fire."


    "And that..." Shifting from my seat, I faced him and looked deep into his eyes before continuing, "...that I trust and believe in you."


    We stared at each other for a long time before the smile on his face widened. "You answered well."


    Looking away from me, I was able to see how his ears turned a little bit red. Still avoiding my eyes, he continued, " Strategy is always marred by emotion. War isn''t math with an absolute answer, it''s chaos."


    After nodding thoughtfully at him, I decided to lighten up the mood a little bit bymenting half-jokingly, "he was smiling the whole time, actually, which made it feel a bit strange because it didn''t feel like it was a genuine one."A smirk formed on his lips as heughed a little. "With him, you never really know."


    After shaking his head, he shifted the car into drive mode and started it.


    We were engulfed withfortable silence on our way back to my pack until we


    halted at an intersection after a traffic light turned red.


    I could feel him ncing at me a couple of times, but didn''t say anything. With curiosity eating me alive, I sighed and looked at him. "What is it?"


    "What?"


    Iughed. "Just say it before whatever you''re keeping in mind kills you."


    He hesitated for a while before sighing. As his face turned serious, his hand that was on the shift rod slid down to my hand and squeezed it. "Did my mom make things difficult for you?"

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 132

    Elena''s POV


    A smile instantly spread to my lips as I shrugged my shoulders. "She tried a little. But it''s nothing I can''t handle. Honestly, I found her more manageable than your brother.


    Deacon looked at me like I had grown another head, eyes wide open and lips agape. With both brows raised, he spoke, "Manageable?! That''s the first time anyone ever described her that way.


    He even let out a smallugh of disbelief.


    I was about to reply, but a series of honks interrupted me. Looking at the front, I realize that the light was already green. Tapping him on his arm, I pointed outside, "Go!"


    "Right..." He blinked before looking back at the front and driving, stopping the honks from those behind us.


    Once we were moving smoothly again, I replied, "She''s... aggressive in her own way, but at least she''s upfront. I respect that more than passive jabs and fake smiles."


    Having someone straightforward was easier. I at least know how I should handle them. Unlike King Desmond, whose every move seemed like a mystery, I couldn''t be sure if he was being sincere or sarcastic sometimes.


    Theard Deacon heave a heavy sigh, making me look in his direction to see worry in his face. "You can only say that because you haven''t seen her at her worst yet. Once, she soaked herself in cold water for hours just to pretend she was sick. All because my father wasn''t giving her enough attention."


    He suddenly snorted and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, technically, she wasn''t pretending because with what she did, she really got sick."


    My eyes widened in shock. What kind of crazy persistence was that?


    "Seriously?" I asked with wide eyes.


    Nodding his head, he continued with a bitter tone, ¡°Yup! She caught a real cold. The worst thing was that the bath was too cold. She got bedridden for a week and was scolded like a child."


    I couldn''t help butugh after I recovered from my shock. "That''s actually kind of hrious. Desperate, but hrious."


    ¡°Hrious?¡± he asked dryly before shaking his head. "Definitely, not. More like Embarrassing. She''s w Willful, spoiled, andpletely unreasonable. Even the former King had to ask her to move out of the main pce." I squiremed upon hearing that. "That bad, huh?"


    "Noblewomen avoid her entirely. Actually, almost everyone, regardless of gender or age. She''s impossible to reason with. I honestly thought she''d corner you the moment you stepped in," he uttered in a low voice that''s filled with worry.


    20


    I grinned andfortingly said, "She tried. But I had help. Your brother''s mother was there, remember?"


    Though I didn''t technically have any help, knowing someone was there tofort me and be by my side gave me


    courage.


    I felt the car drive slowly until it stopped. "We''re here."


    Looking out of the window, I saw that we were already outside my pack. I rolled down the window and pointed at the gate while looking at the guard outside. Chapter 132


    Immediately after recognising me, the gate opened.


    After stopping the car right in front of the main door of the house, Deacon got out


    of the car and ran to the passenger side, opening the door for me.


    With a smile, I got off and gracefully stood before him. "Thank you for the ride. I''ll see you tomorrow, Deacon." Sighing, he closed the door and leaned on it while looking at me. "I wish I could stay longer."


    I looked at the door behind me and tilted my head to gesture at it. "Well, you can if you want. We can have a cup of coffee before you leave."


    Sighing, he shook his head as he spoke as if he was really hopeless and staying would be a big deal. "I can''t. My mom will hear about it. And with things just going on, she''ll scold me to death, saying it''s improper."


    Muttering under his breath, he continued, though I still hear it, "She always ruins things..."


    Encouragingly smiling, I told him, "Have a safe trip back, Deacon. We''ll see each other again.


    "What happened?"


    "That''s a huge smile, I see..."


    Jayden and Zara immediately greeted me as soon as I entered.


    Shaking my head at their warm greeting, I handed my purse to Zara and walked to the couch, mming down on -it.


    Without care, I slipped off my feet from the torture of my heels and leaned my head back while spread my arms. "Everything went well?" Jayden asked while Zara excused herself to the kitchen to get some refreshments. ncing a little at Jayden, I replied with a bit of boasting to lighten up his tense expression., "Of course. Who do you think I am?"


    Going along, he rxed a bit and replied, "The best Alpha female and Princess!" We shared augh and chatted a little before he left to go back to his duties. "Here''s some juice," Zara uttered, making me sit back properly and reach for one. I was about to gulp one ss down when my phone, which was on the coffee table, pinged.


    Looking at it, Iughed upon seeing Deacon cutelyining, "I''m back and being bombarded with checking auspicious dates for the wedding."


    Date... It''s really happening. I''m getting married again.


    This time... I hope it won''t end in a tragedy.


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 133

    CHpater 133


    Deacon''s POV


    As soon as I got back to the pce, my Beta, Tyson, rushed to my side. "What''s with the hurry?" I asked as we walked side by side toward Iny office.


    With long strides to keep up with me, he reported, "I''ve been looking at the auspicious days this week and I think the day after tomorrow is particrly favourable for officially proposing a marriage."


    A smile spread to my lips as I entered my office and sat in my chair.


    "Then we''ll do it the day after tomorrow," I replied without hesitation, pulling out my phone to send a message to Elena about it.


    Tyson nodded while starting to tweak things from his table. "Then, I''ll notify the Irontail pack, about it and prepare some of our gifts for the visit."


    Swiping through his tablet to check on his calendar, his brows furrowed. Looking up at me with worry, he cautiously said, "By the way, it''s the Grand Princess Geline''s birthday tomorrow. She sent invitations, hoping you''d attend."


    A frown immediately formed on my lips as I wasn''t really a great fan of her. ¡°Decline it and just send a gift on my behalf.¡±


    He nodded his head, but he looked like he was contemting something. After a while, he sighed and reported, As you wish... but... Princess Elena also received an invitation, and she might attend..."


    My eyes narrowed immediately, and my face darkened as I leaned back in my chair and sped my hands together, feeling my temple pulse with the iing headache.


    I shook my head as I uttered in disdain, "Grand Princess Geline is cunning. Her sweet appearance is nothing but a mask to hide her cruelty..."


    Reminded of the past when she''d secretly and severely punish the lower-ranked members just because she felt like it, and how she would manipte everyone around her like a puppet... bitterness and anger crashed within


    1. me.


    "She''s done far worse than what anyone dares to speak about..." I whispered under my breath.


    Knowing what I was speaking about so well, Tyson nodded with eyes glitning with worry, "That one thing is right She''s a woman of many faces. Her parties and banquets are nothing more than power ys. Forming alliances... and building up her connections."


    My gaze hardened as I couldn''t help but speak, "One of her hobbies is taking noblewomen as a mistress of her husband, but she''ll treat them like cattle and will murder their newborns... I can even remember one of those girls daring to argue with her, but she ended up being severely punished for defying her and killing more."


    Shocked, Tyson''s face churned with disgust while his eyes glinted with anger. "No one is sad with her. Not even her own family. She''s the definition of cruel."


    Despite our rank, with her connections and strong foothold even my brother couldn''t handle her easily. Everyone saw her as a sweet girl. Blinded by the mask she was putting on in front of everyone, no one saw the real her.


    After all, there was no evidence, and no one knew about it except for a handful of people who wouldn''t dare to speak. And those who could speak like my brother and me, we didn''t have enough to put her out and bring justice.


    My fist mmed on my desk in anger. "If I didn''t see my uncle drink and crying a few years back, I wouldn''t have


    CHpater 133


    heard and learn all his dark deeds."


    Tyson was left in a momentary trance before he slowly nodded his head in understanding. "Your uncle is known for being a man of honor... I can''t imagine what he witnessed or went through that he can''t handle it any longer to voice it all out."


    Rubbing my temples, I signed. "This is why I find it so difficult to believe that this invitation is anything but another maniption."


    "Are you worried for Princess Elena?" he asked.


    I paused for a while, lost in my own thoughts. Yes, I''m without a doubt worried.


    But that''s no surprise. I''d always be worried about her, no matter what the situation she might be in.


    But along with my worry was my confidence in my knowledge of who she was. Elena''s no ordinary girl. She had been through heaven and hell. She went through a lot of things, and she''s one of the finest warriors.


    "Elena''s no fool. She''ll see through my aunt''s games... I trust her..." That''s all I said as I tapped my fingers on the table, thinking deeply.


    "Do you think she should attend? With everything at stake..."


    "I can''t decide for her. It''s her choice, after all. I can only watch and wait," I said, leaning forward to my desk. And seriously adding, "But I will not allow her to walk blindly into any danger. I need to know if she ns to attend... and if so, why." Nodding at him, I ordered, "Go and confirm her ns."


    Hiding his tablet, he nodded, understanding the weight of the task. "Understood. I''ll go immediately."


    ''Good. We must stay one step ahead of the Grand Princess, no matter how subtle her moves may seem."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 134

    Elena''s POV


    Changed into morefortable clothes, I stood beside the window of the living room with my eyes closed, feeling the warm cast of sunlight from the setting sun. "Ahm... Princess..."


    Hearing Zara''s reluctant voice and soft footsteps, opened my eyes and turned to face her.


    She''s holding a violet envelope with the royal seal on it. "What is it?" I asked while showing my palm. Shrugging, she handed it to me. ¡°It''s ast-minute invitation from the pce. Will you be attending?"


    Reaping the seal off, I read the letter and learnt that it was an invitation for a party hosted by the Grand Princess. My brows furrowed. I heard Princess Geline likes to host many parties, and many noble women admire her. She was even known to be so generous that she allowed her husband to have as many other wives as he wanted.


    Though there was an unsettling feeling in me, I shrugged, I guess... Since we got an invitation."


    Sighing, I stood up properly and went to reach for my wallet. "And now I have to look for a gift."


    Since I didn''t know much about Princess Geline and we didn''t have much time to buy something, I decided to look for a generic but elegant gift and went straight to the pack house''s warehouse, where we store old and new gifts we receive and other merchandise we recently brought.


    "Oh, you''re here! What can we help you with?" The keeper, Aunt Marie, had known me since childhood and immediately greeted me with an embrace as soon as I got inside her store.


    I was walking in the aisle of random things, letting my fingers slide through items, as I replied that I needed a gift for the Grand Princess. Unexpectedly, Aunt Marie gasped,pletely taking my attention.


    "Is everything alright?" I asked.


    She shook her head before she contemted, but after a moment spoke, "The Grand Princess... You have to be careful of her, Dear. She''s someone not to be battled with."


    "What do you mean?" I asked,pletely confused.


    She shrugged. "I''m old, and I''ve heard a lot of things. Many say she''s not an angel as she portrays herself to be. Be careful."


    As if on cue, my phone pinged in my pocket.


    "Princess, one of the people of Prince Deacon inquired if you''ll go to the Grand Princess'' party or not." That''s the message Jayden sent me.


    Why didn''t Deacon message me himself, though? Why make it an official inquiry?


    After hearing Aunt Marie''s words and the sudden need of Deacon to inquire, I guess the Grand Princess was really not someone to be messed with.


    After giving Jayden the go signal to say it, I hid my phone back in my pocket and replied to Aunt Marie, "Well, she hardly has any time to prepare a proper gift. That alone says much about her intentions."


    "Princess, maybe you shouldn''t go?" Zara asked in worry, but I tapped her shoulder and nodded my head to show that everything was alright.


    After half an hour of rummaging through shelves and boxes, Aunt Marie sighed. ¡°I don''t know what kind of gift we can find here..."


    I nodded when a sudden thought came to my mind. ¡°I remembered that my senior from Custodes sent a bag of rare tea leaves he especially made before right? It should be on the treasure room."


    "Yes!" Aunt Marie immediately brightened up and went to the back to get it.


    "Put it in a nice bag. Oh! And prepare two. One for Princess Gelien and the other for King Desmond," I ordered Aunt Marie before I went to the other side, where the auctioned jewellery was stored.


    "I knew it was here..." I smiled upon seeing some of the most expensive jewellery sets. I walked around for a while until my eyes fell on a diamond ne with a blue sapphire on it. "This will be a perfect gift for a socialite like Princess Geline."


    I sat in the waiting area with the box of jewellery in my hand, waiting for Aunt Maire. After a few minutes, she went out with two gift bags in her hand, a box, and a huge smile on her face.


    Setting down the tea beside the jewellery bags, she handed the box to me. "Princess, do you remember this? You used to love making a lot of this! I still remember you don''t like giving this away, but you somehow gave one to one of ourguestst before."


    I opened the b,ox and a lot of small wooden carvings greeted me. It wasn''t perfectly carved, but it was made to look likea small crescent moon with a small blob on the side that was supposed to be a wolf, but my child''s hand was probably too small to make it perfect before.


    Iughed at the memories as I picked some up and yed with them.-


    Then... like a rush of something, a memory popped into my head. "Wait..."


    My voice faltered as I continued, "I think I saw something like this before... With deacon..."


    If my memory served me right, I think I saw it on one of his keychain that hung on his waist together with his keys.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 135

    Elena''s POV


    "Oh, you''re rocking it, Princess!"


    Zara and Jayden both sent me to the car, giving me a huge smile as they watched me gracefully get inside with my very princess-like outfit.


    I wore an off-shoulder midnight blue ball gown with glistening sequins on the neckline and sleeves and diamond lining on my waist, while half of the flowy skirt down to my hem was decorated with intricate embroidered moon and flower patterns.


    My hair was in a messy rose bun decorated with a sapphire hairb with a few strands of my hair intentionally styled to hang on the side of my face.


    With killer six-inch ck stiletto heels, I walked through the giant doors of the party hall. My hand tightened on the purse I was holding, and I instantly felt a hundred pairs of eyes falling in my direction. Murmurs filled the hall.


    "That''s her... Prince Deacon''s fianc¨¦e," someone said with excitement.


    A lot were in tune with her, but I also heard some sneers.


    "Didn''t she once belong to the Bryson family? She used to be Luna, right?"


    "She is! I even heard that when Alpha Bryson''s mother fellll, that girl didn''t even send a doctor. She''s as cold as stone."


    In the middle of the party, there''s a woman who could be distinguished among the rest. She was wearing rathervish clothing that almost made her look a bit exaggerated with how she wore many luxurious essories.


    If something, it almost looked blinding.


    With her regal crimson gown, she raised her hand, and the music instantly stopped. Walking slowly toward me so elegantly, like she''s almost floating, she gasped a mocking surprise.


    It might not go unnoticed to others, but Bryson''s family and pack had trained me to be an expert at seeing who is genuinely benign and genuine.


    "Well, wee to the pce, Princess Elena." She swept my appearance from head to toe with her eyes, continuing, "I see, you''ve finally learned how to dress for royalty. The title is rubbing off on you well.


    A few guests let out a small chuckle from her words, but I didn''t pay attention to it and kept my back straight and my head high.


    With a soft but firm voice, I replied, "Thank you for the invitation, Princess. I learnt about it toote, so forgive me if I wasn''t prepared as much."


    Looking around, I gave out a fake smile. ¡°But I''ll never miss such an important asion for the world."


    Princess Geline''s brow arched a little, but she kept her face as neutral as possible with a tense smile on her lips. " How thoughtful of you..."


    Then, her smile turned into a smirk, and I knew that her socialite attitude was about toe to light. "Though I wonder... where was that thoughtfulness when your former mother-inw was coughing up blood? No doctor, and not even a polite inquiry."


    Many gasps at her words upon hearing that. As if feeling the source of it, my eyes subconsciously found Courtney''s eyes. She was standing a few feet beside Princess Geline while fanning herself with an exaggerated


    pride.


    Intentionally making her voice loud, sheined, "We took her in like family, and that is how she repaired us! She abandoned me when I was on my sickbed!"


    Her audacity was really beyond reason!


    When one of the circting waiters passed by us, Courtney grabbed a champagne from his tray and took a slow sip. "But what do I expect from a girl raised with no roots? She obviously didn''t know how to be a filial child. She''s lucky the Prince doesn''t see her true colors yet."


    My eyes narrowed. I could take on how they always belittle he and say things to me. But there was no way I''d let them dishonour my family who died for the kingdom.


    Taking a step forward, I gazed at them with sharp eyes and firmly said, "With all due respect, but I was never epted as a family. Your family and pack demanded obedience, not affection. And you..."


    Keeping my eyes on Courtney, I continued, "You, Luna Courtney, you made it clear that I am only useful when I''m silent and invisible. All of you only remember me when you need to dig some fortune out of me. I gave you the most skilled doctor, but you drove him insane, so he quit. My inheritance was used to build up your pack. So tell me, what really makes someone filial?"


    With a rage of glint in my eyes, I asked, "When you squeeze me dry of everything?"


    Letting out a snortugh, I shook my head. "Oh, of course not. I guess even if I give up my life, it won''t be enough to satisfy you."


    The entire hall fell into shocked silence, and heavy tension filled the air. Even the GrandPrincess''s smile dropped silently.


    After a few seconds, Princess Geline looked at me sharply. "How dare you act and speak like this before a royalty?"


    Meeting her eyes without fear, I replied, "I merely spoke the truth."


    "By the way..." I started before signalling to the attendant who helped me toe


    in. "I didn''te empty-handed. Happy birthday, Grand Princess."


    In cue, the attendant carried a tray where an intricate, well-embroidered tea bag was presented with a velvet ck jewellery box.


    "In honor of your birthday, I present you with a diamond ne with a sapphire pendant and a bag of Scarlet Robe Tea. This tea is the rarest tea in the kingdom that nurtures our wolves, making us stronger."


    Everyone gasped in surprise, and murmurs instantly broke out. Many of the nobles even stepped forward to take a better look at it.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 136

    Elena''s POV


    "Scarlet Bone Tea? You''ve got to be kidding me!"


    "That can''t be real, can''t it?"


    A lot of the crowd looked at the gift I presented in utter shock. Scarlet Bone Tea was known for being the rarest and most expensive tea in the entire kingdom, and its benefits weren''t the only reason why it was at the top of the line.


    The main reason was that only one bloodline could do it, and that''s the West family. Considering that the West family were busy with their own careers, they only made a few batches of tea every year, and they only sold it to those they deemed worthy, so money wasn''t the only issue,


    Even the royal family had to wait in line for its avability, and even then, the pack they would get wouldn''t be as big as the bag I bought.


    "Look!" One of the known elderly people who was a tea enthusiast pointed out, "That seal... That can''t be a replica! IT''s Rendell West''s personal mark!"


    "Rendell West? The general warrior from Custodes? You''ve got to be kidding me! He hasn''t been back for months. He''s on the South border volunteering to help injured warriors from thest war."


    Everyone was gasping with admiration, eyes looking like saucers and jaws dropping to the ground, but those were halted when a sneer took everyone''s attention.


    Courtney scowled. "Nonsense! Anyone can forge a seal! That tea could be dried leaves from the market for all we know!"


    "Exactly!" Another guest stepped in. Looking at how she looks, she''s Courtney''s friend. "She probably bought that from the roadside stall. It''s all for a show like that stupid jewellery she''s unting! Those diamonds are obviously ss!"


    They continued to let out their suspicions, but I only kept myself quiet and let them speak their mind until they were done. Once they had settled down, I shrugged my shoulders and cleared my throat before shifting my gaze to the pce steward who was standing on the side.


    "Can you please call the royal herbalist and royal appraiser to kindly examine my gifts? It seems like everyone has doubts we have to satisfy."


    The steward looked at Princess Gelin for permission. Princess Gelin''s eyes shifted between me and him for quite a while, thinning, before she nodded her head and waved her hand in approval.


    After the steward left, it only took five minutes before the royal herbalist and royal appraiser came in.


    The two greeted all of us respectfully before they went closer to the tray of my gift and started examining it.


    While I was chill on the side, waiting for the result, others were highly expectant to see the result, while Courtney was looking smug, believing that my items were forged.


    The first to finish was the royal appraiser; he removed his gloves and nodded his head. "This jewellery is indeed authentic. In fact, this set is the only one in the world because the jeweller designed this for his lover."


    Pointing at the side of the pendant, he added, "If you look behind the pendant, you''ll see a serial number and the signature of the designer with the name of his lover."


    "What?" Courtney sneered. "But that tea can''t possibly be authentic! That''s impossible."


    I only shook my head and fet the royal herbalist do the talking instead.


    "Actually, this Scarlet Bone Tea is as authentic as it can be. The seal has not been tampered with, and no one can copy the tea itself. It''s definitely made by the warrior, Rendell West, himself."


    "All of this is priceless!"


    "It indeed is!"


    The two royal examiners look at each other with a huge smile on their lips, amazed at what they''ve seen.


    The royal herbalist looked at me in awe. "How did you manage to buy a lot of Scarlet Bone Tea from Rendell West?"


    I shrugged my shoulders, nonchntly replying, "Actually I didn''t buy it. It''s a yearly supply given to me by my seniors. I also brought a bag for the King, by the way. I had another attendant send it."


    "Did she just say senior?"


    "A yearly supply?"


    Everyone was confused.


    Letting out a small chuckle, I confirmed. "Yes, Rendell West is my direct senior in Custodes when we are training as a warrior."


    "She''s that junior! I heard Rendell West only epted one direct junior warrior to help train before!" One of the Alpha or Beta shouted from the side in great shock.


    Another man stepped forward with a drink in his hand and nodded. "Yes, I heard about that, too. She disappeared after graduation, though."


    The Alpha shook his head in dismay. "It turns out she got married and the Bryson family cast her aside for being low-born."


    The other manughed out loud. ¡°Biggest mistake obviously. They threw away a living legend''s heir!"


    I secretly smirked upon seeing Courtney''s face, ghostly pale, while the Grand Princess forced a strained smile.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 137

    Elena''s POV


    Murmurs still hang in the air after hearing the confirmation from the appraisers. Everyone was in awe and started to throwpliments at me after learning that I''m a student from Custodes, and above all, that I was even junior


    to Senior Rendell.


    Some people wanted to approach me and talk to me about the tea. Of course, I wasn''t able to finish all of the tea Rendell gave me yearly, but that didn''t mean that I''d sell it out. The West family was picky with their buyers, and so it''smon courtesy that I don''t sell what''s given to me.


    A few of the nobles wanted to ask me about being a warrior and possibly offer me a job to train some of their pack warriors, but themotion about it suddenly came to a liat and changed back into a dirt.


    Apparently, Courtney wasn''t still done. What''s the surprise there? She obviously didn''t want anything good happening to me.


    Stepping forward with a shed face out of humiliation, she red at me and started sputtering, "Don''t be so smug, girl! So what if you''re some junior to a great warrior and herbalist? You still neglected your own mother-inw! You left me to suffer! That''s not something a good wife does!"


    Iscoffed at her as she tried to turn it back around to that again when I just finished rifying about it earlier.


    Looking away from me and into the crowd, she spoke out loud and pointed at me. "Don''t believe what this bitch says. She is just trying to make excuses. As the mother Luna of the pack, I stand by my words. She didn''t help me when I was on my sickbed! All she cares about is leaving after everything we have done for her!"


    Tears started streaming down her face which she skillfully wiped with her handkerchief, emphasizing it to everyone''s eyes how miserable she was feeling. For some of the guests, she sessfully turned the tide to her favor as some of the people started looking at me with scrutiny, thinking I was lying earlier.


    Shaking my head, I let out a bitterugh. "You must''ve mistaken me for someone who was ever truly weed in your house, much less in your pack, Courtney."


    "I was nothing but a caged bird in there whose actions and decisions are always being second guessed, and now you are calling me a wife?" I asked, looking straight into her eyes.


    "You lived under our roof! You ate our food! I gave you everything a daughter-in-w could ever want!" she defensively uttered.


    Raising my voice a little, I sharpened my gaze and replied, "Yeah, everything except dignity."


    "You used me when I had the money to upscale your pack, and when you saw someone who could possibly bring you higher, you threw me to the side and called me ungrateful. I did everything to help you and your pack. I am guilty of nothing," I said firmly, signalling that it would be myst words of defence.


    Silence filled the ce for a little while before it erupted into whispers as the group were divided. Some believe me, while others believe Courtney. But I didn''t care anymore. I have already gone there and given my gift.


    I''ve shown respect for the invitation. After staying for a little while, I''ll leave, and none of this will matter


    anymore.


    "If I may speak, Grand Princess!" Someone cut through the crowd and stepped forward.


    To my surprise, as he came out, it was Dr. Montgomery.


    pter 137


    Princess Gelin looked at him, and knowing he was a respected doctor, she nodded curtly.


    Dr. Montgomery gave me a reassuring smile before


    faced the


    and the crowd. "I was summoned by Princess Elena before. I was the one treating Luna Courtney here until thest time when she copsed."


    ess


    "As per Princess Elena''s request, I came rushing to their pack to check on her and prescribe medicines despite my busy schedule, but Luna Courtney refuses to take it and starts using Princess Elena of trying to poison her." Sighing, he continued, ¡°After seeing and hearing how badly they treat Princess Elena all the time, I could no


    longer stomach it and firmly resigned as their physicia


    The crowd gasped in pity.


    Dr. Montgomery turned to face me and bowed in respect. "You''ve endured false usations, but you never spoke ill of the Bryson family when they ndered you over and over again.''


    "Lies! All of this is lie! She''s... They are just twisting-" Courtney became a bit hysterical and pointed a finger at me, but she was interrupted.


    "If you continue to insult my profession, Luna Courtney, I''ll present the sealed letter you signed barring medical aid from your household. The royal medical institute also has an official copy of the documents," Dr. Montgomery sharply hissed.


    Hearing that, Courtney forced herself to her feet as more murmurs filled the room.


    "So, Princess Elena tried to save her, and they are still trying to make her take the me?"


    "No wonder she didn''t bring a doctor again. Courtnye didn''t want one!"


    "They shamed and insulted her, but look, she''s still standing tall!"


    Suddenly, Luna from another pack stepped forward. She looked graceful and confident. "If you may, there''s one matter I wish to rify, Princess Elena. Is it true that you and Alpha Bryson were married for nearly a year, but after your examination upon engagement with Prince Deacon..."


    She hesitated for a while before continuing, "It said on the report that you remained untouched. That you are still ...pure."


    All eyes turned to me in curiosity.


    With my head held high, I nodded my head. "It''s true."


    Gasps of annoyance and disbelief echoed in the room.


    The Luna who asked turned sharply at County and coldly said, "How dare you cast shame upon a woman who entered your home in good faith and left it more chaste than she entered. You... who tarnished her name while your son neverid a finger on his own wife?"


    19-


    Shaking, Courtney tried to defend shamelessly, "He was busy! It wasn''t like that-" "You had a pearl in your hand... and you threw it into the mud. Well, you''re lost, which is my gain." Someone from the crowd suddenly spoke.


    My eyes widened, and my heart pounded in happiness and surprise upon seeing who it was. Among everyone who would defend me, she was thest I expected. It was Duchess Diana.


    Looking at everyone, her voice boomed as she dered, ¡°Let it be known-Elena is no longer a castoff of the Brysons. She is my daughter-inw. Chosen by my son. And now, epted by me."


    Taking my hand, she proudly added, "If anyone still has doubts, speak now."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 138

    Elena''s POV


    The atmosphere had turned sharp and brittle, like a thin ice beneath bare feet. Whispers fluttered through the air around us, intensifying the tension as everyone started muttering under their breaths.


    The weight of their stares clung to my skin, heavy, suffocating.


    And then came the crack that split it all.''


    Not from the ones you''d expect¡ªnot from the Duchess who stood beside me moments ago with warmth in her hand-but from the Grand Princess herself.


    She let out a loud, unrestrained snort, drawing every eye to her like a signal re. With a sneer curling at the corner of her mouth, she tilted her head and inspected me with a look that could rot silver,


    "So this is the woman Deacon has chosen?" she said with venomous amusement. "A divorced woman, rejected by one noble family and now wing her way into another?"


    Her voice sliced through the silence like a de.


    Gasps echoed faintly around the room.


    The decor-the soft lighting, the finely tuned string quarter, the scent of blooming orchids-felt utterly mismatched to the hostility among these so-called nobles. Their masks were slipping, and I saw every wrinkle of cruelty beneath the powder and pearls.


    A noblewoman behind me tsked. "I thought the Prince was just toying with her. I mean... actually nning to marry her? Really?"


    Another chimed in, louder now that someone had permitted them to unleash. "She''s a skilled warrior, sure. Maybe even innocent like her ex-inws imed. But let''s be honest, she''s still a divorced woman. Who brings tarnished silver into the royal collection?"


    "She should be grateful anyone''s even letting her breathe the same air as the royals," another muttered under her breath, shaking her head.


    Their words didn''t cut me-they scraped like sandpaper, slow and deliberate, trying to erode what remained of my dignity. I had stood against beasts, swords, and betrayals that nearly shattered my soul, and yet here I stood again, bloodless, while women in silks tried to assassinate me with words.


    My gaze turned-slowly, deliberately-to the Duchess beside me.


    She had let go of my hand.


    Her fingers, earlier warm and firm in their support, now hung idly at her side as if our connection had never existed. Her eyes weren''t on me. She was watching the crowd, chin raised ever so slightly, her lips curled in the faintest smirk-so faint you''d miss it unless you were looking for it.


    But I was looking.


    And in that moment, I understood.


    This was her design.


    So this is your n? Raise me up just to tear me down when the crowd''s watching?


    How foolish I had been to think her gesture of approval earlier was genuine. Her kindness was calcted, and her


    support was a stage prop n her performance of control. Deacon had warned me you haven''t seen what she''s truly capable of yet. He had been right.


    The simmering heat behind my calm expression crackled, I didn''t allow it to surface, but I knew the fire in my eyes would speak louder than any scream.


    I wasn''t the only one being eaten alive by the room.


    Princess Gelin fanned herself dramatically like a wilted flower, sighing loudly, "I truly cannot believe this is happening. It''s an embarrassment to the entire kingdom. Do the royal family no longer have standards?"


    And then, like poison bubbling to the top, Julie finally stepped into the light.


    "I was wondering how long you''d stay quiet," I muttered under my breath.


    Julie crossed her arms, her voice a whip. "Since you couldn''t wrap my cousin around your little slutty fingers and ended up discarded, now you''re aiming higher, are you? Chasing after the prince like a desperate dog?"


    She clicked her tongle, shaking her head with exaggerated pity. "Honestly, I don''t know if you''re bold or just in pathetic, Elena."


    I let out a soft, mockingugh. Calm. Controlled. The kind ofugh that came before a storm.


    I crossed my arms casually, leaning back against the nearby table like I had all the time in the world. My eyes Tocked onto hers with calcted boredom.


    "I''m curious, Julie," I said smoothly. "You''ve been fawning over Deacon for years. Every time he returned from battle, you were-hair curled, dress tightened, voice sweetened. But it was all in vain. Meanwhile, I stand here today, chosen by him. Not begged. Not pursued. Chosen. So tell me who''s the truly unwanted one between us?" Gasps spread across the crowd like fire in dry grass. Julie''s face twisted in rage, her skin flushing an angry red.


    "You little-!"


    She raised a finger toward me, but I didn''t waste another second on her. My attention shifted to Princess Gelin, who was still ring daggers at me.


    "And as for you, Princess Gelin," I said, my voice cutting through the thick air like a scalpel, "we''re meeting for the first time today. Yet you''ve treated me with hostility from the start. Is it my past marriage that offends you? The fact that the King asked for my hand before? Or perhaps that your precious nephew actually did ask for it, and I didn''t throw myself at his feet?"


    Princess Gelin''sposure cracked, her nostrils ring as she stepped forward.


    "How dare you speak to me in that tone!"


    I took a step forward as well, unflinching.


    "I dare," I said with quiet fire, "because my dignity isn''t up for your approval. It''s


    not yours to give or take. I don''t owe submission to you, or Deacon''s mother, or any of the women here who believe a woman''s worth ends the moment she stumbles."


    My eyes scanned the entire room. Every face turned toward me. And not a single soul dared speak.


    Courtney, still standing beside the Grand Princess, finally stirred in anger. "You''re out of control, Elena! How dare you scold a royal elder?!"


    I shrugged calmly. "I only spoke the truth. If the truth stings, perhaps it''s time you


    all reflect on your own deeds and words."


    Courtney trembled with rage, ncing at Princess Gelin for support, but the Princess herself had been rendered speechless. Her lips pressed into a thin, trembling line.


    The silence tasted sweet.


    Smirking, I straightened, brushing invisible dust from my dress. I opened my purse, pulled out my phone, and pretended to check the time before tucking it away again.


    "I''ve offered my greetings and given my gift," I said, tone polite but final. "And I believe we''ve mingled long enough. I''ve shown as much respect as I''ve been allowed."


    I stepped back and gave them a courteous smile and shallow bow.


    "So please excuse me."


    My final words rang clear across the room:


    "I had a lot of fun. Thanks for the invite."


    Then, without ncing back, I turned and walked out. Head held high. Shoulders


    unbent.


    I didn''t need their eptance.


    And after tonight, they would remember the moment they tried to break me...


    and failed.


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 139

    Deacon''s POV


    Standing upright with my hands sped behind my back, paced the length of the corridor outside the pce''s eastern wing. From here, I could hear the faint echoes of music andughter from my aunt''s birthday banquet. But I couldn''t hear it well enough to distinguish whether it was augh of enjoyment or ridicule.


    I was restless.


    Mybat boots hit the polished marble of the hallway with an echo as I paced around the hallway, the long ck coat that draped over me and was barely shielding me from the pce''s cold evening breeze.


    I had every intention of staying in my office tonight, busying myself with work and waiting for some passing attendant to infor me how the evening went for Elena, but my worry kept me from working.


    And the moment I heard she had epted the invitation ande to the pce, I couldn''t sit still.


    So before I knew it, here I was, stalking the corridor like a warrior in hostile territory.


    She had been in there far too long already.


    Ltrust her-truly, I did. Elena had fought battles, led warriors, endured trials most nobles couldn''t even imagine in their worst nightmares. But this... this wasn''t a battlefield you could conquer with a sword. This was something crueller-where words were des and smiles were poison


    Those socialite women knew how to kill without leaving blood behind.


    Damn it.


    A quiet curse left my lips as I clenched my jaw. The thought of her alone there, surrounded by whispering noblewomen, my mother, my aunt-the Grand Princess-gnawed at myposure.


    "Your Highness," Tyson said carefully from where he leaned against the stone pir behind me, "you''ve been out here for half an hour already. People are beginning to whisper."


    "Let them," I replied curtly, not even ncing his way. "I don''t care what they say."


    He straightened and moved into my path, halting my steps. "You''re worried about Princess Elena."


    I let out a sharp breath. "Of course I''m worried. Do you think I don''t know how they treat people like her there? Divorced. Once shamed. Now on the rise again. That alone threatens their delicate egos.".


    He didn''t speak, but the silence between us was enough. I ran a hand down my face and added, "My mother. The Grand Princess. Bryson''s family... That party is like a lion''s den."


    "The men at the banquet won''t be a problem," Tyson said, offering a slight shrug. "I overheard a few of them before. They only had praise for her. Most are just jealous of you for winning someone like her."


    A humourless chuckle escaped me. "Of course they are. Elena is twice the person most of them will ever be. But it''s not the men I''m worried about." I gave him a sideways nce. "It''s the women. Status-obsessed wolves in pearls."


    He hesitated, then asked, "Do you want me to check on her?"


    I considered it... But the idea of waiting even another minute grated on my nerves. Besides, Elena''s an


    independent woman. I didn''t want to seem overbearing and be hated by her if she saw me sending someone to spy on her.


    "No," I said, shaking my head as my worry intensified. "I''m done waiting."


    With a quick turn, I marched down the corridor toward the banquet hall. Tyson followed a few paces behind, but I could hear the nervous shift in his steps. We had barely rounded the corner when he stopped suddenly.


    "There she is," he muttered.


    And there she was.


    Elena emerged from the event hall like a queen returning from battle. Her elegant dress shimmered with every step, her posture regal, her expression unbothered- as if the venomous words and judgmental eyes hadn''t even grazed her. I froze for a heartbeat, just staring.


    She looked radiant.


    A slow exhale slipped from my lips. "She did it."


    Tyson chuckled beside me, awed. "Princess Elena is really astonishing. I don''t think there''s anyone who can beat her at anything."


    I smiled, warmth and pride stirring in my chest. "After everything she''s been through... no one on this earth can beat her anymore."


    With a nod of farewell, I dismissed him silently. He gave me a sly, knowing grin before bowing and walking off." Best of luck, Prince Deacon."


    I moved forward and met her halfway down the hallway. She turned her head at


    my approach, her eyes lighting up a little when she saw me.


    "How was the party?" I asked softly.


    She rolled her eyes, exhaling augh through her nose. "It was... okay."


    I arched a brow. "That doesn''t sound convincing."


    Sighing, she shook her head. "This pce is full of drama."


    That earned a smallugh from me. "Tell me something I don''t know."


    For a few moments, we stood there, just the two of us, the tension easing with our quiet exchange. Then I offered her my arm.


    "Walk with me?"


    She hesitated, just for a moment, before her hand slipped into the crook of my elbow. "dly."


    We strolled away from the main hall, deeper into the pce grounds, toward my private wing. As we passed the quiet courtyards and stone corridors, Elena paused-her eyes widening when we stepped into the candlelit garden patio.


    A small table was set with silver trays, warm food under domes, wine sses


    filled, and candles flickering gently between bouquets of moonlilies.


    "I thought we were just going for a walk," she said, surprisedly blinking.


    I shrugged and stepped forward, pulling her chair out for her. "I figured you didn''t eat at the party."


    Sheughed softly, her eyes warm as she took her seat. "As always, you guessed right."


    I sat across from her and poured the wine. As we clinked sses and settled into a meal away from the chaos, the


    tension melted further.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 140

    Elena''s POV


    "I see they didn''t manage to break you," Deacon said amusingly, leaning back in his seat like he was offering me the stage to perform.


    Taking a sip from my wine ss, I shrugged in a half-boast and replied with a smirk, "Well, they tried. But if Bryson''s family and pack didn''t crush me, an angry princess surely won''t."


    Deacon chuckled softly and shook his head in awe. His normally sharp features rxed into admiration as he began cutting his steak into bite-sized pieces. "Tell me everything," he said. "I want to hear it from your lips, not theirs."


    Setting my cup down with a soft clink, I met his gaze steady. ¡°Your mother... she was discreet, but intentionally emphasised how much of a ''second-hand bride'' I am. The Grand Princess? She called me shameful. My ex-mother-inw helped heat things up. And Julie-Bryson''s cousin tried humiliating me by suggesting I''m unworthy."


    I recounted it casually, as if we were merely discussing politics over dinner. But from the way Deacon''s jaw clenched, it was clear he wasn''t taking it lightly.


    His shoulders stiffened, his back straightened. The veins on his neck bulged slightly as he growled lowly, "How dare they put you in the hot seat like that? Have they forgotten who your fianc¨¦ is?"


    I raised an eyebrow at him, lips twitching, and tilted my head. "Oh, I reminded them. Quite firmly. I told Julie that


    I might be divorced, but at least I''m not chasing after a man who clearly doesn''t want me."


    Deacon''s brows shot up in amusement.


    "And," I added, my voiceced with mischief as I recalled the stunned faces of the Grand Princess and the


    Duchess, "As for your mother and the Grand Princess... Let''s just say I returned their words gift-wrapped, with all the elegance I could muster."


    A deep, suddenugh escaped Deacon''s chest, sounding rich and genuine. "Of course you did."


    His eyes sparkled as a wide smile spread across his lips. "That''s the woman I-"


    He stopped halfway as if suddenly realising the weight of the words he was about to say, but my heart already skipped a beat, having a thought of what he was really about to say.


    I swallowed hard and looked at him, trying to keep my voice calm. "You what?"


    He leaned forward on the table, his expression softening. The candlelight caught in the golden flecks of his eyes as he held my gaze without flinching.


    "That''s the woman I''ve chosen," he said, his voice husky and low. "And I''ll keep choosing you. No matter who raises their voice against us. Against what we have."


    Time slowed down. The hum of the night around us faded. In the quiet that


    followed his deration, I could hear nothing but the roar of my heartbeat in my


    ears.


    ÈË


    And then, as if trying to undo mepletely, he reached across the table. His fingers brushed against mine in a gentle, grounding touch. It wasn''t grand or Sweeping, but it was enough to make my breath hitch and my skin prickle.


    "You held your ground today," he said, his thumb tracing the back of my hand. "But that doesn''t mean you have


    to do it alone. Call me next time."


    I nodded faintly before sighing. "I know... I just needed them to see me for who I am. Not just your shadow."


    +28 BONUS


    He gave a short nod, his gaze unwavering. "Then we''ll make them see. Together."


    The evening deepened, and soon our tes were empty, our bellies full, and our hearts heavier than when we''d first sat down. The servants had long since cleared the table leaving only the soft clinking of cutlery and the asional chirping of crickets from beyond the terrace.


    We had moved closer now, our seats side-by-side. Deacon draped his coat around me, bringing me warmth andfort as we stared up at the night sky. Stars twinkle above us like diamonds, with the moon glowing brightly like it''s giving our wolves strength.


    The night air was cool, but it wasn''t chilling, and the sound of nature around us made this moment feel perfect. I rested my head against Deacon''s shoulder,forted by hi solidness and by the quiet thump of his heartbeat that pulsed beneath his shirt.


    "I have to admit, I murmured, voice barely above a whisper, "you really went all out tonight. Everything... the dishes, the wine, the flowers... It was all beyond perfect." I paused, then added, "And I can''t believe you remembered I liked moonlilies."


    I hadn''t pointed it out earlier, overwhelmed as I was, but now that we were sitting quietly, the thought came to the forefront.


    Deacon leaned his head against mine, and I felt his arm slip from behind my chair to fully wrap around my shoulders. "Of course I remembered. You always paused by the moonlily patch in the garden. You never said anything, but your eyes did." A softugh escaped me, startled by how observant he had been. "I didn''t think you noticed that."


    He tilted his head slightly, looking at me. "I notice everything about you, Elena.¡±


    The sincerity in his voice hit me like a warm wave, tender and unrelenting. Our eyes met again, and this time I didn''t look away. There was nothing teasing in his expression-just truth. Quiet, powerful truth.


    "And you even remembered my favourite dishes," I said, touched.


    He smiled. ¡°Every one of them. It wasn''t hard. Watching you enjoy your food is like watching a kid light up at a festival. I''d never forget what makes you smile like that."


    I didn''t say anything more. I couldn''t. My throat felt too tight, my heart too full. So instead, I leaned closer into him, letting the silence stretch. It wasn''t empty. It was filled with meaning, with promise, with the kind of quiet that said we didn''t need to fill it with words anymore.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 141

    Elena''s POV


    He let out another softugh, as if recalling something silly, and his eyes sparkled with a mix of admiration and teasing. "You used to make this face whenever you tasted something you didn''t ke. Took me a few reminders to memorise your taste.¡±


    I lifted my head in shock, and before I could say anything, we both burst intoughter. It felt like a return to simpler times- before everything had changed, before life had pulled us in different directions.


