Read Hot Chapters of The Lycan's Rejected Mate by Sunshine Princess

Enter the enthralling world crafted by Sunshine Princess in the spellbinding novel "The Lycan's Rejected Mate." Witness the tumultuous tale of Anaiah Ross, whose life is irrevocably altered when a single act of self-defense leads to unintended tragedy during her inaugural transformation into a wolf.

Branded as a murderer by her pack, Anaiah is met with contempt, abuse, and rejection from those she once called brethren. Her heartbreak deepens as her fated mate, Alpha Amos, coldly denounces her, casting her into the depths of their dungeons. Resigned to her cruel fate, Anaiah languishes in despair, her spirit shattered by the callous actions of those she trusted.

Amidst the shadows of her eighteenth birthday, fate unveils a surprising twist as Anaiah discovers a Second Chance mate in the form of a formidable Lycan King, presenting her with a new path fraught with uncertainty and peril. As Alpha Amos grapples with his own feelings of possessiveness and longing, a complex love triangle emerges, each man vying for Anaiah's affections while dark forces conspire against her.

Caught in a web of intrigue and deception, Anaiah unearths malevolent schemes at play, propelling her into a dangerous game where hidden powers and ancient rivalries converge. As she navigates treacherous waters and confronts the looming specter of evil, Anaiah must unlock her true potential to reshape her destiny, setting her on a collision course with her ultimate purpose.

Amidst the chaos and turmoil that envelop her, can Anaiah withstand the darkness closing in around her and embrace the love she desires? Will she emerge victorious against the malevolent forces threatening her very existence, or will she succumb to the shadows and lose herself to the abyss? Follow Anaiah on a gripping odyssey of self-discovery, loyalty, and sacrifice in "The Lycan's Rejected Mate," where the bonds of love and the allure of power collide in a battle for redemption and ultimate fulfillment.

Part 1: The Lycan's Rejected Mate story line

Part 2: The main characters of The Lycan's Rejected Mate

Part 3: The most popular chapters of The Lycan's Rejected Mate

Part 4: Recommend 10 novels similar to“The Lycan's Rejected Mate”

Part 1: The Lycan's Rejected Mate story line

"She is a murderer!" Everything changed for Anaiah Ross when she inadvertently killed someone following her first unexpected Shift into her wolf. Now hated, abused, and mistreated by the members of her pack, her fated mate, Alpha Amos, rejected her instantly and ordered her thrown into the dungeons. Her heart shattered almost instantly and begrudgingly, accepted his rejection, resigning herself to a life of misery at the mercy of her pack. But on her eighteenth birthday, fate seemed to take pity on her and revealed her Second Chance mate as non other than a dangerous and powerful Lycan King, but Amos realizes that he simply can't let her go. With two men fighting for her attention and desperate to win her love and acceptance, her life becomes increasingly complicated. Anaiah discovers sinister plots at work and fights to discover the true power that will change the course of her life for good, making her the prime target for the evil that lurks in the shadows. Can Anaiah survive the evil thrown at her and finally, find happiness with the man that she chooses? Or will she succumb to the darkness and lose herself, and everything she knows completely?

Part 2: The main characters of The Lycan's Rejected Mate

Female (Anaiah Ross): Anaiah Ross finds her life turned upside down after unintentionally taking a life during her first unexpected wolf transformation. Plunged into a world of hatred, abuse, and rejection by her pack, even facing the refusal of her fated mate, Alpha Amos, she resigns herself to a desolate existence. However, fate seems to offer a glimmer of hope on her eighteenth birthday as she discovers a Second Chance mate in a dangerous Lycan King. Anaiah's life becomes entangled in a web of complex emotions and power struggles as two powerful men vie for her affection, leading her into a treacherous journey filled with deceit and danger. Amidst sinister plots and lurking evils, Anaiah must uncover her true strength to alter the course of her life while navigating the complexities of love, acceptance, and survival.

Male (Alpha Amos): Alpha Amos, initially rejecting Anaiah and casting her into the dungeons after the tragic incident triggered by her first Shift, finds himself grappling with his feelings when her Second Chance mate is revealed to be a powerful Lycan King. As he witnesses the turmoil unfolding around Anaiah, Amos realizes he cannot easily let her go and finds himself entangled in a love triangle fraught with tension and rivalries. With his desires conflicting with those of the Lycan King, Amos plays a central role in shaping Anaiah's destiny and the challenges she must overcome to secure her happiness amidst looming malevolence and unforeseen dangers.

