Reborn To Reclaim The Alpha Crown

a's

ng than it was on any other day of this year. I stood on the stone steps, my official clearance papers pressed against my ch

as

not a single one of whom cared of they were dealing with a woman. I'm the youngest girl to ever complete th

for sleep. I thought of all the teachers who thought I'd give it up in the first month. But I had noticed it in their eyes,

ve them th

day, on my 19th birthday, I would finall

oots crunched through the gravel, and my phone rang out

" I replied, sm

warm and proud, "There she is

't know about history. I

good bet on how long you'd last, I think, half

re jo

always told them that my niece would come out of

ever doubted my ability to lead a pack, even when the rest of the empire sneered

. Thank you for believing in

are finished, Lyra, everyone is waiting for you, your

there soon, and his light l

his tall, slender frame leaning casually against the doorframe. The moment I walked in,

ice, that quiet warmth, that he re

ut my papers on the des

ow can I?" he teased, picking up one

ut you... you treat me as though I am something el

ity arrangements are complete for today, two escort vehicles ahead of the convoy,

d, "See, that'

arelessly? he asked, with a raise

an being," I said. "Not a package to be

a soft, unguarded way, reminded me that there was more t

n us, the comfort of a year of trusting someone with all my heart, th

the journey was over. Rolling hills became silver-veined mountains that marked our territory. Final

eral of the older servants, those that had brought me up after my parents had di

"Look how far you've come" and I rea

garb, his silver hair catching the light of the late d

my hair, "My gi

"I made

to look at me. "Now go. Prepare yourself. To

r and fluffy towels welcomed me. They chattered with excitement as the

e silver clasps on my sleeves, saying, "Th

aid quietly, "Some of the counci

into my own eyes. "I'll gain their respect by

in the front rows with elders, with the representatives from the strongest packs of the empire seated

on a velvet cushion beside him. When I came near, he came down fr

s name," he announced his voice echoing through the silen

own and put it s

a Lyra Ashthorne. The righ

clap, it seemed like a

oached to speak to my people fo

n has not been without controversy, I know that there are some of you who have wondered if I was th

lus, who was pro

and sister. I am eternally grateful for his sacrifice after he had

back at t

th power, and I will rule with glory, thi

as more intense

e academy and how I remained so composed during the ceremony. Others were more careful with their words, their compliments inveighed with a subt

e, and Kael came up to me ne

y to go, Alp

asked, already expecting the private, quiet

e to wait for a security briefing, the Impe

ts himself for our secret getaway and now he has suddenly changed his mind, but I di

odding my head. "I'l

, and let myself sink in the cushions w

her. I shut my eyes and I felt the strain of the day start to ease from me. It was over. The day

ll be smiling till a sudden

re was a shrieking of metal. Before I could even register what was happening, b

my head against the hold, trying to peer through the darkness at t

before a blow to the back of