    I was never particrly picky with food, but if I''m honest, it wasn''t easy to satisfy my taste buds. I could eat anything, but that didn''t mean I liked everything. I never let it show, or at least, I thought I hadn''t. It never urred to me that someone might notice the small reactions I had when something didn''t sit right.


    Once theughter subsided and we settled into afortable silence, my eyes drifted down, and that''s when I saw it again-the keychain hanging from his pocket. The keys and other trinkets were tucked inside, but the sculpted keychain was visible, swaying slightly with his movements.


    Compared to his princely attire, the keychain looked out of ce worn, simple, and yet familiar.


    My breath caught, and I pointed at it, my voice trembling slightly. Wait... is that-?"


    Before I could finish, Deacon followed my gaze, and his smile widened. He met my eyes, a yful glint in them. "Yup," he said, his tone light, "I''m still using it. It''s the keychain I''ve had since... well, you gave it to me."


    Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I was certain my face had turned crimson. I nced away quickly, hoping the darkness of the night would hide my embarrassment. But I knew better than to think Deacon hadn''t noticed.


    Trying to mask my flustered state, I asked softly, "You kept it?"


    He shrugged casually, his gaze still on the keychain. "It''s one of the few things that reminded me of you."


    "Reminded me..." I stuttered, racking my brain as memories rushed back.


    He shifted in his seat to face me more fully. Nodding, he said, "Yeah, remember? When we were kids, your father was one of my training instructors. We used to hang out together."


    Suddenly, everything clicked. My eyes widened in realisation, and wanted to p my forehead. How could I have forgotten? He was the prince, for goddess'' sake. How could I not have remembered something so significant?


    Excitedly, I pointed at him. "I remember now! You were injured once, and I gave you that keychain to make you feel better."


    Iughed lightly, staring fondly at the keychain. "I didn''t think it meant anything back then. I figured you''d throw it away or forget it in a box somewhere over the years."


    Deacon raised an eyebrow, his grin yful. "Like how you forgot me?"


    "Hey!" I pped his arm reflexively, the actioning naturally. It''s not that I forgot. It''s just... it slipped my mind for a moment. It''s been years."


    He didn''t seem offended, though. Heughed and took the keychain out of his pocket, holding it carefully in his palm. "It''s the first thing anyone ever made for me. And not because you had to, but because you wanted to."


    2


    The weight of his words hung in the air, and I felt the shift in the mood. It wasn''t just a simple trinket anymore. It had be a symbol of something more meaningful.


    Deacon''s eyes met mine, and he gave a nonchnt shrug. "So, I kept it. Close to me, every day."


    I reached out instinctively, my fingers brushing over the worn edges of the keychain. I hesitated for a moment before holding it in my hand. The craftsmanship was crude -uneven edges, a design that could''ve been better. It was far from perfect. And yet, there was a weight to it, a connection I hadn''t realised until now.


    I pulled it closer, a teasing smile tugging at my lips. "I should take back. Look at it-it''s poorly made. The edges are either too sharp or too dull. The appearance could use some work."


    Deacon''s expression shifted immediately, and I could see that he was genuinely protective of it. He grabbed the keychain back from my hands and tucked it into his pocket, his voice firm. "I don''t care. It''s perfect the way it is."


    My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I felt the warmth in my cheeks deepen. I quickly turned my attention elsewhere, hoping he didn''t notice the rapid thudding of my heart. Could he hear it?


    My gaze lingered on him, memories flooding back. I remembered ourst day in training, when he told me we''d always be friends, that we''d walk the same path together. But then... we drifted apart.


    "Deacon..." I whispered, my voice soft with the weight of that memory. "Why didn''t youe find me?"


    He stiffened, his eyes darkening as he sighed deeply. Leaning back in his chair, he ran a hand through his hair. "I wanted to. Every day, I wantedito. But by the time I got out of the battles and figured out where you''d gone... you''d already started building a life without me."


    Sadness shed in his eyes, and he shook his head slowly. "I didn''t want to disturb your life."


    To my surprise, Deacon''s lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I never stopped watching you from afar, though... like a coward."


    I stared at him, shocked by his confession. Without thinking, I leaned forward, my voice sharp but firm. "You''re not a coward, Deacon. You''ve faced death a hundred times over. You fought wars. You defended your people.¡±


    "What''s there to be afraid of? It''s just me." His voice was light, trying to make a joke of it, but it only made the tension in the air heavier.


    His voice cracked slightly as he spoke again. "It''s just... what happened."


    Before I could respond, Deacon quickly changed the subject, brushing off the conversation with a wave of his hand. "Anyway, enough of this. Let''s talk about the engagement. We''re running out of time."

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 142

    Elena''s POV


    I couldn''t help butugh at his not-so-smooth attempt to change the subject. "You''re really bad at dismissing things."


    He grinned sheepishly, avoiding my gaze as he picked up a ss of wine and took a sip. "I just don''t want to talk about that anymore. It''s all in the past."


    Turning to face me, his grin widened. "I prefer talking about the present-and most importantly, the future. My future with you. Our wedding."


    Ibit the inside of my cheek, trying to suppress the grin that threatened to take over my face as he sessfully shifted my thoughts.


    Raising an eyebrow yfully, I asked, "The wedding already?"


    "Yes, already." He smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "You didn''t think I''d just sit around and not n this, did you? This is important to me. I won''t delegate the nning to anyone else."


    "Also," he continued, his eyes lighting up, "I''ve already spoken to a few nners. And trust me, Elena, no one''s as lucky as I am right now."


    His excitement was contagious, and he looked so mesmerised, like a kid with a new toy, that I couldn''t look away. "Lucky? You really think you''re the lucky one?"


    "Oh, absolutely." He leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a yful but determined tone. "Do you know how many men would dly trade ces with me right now?"


    I stared at him, wide-eyed. "You? The one who''s going to marry the infamous ''warrior princess,'' with a reputation as a second-hand good?"


    "Don''t say that." He suddenly turned serious, his gaze intense. "If there''s anything infamous about you, it''s your ability to make every man in the room turn his head when you walk in."


    I chuckled, trying to mask the blush creeping up my neck. "Well, I''ll have to


    remember that the next time we''re surrounded by jealous women."


    He leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile on his lips. "True. There are plenty of women who would love to take your ce."


    I blinked, slightly stunned by his tant boasting. A small pang tugged at my heart, though, and I wasn''t sure how to handle the feeling. But the sting was gone as quickly as it came when he leaned in closer, his tone serious.


    "But none of them will ever rece you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°Because I''m marrying the best one. The most amazing, beautiful woman there is. The only woman I''ll ever need


    My expression softened at his words, and I looked away, trying to hide how flustered I was. "ttery will surely get you everywhere, Deacon."


    The air around us lightened instantly, and we both burst intoughter. The mood shifted into something intimate, but we both allowed ourselves to enjoy it, continuing to talk about the wedding ns.


    With newfound determination, Deacon became serious again. "Now, as for the wedding... I''m not settling for something simple. It''s going to be the grandest celebration anyone has ever seen. We''ll have it in the kingdom, and everyone will know that you''re my wife."


    He wiggled his brows, his eyes twinkling. "It will be the talk of the kingdom and beyond."


    I hesitated, my smile faltering as I shook my head. "I don''t know..


    "Deacon, I... I''m not really one for grand events. You know that. I don''t want all those eyes on me," I said softly, my voice betraying the unease I felt.


    at


    He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, guiding me to rx as we leaned back into our slightly reclined chairs. We both gazed


    stars, the sight calming he instantly.


    "I understand," he said quietly. "But this wedding is for us. We''re the prince and princess, after all. And besides, Elena... you deserve nothing but the best. Don''t you think you deserve to have the world see just how extraordinary you are?"


    I looked at him, but my thoughts were distant, a cloud of sadness settling if my chest. I sighed and shook my head. "I never needed the world''s approval."


    I stayed silent for a while, fiddling with my fingers, the weight of my thoughts pressing heavily on me. Finally, I looked up at him, my voice barely a whisper. "I''m not worried about what the world thinks. I''m worried about what my people think."


    He looked at me, confused. "What do you mean?"


    I sighed again, shifting slightly in my seat, the sadness I''d been holding back now threatening to spill over. "My mentor, the students at the training camp... they raised me. Taught me everything I know. They''re my family. And the thought of them looking at me like I''ve abandoned them... for something like this... It''s hard to bear."


    His expression softened, and he seemed to understand the gravity of my worry. "You''re worried they''ll think you''ve changed, aren''t you?"


    I nodded, my voice breaking slightly. "Not just that. There are so many rumours about me circting right now. I was a warrior, just like them, but then I left it all behind to be a Luna. I just returned to my original duties, and now I''m getting married again. I don''t want them to think I''m abandoning everything again."


    His hand reached for mine, squeezing it reassuringly. "You haven left anything behind. If anything, you''ve gained more. You''re still the same woman who knows how to fight, how to lead. And you always will be."


    I met his gaze, unsure of what to say next, the sadness still weighing heavily on


    me.


    His grip on my hand tightened, his voice resolute. "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure your


    trainer in Custodes and the senior warriors understand that this marriage won''t


    hold you back from the achievements that await you as a warrior."


    I shook my head in disbelief at his offer. "Deacon..."


    Today''s Bonus Offer

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 143

    Elena''s POV


    I looked at him admiringly. How lucky was it that we had found each other and that he had offered me this marriage?


    It might be an arranged marriage, but howe I feel more fortunate about this one than thest?


    It''s like he wasn''t real. He was setting the standard too high. When Bryson wasn''t there for me and came back only to betray me, I was shattered. I didn''t think I''d ever believe in marriage again, let alone have one fall into my life unexpectedly.


    But with Deacon... even if this entire arrangement was just a bandage over the problems we were both facing, he was going far and beyond to make it bearable, memorable, and somehow, even perfect.


    Custodes was no ordinary ce. It was secluded, hidden away, and meant for the most elite warriors. Gaining ess was difficult, and getting permission without being a member was even more difficult. Almost impossible. And yet, here he was, ready to face anything-anyone-just to ease my worries.


    He wasn''t even asking me to go with him, even though he knew I was afraid. There was a quiet, ever-present fear in me about what my seniors and masters would think. They were strict and traditional. They wouldn''t be happy to learn about this marriage


    .not when I hadn''t gone to them first.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts.


    Ifelt my cheeks warm instantly. Damn. I must have been staring at him too long with a goofy smile stered on my face. Shaking my head quickly, I muttered, "You don''t have to do that. I don''t want you to feel pressured... or like you''re not enough just because you didn''te from my world."


    I appreciated his words more than I could say. That was enough. As scared as I was of facing those I trained under, I knew it was the right thing to do. I would face them, eventually. But knowing Deacon was willing-that alone meant everything.


    Still, to my surprise, he stood up. Pacing a little in front of me like He was gathering his thoughts, he finally turned and looked at me with a firm, unshakable expression.


    "I''m going."


    The tone in his voice told me the decision had already been made. There was no room left for argument.


    "I''ll go to your training camp and ask them for their blessing," he said. "I''ll go with or without you. You don''t need to worry- I''m not leaving anything hanging."


    I stared at him, stunned. "You... you''re really going to do that?"


    He crouched down so we were eye-level, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes as he held my gaze. His voice was soft, but every word carried weight. "Of course, I am. I''ll speak to your master myself and ask them for your hand in marriage. I want them to see I''m not taking this lightly. I want them to know I value their warrior."


    I blinked several times, unsure if I was hearing him right.


    No one had ever done anything like this for me.


    Bryson couldn''t even stand up to his mother-couldn''t defend me to his family, to his pack, despite being their Alpha. But Deacon? He was more than ready to face warriors he''d never met. He wasn''t even flinching.


    "Are you sure?" I asked again, unable to stop myself. I probably sounded like a broken record, but the disbelief refused to leave


    1. me.


    Still patient, he nodded. "For you? There''s nothing I wouldn''t do. He shook his head slowly, as if to emphasise it. "Nothing."


    Something shifted in my chest. A tightness I hadn''t even realised was there loosened. The heavy weight I''d carried for years started to lift, just a little.


    Because I finally saw it clearly No matter what this marriage started out as, no matter the circumstances... his sincerity was real.


    The quiet moments, the steady presence, the way he never once made me feel like I was a burden-those things couldn''t be faked.


    A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Tears welled at the edges of my eyes,


    but they weren''t from pain. "I don''t know what to say. I..." I swallowed. "This means a lot to me. More than you know"


    Deacon stood tall and extended his hand to me, that warm, rare sille spreading across his face.


    "Then let me show you just how much you mean to me?


    do this the right way,


    Elena


    he said gently. "Let me prove how serious I am. I''ll go tomorrow. We''ll


    His voice, his eyes-everything about him radiated calm strength it wrapped around me like a shield.


    I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, my heart beating faster, butterflies fluttering wildly in my stomach.


    Slowly, I ced my hand in his


    And when I stood, rising to meet him, it felt like the world had gone silent around us. Like we had stepped into a pocket of time where only the two of us existed.


    Our faces were only inches apart. Our hands were still held tightly together. His presence alone gave me strength I hadn''t known I needed.


    "Thank you, Deacon," I whispered, my breath brushing his skin. "For everything." He didn''t respond right away.


    He didn''t have to.


    The warmth in his eyes and the way his fingers gently squeezed mine said it all.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 144

    Bryson¡¯s POV


    I¡¯d spent the entire day knee¨Cdeep in site inspections, back¨Cto¨Cback meetings, and chasing down investors to fill the financial hole left in the pack¨Conly to be hit with a frantic message from one of the servants.


    Your mother fainted.


    The words sucker¨Cpunched the breath right out of me.


    With my heart pounding in my ears, I rushed home like a madman. The double doors of the estate banged open under my force, mming against the walls as I charged inside.


    Everything was chaos.


    Servants and omegas bustled across the hall, shouting over one another while hauling bowls of water, cloths, and herbs. It looked like a war zone.


    I didn¡¯t even pause to ask questions. My feet carried me upstairs, my breath catching as groans and shouts grew louder.


    Then I saw the door¨Cher door¨Cbarely closed.


    <b>I </b>mmed it open.


    ¡°Bryson! Finally, you¡¯re back!¡± Julie stood up from beside the bed and hurried toward me, her face pale and frantic.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I demanded, voice sharp, eyes locked on my mother.


    ¡°I was only told she fainted.¡±


    ¡°Just fainted?¡± she echoed with disbelief. ¡°She has a fever. High. Delirious. Look at her¨Cshe hasn¡¯t stopped muttering nonsense since she returned from the pce.¡±


    I crossed the room slowly, my eyes glued to the frail woman lying in bed. Sweat drenched her pale face, and her skin looked nearly translucent under the dim lighting.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± I whispered, sitting beside her and gently squeezing her mmy hand. ¡°It¡¯s me. I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Wrong¡­ you¡¯re all wrong¡­ not her¡­¡± she whispered feverishly, her words jumbled and broken.


    Behind me, Julie let out an angry scoff.


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t recognized anyone sincest night,¡± she said bitterly. ¡°This all started right after the party. After that girl disgraced our family.¡±


    I didn¡¯t need to ask who she meant. There was only one woman who made their blood boil that easily.


    ¡°Elena,¡± I muttered, exhausted.


    Julie¡¯s eyes red. ¡°Don¡¯t start that again,¡± I warned.


    ¡°Me?¡± she spat, eyes wild. ¡°You should be saying that to her! Elena didn¡¯t just humiliate your mom and <b>me </b>


    -she was arrogant enough to take on the Grand Princess and the Duchess. And she did it publicly!¡±


    She began pacing, arms iling. ¡°Her engagement was announced. They talked about our family, about your divorce, like we¡¯re nothing but some joke!¡±


    I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to push down the tension crawling up my spine.


    ¡°It¡¯s already been circting for weeks,¡± I said tly. ¡°What¡¯s the surprise there?¡±


    ¡°But they made it official! The wedding ising!¡± she cried out.


    My heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°¡­Wedding?¡± I asked slowly. ¡°With Prince Deacon?¡±


    Hearing it spoken out loud¡­ it hit different.


    Before, the rumors had seemed like a smokescreen. A political trick to settle public unrest after the King¡¯s challenge. But now¡­


    It felt real. Like something permanent had been sealed.


    I clenched my jaw, the air thick with silence. I didn¡¯t say anything more.


    Julie continued to rant, but her voice was drowned out by the sudden pressure building inside my chest.


    ¡°She provoked the Grand Princess,¡± I finally muttered. ¡°Whatever Elena said was likely a response to that. She¡¯s not the type to start it.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t defending her. Not really. Just stating facts. But I couldn¡¯t ignore how defensive I sounded.


    Julie¡¯s eyes widened like I¡¯d struck her.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking her side?¡± she shrieked, her face twisted with rage.


    Before I could respond, the door creaked open and Glenda stepped in, wearing jeans and a simple shirt. She looked tired, but she held her head high.


    Julie scoffed dramatically. ¡°Well, look who finally decided to show up.¡±


    Glenda shot her a look colder than ice, brushing past her like she didn¡¯t exist. ¡°I don¡¯t answer to you. Don¡¯t forget¨CI¡¯m your Luna.¡±


    I stepped forward. ¡°Where were you?¡±


    My voice wasn¡¯t angry at first¨Cjust disappointed.


    She should¡¯ve been here. This was her home. Her duty. Elena¡­ Elena would¡¯ve been here.


    ¡°Luna¡¯s office,¡± Glenda said with a shrug. ¡°Finishing reports.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t even-¡± I stopped myself, cutting off the rising heat in my throat. I looked back at my mother, her face still twisted in pain, her mouth moving in sleep.


    I turned back to Glenda, ring. ¡°She¡¯s suffering, and you¡¯re worried about paperwork?¡±


    She didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°She never liked me. What¡¯s the point in pretending otherwise?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter right now!¡± I barked, unable to hold it in anymore.


    Even if my mother didn¡¯t treat her well, this was still her husband¡¯s mother. Basic human decency should¡¯ve meant something.


    Mom¡¯s groans filled the air again, weak and broken. Each one was a dagger to my gut.


    I opened my mouth again, but Glenda beat me to it¨Cher voice quiet, bitter.


    ¡°Maybe you should¡¯ve stayed married to Elena, after all.¡±


    Her words cut through the tension like a de.


    I stared at her, frozen. Confused.


    ¡°What¡­ did you just say?¡± I asked, my voice low.


    She didn¡¯t falter.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The room fell quiet.


    And for a brief moment, I didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Because maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ she wasn¡¯t entirely wrong.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 145

    Bryson¡¯s POV


    I stood frozen, my breath caught in my throat as her voice pierced the silence.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, pretending to be shocked at her ridiculous words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± she snapped, her voice cracked with emotion<b>, </b>her temples throbbing with anger. ¡°Every time things fall apart, you look at me like I¡¯m a mistake. Like I¡¯ve been tainted. Like I¡¯m trash because I¡¯m not innocent anymore. Like¡­¡±


    Her chest heaved, her breath ragged. She looked like she was being dragged back to that cabin, to the horror we both tried to erase. Her fists clenched at her sides as if holding herself together.


    ¡°Stop¡­¡± I murmured, my eyes flickering to her forehead. Despite the thick concealer and her new hairstyle -a curtain of bangs meant to hide the scarred reminder of her past¨CI still struggled to look at it.


    And she knew that.


    She was right. I did avoid looking. I told myself it wasn¡¯t intentional, but deep down, I knew better. Every time I saw it, I remembered the pain, the blood, the betrayal¡­ and the questions that still haunted me about what exactly happened to her in that cabin.


    Glenda had made terrible choices, ones that led to lives lost and trust shattered. Even now, as I tried to be a decent husband and mate, as I took punishment in her ce to shield her already injured body, I couldn¡¯t deny that something inside me had changed. The prejudice buried deep had begun to rise.


    I turned away, releasing a slow sigh, unwilling to say anything more.


    ¡°Say it!¡± she demanded, her voice cracking. ¡°You regret choosing me.¡±


    The proud, powerful general who once held herself above the world now stood trembling, her voice unsteady. Even with all her strength, Glenda broke¨Cespecially on days like this, when the weight of it all pressed too hard.


    I stepped toward her. ¡°I never said that,¡± I hissed, trying to control my tone.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to,¡± she shot back, her eyes cutting through me.


    Then she walked past, her shoulder mming into mine with intentional force, before storming out and mming the door behind her.


    I stood still for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.


    Down the hall, her footsteps faded, and silence settled¨Cuntil Julie let out a dramatic sigh.


    ¡°What a disaster,¡± she muttered, rolling her eyes like she wasn¡¯t the least bit bothered by the chaos she just witnessed.


    On the bed, my mother stirred in her sleep and groaned softly.


    I shot a re toward Julie. ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± I snapped. ¡°Call a damn doctor!¡±


    My voice, sharp and edged with all the frustration I¡¯d been bottling, made her flinch. She scrambled back and fished her phone from her purse on the dresser.


    I shook my head, disbelieving. My mother had been sick sincest night. Julie knew that. She¡¯d been here the whole time. But instead of taking initiative, she just waited, expecting me to handle everything the moment I walked through the door. And worse, her first instinct was toin about Elena.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be okay, Mom,¡± I whispered, squeezing her hand gently before letting go and standing.


    I was halfway to the door when Julie called out, ¡°Bryson¡­ there¡¯s no doctor avable in the pack house. What should we do?¡±


    A storm broke loose in my mind.


    Elena. Before, she would¡¯ve had someone here in under an hour. She always found a way. No matter the


    time, no matter the odds¨Cshe made things happen.


    Now, everything just¡­ crumbled without her.


    There were plenty of doctors we could hire, but only a few understood my mother¡¯s rare condition. And those few were hard to convince, especially with my mother¡¯s unpredictable behaviour. Most of them had already refused to take her case.


    ¡°Call the other packs,¡± I muttered, my jaw tight. ¡°Borrow a doctor. I don¡¯t care how much it costs¨Cjust get someone here. Even if they can¡¯t cure her condition, they can help with the current symptoms.¡±


    Julie nodded and finally got to work. I rubbed a hand down my face and told her to find me in my office if she needed anything.


    I needed air. Silence. Space to breathe.


    The argument with Glenda echoed in my mind, but more than that, it was Elena¡¯s absence¨Cagain¨Cthat twisted my gut. Everything had gone to hell since she left. And deep down, I hated how right she had been about so many things.


    I poured myself a ss of wine the moment I got to my office. Halfway through the bottle, my mind still spinning, my phone buzzed with an email.


    My eyes narrowed when I saw the sender: the kingdom.


    Sitting up straighter, I opened it, scanning the contents quickly.


    ¡°Alpha Bryson,¡± I read aloud, ¡°with your recent military contributions and battle expenditures, we are pleased to inform you of your promotion¡­ Commander¨Cin¨CChief of the Imperial Guard. Fifth rank.¡±


    I scoffed, staring at the screen.


    Any other day, I would have celebrated. I never expected a promotion, especially not after everything that went down with the council, the usations, the political mess.


    But now? Now it felt like a p in the face.


    ¡°Serving under Prince Deacon¡­¡± I muttered bitterly. ¡°And Elena outranking me¡­ what a joke<b>.</b>¡±


    I leaned back in my chair, the bitterness thick on my tongue. But then <b>I </b>sighed, almostughing at myself.


    Still¡­ It¡¯s power. It¡¯s something.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 146

    Glenda¡¯s POV


    I sat behind Luna¡¯s desk, my name and title engraved neatly on the que,pletely erasing any trace of Elena ever being here.


    The room was quiet, almost too quiet. Just a sterile workspace littered with aputer set and stacks of documents I could barely understand. The silence didn¡¯t feel peaceful; it felt empty.


    After reading through a few financial papers that made no sense to me, I leaned back in my chair, utterly exhausted.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± I shouted, mming my hands on the desk in frustration.


    I couldn¡¯t believe Elena had actually managed to y the obedient ve to this pack, acting like she belonged in this ce. And now I was expected to follow suit? Like hell I would.


    These paperwork, these politics¨Cit was all a pain in the ass.


    What made it worse was how none of them even appreciated the effort. The moment I walked into this pack, they praised me like I was the perfect recement for Elena, the saviour of their pride. But now, with one twist of fate, I was the viin again¨Ctreated like garbage.


    My breathing grew ragged with anger, and I stood abruptly, sweeping the documents off the desk in one violent motion. Papers were scattered across the floor, but I didn¡¯t care.


    I began pacing, every step feeding the restlessness building inside me.


    This room¨Cit was suffocating.


    It felt like a prison with golden bars. A cage dressed in silk. I didn¡¯t belong here. I belonged on the battlefield. I preferred blood and chaos over signatures and silence.


    Just as I was spiralling into a full mental breakdown, the door burst open.


    the


    ¡°Can¡¯t you knock?!¡± I snapped at the servant who stood there panting like he¡¯d just sprinted across thepound.


    ¡°L¨CLuna Glenda¡­ Alpha Bryson is back. He¡¯s upstairs,¡± he stammered, flinching from my tone.


    So, he finally decided to show up.


    He¡¯d been practically invisible these past days, and the wait had eaten at my patience. I knew he¡¯d return soon with his mother¡¯s worsening condition, but it didn¡¯t make me feel better. If anything, it just made me angrier.


    And like fate wanted to twist the knife deeper, the second I saw him, we ended up fighting.


    It broke my heart.


    It probably sounded crazy to some, but I love Bryson. I really do. Our wedding should¡¯ve been one of the happiest days of my life. But what was meant to be our beginning quickly became a bitter mess.


    Did we even have a single day of happiness? I could barely remember.


    Still, I walked out of that confrontation with one clear resolve: I was going to live again.


    If my husband and his family had other priorities, then so would I.


    I was a general before I was ever a Luna. I wasn¡¯t meant to be caged inside a pack house ying housemaid to a copsing legacy.


    And truth be told, I didn¡¯t even know why I went to see Bryson in the first ce. Maybe I hoped he¡¯d prove me wrong. Maybe I still clung to some fantasy that we could be more. But of course, we fought.


    He wanted me to y nurse to his sick mother¨Cthe same woman whose attitude was more toxic than her illness. He may have done that to Elena, but he¡¯s a fool if he thought I¡¯d tolerate the same.


    Instead of returning to that lifeless Luna office, I headed toward the military recruitment board.


    Whispers followed me as I passed the warriors, but I ignored them all and walked straight to the main office.


    The officer behind the enlistment desk raised an eyebrow the moment he saw me.


    ¡°Luna Glenda¡­ Back to enlist?¡± he asked, voice cautious.


    I wanted to correct him¨CIt¡¯s General Glenda. But that title had already been stripped away. The thought made my fists clench at my sides.


    ¡°I want to return,¡± I said tly. ¡°If there¡¯s a squad leader position avable, I¡¯ll take it. My records are¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve reviewed your record,¡± he cut in gently.


    I paused. My reputation had been tainted recently, but my military record still stood tall. That was something no one could erase.


    ¡°Then¡­?¡± I asked, trying to remainposed.


    He hesitated, and I saw something that irritated me more than any insult¨Cpity.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re not eligible. Not right now.¡±


    A thread snapped inside me.


    ¡°What? Why not? I¡¯ve led troops. I¡¯ve been to the frontlines. My record is-¡±


    ¡°The higher¨Cups won¡¯t back your return. Not now. Not with the rumours. You know how this works.¡±


    His words crushed me.


    I stood there, stunned and hollow.


    Being a warrior was who I was. It was all I knew. I wasn¡¯t born to wear dresses and manage budget reports. was born to fight. I didn¡¯t nurture a pack¨CI defended one.


    ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m nothing now?¡± I whispered, not even realising I¡¯d said it aloud.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the officer said again.


    I didn¡¯t respond. I didn¡¯t scream or throw a chair like I wanted to.


    Instead, I turned on my heel and walked away.


    But this wasn¡¯t over.


    Not by a long shot.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 147

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The day after the party, I woke up in a good mood, especially after having that night¡¯s conversation with Deacon. However, that mood was instantly ruined the second I went down to the dining room for breakfast.


    ¡°Princess¡­¡± Jayden loomed over me from behind just as I was about to take a mouthful of waffles into my mouth.


    I wouldn¡¯t have minded it if it weren¡¯t for the cautiousnessced in his voice.


    Sighing from the foretelling trouble I was feeling, I ced down my fork and slowly looked at him with raised brows. ¡°Shoot. Hit me with whatever bad bullet you got in there.¡±


    Raising up his phone, he shook it a little to make an emphasis before giving me a sheepish smile and a


    cautious look.


    ¡°I just¡­ received an email from the pce. Duchess Dianne is asking for your presence¡­ again.¡± He opened his eyes and met my empty ones, that¡¯s filled with disbelief.


    After the stunt she pulled off after the party. I¡¯m not quite sure if seeing her would be the best thing to do, especially since everything was still hot.


    I leaned back on my chair and tapped my fingers on the table a couple of times, thinking.


    If I won¡¯te, it would be a bigger issue, though, because I¡¯m sure she¡¯d make a big deal out of it.


    Standing, I sigh, knowing I¡¯m really out of options and exhaustedly nod at Jayden.


    Forget breakfast. I lost my appetite.


    Unexpectedly, when I came to her residence wearing a simple red sundress and an inch heels, she didn¡¯t


    mock me.


    Without looking up from the fashion book she¡¯s reading, shemented instead, ¡°You came. I wasn¡¯t sure if you would.¡±


    ¡°You officially announced my engagement before the entire court, Duchess. I assumed we were family now,¡± I replied coolly, which made her halt whatever she was doing and ce it on the table,


    Sitting up properly, she looked at me, her lips curving into a half smile.


    ¡°Still sharp¨Ctongued, I see.¡± She nodded her head. ¡°Yes, I did dere it. Perhaps in poor judgment, but it was merely due to the heat of the moment.¡±


    Obviously, it¡¯s the heat of the moment where she got an opportunity to cook me alive in front of that noblewoman. But she didn¡¯t seed.


    Keeping my head held high, I frankly replied to her, ¡°No, Duchess. We both know you did it to provoke me. You know exactly how they would react. But¡­ you underestimated me.¡±


    She looked at me for a little while before tilting her head. ¡°More like¡­ I overestimated your silence.¡±


    I let out a smallugh, remembering how many times people think I don¡¯t fight verbally, thinking that I


    wasn¡¯t capable of it. ¡°That¡¯s a mistake many had made, Duchess. But¡­¡±


    Keeping my eyes on hers, I firmly added, ¡°But you should know that I never stay quiet when my name and the name of people I care about are dragged through the dirt.¡±


    Silence engulfed both of us. We were just there, looking at each other, weighing our reactions and actions.


    She was staring into my eyes as if she could read my soul from there.


    Not a few minutes after, one of the maids served tea, but the sound of the porcin clicking and the tea droplets rippling only made the tension around us feel heavier.


    Finally, the Duchess broke the silence between us. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my opinion of you.¡®


    My eyes flickered as I stared at her, waiting.


    ¡°You¡¯re not weak nor naive.¡± She nodded her head, almost looking like she was appreciating me. Well, a little. At least. Sighing, she continued, ¡°Well, let¡¯s say you¡¯re not what I expected from a she¨Cwolf raised in


    the mud.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Duchess. I was raised in hardship. But mud washes off. Pride¡­ doesn¡¯t.¡±


    She straightened her back in silence while wearing an unreadable expression. ¡°You¡¯re not the kind of daughter¨Cinw I ever imagined. You challenged tradition, and you speak too freely. You won¡¯t be easy to control.¡±


    I almostughed at her words. If she looked at herself in the mirror, she¡¯d see one of the most untamed women in the pce.


    But not wanting to make things harder, I only smiled a little. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the best, Duchess. I¡¯m not meant to be controlled because I¡¯m meant to stand beside Deacon and not behind him.¡±


    She shook her head and sighed frustratedly. ¡°You two will cause a shake in the foundation of this pce.¡± I stepped forward and spoke with conviction, ¡°Goo. Maybe it¡¯s about time someone did.¡±


    After all, though the leadership in many things were done right by the king, some things needed changing. That includes some unfair traditions regarding how they view rogues and other women.


    The Duchess studied my face, her expression looking like she was caught between irritation and reluctant admiration, but I couldn¡¯t help but hide a smile, knowing the important thing was that she was unexpectedly starting to warm up to me.


    ¡°Dacon is my only son. And above all things, he¡¯s a prince and a warrior. Do you understand the weight of that?¡± she asked.


    I nodded without a pause. ¡°Of course, Duchess. And I¡¯m not here to be a hindrance. Instead, I¡¯d be his support in every step he makes.¡±


    A flicker of approval she tried to mask with irritation shed in her eyes before she looked away from me.


    This time, I smiled genuinely.


    One down. One to go.


    As it reading, my mind, she turned to me and asked, ¡°Do you have ns to pay the Grand Princess a visit?¡±


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 148

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The next day, just like what I said to the Duchess, I went back to the pce to pay the Grand Princess a visit.


    Wearing another ufortable set of maroon dress and heels, I sat on the back of the car with the windows down, letting the fresh air calm my nerves before we arrived.


    As soon as the car was parked in front of Princess Geline¡¯s mansion, I looked at it and couldn¡¯t help but feel only coldness despite the beautiful mid¨Cmorning sun gleaming on it.


    Grabbing the wine box from the armrest, I opened the door and walked out of the car.


    ¡°Zara, stay in here. I¡¯ll go alone,¡± I ordered with my palms up as soon as I saw Zara about to open the passenger¡¯s door and follow me.


    I didn¡¯t know how long I would stay in there. Knowing the Grand Princess¡¯ personality as she showed in the party, it might take longer as she¡¯s harder to handle than the Duchess. For sure, Zara won¡¯t be able toe inside with me either. And I wouldn¡¯t want her waiting outside the door for too long.


    The hesitation on Zara¡¯s part was evident in the worried nce she gave me and the way her lips parted to speak.


    ¡°But-¡± Her eyes travelled to the box I was carrying.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not here to fight. I¡¯m just here to return a gift.¡± With that, I turned my back on her.


    In fact, I¡¯m not just here to talk to her as I nned yesterday after I talked to the Duchess. I¡¯m here more to confront Princess Geline.


    After my visit to the Duchess, I came back to the packhouse only to learn that I received a gift from Princess Geline. One that spoke mockery than an actual congrattory gift.


    With my head held high and my spine straight, I stood outside her mansion, where two guards, each on a separate post, stood guard.


    Keeping my eyes straight, I spoke with dominance, ¡°Please let the Princess know I¡¯m here, asking for her audience.¡±


    I had Jayden inform them about my arrival. If it were any other person, they would have already prepared to wee me or had someone wait for me to guide me inside. But things were different.


    Instead, the guards blocked the gate and looked at me with strict expressions. ¡°Her highness gave strict orders that you are not to-¡±


    I tilted my head. ¡°Then you can tell her I¡¯m returning something and will leave it behind here if she doesn¡¯t see me. She¡¯ll know what it is.¡±


    Their stances wavered slightly. They looked at each other with hesitation, but I didn¡¯t wait and took that as an opportunity instead. With a smooth manoeuvre, I swerved to the left, vaulted over the wall by jumping and kicking on it a few times beforending quietly on the gravel path leading toward the rear garden.


    Gasps and shouts echoed behind me as I heard the gate open and others trying to catch up with me.


    It¡¯s hard doing things with my dress and heels on, but I¡¯m not about to give up now. So, I kept walking with long and fast strides, weaving through one ce after another until I saw her.


    The Grand Princess was sitting in her garden, sipping green tea and enjoying the fresh air with ease as if she didn¡¯t have a single enemy in the world.


    When she saw me, her eyes widened.


    ¡°You.¡± Her cup hit the table with a sharp clink, and she sat up properly, sending me a deadly re. ¡°You dare show your face after the disgrace at my birthday?¡±


    ¡°I made no such thing, Your Highness,¡± I said, stepping into the light.


    ¡°No such thing?¡± she snapped. ¡°You insulted your elders, hijacked the attention, and now youe here?¡±


    ¡°I came to return a gift,¡± I said tly as I set the wine box on the table with a thud.


    She looked at it as if it might explode.


    ¡°You know exactly what this is,¡± I added.


    Her jaws clenched. She didn¡¯t touch it.


    ¡°You sent it to my pack yesterday in the guise of your gift for me¡­¡± I continued. ¡°A congrattory gift after the announcement of my engagement to Deacon.¡±


    She said sharply. <b>¡°</b>I thought you¡¯d enjoy a little humour. That¡¯s what you people do now, isn¡¯t it? Laugh everything off?¡±


    I flipped the box open.


    Inside sat a pristine custom¨Cprinted designer wine bottle. Thebel read: ¡°For Miss Elena and her future husband ¨C A Toast to Winning the Constion Prize.¡±


    And underneath, in small print, it says: ¡°May your husband enjoy what others politely declined.¡±


    My hands stayed steady. ¡°You sent this to mock me. And my engagement.¡±


    The Grand Princess leaned back, unbothered. ¡°If you¡¯re engagement and rtionship were so secure, why does it bother you?¡±


    I met her gaze as I spoke with a low but clear voice. ¡°Because you think this is about pride. About rank. But it¡¯s about cruelty. You don¡¯t know me. You don¡¯t know Deacon. Yet you feel entitled to spit on something you barely understand.¡±


    She scoffed. ¡°I understand enough. You¡¯re in trouble with a ribbon on. I see the way people look at you now -like you¡¯re something admirable. Like you haven¡¯t wed your way here, dragging scandal behind you.¡±


    I took a step closer. ¡°I¡¯ve been called worse. But at least I¡¯ve never hidden behind birthday parties and passive¨Caggressive gifts to get my way.¡±


    Suddenly, guards appeared at the edge of the garden. She raised one hand sharply. ¡°Stand down. I won¡¯t have gossip saying I called my guards on my future niece¨Cinw.¡±


    ¡°Oh<b>, </b>don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t have to deal with me often,¡± I said, lifting the bottle out <b>of </b>the case. ¡°But since


    you sent this to my doorstep-¡±


    With a sharp crack, I threw it against the base of her marble fountain. ss shattered, and red wine spread like blood.


    Smirking at the masterpiece of how the water on her fountain turned to look like blood, I smirked. ¡°I thought it only fair to return it to yours.¡±


    The silence after was deadly. She didn¡¯t even breathe. She was just there looking at me like she¡¯d murder me any second now.


    ¡°I know who you are, Grand Princess,¡± I said quietly. ¡°And now you know who Lam. I don¡¯t bow to bullies. I don¡¯t run. And I never forget.¡±


    She remained frozen, eyes wide with insult and fury.


    ¡°Have a good afternoon, and¡­¡± Looking at some of which spilt on the floor, I added. ¡°Try not to slip.¡±


    And with that, I turned and walked out, my heels clicking like thunder across the stone path.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 149

    King Desmond¡¯s POV


    +25 <b>BONUS </b>


    Inside the study room, the air smelled faintly of cedar and ink while I, the Lycan King, leaned back in my leather chair, tossing a silver pen onto a half¨Csigned contract. I already felt exhausted after reviewing and signing countless reports since early morning.


    After a while, I heard the familiar click of Jude¡¯s shoes against the marble floor that broke the silence.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Jude greeted with a slight bow as he opened the door and stood before me. ¡°Princess Geline has arrived at the pce.¡±


    I could only sigh, not even the slightest surprise. After what happened at her party that spread like wildfire around the pce, hering in here was only a matter of time.


    ¡°She¡¯s early. And angry, I presume?¡±


    Jude made an expression. ¡°Seething, actually, King Desmond. She¡¯s waiting outside. Impatiently, if I may add,¡± he uttered, pointing at the door.


    Chuckling, I asked with confidence, ¡°Let me guess. This is about Elena again?¡±


    He hesitated for a while before nodding, ¡°I believe so. And there was¡­ a rather chaotic incident at the Grand Princess¡¯s mansion earlier today.¡±


    ¡°Of course, there was,¡± I muttered, already feeling a headacheing on me. Shaking my head, Imented, ¡°Auntie Geline and her ir for theatrics.¡±


    He fastened the top button of his tailored navy jacket; I sat up straight.


    I was about to let her in when I just realised what Jude said about having an ident this morning, so <b>I </b>asked, ¡°What¡¯s the story?¡±


    ¡°Miss Elena returned a ¡®gift¡® the Princess had delivered to her, rather dramatically. I heard that she smashed it on the Princess¡¯s property. ording to the report from one of the servants, they say there was shouting.¡±


    Silence stretched between us as my thoughts ran before I let out a smirk. ¡°I do love her spirit.¡±


    It¡¯s been so long since there was anyone who dared to go against my Aunt. It¡¯s rather fresh.


    Jude smiled a little before it vanished easily, and his gaze on me turned serious.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, he cleared his throat and spoke cautiously, ¡°Your Majesty¡­ there is something you may wish to recall. This isn¡¯t just about Princess Elena. It¡¯s about Daco Dooley, her father.¡±


    I felt like ice water was thrown at me as I chilled from the memory. Now, I¡¯m really having a headache.


    ¡°Princess Geline once sought marriage with Alpha Daco,¡± her reminded gently. ¡°He refused her. She never forgave him for that humiliation, and now his name lives on through Princess Elena. The Grand Princess never liked Alpha Daco¡¯s family, and her grievances run deeper than this engagement.¡±


    I tapped my fingers on the desk, thinking. Sighing, I looked up at him and asked, ¡°You think she sees Elena


    as a ghost from the past?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s trying to bury her shame with power. Giving out punishment like she wants would only validate her,¡± he advised, to which I agree.


    ¡°So what do we think we should do?¡± I asked, though I already made up my mind and just needed to hear another to back it up.


    ¡°Alpha Daco sacrificed everything to the kingdom. His sons, too. Their family and pack stood loyal for generations. Many still remember and thank them for that.¡±


    A long silence passed between us before I nodded my head.


    ¡°Understood. Let¡¯s not keep royalty waiting.¡±


    With that, Jude turned around and opened the door. He hadn¡¯t even opened it fully yet when Aunt Geline stormed inside, her heels clicking on the floor with a deafening effect.


    ¡°Desmond, Ie today not just as your aunt, but as a representative of the royal n¡¯s dignity,¡± she hissed as she walked toward me. Once she reached my desk, she mmed both her hands on it and stared at me with conviction.


    She was obviously trying to intimidate me. That would have worked years ago when I was a child, but years have passed, and I¡¯m the king now.


    Raising a brow, I kept my cool and tried to joke about it to try to ease the tension in the air that her arrival caused. ¡°A bold introduction.¡±


    ¡°That wanna be Princess you made, Elena, stormed into my mansion uninvited. She also threatened me. Above all things, she destroyed a diplomatic gift and humiliated me in front of my staff!¡±


    ¡°A diplomatic gift?¡± I asked, gesturing for her to go on.


    ¡°It was just a harmless joke,¡± she snapped. ¡°It¡¯s just a bottle of wine with a cheekybel. Hardly deserving of a tantrum!¡±


    What¡¯s on thebel has already reached the rumours as well, and Jude showed me a picture of it earlier. One of the servants on our side had taken a photo of the broken ss before they cleaned it.


    Sighing, Imented, ¡°Mocking her engagement wasn¡¯t wise, nor could it be considered a harmless joke, especially since she¡¯ll be Deacon¡¯s wife. The prince¡¯s wife.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I was only testing her poise,¡± she hissed. ¡°And she failed. Shecks the restraint of a royal member.¡±


    I knew it was only an excuse, though. We both know what she really meant to achieve with that gift. She felt humiliated and outshone at her party and was trying to make it difficult for Elena in return.


    ¡°She has the loyalty of one, and that¡¯s what matters,¡± I replied calmly. ¡°And she¡¯s not married into royalty. Not yet.¡±


    ¡°But she will be, won¡¯t she?¡± she demanded. ¡°You¡¯re all just going to let her in without question? A <b>woman </b>raised by a disgraced house?¡±


    Hearing that, my eyes turned sharp as I sat up properly.