Part 3: The most popular chapters of The Lycan's Rejected Mate

The Lycan's Rejected Mate Chapter 3 She Has Accepted The Rejection

Amos's POV

I was welcoming our guests for the renewal treaty celebration when something tugged on my heart. Something was wrong. My wolf Narcisse was giving me a hard time, growling and snarling at me. There are times he acts sick. He hates me, and I rejected our mate, but I can't accept her as my mate, especially my Luna. She killed my uncle.

'In self-defense!' Narcisse growls.

'No one believes her,' I retort. My uncle was a bastard, but he was still my family. She could have dealt with the situation better than killing him in cold blood.

'She was fucking thirteen years old! She had no control over her wolf, Amos. I can tell that her wolf is strong,' he says the last part proudly. Indeed, my uncle had Alpha blood and was one of the strongest wolves, but she still bested him.

Anaiah Ross is not only the most beautiful girl in the pack but even behind her dirty clothes, she can make any man bow to his knees. She has endured so many hardships since she was a little girl.

'She can make a fine Luna,' Breathes Narcisse.

'Yes, not ours. We shall make Eunice our Luna as my parents want. Her parents are strong and have been our allies for years,'

Eunice is an entitled brat and a crying baby, but I have to be with her to strengthen my pack, and she's a good fuck, but mostly when I fuck her or any other wolf, I picture Anaiah under me, her baby blue eyes, her long hair, and round breast. Her plump lips and beautiful face are enough to make me cum like a teenager for the first time.

The Lycan's Rejected Mate Chapter 4 Mate

unknown's POV

I didn't want to come to this poor excuse of a pack, but it was my duty as a Lycan King to attend, so I did. The Dawnrise pack isn't the strongest or wealthiest, but they are doing well for themselves and have survived this far because of their alliances. However, the Alpha and Luna are not the most intelligent of the pack, but oh well, at least they are leading to the best of their abilities.

Once the celebration begins, they announce they will pass down the Alpha title to their son, Amos. He's a strong wolf and might even be more capable of leading than his parents.

Amos walks on stage with a she-wolf by his side, she has a huge smile plastered on her face, and I assume she's his Luna. The outgoing Alpha briefly gives a speech, he acknowledges my presence, and people applaud. Amos is then called on stage and says his vows.

"I, Amos Rivers, will lead this pack, fair and to the best of my abilities," He continues, and together they join their hands, and the transfer of power is complete. We applaud him, and the crowd cheers for their new Alpha. Everyone is dancing and clapping.

"Can we go already?" Asks my Beta, Danford. He also didn't want to come.

"Not yet. We are leaving tomorrow. For now, go and entertain yourself," I shrugged, getting a glass of champagne from one of the servers. Danford scowls like a child, but it immediately goes when he sees five girls batting their lashes and giggling at us. He grins and looks at me.

The Lycan's Rejected Mate Chapter 5 They'll Pay For This

Leondre's POV

I took my mate to the pack house hospital. I lay her on the bed, and the doctors asked me to leave the room, but I didn't do it. I'm not leaving her side, ever. My Beta comes to my side, putting a hand on my shoulder. I'm sure the people who were there informed him about the situation.

"Is that the Luna?" he asks, looking at the girl on the bed. The doctors attending her look wary of me because my Alpha aura is going crazy, but I can't help it. They were torturing her.

"My Ki-king, I think you should... um, leave. You won't want to see this," A tall nurse speaks in a stutter.

"She's right, and already the doctors can't do their job well. Your aura is imposing," Dan says. I shake my head. I want to see what they did to her.

"No,"

The doctors turn her on her belly and tear her already torn shirt. My Beta gasps. I repress a growl and clutch my fist. Her back is red and bloody. They have been hitting her. Some cuts are so deep and unable to heal themselves. I move closer to her instinctively. There are dark scars as well, and my Lycan howls in anguish.

"No doubt she was abused a lot. Some scars are old," Mumbles the doctor as he begins to clean her, even in her sleeping state, she flinches as the medicine touches her back. I hold her hand.

