Rewriting Her Destiny With The Lycan Kings

The morning sun filtered through Zara's chamber, casting a golden glow on the walls as she meticulously prepared for the day.

Her movements were precise but slower than usual, her mind plagued by unease. She hadn't seen the Lycan brothers since the chaos of last night, and their absence weighed heavily on her. Not a word, not a check-in. It was so unlike them, and the void they left felt unsettling.

Tugging her leather training gloves into place, Zara exhaled sharply, shaking off the intrusive thoughts. They're probably busy. Kings have responsibilities. But the reassurance didn't stick, and the anxious rhythm of her heart betrayed her calm facade.

As she stepped out of her chamber and made her way down the stone corridors, something felt off. The pack members she passed along the way—those who usually greeted her with warmth or mild respect—now regarded her differently. Their bows seemed stiffer, their glances quicker, tinged with something unfamiliar. Fear.

Zara's brows furrowed as her gaze flickered to a group whispering amongst themselves. One looked up, caught her eye, and quickly turned away as if her mere presence was enough to unnerve them. She clenched her fists. What is going on?

Arriving at the training grounds, she spotted Ezra near the dummies, busy aligning targets. His back was turned, but the moment he sensed her, he paused. When he turned to face her, his expression was unreadable—surprise, perhaps? But not the good kind.

"Good morning, Ezra," Zara called, forcing a smile as she approached him.

"Everything alright?"

Ezra blinked, quickly masking his initial reaction with a polite smile.

"All good, Luna. Just... surprised, I suppose."

Zara tilted her head, her lips quirking into a puzzled smile.

"Surprised? Why? Did I forget to comb my hair or something?"

Ezra chuckled lightly, though it sounded strained.

"No, not that. Just surprised to see you here, so... focused. After what happened last night, that is."

Her playful smile faltered, his words hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

"What do you mean, after what happened last night?" she asked, her voice sharpening as her heart began to race.

Ezra hesitated, glancing at her cautiously as if weighing how much to say.

"It's nothing bad, Luna," he started, though his tone betrayed his words.

"Just... I wasn't expecting you to train today, not when your mates are... well, recovering."

Zara froze. Her gloves creaked as her hands instinctively balled into fists.

"Recovering?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ezra nodded, his expression softening slightly, though his words didn't.

"Yes, from their battle with the shadow hunters. They were injured protecting the pack last night."

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Zara's breath hitched as the weight of his words sank in. Her mind flashed back to the chaos in the courtroom—the shadowy figures, the Lycan Kings standing as immovable shields, their roars shaking the very foundation of the castle.

And now...

"Where are they?" she demanded, her tone sharp, her posture rigid.

Ezra blinked, startled by the sudden shift in her demeanor. Gone was the Luna who had greeted him moments ago; in her place stood a queen with fire in her eyes and a presence that could silence armies.

"Tell me where they are, Ezra. Now."

He gestured toward the castle's east wing, but before he could say more, Zara was already moving, her boots pounding against the ground with purpose. The training grounds blurred behind her as her resolve crystallized into a singular thought:

I need to see them. Now.

---

Zara's steps were urgent, each one heavier than the last, as if the weight of her thoughts was pulling her down with every movement. She couldn't stop herself. Her heart pounded with a painful rhythm, her mind swirling with questions, doubts, and the growing dread of what she might find.

What if something happened to them? The thought of the Lycan brothers—her mates—hurt or worse, lying helpless, filled her chest with a suffocating ache. She had to reach them. Now.

She didn't look back as the castle passed by in a blur, her eyes locked on the path ahead, focused only on the medical center. But with each step, the pain in her chest grew. It wasn't just worry—it was fear. The fear of losing them, the fear of not being strong enough, the fear of everything falling apart.

When she reached the medical center, her legs seemed to stop on their own, as if the building itself had become an impenetrable wall.

Her gaze locked onto the scene before her: Jennifer, sitting outside one of the rooms, weeping uncontrollably. She was at her worst, her sobs ragged. Though she was muttering something to her minions, it was the sight of her tears that stopped Zara dead in her tracks.

But before Zara could approach, Jennifer's eyes snapped up. The anger that flared in her eyes was immediate, and without warning, she stood up and stormed toward her.

"You!"

Jennifer spat, her voice shaking with fury.

"Are you happy now, Zara? Are you pleased with what you've done?"

She shoved her finger in Zara's direction.

"You got them injured, didn't you? They were hurt because of you, because they were trying to protect you!"

Zara felt her pulse quicken, but she stood tall, refusing to let Jennifer's words rattle her.

"After getting them in this condition, how dare you show up without a single glint of guilt? Don't you have anything called shame?"

Jennifer's voice grew louder, more venomous.

"You've ruined them. And you'll ruin them more, won't you? Keep playing your games, and they'll be gutted next time. You'll be the reason they're destroyed!"

Zara's chest tightened, the urge to snap back at Jennifer rising in her throat, but she held her ground. This time, she was different. Her aura was stronger now, her presence undeniable. The sharpness in her gaze made Jennifer pause mid-sentence, her words dying in the air as Zara's silent command filled the space between them.

Jennifer faltered, taking a hesitant step back, as Zara's voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

"Do not ever," Zara said, her tone low and firm, "ever speak of my mates like that again."

Her eyes locked onto Jennifer's with a fierce, unyielding fire.

"You have no right to interfere with anything that concerns them. They are mine—and I know exactly how to take care of them. I will not tolerate anyone questioning that, especially not you."

Jennifer's mouth opened, but the words caught in her throat. The anger that had burned in her eyes was now replaced by uncertainty, her shoulders tensing as Zara's gaze continued to hold her in place.

Zara took a step closer, her voice a dangerous whisper.

"You would do well to remember your place. This is your only warning. Stay out of my business, Jennifer, and never cross your limits with them again. Don't tell me I didn't warn you later on."

The silence that followed was heavy. Jennifer opened her mouth to retort, but the words never came. With a final glance at Zara, she turned, storming off toward the hallway, her steps angry and resentful.