    ¡°The Dooely family died protecting this kingdom and the people in it,¡± I uttered firmly. ¡°The only disgrace was how few people like you, as it seems, have forgotten about it.¡±


    She faltered. She had always been spoiled, and with her rank, we showed her respect and let her be most of the time. But there¡¯s a limit on her tantrums and wrongdoings that we could look past.


    ¡°I will not punish Elena for defending herself,¡± I finally said, knowing that¡¯s what she was really here for. ¡± If anything, Imend her restraint.¡±


    ¡°You mean her disrespect?¡± she hissed.


    ¡°I mean her honesty and courage. Something this pce oftencks.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a threat, Desmond!¡± she said through her teeth. ¡°If you can¡¯t see it now, you willter.


    Feeling my head pulsating, I stood up and sighed, wanting to end this thing already. ¡°Thank you for your opinion, Auntie.¡±


    ¡°I want her publicly reprimanded,¡± she insisted.


    Gesturing at the door for her to leave, I seriously replied to her, ¡°You may want many things, Auntie. But that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll get them.¡±


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 150

    Elena¡¯s POV


    ¡°Princess, are you okay?¡± Zara asked quietly as she sat down with me on the patio, where I was quietly admiring the backyard garden.


    I raised my ss of wine and swirled it slowly as I looked far ahead. In the kingdom, especially the royal capital, scandal was the favourite pastime of the bored and powerful.


    And this week¡¯s favoured subject?


    That would be me.


    It¡¯s been a week since my memorable visit to the Grand Princess, but the heat about me was still on the rise, and it wasn¡¯t even about the wine bottle I broke and hurled at the Grand Princess<b>¡® </b>fountain.


    No¡­ It¡¯s a whole lot of new mess, which I knew was created and ignited by Princess Geline herself to get


    back to me.


    I could still remember the murmurs I heard when we went out to the market this morning.


    ¡°She¡¯s only getting close to Prince Deacon to wash her family¡¯s bloodstained legacy.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s ambitious. Cold. Used her tragic past for sympathy points.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange? She was so invisible for years, and now suddenly she¡¯s everywhere?¡±


    It was all ridiculous usations that never happened before. Some people might have forgotten my family, and the younger generation might not know them well, but they were never respected for dying in a battle.


    No warriors deserve such scrutiny. And no one would dare to start such a thing¡­ except for the Grand


    Princess.


    Sighing, I took a sip from my ss and slowly put it down before looking at Zara¡¯s worried nce. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± I asked as I mmed myself down on the sofa,pletely exhausted.


    ¡°Come on, Princess. This is one of our neighbouring packs,¡± Jayden encouraged as he set down another appreciation gift with a letter on it.


    I¡¯ve been in the living room for how many hours now, opening gifts, reading letters, and replying to them. Despite the scandal, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m the future wife of Deacon, with the official engagement being announced.


    Hence, many packs were buttering me up. Although I wasn¡¯t interested in politics, it has be a part of my life now that I have to ept. Which also meant that I had ot suffer and entertain this trivial, insincere thing and make sure Deacon¡¯s reputation won¡¯t be smeared.


    Sighing, I sat up properly and was in the middle of untying the ribbon when one of the post guards came <b>in</b>.


    He bowed his head and greeted before reporting, ¡°Princess¡­¡±


    Sadness etched on his face as he let out a small smile. ¡°Someone came to visit you.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± I asked with furrowed brows.


    Stepping to the side, he opened the door and let someone in, which made my breath hitch.


    My eyes widened in shock as I stood up, feeling my heart clench and tears forming in the corners of my eyes.


    Right in front of me, the once beautiful and bright as the sun now stands without a glow in her eyes.


    ¡°Kyline¡­¡± I whispered.


    It¡¯s my eldest sister¨Cinw, the only other surviving member of our family from the massacre. Because of too much grief she couldn¡¯t handle after losing my brother, she decided to go back to her old pack and stay


    there instead.


    We haven¡¯t seen each other for years. We didn¡¯t even contact each other.


    Unlike a family reunion filled withughter and joy, ours was quieter than expected. After all, we were the only ones left and were separated right after the tragedy. We¡¯re both scarred, and each of us was a reminder of the day.


    ¡°Elena,¡± she greeted back.


    ¡°Kyline,¡± Elena whispered.


    We sat in the resting area of the garden, thinking that the beautiful flowers and fresh air could help lighten the tension that had built up around us.


    ¡°I almost didn¡¯t recognise you,¡± Kyline said, her voice low. ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡±


    Elena¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°We both did.¡±


    Kyline nodded slowly, and her eyes wandered around the packhouse before she let out a small smile. Though sincere, it wasced with sadness, which I understand. ¡°You¡¯ve built something¡­ after everything. That takes strength.¡±


    I looked away for a second before sighing and tried to make us both ease by gesturing at the pile of gifts in the living room and joking, ¡°Or stubbornness.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯te for pleasantries,¡± Kyline said seriously as she pulled a folder from her bag. ¡°I came because someone¡¯s trying to erase what¡¯s left of our name.¡±


    Opening it, sheid it on the table and showed what was inside. There were screenshots, transcripts, and financial trails.


    ¡°All of those messages and onlinements are from anonymous ounts.<b>¡± </b>


    My brows furrowed as my eyes swept each of the pages.


    Kyline continued. ¡°The posts are using your mother of treason. There were even old letters from your father. Both of which were edited to make it appear to be something other than what it really is. There are even allegations that you used his name and glory to get close to Prince Deacon.¡±


    Closing the folder with a sting in my heart, Elena blinked away the pain in my eyes as I pursed my lips. ¡°So


    23


    this is what they¡¯ve reduced us to.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a hit job,¡± Kyline said bluntly. ¡°These are obviously funded trolls, and the media are paid¡­ I made some investigation. All hints go back to the Grand Princess.¡±


    That¡¯s not even surprising. ¡°She¡¯s getting back on me.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s terrified of you,¡± Kyline corrected me firmly, ¡°You¡¯re young, popr with themoners, and you¡¯ve never needed to beg the pce for anything. That¡¯s threatening. Especially when someone like her thrives on control.¡±


    I clenched my hand over the table. ¡°And now she¡¯s putting a smear on our family


    ¡°They want you to seem like a calcting orphan girl who wed her way into court. If people believe that, your marriage, your alliances, even your future titles, be tainted.¡±


    I looked up at her. ¡°You said you didn¡¯te for pleasantries. I presume it¡¯s not just to report this. You could have just sent a message.


    Kyline nodded her head and seriously asked, ¡°Do you want to answer these attacks¡­ publicly or privately?¡±


    ¡°Privately, for now,¡± I said after a short hesitation. ¡°Quiet truth always echoes louder than loud lies.¡±


    Kyline offered a rare, grim smile. ¡°Still sharp.¡±


    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re from a family of baddass,¡± I joked, finally earning a smallugh from her.


    Kyline stood up. ¡°You¡¯re not alone, Elena. And you¡¯re not the little girl I left at the steps of the cremation altar.¡±


    Elena whispered, ¡°Thank you.¡®


    We both walked out of the pack house as I sent her to the gate. She paused for a second and engulfed me in a warm hug. ¡°I¡¯ll look into this. You take care of yourself.¡±


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 151

    Chapter <b>151 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The Roosevelt Pack was quieter than I had expected it would be.


    As I walked inside the packhouse with a few warriors with me in the distance, which Jayden insisted I bring with me, I didn¡¯t even encounter anything unusual.


    There are no gossiping members or staff, and there are no awkward nces. Aside from the official members who were assigned to usher me inside, everyone went about their own business like any other day.


    All through my walk in the living room, all I heard was the hum of the central cooling system in this extremely hot weather and the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee.


    ¡°Elena¡­¡±


    Duchess Hermoine Gallop greeted me with a faint smile as we met eyes.


    She¡¯s standing at the base of the staircase, dressed simply in a navy wrap blouse and crisp white cks. She looked extremely elegant without even trying. Unlike most of the royal members, she looked like she didn¡¯t care about her status, nor did she have anything to prove.


    Duchess Hermione Gallop was a distant member of the royal family and considered Deacon¡¯s aunt, hence a Duchess. However, she was her mate¡¯s alpha of another pack and had to marry away, to which she dly epted and left the kingdom.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯de,¡± she uttered in a low voice as she strode toward me.


    I took her hand politely and shook it. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure I would either until a few hours ago.¡±


    This was the first time we met each other. It¡¯s just unfortunate that it was under such circumstances.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m d you did.¡± She motioned for us to move into a sunlit sitting room, ss walls overlooking the garden.


    We sat across from each other, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Just the quiet clinking of coffee being poured by a servant before she was dismissed.


    ¡°I wanted to see you as soon as the pce investigator finished their report,¡± Duchess Hermoine said, folding her hands on the table and looking at me intently as she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already know by now.¡±


    I nodded my head suddenly.


    ¡°That Princess Sarah was behind the nder?¡± I asked, but it wasn¡¯t really a question. ¡°Yes, the investigator came to see me two nights ago.¡±


    As soon as the gossip spread across the kingdom like wildfire, it wasn¡¯t only Kyline and me who went all out in finding out what happened. Deacon and King Desmond also had the investigator move to get to the bottom of this.


    After two days, we all came to the conclusion that Duchess Hermoine¡¯s daughter, a princess whom I had never met, was the actual source of the gossip.


    Chapter 15T


    But Kyline¡¯s report was still right¡­ that it all led back to the Grand Princess Gelin.


    The Duchess¡¯s expression tightened with guilt. ¡°And that it wasn¡¯t just her. I learned that the Grand Princess orchestrated it all, fed her lies, encouraged her to weaponise your reputation.¡±


    ¡°Court politics at its finest,¡± I muttered, shaking my head as I grabbed the cup of coffee and took a sip of it, savouring the bitterness that came with the situation I was constantly being tested in recently.


    Duchess Hermione winced. ¡°I know that is not an excuse. In fact, no excuse or reason can justify what my daughter did. Sarah was foolish, but she still shouldn¡¯t have been stupid enough to have been anyone¡¯s pawn. Especially not in something so cruel.¡±


    I kept silent at her words. I mean¡­ she was epting it all easily and speaking transparently with me. What else could I say to a surrounding mother?


    We both knew the rumours were nearly devastating¨Cpainting me as someone who disrespected myte family, married for influence, and even questioned my qualifications as Deacon¡¯s future wife.


    ¡°I regret not stepping in sooner,¡± she added, sighing devastatingly while shaking her head in regret. ¡°I didn¡¯t do my job well as a mother in supervising my daughter, and that almost branded me unfilial because of some petty power y¡­ It¡¯s shameful. It could¡¯ve destroyed your standing.¡±


    I shrugged lightly. ¡°It¡¯s just gossip. I¡¯ve learned not to let words break me.¡±


    All through my life, I had walked around on thin ice, hearing words that weren¡¯t even a quarter of the truth. Over time, my skin thickened so that I wouldn¡¯t be bothered easily by such things.


    But that didn¡¯t mean that I wouldn¡¯t do anything either, especially if it wasn¡¯t just my name on the stake.


    Nevertheless, my understanding surprised her. ¡°You really don¡¯t take it to heart?¡±


    ¡°Duchess,¡± I said calmly, ¡°I lost my entire family in one night. I¡¯ve stood alone in rooms where everyone doubted my worth. If gossip could ruin me, it would¡¯ve done so years ago.¡±


    >>


    Her eyes softened. ¡°You¡¯ve endured more than anyone should. I see now¡­ You inherited more than your mother¡¯s eyes. You carry her strength, he too.¡±


    My heart stopped at her words, and I looked at her deeply. I didn¡¯t know what to say to that.


    After a pause, she stood and crossed the room to a narrow drawer built into the cab by the window. From it, she pulled out a small box wrapped in ck velvet. She brought it over and ced it gently in front of me.


    ¡°I want you to have this.¡±


    I looked at the box with furrowed brows, cautiously pulling it toward me while giving her confusing nces every now and then.


    When I opened it, a bracelet stared back at me¨Cdelicate, yetmanding. A wolf howling over the moon was carved from gold, the moon iid with tiny gems that caught the sunlight and shimmered like the moon itself.


    I blinked in awe, momentarily speechless before finally managing to say, ¡°This¡­ is beautiful. But why are


    you giving it to me?¡±


    ¡°I ordered it from the Stone Steel Pack years ago,¡± she exined. ¡°Ordered a customised item for myself. The wolf and moon design was special to me.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s yours,¡± I said, pushing the box slightly back.


    But she immediately shook her head and smiled.


    ¡°I never got to pick it up. By the time I returned to the pack, Vince¨Cthe jeweller¨Ctold me it had already been sold.¡± Her lips lifted in a small, ironic smile. ¡°To your mother.<b>¡± </b>


    My fingers that were holding the bracelet suddenly halted and felt cold. ¡°She never mentioned any of this.¡±


    By then again, it probably didn¡¯t matter. After all, it¡¯s just jewellery and it happened years ago.


    She shook her head and continued her narration, ¡°She didn¡¯t know it was mine. She told Vince it was for her daughter. Said you¡¯d need something meaningful and beautiful to wear one day¨Csomething that reminded you of what you came from.¡±


    I looked at the bracelet again.


    So this was hers. Or mine. Or both. Now, I¡¯m confused as hell.


    But one thing was for sure¡­ Looking up at her, I asked causitously, ¡°So¡­ she bought what¡¯s yours?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t angry at her,¡± Duchess Hermione continued with a shrug while ncing at the bracelet lovingly.¡± Just at Vince. For not telling me. But now¡­¡±


    She pushed the bracelet closer to me again. ¡°I think it was meant to be yours.¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m taking something that belongs to you.


    ¡°It belongs with you,¡± she said simply. ¡°Especially after everything. You¡¯ve earned more than apologies- you deserve remembrance.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    My brows furrowed.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 152

    <b>Elena¡¯s </b>POV


    Duchess Hermoine closed the box with quiet finality and looked up at me with a sincerity glinting in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll exin.¡±


    Somehow, I felt the need to brace myself for it, and so I did. <ol start="27"><li>27. </li></ol>


    ¡°Your mother,¡± she started. ¡°¡­is really the one who bought this jewellery. She ordered it from Vince, the same jeweller I ordered from. Iter found out that it¡¯s supposed to be her gift to you for your wedding.¡®


    I froze at her words as my eyesnded on the jewellery box again.


    My brows furrowed. ¡°But I thought¡­ I thought you said that you had it customised?¡±


    She let out a smallugh and shook her head before shrugging her shoulders casually. ¡°It turns out your mom and I had the same taste.¡±


    Opening the box again, she pointed at the moon part. ¡°There was a mix¨Cup at the shop. When I came to collect my order, Vince handed me this instead. I didn¡¯t realise it¡¯s a mix¨Cup until I noticed it had more gemstones on the moon than mine.¡±


    I stare at the enchanting bracelet with a pounding heart. Then¡­ this was never hers. It was always mine.


    My hands slide on the sides of the bracelet gently, like it¡¯s made of feathers, while I ask for her confirmation with a frown, ¡°So this wasn¡¯t even the one you ordered?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she confirmed. ¡°I confronted Vince about that afterwards. That¡¯s when I found out he¡¯d identally given me your mother¡¯s order. And¡­ the worst part? The piece I designed was never found. It turns out that the assistant goldsmith stole it and fled the city. Vince didn¡¯t want to tell anyone, so he just switched the orders.<b>¡± </b>


    I swallowed. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ incredibly unprofessional.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention illegal,¡± Hermione agreed. ¡°When I realised the bracelet wasn¡¯t mine, I tried to return it to your mother. I visited your pack and went to her personally.¡±


    My heart clenched. That must¡¯ve been awkward.


    ¡°But¡­ she didn¡¯t want to take it back,¡± the Duchess said softly. ¡°She said once something had passed into another woman¡¯s hands, it no longer held value as a wedding gift. That¡­ that it wasn¡¯t¡­ proper.¡±


    That sounded like my mother¨Cproud and deeply principled, even to a fault.


    Then, she let out a smile like she reminisced about the past.


    ¡°But she still did thank me,¡± Duchess Hermoine went on, ¡°but she insisted that I keep it.¡±


    Pushing it closer to me, she looked deep into my eyes and added, ¡°I never wore it, though. It didn¡¯t feel right. So I ced it in my collection and left it there.¡±


    ¡°My mother once told me,¡± I murmured, ¡°that she will gift me something that will remember the bravery of myte six brothers and father.


    Charter 15


    +25 BONU


    Hermione blinked in surprise and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Six?¡±


    I nodded, voice softer now. ¡°Six older brothers. I was the youngest. They teased me endlessly, but never let a single thing touch me. She said when I married, I¡¯d wear something that carried all of them with me,¡±


    Duchess Hermione went quiet, waiting for me to continue.


    I could almost hear my brothers¡®ughter again¨Cfeel their footsteps pounding across wooden floors, chasing each other like it was the only thing that mattered.


    Holding the bracelet tightly around my palms, I looked up at her with stinging eyes as tears threatened to form in the corners of my eyes. ¡°Thank you for keeping it.¡±


    She reached over and gently held my hand together, keeping the braceletpletely ensped in our hands. ¡°I think your mother always knew it would find its way back to you.¡±


    And damn her words did hit deep.


    I reached for my bag and fumbled for my coin pouch. ¡°<b>I</b>¡­ I¡¯d like to pay for it. I know it¡¯s mine in some way, but it doesn¡¯t feel right just taking it after all these years.¡±


    Hermoine¡¯s brows rose, but she didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Then give me what you feel is fair.¡±


    With a huge smile, I reached for 2000 dors and gave it to her without hesitation.


    She looked at it for a while before getting only the thousand bill, as she gave me a faint but approving smile. ¡°This will do. It¡¯s not actually a sale, but rather a gesture between two women who loved the same thing.¡±


    I nodded, blinking away tears I hadn¡¯t expected to feel.


    Though we didn¡¯t end up in a heated conversation, this moment somehow felt even heavier than any confrontation I¡¯d had in the pce. There was no shouting, and no nder to clear. Just a silent recognition of the past, the loss, and the quiet strength passed from one woman to another.


    Before I left, the Duchess reached out onest time. ¡°Elena?¡±


    I turned around and looked back at them.


    ¡°Wear it proudly,¡± she said. ¡°Not because of who gave it to you, but because of who you are.


    With onest smile at her, I left her pack with the box clutched tightly in my hands.


    And for the first time in years, it felt like my family¡­ hadn¡¯t truly left me.


    ¡±


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 153

    Elena¡¯s POV


    ¡°Princess Elenal¡±


    I was already at the pack¡¯s gate and was about to enter my car when one of the Duchess¡® servants rushed toward me, calling while excessively waving her hand to get my attention.


    Breathing heavily, she smiled at me andposed herself as she stood upright. ¡°Princess Elena, the Duchess said that if you have time, she would like to invite you for another visit. Or if you prefer, she¡¯ll visit your pack instead.¡±


    It might be because I show a sign of shock on my face that she added with a wider smile, ¡°The Duchess wishes to be your friend.¡±


    To say I wasn¡¯t surprised would be a lie. I couldn¡¯t help but blink a couple of times in utter surprise and even ¡­ a feeling of warmth as her invitation touched me.


    I know that she was being sincere because Roosevelt Pack was one of the top packs, and they had no reason to tter anyone, especially not me or Deacon. She was, after all, another royalty.


    And since I was feeling warmth with her again, I couldn¡¯t help but smile warmly and nod my head. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    With that, I bid myst farewell and turned around to go back to my pack.


    As soon as I arrived back, I went straight to the spot where my mom was buried and sat on the grass, feeling the fresh air brush against my skin.


    Closing my eyes, Iy back and let myself rest on the soft grass.


    After a few minutes of silence, I opened my eyes and turned my head to the side, looking right at my mom¡¯s tomb. Pulling the box from my pocket, I pushed it close to her and opened it, letting the afternoon sunlight shine on it, and its gems reflected it all around, making it look like rainbows were surrounding her.


    ¡°Look what I got, Mom,¡± I whispered on her tomb as I pulled it out from the box and put it on my wrist, raising it to the sky and letting it shimmer.


    I stared at it until my vision blurred, and then¡­ I let the tears I had been holding on to drip from my eyes and onto the grass.


    The silent yet aching tears that flowed down my cheeks tasted like all the years I had been trying to keep strong despite everything.


    My brother¡­ My brothers¡­ My pack¡­ All of them. It still felt like yesterday when I could hear them, watch them goofing around, and stand beside me like they used to.


    I was in the middle of reminiscing when our eldest pack member, whom I treated like a family since I was a child, came to my side with her basket filled with clothes she just grabbed from the clothesline and sat beside me.


    ¡°Your mother only gave that bracelet up because she didn¡¯t want to trouble Duchess Hermoine,¡± she uttered softly, taking me aback.


    +25 80Ra


    Sitting up, I asked, ¡°You know about it?¡±


    She gave me a sad smile and nodded her head. Shifting closer to me, she draped her arms around my shoulder and leaned her head closer to me, giving mefort.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t have it remade because well¡­¡± She shrugged her shoulders. ¡°She said it wouldn¡¯t be the same if it¡¯s done a second time around with another of the same thing out there. And that the meaning had already been lost if that was what was to happen.¡±


    1


    I touched the bracelet, feeling the engraving and gems on it. ¡°And now it¡¯s here, back at my wrist.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe¡­¡± she paused and pulled away from me before pulling me to face her.


    She stared deeply into my eyes and held my hands. ¡°Maybe it just needed time to return at the right moment.¡±


    Leaning in closer, she gave me a wide smile and knowing look. ¡°Just right before your marriage. A marriage that¡¯s really for you. And it¡¯s your mom¡¯s way of blessing you even when she¡¯s no longer around.¡±


    A smile instantly formed on my lips as more tears of joy streamed down my face. Though I felt <b>my </b>heart getting heavier, thefort in it was inevitable to feel.


    This bracelet was my mom¡¯s blessing to me. Something that showed that I¡¯d always be protected by my family, no matter where they were.


    Holding it, I couldn¡¯t help but think¡­ Maybe things would be okay now that I¡¯m already on the right path. Even though we were only bound by a contract and Deacon couldn¡¯t possibly love me the way fairy tales promised, maybe the life ahead of us would be a peaceful one.


    The one we would cherish. A rtionship that¡¯s stronger than a friendship.


    Something that my mom always wanted for me. A peaceful and safe home. A future I didn¡¯t have to fight for at every turn.


    Though it wasn¡¯t sailing as smoothly right now, I knew Deacon was someone I could lean on, and he¡¯d do everything to turn it into something I would never regret.


    ¡°Thank you, Aunt Maggie,¡± I told her as she stood up and kissed me on my forehead before leaving me alone again.


    I raised my wrist and held the bracelet close to my heart while I leaned my back on my mom¡¯s tomb.


    Despite the peace that formed in my heart, a hint of guilt still pricked at me at the thought of my marriage


    to Deacon.


    My martial arts master, Master Nick¡­ It had been years since Ist visited him¡­ Since I left and disappointed him with my choices.


    I hadn¡¯t even sent him a wedding invitation either.


    My heart pounded.


    Would he think that I had forgotten about him? Or worse¡­ Would he think I no longer cared?


    I sighed and couldn¡¯t help but wonder when I would be able to return to Custodes.


    But no matter what, I know something for sure¡­


    Sooner orter, I¡¯d be back on track and get the life I deserve.


    I sighed and couldn¡¯t help but wonder when I would be able to return to Custodes.


    But no matter what, I know something for sure¡­


    Sooner orter, I¡¯d be back on track and get the life I deserve.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 154

    Elena¡¯s POV


    News travelled faster across the kingdom farther than I had imagined.


    I had no n on leaking that it¡¯s Princess Sarah who started those rumours, especially after my conversation with her mother, Duchess Hermoine. Besides, Princess Sarah only did that because of Grand Princess Gelin.


    She was just a pawn who didn¡¯t know any better.


    But what I didn¡¯t expect was for things to get out of hand. Whispers alongside the kingdom said that the pce was a den of secrets, betrayals, and disgrace.


    What made it worse was that now the heat turned on Princess Sarah, and I heard it really hurt her when she heard that Duchess Hermoine apologised to me on her behalf.


    As much as I wanted to help, though, I couldn¡¯t do anything. And it¡¯s the consequence of what she had done. Hence, she should know how to face it.


    Meanwhile, in my pack, the atmosphere was also heavy, but it wasn¡¯t for the same reason.


    ¡°We can¡¯t dy this any longer,¡± one of the elders said, folding his hands. ¡°Prince Deacon, as noble as he is, cannot take the Alpha title of our pack. We must think ahead.¡±


    Since most of our members died in the massacre, the elder members of the pack who had knowledge in management were screened and chosen by Jayden and me as the new elders.


    We are currently in the meeting room, experiencing issues with the future heir and the setup <b>of </b>the pack following my marriage to Deacon.


    The other elder uttered, ¡°The right thing is to select and raise a child from within the bloodline-¡±


    Before he could finish, I looked at him with raised brow and uttered sharply, ¡°And where do you expect to find one? In the grave?¡±


    The room fell silent for a moment as cold air surrounded us. I saw some of them swallowing a lump in their throat while the one who made that stupid suggestion started to sweat and avoided my eyes as he realised how reckless he was being.


    <b>¡°</b>If only-¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my words. My brother¡¯s image shed in my mind together with Xavier, my second brother¡¯s son, who unfortunately died as well. Though we didn¡¯t find his body, we saw his shoes and blood alongside the border where my massacre was done.


    Besides, many bodies weren¡¯t found back then because some bodies were brutally amputated and shredded by those who shifted into their wolf form.


    Seeing the images of their deaths again made my stomach churn.


    With trembling hands, I stood up and shook my head. ¡°I¡­ I need a moment.¡±


    I rose from my seat quickly and went out of the room and rushed to the guard, sitting on the grass<b>, </b>as <b>I </b><b>let </b>my tears fall.


    +25 Bonus


    My nephew was only a child, and I couldn¡¯t imagine how much he had suffered along with the other pups of the pack. I could still remember hisughter and naughtiness whenever he would run up to me and ask for some candy or just to y with him.


    It took me a while, but I finally called down. After I hadposed myself, I stood back up and cleaned myself of tears beforeing back to the meeting room.


    With my hand on the handle, I heard them talking inside, sorrow in their eyes.


    ¡°If, by the blessing of the Moon Goddess, Princess Elena and Prince Deacon give birth to two sons¡­ perhaps the elders could take Prince Deacon¡¯s title and the second¡­ the Alpha¡¯s title. It¡¯s unusual, but it could preserve both legacies.


    The other elder nodded his head in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll wait. Until after their wedding, then we can propose the idea carefully.¡±


    Indeed, that¡¯s a great idea. But as they said, by the Moon Goddess¡® blessing. After all, giving birth was not something we had control of.


    As the sun dipped lower, the sky began to darken.


    Trying to rx after that stressful meeting that brought back a lot of painful memories, I chose to sit alone on the balcony of my room, just staring at the bracelet on my wrist¨Cthe one that hade back to me, full of meaning and memories, and let the moonlight shine through it.


    I was immersed in my own thoughts and emotions when I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket.


    Taking it out, I slide through the screen to open the message notification from Maise, who was still in Custodes.


    ¡°Elena! Just so you know, Deacon was here today. He came to visit Master Nick! You wouldn¡¯t believe how much the Master likes him. We¡¯re preparing gifts for you now, which he will bring back to you. The entire


    crew is excited!


    My heart pounded as a smile softly formed on my lips. This was the best thing that had happened to me recently.


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel both touched and surprised.


    Deacon¡­


    I knew he said it, but I didn¡¯t take it too much to heart, just in case he wasn¡¯t serious. But it turned out he


    was<b>. </b>


    He didn¡¯t even say anything.


    What¡¯s more¡­ Today was the Moon Goddess Festival. It would be held at midnight when the moon was at its brightest.


    Remembering that, I felt a little bit sad. If he were in customs, then he might not be able to return so soon to celebrate it with me.


    With a sigh, I gaze out of the sky where the stars are just about toe out.


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    Once the night got darker, I finally went out of my room to prepare for the celebration.


    ¡°Is everything ready?¡± I asked Zara and Jayden, who I found busy in the living room, arranging papernterns and lighting them.


    They nodded their heads and smiled brightly.


    ¡°Almost, Princess,¡± Jayden uttered while Zara bent down to grab one finishedntern and a pen.


    Giving it to me, she uttered, ¡°Here, Princess. Make a wish.¡±


    Smiling, I epted it and carried it to the porch, where I sat on the steps. With thentern and pen on myp, I looked up at the sky and thought of what to wish for, but all I could think of was the possibility of seeing Deacon, which was close to impossible.


    But just as I opened the pen and was about to write something, I heard footsteps that made my hand halt from writing.


    But what made my heart stop was that deep voice that called out my name.


    ¡°Elena.¡±


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 155

    Deacon¡¯s POV


    The night breeze was cold, but it did nothing to case the weight pressing on my chest as I approached the porch, where Elena was sitting with her back to me.


    ¡°Elena,¡± I said, my voice lower than I intended, yet sounded heavy with an emotion I couldn¡¯t yet exin.


    She looked up at me, startled at first, but then her expression softened when she realised that it was me.


    At first, there was excitement in her eyes, but then, after searching my face for a while, she stood up in a hurry, looking alert as she sensed the tension on my face.


    ¡°Deacon?¡± she called out with that worry in her tone that warmed my heart. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Before I could speak, Zara appeared from behind the doorway, grinning as she spotted us together.


    A little giggle even escaped her lips. ¡°Ah, I see. Prince Deacon is here to whisk our Princess away for the Moon Festival! How romantic.¡±


    I tried to force a smile from her joke, but it felt wrong.


    My mind was elsewhere.


    I cleared my throat, thinking of what to say that wouldn¡¯t sound offensive on her obviously friendly remark, but nothing was surfacing in my mind.


    Luckily, before a long, dead air spread around us, footsteps echoed in.


    Seeing how Elena and Zara were staring at me, waiting for something, Elena¡¯s Beta, Jayden, realised the situation and kindly intervened.


    Thankfully, I had run into him earlier on the driveways and had already briefed him on what¡¯s happening.


    ¡°Zara,e help me pack. We need to prepare the Princess¡¯s bags. We¡¯re leaving for ckridge City tonight.¡±


    Zara blinked in confusion. ¡°Pack? Tonight? What-¡±


    ¡°Juste on,¡± Jayden urged gently and pulled her despite her small struggles and her constant look in our


    direction.


    Once they were gone, I managed a sigh and looked back at Elena, who just stood up from where she was sitting, brushing imaginary dust from her dress.


    With a step forward, she looked at me with a question and worry. ¡°Deacon¡­ What¡¯s going on? Why are we leaving?¡±


    I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my thoughts.


    The image of the boy whose features resembled hers shed in my mind again. But unlike her elegant look, that boy had wild hair, dirt¨Csmudged cheeks, and fierce eyes that reminded me too much of someone I had only seen in faded photos and family portraits.


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°On my way back from Custodes, I ran into¡­ a situation,¡± I began, my voice tight and a little hesitant as I didn¡¯t know the best way to throw the news at her.


    Taking another deep breath, I continued, ¡°At first, I thought it was just another Rogue attack. All of a sudden, someone moved with agility and came towards me. I thought he was targeting me.¡±


    Elena stiffened. ¡°He? Who was it?¡±


    Her eyes then widened, and she closed the gap between us, hands roaming around my arms and looking at my limbs and back, and she fired questions one after another. ¡°Are you okay? Are you injured? What happened?¡±


    Feeling her worry, I immediately held her by her arms and stopped her restlessness.


    Looking deep into her eyes, I shook my head, and reassured, ¡°Not a rogue. A child. Barely more than eight or nine. He wasn¡¯t attacking¡­ rather, he was stealing. Food. Coins. Whatever he could get his hands on. The kid¡¯s thin as a rail, starving. But that¡¯s not the most shocking part.¡±


    Elena¡¯s heart seemed to stop, and I could see it in her eyes. It seemed like the rear of her head was moving, and how she was readying herself.


    It¡¯s as if she already felt like it¡¯s more than what she thinks it could be.


    ¡°Then what is?¡± she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    I hesitated, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. ¡°He¡¯s a werewolf, Elena. No rogue stench. And he looks¡­ He looks like he could be your brother¡¯s son. I didn¡¯t want to believe it at first, but the more I looked


    at him¡­¡±


    Her breath caught.


    She staggered back a step, shaking her head as if trying to wake from a dream. ¡°Which brother?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure,¡± I admitted, stepping closer.


    This was one of the reasons why I was having a hard time telling her. It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t have the facts either and was afraid to disappoint her.


    Nheless, I remained honest and told her everything, ¡°But my gut tells me¡­ It¡¯s Xavier¡¯s boy. The eyes, the shape of his face. He even has that little scar on his chin, just like your nephew had when he was ying. I saw it in an old family photo once.¡±


    Tears welled up in her eyes, glistening in the night light. ¡°Xavier¡¯s son? R¨Crafael¡­ But¡­ he¡­ he died in the massacre. We thought they all-¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I interrupted gently, my hand brushing hers. ¡°But somehow, this boy survived. And he¡¯s out there, alone, scared, starving. I couldn¡¯t leave him. He ran before I could speak to him properly, but I caught his scent. I can track him. But it¡¯s too dangerous for us to discuss and bring him here. There are too many eyes. It will attract too much gossip.¡±


    ¡°ckridge City is closer to Custodes and your academy. It¡¯s safer, and from there, we can search without interference. Besides, that¡¯s around the ce I saw him,¡± I added.


    ckridge was one of the unowned territories and considered amon ground like the forest and the


    +25 Bonus


    mountain, where the Custodes were located.


    Elena stood frozen for a long moment, her mind racing. Then, determination sparked in her gaze.


    She grabbed my hands, holding on to me like her life depended on it, while she looked at me with conviction. ¡°We have to find him, Deacon. We have to. If it¡¯s really him-


    ¡°We will,¡± I promised, squeezing her hand. ¡°But we need to move quickly.¡±


    Nodding inside her house, I said, ¡°Jayden is already making the arrangements.¡±


    She nodded, wiping at her cheeks and pulling herself together. ¡°I¡¯ll help pack.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said softly, catching her hand and pulling her into my arms.


    ¡°Let them handle it. Stay with me for a second. I didn¡¯t want to tell you the news when it¡¯s unclear, and it¡¯s a festival. But I think you ought to know,¡± I added as Ifortingly slid my hand on her hair.


    She looked up at me, trying to smile through the tears forming in the corner of her hopeful eyes. ¡°Thank you for telling me. For¡­ for everything. You always think of me first.¡±


    I leaned closer, brushing my lips against her forehead. ¡°Always.¡±


    For a moment, the world stilled. Around us, the balcony¡¯s soft light flickers, the night¡¯s quiet hum, and the Moon shining above seemingly bring us its blessing. It all feels so warm and¡­. Oddly perfect despite the situation.


    A clearing of the throat caught our attention. We Jayden and Zara carrying luggage and bags.


    Parated from each other and looked to the side to see


    Elena took a deep breath and strengthened her back, gaining herposure as she grabbed my hand and pulled me. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Deacon. Let¡¯s bring my nephew home.¡±


    With that, we grabbed the suitcase from Jayden and Zara and set out on the road, chasing the small hope of finding a lost boy and the promise of reuniting her with herst kin.


    P


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 156

    Elena¡¯s POV


    +25 Bonus


    The old breeze of the night howled low as we drove through the outskirts of the ckridge, the headlights of Deacon¡¯s car slicing through the darkness. Behind us was another car, where Tyson and the other warrior he had brought with him were riding.


    When we arrived at the border, we passed by a forest along the border. With the darkness, the gleam of the moon, and the cold breeze, I felt even more foreboding. But despite that chill creeping beneath my skin, my heart remained steady, and I was looking forward to the meeting with my nephew.


    A few minutes after passing the border, we made a stop at a small abandoned resting area at the edge of the woods, as cars were no longer fit to drive through inside.


    Tyson and the rest stayed behind, giving us space and also to survey the perimeter.


    Deacon was confident that the boy he believed was to be my nephew hadn¡¯t gone far yet.


    His scent trail had been faint but fresh, and Deacon¡¯s instincts rarely failed him.


    ¡°I can feel he¡¯s nearby,¡± Deacon spoke in a low voice, scanning the darkness with sharp eyes.


    His hand slid to mine and gave it aforting squeeze. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    I nodded, swallowing down the nerves that twisted in my stomach. ¡°Let¡¯s find him.¡±


    With that, we walked forward, stepping carefully beneath the crooked trees, moving slowly so we wouldn¡¯t scare him off again.


    After a while, we heard a rustling sounding from the east, and Deacon halted me with a hand on my shoulder. We shared a knowing look and surveyed the premises with keen eyes.


    ¡°There,¡± he said, tilting his chin forward.


    Half¨Chidden behind the gigantic tree, a small figure was craoched down, hands tightly holding the side of the tree as he tried to hide his small frame as much as possible.


    I barely saw his face, but I recognised him immediately. It¡¯s the boy from Deacon¡¯s description. Wild hair, hollow cheeks, and the tattered remains of a once¨Cdecent shirt hanging from his bony shoulders.


    ¡°Rafael¡­¡± My voice broke before I could stop it.


    Being this close to him now, I¡¯m finally able to take a proper whiff of his scent, and I couldn¡¯t go wrong. Besides, the thumping of my pounding heart said that Deacon had guessed it right.


    The kid¡¯s head snapped up, and he slowly stepped out of his hiding ce.


    Those fierce, guarded eyes red at us from the shadows. Like a wounded animal, he pressed his back harder against the tree.


    Despite showing himself to see who we were, it still looked like he wanted to disappear any moment now.


    ¡°Stay back!¡± His small fists clenched as he raised them in a fighting stance. His jaws were clenched, and his eyes were sending a re our way, but his trembling failed to hide his obvious fear. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I


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    know what you are! You¡¯re one of them!¡±


    One of them?


    Confusion filled me, prompting many questions to arise in my mind.


    Not wanting to rm him more than he already was, I took a slow, careful step forward. ¡°Rafael, it¡¯s me. It¡¯s Aunt Elena.¡±


    He hesitated, blinking through the grime on his face. His chest rose and fell rapidly from his heavy breathing.


    And I could only imagine how his young heart must be pounding hard in terror right now. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re not with them?¡±


    ¡°With whom, sweetheart?¡± I asked softly.


    ¡°The ones like him!¡± he hissed, ring and pointing at Deacon with raw distrust. ¡°Big men. Scary. Always shouting. Hitting. They said people like you belong to them now.¡±


    I felt Deacon stiffen beside me. He understood immediately, as I did.


    The boy¡­ my nephew¡­ Rafael¡­ had been running from more than just hunger.


    Deacon took a cautious step back, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. ¡°I won¡¯te closer. I¡¯m not here to hurt you, Rafael.¡±


    Rafael¡¯s lip wobbled.


    He nced at me again, doubt and confusion twisting in his dirt¨Csmudged face. ¡°But¡­ you¡­ You got married already. To¡­ to that other man.¡±


    My breath caught.


    Bryson¡­


    That was thest he remembered. That was the reality he¡¯d clung to while surviving alone in fear. No wonder he¡¯d been so determined to protect me, even from Deacon.


    ¡°Oh, my dear boy.¡± My heart broke all over again. And that¡¯s all I could say at that moment.


    Taking a deep breath, I thinked deeply before exining it to him in a must subtle and kid¨Cfriendly manner. ¡°That marriage¡­ It¡¯s over. A long time ago. I¡¯m with Deacon now. He¡¯s not like them. He¡¯s my fianc¨¦¡­ He¡¯s family.¡±


    Rafael¡¯s gaze darted between us, distrust battling with fragile hope in his young eyes. ¡°Family?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Deacon said quietly. ¡°And family means no more running. No more hiding. You¡¯re safe now.¡±


    Still uncertain, Rafael crept a little closer but in slowly steps and only toward me. When I knelt down and offered him my opened my arms, he hesitated just a heartbeat longer before he finally threw himself into <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    ¡°You¡¯re safe now,¡± I whispered gently but with firmness as I wrapped my arms around his small, trembling frame. ¡°I¡¯ve got you now.¡±


    Behind me, Deacon stood silent, giving us the space we needed.


    I knew he could hear Rafael¡¯s quiet sobs muffled against his shoulder.


    At first, let us deal with our emotions ourselves. But after a while, he knelt slowly, lowering himself to Rafael¡¯s height but still keeping his distance.


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°I know I look scary,¡± Deacon said, his tone softer than I¡¯d ever heard. ¡°But I¡¯m here to protect Elena. And you.¡±


    Rafael peeked up from my shoulder, still wary but less frightened now than he was earlier.


    ¡°You¡­ You won¡¯t send me away?¡± his voice was low and almost sounded like he was begging, making my heart break to pieces.


    ¡°Never,¡± I spoke immediately, determination radiating off my voice. ¡°You¡¯re family. My nephew. My brother¡¯s son. I¡¯ll never¡­ We¡¯ll never let anyone take you away from us.¡±


    Myst kin¡­


    ±ù¸Ð


    Deacon nodded in agreement. ¡°And any family of Elena¡¯s is under my protection, too.¡±


    Slowly, Rafael wiped his nose and tears with the back of his sleeve. ¡°I guess¡­ you¡¯re not so scary when you¡¯re not shouting.¡±


    Deacon chuckled at that. ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    I smiled for the first time that night. Beneath the heavy shadows of the trees, something fragile but precious was beginning to mend.


    And it¡¯s our hearts that are slowly filling with hope and love.


    I just hope it willst a lifetime. Everything¡¯s getting better now¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± I said, standing with Rafael clinging to my hand. For the first time in years, the word ¡®home¡® didn¡¯t feel like a lie.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 157

    Elena¡¯s P


    Let¡¯s go home,¡± I said, the words escaped my lips, bringing relief to my heart that¡¯s been aching for so <i>many </i>


    yeats


    Rafael, still clinging to my hand, looked up at me with wide hopeful eyes. He wiped the tears that managed to escape his eyes again and nodded his head happily at me.


    The journey back to the cars was slower and filled with silence, but it wasn¡¯t as suffocating as the tension that had built up between the three of us earlier, now that Rafael¡¯s wariness wasn¡¯t as high as it had been earlier.


    I kept Rafael close to me, his small hand warm in mine, showing him that I¡¯d always be here for him and he¡¯d never be alone again. That he could count on me.


    ¡°Rafael,¡± I began softly, as we walked, with Deacon slowly following behind us like a mighty warrior who¡¯d protect us at any time if there happened to be a sneak attack from somewhere,


    Since it was a long walk back to the car, I decided to break the prolonged silence and exin things more to him in detail after I saw his continuous nces toward Deacon.


    Looking down at him, I continued, ¡°You asked about that other man I was with before¡­ Bryson. He¡­ he¡¯s not my husband anymore. That was a long time ago, before I even knew Deacon.¡±


    I nced at Deacon, who gave me aforting smile and a nod that was full of trust. ¡°Deacon is now my mate, my fianc¨¦. He¡¯s strong, sweetheart, just like your father was, and your grandfather. He¡¯ll protect us.¡±


    Rafael nced behind us again and looked at Deacon, whose presence always brought aforting warmth rather than a looming threat, and I hope that¡¯s how Rafael felt now as well.


    Though Rafael¡¯s initial wariness toward him hadn¡¯t vanished entirely, it had softened into a cautious curiosity.


    And for now¡­ It¡¯s enough. I¡¯m just d that he agreed toe with us.


    Over the passing minutes, we walked together, and he started to get a bit more used to Deacon¡¯s presence.


    He didn¡¯t even flinch anymore when Deacon started walking beside us and helped us manoeuvre our way around the dark woods field with roots and stones scattered everywhere.