"Sorry baby, they'll pay for this," I promise her silently. The Alpha family will bear ten times what they did to her. I let go of her hand and left the room. My Beta is calling my name, but I don't answer him. I need to be alone right now.

The Lycan's Rejected Mate Chapter 6 She Was Mine

Leondre's POV

I woke up at 10 am, shower, and went to Amos's office. I didn't wait to hear a come-in before I entered.

I find him sitting in his chair. The former Alpha and Luna are on the couch with two other men. They all get to their feet at my arrival and bow.

We exchange pleasantries, and I take a chair in front of the new Alpha.

"I found my mate in your pack," I inform him. From the looks on their faces, it seems they already knew.

Amos knit his eyebrows in interest while the other people in the room cheer forcibly as if they were wary.

"I found her in the dungeon, being molested by your guards," I say, repulsed. Amos's face shows anger and fury as I continue to tell them. A growl rips from his chest, and he hits his desk, breaking it in half.

"I'll kill them," he declares

"Already did," I grin sarcastically.

"What happened? Why was she locked up?" I asked, looking into his eyes, and he fidgeted uncomfortably. I believe it has something to do with him. He swallows thickly.

"Which one?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You're already starting to irritate me."

He looks offended but doesn't say a word. He inhales, puts his arms on the broken table, and looks at me.

"Anaiah," he starts, and I repeat her name silently. Anaiah. It's a beautiful name for a lovely girl. A smile makes its way to my lips.

The Lycan's Rejected Mate Chapter 7 Hello, Love

Anaiah's POV

I slowly lift my gaze as the most enticing scent of vanilla and honey fills my nostrils, my breath gets caught in my chest, and I forget how to breathe. The man walking in front of me is tall and intimidating. He's the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. He has thick jet-black hair, blazing dark blue eyes, a prominent face with high cheekbones, and a muscular body that looks like a Greek god. As soon as he entered the room, he dominated it immediately, and a wince escaped my lips. He smiles ever so gently once he nears me, and my heart skips.

My wolf is saying something frantic, but I can't hear her. I'm still in awe of him.

"Hello, Love," His voice is deep and huskily sexy. I just watch him like an idiot. No words are leaving my mouth.

"Anaiah," He whispers my name, his eyes looking at me with love. My name sounds so good on his tongue, and a shiver runs down my spine. He cups my face, and tingles run down my body.

'Mate,' I hear my wolf chant, not fucking again. I shake my head, burying my head between my legs. I can tell that this man is an Alpha by his strong, domineering aura. Will he reject me? Oh my god, no, no. I feel tears well in my eyes, and a sob escapes me. I feel hands stroking my hair. I take deep breaths to calm myself. My hunky mate grabs my chin gently. I am facing him, and a warm sensation goes down my body when he speaks.

"I've been waiting for you, Mate,"

"Are you going to reject me?" I ask calmly, bracing myself. He knits his eyebrows in confusion.

"Why would I do that? You're my Luna, my Queen," His eyes twinkle, and I allow a small smile on my lips after I register what he said.

"What- What is your n-name?" I stutter my words.

"Leondre Lavista," I nod and test it on my tongue, it suits him, it makes my wolf purr. I can tell he wants to ask something but is hesitant. There is an awkward silence between us before he speaks again.

Part 4: Recommend 10 novels similar to“The Lycan's Rejected Mate”

If you like Werewolf romance novels, I recommend 10 books similar to "The Lycan's Rejected Mate".

1. Contracted Mate To Alpha Konan Of Oceanwolf Pack

author: A..gee Umeh

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Chapter 1 An unintended mistake

MADELINE'S POV

The shameless servant lost my baby. Who told her to interfere with the affairs of the slaves and servants? I strongly instructed her to be careful with what she takes for the sake of the baby and out of carelessness she gobbled down a herbal tonic that wasn't hers to take in the beginning. For disobeying me and killing my pup due to carelessness, I am going to punish her dearly for it.

Dan!!!, his voice bellowed which showed he was smitten with anger, "Bring Madeline to the execution room". He commanded and he sauntered angrily out of the hallway.

From my room well enclosed with brick walls, I could hear Alpha konan's voice thundering and ranting. Alpha Konan had always been unsympathetic and ruthless when dealing with me and today's own will definitely be the height of it.

