The Lycan's Queen : A tale of fate

Elara stood by the window, staring out into the night, watching the guards escort the lycan to an unfamiliar place near the castle walls. It was a secluded spot, partially hidden behind thick bushes, though the gleam of metal doors could be seen in the distance. But it wasn't the unusual location or her sharp night vision that captured her attention. No, her gaze was locked on the Beast. Something was burning inside her, an emotion she couldn't quite grasp but one that refused to be ignored.

Their eyes met briefly, and for a fleeting moment, Elara felt an undeniable pull. As the guards led him away, she quickly turned away, trying to shake off the feeling that clung to her chest like a heavy weight.

"Would you be leaving for your chambers, Your Majesty?" One of her guards asked, breaking her train of thought.

Elara nodded silently, following the guard down the corridor. She felt a sense of relief that she wouldn't have to share her room with the King tonight, though her mind remained far from the comfort of solitude.

As they passed the wing of her servants, she heard two pleasant voices chattering with one another. One belonged to the man she was introduced to, Given, and the second was the cheery, familiar voice of the man she shared something familiar with. "Oh deities ," she muttered subconsciously, after hearing the man say, "Oh deities, Given, you are hopeless."

"Your Majesty, is everything alright?" the guard asked, noticing her distracted expression.

Elara smiled, though it was faint. "No, I thought I heard something, but I was mistaken."

They continued down the hall, and as Elara got closer to her chambers, the voices from the wing of her servants faded into the distance. Despite her complicated feelings, she enjoyed Given's company. It was rare, but whenever they crossed paths, she found comfort in his warmth—a warmth that was genuine and free from hidden agendas. It wasn't the same type of warmth Morgana had first introduced her to, the one laced with deceit.

Upon entering her room, Elara was greeted by Gina and Nancy, her handmaids. Though she appreciated their company, they were often too loud and full of energy for her mood. As they bustled around her, she couldn't help but think of another enthusiastic presence—someone whose dark humour always made her others uneasy, yet she couldn't help but wonder how he came up with such lines. She remembered asking him once how he thought of them, but for some reason, she didn't remember his response. She was sure it had been something even more chic. Yet, despite the discomfort, she never complained about him or his behavior from time to time .

'He?' Elara paused in her thoughts.She had male companions around her all the time. She wondered why, as she placed the memory into the other realizations she had of her past life.

After a bath and a quick snack, Elara declined the tea the handmaids offered, telling them she would drink it later while gazing at the skies, as she often did late into the night. They didn't question her, believing the lie she told. But truthfully, Elara had no intention of looking at the sky. Instead, she lay in bed, her thoughts swirling like a storm inside her mind. The tea sat untouched on the table, growing cold as she drifted further into the haze of her own memories and unanswered questions.

---

After pondering her thoughts for a while, Elara decided that it was late enough and no one would enter her room now. Not even Theron or Morgana, as the clock had struck the hour when the servants were meant to sleep and the guards would be patrolling the corridors.

Standing up, her bare feet touched the cold floor. She walked over to the teacup, picked it up, and immediately, the smell of the tea filled her nostrils. The scent wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't anything remarkable either. It was dull, and the taste turned out to be equally bleak—ugly on the tongue.

She made her way to the balcony, sliding open the glass door before stepping outside. She leaned over the edge of the balcony, looking down at the grass beyond the pavement below. With the tea cup still in hand, she tilted it towards the edge, and in that instant, poured the entire contents onto the grass below.

As the tea splashed down, Elara's attention was drawn to the far end of the castle grounds, where the doors leading to the beast's temporary holding area opened. The beast was being brought out, looking drained, but her focus remained fixed on him.

Suddenly, as the cup continued to face down and her body leaned farther over the edge, something fast and white shot toward her. It moved with incredible speed, whether flying or rushing, she couldn't quite tell. But in the blink of an eye, the moment that she was about to react, a scream erupted from her lips as she tumbled from the balcony.

To her astonishment, she landed on her feet.

Her heart pounded in her chest, racing with shock, as she stood still, her knees buckling under her. Elara's gaze darted upward, realizing the sheer height from which she had fallen. Her pulse hammered in her ears, but against all odds, she had landed upright, as though the fall hadn't affected her at all.

Her heart was racing .