    Later on, I even saw him subtly leaning into Deacon¡¯s side when a twig snapped loudly near us.


    And the fact that he did it subconsciously, that he was surprised and had to distance himself quickly, made my


    heart warm even more.


    Deacon also maintained a respectful distance from him but kept a watchful eye; his earlier sternness had been reced by gentle patience, a quality I rarely saw him disy.


    When we reached the cars, Tyson and the other warriors were waiting, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity.


    Tyson¡¯s gaze lingered on Rafael for quite some time before a flicker of understanding passed between them. Rafael, sensing the shift in atmosphere, tightened his grip on my hand, but he didn¡¯t hide.


    ¡°We¡¯re taking him home, Tyson,¡± I announced, my voiceced with a triumph I couldn¡¯t quite contain. ¡°Rafael ising back to the pack.¡±


    Heck, if I didn¡¯t want to see my nephew, I¡¯d probably jump and shout in joy. Seeing me dance like crazy wouldn¡¯t be surprising either.


    +25 Bonus


    My words hung in the cool night air as my suppressed joy still managed to exude in the air.


    My family¡­ I have a family again.


    My father, my brothers, and my moin¡­ They were all gone. The pack had mourned, but they had also moved on, Just like I was. And epting the tragic end of a powerful lineage like ours was hard for everyone, especially with my marriage to Deacon.


    Now, here I was, bringing back thest living, breathing sessor. Myst kin.


    News, I knew, would travel faster than the wind through the packnds.


    And I wasn¡¯t wrong at that.


    By the time we reached the kingdom, whispers were already spreading like wildfire.


    Many were sceptical, especially those who hadn¡¯t seen him yet.


    My family were wiped out. It was a tragic massacre that spread through every corner of the kingdom and every pack in the country. It was indeed almost impossible for a pup to have survived.


    Well, almost¡­ but not entirely impossible.


    I could already hear the doubts, and the quiet disbelief was rippling from pack to pack.


    But what really worried me once we got back was the official matters we had to attend to, rather than the gossip.


    I could already imagine King Desmond receiving the news. Knowing him, he would surely demand verification to confirm Rafel¡¯s identity. He¡¯ll probably ask for a DNA test or some other more test.


    His primary concern would be the stability of the pack and the kingdom, and truth be told, an unexpected return of a lost heir who was thought to be dead would undoubtedly cause a stir, potentially upsetting established power dynamics.


    But for the others, especially the older members of my pack and the council, it might see it as a sign, a blessing, a return to the old ways.


    And then there was Glenda.


    My stomach churned at the thought of her reaction.


    She had always thrived in the shadows. But I knew her anger and grudge against me were only zing more an more each passing day.


    The return of Rafael meant a new sess for me. I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t want to see me and Pack getting back on our feet.


    And I fear it would take her attention.


    Being Rafael, myst kin, there is no doubt that he¡¯d be one of my weaknesses, and so would be my pack¡¯s.


    And that meant he¡¯d be a possible target for those who wanted to harm me.


    With fear radiating in my chest, I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close to me, eyes looking at the passing scenery outside the window.


    And then, there¡¯s Rafael¡¯s mother¡¯s family, a smaller pack rumoured to be fiercely protective of their own<b>, </b><b>would </b>likely refuse to believe it.


    They had mourned their daughter and her mate, epting their fate years ago. The idea that their daughter¡¯s pup, whom they also had mourned, might look like it was a trick a cruel deception.


    Chatter &


    But none of that mattered right now.


    It brought me a lot of fear, yes¡­ But I¡¯m ready to face any


    To make me feel at ease and feelforted, Tyson was tl in the back.


    As we drove, Rafael nestled between Deacon and me in th sleeping.


    The road ahead of us was filled with uncertainty and pote wasn¡¯t in despair¡­ I wasn¡¯t even afraid. I¡¯m¡­ hopeful.


    We had found him, and that was all that truly mattered.


    P


    Sup


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 158

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The drive back to the Ironpaw pack felt both endless and fleeting. Yeah, I know. I kind of weird description, but that¡¯s how I felt.


    Rafael, who was obviously exhausted, probably not just fromst night¡¯s event but from all the years he was alone facing a goddess who knew what, had been asleep all throughout the ride.


    His small, fragile body reminded me of how much he must have endured all these years. And the emre thought of those things I couldn¡¯t even imagine brought more ache in my heart.


    When we finally arrived in the pack house, the sky was already a hint of orange as the sun started to set.


    Jayden and Zara were already waiting at the front porch with a huge smile on their faces, ready to wee us.


    Tyson hurriedly got out of the driver¡¯s seat and went to open the door for us.


    As Deacon carefully lifted Rafael from the seat, a small group emerged from the house, signalled by Jayden and Zara who had an expectant look on their faces.


    The group was led by Dr. Aris, our newly hired pack¡¯s doctor, together with a few of the warriors. Her face, usually serene, held a look of grave concern as her eyes fell upon the boy in Deacon¡¯s arms.


    ¡°He needs to be examined immediately, Princess Elena,¡± Dr. Aris said, her voice calm but firm and with a hint of


    urgency.


    She gestured at the stretcher brought by the two warriors and politely asked Deacon toy him in there. ¡°Bring him inside,¡± she ordered her nurse assistant, who hurriedly obeyed her words.


    We moved quickly, Deacon and I walking with them as they carried Rafael directly to the small infirmary wing of the house. As Dr. Aris began her assessment with professionally precise, gentle movements, I found myself pacing the hallway outside, the scent of antiseptic doing little to calm my nerves.


    Deacon stood silently beside me with aforting hand on my back.


    While we waited, a few familiar faces appeared.


    One of them was a pack elder.


    He looked as though he had just woken up. His eyes were wise and kind¨Clooking as he approached me.


    ¡°Princess Elena,¡± he rumbled, his gaze full of sympathy.


    ¡°Is this¡­?¡± he pointed out at the open¨Cdoor room where Rafael was being examined. He couldn¡¯t evenplete his words as his eyes glistened with hope and so many emotions while looking at him.


    I simply nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.


    He ced a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Fate really does work in mysterious ways. He¡¯s home now.¡±


    His words, though meant tofort, only deepened the ache in my chest. The part of me that reminded me of the days he was alone in those ces.


    A few minutester, more and more members of the pack started to wake up and gather around. They would give a quick nce at Rafael, their emotions filling the air with love, pain, and hope.


    After a while, I had to dismiss some of them and tell them they could wait for the news soon and take a rest first, leaving only Deacon and me in the hallway.


    The wait felt like an eternity.


    +25 Bonus


    Every quiet murmur from inside, every rustle of fabric, sent a fresh wave of anxiety through me.


    Finally, Dr. Aris emerged from the room, pulling out her gloves and mask, her grim expression evident.


    She closed the door softly behind her, after letting me have a quick nce at sleeping Rafel.


    Her gaze then met mine, and I knew instantly that her news would be devastating


    ¡°Princess Elena,¡± she began, her voiceced with heaviness that made my heart clench.


    ¡°Rafael is¡­ he¡¯s been through a lot. Physically, he¡¯s severely malnourished, as expected. But there¡¯s more.¡± She paused, taking a deep breath as she flipped through her medical clipboard, where hisboratory results were clipped.


    ¡°He had multiple untreated injuries, old and new,¡± she started, pointing from one paper to another. ¡°He also has broken ribs that healed improperly, deep bruising, and scars that proved repeated abuse.¡±


    My breath hitched, a silent scream caught in my throat.


    I wanted to storm out and hunt whoever hurt him and put them six feet below the ground.


    It¡¯s no surprise that some of his injuries wouldn¡¯t heal. After all, he¡¯s still a minor and hadn¡¯t shifted yet. He didn¡¯t have his wolf¡¯s consciousness to help him heal faster


    ¡°And,¡± she continued, her voice dropping to a near whisper, ¡°There¡¯s evidence of poisoning. Low¨Cgrade, but consistent. It looks like he¡¯s been regrly given something to suppress his wolf abilities, to keep him weak, perhaps to prevent his first shift.¡±


    The words hit me harder than any pain I had for years.


    Poisoned.


    Abused.


    My nephew, my brother¡¯s son¡­ the apple of our eyes¡­ had been living a nightmare I couldn¡¯t even fathom. And I wasn¡¯t there by his side.


    The image of him looking so fierce and yet scared earlier shed before my eyes. He wasn¡¯t just running from hunger or solidarity, but from torture he had been receiving all these years.


    My vision blurred, tears stinging my eyes.


    My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms, trying to ground myself against the tidal wave of grie and


    rage


    that threatened to consume me.


    Deacon¡¯s arm wrapped around me, pulling me into his strong embrace.


    Couldn¡¯t contain my grievance, I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist tightly, looking for support as the dam of emotions within me finally broke.


    ¡°We¡¯ll fix this, Elena,¡± Deacon murmured, his voice rough with emotion. ¡°We¡¯ll heal him. We¡¯ll protect him. No one will ever hurt him again.¡±


    His words served as a lifeline for me at this moment, pulling me back from the brink of despair and giving me the courage and hope I needed.


    I knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but it won¡¯t be impossible.


    The physical wounds were one thing, but the scars on his soul would take far longer to mend.


    <b>But </b>as I held onto Deacon, feeling his steady strength, a flere determination ignited within me.


    Rafael was home. And now, the real fight began: the fight to give him back his life.


    I¡¯m not here. I¡¯ll make sure to make up for the times I wasnt by his side.


    D


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 159

    Chapter <b>159 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The grief and pain I had felt when I thought Rafael died in that massacre is nothingpared to the agony striking my chest now.


    <b>I </b>want to leap with joy at seeing him alive, but the knowledge that he has been poisoned and suffering all <b>these </b>years cuts deeper than any de.


    I try to sleep, but peace neveres. Each time I close my eyes, darkness drags me into nightmares.


    Cold sweats. Screams<b>. </b>That¡¯s how I wake. Always, Deacon is there¨Chis strong arms pulling me close, his warmth wrapping me against the chill of despair.


    ¡°Rafael?¡± I whisper the same question every time the nightmares rip me awake.


    Deacon wipes my tears, presses a kiss to my forehead, and murmurs the same steady answer. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡±


    For days, I have been consumed by raw grief. But grief slowly hardens into resolve. I cannot simply cry. I need to act. I need to give Rafael justice.


    And the first step is to ce him back where he belongs¨Crecognised as a legitimate member of my family, my pack.


    That means facing the Lycan King, King Desmond.


    After <i>a </i>week, when Rafael¡¯s condition stabilises, Dr. Aris gives him a mild sedative so he can rest. His wounds are healing, and though still thin and wary, he looks stronger than when we found him. Proper food and care have begun to work their small miracles.


    Deacon and I take him to the royal pce.


    The King¡¯s office is as grand as ever, the scent of old wood and quiet authority hanging in the air. King Desmond sits at his desk, eyes scanning piles of reports, while Queen Celine reads on the couch nearby.


    I steady myself and speak while holding firmly to Rafael¡¯s hand, who was hiding behind me. ¡°Your Majesties, this is Rafael. My nephew. Xavier¡¯s SOYL


    The room stills. Their eyes looked our way with shock and questions.


    Queen Celine gasped, her books sliding off her hands and onto the couch before her hand raised to cover her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. She took in Rafael¡¯s gaunt frame, the scars peeking out from his too-rge shirt.


    While Queen Celine showed an emotional response, King Desmond¡¯s expression was firmer. The pity that shed briefly before in his eyes now settled into something cautions, calcting even.


    ¡°Elena,¡± he said, voice sounding deep and weighted.


    He had us seated on the couch opposite the Queen while he stood up and sat on the single sofa that¡¯s on the head of the coffee table before continuing, ¡°We are sorry for the boy¡¯s suffering. But this¡­ this is unexpected. After all these years, to bring a child back from such a tragedy<i>¡­ </i>it raises questions. Are you certain of his lineage? And are you prepared for the implications?¡±


    Based on his reaction, I¡¯d say he was already informed of <i>what </i>happened. At least, the basics like the fact that I had already found my nephew, and what situation we found him in


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t a surprise at all. He¡¯s the king, and as expected, news and gossip travel faster than gue.


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    His gaze lingers, a subtle warning. As though my grief clouds my judgment or worse, that Rafael¡¯s return could destabilize everything


    Before 1 could answer, Deacon shifted from his seat, a bit forward. His hand settled firmly on my hand that¡¯s on myp in a protective and unyielding manner.


    ¡°With all due respect, King Desmond,¡± Deacon said, his voice edged with steel. ¡°Elena¡¯s certainty is absolute. And as for implications¨Cshe is my fianc¨¦e. Her family is my family. We are prepared.¡±


    His words were so firm, and his eyes were glinting with conviction. It¡¯s a silent deration that he¡¯d face this with me as a man, a mate, and even as a member of the royal family.


    The air thickens. King Desmond narrows his eyes, meeting his brother¡¯s stare. And.. an unspoken challenge hummed between them.


    Then Queen Celine¡¯s voice cuts through, soft but firm. ¡°He is a child, Desmond. A survivor. He needs protection, not interrogation.¡±


    Her rebuke softened him. Slowly, the King inclines his head. ¡°Very well. He will be protected. Dr. Aris has our full support in his recovery.¡±


    I almost raised my eyebrows. Great! He even knew about Dr. Aris. I guess there¡¯s nothing anyone could hide from a King.


    The next day, with the King¡¯s cautious blessing, we set out for StoneMoon Pack¨CRafael¡¯s maternal family. The journey was heavy with anticipation. Hiry, Rafael¡¯s mother and my sister¨Cinw, had been beloved. Her death¨Cand Xavier¡¯s¨Cleft a wound that never healed, both to me and to many people.


    At the border, the warriors eye us with suspicion.


    ¡°A child? From the massacre?¡± one scoffs. ¡°Impossible.¡±


    Inside the main hall, Alpha Mark and Luna Kate, Hiry¡¯s parents and Rafael¡¯s grandparents, await us. Alpha Mark stood stiff, arms crossed, eyes sharp with cold suspicion. Meanwhile, Luna Kate, who was usually warm, looks fragile, her grief etched deep.


    ad


    I¡¯ve only seen them a few times, but it¡¯s saddening to see the changes that are vivid in theplexion of their faces. It¡¯s been years, but like me, the pain and grief were still visible in their eyes.


    ¡°Elena,¡± Mark uttered tly, ¡°to bring us false hope is cruel.¡±


    ¡°It is not false hope,¡± I replied, my voice firm. I step aside, revealing Rafael as he clings to my leg. ¡°This is yo grandson. Hiry and Xavier¡¯s son.¡±


    Rafael peeked out from behind me. The moonlight catches his face, highlighting the wild dark hair that mirrors Hiry¡¯s, the guarded eyes, the mingled scents of both his parents clinging faintly to him.


    Luna Kate¡¯s breath hitches. Tears brimmed as she whispered, ¡°Hiry¡­¡± She moved forward, trembling hands reaching out.


    She called out her daughter¡¯s name in pain. I understood her. Rafael looks very much like his parents.


    Rafael didn¡¯t retreat. He simply stood there, chest rising and falling, as though sensing no danger.


    Mark¡¯s eyes flick to his mate. His Alpha senses sharpen, searching for the truth. Slowly, disbelieving, he dropped to one knee. His voice cracked. ¡°My grandson.¡±


    Luna Kate cupped Rafael¡¯s face and sobbed, pulling him into her arms. At first startled, Rafael then leaned into her embrace¨Cthe warmth a balm against years of cold.


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    The warriors, silent witnesses, begin to murmur. Disbelief melted into awe.


    I watched, a bittersweet ache filling my chest. Relief washed over me, mingled with the grief <b>of </b>all that was lost.


    Rafael was home now not just with me, but with the family lie never knew.


    The path ahead would not be easy. But he has two packs now. Two families to stand by him.


    D


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 160

    Chapter <b>160 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The reunion that unfolds engulfs us in a warm nket, easing the pain that struck our hearts for the past few days.


    Luna Kate, with tears in her eyes, refuses to let go of Rafael after she croches down and pulls him into her arms. Though shy and hesitant, Rafael manages to ease into her arms after a while, which Luna Kate takes as a sign that she can caress him more.


    Her chin quivered as more tears streamed in her eyes while she caressed Rafael¡¯s face like he were a fragile figurine.


    ¡°Oh, my grandson¡­¡± she cried when she examined Rafael¡¯s body and saw some minor signs of his abuse.


    Alpha Mark, on the other hand, had remained silent beside her all this time, but the way his hand rested on his mate¡¯s shoulder spoke volumes. The stone¨Ccold Alpha I knew he had be had softened into a grandfather who had just reimed blood he thought was lost forever.


    And yet, as much as the sight broughtfort, a weight settled over me. Rafael¡¯s ce in this world wasn¡¯t just about blood or reunion. His future was written in his very birthright. He wasn¡¯t only my nephew¨Che was the heir to my pack.


    ¡°It will be alright.¡± A warm arm wrapped around my shoulders, Deacon pulling me into his side, his enticing eyes looking at me with so much love and belief.


    Then, a small smile spread on his lips. Leaning down, hended a soft kiss on my forehead and whispered in my ear. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    His words indeed ease my heart a little bit, but I wouldn¡¯t lie. The thoughts and worries remained gnawing at me as the evening settled.


    Considering it¡¯s their first day of reunion and the formalities we still needed to do, we stayed a while longer in StoneMoon Pack.


    We had anticipated this, but I think it would take longer than expected.


    Now, we all gathered in the meeting room, faced with all the high¨Cranking members of the StoneMoon Pack and other relevant members, such as warriors. All of them who were looking at us with doubt when we first came in, now paid their respect after seeing the turn of events.


    Rafael, though already at ease, still felt a little awkward around the new faces and would asionally try to reach for my hand whenever he felt overwhelmed. But that didn¡¯t stop Luna Kate from refusing to leave Rafael¡¯s side.


    By the time we were offered guest rooms for the night, I was torn. Watching Rafael finally receive affection he had been denied all these years made me ache. But I couldn¡¯t allow sentiment to blind me to what needed to be done.


    ¡°You can¡¯t sleep?¡± Deacon asked, half¨Clying beside me on the bed, apanying me in fear I¡¯d have nightmares again.


    25 Bonus


    I looked up at him, still holding his arm and shook my head. ¡°Tomorrow will be a long day.¡±


    And I was right.


    The next morning, over a quiet breakfast with Alpha Mark and Luna Kate, the inevitable conversation began.


    Mark¡¯s sharp eyes met mine across the table. ¡°Elena,¡± he called out, tone heavy with authority as he continued, ¡°about the boy.¡±


    I set my spoon down carefully. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You brought him back. You saved him.¡± His voice softened for a breath before hardening again. ¡°But you must understand¨Cbe is Hiry¡¯s son. Our grandson. He has a ce here, in this pack, among his mother¡¯s kin. Luna Kate and I can raise him, protect him. He doesn¡¯t need to be thrown into the politics of your pack.¡±


    My heart ached.


    I know what he was talking about. Politics was a dirty and rough road. One needed to be strong to sustain a strong foothold. Rafael was still young, and they didn¡¯t want him to be in that ce.


    They wanted to spoil him. But so do I. It¡¯s just that¡­.some things were easier than done.


    Luna Kate nodded, her hand smoothing Rafael¡¯s hair where he sat quietly beside her, nibbling at a piece of bread. ¡°He has been through so much. Let him heal here, with us. This house is filled <b>with </b>Hiry¡¯s scent, her memories. It willfort him.¡±


    Their words struck deep, but I forced myself to remain steady. I reached for Rafael¡¯s hand, and he instinctively gave it to me. His trust burned like a beacon in my chest.


    ¡°I understand,¡± I said, my voice low but firm. ¡°I know how <b>much </b>you¡¯ve lost. I would never take him from you without cause. But Rafael is not only Hiry¡¯s son. He is Xavier¡¯s son. My brother¡¯s blood. That makes him <b>heir </b>to my pack ¡±


    Mark¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°An heir can be trainedter. He is still a child. Do you think Deacon¡¯s mother will even agree to this? To raise a boy she¡¯s only just met in her household?¡±


    His words stung, because they weren¡¯t entirely wrong. Deacon¡¯s mother had never fully weed me in the first ce, and Rafael was an unexpected addition. But that didn¡¯t change the truth.


    He¡¯s my nephew and not someone whom I just picked up from somewhere. Besides, Deacon¡¯s opinion mattered more than anyone else¡¯s. As long as Deacon¡¯s on my side, I wouldn¡¯t mind the words of others.


    I could surely fight them.


    ¡°He is already behind,¡± I said, my voice gaining strength.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 161

    Elena¡¯s POV


    They froze at my words. Luna Kate is looking at me with confusion, while Alpha Mark stares at me with a sharp gaze that is almost judging every inch of me.


    Taking a deep breath, I exined to them, ¡°While other heirs are being trained, shaped, and prepared, Rafael spent years suffering. I will not let him lose more time. He needs Deacon¡¯s guidance. He needs to live under the roof of his future Alpha, to learn firsthand what it means to lead.¡±


    Most Alpha heirs knew who they would be since their birth. They had their childhood, but it was different from the rest. They lived knowing they¡¯d lead the ce they grew up in, and they were mentally prepared from childhood for that role.


    But Rafael was different. He didn¡¯t grow up with that upbringing. His only advantage right now was that he had be street smart, having survived what he had survived until now.


    Besides, who else could train an alpha heir more than a prince and god of war himself?


    I¡¯m sure bringing him with you to Deacon¡¯s house after marriage would be very beneficial to him, not only as an Alpha but as a kid. We¡¯ll be his parents. We¡¯ll love him as much as my brother and sister¨Cinw would have loved him.


    Luna Kate¡¯s eyes were still glistening with withheld tears, but she shook her head with firmness. ¡°You speak of duty as if it matters more than his childhood. Elena, he is just a boy.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I whispered, ncing at Rafael, who looked between us silently. ¡°But he won¡¯t remain a boy forever. His scars, his pain¨Cthey cannot erase who he was born to be. My pack needs an Alpha one day, and that Alpha is him. I must prepare him, no matter how difficult the path.¡±


    I know. I sounded cruel. But he was the only hope of our pack and the hope that would keep peace among our kingdom. And I knew he could handle it. Rafael was my brother¡¯s pup, and he already proved hw strong he was by how he miraculously managed to survive on his own in the cruel ce he lived in.


    Deacon¡¯s hand slid over mine on the table, steadying me, just as he always did when doubt wed at me. His deep voice joined mine, calm but unyielding. ¡°Rafael belongs with us. He will grow under my care, under Elena¡¯s love. And one day, when the timees, he will be ready.¡±


    Mark bristled, his Alpha aura flickering faintly, but Deacon met it without flinching. The silent exchange of dominance ended when Luna Kate¡¯s soft sob broke the tension.


    I turned to her, my heart aching. ¡°He will never lose you. I promise that. You are his blood, his roots. But he must also walk the path fate has given him. He¡¯ll be the Alpha of IronPaw Pack. That will never change, whether he goes or stays with us. But I don¡¯t want him to grow up unprepared. That would be a greater cruelty to him than any of this.¡±


    The silence stretched around us from the truth of my words.


    Finally, Mark exhaled heavily, his shoulders sinking. He¡¯s an Alpha as well, objectively, and I knew he knew what I meant.


    <b>¡°</b>You truly believe this is best for him?¡± he asked.


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    ¡°I do,¡± I said with an unwavering voice, nodding. ¡°He is my family. He had always been the apple of our eyes. I take care of him.¡±


    ncing at Deacon, I corrected, ¡°We¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    Rafael looked up at me then, his small fingers tightening around mine. For the first time, he spoke without hesitation, his voice soft but sure. ¡°I¡¯ll go with Aunt Elena.¡±


    The room froze. Even Mark¡¯s stern gaze faltered at Rafael¡¯s quiet resolve. Luna Kate covered her mouth, tears streaming freely.


    That was the answer we all needed. It¡¯s not from me, from Alpha Mark, or Luna Kate, but from the person himself who was truly involved. It¡¯s Rafael¡¯s choice.


    <b>I¡¯ll </b>


    I drew him gently into my arms, holding him against me as my throat and eyes burned, moved by his faith in me.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s decided,¡± I whispered into his dark hair. ¡°You¡¯lle home with me. You¡¯ll grow strong. You¡¯ll learn. And one day, you¡¯ll take your rightful ce.¡±


    Mark¡¯s sigh filled the room, heavy with reluctant eptance. ¡°Very well. But know this, Elena¨CI will hold you to your word. If he suffers under your care, if he is lost to the weight you ce on his shoulders, I will not forgive you.¡±


    I nodded, meeting his eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make sure you never have reason to.¡±


    Later, as we prepared to leave, Luna Kate clung to Rafael once more, pressing kiss after kiss to his cheeks. ¡°My sweet boy¡­ You are always wee here. Always.¡±


    Rafael, though shy, hugged her back and whispered in a small voice, ¡°I¡¯ll visit.¡±


    Upon saying that, he cast me a nce for reassurance to which I nodded, giving him the silent promise that he would never lose them.


    As we stepped outside into the morning sun, Deacon ced a steady hand on my back. Rafael walked between us, his small steps carrying the weight of a future he couldn¡¯t yet grasp.


    But I grasped it. And I swore to the Moon Goddess that no matter what storms awaited, I would shape him into the Alpha my pack needed.


    Not just for duty. But for love.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 162

    Chapter <b>162 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    With a mixture of love, pain, sadness, and joy in our hearts, we decided to part ways the next morning. The sun had barely risen, and we started preparing to leave the StoneMoon Pack.


    Carrying a couple of bags, Deacon and I climbed the stairs down together with Rafael, who was holding onto my


    arm.


    In the living room, we found Alpha Marc and Luna Kate sitting on the couch with steaming cups of coffee on the coffee table in front of them.


    Their heads lifted with longing when they met our eyes.


    ¡°Our little hero,e here,¡± Luna Kate coaxed.


    Shyly, Rafael loosened his hold on me and took small, shy steps toward Luna Kate, who weed and engulfed him in a warm bear hug.


    ¡°Let¡¯s give them some time,¡± Deacon suggested with his arm supporting my back and gesturing me toward the car parked up front.


    Nodding my head, I let out a small smile as we passed by the heartwarming scene of Rafael and his grandparents bidding their goodbyes.


    We spent half an hour fixing our luggage and other things in the car. Well, technically, it was only around ten minutes, but we figured we¡¯d give them more time together. Most of the time, we just stayed there, leaning against the car while gazing at the picturesque scene.


    I watched as Alpha Marc stood up from his seat, his stern expression now softened as he called out for Rafael and brought him somewhere. By the direction they went through, I¡¯d guess it¡¯s his study room.


    They disappeared from our sight, but after a couple of minutes, they returned. Now, Rafael was clutching a wooden box that was polished smooth with age.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to visit like you promised, pup. We will miss you.¡± That¡¯s Luna Kate¡¯s words as they walked out to the porch and toward us, hands still holding Rafael¡¯s little ones.


    <b>¡°</b>I will, Grandma.¡±


    Smiling, I stood up properly and faced them. Eyes shifting between Alpha Marc and Luna Kate, I vowed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry<b>, </b>I¡¯ll bring him to visit at least once a year. More if time permits. And if not, you are always wee in my pack.¡±


    ¡°And so in the kingdom,<i>¡± </i>Deacon added, earning a broad smile from me.


    I¡¯m so freaking lucky to have him in my life.


    That¡¯s all I could think when my eyes shifted to him.


    Meanwhile, Luna Kate and Alpha Marc both looked satisfied with our words.


    ¡°We¡¯ll hold on to that.¡± After saying that, Alpha Marc crouched down to Rafael¡¯s level and tapped the box he was


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    carrying around his arms like it was the most precious thing in the world. ¡°It belonged to your mother. Keep it safe.¡±


    Rafael had nodded solemnly, though I saw the sparkle of curiosity in his eyes as he hugged the box against his chest.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get going. Come on, buddy.¡±


    Deacon opened the door for Rafael and me after we gave a short bid with them.


    Alpha Marc had his arm around his mate. They both remained standing there, waving their hands and <b>smiling </b>while watching our car getting further and further from them and out of their territory.


    The journey back to Deacon¡¯s estate was quiet, most probably because we were all too tired from the days we stayed in the StoneMoon Pack as well, where every second was maximised.


    Rafael, who spent the two days interacting with a lot of people, was the most exhausted. Hence, it wasn¡¯t surprising when he looked so drowsy while sitting between Daecon and me at the back of the car.


    Nheless, he still refused to let go of his new treasure, holding tightly onto it as if he feared that someone might take it from him.


    I brushed my fingers on his hair and pulled his head to lean on my shoulder, letting him sleep.


    My heart continued to swell at the sight of his innocent face. He had lost so much, yet now, he carried a piece of his parents with him.


    When we finally arrived at the pce gates, Rafael stirred awake, blinking sleepily. One hand brushes his eyes while the other holds tight to the box.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± I whispered to him as the car took off and headed to Deacon¡¯s estate.


    When we finally arrived, we rushed out and stretched our bodies that had gone numb from the long ride.


    ¡°You okay?¡± I asked Rafael after seeing him looking kind of lost while staring at Deacon, who was busy at the back of the car, unloading our bags.


    Sleepily, he nodded his head and took slow steps to Deacon, stopping right in front of him, which caused Deacon to halt what he was doing.


    ¡°You need anything, Buddy?¡± Deacon asked, giving all his attention to him.


    With surprising seriousness, Rafael nodded his head and pushed the box into his hands.


    ¡°This¡­ is for you.¡± His soft voice echoed around us, leaving both of us in shock at his words.


    He¡¯s giving it away?


    The way he held it earlier, it almost looked like he wanted to go back to his room and kept it at his side even in his sleep. But he¡¯s giving it away¡­ and to Deacon at that?


    Deacon¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°For me?¡±


    Rafael nodded. ¡°Grandpa gave it to me. But¡­ you¡¯re teaching me. You¡¯re helping me. So¡­ I want you to have it.¡±


    Chaptering


    +25 Bonus


    The air stilled around us. My throat tightened at the earnestness in Rafael¡¯s eyes, his small hands still pressing the gift toward Deacon.


    ¡°It¡¯s your keepsake¡­¡±


    D


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 163

    Chapter <b>163 </b>


    <b>Elena¡¯s </b>POV


    Deacon stared at him for a long moment, then knelt down until they were eye level. Hisrge hands covered Rafael¡¯s tiny ones, and his voice, usually edged withmand, was gentle.


    He grabbed the box from his hand and opened it, showcasing his mother¡¯s precious paperweight. I couldn¡¯t forget that one. It¡¯s made of ceramic and wood.


    I remember that very well. It¡¯s still like yesterday when I caught my 3rd brother, Xavier, at his studio, where he spent time with his other hobbies, which are mostly crafts.


    I saw him carving two werewolves side¨Cby¨Cside in a meadow with the moon up in the sky on a circr wood. When I asked him who it was for, he said it¡¯s for Hiry, his fated mate. They just started dating then.


    Later on, he coated the surroundings and the bottom of it with ceramic, while the top of it was coated with epoxy resin in a spear shape.


    My eyes widened.


    ¡°Rafael, it¡¯s the token of love of your parents,¡± I added softly, my hands on Deacon¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Rafael¡­ this belonged to your mother. It¡¯s yours by right.¡± Deacon added, knowing the importance of it.


    Surprisingly, Rafael nodded. ¡°I know. But it¡¯s no use to me right now as a child. Keep it for me.¡±


    Deacon let out a smile, closed the box and held onto it tightly like Rafael did earlier before tapping his head lovingly. ¡°If you truly wish for me to keep it, then I will. And I will guard it with my life.¡±


    Rafael¡¯s lips curved in a faint smile. ¡°Yes. I want you to.¡±


    ¡°When you get older and be an Alpha, I¡¯ll have it at your desk,¡± Daecon vowed, and they shared a hug.


    I swallowed against the emotion clogging my chest. Rafael had just entrusted Deacon with a piece of his family¡¯s soul. And Deacon, despite all the weight of his station, epted it with reverence.


    ¡°Thank you, Rafael. I will honor this, and I will honor you,¡± Deacon whispered in Rafael¡¯s ear.


    Rafael¡¯s shy smile widened, and for the first time in a long while, I saw a glimmer of ease in his eyes.


    That evening, once Rafael had been tucked into bed by one of the maids and left sleeping soundly, I found Deacon in his study. He was still holding the box, his fingers tracing the engraved crest as if memorising every detail.


    ¡°You¡¯re smiling,¡± I teased gently, leaning against the doorframe.


    Deacon nced up, a rare, unguarded smile indeed tugging at his lips. ¡°How could I not? Your nephew entrusted me with something precious. It feels like¡­¡± He paused, searching for words. ¡°¡­like he already sees me as family.¡±


    Warmth filled me. I walked over, resting a hand on his arm. ¡°He does. And you deserve it.¡±


    For a moment, silence hung between us,fortable and steady. Then Deacon set the box aside and turned to


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    me<b>, </b>his gaze intent. ¡°Speaking <b>of </b>family¡­ there¡¯s something we should discuss. Our wedding.¡±


    My heart skipped.


    Right, we had been very busy with issues regarding Rafael¡¯s reappearance, so it slipped my mind.


    ¡°Our wedding?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± His lips curved into that subtle, knowing smile that always unsettled me. ¡°You¡¯ve been so focused on Rafael that I haven¡¯t had the chance to tell you¡­ I¡¯ve already begun preparations.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Preparations? Without telling me?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Do you think I would leave something so important to thest moment? I¡¯ve been nning since the day I asked you.¡±


    Heat rose to my cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re insufferable sometimes.¡±


    ¡°And yet you love me,¡± he countered smoothly, brushing a stray strand of hair from


    my cheek.


    I rolled my eyes, though the gesture was softened by the way my lips curved. ¡°So, tell me then. What have you nned?¡±


    Deacon leaned back slightly, studying me. ¡°The ceremony will be held here, in the pce gardens. The elders and council will attend, as well as the leaders of our allied packs. Your pack will have their ce of honor, of


    course.¡±


    My chest tightened with both excitement and nerves. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ quiterge.¡±


    ¡°It should be,¡± he said firmly. ¡°You are not just my bride. You are the future Lady of this estate, the future Princess, and Rafael¡¯s guardian. The world must see and acknowledge it.¡±


    I hesitated, then asked the question that had been circling my mind since ourst visit. ¡°And¡­ your mother?¡±


    Deacon¡¯s jaw tightened, but only for a moment. ¡°She will have no choice but to ept it. And in time, she will see why.¡±


    I let out a slow breath, my heart swelling at his certainty. ¡°You think of everything, don¡¯t you?¡±


    He smirked faintly. ¡°It¡¯s what I was trained for.¡±


    I tilted my head. ¡°Trained?¡±


    He nodded, his gaze distant for a moment. ¡°I studied at the training camp when I was younger. The same camp you once mentioned your master belonged to.¡±


    My eyes widened. ¡°You¡­? You never told me that.¡±


    ¡°There are many things I haven¡¯t told you,¡± he said softly. ¡°But yes. That camp shaped me. Discipline, leadership, endurance. It gave me the foundation I needed for this life. Perhaps that¡¯s why I understand how important it is for Rafael to begin early. He needs that kind of guidance.¡±


    A strange mixture of pride and surprise filled me. ¡°So you¡¯ve walked the same path I did. Maybe not alongside me, but¡­ close enough that fate kept us tethered.¡±


    (


    Chapter 16:


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    Deacon¡¯s smile gentled. ¡°Perhaps fate has always been weaving us closer.¡±


    I leaned against him, my heart pounding steadily. ¡°You¡¯ve thought of everything, haven¡¯t you? The wedding, Rafael¡¯s future, even myfort in this house¡­¡±


    His arm wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest. ¡°Because you are everything. You, Rafael, our future -I will not leave any of it to chance.¡±


    I closed my eyes, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. For once, the fear and weight of responsibility eased.


    Yes, storms still waited ahead. But in that moment, with Deacon¡¯s arms around me and Rafael safely sleeping nearby, I believed that together we could weather them all.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 164

    The following days passed in a blut of arrangements in preparation for our uing wedding and the weing of Rafael, which was barely acknowledged because everyone was focused on his recovery and the other pressing issues at hand. It was, after all, a shock.


    With that being said, the entire pce, especially Deacon¡¯s wing, was buzzing with countless activities that even I wasn¡¯t able to keep up with. Every direction my head turns, I¡¯d see busy staff going around all day.


    For instance, there were florists measuring spaces and offering different designs to choose from, managers pacing around with lists and instructing people on various tasks, and even messengers were busy running errands all day.


    Nheless, despite the constant visibility of how busy the ce was, my heart kept feeling warm as the fruit of all these was Deacon¡¯s promises slowlying into life.


    But in the midst of all the nning, a new whisper reached me. One which I hadn¡¯t expected.


    It came from a passing conversation with one of the pce guards. I had been walking down the corridor, Rafael skipping a few steps ahead with a maid carrying his books, when I overheard two men speaking in low voices.


    ¡°Can you believe it? Prince Deacon has stepped down as a General. Voluntarily.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The King himself confirmed it yesterday. A shock to all of us.¡±


    I froze at my ce; the words struck me like ice. Deacon? Stepped down?


    I can¡¯t be hearing that right, did I?


    The guards fell silent when they saw me, bowing hastily before retreating in panic. I didn¡¯t call them back. Well, I couldn¡¯t.


    My chest tightened with too many questions as I continued down the hall.


    That night, once Rafael had been settled into bed and the pce grew quiet, I sought Deacon in his study.


    I knocked on his door and opened it slowly, peaking inside. He was at his desk, the paper weight Rafael had given him resting on his desk with the piles of reports he was busy reviewing.


    Feeling my presence, he looked from what he was reading, and the crease between his brows instantly smoothed, a smile spreading on his lips.


    ¡°Elena, miss me?¡± he asked, teasing, radiating his lips.


    Any other day, I¡¯d y along and tease him back, probably even give him a hug or two, but my mind was so clouded right now that all I could think about was what I heard among the soldiers earlier..


    ¡°You resigned,¡± I uttered in seriousness.


    His eyes remained calm as always, though the flicker in his eyes told me he knew this conversation woulde. ¡°So you heard,¡± he replied, sighing.


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    My arms crossed instinctively<b>, </b>suspicion coiling in my gut. ¡°You are the god of war, the best general of this kingdom. You¡¯re not just the prince, you¡¯re the king¡¯s shield and his sword. Why step down now, of all times?¡±


    Deacon ced down the paper he was holding, leaned back in his chair, unhurried. ¡°Because it was time.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Time? Or convenient? Tell me the truth, Deacon. Did you marry me because the King feared you? Did he force your hand because your military clout and my rank together made you too dangerous?¡±


    The words split sharper than I intended, but the thought had been gnawing at me since I heard the news. Deacon had always stood tall, unmatched on the battlefield, respected and feared in equal measure. Combined with me, my bloodline, my im¡­ it was easy to imagine King Desmond worrying about the bnce of power.


    Deacon¡¯s gaze darkened, his voice low and steady. ¡°Elena.¡±


    But I pressed on<b>, </b>unable to stop rumbling with all the worries and thoughtsing into my head. ¡°Think of it¡­ Your influence with the armies, yourmand over thousands, and now you marry me, the rightful heir of my pack. Together, we could rival even the King¡¯s authority. Perhaps he thought binding you to me was safer than opposing you. Perhaps-¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    The word cut like steel and silence wrapped around us. It¡¯s a well known fact even before but we never really talked about it in detailed.


    Deacon stood, his presence filling the room, his eyes locked on mine with unyielding intensity. ¡°You insult me by suggesting my hand was forced. I have never been anyone¡¯s pawn. Not my brother¡¯s, not the council¡¯s.¡±


    I swallowed, but my doubts clung stubbornly. ¡°Then why resign? Why now, when you hold more power than ever?¡±


    He moved closer, each step deliberate until he stood just before me. His hand rose, not in anger but in quiet emphasis, as his fingers brushed my cheek. ¡°Because power breeds suspicion. My brother has always trusted me, but even trust can bend under the weight of politics. I saw it in his eyes¡­ the calction, the wariness. We can only stood side¨Cby¨Cside if we don¡¯t have doubts with each other. We are brothers, and power and such won¡¯t and should never be enough to divide us.¡±


    I blinked, startled. ¡°You¡­ stepped down voluntarily?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± His gaze softened, though his voice carried no regret. ¡°I resigned before his doubt could fester. I will not be the shadow looming behind his throne, nor the whisper in the council¡¯s ears. He is King, and I am his brother. That is enough.¡±


    My breath caught. The certainty, the calm in his tone¡­ it was so very Deacon. Yet my heart still ached. ¡°Then¡­. why me? Why our marriage?¡±


    For the first time, a faint smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Because it was the best match, politically and otherwise. You are strong, Elena. Respected. We might be together because of some reasons, but know that majority of it was because it¡¯s what I chose.¡±


    I stared at him, torn between relief and disbelief. ¡°So it wasn¡¯t a concession.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± His thumb traced lightly along my jaw. ¡°It was my decision. Every step of it.¡±


    <b>+25 </b><b>Bonus </b>


    <b>I </b>exhaled, starting to feel at ease.


    Still, <b>I </b>needed to be sure. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t regret leaving this life? It¡¯s part of who you are.¡±


    I know¡­ because battlefield andmand was part of mine as well.


    Deacon¡¯s eyes glinted with conviction as he shook his head. ¡°The battlefield taught me discipline, strategy, loyalty. But it was never meant to be my life forever. There are other wars to fight, Elena. Protecting you. Guiding Rafael. Preparing for the future. These are my battles now.¡±


    The words struck deep, pulling at something inside me I hadn¡¯t realised was knotted. Slowly, I reached for his hand,cing my fingers with his.


    ¡°You make it sound so simple,¡± I whispered.


    He smirked faintly. ¡°Because it is. My power doesn¡¯t vanish because I left the title. It simply shifts. And I would rather spend it building a future with you than holding a sword for my brother.¡±


    My lips curved despite myself. ¡°You always know what to say, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Only when it¡¯s the truth.¡±


    With that, he gave me a soft smile and stepped closer to me, his hand wrapping around mine, sending warmth. The gleam in his eyes as he stared at me was more than enough to make all my worries and doubts fade in the background.


    He¡¯s Deacon, and I trust him every step of the way. Besides, he¡¯s not someone who¡¯d easily waver on the choices he made, especially when all of it were well thought.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 165

    Elena¡¯s POV


    Later that night, I returned to the room I had been allotted since moving into Deacon¡¯s ce and took a rest.


    After we took Rafael back from his grandparents¡® pack, we decided that staying here would be much more convenient and practical. First, being here would be a lot of hassle while handling the touch¨Cup for our wedding, and most importantly, it would help Rafael to adjust better since he¡¯d be staying here after our marriage.


    But of course, since Deacon and I weren¡¯t officially married yet, staying in different rooms was the better choice.


    It also gave me a quiet time to think things through, like today.


    Deacon¡¯s confession lingered even after I closed my eyes, making me sleepless as his words echoed in my head over and over again.


    That¡¯s a confession, right?


    It wasn¡¯t grand or anything. It wasn¡¯t even straight to the point. He didn¡¯t say he loved me or anything. But his words that marrying me was his choice and it¡¯s et something he¡¯d regret gave me a fuzzy, warm feeling I couldn¡¯t deny.


    Although he steps down from his post as a general, which still doesn¡¯t sit well with me, even if it wasn¡¯t forced, I can still sense the weight beneath his tone.


    The sadness and pain that he hides. He might not regret it, but I know for a fact that it hurts.


    All through the night, the gears kept turning in my head, and before I knew it, morning had arrived, and sunlight was filtering through my bedroom window.


    Taking a deep breath, I stood up and looked at myself in the window with determination as I finally decided to let the matter rest. It was, after all, what¡¯s best for both of us. For all of us.