I huddled myself together on the tiny bed in my room, my gaze fixated on the wall opposite of me. Alpha Konan is the father of the unborn baby and the unborn baby was also responsible for part of the prestige he currently possessed, so it was okay for him to behave this way.

For me, it was the direct opposite. Alpha Konan saw the baby as an added feather to his fleets of achievement, I saw the unborn child as my solace and consolation. At least if the baby was successfully born, I would earn a little tiny respect from him.

Fast forward to now, everything had gone down the drain, scattered with the wind. I knew this was going to make me suffer more hardships, disrespect and scorn from him and every trusted ally around him.

My room door opened ajar and a warrior werewolf came in and escorted me to the execution room. He poked me with the stick he held in his hands with no form of respect till I got to the execution room.

2. The Cursed Alpha's Nemesis

author: marvlyn

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Chapter 1 He has an heir

The night wasn't pleasant, as the other nights as everyone went to bed early again for the fear of being attacked or seen by the ones who cause fear. They all dreaded an unfortunate encounter with the creatures of the night who causes nothing but fear and panic.

There was no one moving around or outside their houses even though it was still the early hours of eight, except Bethany who sat by the door outside the comfort of her house.

She folded her legs to her chest and her head resting on her knees, sobbing quietly. The cold breeze resting on her skin caused her to shiver, but that was the least of her concern as all she could think of was her baby, inside the locked house.

The man of her dreams had suddenly become the man of her worst nightmare after she gave birth to her baby. He suddenly becames a different person.

Before they got married, a lot of people warned her against marrying him but, she went ahead with the marriage. Her husband had a dark side that she had never prayed to witness. He was a master of manipulation and emotional abuse, making her suffer in ways she never thought possible.

From belittling her in public to controlling her finances. Every day was filled with a new challenge. He even went as far as to threaten her with physical violence. No matter what she did, she was always left feeling broken and defeated.

Her husband had created a living nightmare that she was too powerless to escape. She cried solemnly, her hands and feet were extremely cold.

The Misty mountains, a town known for it existing beast that takes the human form at day and roam about in the night in a wolf form, looking for humans to rip their hearts. This made the town heads bring out laws to stop the disappearance and killing of people by these this beasts.

3. Deal with the Billionaire Alpha

author: Claret Gwens

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Chapter 1 Chap

Steering my car toward the huge brown gates, I blast the horn to announce my presence and wait. In the few seconds it takes for the gate to unravel I appraise myself in the rearview mirror and adjust the brown strands that fallen over my face from the wind as I drove.

As expected it doesn't take up to a minute for me to be granted entry and so I let go of the brakes and drive into the vast compound which housed a beautiful house.

It's a state of the art storey building structured in an L shape with the floor above comprising of only glass. On my first day here I thought it was a show house only to discover later on that it is indeed his residence.

Nicholas Damien Lazarus, 32. handsome, tall, attractive, intelligent, and stinking rich is an architect who has made a name for himself outside his aristocratic family. The Lazarus were known to be from old money and owned most of the properties here in Los Angeles.

I know you must be wondering why I was in the house of such a renowned man, well Nicholas and I have a simple agreement. He needs someone to cook special dishes for him and I need his money.

Parking the car in the garage beside a black Range Rover, I turn off the ignition and unhook my seatbelt. Stretching over to the passenger side, I retrieve my handbag and basket that contains all the things I need to prepare today's dish.

4. Claim Your Love As Mine

author: Just_me

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Chapter 1 Steamy Night

"F*ck me!"

Xander Finnegan Archard, the Supreme Alpha of The Bloodmoon Keeper Pack of Jasandeen City, looked at the woman in front of him with a confused look.

It was only a moment, then his orbs which were pitch black in color, turned slowly to a golden color.

Valerie Quinn Rayner, the she-wolf Alpha of The White Crescent Pack, one of the smaller packs of Jasandeen City which is under the protection of the Supreme Alpha, is fascinated by the changing eye color of the handsome man in front of her.

She sniffed the air and her desire that had been running wild since she entered Jasandeen Blue's apartment, grew crazier when the scent of hazelnut, plum, and pine enveloped her and made her even more impatient to immediately sink herself into the arms of the man with golden eyes.

Why was that man just staring at her without doing anything. Is she unattractive or is he a gay man who doesn't like women?