    Deacon had chosen me¨Cwhether by duty or desire, I would never know for sure¨Cbut his steady presence at my side was enough.


    With barely any sleep, I went down the stairs and started the day in peace. The first thing I did was grab breakfast before going straight to Rafael¡¯s room.


    I knocked before peaking inside. ¡°You awake, kid?¡±


    He rushed up to my side, happily. ¡°I¡¯m bored, Aunt Elena.¡±


    A huge smile spread across my lips at his cuteness<b>. </b>Messing with his head with my hand, I pulled him out. <b>¡°</b>Oh, no, that¡¯s a real problem.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>It is!¡±


    Iughed and nodded my head. ¡°Alright, then. How about we have some fresh air in the garden?¡±


    With that, we went straight to the garden, me watching behind him as he enjoyed the ce. His curious <b>hands </b>reaching out to grab at anything that caught his eye¨Cflowers, stones, even the hem of my dress<b>. </b>


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    Now and then, he¡¯d look back at me and show some of the things he found interesting


    Hisughter was the kind that eased every tight knot in my chest,


    ¡°Slow down,¡± I teased as he darted toward a low bush. He nced back at me with that mischievous smile that made him look so much like my brother.


    It was in that moment, watching him, that I felt a flicker of something warm¨Ca fragile kind of hope. For all the battles I had fought to stand where I was now, for all the sacrifices and scars, life still had these small, perfect


    moments.


    We returned indoors for lunch. Rafael sat between Deacon and me, pping his hands when the servant brought in a tray of candied fruits. He reached eagerly for one, his tiny fingers sticky with sugar as he pressed it to his lips.


    I wasughing at his antics when it happened.


    The sound left me first¨Ca sudden silence, broken only by the sharp tter of the porcin dish slipping from his hands. His face drained of colour, his smile crumbling. I froze as his little body swayed, then slumped sideways against the cushions.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± My voice trembled with panic as I reached for him. His lips had turned a faint bluish hue, and his eyes rolled back.


    ¡°No,¡± I whispered, rushing forward. My heart mmed against my ribs, louder than my words. ¡°No, no, no- someone fetch the pack doctor! Now!¡±


    The servants scrambled, their footsteps echoing through the hall, but all I could focus on was the child lying motionless in my arms. His skin burned hot beneath my fingers, yet his breathing came shallow and strained.


    This wasn¡¯t just a fever. No, it¡¯s way too sudden to be a normal flu.


    I pressed my palm against his chest, as if sheer willpower could steady his frantic heartbeat. My hands shook, but I forced myself to keep calm, to think. My mind rifled through every lesson my master had ever taught me about medicine, every tale of strange illnesses I had heard whispered through the kingdom.


    Poison.


    The thought struck like lightning. Again? It can¡¯t be¡­


    But how? He had only eaten the fruit, candied and prepared by the kitchen. My breath caught as dread settled deeper. This wasn¡¯t a chance. It couldn¡¯t be.


    By the time the doctor arrived, my clothes were already stained with the remnants of the sweets I had tried desperately to clear from his mouth. The doctor examined Rafael swiftly, his brows knitting together as he uncorked a small vial of antidote from his satchel.


    ¡°It¡¯s poison,¡± he confirmed grimly, echoing the word that had already lodged like a stone in my throat. ¡°But mild enough to have been hidden in food.¡±


    His eyes shifted cautiously between Deacon and me before reporting, ¡°I¡¯m afraid someone intended this.¡±


    My blood turned cold.


    Chap 165


    +25 Bonus


    I couldn¡¯t speak as the doctor worked, forcing drops of the antidote past my nephew¡¯s lips, massaging his throat until he swallowed.


    Deacon stood by our side, holding me in his arms as he kept me from breaking down.


    Meanwhile, I held Rafael¡¯s small hand through it all, silently begging him to stay with us. Each shallow breath was a knife twisting deeper into me. I had fought enemies in court, endured humiliation, even bled for survival -but none of itpared to the terror of watching an innocent child suffer.


    Once the emergency antidote was given, he was brought to the infirmary for more tests and recovery.


    After what felt like hours, his breathing began to steady. Colour returned faintly to his cheeks, his tiny fingers twitching against mine. Relief surged through me so fiercely that tears spilt before I could stop them.


    ¡°He will recover,¡± the doctor said on his second round in the infirmary after he put an IV drip on Rafael, though his expression remained grave. ¡°But this was deliberate. You must be cautious. Whoever sought to harm him may not stop here.¡±


    His words carved through my relief like ice.


    I looked at Rafael, still unconscious but alive, and my chest tightened painfully. He was just a child¨Che had no enemies, no schemes, no power to threaten anyone. So why him?


    Unless¡­


    A darker thought crept in on me, one I didn¡¯t want to v unlessless this wasn¡¯t about him at all, unless he was simply the easiest way to strike at me.


    I sat back, my hands trembling in myp as I felt the lump forming in my throat, fear making my stomach churn.


    Deacon and I must sort this through.


    As I watched his chest rise and fall with each fragile breath, a silent promise formed in my heart.


    Whoever dared to touch him¨Cwhateverer thought to wound my family to get to me¨Cme would regret it.


    And I would make certain of it.


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 166

    Elena¡¯s POV


    ¡°How are you doing?¡± Deacon asked in a calm, worried voice as he pulled a chair closer to me beside Rafael¡¯s bed and handed me a cup of coffee.


    epting it, I gave him a small forced smile.


    ¡°Just what I needed,¡± Imented before pressing its rim to my lips and taking a small sip, letting the caffeine and its warm temperature ease me a little bit.


    ¡°You know he¡¯ll be alright, right? You heard what the doctor said.¡± He was holding my free hand, squeezing it while his eyes stared into mine as though it¡¯s asking me to believe in him.


    ¡°I¡¯m just worried about him. It hasn¡¯t been long yet, and he¡¯s already in danger.¡± I sighed and looked at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t make a wrong decision, did I?¡±


    His grandparents wanted him to stay at their pack, raised as a typical pup. But we brought him back with us, and look where he is now.


    Looking pale and back in bed.


    ¡°Hey¡­ Hey¡­ Look at me.¡± Deacon pulled my seat and turned it towards him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. We¡¯ll handle this. We¡¯ll get to the bottom of this and make sure whoever did this will be punished ordingly.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± he called out again when he saw me in pain and caressed my cheek. ¡°No buts. It will be alright. And look,¡± he pointed at Rafael and the monitor beside him. ¡°He¡¯s stable. He¡¯ll wake up soon. Like the doctor said, he¡¯s just exhausted.¡±


    A smile formed on my lips from my newfound courage. I nodded my head in affirmation.


    I was about to speak more when the phone in his pocket started ringing.


    He looked at me for a while as if seeking permission<b>, </b>to which I replied with a nod and a reassuring smile. ¡°Go on, it might be important.¡±


    Pulling out his phone, he showed me the screen to show it¡¯s his beta. Standing up, he motioned outside, ¡°I¡¯ll just answer it. It might be about the ident. I made him review it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go on,¡± I mouthed at him and nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, my baby,¡± I whispered while holding Rafael¡¯s hands.


    After a while of holding him, I felt at ease seeing how his vital signs were slowly getting better and better.


    I looked at the clock and an hour had already passed. ncing <b>at </b>the closed door, I sighed and thought, ¡°The new might not have been good.¡±


    And I was right. Because when I stood up and looked outside for him, he was no longer there. I asked the warrior


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    that¡¯s guarding the door, and he confirmed that he went back to his study room.


    It only meant that he probably got another information.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, trying to leave and follow Deacon to his office, but one of the pce maids blocked my path.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the interruption, Princess Elena.¡± She bowed her head in greeting.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing to be worried about. Is there any matter?¡± I asked, gesturing for her to stand back upright.


    She looked hesitant for a while, as if she guessed that what she was about to say would anger me.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I urged.


    Clearing her throat and taking a deep breath, she announced, ¡°Duchess Diana is looking for you. She¡¯s waiting in the back garden of her residence.¡±


    I heaved a sigh as I felt a foreshadowing headacheing my way.


    But since it¡¯s the Duchess and my future husband¡¯s mother, I really didn¡¯t have much of a choice but to meet her. It¡¯s not like I could just dismiss it when she especially asked one of her maids toe and get me.


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Gesturing to my clothes that I was wearing, I added, ¡°I¡¯ll just change into a more proper attire.¡±


    With that, she left while I went straight to my room, changing into a pair of beige cks and a brown blouse.


    After applying a light makeup and styling my hair, I gave myself a one nce in the mirror before stopping by at Deacon¡¯s office.


    I knocked and peered inside to see him drowned in his office.


    ¡°You going somewhere?¡± That¡¯s his first question when he saw me walking up to him in a new pair of clothes.


    I shrugged and gave him a tight smile. ¡°Your mom is calling me.¡±


    His hand immediately reached his temple, massaging it. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to. I¡¯ll handle <i>it</i>.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m no child, Deacon. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    I knew he was worried about me, but if I hid behind his back for everything, things would just get worse than they already were.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked, reaching out for my hand and pulling me to his side, his arm wrapping around my


    waist.


    Looking down at him, I gave him a reassuring smile and nodded my head. ¡°I am.¡±


    ying with the hair on the back of his head, I leaned my body more toward him and then asked, ¡°How¡¯s the call? Is there a new lead?¡±


    ¡°They are working on it. They¡¯ve already tested the poison. It¡¯s like the doctor said. It¡¯s not that harmful<b>, </b>but there sure are some risks. As for who has done it, we¡¯ll find them.¡±


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    Looking up to me, he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    I nodded my head and pulled away from him.


    ¡°And I¡¯ll handle what I should be handling,¡± I said meaningfully, referring to his mom, as I turned around and walked out of his office, his smallugh echoing in my cars.


    Seems like he wasn¡¯t as worried anymore. Not that he had anything to be worried about. I¡¯ve handled his mom just fine before.


    Tucking my phone in my pocket, I walked to the Duchess¡¯s residence with my head held high and steel spine.


    When I arrived at the back garden, I saw her sitting, sipping tea while admiring the thorned roses in front of her.


    ¡°You¡¯re bold to make me wait,¡± she uttered without looking at me, her voice cutting sharply in the air.


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    Elena¡¯s POV


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    Well, to be fair, if I weren¡¯t so bold, I wouldn¡¯t even bother to meet her and hide behind Deacon instead,


    Nheless, replying to her in such a remark would only provoke her further. So, instead, I smiled at her and politely replied, ¡°Forgive me, Duchess. I thought I¡¯d change my clothes first before meeting you. After all, <b>I </b>didn¡¯t want to disrespect you by showing up in my casual clothes.¡±


    She sneered at me, not believing my words.


    If looks could kill, I¡¯d be six feet below the ground by now. Her eyes travelled from the tip of my head down to the tip of my toe in a slow manner, judging me with every second of her stare.


    Her fingertips sliding on the rim of her teacup, eyes not wavering from mine. What surprised me, given her consistent finger, was that it hadn¡¯t made the tiny sharp sound performers used to make with their cups, water, and fingertips.


    After a while of just standing there like an object being stared at and wondering whether to buy or abandon in the aisle, she finally gestured at the seat in front of her.


    She poured me a tea, but I politely grabbed the pot from her and poured it myself<b>, </b>or else she¡¯d be judging me this time for making her, an elder, pour me a drink.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s true, huh? You brought that boy in here. Not even married yet and already taking past baggage in my son¡¯s troops.¡± Her voice was as hard as steel and sharp as a knife.


    Past baggage?


    I tried to calm the forming storm within me as I straightened my back and looked straight into her eyes. ¡± Duchess, with all due respect, but Rafael isn¡¯t my past baggage. You make it sound like he¡¯s my illegitimate son from somewhere when he is my nephew.¡±


    Sheughed. She freakingughed like my words were no surprise to her.


    ¡°For all I know, that just might be really it. Didn¡¯t just that child pop up out of nowhere?¡± she asked, and it was my turn tough.


    ¡°With my life being almost broadcast to every nook of this kingdom, I¡¯m pretty sure that if I had been pregnant and carried a big belly for nine months, someone would have noticed¡­¡± My words were sharp, mimicking her re, but I added a polite yet slightly provoking tone, ¡°Duchess.¡±


    She smirked. ¡°You really got a lot of nerve!¡±


    Her tea spilt from her cup when she mmed into the table, almost breaking it.


    ¡°Rafael is mine. He¡¯ll be where I am.¡± My voice was firm.


    ¡°No, he isn¡¯t!¡± she snapped. Her hand mmed on the table<b>, </bpletely knocking the teacup down<b>, </b>its hot contents spilling to the ground, smoke rising into the air.


    Leaning forward, she continued, ¡°This is not your house to fill with strays and orphans! You are marrying into a


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    royal bloodline, Elena, and not running a fucking charity!¡±


    By now, her jaws were tightly clenched together, her shoulders were stiff, and she was trembling with fury.


    For someone who leeches off the royal family¡¯s wealth and her son¡¯s reputation, she really had a lot of ego she¡¯s trying to protect. Or more like¡­ she didn¡¯t want anyone to take her son¡¯s attention from her, risking her getting a smaller share of what she could get.


    Remaining calm and trying not to reach over the table and hurt her, I kept myself steady and replied, ¡°Rafael is not a stray. He is my nephew. The only family I have left.¡±


    It took me years to finally be with him again. It didn¡¯t stop the king from keeping her away from me, and nothing she said or did would make that happen either.


    I had survived swords and violence in the battlefield; thebat of words and sneer wouldn¡¯t be enough to


    scratch me either.


    The Duchess¡¯s brows arched into mockery. ¡°Family? Do not try to romanticise this one, Elena. He¡¯s baggage, and there is no changing that. A baggage that will drag down this household, especially one as esteemed as ours.¡±


    Another sneer escaped her lips. ¡°You even wanted my son to adopt that stray and raise him as his son? Be his apprentice? You are really a daydreamer!¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± she shook her head fast as if realising something. ¡°You¡¯re an opportunist!¡±


    I grind my teeth. Deacon was more than pleased to have Rafael with us; the king had epted it, his grandparents had already given their support, and yet here she was trying to use everyone as an excuse to push my nephew away when it was only she in the family that had a real problem with the issue at hand.


    Without flinching at her words, I lifted my chin. ¡°Then let him drag it down, I¡¯ll be there right behind him to lift it all back up until he can carry everything by himself.¡±


    She momentarily closed her eyes, as if trying to calm herself down. After heaving a sigh, she leaned forward and asked, ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s the main issue at hand? You think just because the king let it be, it will be over?¡±


    ¡°Huh! You¡¯re a real daydreamer! We are the royals!¡± she screamed. ¡°Politicses from every direction. You think that nobles will not notice? They will question everything. His blood, his right to stand within these walls, and above all, my son¡¯s judgment! Every rumour will not only reflect on you, but also on my son.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a child. He¡¯s more innocent than everyone in these wallsbined. What he deserves is love, not exile. I¡¯ll rather endure those whippers and prove them wrong in the future than betray the only family I have left.¡±


    Standing up, I look at her with finality, ¡°I understand where you areing from, Duchess, but he¡¯s my nephew, and no words or person can make me leave him.¡±


    She flicked her tongue and leaned back to her seat, looking at me with judgment and mockery. ¡°Spoken like a na?ve girl who has never held a crown. Do you truly believepassion rules a kingdom? It does not. Appearances do. Reputation does!¡±


    I met her re. ¡°<b>If </b>those two things mean abandoning the people we love, then I want no part of that freedom.


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    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Careful, Elena. Your defiance may charm Deacon, but it will not charm me. Nor the court.¡±


    whether you approve or not,¡± I replied in a soft


    ¡°I am not here to charm you. I am here to protect my family but still firm voice.


    ¡°We shall see how long that fire of yourssts once everything turns back on you.¡± With that, she stood up as


    well.


    She was about to enter her room, but then I said onest thing that halted her. ¡°You said that you¡­ that we are the royals. Looked up by everyone. If you want me to abandon an innocent child, then how do you expect me to help protect an entire kingdom?¡±


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 168

    Elena¡¯s POV


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I ask with a bright smile as if it¡¯s the first time I have seen the sun after a long, dark night.


    Deacon, leaning on his ck Maybach car like a handsome billionaire straight from a dark romance movie, had his arms wide open for me with his lips curved into a wide smirk.


    And to top it all, he¡¯s wearing a pair of suits that made him taller than he already was, and his physique looked more manly than those bulky warrior suits I always see him in.


    Running up to him with excitement, I jumped like a teenage girlfriend who hadn¡¯t seen her boyfriend for a long time and wrapped my arms around his nape while his arms circled around my waist, pulling me even closer.


    With my chin on his shoulder and head leaning on his, I asked, ¡°I thought you were busy. Howe you¡¯re here?¡±


    When I left him in the office earlier, his brows were drawn together, and he was busy with the pile of work. I didn¡¯t expect him toe here.


    ¡°Were you that worried? Do you really think your Mom can eat me alive?¡± I joked, pulling just enough to see his face.


    His reaction always made me swoon over him. So much so that sometimes I forget that our uing marriage didn¡¯t start from love.


    His eyes shone with mystery, telling me I was about to expect something good.


    ¡°I had the important matters done, and I¡¯ve shelved the others that¡¯re not urgent.


    My brow furrowed,pletely pulling away and looking at him with questioning eyes. ¡°What? Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a surprise!¡± That¡¯s all he told me before pulling me by my waist and guiding me to the passenger seat of


    the car.


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± I asked again, wondering why he was making me sit up front when we always sit at the back.


    But as soon as he closed the door for me, I got my answer.


    I almost shrank in my seat as I let out a controlled scream when someone suddenly popped out in the centre from the backseat.


    ¡°Aunt Elena!¡± Rafael<b>, </b>who looked theplete opposite of how he was when he was in the hospital bed earlier, was looking at me with a bright smile.


    I looked at him from head to toe and even caressed his face. ¡°How are you here? Are you sure you are already alright?¡±


    ¡°As good as I¡¯ll ever be!¡± He looked so excited, as if he had never been poisoned in the first ce, even jumping on his seat to prove a point.


    Meanwhile<b>, </b>Deacon entered the driver¡¯s seat and looked at me with a boastful smile. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>told you, everything will


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    be alright.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ what¡­ how¡­ wait¡­ are you driving?¡± I ask one after another, every thought tangling up in my mind.


    Starting at the engine, he gave me a knowing look. ¡°Is that so much of a surprise?¡±


    ¡°You never fail to amaze me,¡± Imented, to which he reciprocated with a wink before he drove off.


    Trees, grass, and roads passed by us in a blur as we got further and further away from the city, ¡°Where exactly are we going, and are you ever going to exin this?¡± I asked about getting to the car, us, and Rafael. Well, to everything and this sudden tour we were taking


    ¡°For one, it¡¯s a surprise,¡± he replied, eyes still focused on the road, though he would take a quick glimpse at me every now and then when he spoke. ¡°And second, the doctor said the antidote is quick and with Rafael¡¯s enhanced immune system after all these years, it isn¡¯t much of a surprise that his recovery was faster than the rest.¡±


    Immunity¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure if I¡¯d be d about the fact that he could recover so fast from it or be sad that he already got stronger because of how much he had been poisoned and tortured before that; his body had already adapted to things his age shouldn¡¯t be ustomed to.


    Deacon probably saw the changes in my mood and quickly squeezed my hand before putting it back on the wheel,


    ¡°And are you forgetting something?¡± he asked, cheering me up a little. And he didn¡¯t fail, especially with <b>his </b>following words. ¡°He got an Alpha blood on him.¡±


    ¡°Look! Aunt Elena! It looked like they were dancing!<i>¡± </i>


    Rafael, who was running at the shore ahead of us, imed while pointing at the scene far ahead of us, where dolphins could be sighted, jumping in a pod and singing


    He was so energetic and lively, just like a pup like him should be.


    ¡°Careful, don¡¯t slip off. And don¡¯t be too loud or you¡¯ll scare them off<b>,</b>¡± I gently told him, smiling widely while my arms were clinging to Deacon¡¯s as we walked barefoot behind Rafael on the shore.


    Apparently, the great surprise was his spontaneous idea to bring me and Rafael to the seaside.


    ¡°He has more energy than half of my soldiers,¡± he announced in a softer voice while watching Rafael.


    ¡°As he should be. You know¡­<i>¡± </i>I uttered,ughing halfway through my words, when I looked back again at the clothes he was wearing now, which he had changed into earlier.


    He narrowed his eyes at me and flicked my forehead after he followed my gaze and found that I was looking <b>at </b>his attire again. ¡°Stopughing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just¡­ who would have thought that the god of war and prince of the kingdom would be here on the shore with me, walking barefoot while wearing a floral printed pair of shirt and shorts!¡± <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t stopughing while saying that, to the point where he couldn¡¯t evenin anymore and began tough.


    I was still drawn inughter when he halted, making me stop with him, and then hisughter died down.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked.


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    But when I looked back, I found him in silence while staring at me with those gentle and mesmerising eyes.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked again. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the way he was looking at me.


    Damn¡­ Every passing day, what we have started to feel is bing increasingly real.


    ¡°This is why I wanted to bring you both here, away from the whispers. Away from my mother¡¯s sharp tongue,¡® he started and then his hand reached up to my cheeks, his thumb sliding to my lips. ¡°Because of this beautiful smile and your contagiousughter.¡±


    My heart stopped beating, and I¡¯m pretty sure that my face turned into a tomato while my smile vanished as I froze in his eyes.


    27


    For a while, it felt like we were the only ones in the world. But that feeling didn¡¯tst when we felt an attack that alerted both of us, pulling us from the trance.


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 169

    Elena¡¯s POV


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    ¡°What was it for?¡± Deacon was the first to recover from the trance and asked in a teasing voice as he bent slightly, looking at Rafael, who was a few feet away, still with a trace of sand on his hand from throwing a sand ball at us.


    Rafael gave us a sheepish look as he slowly backed away from Deacon, who was approaching him slowly with a bent body.


    Deacon¡¯s eyes were fixed on Rafael, and the boy was frozen to where he was standing. He looked guilty, but he still ran as if he knew that Deacon wouldn¡¯t let it slide.


    But Rafael ran back to Deacon before things becameplicated. He tugged his sleeve and asked, ¡°Will you y too?¡± His eyes were bright and hopeful as he gestured to the wide sea and the t stones he gathered.


    ¡°y? I am¡­¡± Deacon didn¡¯t continue what he was about to say when he saw the little boy¡¯s eyes. He let out a sigh. ¡°Fine. Show me what to do.¡± He said and picked up a stone.


    I couldn¡¯t help butugh softly as the boy¡¯s hand sped around Deacon¡¯s and he started to pull him along. I never thought that I would experience this moment again with my nephew.


    ¡°Now, I have to see this,¡± I whispered to myself as he went on and showed how to skip rocks.


    The boy picked up a small stone and held it out proudly. ¡°Here¡¯s how you do it. You throw it as far as you can. Like this,¡± he drew back his arm and let the stone fly as high as he could, though it onlynded a distance away from him.


    Deacon crouched down like the little boy did with exaggerated care. ¡°Like this?¡± he asked as he threw his own stone, which skidded across the ground.


    Rafael burst out intoughter. ¡°You are not very good at it at all!¡± he eximed.


    Deacon smirked and shook his head. ¡°Well, I am telling you, even the rocks mock me.¡±


    ¡°Well, not everyone can be good at everything, Your Highness,¡± I said with a smile.


    His gaze diverted to me. It was yful and sharp. ¡°Yes, somehow, you are good atmanding me.¡±


    Heat rose in my cheeks, but I held my ground as I quickly averted my gaze and tried to beposed. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡±


    Before I could finish what I was about to say, Rafael shouted loudly and cut through my words.


    ¡°Mine went further!¡± The boy shouted as he lifted his hands in the air, celebrating as if <b>he </b>had won a great victory.


    There was a bit of pain in my heart. I suddenly imagined the hardship my nephew had experienced over the past couple of years when he was captured. He didn¡¯t get the chance to enjoy his childhood.


    I was d that we finally found him. I thought I had lost everyone that day. There were mixed emotions inside my heart, but 1 tried to smile as I watched Deacon and Rafael.


    I could be sad because I missed my family, but I was also happy to find my nephew.


    Deacon wasughing so hard. He dropped to one knee beside my nephew. He knelt beside my nephew, and then he pped his hand to celebrate his victory. ¡°Then, you have to teach me how to throw. We are going to do it together this time.¡±


    Rafael nodded. It was as if he was taking everything seriously in his heart, just what children often do when they were being taught. They both threw the stone, and then after that, Rafael collected more stones.


    And there, I saw Deacon¡¯s soft side.


    I didn¡¯t know what exactly to feel at that very moment.


    Looking from afar, we could see a picture of a happy family. I wished this wouldn¡¯t end. I wish I won¡¯t be far from Rafael again. I


    172


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    couldn¡¯t imagine the sufferings he had at the hands of the people who captured him.


    I continued to watch them both. Something stirred in me. Something was tugging my chest. It was warm in my heart.


    Maybe¡­ maybe we could really be a family.


    Rafael returned, and his little hands were three uneven stones. He handed one to me, one to Deacon and kept the smallest one for himself. ¡°So, we¡¯ll all throw the stones together,¡± he announced proudly.


    I was surprised. I didn¡¯t expect him to like me joining them.


    Deacon looked at me with a smirk on his lips. ¡°Are you ready, Elena? Think you can beat both of us?¡±


    I shook my head as I couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to try too hard to beat you, guys!¡±


    Deacon arched his brow. ¡°Careful. I, maybe, am new to this game, but I don¡¯t like the feeling of losing.¡±


    I justughed, and we took our positions side by side. Rafael was squeezed between us. His shoulders squared as if he were preparing for battle.


    Rafael started to count down. ¡°One, two, three!¡± We all threw our stones.


    My stone skipped across the ground and rolled to stop a little farther from Rafael¡¯s, while Deacon¡¯s soared in a wide arc andnded almost twice the distance away from us.


    Rafael¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You cheated!¡±


    Deacon chuckled and brushed his hands together. ¡°How could I cheat at throwing a stone?¡±


    ¡°You threw it too hard!¡± Rafael insisted and was on the verge of tears. He was clearly upset because he didn¡¯t win.


    ¡°That¡¯s the point of the game,¡± I reminded him gently, though my smile betrayed me.


    Deacon cast a sideways look at me. His expression was smug. ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t like the feeling of losing.¡±


    I rolled my eyes. For a moment, I forgot the tension in the pce, the burdens that we will eventually return to. Out here, we were happy. Rafael is a boy whoughs at simple things. Deacon was surprisingly patient, and I was caught in a fragile dream.


    Rafael started to collect stones again.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t give up easily,¡± Deacon said as he stood up.


    ¡°No,¡± I agreed. ¡°He doesn¡¯t.¡±


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 170

    Elena¡¯s POV


    Rafael ran along the shore. He was so happy as he continued to gather more stones of varied shapes and sizes. It was evident that the little child missed ying outside. Not that he had much to begin with.


    I felt a pinching pain in my heart. Finally, he¡¯s with me. I would do everything to make up to him. I would make sure that he would enjoy his childhood that was taken away from him.


    Hisughter perfectly blended with the sound of the gentle waves. It felt like everything was normal. He was back in himself. He was just a boy ying by the water and testing how far his arm could throw.


    I just remained standing where I was as I continued to watch him. The sea was so wide. I never appreciated the beauty of it until today. The tidepped in his little feet as he picked through the scattered stones. He held up one stone and showed it to me as if he had found a treasure.


    ¡°Yeyyyy! I found another one!¡± he shouted. His voice was loud, and I could sense the genuine enjoyment fie felt in that very moment. I wished I could freeze it. I wished I could just make these the only memories he could remember. I wished that I could erase the sufferings he had experienced while he was away from me.


    I noticed Deacon smirked.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± I curiously asked.


    ¡°Do you think he can win this time?¡± he asked as he folded his arms across his chest.


    Of course, that question made me roll my eyes. He was obviously teasing me.


    ¡°Well, maybe, if you let him win,¡± I said as I hid my smile.


    Rafael stood straight, and I saw the stone clutched in his fist. He stretched his arm, and I saw how he tried to remain focused as he let the stone fly away from his hand. The stone arched high before it sshed into the ocean.


    It was farther than I thought!


    His whole face lit up, and there was a triumphant grin as he looked at me and Deacon.


    ¡°Did you see that?¡± Rafael repeatedly asked proudly. His eyes were so bright and round. It was as if he were telling Deacon that he already won the round.


    ¡°Yes, I saw that one. Well done, Rafael!¡± I proudly answered. ¡°That was your best yet,¡± I added.


    But then<b>, </b>just as quickly as I felt proud of his achievement, the light in his eyes faltered. My heart started to pound.


    Rafael¡¯s hand went to his chest. His small shoulders stiffened as if he was having difficulty breathing.


    ¡°Oh, no, please<b>, </b>no,¡± I whispered as my heart started to pound inside my heart. The next stone that he was supposed to throw slipped from his hands.


    I was shocked. I didn¡¯t expect this to happen. Inside my mind, I have an idea what¡¯s going on with my nephew and how I wish that I were wrong. That was not what I was thinking.


    I wished that he were just tired and overwhelmed with everything that had happened. I knew his life had turned three hundred and sixty degrees after we had found him.


    Fear overwhelmed my being.


    ¡°Rafa¨Cel,¡± <b>I </b>called out his name, even if it¡¯s so hard for me.


    ¡°Raf!¡± I said again in a broken voice. I didn¡¯t want him to hear my weak voice, but I couldn¡¯t help it. Did we exhaust him that


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    much to experience such pain again?


    I saw how a thin sound escaped from my nephew¡¯s throat. It was half¨Cgasp and half¨Cwhisper. His knees bent through the sand.


    I ran towards his direction, but before I could even reach him, he fell to the ground.


    ¡°Rafael!¡± I shouted.


    I dropped beside him, and I didn¡¯t mind the water that was soaking my clothes anymore.


    His forehead was hot. I could feel the sweat in his skin.


    My heart started to race again when I felt his body tremble as if he was chilling and it had been seeping down into his bones.


    I didn¡¯t know what to do. There was so much fear inside of me. I thought everything was okay, but why was he having that kind of attack again?


    The hope inside me was suddenly gone. It was like a candle that was suddenly blown out.


    I didn¡¯t even notice that Deacon was already beside us. He knelt beside us. His hand was steady and ready to open the kit that we prepared in case something like that happened to Rafael. I was grateful that we had kept it with us.


    ¡°Urrrr¡­¡± I heard my nephew moan beside me. He was still holding his chest and catching his breath.


    Tears started to fall from my eyes. There were a lot of questions inside my head.


    Why did it have to happen again? Was all my nephew¡¯s suffering not enough?


    He had already experienced enough bad things in his life. He had enough life challenges. Couldn¡¯t he be happy? Couldn¡¯t he live a normal life as a child? That¡¯s all I was wishing for.


    Rafael crumpled to the ground. I looked at his face, and he was so pale. He was still burning hot.


    I have toe to my senses. I couldn¡¯t be crying and act weak while that was happening to my nephew. If I were overwhelmed by my emotions, then I might lose Rafael, and this time, I may not be able to see him again. And I don¡¯t want that to happen.


    ¡°Let me do this now,¡± Deacon said in a low and calm voice. It was too calm, and I knew he was doing that to help my fear fade. He wanted me to see that everything is under control.


    He reached out for Rafael¡¯s body while my nephew was still trembling.


    I saw how Deacon took a deep breath and looked at me with a serious face.


    ¡°The poison is ring again.¡±


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 171

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    Elena¡¯s POV


    ¡°I can see that!¡± I said breathlessly as I tried to keep Rafael still. His fingers twitched against mine. He was trying to reach me even though he didn¡¯t have the strength. ¡°Just breathe, sweetheart. I am here for you,¡± I tried to stay calm.


    His breathing was uneven. It would be fast and then be slower. Each inhale sounded thinner than thest. His eyes were fluttering, and he could barely focus on me.


    ¡°I am here,¡± I said, hoping he could hear my voice. My heart was in so much pain. When will this end?


    But the next thing that happened was something that I didn¡¯t expect. From his eyes that were soft, they became so sharp and wild. It was so different from the little boy I had been holding since earlier.


    His breathing grew fast. His chest was drumming as if his will was taken away by the poison.


    ¡°Elena,¡± Deacon warned me, but almost growled.


    But before I could react, Rafael lunged forward. His little hands that I was holding earlier wed at my shoulders, but thankful, Deacon was alert, and he was able to pull me away from Rafael before he could hurt me.


    Deacon moved faster than I could think. He was ready to protect me anytime, as always.


    ¡°Rafael,¡± I gasped as I tried to be calm, even though I saw that the situation had gotten worse.


    Deacon was already between me and Rafael. His arm was outstretched as he tried to block Rafael¡¯s wild swing.


    I admired how calm Deacon was. He didn¡¯t strike back. He didn¡¯t even raise his voice.


    He knew that Rafael was a child, and he was not in his right mind.


    From that moment, I knew that I had met the right man for me to love.


    Deacon just stood between us. He was like a wall to protect me and calm the boy I loved as if he were my own.


    It happened so fast, but the next thing I knew, Deacon was already holding Rafael.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Rafael was trying to restrain.


    ¡°Rafael, it¡¯s me, Aunt Elena. Please, just look at me. I am here for you,¡± I pleaded. I was hoping my voice would calm him down.


    Rafael¡¯s eyes were still sharp, and I could see that he couldn¡¯t focus on me. It seemed that he didn¡¯t know who we were. He lost consciousness. He was attacking us because of the poison¡¯s effect and not of his own will.


    I saw that he was positioning to attack again, and I was right.


    He shoved at Deacon¡¯s chest. But Deacon was strong. He held steadily. His stance was firm yet gentle and never pushed back.


    ¡°This is the poison. It¡¯s being controlled by it.¡± He calmly said as he tried to block Rafael¡¯s wild attacks.


    My heart was racing so fast. I knew that if Deacon was not strong, we could have been down. Even though Rafael was just a child, he was still strong and so fast.


    ¡°I know, but¡­¡±


    Before I could finish my words, Rafael let out a loud roar, and then he swung again.


    I stumbled back in shock. I was grateful that Deacon caught his wrists carefully.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt him,¡± I whispered to Deacon, though I knew that he wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt Rafael. After all, he knew how much I loved the boy.


    Charge: 17


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    If he weren¡¯t my nephew, I would be able to handle him with ease, but I¡¯m so afraid of hurting him if I defend his attack myself and end up just avoiding him rather than being able to restrain him.


    Hence, I ended up leaving all the work to Deacon while I took a step back.


    I saw how Deacon was holding him. It was without force. He was just holding him enough to keep him from hurting himself or <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    ¡°Easy, boy. I know that you do not want this. Breath. Just breathe.¡± Deacon said in a calm voice, and I didn¡¯t know, but I suddenly felt the love in his voice. It was evident that Deacon really cared for my nephew.


    ¡°Please, sweetheart. This is me. You are stronger than this. You should be able to fight it. Come back to me,¡± I said between my


    tears.


    There was a silent moment after that. Deacon was still holding Rafael. I noticed that Rafael¡¯s guard suddenly went down. But I couldn¡¯t be so sure. I couldn¡¯t act carelessly knowing that Deacon was protecting me. I wouldn¡¯t want him to harm Rafael because of something that I have done.


    ¡°Rafael, pleasee to your senses,¡± I whispered. ¡°I am just here, and I will always be here for you. Those bad things won¡¯t happen again, I promise.¡± My heart throbbed in pain, and tears threatened to stream down my face.


    ¡°Calm down, Elena. I know you are worried about him, but you have to be strong,¡± Deacon said to me in a firm voice, seeing the panic on my face.


    ¡°Please hold on,¡± I continued to say to Rafael.


    And his strength seemed to drain in that instant. The wildness was gone. He fell into Deacon¡¯s arms.


    Deacon eased him gently as if he were his own child.


    My heart went back to normal. I wished that it were, and no more attacks would happen again.


    Deacon never let Rafael go. I knew that he was also afraid that Rafael might be wild and attack me once more.


    I rushed forward, but Deacon stopped me.


    ¡°Let me give him the antidote first,¡± he said.


    I was thankful for his presence. Amidst the situation, Deacon knew what to do.


    ¡°Just a few sips,¡± he said to Rafael, who was still half¨Cconscious.


    I swallowed hard as I watched Deacon give the antidote to my nephew. I hope those few sips would calm him down.


    For a moment, he resisted taking the antidote until his lips parted, and Deacon was able to have him drink it.


    He coughed but then swallowed again.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± I whispered as tears continued to flow.


    Deacon looked at me. ¡°For now, he is okay.¡± His voice was low and soft. ¡°We need to get going soon. Rafael will need a longer rest for what happened today. We cannot stay and expose him here anymore.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I need to check your wounds, then we can go back.¡±


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 172

    After taking the antidote, Rafael remained calm, and he finally fell asleep. His breathing was still uneven, but it was steadier than before. It only meant that the antidote worked, though I must admit that the poison left my nephew weak and restless.


    Anger was inside my chest toward the people who did this to him.


    I tucked him into the backseat of the car and covered him with a nket. I gently brushed his hair from his forehead.


    ¡°I will do my best to protect you from harm. For now, I am thankful that the antidote is working. But I promise, you will get through this,¡± I said and gave him a kiss on his forehead.


    But my heart was still unsettled. Not only because Rafael attacked me and almost hurt me. His sudden lunge would really rip me if not for Deacon. The wild look in his eyes was really scary. But my heart was also overwhelmed when Deacon stepped in between me and Rafael without thinking of his own safety.


    At that moment, Rafael didn¡¯t know what he was doing. The poison had made him someone else. He didn¡¯t remember Deacon or me at all. The poison made him fierce and desperate. All I could see at that moment was that Rafael wanted blood.


    And without having a second thought, his small fistsnded against Deacon¡¯s chest.


    Because of my nephew¡¯s situation, I didn¡¯t notice Deacon was wounded. I didn¡¯t realise how bad it was until Rafael was calmed


    down.


    I got out of the car, and I saw how serious Deacon¡¯s wounds were when he pressed his palm against his shirt.


    He was in the army, but he never tried to hurt Rafael despite getting wounded. That¡¯s how much this guy loves me. If he wanted, he could have stopped Rafael with his force, but he chose to be gentle and soft.


    ¡°I am sorry, you got hurt,¡± I said as I went near him.


    Deacon shook his head and smiled at me. It was as if he was trying not to make me worry, even if I could see the blood in his shirt. ¡°No, this is nothing. It¡¯s just a bruise. It will heal pretty soon.¡±


    I shook my head and stepped close to him. I saw a faint, dark stain on his shirt, right over his chest. That was where Rafael¡¯s handnded when he tried to attack us earlier.


    ¡°That¡¯s not just a bruise,¡± I said to him. My voice was broken. He was not supposed to get hurt if he wasn¡¯t protecting me.


    He gave me the look that he would always give whenever he challenged my thoughts.


    I reached out, and thankfully, he didn¡¯t stop me. My fingers brushed the fabric, and there was blood.


    ¡°This was supposed to be for me, but you took it,¡± I said in a trembling voice. I tried hard to hide it, but I couldn¡¯t sound steady. What else could this man do for me?


    ¡°I can do everything for you; you should know that,¡± he said in an almost teasing voice.


    I swallowed hard. I wished I could also protect him the way he had protected me. It shouldn¡¯t always be him who takes an attack just to keep me safe. But I know, no matter what I would say, he would stand firm in what he believed, and that¡¯s keeping me safe, so I turned around.


    I took the supplies bag and opened it. I couldn¡¯t stop my hands from shaking even though my heart finally calmed down.


    I took out bandages, antiseptic and clean clothes. I put them all beside him.


    Deacon started to pull off his jacket, but he hesitated over his shirt. I caught a flicker of difort in his eyes.


    It was not a shame for me to see his body naked, but it was more of not beingfortable in showing his weakness.


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    ¡°Let me help you,¡± I said..


    For a moment, he stared at me with a nk face. I couldn¡¯t read what¡¯s on his mind. Then, he finally pulled off his shirt as well,


    and I saw him wince as the fabric brushed his wound.


    It must be truly profound to hurt like that.


    I held my breath. His chest was broader than I thought. There were lines of old scars, and I knew each one had a story to tell, and I was not just so sure if I wanted to hear it.


    But it was really the fresh wound that pulled me back from my thoughts. And I wasn¡¯t mistaken. It was a deep stretch across his


    chest.


    I pressed the clean cloth against it. I saw his jaw tighten.


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°Just do it right, please.¡±


    I tried to be as gentle as I could when I pressed the cloth to stop the bleeding. The sound of the waves filled the silence between us. My heart was pounding so loud as I continued to work. I was so focused that it was the only sound that I could hear.


    When the bleeding finally stopped, I reached for the antiseptic, ¡°This might hurt,¡± I warned him.


    ¡°Well, everything hurts,¡± Deacon answered dryly.


    I put a small amount of liquid across the cut, and he didn¡¯t flinch this time, even though I saw pain cross his eyes.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have stepped in like that. Look what happened to you,¡± I finally said.


    ¡°I would do it again if I needed to.¡±


    I froze, ¡°Even if it meant this?¡± I said as I pointed at the bandage and the blood in his shirt.


    ¡°Why do you have to make me worry?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but burst out with what I was feeling at that moment. I wouldn¡¯t know what to do if something happened to him because of me.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t have to worry about me. I am okay. I told you, this is nothing.¡± He pulled me closer to him. ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 173

    Elena¡¯s POV


    We¡¯re back. Back at the pce<b>, </b>where Rafael was given proper care, Deacon¡¯s injury was already fully healed thanks to his Lycan blood.


    I thought I had gotten used to whispers by now. I thought I had epted that being with Deacon means rumours here and there. I¡¯ve already grown ustomed to hearing gossip about Deacon¡¯s past, wealth, and reputation.


    But this time, it was not about those things. It was about me and, worse, about my nephew, Rafael.


    My life in the pce was supposed to be a new beginning for me and Rafael<b>, </b>but it felt more like I was trapped. Every word, every movement and breath I took seemed to echo through the walls, and strangers acted as if they knew me better than myself at all.


    I was a warrior. I had faced des and bullets. I encountered ambushes, but I must admit that nothing had prepared me for this.


    I didn¡¯t realise that words could slice deeper than steel.


    I knew myself as unbreakable, so why was I now feeling this way?


    Why was I flinching in every word they said?


    ¡°They say that the boy is hers and Prince Deacon¡¯s,¡± one of the maids murmured as she plucked the grass.


    There were two maids in the garden, and they were speaking in a low voice.


    She heard them talking about her and Deaco, including Rafael, when she entered the garden.


    <b>¡°</b>I knew it,¡± the other maid said. ¡°So it means that she betrayed Alpha Bryson. That child is the proof. How can she deny it?¡±


    I suddenly stopped. I didn¡¯t expect to directly hear the maids gossiping about me. Then I heard a sound ofughter.


    It was Rafael¡¯s.


    He was ying in the fountain like he hadn¡¯t had a rpse before. His face was so bright. He looked so innocent. The child was so happy and enjoying the moment. He was unaware of the wordsing out around him.


    My chest tightened. I have been in so many battles, but I have never experienced something like this. I wanted to shout and draw my sword. I want to cut down their lies the way I once cut my enemy, but I knew for sure that this was not a fight I could win with swords<b>. </b>


    If I were to make a scene and correct them right there and then<b>, </b>they would think I was being defensive, and that would just make things worse. I didn¡¯t want Deacon or Rafael to be put to shame. I wouldn¡¯t stoop down to the level of these people. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what they could get talking about my life? Aren¡¯t they busy enough to have time meddling in my life?


    That was the first time I directly heard words about me since <b>I </b>set foot in the pce, and it deeply hurt me. Not just because of the gossip alone, but also because they were also trying to make stories about my nephew. If only they knew his sutterings. Maybe their conscience would stop them from speaking lies about my nephew. He was just a child, and they should let him be.


    I tried so hard to calm myself.


    By the time I reached our room, my hands were still shaking. Anger was inside my heart. I wanted to go back and fight them, but I knew I couldn¡¯t do that. I was not only a warrior, but I would soon be Deacon¡¯s wife, so I had to act ordingly.


    Deacon was standing by the window. His gaze was fixed on the garden below. He didn¡¯t look at me when I entered, but it seemed he knew what had happened down below.


    ¡°You¡¯ve heard them?¡± he asked in a calm voice.


    ¡°Yes, they are talking about us. They are saying that Rafael is ours,¡± I whispered. My throat was dry. I wanted to correct them,


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    but would that make anything right? ¡°They think that I have been unfaithful to Bryson.¡±


    Finally, Deacon turned around. I couldn¡¯t read his expression. ¡°Just let them talk. You know that truth. You don¡¯t owe anyone any exnation. They will get tired of talking about us eventually.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure. In battle<b>, </b>the truth is simple, and that¡¯s either you live or die. Here, the truth was hard to get. It seemed so fragile. Anyone could twist their words and cause issues in one¡¯s life.


    As time passed by, the whispers grew bolder. Servants wouldn¡¯t look away when I caught them staring at us. Everywhere I went, I felt like their eyes were all on me.


    For the first time in years, I became weak. But I never showed it to anyone. I was battling my weakness inside of me.


    The next day, I decided to roam around outside the pce. I was trying to get a breath of fresh air. I felt so trapped inside the pce since I arrived there.


    Everything was okay. We were in the marketce. It was a crowded morning. Rafael tugged my sleeve, and he was pointing


    towards a basket of bright stones.


    For a moment, I let myself smile at his excitement. Finally, for a moment, I felt invisible again and not a subject of whispers.


    But that didn¡¯tst for long. I didn¡¯t know, but it felt like the crowd suddenly parted. They made space enough for me to see someone I didn¡¯t imagine I would like to see in my life.


    The woman was standing across the street. I straightened my back instinctively, the way I always did before a fight. All of a sudden, I felt like I would be in a battle. Shoulders back, I held my chin high and jaw tight. It was as if I was telling everyone that I wouldn¡¯t back down.


    And finally, our eyes met. Our stares were sharp and unyielding.


    Her half¨Csmile sent a cold rush to me, but I couldn¡¯t shake it. I wouldn¡¯t give her a chance to see me flinch in front of her.


    ¡°Elena,¡± her voice cut through the street as if she was really expecting me. It was as if she had something that marked me and found exactly where I was.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 174

    <b>Elena¡¯s </b>POV


    <b>Rafael¡¯s </b>small hand slipped into mine. He held me so tight as if he could feel danger around him all of <b>a </b>sudden.


    I felt my heart beating <b>so </b><b>fast</b><b>, </b>but I forced myself to be steady.


    Glenda walked forward towards our direction. The crowd parted without a word, as if they were really making a way for her. She took time taking every <b>step</b><b>. </b>It <b>was </b>as if she wanted me to feel every step she took so I could feel that she had finally cornered me.


    By the time she stopped, <b>I </b>couldn¡¯t exin, but my throat felt dry. I told myself that I was once a warrior. I had faced enemies stronger than her, so I had to be brave to whatever this woman was about to say and do.


    Glenda¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    And in that moment, I knew that whatever she had to say would cut me deeper.


    I straightened. Every instinct from years of battle became alive inside of me again. I knew that would not be a very friendly meeting at all.


    I could feel that there was something in her voice. Her sweetness was not genuine, and her smile was.


    Rafael looked at me as if he could sense that something was not right.


    Glenda¡¯s eyes darted to Rafael and then diverted to me. Her smile became sharper, and I knew that she was ready to pierce at any time.


    ¡°What a sweet boy!¡± she murmured, and her eyes met mine again. <b>¡°</b>Or should I say your boy?¡±


    <b>It </b>didn¡¯t escape from my ear when the crowd gasped after hearing what she said. I could sense that everyone was pretending that they were shopping, but the truth was, they were all waiting for the next scene. I felt their stares pressing on my back like hot irons<b>. </b>


    I swallowed and remained standing straight. I had faced men twice my size and brought them down on the ground, <b>so </b>this should be nothing for me.


    ¡°<b>He¡¯s </b>my nephew,¡± I said in a firm <b>voice</b>.


    ¡°Nephew?¡± she repeated and smirked. ¡°Is he? Strange because I heard something else about him. Some say otherwise<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she continued as if Rafael was not with us<b>. </b>


    <b>I </b>clenched my jaw. So the rumours had already reached her. I wanted to fight as bravely as I could when I was on the battlefield, but how could I do that if Rafael was with me?


    <b>But </b><b>before </b><b>I </b>could answer her usation<b>, </b>another voice joined our conversation. It was low and yet so familiar to her. It was the voice that I wanted to forget for so long, and I wished I had never heard it again in my life.


    ¡°Elena<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>he <b>called </b>my name.


    <b>¡°</b>Bryson,<b>¡± </b><b>I </b>coldly said. I wanted him to think and feel that I didn¡¯t want to see him. No more excitement, just coldness was covering my heart at that very moment.


    I looked at him sharply. My chest tightened as memories shed in my mind. He moved towards us, and his mother¡¯s arm looped around him.


    His face was unreadable<b>, </b>the opposite of his mother¡¯s. Courtney was obviously smirking. Her face was full of spite.


    ¡°Just when I thought that this market day would just <b>be </b><b>an </b>ordinary day for me,¡± she said, and mockingly looked at me<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>I </b>never thought that I would bump into my ex¨Cdaughter¨Cinw, who is parading around with the child that everyone whispers about.¡±


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    <b>Rafael </b>pressed against me, and I squeezed his hand to tell him that everything would be fine. I got him<b>, </b>and no one would hurt him as long as we were together.


    Glenda stepped aside, enough to let them in, but not far enough from me. She was standing there with victory in her face. As if she had already won the battle we had with words.


    Bryson¡¯s eyes were fixed to Rafael before it shifted to me. Even though no words wereing out of his mouth, I saw the usation and worst<b>, </b>the disappointment.


    ¡°You could have just been honest to me,¡± he tly said.


    Those words struck like a fist on my chest. I wanted tough bitterly after hearing what he said.


    Honest? Reallying from him? Him who went back home after being away for a couple <b>of </b>years with another woman? How could he demand such a thing when he couldn¡¯t give it to me when we were still husband and wife?


    I wanted to say something and cut through my words too, but the marketce wasn¡¯t the right ce to fight them.


    ¡°I am honest,¡± <b>I </b>snapped. My voice was steadier than I thought. ¡°He is my nephew, and that is the truth. The truth and nothing but the truth.¡±


    Glenda chuckled softly beside us as she folded her arms. Clearly, my words meant nothing to them. They were not open to listening to every word I said. ¡°Funny how the truth can change depending on who is speaking.¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>It </b>doesn¡¯t really matter whether he is your son or nephew. What matters is the stain on your name, Elena. A stain that could also be in Deacon¡¯s name. Who would want a wife who is whispered about? Who will follow a warrior who can¡¯t even silence gossip circling about her?¡±


    Her words struck deep inside me. I had been strong. I had led, found andmanded respect<b>, </b>but now what was going on? I was just there, standing, and my hands were shaking. I was clearly unable to shield myself and, most of all, Rafael from all the whispers circling around the pce inside and out.


    Rafael looked at me, and my heart broke.


    ¡°Enough<b>,</b>¡± I said in a voice with a threat. I couldn¡¯t let them see that I was bing weak. That would be thest thing that I¡¯d like to happen.


    ¡°Oh no<b>, </b>Elena, this is just the beginning of everything,¡± Glenda said with a wide smile on her face<b>. </b>


    The crowd was still obviously listening to their conversation and waiting for the next blow to happen.


    Bryce just stayed silent. I straightened. I wouldn¡¯t <b>give </b>them <b>the </b>satisfaction of seeing me fall and weak.


    ¡°Rafael<b>,</b>¡± I said as I fixed my gaze on Glenda. ¡°Stay <b>close</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b>you want to y this game, then y it. But <b>don¡¯t </b>you dare use him.¡± I said in a firm voice, I could feel the tension between <b>us </b>growrger. It was as if the whole marketce held its breath.


    <b>Yes</b><b>, </b>I wouldn¡¯t back down to anyone who would try to pull us down<b>, </b>especially Glenda. It she wanted to fight, then I would fight her with all my might.


    Glenda smiled sharply and said, ¡°Oh no, do you think this is about the boy? Elena, this is about you I want to show the world that <b>you </b>are <b>not </b>untouchable as you pretend to be.


    And she stepped closer towards me. Bryson and his mother were just watching I knew that this <b>was </b>just the beginning of a war fought not with swords but whispers that would test everything I had left.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 175

    Chapter <b>175 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    Rafael pressed his body closer to mine. I could feel my nephew trembling. I looked at him. There was confusion and fear on his face.


    In my ears, I could hear the whispers of the crowd so loud as they continued to fix their gazes on us. Rafael remained by my side.


    Glenda¡¯s words seemed to stay in the air.


    Illegitimate.


    Unfaithful.


    Glenda made sure that everyone in the marketce would hear those words. Bryson, her ex¨Chusband, stood by the woman¡¯s side. It was as if I were the one who had done them wrong. His mother was standing beside them, looking satisfied with what was happening.


    I knew that they really nned to meet me in a ce. They have sessfully cornered me, but I wouldn¡¯t give them what they desire. I may have lived in the pce now with Deacon, but I was still a warrior once.


    I had faced many men twice my size with steel in their hands, and I hadn¡¯t flinched even a little. So, why should I feel fear towards these people?


    ¡°Elena,<i>¡± </i>and that voice cut through everything. It was firm,manding and just too impossible to


    ignore.


    Deacon. I just whispered inside my mind. I didn¡¯t want these people to see that I was relieved


    see him.


    I didn¡¯t want them to think that I was just brave because Deacon was around.


    ¡°Do you know who you are trying to love, Prince Deacon?¡± Glenda mockingly said. It was as if she were not afraid to get punished. ¡°Do you know what she hides?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Glenda,¡± I snapped. ¡°You¡¯ve already said too much.¡± I tried to calm down, but I couldn¡¯t.


    I couldn¡¯t just let them say things against me, especially if I knew the truth.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let her speak? Are you afraid that something mighte out about you?¡± Bryson¡¯s mother snided. It was loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°The people deserve the truth. No man wants to be deceived, especially a prince.¡±


    Rafael whimpered. I bent over toward him. My chest was full of anger towards these people. How could they act like that in front of a child? Rafael didn¡¯t do anything wrong.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Deacon said in a firm voice.


    Glenda smirked wider. It was as if she were getting the reaction that she wanted us to have.


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    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Deacon. We¡¯re leaving,¡± I tugged Rafael forward. There¡¯s no sense staying in that ce. Those people wanted to shame me, including my nephew. I couldn¡¯t let them get their victory.


    ¡°Elena, wait,¡± Deacon stopped me from leaving.


    I turned to him, and my heart started to pound. I didn¡¯t want to think that the thought inside my head was right.


    ¡°What?¡± I hissed. I couldn¡¯t help it. I felt that Deacon wanted me to exin my side in front of everyone. I just believed that there was no need for an exnation. No one deserved my exnation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? So, after all, do you believe all the lies circting around about me?¡± I couldn¡¯t help


    but ask him.


    His brows pulled together. It was as if he couldn¡¯t believe what I said. And yes, it was the first time that I


    had that kind of voice towards Deacon.


    ¡°Trust? Don¡¯t you think I don¡¯t trust you? You should know that I trust you more than anyone else, but this isn¡¯t just about you or Rafael anymore, Elena. This is about what these people believe in.¡±


    Those wordsnded like a p to me. It hurt. My chest tightened.


    I shook my head as I recovered.


    ¡°Then, you do care about what they say. So you think that all the lies that they spread matter more than the truth?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but tell him directly what I felt at that moment. I didn¡¯t expect that kind of scene with Deacon. But I couldn¡¯t just let him think wrong about me. Of all people.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. But yes, I care. I care about you and Rafael, that¡¯s why I am tong you this. You see how the rumours spread? They are like a wildfire. Before you know it, it has already destroyed everything that we have built. Please understand that I do not see you as a weak woman. You are a warrior, Elena. A brave one, for that matter. I could never see you as a weak woman. It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    ¡°Just what? Protect me? How many times do I have to tell you that you don¡¯t have to?


    Deacon¡¯s jaw dropped. He didn¡¯t expect me to answer that way. But what should I say? I didn¡¯t want anyone to belittle me.


    ¡°I have faced these three people with courage. I didn¡¯t fall for everyone¡¯s lies, and yet for a quick moment, you made me feel like I stumbled.¡±


    After hearing that, Deacon¡¯s face softened. He felt a little bit guilty about how he treated me. He should know me better. I was not the type of woman who would easily lose in any battle, especially a battle with Glenda.


    That woman had taken away a lot of things from me, so I really knew what was running through her mind. She couldn¡¯t make me out with her ns. I was thinking three steps ahead of her.


    And that was the first time that Deacon didn¡¯t have an answer.


    Chapter DTS


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    ¡°I am not something fragile, Deacon, you must know that of all people. This isn¡¯t the type of person that could make me kneel down.¡± I said, as if I were trying to exin to him that he should get out of that mess. I could manage. Couldn¡¯t he feel that?


    ¡°Because I love you,¡± Deacon finally said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you hurt. When you are in pain, I can feel it. I know that you have been so stressedtely because of the rumours spreading around the pce since you moved in. I am so sorry if you feel that way.¡±


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 176

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    <b>Chapter </b>176


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The pce felt different in the following weeks. For the first time in years, I woke not to the call of duty or the tter of steel, but to list the types of fabrics, flowers, and menus.


    Strange. That¡¯s more of nning life rather than fighting for life, and yet I was enjoying every moment of it. Each day carried me closer to my wedding with Deacon. Though the rumours never stopped and even became worse since that encounter with Glenda and Bryson at the marketce.


    Even with the rumours circling around, I could hear theughter of the servants as they measured drapes and polished silver as a part of my wedding preparation. Everyone inside the pce helped me, no matter what they were thinking about me. Couriers came and went with swatches of silk. The cooks were also there whispering about the feast preparation.


    It was a different kind of chaos, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile. I didn¡¯t want topare, but I felt a different kind of happiness, too, while preparing for my wedding with Deaconpared to Bryson. The wedding preparation with Deacon felt like my first time being a bride.


    ¡°Princess,<i>¡± </i>one attendants asked. The man was holding two bolts of fabric. One is ivory and the other is pale gold. ¡°For the gown, which pleases you more?


    I touched both fabrics. I let my fingers glide across the weave. And my heart found excitement toward


    the ivory.


    ¡°This one, but the embroidery must be light as if the flowers are woven from the air. Not heavy. I was a warrior before bing a bride, so I won¡¯t drown beneath beads.¡±


    The attendants nodded. Her eyes were shining. She hurried off, and I just stood a little taller.


    At my side, Rafael clutched his sketchbook and his hands were smudged with charcoal. He had insisted on helping, though a part of me was worried about him. I was worried that the servants might just focus on us rather than on what they were supposed to be doing. But how could I say no? He wanted to be a part of a special asion in my life.


    ¡°Aunt Elena, look,¡± he said as he tugged my sleeve.


    He opened his book and showed me a drawing of flowers. They were uneven, petals too wide, but bursting with colour.


    ¡°I want your bouquet to be like this,¡± his eyes were wide. ¡°So when you walk, I want everyone to see them and they will know that you are the strongest and most beautiful bride they have seen.¡±


    My throat tightened. I bent and kissed his forehead. ¡°Then, that¡¯s what it will be. I will have the florist make my bouquet like this.¡±


    Rafael smiled, and it was radiant. At that moment, I forgot the rumours about us.


    Days passed by, and the gifts from nobles and other known people starteding by one after another.


    <b>-25 </b><b>Bonus </b>


    The passing days got more exciting, and I couldn¡¯t help but look forward to my wedding day.


    Sometimes,te at night, I would even wake up with a smile on my lips this time. I was in so much awe because of what¡¯s happening in my life.


    Though I wouldn¡¯t deny that sometimes I hear a whisper in my heart, could I truly leave behind the life of a warrior? Could I carry both worlds into my marriage with Deacon? How could I ask like a steel with strength and at the same time soft and ready to surrender?


    The wedding preparation carried me through each day. I tasted sauces, selected musicians and walked in the courtyard, imagining the festive setup for my wedding day. Now, I could hear the servants whisper about how radiant I looked. The pce was brighter and joyfulpared to my first few days.


    For once, I allowed myself to believe them.


    But aside from those whispers, another kind was spreading so fast, too. The Lycan King¡¯s hand was moving beyond our walls. News reached me in half¨Cheard murmurs, and Bryson¡¯s name was carried across the conversation. It seemed my ex¨Chusband was about to be married again. But not a second marriage with Glenda. He was to marry another bride who was chosen by the King himself.


    I dismissed it at first because I didn¡¯t want to ruin my happiness. Bryson was just a part of my past. Deacon was my future. But deep inside me, I knew why the King had arranged that. It wasn¡¯t just a simple marriage. There was something about it.


    And I wasn¡¯t wrong.


    One bright morning, I was in the courtyard doing my usual imagining about my wedding day. The sun was shining brightly.


    Something had drawn my attention. A rider approached in my direction. His horse wasthered with sweat, and I couldn¡¯t be mistaken, he was sent by the Lycan King.


    Being in the same pce, messengers sometimes preferred to just use horses to navigate easily to the narrow shortcut paths inside for faster route.


    He jumped down from the horse and bowed down to me. He gave me a case. ¡°For you, Princess Elena.¡± The air seemed to still. My hands were cold as I opened the case. Insidey a scroll tied with red silk.


    I didn¡¯t know what to do. Should I be epting? My heart was pounding so fast. I looked at the rider again.


    He nodded to me. ¡°The King wants to make sure that you read it, so I cannot leave if you won¡¯t open the case.¡±


    I nodded, though I was still confused about what was going on. That was thest thing I ever wanted. Tomunicate again with the Lycan King.


    I cracked the seal using my thumb.


    Then I saw these words.


    ¡°An invitation to the wedding of Bryson, consort of the realm, under the blessing of the Lycan King¡±


    I held my breath. I was not mistaken.


    The sun was still shining brightly, and the courtyard was alive with the colours and sounds I had chosen for my wedding day, but I felt so cold. It was as if the shadow of the past was trying to chase me once again.


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 177

    Chapter <b>177 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The silky fabric of my wedding gown glides perfectly against my skin; every inch seems to be perfectly sized for me.


    We were now inside, for finalisation of choices. Trying on fittings so only final adjustment on their workshop would be neededter on.


    My imagination finallying more and more alive.


    I felt the attendantsing to my aid, sping my back,ying the hem of the gown perfectly to the ground, and whispering praises, but my mind was far from the joy the wedding bells were showering on everyone.


    My eyes were stuck in the mirror in front of me, but my vision was far from perfect. Instead, it¡¯s on the red invitation stabilised on the table beside the watchroom, soothed by its intricate golden writing of Bryson¡¯s name.


    Yes¡­ It¡¯s a wedding invitation.


    I was, without a doubt, bbergasted, but not because my ex¨Chusband was getting married, but because he¡¯s getting married for the third time, and it¡¯s not Glenda.


    Apparently, the king was furious about how he was currently handling his pack¡¯s issue, and to top it all, Glenda¡¯s reputation was no longer fitting of a Luna. Hence, he gave out a royal deration that he was to be married to a she¨Cwolf from a noble family.


    If you¡¯d ask me, it¡¯s a mercy rather than a punishment. Despite everything that happened, the King still wanted to help him stabilise his pack and granted him a marriage with a noble family.


    ¡°Princess, are you okay?¡± One of the attendants called me out, standing right in front of me, waving her hand and looking at me worriedly.


    Blinking my thoughts away, I smiled. ¡°Yeah, I am.¡±


    ¡°Is it¡­ Because of that?¡± Zara, who was quietly sitting on the side with a brochure in her hand and was helping me decide which dress to wear, finally spoke while gesturing at the wedding invitation.


    Going to the side, hands sliding through the various designs of the bouquet, I nodded my head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking,¡± I told her as soon as I saw the shock and dismay in her face.


    She probably thought there was still jealousy in me.


    I sighed, lips curving faintly, but not with regret, joy, or anything, rather, in a calcting manner.


    This was big news, and for sure, a furious fox would <i>be </i>running soon enough toward me and try to send fire.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯ll have an uninvited guest sooner orter,¡± I vaguely answered, shaking my head.


    It¡¯s another chaos.


    If Glendaes¡­ and she will¡­ I know exactly which nerves to strike. She thrives on jealousy and tear. Take those away, and she crumbles. I will not y her game, I will force her to y mine.


    And I was right, because before, it didn¡¯t even take a day for chaos to start.


    Noise started to echo from outside the fitting room; footsteps and screams were enough to shake the entire room.


    I shut my eyes and walked with heavy legs to the couch,nding myselfzily on it.


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s your uninvited guest?¡± Zara assumed, pointing behind her back with her thumb after dropping the brochure on


    the table.


    13


    I nodded my head as I sat up straight and crossed my arms. ¡°That¡¯s about right.¡±


    +25 Bonus


    An attendant came rushing off, opening the door while panting, arms outstretched and hand pointing outside. ¡°Princess Elena, sorry we-¡±


    She wasn¡¯t even able to finish her words when someone came in, face red in fury, eyes sharper than a de, and her clothes were worn like armour.


    Standing tall in front of me like she¡¯s in for a battle, Glenda sneered at my face.


    Lazily, I raised my arm and waved my hand, gesturing to the attendant who came in that it¡¯s okay. With a bow of her head, she


    headed back out.


    Next thing, I nodded at the other attendants who were helping me earlier. Understanding my meaning, they put down everything they were doing and followed suit to their colleague who had just left.


    ¡°What a very unexpected visit,¡± I uttered, sarcasm sipping out of every word I said.


    Her face scrunched in anger.


    ¡°Do not y games with me, Elena! You think this is funny? You think you¡¯ve won?¡± she asked with shing eyes.


    There weren¡¯t any doubts about her. She was just sure that it was I who was out to ruin her already messed¨Cup life, out of her


    own fault.


    ¡°Won what, exactly?¡± My feigning ignorance only heightened her fury.


    What we had already ended in that war. She was punished for what she deserved for what she did to me<b>, </b>my family, and everyone else who got involved and hurt, all because of her greed.


    Meeting her now not only made me bored andzy, but it was also annoying.


    If not needed, I didn¡¯t want to deal with her anymore.


    Because of technical issues, and rightful punishment might have been served, but it wouldn¡¯t ease my inner urge to want to kill


    and torture her.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t act innocent on me now!¡± She snapped, taking long strides, and approached me with eyes that med, a hint of her ws elongating visibly.


    The audacity ofing here like she could attack me in my own turf.


    I wanted tough at her insanity.


    Seeing the same signs I was seeing, Zara stood by my side protectively, ready to use herself as a shield if needed, but I pulled her


    back.


    Fighting with Glenda would be as easy as pie, even if it turned physical.


    Pointing a finger at me, she continued, ¡°The King has ordered Bryson to marry another Lama. Another! And it is because of you. Because you poisoned him against me. Because you-¡±


    Before she could finish her ridiculous monologue<b>, </b>I went on, ¡°You give me too much credit. Bryson¡¯s fate <i>has </i>nothing to do with me. I left him, remember?¡±


    After a slow swivel of <b>the </b>ss of juice I had from my side, I raised it a little and smirked at her before adding, ¡°Willingly.¡±


    ¡°Then why-¡± She stopped in the middle of her sentence, her eyes gliding on the table beside the other end of the couch I was sitting in, where the invitation was.


    A humourlessugh escaped her lips; she shook her head back and looked at me as if I had just betrayed her. <b>Like </b><b>I </b>was ying


    213


    Chorter 17


    with her.


    ¡°What a sly bitch!¡±


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 178

    Elena¡¯s POV


    I didn¡¯t flinch. I didn¡¯t gasp either. I remained calm and unaffected by her already almost daily life chaos.


    So instead, I sat down with grace, brought the ss of juice to my lips, and took a slow, deliberate sip. The cold liquid was a stark contrast to the heated mess standing before me. I swallowed, set the ss down on the table with a soft clink, and finally met her gaze.


    ¡°Is that the best you can do?¡± I asked, my voice level. ¡°Name¨Ccalling? It¡¯s a bit beneath a noblewoman, isn¡¯t it? Oh wait¡­ I forgot. You aren¡¯t going to be one for much longer.¡±


    Glenda¡¯s face turned a shade of purple I hadn¡¯t thought humanly possible. Her chest heaved, and the veins in her neck bulged as she struggled to contain the scream building in her throat.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re so high and mighty,¡± she hissed, stepping closer, ignoring Zara, who bristled beside me. ¡°You nted that invitation there! You wanted me to see it! You wanted to rub it in my face that Bryson is marrying someone else!¡±


    ¡°Glenda,¡± I sighed, leaning back into the plush cushions of the couch, careful not to wrinkle the silk of my wedding dress. ¡°You give yourself far too much importance in my life. I didn¡¯t nt anything. The world simply doesn¡¯t revolve around you anymore. Actually¡­ did it ever?¡±


    And that,dies and gentlemen, broke her.


    It¡¯s thest thread of her sanity snapped. With a guttural growl, she lunged.


    ¡°I¡¯ll rip that smile off your face!¡±


    She didn¡¯t aim for me; instead, like a child throwing a tantrum, she aimed for the dress. Her ws were fully extended now, glinting under the chandelier light, ready to shred the masterpiece I was wearing.


    Suddenly, she was far from the mighty warrior general many had looked up to her for before.


    Zara screamed in panic, ¡°Princess!¡±


    But I was faster. I moved before she could. No¡­ I made a manoeuvre even before Glenda finished her act.


    I didn¡¯t need to stand up. As Glenda¡¯s hand swooped down, I simply raised my arm. My movements were precise, like a true warrior and unlike a manipting one like her. I caught her wrist in mid¨Cair, my grip like an iron shackle.


    The momentum of her attack jerked her forward, but I held firm. She froze, her ws inches from thece of my dress,


    ¡°Let go!¡± she shrieked, trying to yank her hand back, but I didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°You really have no manners,¡± I said coldly, my eyes boring into hers. ¡°This is a custom piece. It costs more than your dignity.¡±


    I tightened my grip, applying pressure to a pressure point I knew would hurt.


    ¡°Ah!¡± She cried out, her knees buckling as the pain shot up her arm.


    ¡°You barge into my private fitting,¡± I continued, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ¡°You insult me. You try to destroy my wedding dress. Did you honestly think I would just sit here and let you?¡±


    With a sharp shove, I released her.


    She stumbled back, losing her bnce in her high heels, and fell ungracefully onto the carpeted floor. Her hair, already messy, fell over her face. She looked pathetic.


    ¡°I¡­ I will tell Bryson!¡± she stammered, scrambling to push herself up, though the fire in her eyes was reced by fear. ¡°I will tell him you attacked me!¡±


    Chopta: 179


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    I stood up then, the long train of my gown flowing around me like water. I looked down at her, feeling nothing but pity mixed with disgust.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± I challenged her. ¡°Tell him. Heck, tell the King for all I care. Tell the entire kingdom<b>, </b>even. Who do you think they will believe? The Princess who saved the North, or the discarded ex¨Cwife and uncrowned warrior who can¡¯t ept reality?¡±


    Glenda opened her mouth to retort, but the sound of heavy boots thudding against the floorboards cut her off.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±


    The voice was deep, authoritative, andced with a growl that made the air in the room vibrate.


    We all turned. Deacon stood at the entrance of the fitting room, his massive frame filling the doorway. He wasn¡¯t wearing his usual armour, but a crisp suit that made him look every bit the Royal Alpha he was. Behind him, a dozen guards stood at attention, looking pale for letting an intruder in.


    Deacon¡¯s eyes swept over the room¨Cthe overturned vase, the terrified attendants, Zara in a defensive stance, and finally,


    Glenda on the floor.


    His gazended on mest. The hardness in his eyes melted instantly into concern.


    ¡°Elena,¡± he said, walking over to me in three long strides. He ignored Glenda as if she were a piece of furniture. He took my hands and inspected them. ¡°Did she touch you?¡±


    ¡°I handled it,¡± I assured him, squeezing his hand, and gave him a smirk. ¡°Just a minor pest control issue.¡±


    Deacon turned slowly to face Glenda, who was now trembling on the floor. She looked up at him, tears instantly welling in her eyes¨Ca practised performance I had seen a thousand times.


    ¡°Prince Deacon¡­ please,¡± she sobbed, reaching a hand out toward him. ¡°She¡­ she mocked me! She rubbed Bryson¡¯s wedding in my face! I was just¡ª¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± Deaconmanded. He didn¡¯t shout, but the power in his voice made the windows rattle.


    He looked at the guards. ¡°Remove this woman from the premises. If she is seen near my mate or the pce again, arrest her for


    treason.¡±


    ¡°Treason?!¡± Glenda shrieked as two guards hauled her up by her arms. ¡°I am a noble woman! You can¡¯t do this!¡±


    ¡°Attacking the Princess is an attack on the Crown,¡± Deacon stated simply, turning his back on her.


    As they dragged her out, kicking and screaming obscenities, I felt a strange sense of finality.


    The room fell silent again. The attendants rushed to clean up the mess.


    Deacon sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my love. I shouldn¡¯t have let her get this close.¡±


    I looked at the invitation still sitting on the table, which was the catalyst for all this drama.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I said, a small smirk ying on my lips. ¡°Actually, it was perfect timing.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted to go to Bryson¡¯s wedding,¡± I admitted, looking up at Deacon. ¡°But now? I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world.¡±


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 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 179

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The silence that followed Glenda¡¯s unceremonio exit was heavy,


    For the shop staff, however, it was a different story. The boutique manager, a beta woman with gresting hair and trembling hands, looked as though she might faint. She was currently bowing so low to Deacon that her nose was practically touching the


    carpet.


    ¡°Alpha¡­ Your Highness¡­we are really sorry,¡± she stammered, her voice barely heard, ¡°We did to the world force ber way <b>in</b><b>. </b>We tried to stop her, but¡ª


    ¡°You tried?¡± Deacon¡¯s voice was low but cold. It didn¡¯t even need to be loud to be terrifying


    He didn¡¯t look at her, but his eyes were still <b>scanning </b>the hallway where the guards had disappeared, enowing the threat was truly gone. ¡°If my mate had been a regr she¨Cwolf, or if she hadn¡¯t been trained, that woman could have done serious damage with those ws. Trying¡® is not enough when ites to the safety of the future Princess.<b>* </b>


    The air in the room grew <b>thin</b>, and I could see the manager¡¯s face draining of colour.


    Feeling the tension, I reached out, cing a hand on Deacon¡¯s forearm<b>. </b><b>The </b>muscles beneath his suit jacket were rock bard


    ¡°Deacon,¡± I called out softly.


    At my touch, the deadly aura surrounding <b>him </b>instantly receded. He turned to me<b>, </b>his expression softening


    ¡°It¡¯s not their fault,<i>¡± </i>I told <b>him</b><b>, </b>ncing at the terrified staff. ¡°Glenda is desperate. A desperate woman who constantly ignores boundaries and protocols. Besides,¡± I added, a small, cold <b>smile </b><b>ying </b>on <b>my </b>lips, ¡°she didn¡¯ty a finger on me. I think she was the one who left with a bruise<b>, </b>not me.¡±


    Deacon sighed, covering my hand with <b>his</b><b>. </b>He brought <b>my </b>knuckles to his lips, kissing them briefly before turning back to the staff. ¡°Clean this up. And ensure the security at the door is doubled until we leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Yes, of course, Your Highness!¡± The staff scrambled away like frightened mice, grateful for the dismissal


    Zara walked over, picking up the fallen invitation from the floor. She looked shaken but relieved. ¡°That woman is insane. Truly insane. I can¡¯t believe she thought she could just waltz in here and destroy a royal wedding dress.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t want to destroy the dress, Zara,¡± I corrected, walking back to the mirror to check my reflection.


    The wedding dress was fine, thank the Moon Goddess.


    With a sigh, I continued, ¡°She wanted to destroy the symbol. She thinks that if she tears the dress, she tears the marriage. It¡¯s childish magical thinking ¡±


    I smoothed the fabric over my hips. ¡°But she¡¯s gone now. Let¡¯s not waste any more time on her.¡±


    The drive back to the Pce was quiet<b>, </b>the purr of the luxury engine the only sound filling the space between us. I watched the city pass by through the tinted windows¨Cthe Capital was bustling, full of life and colour. It was a stark contrast to the grey, dreary packnds of IronPaw that I used to call home.


    I felt Deacon¡¯s gaze on me before I turned to meet it.


    ¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± he observed.


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m thinking,¡± I admitted.


    ¡°About Glenda?¡±


    ¡°No<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>I shook my head. ¡°About the invitation.¡±


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    Deacon leaned back, crossing his long legs. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go, Elena. I can send a representative. Bryson¡¯s affairs are beneath us now.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I said, turning fully in my seat to face him. ¡°But I want to go. I need to see it. I need to see him¡­ settled ¡±


    Deacon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Settled? Is that what we¡¯re calling a forced marriage decreed by the King?¡±


    I let out a short, dryugh. ¡°The King doesn¡¯t do anything without a reason. Why did he order this, Deacon? Really?¡±


    Deacon¡¯s expression turned serious. He ran a hand through his hair, a habit he had when discussing politics. ¡°Bryson is ipetent, but the pack is strategically important. It borders the Rogue Lands in the North. Under Bryson¡¯s recent¡­ emotional leadership¡­ the pack¡¯s defences have weakened. The economy is suffering because he¡¯s been too busy chasing Glenda or mourning you.¡±


    He paused, his eyes darkening slightly. ¡°The King cannot afford a weak border. So, he intervened. He found a bride from a powerful family. Lady ra Vrius.¡±


    ¡°Valerius?¡± My eyes widened. I knew that name. ¡°The family known for their military logistics? They are strict traditionalists.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Deacon nodded. ¡°Lady ra is not a soft wolf. She is older than Bryson, disciplined, and rich. She will whip the pack back into shape and control Bryson. The King is essentially putting a babysitter in charge of the Alpha.¡±


    I sat back, processing this suddenly tragic yet so funny situation. It was brilliant, in a cruel sort of way. Bryson, who always wanted to be the big, powerful Alpha, was being handed a wife who would strip him of his actual authority while keeping him as a figurehead.


    And Glenda¡­ Glenda had no ce in that equation. A woman like Lady ra would chew Glenda up and spit her out before breakfast.


    ¡°So,¡± I mused, looking out the¡­


    again. ¡°It¡¯s a business transaction.¡±


    ¡°Politics usually is,¡± Deacon murmured, reaching out to take my hand. ¡°Unlike us.¡±


    I squeezed his hand back, warmth spreading through my chest. ¡°Unlike us.¡±


    We were arranged marriage, but it¡¯s evident that both of us were more than just that.


    Two dayster, the day of the wedding arrived.


    Bryson¡¯s wedding. This sure would be a show.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 180

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The atmosphere in the wedding hall was buzzing, though not for the reasons Bryson probably hoped. Most of the guests. especially the noble ones, showed up to this wedding not to give their blessing but merely out of sheer curiosity, as this was a spectacle to see the fall of a once¨Cpromising Alpha.


    I stood in my dressing room, my team of stylists fluttering around me. Or rather, the pce¡¯s stylists.


    They flock around me like I¡¯m attending a significant event when I¡¯m only going to an event, and merely as a guest.


    But, they too, knew the meaning of my attendance. It¡¯s a closure, and a statement.


    ¡°Not white,¡± I raised my hand when I saw one of them grab a white dress and repeated what I had ordered earlier. And nothing that looks like a bride. I don¡¯t want anyone saying I tried to upstage her.¡±


    Having someone upstage someone at their wedding was already an issue; how much more if it were <b>me</b>, who was the previous wife of the groom? It would sure be chaotic.


    ¡°But you will upstage her, Princess, just by existing,¡± Zara had joked.


    I gave her a warning look but waved my hand to let them continue their magic.


    I chose a gown of deep, midnight¨Cblue velvet. It was elegant, regal, and dark¨Cfitting for the mood. The neckline was tasteful, dipping just enough to show the skin of my corbone, and the sleeves were long and fitted. It screamed ¡®Royalty,¡® not ¡®Ex¨CWife.


    They pinned my hair up in an elegant style that I didn¡¯t know what term to call, exposing the diamond earrings Deacon had gifted me, whose stones were sorge they felt heavy against my neck.


    ¡°You look¡­ amazing,¡± Zara said, stepping back to admire the look.


    ¡°Good,¡± I replied, checking my reflection for the first time. I didn¡¯t look like the girl who had cried over Bryson. I looked like the woman who ruled the Kingdom.


    Deacon was waiting for me at the bottom of the grand staircase. He was dressed in his formal military dress uniform, medals gleaming on his chest.


    Since it¡¯s a wedding and he¡¯s attending as a prince, he couldn¡¯t go casual.


    When he saw me descending from the stairs, he stopped talking to his assistant mid¨Csentence. His eyes tracked my every movement, heated and proud.


    ¡°Wow, Elena,¡± he whispered as I reached the final step. ¡°Are we going to a wedding or an execution?¡±


    ¡°For Bryson?¡± <b>I </b>smirked, taking his arm. ¡°Ideally, both.¡±


    We bothughed and went our separate ways.


    The ride to Keegan¡¯s Pack was longer than I remembered. As we crossed the border into the packnd, <b>a </b>strange sense of nostalgia hit me<b>, </b>but it¡¯s not longing. Rather, <b>a </b>recognition of how much smaller everything looked. The trees seemed <b>less </b>imposing, and the pack house looked aged rather than grand.


    It was just a ce. It wasn¡¯t my world anymore.


    When our car pulled up to the wedding hall, the crowd went silent.


    The valet opened the door for us,


    and Deacon stepped out first. The shes from the press¡¯s cameras were blinding<b>. </b>He <b>offered </b>me his hand<b>, </b>and I stepped out into the cool afternoon air.


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    A wave of murmurs rippled through the guests.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Prince!¡± ¡°And Princess Elena!¡± ¡°She came? She actually came?¡± ¡°Look at her¡­ she looks radiant.¡±


    People gasped, and whispers filled the ce. Zara was right, upstaging the groom and bride today was inevitable.


    I kept my chin high, my expression polite but distant. I held onto Deacon¡¯s arm, letting his strength anchor me as we walked down the carpeted path toward the VIP seating.


    I saw familiar faces in the crowd. Old pack members who used to ignore me or mock me when I was just an ¡°orphan¡°. Now, they bowed their heads hastily, avoiding my gaze, terrified I might remember their past transgressions.


    I didn¡¯t care enough to remember them.


    We took our seats in the front row, reserved for the Royal Family. Across the aisle sat the bride¡¯s family, the Valerius n. They sat with stiff backs and stony faces. They, too, were in their military uniforms, adorned with medals won through sweat, blood, and tremendous sacrifice.


    There were no smiles, no tears of joy. They looked like they were attending a board meeting


    And then, the music started.


    Bryson walked out first.


    My breath didn¡¯t hitch. My heart didn¡¯t race. But I just watched. I watched everything unfold before me.


    In no time, Bryson came up front.


    He looked¡­ tired. His tuxedo fit well, but he seemed thinner than thest time I saw him. There were dark circles under his eyes that makeup couldn¡¯t hide. He walked to the altar not with the swagger of an Alpha, but with the resignation of a man walking to


    the gallows.


    He stood at the altar, fidgeting with his cuffs. And then, he looked up.


    His eyes scanned the crowd, frantic, searching.


    And theynded on me.


    For a second, everything else faded. I saw the shock register on his face. Then, a sh of pain. And then, something that looked like regret. He stared at me, at the blue velvet, at the diamonds, at Deacon¡¯s hand possessively on my knee.


    I didn¡¯t look away. I simply nodded, a small, barely perceptible acknowledgement.


    I¡¯m here, the nod said. I¡¯m watching. And I¡¯m fine.


    He swallowed hard, looking like he might be sick, and forced his gaze away as the music swelled for the bride.


    Lady ra Valerius walked down the aisle. She was a striking woman<b>, </b>tall, with sharp features and cold grey eyes. She wore an expensive but conservative dress with noce or frills. She didn¡¯t look at Bryson with love. She looked at him like an investment she intended to manage closely.


    The ceremony was short, and the vows were standard, recited without emotion.


    <b>¡°</b><b>I</b><b>, </b>Bryson, take thee¡­¡±


    His voice cracked. He had to clear his throat to finish.


    I felt Deacon lean closer to me, his lips brushing my ear. ¡°He looks like he¡¯s in mourning.¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± I whispered back, my eyes fixed on the man I once thought was my soulmate. ¡°He¡¯s mourning his ego.¡±


    ¡°I now pronounce you Alpha and Luna,¡± the officiant dered.


    +25 Borius


    There was apuse, but it was polite,cking the cheering typical of wolf weddings. Bryson kissed his new bride, but it was a quick, chaste peck on the lips. Lady ra wiped her mouth discreetly afterwards.


    It was done.


    As the couple turned to walk back down the aisle, Bryson looked at me onest time. The look in his eyes was haunting. It was a silent scream for help, a realisation that he had locked himself in a cage of his own making


    I felt a pang of pity, swift and fleeting.


    ¡°Ready to go to the reception?¡± Deacon asked, standing up and offering me his hand.


    I stood, smoothing my skirt. I looked at the newlywed couple disappearing into the reception hall, already arguing about something in hushed tones.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, turning my back on them and smiling up at my true mate. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough. The past is dead.¡±


    Looking sweetly and warmly at Deacon, I smiled and gave him a peck on the corner of his lips while I sped his arm<b>. </b>¡°Deacon, I¡¯m looking forward to celebrating our future.¡±


    The Bryson chapter was officially closed. But as we walked toward the reception tent, a chill ran down my spine. It was too quiet.


    Too clean.


    Glenda hadn¡¯t shown up.


    And that worried me more than if she hade screaming. As an old saying goes, ¡°A screaming enemy is distracted. A silent enemy is nning.¡±


    ¡°Deacon,¡± I said quietly as we walked. ¡°Keep the guards close.¡±


    ¡°Always,¡± he promised.


    But I knew, deep down, the night wasn¡¯t over yet. Glenda wouldn¡¯t let this day end without one final, desperate act. I just hoped we were ready for it.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 181

    Chapter <b>181 </b>


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The reception hall where Keegan¡¯s wedding to ra was held was obviously designed to impress the second anyoneid their eyes on it, from the gold frame floral are up front, the silk linens, and up to the crystal chandeliers with diamonds on them, bringing a bright glow around the room that mimics the glint of an ocean.


    It was grand, alright.


    And yet, when Deacon and I entered the venue, just one step on that shiny marble floor, the tightness of the air almost suffocated us.


    While the ceremony had been a rigid formality, the reception was where the true social politics of the werewolf world <b>came </b>into y. The hierarchy was painfully clear.


    ¡°Prince Deacon! Princess Elena!<b>¡± </b>


    The greeting to us echoed, silencing the room as heads turned our way instead of paying attention to the newlywed couple.


    Deacon¡¯s arm tightened around my waist<b>, </b>bringing warmth and a sense of protection.


    ¡°They¡¯re staring,¡± he murmured<b>, </b>sounding more amused than concerned<b>. </b>¡°Like sharks scenting blood.¡±


    ¡°Let them stare,¡± I replied steadily, and joked, ¡°We¡¯re just here for the cake, right?¡±


    Deacon chuckled darkly. ¡°If it isn¡¯t poisoned.¡±


    We walked through the crowd, guests parting for us with even Alphas bowing our way and kicking our asses at every opportunity


    they could get.