Valerie's request was so clear and it was shown by her not only through speech, but also flirtatiousness and strong scent that emanated from every pore in her body.

Xander slightly bent his body, so that his eyes were level with Valerie's, because the woman was quite petite, not even the top of her head reached Xander's shoulder.

"Are you sure, sweetie?" asked Xander in his sexy husky voice.

Valerie's head felt hot and her intimate parts were throbbing. She didn't know what drink she had drunk earlier so her body was reacting strangely and her mind was out of control.

5. THE LAST OF HIS KIND

author: vecii

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Chapter 1 Prologue

Prologue

THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD

The woman blinked a few times, but the pounding of feet refused to stop. She kept on running, running with a new born baby soundly asleep.

The child she’d given birth to was an abomination. Different from their kind and against the laws of nature and the only solution was the death of the child. Their world was devoid of evil and humans, a world embellished with love and spiritual tranquility. The only thing they feared was the birth of the last one born with the eyes of evil.

As prophesied, it was the birth of a child that would rain both chaos and peace. The mother refused to let her child die because of a mere prophesy. It wasn’t an effulgent sight to be beheld.

There were plenty of burning sticks shining between the forest trees. And she’d made a decision, to cross the boundary that kept them protected for thousands of years from the overworld.

She broke the barrier, to a world she knew nothing about. A Strange bird flew in the air, big things moving fast on the black hard ground. Quickly, she placed the child by the side of the road and ran back inside. Tears rained from her eyes.

After she had been caught for doing wrong, she was held in chains. Beside her knelt other women, weeping, their heads held low and their mouth bleeding profusely.

6. Return Of The Lost Lycan Princess

author: Frankvicky

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Chapter 1 Alice's POV

"I don't like her."

I was in my room when Adam was engrossed in conversation with his friends, I caught bits of words that sent a chill down my spine.

My hand, poised to knock gently, froze in mid-air as I overheard those disheartening remarks from my supposed future mate. Clutched in my trembling fingers was a carefully prepared meal, a dish his parents had assured me was one of his favorites. I had hoped to surprise him, but little did I know that I would be the one taken aback.

My heart sank as Adam's unkind words echoed in my mind. This wasn't the first time I had heard him speak disparagingly about me. He had never been keen on the idea of us being together, always questioning why he should be forced to marry me out of all the women in our pack. His disdain was not a secret, and he made it known to my face.

"She's like a weak child, constantly in need of protection. I refuse to have someone so feeble as my partner. I despise her very existence," he uttered callously.

With a forced smile now replaced by profound sadness, I bit my lower lip, willing my emotions to stay in check. Deep down, I had always known that he would never truly accept me as his future mate. I had strived to meet his standards, but I was never enough, and I never would be.

7. The Almighty Alpha Wins Back His Rejected Mate

author: Rianon Fisk

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Chapter 1 Father's Wedding

Debra's POV:

I stood in a corner, looking at the grand wedding in front of me, the crowd coming and going. However, instead of feeling festive, my heart was full of unwillingness and grievance.

Today was my father's second wedding, and the Silver Ridge Pack was holding a grand wedding ceremony for him since he was the Alpha.

Although this wasn't his first marriage, my father still attached great importance to it. He made sure that the wedding venue was decorated lavishly, and I overheard some people saying that it was even more beautiful than that of his wedding with my mother. My father had also invited many Alphas here, which showed how much he loved and respected his new bride.

But what he failed to realize was that today was also the death anniversary of my mother.

The wedding progressed smoothly, and everyone looked so happy. My mother's grave, on the other hand, was desolate and lonesome, without anyone there to visit her.

I didn't want to be at this stupid wedding. I just wanted to accompany my mother now.

"Debra, where are you going?"

A sharp female voice sounded from not far away, interrupting my conversation with Vicky Todd, my maid.

I turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw my stepmother, Marley Clarkson, and her servant walking to us.

Marley was much younger than my father. In fact, she was only four years older than me. She was the daughter of the Alpha of the Frosty River Pack and exceedingly beautiful. Marley's white wedding dress billowed in the breeze. Her wavy blonde hair framed her face perfectly. She looked as pretty as a porcelain doll.