    I was drowning in attention<b>, </b>the opposite of the scrutiny I once had.


    We took our seats at the VIP table, strategically ced to the right of the head table. From here, I had a front¨Crow view of the newlyweds.


    The tension between them was vivid. ra sat with impable posture, sipping her wine with mechanical precision<b>, </b>as if she were a robot followingmands and rules. She spoke to approaching guests but rarely looked at Bryson as if he were nothing.


    It¡¯s evident that this wasn¡¯t a wedding, but a business deal.


    And Bryson¡­ Bryson was drowning.


    <b>He </b>was drinking heavily, his ss refilled thrice in twenty minutes. Hisughter, the tone of his voice, everything sounded forced.


    He looked like a man trying to y the happy groom but had forgotten his lines. And every few minutes, his gaze would drift toward our table, settling first on Deacon and then on me.


    And what I saw in his eyes wasn¡¯t just regret, but desperation.


    It¡¯s almost like <b>he¡¯s </b>asking to be rescued from the sea he jumped into and had been drowning in.


    ¡°I need to speak with the Council representatives from the Southern borders,¡± Deacon said softly, leaning in close to kiss my cheek. ¡°They¡¯ve been signalling me. Will you be alright <b>for </b>a moment?¡±


    I scanned the room. The guards Deacon had brought were stationed discreetly. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I might step out to the terrace for some fresh air. The smell here is giving me a headache.¡±


    ¡°Stay in sight of the guards,<b>¡± </b>Deacon ordered gently, his golden eyes possessive. ¡°I won¡¯t be long.¡±


    As Deacon walked away, the dynamic in the room shifted. Without the Prince¡¯s imposing presence, the energy became less


    +25 Bonus


    fearful and more gossipy. I stood up, smoothing my skirts, and made my way toward the French doors leading to the terrace.


    The night air was crisp, a wee relief from the stifling atmosphere of the hall. I walked to the stone balustrade, looking out over the packnds I had once thought would be my home. It was strange how small it all felt now.


    ¡°Elena.¡±


    The voice was rough, familiar, andced with a slur of scotch.


    I didn¡¯t jump. I had heard his footsteps the moment the ss doors clicked shut behind him. I turned slowly, resting my elbows on the stone railing.


    Bryson stood there, illuminated by the pale moonlight. He had loosened his tic, and his hair was dishevelled. He looked worse than he had at the altar. His eyes were red¨Crimmed, and he reeked of alcohol and misery.


    ¡°Alpha Bryson,¡± I said, my tone cool and formal. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be inside dancing with your wife?¡±


    He winced at the title. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that. Not like that. Please.¡±


    He took a step toward me, swaying slightly. ¡°You look¡­ goddess, Elena, you look breathtaking. That blue¡­ It¡¯s the colour you wore on our first date. Do you remember?¡±


    ¡°I remember,¡± I said tly. ¡°I also remember you telling me I wasn¡¯t enough. That I wasn¡¯t Luna material.¡±


    ¡°I was wrong,¡± he blurted out, the words rushing out of him. He moved closer, invading my personal space, his desperation rolling off him. ¡°I was so stupid, Elena. I listened to Glenda and thought it was true love, and what I needed was her.¡±


    He gestured toward the hall. ¡°ra¡­ She¡¯s cold, like a statue. But when I look at you¡­.¡± He reached out, trembling. ¡°Seeing you today made me realise I lost everything for a handful of stars that don¡¯t even shine.¡±


    I felt detached as he unravelled. Before, this would have shattered me, but now it felt like watching a stranger.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t just make a mistake, Bryson. You chose to humiliate me and cast me aside, thinking Glenda was your prize.¡±


    ¡°I know!¡± he choked out, tears in his eyes. ¡°I hate my life, this pack, this marriage. Is there any part of you that still cares? If I end this¨C¡±


    ¡°Stop,¡± I cut him off, my voice sharp.


    I pushed off the railing and stood to my full height.


    ¡°Bryson, look at me.¡±


    He met my gaze, hope flickering in his eyes¡­ a pathetic, dying me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate you,¡± I said, and he rxed slightly. But I wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°Hate implies passion. Hate implies that you still have the power to hurt me. But you don¡¯t.¡±


    I took a step closer, ensuring he heard every syble. ¡°I feel nothing. When I look at you, I don¡¯t see my mate. I don¡¯t see the man I loved. I see a sad, pathetic man who broke his own heart. You are nothing to me now, Bryson. You are just a memory, and a fading one at that.¡±


    The colour drained from his face.


    ¡°Nothing?¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Completely,¡± I confirmed. ¡°You made your bed with your ambition and your lust. Now, you have to lie in it with Lady ra. Do not disrespect your wife by chasing a ghost. I am not yours. I never will be again.¡±


    Bryson looked as if I had physically struck him. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He simply stared, the crushing weight of his reality finally settling on his shoulders.


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°Is he bothering you?¡±


    The voice was lethal. Low, dark, and terrifying


    Deacon stepped out of the shadows, his presence instantly sucking the air out of the space. His golden eyes were glowing, his wolf bubbling just beneath the surface. He was staring at Bryson with the intent to kill.


    Bryson stumbled back, fear recing the sorrow in his scent. ¡°Your Highness¡­ I¨CI was just paying my respects.¡±


    ¡°You have a strange way of showing respect,¡± Deacon growled, stepping to my side and wrapping a possessive arm around me. ¡± Cornering my mate in the dark? On your wedding day?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Deacon,¡± I said softly, cing a hand on his chest to ground him. I looked at Bryson onest time, my expression bored. ¡°We were just finishing up. Alpha Bryson was just leaving to cut the cake.¡±


    Deacon¡¯s gaze lingered on Bryson for a long, agonising second before he turned his attention to me, his expression softening instantly. ¡°Are you ready to go back inside? Or shall we leave? I think you¡¯ve graced them with enough of your presence.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay a little longer,¡± I said, turning my back on Brysonpletely. ¡°I want to see the cake¨Ccutting ceremony. I hear Lady ra chose the vour.¡±


    As Deacon led me back toward the warmth of the hall, I didn¡¯t look back. I could feel Bryson standing there in the cold, alone in a way he had never been before.


    But as we stepped back into the light and noise of the party, the unease i had felt earlier returned. The hair on my arms stood up.


    Glenda was still missing.


    Bryson was a broken man, handled and dismissed. But Glenda? She was a wild card. And the silenceing from her end of the ying field was deafening.


    ¡°Deacon,¡± I whispered, clutching his hand tighter. ¡°Be ready.¡±


    He squeezed my hand back. ¡°I am.¡±


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 182

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The reception was moved along, but with heavy tension and brittle cheerfulness. It was all force, and it felt like a y being


    performed by puppets.


    The towering six¨Ctiered vani almond cake that looked more like a piece of art than food had been cut, and the dance was about to begin.


    I remained seated beside Deacon, watching the scene unfold before or with <i>my </i>back resting and my hand swirling the sparkling water in my ss.


    Suddenly, I felt a foreboding feeling, one that had been recurring in my chest strice the wedding, and I didn¡¯t see a trace of Glenda. My chest felt heavy, and there¡¯s relentless uneasiness in my gut.


    Glenda¡¯s silence was sure bing more deafananing than her usual chantic tactic


    ¡°You¡¯re tense,¡± Deacon observed, his hand resting warm and heavy around my shoulder, his thumb tracing soothing circles against my skin.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting,¡± I murmured, watching the double doors at the fat end of the hall as if there would be some monstering in at any moment, before voicing out my worry, ¡°She¡¯s not the type to let a spotlight shine on someone else without trying to steal it.


    ¡±


    ¡°If shees, she will regret it,¡± Deacon promised with finality in his tone. He understood who I meant without me even


    needing to specify.


    As it summoned by his words, the heavy oak doors at the entrance didn¡¯t just open. They mmed against the walls with such force that the wood cracked. The sound was like a gunshot in the enclosed space, halting everyone.


    And there she was.


    Glenda stood in the doorway, face darker than the night sky outside. She looked dishevelled, almost like a madwoman, which wasn¡¯t surprising after everything she had been through. But what¡¯s really made everyone gasp is that she¡¯s wearing a white dress that looks suspiciously like a cheap wedding gown with the hem stained with mud and its shoulder sleeves torn as if a wild


    animal had chewed on it.


    ¡°Stop!¡± she yelled, her voice cracking and echoing off the high ceilings.


    ¡°Stop this wedding! It¡¯s a fraud!¡± she continued, eyes wandering around.


    The guards near the door hesitated for a brief moment, clearly taken aback by her sudden intrusion.


    Glenda used that moment to stumble into the room, her heels cking unevenly on the marble floor.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this, Bryson!¡± she screamed, pointing a shaking finger at the head table. Her eyes were wide, manic, and bloodshot. ¡°I am the Luna! Me! I am the one you love!¡±


    I felt Deacon stiffen beside me, his muscles tense. His Lycan blood and dominance radiated off of him, looking ready to pounce, but I ced a hand on his arm.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I whispered, watching the scene unfold with a detached, clinical curiosity. ¡°Let¡¯s see what he does.¡±


    Bryson stood up slowly. He didn¡¯t look frightened. He looked exhausted, and for the first time since I had known him,pletely sobered by the reality of his choices. He stared at Glenda not with love, or even lust, but with pure, unadulterated revulsion.


    ¡°Glenda,¡± Bryson said, his voice carrying across the silent room. ¡°Get out.¡±


    Glenda froze, her face crumbling into a mask of confusion. She staggered closer, ignoring the gasps of the guests. ¡°What?


    +25 Bonus


    Bryson, baby, it¡¯s me. It¡¯s your Glenda. We¡¯re soulmates, remember? You rejected Elena for me! You chose me!¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s the biggest mistake I have ever made,¡± Bryson spat, stepping around the table to put himself between Glenda and his new wife. ¡°I chose a delusion. We¡¯re not meant to be together. You were a mistake that cost me everything.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Glenda whimpered, clutching her stomach in a theatrical gesture. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m pregnant! I¡¯m carrying your heir! You can¡¯t marry her!¡±


    The room erupted in whispers. It was a desperate, ssic move. Bryson didn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± he said coldly. ¡°And even if you weren¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t let a child of yours anywhere near this pack. You are poison, Glenda. Look at yourself. You¡¯re pathetic¡±


    Glenda stumbled back as if pped. She looked around the room, searching for an ally, but found only disgust. Then, Lady ra stood up.


    The new Luna was a head taller than Glenda and radiated the kind of icy, aristocratic power that Glenda could only dream of faking. ra smoothed her pristine gown and walked closer to them. She didn¡¯t shout. She didn¡¯t look angry. She looked like she was inspecting a stain on the carpet.


    ¡°Is this the mistress?¡± ra asked, her voice crisp and clear.


    ¡°She is nothing,¡± Bryson answered instantly, turning his back on Glenda to stand beside his wife.


    ra nodded once and took two steps toward Glenda, stopping just out of reach.


    ¡°You im to be Luna,¡± ra said, a cruel smirk ying on her lips. ¡°But a Luna has dignity. A tuna has grace. You look like a rabid dog that slipped its leash.¡±


    ¡°I am the true Luna!¡± Glenda screeched, lunging forward with her ws extended


    Before she could get within three feet of ra, two massive Royal Guards, Deacon¡¯s men, intercepted her. They didn¡¯t handle her gently. They grabbed her by the arms, wrenching them back. Glenda thrashed, screaming obscenities, her legs kicking uselessly in the air.


    ¡°Remove her,¡± ramanded, her voice bored. ¡°And throw her off the territory. If she returns, treat her as a rogue trespasser. I don¡¯t want to see her face again.¡±


    ¡°No! Bryson! Help me!¡± Glenda wailed, looking at the man she had manipted for years. ¡°Don¡¯t let them touch me! I love you!¡±


    Bryson didn¡¯t even look at her. He offered his arm to ra, leading her back to their table. The ultimate rejection. He erased her


    from his existence.


    As the guards dragged Glenda backwards across the polished floor, her heels scraping loudly, her wild eyes locked onto me.


    ¡°You did this!¡± she screamed, spit flying from her mouth as she struggled against the guards¡® iron grip. ¡°You witch! You took everything from me! This should be me!¡±


    I didn¡¯t flinch or frown. I simply picked up my ss of champagne and raised it slowly in the air as if I was giving her a toast while meeting her crazed gaze with absolute tranquillity.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take anything, Glenda,¡± I said, my voice calm enough to cut through her shrieking. ¡°You lost it all on your own.¡±


    The guards shoved her through the double doors and into the night. The heavy wood mmed shut, silencing her wails instantly.


    Silence hung in the room for a heartbeat. Then, ra pped her hands twice.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°Now that the entertainment is over, let¡¯s have the music back, shall we?¡±


    The orchestra hesitated, thenunched into a cheerful waltz. The guests, taking their cue from the new Luna¡¯s steely


    +25 Bonus


    , </b>though the air was buzzing with the thrill <b>of </b>the drama.


    I sat back in my chair, feeling <i>a </i>knot <b>in </b>my chest loosen¨Cone I hadn¡¯t realised was still there. The viin of my past wasn¡¯t a monster anymore. She was just a sad, broken woman thrown out <b>into </b>the dark.


    ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Deacon asked, leaning close to my ear.


    ¡°More than satisfied,¡± I whispered, turning to face him, a genuine smile spreading across my face. ¡°I¡¯m free. Finally,pletely free.


    The past was dead. Glenda was gone. Bryson was miserable. And I was exactly where I belonged, sitting on a throne of my own making, beside the man who treated me like a queen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± I told him. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough.¡±


    Deacon stood, pulling me up with him. ¡°As you wish, my love.¡±


    ?


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 183

    Elena¡¯s POV


    Three days had passed since Bryson¡¯s wedding. Tabloids, news articles, and social media were still buzzing with news of that event, people continuously feasting on photos of Glenda being dragged out of the hall in her muddy, cheap wedding dress and with a look of breakdown.


    Sad to say, but the public was more than satisfied to see her downfall. She was, after all, a woman who tried to fly too high beyond her capability with brutal means.


    With the news reaching every nook of the kingdom, everyone branded her life as finished<b>, </b>especially after Bryson¡¯s and ra¡¯s pack was banned. With Bryson rejecting her and two huge packs banning her, she was socially obliterated.


    Justice had been served. She has started to sow the fruit of her greed.


    And now, she¡¯s gone, out of the still. But still, I couldn¡¯t sleep.


    I sat in the private study of the pce wing for Deacon, staring out at the moonlit gardens. The silence of the pce felt heavy, oppressive rather than peaceful. While Zara and even Deacon seemed to think the threat was neutralised, a nagging instinct wed at the back of my mind. I knew Glenda. I knew that specific brand of narcissism. She wasn¡¯t the type to crawl into a hole and die of shame.


    She was the type to burn the world down to keep herself warm. It was proven when she sacrificed my entire n¡¯s life for her glory.


    ¡°You¡¯re brooding again,¡± Deacon¡¯s voice broke the silence.


    I turned to see him standing in the doorway, still dressed in his office attire, his tie loosened. He looked tired but content, the stress of the wedding having mainly evaporated.


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I lied, setting my hot chocte down. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ thinking. It¡¯s too quiet, Deacon. Glenda hasn¡¯t been seen since the guards threw her past the border. No credit card usage, no hotel check¨Cins. She just vanished.¡±


    Deacon walked over, leaning against the heavy oak desk. ¡°She¡¯s likely hiding in shame, Elena. Or she¡¯s left the territory entirely. She has no resources left.¡±


    ¡°Desperation is a resource<b>,</b>¡± I countered softly. ¡°And she has plenty of that.¡±


    Before Deacon could respond, a sharp knock echoed on the study door. It waste for visitors. We exchanged a look¨Cthe kind thatmunicated a shared alertness.


    <b>¡°</b>Come in,¡± Deaconmanded.


    1


    The door opened, revealing Sir Kaelen, the head of <b>the </b>Royal Investigation Unit. He didn¡¯t look happy. He held a thick folder in his hand, his expression grim.


    <b>¡°</b>Your Highness<b>,</b>¡± Kaelen bowed curtly. ¡°Forgive the intrusion at this hour, but new evidence hase to light regarding the poisoning of the Alpha heir of Ironw Pack, Rafael.¡±


    My heart hammered against my ribs <b>at </b>the name of my nephew. I stood up instantly. ¡°You found something?¡±


    Kaelen stepped forward, cing the folder on the desk and sliding it open. Inside were grainy surveince photos and a bank


    statement.


    ¡°We finally cracked the encryption on the burner phone we found among the things confiscated from Glenda¡¯s room after she left,¡± Kaelen exined, pointing to a photo of a hooded figure entering a run¨Cdown shop. ¡°We traced a series of messages to a ck¨Cmarket in the lower Districts, a ce known for dealing in banned goods, especially illegal drugs.¡±


    I leaned in, studying the photo. The figure was wearing a cloak, but <b>the </b>shoes¡­. Those gaudy, red¨Cbottomed designer heels were


    unmistakable.


    Chpter 181


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    ¡°She bought ¡®Nightshade extract¡®,¡± Kaelen continued, his voice grave. ¡°It¡¯s a slow¨Cacting neurotoxin. The chemical signature. matches the toxin we found in Rafael¡¯s blood perfectly. We also found a transaction record. She sold a diamond ne, one gifted to her by Alpha Bryson two years ago, to pay for it.¡±


    The room seemed to cool. Proof. We finally had undeniable, physical proof. It wasn¡¯t just a rivalry anymore; it wasn¡¯t just petty sabotage.


    ¡°She tried to kill a child,¡± Deacon said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. The air around him began to vibrate with the sheer force of his aura. ¡°She tried to murder a child under my protection to frame my mate.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness,¡± Kaelen confirmed. ¡°This moves beyond packw. This is a crime against the Crown.¡±


    Deacon didn¡¯t hesitate. He looked at Kaelen with eyes of molten gold. ¡°Issue the warrant. Immediate arrest. The charge is attempted assassination of a Royal Ward and High Treason.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already being drawn up, Your Highness,¡± Kaelen nodded. ¡°But there is aplication.¡±


    ¡°Whatplication?¡± I asked, a cold dread settling in my stomach.


    ¡°We sent a retrieval team to the motel on the outskirts of the city where she wasst spotted after the wedding,¡± Kaelen said, pulling out a second report. ¡°The room was empty. But we found signs of a struggle. Not with others, but¡­ erratic behaviour. Writing on the walls. Shredded clothes.¡±


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Deacon demanded.


    ¡°She¡¯s gone underground,¡± Kaelen admitted. ¡°She¡¯s not using her identity anymore. Our trackers suggest she¡¯s moved into the Slums¨Cthe rogue territories beneath the city infrastructure. It¡¯s a maze down there, Sire. If she¡¯s hiding with the rogues, she could be anywhere.¡±


    I sank back into my chair, the ¡°bad feeling¡± I¡¯d had all evening crystallising into a terrifying reality. Glenda wasn¡¯t just a disgraced ex¨Cmistress anymore. She was a fugitive. A fugitive with nothing left to lose, hiding in the darkest corners of our world, likely plotting her final act of revenge.


    ¡°Find her,¡± Deacon growled, hismand shaking the ss of water on the desk. ¡°Turn the Slums upside down if you have to. Mobilise the Royal Guard. Put a bounty on her head. I want her found before she decides to resurface.¡±


    ¡°At once, Prince Deacon.¡± Kaelen bowed and exited swiftly, the folder leaving a heavy weight in his wake..


    Deacon turned to me, his anger shifting into protective concern. He pulled me out of the chair and into his arms, holding me tight. ¡°She won¡¯t get near you, Elena. Or Rafael. I promise you.¡±


    I buried my face in his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. ¡°She¡¯s cornered, Deacon. A cornered animal is the most dangerous kind. She knows it¡¯s over. She knows there¡¯s a warrant. She¡¯s not running to escape anymore.¡±


    ¡°Then what is she doing?¡±


    I looked up at him, my eyes hard. ¡°She¡¯s preparing for war.¡±


    The hunt had begun. For all we knew, Glenda would just be around, and closer than we think, watching and nning, waiting for the moment we blinked. And this time, she wouldn¡¯t being with a muddy dress and shouting; she would being with


    <b>a </b>de.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 184

    Elena¡¯s POV


    What happened at the wedding and these new findings really brought the kingdom into a high alert, especially after the issuance of the arrest for Glenda¡¯s crime.


    Tension filled the surroundings of the entire kingdom and not just the pce. Even the garden that usually felt peaceful carried a smell of steel and danger from the constantly rounding guards.


    They patrolled every corridor, their faces grim masks of duty. While the world outside debated the scandal of Glenda¡¯s fall, inside these walls, we were preparing for a siege that could happen at any time.


    I walked down the hallway leading to the family wing, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. My mind was still racing with Kaelen¡¯s report about the posion¡­ Nightshade extract. Glenda went too far. She hadn¡¯t just bullied Rafael, she intentionally wanted to kill him, and that thought made bile rise in my throat.


    I found Rafael not in his yroom, but sitting on the window seat in the library nook of the room<b>, </b>his knees pulled up to his chest. He was staring out at the garden, watching the extra patrols march by. He looked so small against the vastness of the window, a fragile bird in a storm.


    ¡°Raf?¡± I called out softly, just enough to get his attention but joy startled him.


    He turned his head slowly and I met his glistening wide eyes shadowed with a fear no child should have to carry.


    ¡°Auntie?¡± he whispered. ¡°Is¡­ is that baddying back?¡±


    I could see the trauma in his eyes. Who could me him though, he just barely recovered from what happened to him and Glenda was already there making him suffer.


    And that¡¯s all because of me.


    My heart clenched in guilt and anger. We had tried not to tell him what¡¯s happening, but after living alone in that forest, even though he¡¯s a child his instinct sure developed fast.


    There¡¯s no doubt he already got the hint from how tight the security had be and how people whispered around.


    I walked over and sat beside him, pulling him into my side. ¡°No, sweetie. She¡¯s noting here. Uncle Deacon and the guards are making sure of that.¡±


    ¡°I heard the maids talking,¡± he admitted, his voice trembling. ¡°They said she¡¯s hiding. They said she¡¯s the one who made me


    sick before.¡±


    I stiffened, and made a mental note to talk to the staff about discretion, but Rafael needed honesty right now. ¡°Yes, Raf. She did. But we know now. And because we know, she can¡¯t trick us again<b>.</b>¡±


    He looked down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± he confessed, a tear slipping down his cheek. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be sick again. I don¡¯t want to be weak.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to be scared,¡± I soothed, kissing the top <b>of </b>his head. ¡°Bravery isn¡¯t about not being scared, Raf. It¡¯s about being scared and keeping going anyway.¡±


    He sat in silence for a moment, processing this. Then, he wiped his face with the back of his hand, a look of determination hardening his young features. He hopped off the window seat.


    ¡°Where is Uncle Deacon?¡± he asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s in the training hall,¡± I replied, surprised by the sudden shift in his demeanor. ¡°Why?¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I need to talk to him.¡±


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    He didn¡¯t wait for me to lead the way. He marched out of the library with a purpose that looked almostical on his small frame, but I didn¡¯tugh. I followed him, curious and anxious.


    We reached the training hall, and the sound of heavy impacts echoed through the double doors. Inside, Deacon was working off his frustration on a heavy bag. He was shirtless, sweat glistening on his skin, his movements a blur of terrifying power. Each punch sounded like a crack of thunder.


    Rafael hesitated at the door, awestruck and intimidated by the sheer violence of Deacon¡¯s strength. Deacon must have scented us because he stopped mid¨Cswing, catching the heavy bag with one hand to silence it. He turned, his chest heaving slightly, his expression instantly softening when he saw the boy.


    ¡°Rafael,¡± Deacon said, grabbing a towel to wipe his face. ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    Rafael took a step forward, his hands balled into fists at his sides.


    ¡°You¡¯re strong,¡± he said in awe. It wasn¡¯t a question.


    Deacon walked over, kneeling so he was at eye level with the boy. ¡°I have to be. To protect the kingdom. To protect you and Elena.¡±


    ¡°I want to be strong too,¡± Rafael said, his voice shaking but loud in the cavernous room. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hide in the library. I don¡¯t want the baddy to hurt me. I want¡­ I want to be like you.¡±


    I watched from the doorway, my hand covering my mouth to stifle a gasp. The bond between them had been growing for months, but this was different. This was Rafael choosing Deacon as his father figure, his protector, and his role model.


    Deacon went still. He looked at Rafael with an intensity that would have made a grown man flinch, but Rafael held his gaze.


    ¡°Strength is a heavy burden, little pup,¡± Deacon said seriously. ¡°It means you have to protect others, even when you¡¯re afraid.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Rafael nodded. ¡°Teach me? Please?¡±


    Deacon smiled then, a genuine, proud smile that lit up his face. He stood up and tossed the towel aside. ¡°Okay. But we start with the basics. No punching yet. First, you have to learn how to stand.¡±


    Rafael¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Okay!¡±


    ¡°Feet shoulder¨Cwidth apart,¡± Deacon instructed, gently nudging Rafael¡¯s feet into position with his own. ¡°Knees bent slightly. Lower your centre of gravity. You can¡¯t fight if you fall over.¡±


    I leaned against the doorframe, watching as the Alpha King, the most feared wolf in the kingdom, spent the next hour patiently correcting the stance of a seven¨Cyear¨Cold boy.


    ¡°Hands up,¡± Deaconmanded gently, tapping Rafael¡¯s chin. ¡°Protect your head. Always protect your head.¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Rafael asked, mimicking Deacon¡¯s guard.


    ¡°Exactly like that,¡± Deacon praised. ¡°Good. Now, when I push you, don¡¯t step back. Brace yourself. Use the ground.¡±


    Deacon pressed his hand against Rafael¡¯s shoulder, applying the slightest bit of pressure. Rafael wobbled but gritted his teeth and pushed back, holding his ground.


    ¡°I did it!¡± Rafael cheered, beaming.


    ¡°You did,¡± Deacon agreed, ruffling the boy¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯re a natural warrior, Raf.¡±


    As I watched them, the fear of Glenda and the warrant faded into the background. Let her hide in the slums. Let her plot. She had no idea what she was up against. She was fighting for revenge, fueled by hate.


    We were fighting for our families. And looking at the two of the, the Prince and my nephew who wanted to be just like him, I knew that was a strength Glenda could never defeat


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 185

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The days following Rafael¡¯s first training session settled into a strange, dichotomous rhythm. On one hand, the pce was a fortress on high alert. The hunt for Glenda was still ongoing.


    Day and night, Kaelen¡¯s men were going all over the ce, searching every nook of the pce, even the slums and bordends.


    But despite the tension among the facilitators of security, the pce was still joyfully busy as they prepared for Deacon and I¡¯s wedding two days from now.


    It felt surreal how we live in between a foreboding battle and a wedding.


    With the help of staff and hardworking team members, the final preparations were officiallypleted the day after.


    The reception hall had turned into a ballroom with gold and purple decorations. The menu list of all our favorites from fancy to usual meals were finalized and so we¡¯re the guest list that¡¯s been double checked by the security.


    In the wardrobe, my wedding dress hangs, radiating a magical and warm feeling.


    ¡°Everything is ready, Princess. There¡¯s literally nothing for you to worry about by breathing,¡± Zara joked as she closed her


    tablet with satisfaction.


    I nodded and thanked her before leaving, with one thing in my mind.


    There was one thing left. One errand that didn¡¯t appear on any official checklist.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Deacon asked, meeting me at the doorstep of the main door.


    He¡¯s wearing a ck suit and cut his bristles, looking clean and sharp.


    ¡°I am,¡± I replied, picking up the small bouquet of white lilies I had arranged myself. ¡°Thank you for doing this with me. I know it¡¯s a risk leaving thepound.¡±


    ¡°For this?¡± Deacon stepped closer, smoothing a stray hair from my forehead. ¡°I would cross a battlefield for this.¡±


    We took an unmarked ck SUV, driving without a motorcade to avoid drawing attention. The drive to the city cemetery was quiet. The sky was a bruised purple, heavy with clouds that promised rainter in the evening, but for now, the air was still. It felt like the world was holding its breath.


    The cemetery was located on a hill overlooking the older part of the city. It was peaceful here, far removed from the politics of the pack and the intrigue of the court. We walked hand in hand along the gravel path, the crunch of our footsteps the only sound breaking the silence. Guards fanned out in the distance, giving us a wide berth to ensure privacy while maintaining a protective perimeter.


    We stopped in front of two modest headstones made of grey granite. Moss had begun to im the corners, softening the edges.


    Here lies a great Alpha and Luna. Beloved Parents.


    My throat tightened. It had been months since I visited. Life had been moving so fast, bing a Princess, fighting Bryson, dealing with Glenda, adopting Rafael¡­ It¡¯s all too fast that I had almost forgotten to pause and look back at where I came from.


    ¡°Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,¡± I whispered, my voice thick.


    I knelt down, brushing away a few fallen autumn leaves from the base of the stones beforeying the white lilies against the cold earth.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I haven¡¯t been here in a while,¡± I continued, tracing the letters of my mother¡¯s name ¡°A lot has happened. You wouldn¡¯t believe it if I told you. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m getting married. Again.¡±


    +25 Bonus


    I let out a wet, shakyugh. ¡°But this time, it¡¯s real. This time, I¡¯m not trying to earn love. I¡¯m just¡­ loved.¡±


    I felt Deacon¡¯s presence behind me, a solid wall of warmth. He ced his hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. He didn¡¯t rush me. He didn¡¯t speak. He just stood witness to my grief and my joy.


    ¡°I wanted to invite you,¡± I said, tears finally spilling over. ¡°I know you can¡¯t be there. But I needed you to know. I¡¯m happy, Dad. I¡¯m finally safe. I found someone who looks at me the way you used to look at Mom.¡±


    I stood up, wiping my cheeks, and turned to Deacon. ¡°Deacon, as you already know these are my parents.¡±


    Deacon didn¡¯t just nod. He stepped forward, standing beside me with a solemn respect that took my breath away. He looked at the headstones not as rocks, but as the people who had created the woman he loved.


    And I also knew he had great respect for them. After all, my father was one of his teachers in martial arts.


    ¡°It is an honor to see you both again,¡± Deacon said, his voice deep and resonant in the quiet air. He spoke to them directly, as if they were standing right there. ¡°Whereever you are, be rest assured that I¡¯ll take care of your precious daughter the way you did and cherish her for the rest of my life.¡±


    He reached out and took my hand, intecing our fingers tight.


    ¡°I promise you,¡± he vowed to the silent graves, ¡°that I will protect her with my life. I will cherish her every day that I draw breath. She will never be alone again. You raised a queen, and I intend to treat her as one.¡±


    The wind picked up, rustling the trees overhead, sending a shower of golden leaves drifting down around us. It felt like ant answer. A blessing.


    I leaned my head against Deacon¡¯s arm, feeling a profound sense of peace settle over me. The anxiety about the wedding, the fear of Glenda, the pressure of the crown¡­ it all faded for a moment.


    ¡°Do you think they approve?¡± I asked softly.


    Deacon looked down at me, his golden eyes soft. ¡°How could they not? They wanted you to be happy, Elena. And you are.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± I agreed. ¡°I really am.¡±


    We stood there for who knew how long, just feeling the peace and watching the sun sets and the sky turn into a masterpiece of shades of red and orange.


    A storm was about toe, and I meant literally. It would be without a doubt that Glenda would take her revenge.


    But for now, I didn¡¯t feel afraid. I felt a surge of determination and hope within me.


    Together we could do everything.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Deacon said softly, sensing the temperature drop. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. We have a wedding to get to.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I smiled, squeezing his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    As we walked back toward the car, the first drop of rain fell, cool against my cheek. I didn¡¯t wipe it away. I felt like I had been reborn again.


    The old Elena, the rejected mate, the orphan, was gone. And as the car door closed, sealing us in together, I knew I was ready for whatever came next.


    <i>2/3 </i>


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 186

    Chapter <b>186 </b>


    <b>Elena¡¯s </b>POV


    The next morning<b>, </b>beautiful chaos had begun.


    The sun was shining brightly, <b>the </b>garden bloomed with flowers. It¡¯s like everything wasing to ces and blessing our wedding day.


    Inside <b>the </b>fitting room<b>, </b>the air was thick with the scent ofvender and hairspray. My team of stylists moved around me <b>in </b>a synchronized dance, but for once, the chaos didn¡¯t make me anxious. I sat in front of the vanity, staring at my reflection, but I didn¡¯t see the frightened girl who had been rejected by Bryson. I saw a woman who had walked through fire and came out holding the me.


    ¡°Stop fidgeting, Primcess<b>,</b>¡± Zara teased gently, cing the final pin in my hair. ¡°You¡¯re going <b>to </b>ruin the masterpiece.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m not fidgeting,¡± I smiled, my hands resting on the cool silk of my dressing gown<b>. </b><b>¡°</b>I¡¯m shaking.¡±


    ¡°Good shaking?¡±


    ¡°The best kind.¡±


    Then<b>, </b>it was time for the dress. Its silky fabric glides through my skin and it¡¯s a hundred times better after it was customised, refitted, and polishedpared to the first time I tried it on.


    When they said they¡¯ll make it better, they weren¡¯t lying. I felt and looked like a princess more than ever.


    Once <b>I </b>was done changing, I stepped out from behind the changing screen, the room went silent. Zara<b>, </b>usually never at a loss for words, pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes shimmering.


    ¡°Oh, Princesa,¡± she whispered. ¡°The prince is going to forget his own name.¡±


    A soft knock on the door broke the spell. The heavy wood creaked open, and a small figure stepped inside.


    It¡¯s Rafael.


    He was dressed in a miniature version of the Royal Guard ceremonial uniform,plete with a small gold sash. He looked incredibly handsome and incredibly serious. He had taken his role as my escort very seriously.


    <b>¡°</b>Wow,<b>¡± </b>he breathed, his eyes widening as he looked up at me. ¡°You look like a fairy queen.¡±


    I knelt down, ignoring the stylists¡® gasps of protest as the expensive fabric pooled on the floor. I took Rafael¡¯s small hands in mine. ¡°And you look like a prince<b>, </b>Raf. Are you ready to walk me?¡±


    He nodded solemnly. ¡°Uncle Deacon said I have to be strong so you don¡¯t trip.¡±


    Iughed, blinking back tears. ¡°Then I know I¡¯m safe.¡±


    The ride to the wedding hall was a blur of cheering crowds lining the streets. They threw flower petals at the car, chanting our names. It seemed the entire Kingdom had turned out to witness the union of the Prince/God of war and the woman who had captured his heart.


    When the massive oak doors of the wedding swung open<b>, </b><b>the </b>sound of the organ swelled, vibrating deep in my chest. The scent <b>of </b>thousands of white daisies blooms rushed toward me.


    I took a deep breath, hooked my arm through Rafael¡¯s, and stepped into the light.


    The walk down the aisle felt like walking through a dream. I saw faces <b>I </b>recognized¨Cpack leaders, foreign dignitaries, old friends, and of course, the king and the rest of the Royal Family. But they were all a blur. My world narrowed down to the man standing at the altar.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    Deacon.


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    He stood with the posture of a warrior and the grace of a prince. He was wearing his formal dress uniform, the medals gleaming on his chest, a ck velvet cape draped over one shoulder. But it was his face that undid me.


    As our eyes locked, I saw hisposure crack. The prince and the most feared general warrior, the man who made enemies tremble with a growl, looked as if he had just been struck by lightning. His golden eyes were wide, filled with a raw<b>, </b>reverence that made my knees weak. He didn¡¯t just look at me with love; he looked at me as if I were the only thing that tethered him to the earth.


    Rafael marched me up the steps with perfect precision. When we reached the altar, Deacon stepped forward. He didn¡¯t look at the priest; he looked down at Rafael.


    ¡°Thank you, soldier,¡± Deacon said softly, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here.¡±


    Rafael beamed, puffing out his chest before stepping to the side to stand next to the best man, Sir Kaelen.


    Deacon took my hand. His palm was warm, his grip firm. ¡°Elena,¡± he whispered, as if testing the reality of the moment. ¡°You are ¡­ magnificent.¡±


    ¡°You clean up alright yourself,¡± I managed to whisper back, my voice trembling.


    The ceremony was traditional, steeped in the ancient rites of the werewolf kings, but when it came time for the vows, the script was abandoned.


    Deacon held both my hands, his thumbs brushing over my knuckles. The silence in the Cathedral was absolute.


    ¡°Elena,¡± he began, his voice ringing clear and true. ¡°I had spent my entire life training and preparing for war to protect my people. My entire life, it¡¯s all about blood and fist. I never thought I¡¯d see the rainbow until you came into my life and jumped down on that tree when we were young.¡±


    My eyes widened in shock and my hold on him tightened.


    When we were young¡­ Now, I remember. Yes¡­ we had seen each other before. Back when my father was training him.


    Has he liked me since then?


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>once asked for your hand but didn¡¯t seed and I thought that would be the end. But the moon goddess had another n because here you are now.¡±


    Asked for my hand? When? Where? How? Howe I didn¡¯t know about it?


    Raising my hand hended a soft kiss on it. ¡°Elena, I vow to you that I¡¯ll honor our marriage for the rest of our lives and build a world worthy of you. My past was yours and so is my today and my tomorrows.¡±


    Tears streamed down my face as warmth touched not just my heart but my entire soul.


    My cries were probably ruining my makeup but who cares<b>? </b>


    I steadied my breath and regained my strength as I did my vows.


    ¡°Deacon. I spent years thinking I wasn¡¯t enough but you showed how I was worth everything in the world. You didn¡¯t just give me a crown<b>, </b>but you showed me that I could be loved for who I am. You have been my safe haven and I promise to stand by your side, loving and cherishing you.¡±


    The facilitator smiled, raising his hands. ¡°Do you, Deacon, take Elena to be yourwfully wedded wife and Princess<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I do,¡± Deacon answered instantly.


    ¡°And do you, Elena, take Deacon to be yourwfully wedded husband and King?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    ¡°Then, by the power vested in me by the Moon Goddess and the Laws of this Kingdom, I pronounce you bonded for life. You may kiss your bride<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>Deacon </b>didn¡¯t wait. He cupped my face in his hands and lowered his lips to mine. The kiss wasn¡¯t tentative. It was a seal. It was passionate<b>, </b>possessive, and filled with a promise of forever.


    The hall erupted with cheers and apuse in an instant, filling the entire ce.


    ¡°I love you, Elena.¡±


    My heart pounded. It¡¯s real. We¡¯re not just business partners in an arrange marriage. We¡¯re a couple.


    And to think about it. I think we have never been just a partner. We¡¯ve always been a couple.


    With a sweet smile, I reciprocated. ¡°I love you too, Deacon.¡±


    With that<b>, </b>we turned back to face the crowd with our hands interlocked, watching the admiration and blessing in the crowd¡¯s smiles, including the King¡¯s.


    In that moment, I felt peace and a sense ofpletion I never felt before.


    <b>It¡¯s </b>like¡­ we¡¯ve passed the storm.


    Or so I thought.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 187

    The transition from the solemn sanctity of the wedding hall to the reception at the Royal Pce was like stepping from a dream into a festival. The drive back had been a blur of cheering crowds lining the streets, waving their hands as they called and cheering for us.


    But it was only when the heavy doors of the Grand Ballroom swung open that the reality of the celebration truly hit me.


    The ballroom was a masterpiece of light and sound. The high vaulted ceilings were draped in swathes of gold and purple silk, and thousands of fairy lights had been strung between the crystal chandeliers, creating the illusion of a starry night sky indoors. Tables groaned under the weight of a feast fit, roasted boar, towers of fresh fruit, fountains of chocte and champagne.


    ¡°Ready?<b>¡± </b>Deacon asked, his hand warm and reassuring on the small of my back.


    ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be,¡± I smiled, tightening my grip on his hand.


    ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen!¡± the guard announced, his voice booming over the hum of conversation. ¡°Please wee, for the first time as husband and wife, Prince Deacon and Princess Elena!¡±


    The room erupted. The apuse was a physical wave, washing over us as we descended the grand staircase. Every head turned, every face smiling. It was intoxicating.


    But beneath the joy, beneath the music and theughter, my senses were dialed to a razor¡¯s edge. I saw the waiters moving through the crowd, looking too efficient, and too watchful. I saw the guests near the exits, standing a little straighter than


    necessary.


    Deacon had kept his promise. The security was tight. Half the ¡°staff¡± were actually the Royal Guards in disguise. Kaelen stood near the orchestra pit, dressed in a tuxedo that couldn¡¯t quite hide the bulk of his earpiece and the lethal alertness in his eyes.


    ¡°Rx,¡± Deacon whispered against my ear, guiding me onto the polished marble floor. ¡°We are safe. Kaelen has the perimeter locked down tighter than ever.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I breathed, letting my tensed shoulder drop a little, but continued, ¡°I just¡­ I can¡¯t help but have this feeling she¡¯ll pop out of nowhere at any time like some pop cake or whatever.¡±


    Deacon chuckled, a low, dark sound. ¡°If she does, she¡¯ll be the shortest¨Clived dessert in history¡±


    I narrowed my eyes on him butughed nevertheless.


    The orchestra then started another tune. It was a slow, and hauntingly beautiful waltz. In an instant, the crowd parted, creating a wide circle for us in the center of the room<b>. </b>


    ¡°May I have this dance, my Princess?¡± Deacon asked, bowing formally.


    ¡°You may, my Prince,¡± I replied, curtseying as best I could in the heavy gown.


    He pulled me close, his hand firm on my waist, and we began to move. For a moment, the hundreds of watching eyes vanished. The threat of Glenda vanished. There was only the warmth of his chest, the scent of his cologne¨Csandalwood and rain and the steady rhythm of our hearts beating in sync.


    ¡°You are beautiful,¡± he murmured, spinning me gently. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve told you enough today,¡±


    ¡°You told me at the wedding,¡± I teased, looking up into his golden eyes.


    ¡°That was for the public,¡± he said, his gaze intense. ¡°This is for you. I am in awe of you, Elena. Every single day.¡±


    As we danced, I rted my head against his chest and felt the beat of his fast and pounding heart that synchronized mine. At this moment<b>, </b>it¡¯s like we¡¯re the only ones in the world.


    +25 Bonus


    And as the song ended, so was the spell of the romantic magic we were in. Smiling, we separated from each other and let the other guest join the dance floor.


    Just like that, all my tension eased up. Maybe I was just really overthinking things out. Maybe Glenda heard about her warrant and flew already.


    We made our rounds, epting congrattions, shaking hands, and navigating the sea of well¨Cwishers. It was exhausting but wonderful.


    Then, I saw him.


    Near the back of the room, standing by one of the open balcony doors, was Bryson.


    He wasn¡¯t part of the main crowd. He stood alone, holding a ss of whiskey that looked untouched. He wasn¡¯t looking at me with the desperate longing he had shown at his own wedding, nor the pathetic pleading of the reception. He just looked¡­ hollow.


    He was watching Deaconugh with a group of other Alphas. He was watching the way the room seemed to bend around us. He was watching the life he could have had, had he not been blinded by arrogance.


    I excused myself away from them and walked toward Bryson. But not to gloat or fight, but because, strangely, I felt a need to close the bookpletely.


    When I arrived he stiffened at his ce and nervously straightened his crooked tie. With a bit lower of head, he greeted formally for the first time, ¡°Princess.¡±


    ¡°Bryson,¡± I acknowledged while still keeping a respectful distance. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you came.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I wasn¡¯t going to,¡± he admitted, looking down at his shoes. ¡°But I felt I owed it to you. To witness it.¡±


    He looked up, and his eyes were clear for the first time in years. ¡°He looks at you like you¡¯re the sun, Elena.¡±


    ¡°He does,¡± I agreed softly.