8. THE ALPHA'S ADDICTION

author: NuvvyKris

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Chapter 1 A NEW HOME

"Bloodugering Hell!" Emma screamed, moving back ten steps away from the dusty cupboard she had tried to clean, while staring apprehensively at the lone cockroach that had made its way out of the cupboard in response to her simulative clean up process. The cockroach negligent of her scaredy face, scurried back into the dusty cupboard, leaving no trace behind.

Skimming her slender fingers through her deep red hair, while staring at the little opening where the cockroach had passed through, Emma heaved a sign of relief. She tossed the now dusty brown rag on the floor which she had used earlier to clean out the kitchen table that stood near the morphy sink, and trudged tiredly to the window which stood at the far end of the kitchen, overlooking the thick dark forest.

Emma watched keenly from the slightly broken window, at a rabbit which hopped from one forest climber to another. And for a minute, she wondered whether the wild animals left the forest range, to harrass the indwellers. She winced at the thought, hoped positively that it was not so. For she hated animals, snakes mostly. The only animals that had survived her taddy hate, was Claire's dog, and that was because it had saved them from buglary last summer.

Turning away from the uncomfortable view, Emma looked around the messy kitchen and sighed again for the umpteenth time.

"What in the bloody hell am I doing here?" She asked herself loudly, as she rubbed her nose intermittently, walking towards a wooden seat she had cleaned out earlier.

9. Hybrid Female Alpha and Her Billionaire Mate

author: THEATK

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Chapter 1 Brain like a Baby

Dark skies, the moon way up in the sky, but I could feel it within the palm of my hand as I laid out there on that rock, bleeding out. I loved him so much that I sought power no one of pureblood in the Ericson lineage has ever sought. I followed a path I knew would definitely bring me shame and eventually, my lonely death if he chose to reject me. Here I am on this rock, I don't even know now whether he's proud of me or not, would he have approved of the methods I used? Well, I guess I'll never know as I feel eternal sleep finding its way to me slowly.

Amore e Morte, those were the last things I recalled myself saying. As I laid there, my mind flashed back to my years being alive, the time I spent in the coffin and the time I became a hybrid.

A little girl, born into the Ericson family, a line of werewolves which were pure-blooded, this means we only had to mate with our kind to preserve our strength and powers for generations. I was named Dianne and the era I was born into or should I say woke up into was a modern world, but I believe I was born way before this era. I've had random flashes of time before and what looks like time after this era. Growing up wasn't really the best, it never held the best experience for me. I always thought it would be over when I grew up and had my stand outside the pack, but I was joking.

“Congratulations Sir Noah, your wife Sarah just gave birth to two boys” That was our family butler, Sir Franklin, and that was the day I was born into the Ericson family.

“Take me to her” And that…..that was my father, Noah Ericson, the alpha of our pack.

“Sir, I think she needs rest now sir”

“Franklin, tell me, how am I supposed to be at ease when I don't even know how my children look like” my father replied in his usual calm but deep masculine voice

“She would be out soon sir, we can go in soon as the maids finish cleaning her up”

10. Alpha's Misconception

author: Wilson Gomes

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Chapter 1 Good News For Karen

"I've reiterated countless times that you will be reunited with your loved ones once you're prepared," Marcus asserted forcefully as Karen swiftly defended her position.

"And when might that be?" she grunted, parrying her sword with his own.

"Excellent move!" he exclaimed, catching his breath. "You have the potential to be a formidable swordswoman if you maintain this level of skill"

Karen knew Marcus was once again dodging her question, feigning ignorance. His actions always angered her, and she suspected he was purposely training her to be more persistent. For eighteen long years, she had endured his frustrating behavior, but she held onto the hope that it would all end today, on her eighteenth birthday.

"I understand, but you still haven't answered my question. When can I finally go outside and see my family?"

"Very soon, but that will be a surprise," Marcus replied slyly, evading her attack with a swift spin.

"Do I even need this training? I'm a werewolf, after all," Karen exclaimed, tossing her sword in the air. She caught it effortlessly and went for a powerful strike at Marcus.

With expert deftness, Marcus deflected her blade and offered a teasing reply. "Yes, there may come a time when these skills will be necessary, and you'll be glad you have them."

The intensity of their sword fight only escalated, the metallic clangs growing louder with each passing moment. Despite Marcus's best efforts, Karen's defense remained impenetrable. Seeing an opening, he aimed a sweeping blow at her feet, but Karen leaped over it and delivered a swift kick to his face.