    ¡°I never looked at you like that,¡± Bryson said, the admission heavy with regret. ¡°I was too busy looking at myself.¡±


    He raised his ss slightly in a toast. ¡°You deserve this. All of it. I just wanted to say¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Not for forgiveness. Just¡­ so you know<i>.</i>¡±


    I studied him. The anger I had carried for so long was gone<b>. </b>The hurt was gone. There was just a quiet, dull pity for the man who had thrown away a diamond to pick up a stone,


    ¡°Thank you, Bryson,¡± I said. ¡°I hope you find peace.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I will,¡± he replied honestly. ¡°But I won¡¯t cause you trouble anymore. I¡¯m leaving after the reception. Taking a sabbatical from the pack. ra can run things for a while. She¡¯s better at it anyway.¡±


    He bowed again, deeper this time, and turned to walk out onto the balcony, disappearing into the shadows of the night.


    I took a deep breath, feeling lighter. It was truly over.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    Kaelen appeared at my elbow, startling me. He wasn¡¯t looking at Bryson; he was looking at his earpiece, frowning


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, turning to him. ¡°Just saying goodbye to a ghost. Is everything okay, Kaelen?¡±


    Kaelen pressed a finger to his ear, his expression hardening. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Princess. We just lost contact with the South Gate patrol. It¡¯s probably just interference from the stormst night, but I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    My stomach dropped. The lightness I had felt seconds ago evaporated. ¡°The South Gate? That¡¯s the service entrance.<b>¡± </b>


    978


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°Stay here,¡± Kaelenmanded, his hand dropping to the weapon concealed under his jacket. ¡°Do not leave the ballroom. I¡¯m going to check it out.¡±


    He moved away, melting into the crowd with terrifying speed. I looked across the room for Deacon. He was stillughing, holding a ss of champagne, unaware that the air had just shifted.


    The music was still ying. The guests were still dancing. But as I looked toward the heavy service doors at the far end of the hall, the hair on my arms stood up.


    The calm was over, and the storm had arrived.


    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 188

    ¡®s POV


    For a moment, I stood frozen, heart pounding while I stared at where Kaelen disappeared into.


    No one was alerted about what¡¯s happening, at least<b>, </b>none of the guests. The music continued and so did those who were dancing on the floor and the cheerfulness on their faces remained.


    But with the cold dread polling in my guts, theughter around me sounded shrill and the clicking of sses sounded like warning bells.


    South gate and lost contact¡­ Kaelen¡¯s words echoed in my head.


    I scanned the room, my heart hammering against the ribs of my corset. Deacon was still across the floor<b>, </b>surrounded by three Council members. He threw his head back andughed at something one of them said, looking radiant and rxed. He didn¡¯t


    know yet.


    I had to get to him.


    I gathered the heavy silk of my skirt in one hand and began to move. I didn¡¯t run though, because running would only cause unnecessary panic, but I still walked with a lethal purpose, weaving through the couples on the dance floor.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I murmured, sidestepping a spinning Duchess. ¡°Pardon me.¡±


    I was ten feet away from Deacon when our eyes met. His smile faltered instantly. He saw the tension in my jaw, the wideness of my eyes. His instincts, sharpened by years of war, snapped into ce before I even opened my mouth. He set his ss down on a passing tray without looking at it and started moving toward me.


    And then, the world ended.


    There was no flicker or any warning hum. One second, the ballroom was bathed in the warm, golden glow of a thousand fairy lights and crystal chandeliers. The next, it was plunged into absolute, suffocating darkness.


    The music died with a discordant screech as the electric instruments lost power.


    For a singr, terrifying second, there was total silence. The kind of silence that happens when hundreds of people hold their


    breath at the same time.


    Then, chaos erupted.


    Screams pierced the air. Confused shouts echoed off the ceilings. And then¡­ the darkness became so heavy and disorienting.


    ¡°Deacon!¡± I screamed, reaching out into space.


    ¡°Elena! Stay where you are!¡± His voice boomed through the ckness, amand that vibrated in my bones, cutting through the rising panic of <b>the </b>crowd.


    A red glow bathed the room as the emergency lights flickered on<b>, </b>and a dim, blood¨Ccolored beam that cast long, monstrous shadows against the walls. They were barely enough to see by, turning the elegant guests into terrified silhouettes.


    And then a loud sound echoed.


    The sound of shattering ss was deafening. It didn¡¯te from a dropped ss. Rather, it came from the massive floor¨Cto- ceiling windows lining the east wall.


    ¡°We are under attack!¡± Kaelen¡¯s voice roared over thems, though I could hear him shouting from the perimeter. ¡°Secure the exits! Protect the King, and the Royal Family!¡±


    Through the broken windows, shapes poured in. They weren¡¯t dressed in the finery of the wedding guests. They were ragged, dirty, and moved with the desperation of starving animals. Rogues. Dozens of them. They scrambled over the window ledges,


    Copter


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    their eyes glowing yellow and red in the dim light<b>, </b>snarling as theynded on the polished marble floor.


    ¡°Defend!¡± Deacon roared.


    The sound of shifting bones filled the room. The Royal Guards, who had been disguised as waiters and guests, tore through their formal wear, shifting into their massive wolf forms within seconds.


    The ballroom turned into a battlefield.


    I was shoved hard from behind by a fleeing guest. I stumbled, my heavy dress tangling around my legs, and fell to my knees. A table overturned next to me, sending a cascade of silverware and crystal crashing down.


    ¡°Get up, Elena!¡±


    I scrambled to my feet, my hand closing around the handle of a heavy silver steak knife that had fallen from the table. It wasn¡¯t a sword, but it was sharp.


    ¡°Rafael,¡± I gasped, my blood running cold. ¡°Where is Rafael?¡±


    I looked toward the front of the room where I hadst seen him with the flower girls. The area was a swarm of fighting bodies. A massive grey rogue had tackled a guard, their jaws snapping inches from a group of terrified nobles huddled in the corner.


    ¡°Elena!¡±


    A hand grabbed my arm. I spun around, raising the knife, but it was Deacon. He was still in human form, his eyes glowing a furious, molten gold. His suit jacket was gone, his shirt ripped at the shoulder.


    ¡°I have you,¡± he growled, pulling me into his chest. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°Rafael,¡± I choked out. ¡°Deacon, where is he?¡±


    ¡°Kaelen has him,¡± Deacon promised, though his eyes darted around the room, assessing threats with terrifying speed. ¡°He¡¯s in the safe room. I saw Kaelen grab him the moment the lights went.¡±


    Relief washed over me, nearly buckling my knees, but I forced myself to stand tall. ¡°Glenda,¡± I hissed. ¡°This is her.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deacon agreed, his voice vibrating with a lethal rage. ¡°These are mercenaries. Low¨Clevel rogues paid to cause chaos.¡±


    As if on cue, a fresh wave of attackers breached the main double doors. They weren¡¯t just chaotic rogues this time; these were armed. Men and women in tactical gear<b>, </b>carrying stun batons and wolfsbaneced des. They moved with coordination.


    And behind them, striding through the ruined doors like a conqueror iming a fallen city, was a figure cloaked in a tattered,


    dark hood.


    She stopped at the top of the grand staircase, looking down at the screaming guests, the fighting wolves, the ruined wedding feast. She pulled back her hood.


    It was Glenda.


    But she looked nothing like the woman who had crashed the wedding in a muddy dress. She looked gaunt, her cheekbones sharp enough to cut, her eyes wild with a drug¨Cfueled mania. She held a modified tranquilizer gun in one hand, and she was smiling. A wide, unhinged smile that made her look demonic in the red emergency lighting.


    ¡°Happy Wedding Day!¡± she shrieked, her voice shrill and echoing over the sounds of battle.


    Deacon pushed me behind him, his body shielding minepletely. A low, thunderous growl built in his chest.


    ¡±


    ¡°Glenda!¡± Deacon roared, the sound shaking the remaining ss in the window frames. ¡°Call them off, and I might let you live!


    Glendaughed. It was a broken, jagged sound. ¡°Live?¡± she cackled, leveling the gun at us. ¡°I don¡¯t want to live, Deacon! I just


    want to make sure you don¡¯t either! If I can¡¯t be Luna, no one will be!¡±


    <b>+25 </b>Bonus


    She signaled to the mercenaries nking her. ¡°Kill the Princess! Fifty thousand credits to the one who brings me her head!¡±


    The mercenaries surged forward.


    ¡°Guards! On me!¡± Deacon bellowed.


    He didn¡¯t shift. He didn¡¯t have time. He moved with human speed that rivaled a wolf¡¯s, intercepting the first mercenary who lunged for us. Deacon caught the man¡¯s wrist, snapping the bone with a sickening crunch, and threw him into the path of another attacker.


    ¡°Elena, get back!¡± Deacon ordered, kicking a rogue in the chest hard enough to send him flying across a table.


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you!¡± I shouted, gripping my silver knife as I sliced through my wedding dress to make itfortable to fight and went on my fighting stance.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say leave,¡± Deacon snarled, grabbing a wolfsbaneced baton from a fallen mercenary and spinning it in his hand. ¡°I said get back. Watch my six.¡±


    I smirked. This is why we¡¯re the best partners. We knew none of us were weak.


    I pressed my back against his, the two of us standing in the center of the ruined ballroom<b>, </b>surrounded by enemies. My wedding dress was heavy, my heart was pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs, and the smell of blood was beginning to fill the air.


    But as I looked at the approaching shadows, I didn¡¯t feel helpless. I felt a cold, hard anger crystallize in my chest.


    Glenda wanted a war? She had just crashed the wrong wedding.


    ¡°Come and get it,¡± I whispered, tightening my grip on the silver de.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 189

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The first rogue lunged, holding a blur of tactical ck and glinting steel. He was fast, faster than most of them, but Deacon was


    faster.


    With a single and short sharp snarl I let out, Deacon understood and took a sidestep in quick dodge before he attacked back.


    Grabbing his outstretched arm, he twisted it until his bone snapped with a crack and kicked his shin, leaving him with another


    broken bone.


    Hended on his knees<b>, </b>screaming in immense pain.


    Before we finish watching his misery, another twoe our way.


    ¡°Stay behind me!¡± Deacon roared, his voice dropping into the guttural register of his wolf.


    ¡°I can¡¯t fight in this!¡± I shouted back, frustration spiking through me as I looked at my clothes. Though I already cut it<b>, </b>it wasn¡¯t


    enough.


    Without hesitation, I reached down, grabbed the delicate fabric at my mid¨Cthigh, and ripped it more. The sound of tearing silk was lost in the cacophony of screams and growls, but the freedom was instant. And followed, I kicked off my heels.


    There! Now, I could move.


    ¡°Elena, look out!¡±


    A rogue wolf, its fur matted and mangy, leaped over an overturned banquet table, jaws snapping for my throat. I didn¡¯t have time to think. I dropped to my knees, sliding across the polished floor. As the wolf jumped over me, I thrust the silver steak knife upward. It buried deep into the soft underbelly of the beast.


    The wolf yelped, crashing into a pir behind me. I scrambled back to my feet, my hands shaking, slick with hot blood that wasn¡¯t mine.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± Deacon grunted, blocking a de with his forearm, his skin hardening, shifting just enough to deflect the


    blow.


    The ballroom was a scene from a nightmare. The red emergency lights painted everything shades of violence. The air was thick with the copper tang of blood, the ozone smell of stun batons, and the acrid smoke pouring in from the shattered windows.


    Through the broken ss, I could see <b>the </b>gardens. They weren¡¯t the sanctuary of peace they had been this morning. They were burning. Glenda¡¯s forces had set fire to the hedgerows to herd the guests back inside, trapping us in the killing jar.


    ¡°Kaelen!¡± Deacon shouted into hisms, decapitating a rogue with a single swipe of his ws. ¡°Status!¡±


    ¡°We are pinned down!¡± Kaelen¡¯s voice crackled, breathless and strained. ¡°East wing corridor. They blew the safe room doors! I can¡¯t get the boy inside!¡±


    My heart stopped. The world narrowed to a pinprick of terror.


    They blew the doors.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± I screamed, grabbing Deacon¡¯s arm. ¡°Where is Rafael?¡±


    ¡°Near the ice sculptures!¡± Kaelen yelled back. ¡°I¡¯m taking heavy firel¡±


    I looked across the vast, chaotic room. <b>The </b>buffet area was a wreck. The massive ice sculpture of two wolves mating was shattered. And there, backed against the wall, was Kaelen. He was in his human form, wielding a silver sword, fighting off three rogues at once<b>. </b>


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    And behind him, tucked into the small alcove of a service entrance, was Rafael.


    He wasn¡¯t crying. He was holding a small fruit knife, his eyes wide, shaking, but standing his ground just like Deacon had taught him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to him,¡± I said.


    ¡°Elena, no!¡± Deacon grabbed my wrist, his grip bruising. ¡°It¡¯s too far. Stay here where I can protect you!¡±


    ¡°He is my nephew!¡± I screamed, pulling against his hold. ¡°I am not hiding while he fights! You handle the army, Deacon. I¡¯ll get Rafael!¡±


    Deacon looked at me. He saw the fire in my eyes, the same fire that had made him fall in love with me.


    And so, he let go.


    ¡°Go,¡± hemanded. ¡°I will clear a path.¡±


    Deacon turned to the center of the room. He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, inhaling deeply. When he opened them, they were no longer golden. They were a blinding, incandescent white.


    He threw his head back and unleashed a roar¨Cnot a scream, but a wave of pure, concentrated Lycan power. It was a physical force, a shockwave of dominance that rippled through the room.


    ¡°SUBMIT!¡±


    Themand hit the rogues like a sledgehammer. Every wolf in the room faltered, whining and dropping to their bellies, their instincts forcing them to bow to the Alpha King. Even the mercenaries stumbled, clutching their heads as the sheer pressure of his aura crushed their will.


    ¡°Run, Elena!¡±


    I took off. I sprinted through the momentary gap in the chaos, leaping over fallen bodies and debris.


    ¡°Get up, you idiots!¡± Glenda screeched from the balcony, immune to themand due to the distance and her own madness.¡± Kill her! Shoot her!¡±


    Another rogue shook off the Lycanmand, raising a crossbow. I saw him track me. I didn¡¯t stop. I slid under a table just as the bolt thudded into the wood where my head had been a second ago. I scrambled out the other side, abandoning dignity for survival.


    I reached the alcove just as a rogue shook off Deacon¡¯s influence and lunged for Kaelen¡¯s exposed back.


    ¡°Kaelen, duck!¡± I shrieked.


    The Head of the Guard didn¡¯t question me. He dropped. I didn¡¯t have a sword, but I had momentum. I crashed into the rogue, driving my elbow into its snout. The beast yelped, stunned. Kaelen surged upward, finishing it with a clean thrust of his de,


    ¡°Princess!¡± Kaelen gasped, blood streaming from a gash on his forehead. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m taking, Rafael,¡± I panted, grabbing the boy from the alcove.


    ¡°Auntie!¡± Rafael cried, burying his face in my ruined dress.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you, baby. I¡¯ve got you.¡± I scanned the room. The Lycanmand was wearing off. The sheer number of attackers was overwhelming Deacon¡¯s ability to hold them all down. He was fighting a dozen men in the center of the room, a whirlwind of violence, drawing all the attention to himself to buy us time.


    ¡°We <b>can¡¯t </b>go back to the safe room,¡± Kaelen reported, wiping his sword. ¡°The corridor has copsed. The gardens are burning. The main doors are blocked by Glenda¡¯s elite squad.¡±


    <b>913 </b>


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    ¡°Then we go up,¡± I said, looking at the service elevator behind the buffet. ¡°To the family wing. We can barricade ourselves in the armory.¡±


    ¡°The power is out,¡± Kaelen reminded me. ¡°The elevators are dead.¡±


    ¡°Then we take the stairs,¡± I said, gripping Rafael¡¯s hand so tight my knuckles turned white. ¡°Kaelen, you take points. I¡¯ll cover the rear.¡±


    ¡°Princess-¡±


    ¡°That is an order, Kaelen!¡±


    He nodded once, eyes filled with respect. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡±


    We began to move, hugging the walls. Across the room<b>, </b>Glenda spotted us. Her eyes locked onto Rafael, and a twisted, predatory grin stretched across her face. She didn¡¯t want the crown. She didn¡¯t even want Deacon anymore. She wanted to hurt me in the only way that would never heal.


    ¡°Forget the Prince!¡± Glenda screamed, pointing a jagged finger at us. ¡°Get the boy! Bring me the boy!¡±


    The horde turned. Dozens of glowing eyes shifted from Deacon to us.


    ¡°Run!¡± I yelled, scooping Rafael into my arms despite the weight.


    We hit the stairwell door just as the first wave of rogues crashed against the buffet tables behind us. Kaelen mmed the heavy metal door shut and threw the deadbolt, but the metal groaned under the impact of bodies throwing themselves against it.


    ¡°It won¡¯t hold for long,¡± Kaelen grimaced.


    <b>¡°</b>It doesn¡¯t have to,¡± I said, looking up the dark, winding staircase. ¡°It just has to hold long enough for us to get a weapon.¡±


    I looked down at Rafael. He was terrified, trembling in my arms.


    ¡°Remember what Deacon taught you?¡± I whispered, smoothing his hair.


    ¡°Stand your ground?¡± he whispered back.


    ¡°No,¡± I said as I set him down so we could climb faster. ¡°Run. Run fast, and don¡¯t look back.¡±


    With that, we began <i>to </i>climb into the darkness<b>, </b>the sound of the door hinges screaming below us, marking the beginning of


    another chase.


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 190

    Elena¡¯s POV


    The run on the stairs was heart pounding. If it was any other day, I would turn around and fight to hell but with my nephew in here, I didn¡¯t want to gamble as much as possible.


    First, I needed to make sure he was safe. Only then could I be at ease and fight.


    Suddenly, smoke filled the ballroom, slowly filling upwards to the stairs. They¡¯re making a cover.


    Without wasting time, I hauled Rafael up the steps.


    Then in utter suprise, a loud banging sound echoed in just as the door from the bottom of the stairwell was forced open, mming it against the wall with brute force.


    Even the railing shook from it.


    ¡°They¡¯re inside!¡± Kaelen barked, spinning around on thending between the third and fourth floors. He looked down into the darkness, his knife gleaming in the faint red light of the emergency exit signs.


    We could hear them. We could hear the scrabble of ws on metal, the heavy, panting breaths of wolves in pursuit. They were


    fast. Too fast.


    ¡°Keep climbing, Princess!¡± Kaelen ordered, but he didn¡¯t move to follow us. He nted his feet wide on thending, blocking the narrow path upward.


    ¡°Kaelen, no!¡± I gasped, stopping and looking back. ¡°Come with us!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t hold them off if I¡¯m running,¡± Kaelen said, his voice terrifyingly calm. He looked up at me, blood dripping from the gash on his forehead, and offered a grim, but brave warrior smile. ¡°Get the Alpha heir to the armory. Lock the door. Do not open it for anyone but the Prince.¡±


    ¡°Kaelen-¡±


    ¡°Go!¡± he roared, turning back to face the oing horde just as the first shadow leaped up the stairs.


    With Rafael in mind I nodded.


    I grabbed Rafael¡¯s hand, swallowing the scream that wanted to escape my lips, and ran. We scrambled up the final flight of stairs, bursting through the door into the Family Wing.


    This hallway was closed off. There¡¯s no window and only had warm lighting on it. But with the power outage, it became pitch ck. Thankfully, we were werewolves and could see enough to keep going.


    ¡°Auntie,¡± Rafael whimpered, his stamina finally catching up with him. ¡°My legs hurt.¡±


    ¡°I know, baby, I know<i>,</i><i>¡± </i>I whispered, scooping him up into my arms again. Thankfully, adrenaline gave me strength I didn¡¯t know I possessed. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    I sprinted down the hall, aiming for the heavy oak doors of the armory at the end of the wing. It was the most secure room on this floor, filled with antique weapons and reinforced walls.


    But as we passed the intersection leading to the guest quarters, I skidded to a halt.


    A silhouette stepped out from the shadows, blocking our path.


    It wasn¡¯t a rogue wolf.


    It was Glenda.


    She stood there, casually leaning against the wall as if she had been waiting for a bus. She had shed her heavy cloak, revealing a


    173


    Cheapar sa


    +25 Bonus


    torn cocktail dress underneath, and she held the tranquilizer gun loosely in one hand. But it was her eyes that froze my blood. In the moonlight, they lookedpletely ck, dted with a madness that had consumed her entirely.


    ¡°Going somewhere, Princess?¡± she drawled, the title dripping with venom.


    I stepped back, clutching Rafael tight to my side. ¡°How did you get up here?¡±


    ¡°Service elevator,¡± she smirked, tapping the wall panel. ¡°Did you really think I¡¯d cut the power without having a backup generator for the lifts? I knew you¡¯d run, Elena. You always run.¡±


    She took a step forward. I took a step back.


    ¡°Leave us alone, Glenda,¡± I warned, keeping my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. ¡°Deacon ising. You¡¯re trapped.¡±


    ¡°Deacon is busy ying whack¨Ca¨Cmole with fifty mercenaries,¡± sheughed, a high, jagged sound. ¡°He won¡¯t be here in time to save you. Or the brat.¡±


    She raised the gun, aiming it not at me, but squarely at Rafael¡¯s head.


    My instincts screamed. I turned and bolted to the left, kicking open the door to the nearest room, the Master Suite. It was a tactical mistake to trap myself, but I had no choice; the hallway was a killing field.


    I mmed the heavy double doors shut and threw the deadbolt just as a body collided with the wood on the other side.


    ¡°Open up!¡± Glenda shrieked, the veneer of calm shattering instantly. She pounded on the door, the sound echoing like thunder in therge bedroom. ¡°You can¡¯t hide in there forever!¡±


    I scanned the room frantically. The Master Suite was huge, with a four¨Cposter bed, a sitting area, and a balcony. But it had no other exit.


    ¡°Rafael,¡± I whispered, setting him down and pushing him toward the walk¨Cin closet. ¡°Get in the closet. Go all the way to the back, behind the coats. Do not make a sound. Do note out, no matter what you hear. Do you understand me?¡±


    ¡°Auntie, no!¡± he cried silently, grabbing my hand. ¡°I have the knife! I can help!¡±


    ¡°You help me by surviving,¡± I said fiercely, cupping his face. ¡°Go. Now!¡±


    He hesitated, a single sob escaping his throat, before he turned and ran into the closer, siting the door behind him.


    I was alone.


    I turned back to the bedroom door. The handle was rattling violently. Then, the sound of a gunshot¡­ No, the tranquilizer gun¡­ fired into the lock mechanism, and the wood splintered.


    But I didn¡¯t hide. Instead, I picked up a heavy brassmp from the bedside table, ripping the cord from the wall. I stood in the center of the room, breathing hard, waiting.


    The door was kicked open.


    Glenda stood in the doorway, backlit by the hallway gloom. She stepped inside, kicking aside the splintered wood. She looked around the room, the silk sheets, the wedding photos on the mantle, the life I had built that she so desperately coveted.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling with a childish rage. ¡°It should have been me. I was the pretty one. I was the one Bryson wanted. I was supposed to be the one with all this glory,¡±


    She leveled the gun at me.


    ¡°You were never meant to be a Luna,¡± I said softly, gripping themp. ¡°A Luma protects her people. You just want to own them.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± she screamed<b>, </b>closing the distance. ¡°You stole my litel You stole my destiny! And now, I¡¯m going to take the only


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    +25 Bonus


    thing you love more than that crown.¡±


    Her eyes darted around the room. She sniffed the air, her wolf senses tracking the scent of fear. Her gazended on the closet


    door.


    A cruel, twisted smile spread across her face.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she cooed, her voice dropping to a horrifying whisper. ¡°Hide and seek? I love this game.¡±


    She ignored mepletely, turning her back on me to walk toward the closet. She wasn¡¯t here to kill me. Not yet. She wanted to make me watch. She wanted to drag my son out and end him in front of me.


    Rage, hot and white, exploded in my chest. It wasn¡¯t the panic of a victim. It was the primal, ancient fury of a mother.


    ¡°Glenda!¡± I shouted.


    She turned, annoyed. ¡°Wait your turn, Elena. I¡¯m going to-¡±


    I didn¡¯t let her finish. I didn¡¯t wait for her to shoot. I hurled the heavy brassmp with every ounce of strength I possessed. It flew through the air, a golden blur in the moonlight.


    Glenda tried to duck, but she was too slow. The heavy base of themp clipped her shoulder, spinning her around and knocking the gun from her hand. It skittered across the floor, sliding under the bed.


    ¡°You bitch!¡± she shrieked, clutching her shoulder.


    ¡°I am done running from you,¡± I snarled, stepping between her and the closet. I had no weapon but my hands and my rage.


    And let¡¯s face it, I¡¯m stronger than her. Without the worry of having my nephew dead, she would have been long gone.


    Glenda bared her teeth, her nails elongating into ws, her eyes shifting fully to ck. She crouched, looking not like a woman, but like a monster wearing human skin.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she hissed. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you first. And then I¡¯ll take my time with the boy.¡±


    She lunged.


    I didn¡¯t flinch as my blood boiled. I braced myself, ready to show her who¡¯s the real warrior between us.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 191

    Elena¡¯s POV


    Glenda hit me with the force of a freight train.


    We collided in the center of the room, her momentum driving us both backward. The air left my lungs in a painful gasp as my back mmed against the heavy table behind me. Bottles of perfume and jewelry boxes crashed to the floor, shattering around us in a spray of ss and gold.


    I didn¡¯t have the strength of a wolf, but I had the desperation of a protector and a warrior.


    With how her strength increasedpared tost time, I¡¯d say she had already gone rogue.


    As Glenda¡¯s ws raked toward my face, I threw my weight to the side, causing her hand to bury itself in the wood of the vanity instead of my skull. Wood splinters flew. She shrieked in frustration, yanking her hand free, but that split second gave me the opening I needed.


    I drove my knee up, hard, aiming for her stomach.


    Just like how I usually used to knock Deacon in the gym during our friendly sparrings. It was messy and brutal. My knee connected with her ribs, earning a grunt of pain, but Glenda was fueled by adrenaline and whatever illicit substances she had ingested to enhance her strength. She barely stumbled.


    ¡°You think you can fight me? Maybe before but not right now,¡± she spat, her voice distorted by her shifting vocal cords. She backhanded me across the face.


    The blow sent me spinning to the floor. My vision blurred, white spots dancing in front of my eyes. I tasted copper.


    ¡°I was trained to be a Luna!¡± Glenda screamed, stalking toward me where Iy on the rug. ¡°I was born for this! You were just a charity case that got lucky!¡±


    I shook my head, clearing the dizziness. I scrambled backward on my hands and heels, putting distance between us. My eyes darted to the closet door. It was still shut. Rafael was safe. For now.


    ¡°You were trained to be a trophy, Glenda,¡± I rasped, spitting blood onto the carpet. ¡°That¡¯s why you failed. You think being a Luna is about power. It¡¯s about sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± She lunged again.


    This time, she pinned me to the floor, straddling my waist. Her weight was crushing. Her hands, tipped with razor¨Csharp ws, wrapped around my throat.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to squeeze the life out of you,¡± she hissed, leaning close. Her breath smelled acrid, chemical. Her eyes were voids of madness. ¡°And when you¡¯re dead, I¡¯m going to tell Bryson and Deacon that you begged for him at the end. I¡¯ll ruin your memory just like you ruined my life.¡±


    My airway closed. ck edges crept into my vision.


    +25 Bonus


    Don¡¯t panic.


    Deacon¡¯s voice echoed in my mind, a memory from ate¨Cnight training session weeks ago. If a wolf pins you, don¡¯t try to overpower them. You will lose. Use their arrogance against them. Wait <i>for </i>the opening.


    I wed at her wrists, feigning total panic. I let my legs thrash uselessly. Glenda smiled, feeding off my struggle, her grip tightening. She was so focused on choking me, so focused on watching the light leave my eyes, that she didn¡¯t notice my right hand sliding down to my thigh.


    Under the tattered remains of my wedding dress, strapped securely to my leg, was a gift Deacon had insisted I wear today.


    ¡°Something blue,¡± he had joked when he strapped the blue leather sheath to my thigh this morning. ¡°And something sharp. Just in case.¡±


    My fingers closed around the hilt of the weapon. It wasn¡¯t a sword. It was a tactical dagger, forged from pure, consecrated silver.


    I stopped struggling.


    Glenda frowned, confused by my sudden stillness. ¡°Giving up already?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I wheezed, my voice barely a squeak. ¡°Checkmate.¡±


    I drew the de and drove it upward with every ounce of strength I had left.


    I didn¡¯t aim for her heart because I couldn¡¯t reach it from this angle, so I aimed for the cluster of nerves and muscle in her shoulder, right where her neck met her corbone.


    The silver de sank deep.


    Glenda¡¯s scream was unearthly. It wasn¡¯t just the physical wound; silver burned werewolves like a branding iron. Smoke sizzled from the wound instantly.


    She recoiled, releasing my throat to clutch at the burning metal in her shoulder.


    I didn¡¯t wait. I bucked my hips, throwing her off bnce, and rolled out from under her. I scrambled to my feet, gasping for air, my throat burning as oxygen rushed back into my lungs.


    Glenda stumbled back, ripping the knife out of her shoulder with a wet tearing sound. She dropped the bloodied silver de <i>to </i>the <i>floor</i>, clutching the wound. The flesh around it was already turning ck and blistering.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± she gurgled, her eyes wide with shock.


    ¡°I told you,¡± I panted, backing up until I stood protectively in front of the closet door. ¡°You can¡¯t outwin me.


    She looked at the knife on the floor, then at me. The madness in her eyes swirled with sudden fear. She had expected a victim. She had found a warrior.


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± she shrieked, preparing to charge again, though her movements were slower now, favoring her left side.


    ¡°Try it,¡± I challenged, raising my fists in the stance Deacon had taught me. ¡°Come on, Glenda. Let¡¯s finish this.¡±


    She snarled, crouching low, ready to spring.


    But before she could move, the heavy double doors of the bedroom which I had deadbolted, exploded inward.


    Wood splinters rained across the room as the doors were kicked off their hinges.


    A massive, towering figure filled the doorway. He was covered in blood that wasn¡¯t his, his shirt shredded, his chest heaving. His eyes were glowing with a gold light so intense it was blinding.


    Deacon.


    He didn¡¯t look at me. He looked straight at Glenda.


    And boy his stare was deadly. Eyes gleaming with a hint of gold. It was murderous and his wolf was just as furious as he was.


    The growl that tore from his throat was so deep, so primal, that the windows in the bedroom rattled in their frames. It wasn¡¯t a warning. It was a death sentence.


    Glenda froze. For the first time all night, she looked dazed.


    ¡°You touched her,¡± Deacon said. His voice was terrifyingly quiet, devoid of all humanity. ¡°You dared to


    touch my wife.¡±


    Glenda took a step back, hitting the balcony doors. She looked from Deacon to me, and then to the knife on the floor. She realized, with dawning horror, that she wasn¡¯t the hunter anymore. She was the prey.


    I lowered my hands, my knees suddenly shaking as the adrenaline crash hit me. But I didn¡¯t fall. I stood tall, watching the woman who had caused me great pain and caused my pack¡¯s massacre shrink away from the retribution she had earned.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, Glenda,¡± I whispered.


    <b>? </b>


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 192

    The silence in the room that followed was heavier than the door Deacon had just kicked off its hinges.


    It was suffocating, like there¡¯s a vacuum sucking the air out of the room, leaving only the sound of Glenda¡¯s ragged, panicked breathing and the low, subsonic vibration of Deacon¡¯s growl.


    Glenda was backed against the ss of the balcony doors, clutching her bleeding shoulder. The madness that had fueled her rampage was flickering, reced by the terror of a predator realising it had stumbled into the den of a muchrger beast.


    ¡°Stay back!¡± Glenda shrieked, waving her uninjured hand as if she could ward him off. ¡°She attacked me! She tried to kill me! I was just defending myself!¡±


    It was pathetic. Even now, standing in the ruins of my bedroom with a silver wound smoking on her shoulder, she tried to y the victim.


    Deacon didn¡¯t speak. He stepped over the debris of the doorframe, his boots crunching on the splintered wood. He didn¡¯t rush. He moved with the terrifying inevitability of andslide. His eyes were fixed on her, glinting with murderous tension.


    ¡°Deacon,¡± I called out, but not to stop him, but to inform him. ¡°Be careful, she¡¯s being desperate.¡±


    There¡¯s nothing more dangerous than someone who has lost everything, because they already have nothing to lose.


    His eyesnded on me for a quick second before nodding in relief. It must have been that he had confirmed I didn¡¯t have any injury, easing his tense demeanour a bit as his eyesnded back on Glenda.


    ¡°You have five seconds to surrender,¡± he stated, with a cold, tense, and still raging voice as he continued with gritted teeth, ¡°Before I rip your throat out.¡±


    Glenda¡¯s eyes darted around the room, searching for an exit, a weapon, anything. She looked at the balcony doors behind her. A jump from this height would break her legs, maybe kill her. She looked at Deacon, blocking the only <i>exit</i>.


    Then, her gazended on me. And then, it shifted slightly to the left. To the closet door.


    A twisted, suicidal realisation dawned on her face. She knew she wasn¡¯t leaving this room alive. She knew she wasn¡¯t going to be Queen. But in her warped mind, if she couldn¡¯t win, she could make sure we lost.


    ¡°I¡¯m not surrendering to anyone!¡± she hissed, her lips curling back to reveal bloodstained teeth. ¡°And I¡¯m not leaving alone.¡±


    She didn¡¯t lunge for Deacon, nor for me.


    With a scream of pure hate, she threw herself toward the closet.


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°No!¡± I screamed, throwing myself forward.


    But I was exhausted, battered, and slow. Meanwhile, Glenda was fueled by a cocktail of drugs and adrenaline. She bypassed me, her ws extended, aiming to tear through the thin wood of the closet door where my son was hiding.


    But, she never made it.


    Deacon moved, and he was way faster than she.


    It all happened in the blink of an eye. One second, he was standing near the door; the next, he was a wall


    of muscle between Glenda and the closet.


    He didn¡¯t just block he; he caught her.


    Deacon¡¯s hand shot out, mping around Glenda¡¯s throat mid¨Cair. The momentum of her charge was halted instantly. Her feet lifted off the floor as he mmed her backwards, driving her into the ground with enough force to crack the floorboards.


    Then a cracking sound echoed.


    Glenda gasped, the wind knocked out of her, her eyes bulging. Deacon was on top of her in an instant, his knee pinning her chest to the floor, his hand still crushing her windpipe.


    ¡°You dare,¡± Deacon snarled, leaning down until his face was inches from hers. ¡°You dare go after him?¡±


    He raised his other hand, ws extending, ready to end her. The intent to kill was radiating off him in waves of heat.


    ¡°Deacon! Stop!¡± I shouted as I rushed forward and grabbed his arm.


    His iron tensed muscle froze at my touch, and he looked at me, growling, ¡°She needs to die.¡±


    It made me feel warm to know he was willing to go far and beyond for Rafael, but I didn¡¯t want things to


    end like this.


    ¡°Not like this,¡± I uttered, shaking my head before I shifted my eyes to Rafael, who was wide¨Ceyed and watching the scene before him in shock. ¡°Not in front of Rafael. I don¡¯t want him to see killing so early, especially not ours.¡±


    Hearing that, he blinks, and calmness settles in his eyes.


    He looked at Rafael, then back at the woman beneath him.


    ¡°She deserves it,¡± he rumbled, but his grip on Glenda¡¯s throat loosened just enough to let her wheeze a


    breath.


    ¡°She does,¡± I agreed cold¨Cheartedly. ¡°And she will pay. But she will pay by thew. We are not her, Deacon. We execute justice, not vengeance.¡±


    Glenda coughed, blood bubbling at her lips. She looked up at Deacon, her eyes filled with fear, but she


    +25 Bonus


    was too winded to speak.


    Deacon stared at her for a long moment, his chest heaving. Then, with a snarl of disgust, he grabbed her by the hair and mmed her head against the floorboards. Once. Hard.


    Glenda¡¯s eyes rolled back in her head, and she went limp. Unconscious.


    Deacon stood up, shaking his hand as if he had touched something filthy. He kicked her limp body away from the closet, putting distance between the threat and his family.


    ¡°Kaelen!¡± Deacon roared, his voice carrying down the hallway.


    Secondster, Kaelen appeared in the doorway, breathless, and with his weapon raised. He took in the scene¡­ The shattered vanity, the unconscious Glenda, and the ruined room, all in a single nce.


    ¡°Secure her,¡± Deaconmanded, pointing at Glenda. ¡°Iron chains. Wolfsbane dampeners. Put her in the deepest cell in the dungeon. If she wakes up, sedate her. If she tries to escape, break her legs. But keep her alive.¡±


    ¡°Right away, Prince,¡± Kaelen said, motioning for two guards behind him to drag the fallen woman away.


    They hauled Glenda out of the room like a sack of trash. I didn¡¯t watch her go. I turned immediately to the closet.


    ¡°Raf?¡± I called out, my voice trembling. ¡°Baby, it¡¯s safe. You cane out.¡±


    The door creaked open slowly. Rafael stood there, pushed back among the winter coats, clutching the small fruit knife so hard his knuckles were white. His eyes were huge, filled with tears he hadn¡¯t shed yet.


    ¡°Is¡­ is the baddy gone?¡± he whispered.


    Deacon dropped to his knees, ignoring the blood on his clothes, and opened his arms. ¡°She¡¯s gone, soldier. She¡¯s nevering back.¡±


    Rafael dropped the knife and bolted. He mmed into Deacon¡¯s chest, burying his face in his neck, and finally, finally let out the sob he had been holding in.


    ¡°I was brave,¡± he cried, his small body shaking. ¡°I was brave, like you said!¡±


    ¡°You were the bravest wolf in the pack,¡± Deacon choked out, wrapping his arms around the boy and rocking him gently. ¡°I am so proud of you.¡±


    I joined them on the floor, wrapping my arms around both of them, resting my head on Deacon¡¯s shoulder. We were a mess, bloodied, bruised, my wedding dress destroyed, our home wrecked.


    But as I rested, surrounded by his arms and hearing his steady heartbeat, knowing that Rafael was safe, I knew we had won. The storm had broken against our walls, and we were still standing.


    F:.


    Elena¡¯s POV


    The immediate aftermath of sessfully arresting Glenda was a chaotic blur of movement, lights, and noise. The power was restored sooner, indicating that Keeler¡¯s men must have found Glenda¡¯s sabotag point, and the sudden brilliance of the pce lights was almost painful after the red gloom of the emergency system.


    When we got back, the ballroom that once beamed with elegance and joyful celebration had be a disaster zone with the floor covered with blood, shattered sses and spilled wine. Every table was either totally wrecked or overturned with tes and foods scattered in a mess.


    In short, the entire feast was ruined, and the ce was bustling with doctors and guardo rushing to tend to the quests and round up the remaining rogues.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go Descon uttered, guiding Refeel back to get rested while Kaelen went on to secure the perimeter of the Familly wing


    I walked beside them, holding on to Deacon¡¯s arm for support as I finally felt the strain on my muscles.


    My ruined wedding dress, stained with blood and dirt, was a casualty, but one I wore with a strange sense of pride.


    We took Refeel to the private infirmary wing, where the physicians immediately checked him<b>. </b>He was physically unharmed. He¡¯s just terified, exhausted, and running on pure adrenaline. Once he was dered sate and given a mild sedetive, he finally sumbed to sleep, clinging to my hand until he was


    Only then did Descon allow the doctors to tend to us.


    I was treated for a severe bruise on my jaw, deep cuts on my hands from the ss, and various scrapes and sprains from the fall, Deacon, having fought dozens of rogues in human form to protect the guests, was a meas. He had deepcerations from wolfsbane des on his arms and chest, requiring immediate cleaning and stitching.


    I sat on the edge of the examination table while a physician worked on him, cleaning the wolfsbane residue from a cut near his ribs. Deacon didn¡¯t flinch, his eyes locked on mine.


    You should have left,¡± he said, his voice husky with pain and adoration. ¡°You should have hidden.¡±


    And let her get Rafael? I shook my head. ¡°Never. Besides, I told you I wasn¡¯t leaving you. I¡¯m your Princess, Deacon. I don¡¯t hide. And just like you, I¡¯m a warrior¡±


    He smiled, a tired, genuine smile that made the exhaustion in his eyes more visible. ¡°My great warrior¡±


    Tam,¡± I smirked, gloating, which made both of usugh.


    The doctor finished stitching him and wrapped his torso in bandages<b>. </b>Deacon, in a clean ck robe, shrugged, his movements stiff but powerful.


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    Sara Lili


    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.

 The Abandoned Lycan Queen Novel 193

    ¡°The attack is neutralised,¡± Deacon reported, pulling me close to his side. ¡°Kaelen confirmed. Glenda hired about fifty low¨Clevel rogues with a reputation for desperation. They were paid with the remaining jewellery she had. They were only capable of chaos, not victory.¡±


    ¡°And the guests?¡±


    ¡°Stable. Shaken, of course. We¡¯ll offerpensation and a full debrief tomorrow. No one was critically injured, thanks to the guards¡® quick response and Kaelen¡¯s. And,¡± he added, pulling my chin up, ¡°thanks you for showing those nobles how to handle a rogue wolf.¡±


    We didn¡¯t go back to our room. Because right now, that room was still a crime scene, guarded by a team to further investigate. So instead, we went to the study, where we had been just days before, discussing Glenda¡¯s disappearance. It felt like years ago.


    We sat together on the sofa, bathed in the soft glow of a standingmp, the only sound the quiet drip of a leak outside the window. Deacon held me close, his scent filling my senses, blood, sweat, and safety.


    ¡°The wedding night was ruined,¡± I whispered, resting my cheek against his strong, bandaged chest.


    ¡°Our vows weren¡¯t,¡± Deacon countered, kissing the top of my head. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters. We are married, Elena. Nothing, not even Glenda, can take that from us.¡±


    ¡°Glenda?¡±


    Deacon¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°She¡¯s in the deepest cell, under heavy sedation. Kaelen will arrange for the official charges to be read tomorrow: Attempted murder, high treason, and inciting insurrection. She will face the King¡¯s Justice.¡±


    I


    I closed my eyes, picturing Glenda lying cold and unconscious on a stone floor. The woman who had cost me years of pain, who had nearly cost me my son¡¯s life, was finally defeated. And yet, I felt no tion. Only a profound, heavy exhaustion.


    Then something struck me. ¡°And Bryson? What happened to him.¡±


    ¡°He disappeared during the initial chaos,¡± Deacon sighed. ¡°He wasn¡¯t involved in the attack, Kaelen confirmed. He wasst seen <i>on </i>the South perimeter, helping a couple of older guests escape before the rogues breached the <i>door</i>. He¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± I murmured. It was the only word I needed for that chapter of my life.


    With that, we sat in silence, just resting in each other¡¯s arms. The wedding was over and so was the fight. We had <i>to </i>survive, and hopefully it¡¯s the real end.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s sleep,¡± he said when he heard me yawn.


    He scooped me up in his arms, ignoring my protests about his injuries. He carried me down the hall to a secondary, smaller bedroom near the infirmary. It was a cosy room, quiet and straightforward.


    Hey me down on the bed, pulling the covers over me. He climbed in beside me, pulling me against his warm body, cradling me with one arm.


    +25 Bonus


    ¡°The Kingdom can wait until morning,¡± Deacon decided, burying his face in my hair. ¡°Tonight, we just


    breathe.¡±


    A small smile forms on my lips as I close my eyes and listen to his heartbeat, which seems very effective at easing me.


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    Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d¡¯s breathtaking cold.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!