REBECCA’S POV
"What?" I gasped.
My eyes darted from the tall, dark stone post at the far end of the courtyard back to the massive archer. The distance looked like miles, especially with my broken ribs and battered legs. With the magic choker tightly cutting off my wolf, I couldn’t heal, and I certainly couldn’t run fast. This wasn’t punishnt. It was a slow execution disguised as a test.
"Stand up," King Kaden commanded, his voice echoing like thunder against the courtyard walls.
The guards beside didn’t wait for to move on my own. They grabbed my shoulders, violently yanking to my feet. A sharp pain shot through my chest, forcing a choked cry from my lips. I staggered, my weak knees trembling so badly I could barely balance on the ground.
"Alpha King, please..." I begged, tears blurring my vision as I looked at his cold, unforgiving face. "I can’t run. My ribs... my wolf..."
"You offered your body to a grieving monster, Rebecca," Kaden interrupted coldly, stepping closer until his massive shadow completely swallowed . His bloodshot eyes drilled into mine with a hatred that made my soul shiver. "Did you think my bed would be easy? Did you think surviving a stoning ant you walked away free? If you cannot survive three arrows, you are far too weak to carry my blood."
He turned away from , ignoring my desperate tears, and nodded once to the archer.
The warrior imdiately stepped forward, his expression blank as he reached into his quiver. The sharp, tallic click of a silver-tipped arrow being notched against the bowstring rang through the quiet yard. He raised the weapon, aiming the deadly point straight at my chest.
"You have until the count of three to start running," Kaden’s rough voice bood. "One."
Panic seized my entire body. My heart hamred so violently against my cracked ribs it felt like it would burst.
"Two."
Run! my mind scread.
Fighting the agony tearing through my torso, I turned and forced my broken legs to move. I stumbled forward into a desperate, limping sprint, heading straight for the distant stone post.
"Three."
Behind , the sharp twang of the bowstring snapped through the air.
Instinct took over. I threw my body to the left, crashing hard onto the rough dirt just as a silver arrow whizzed past my ear, embedding itself deeply into the ground ahead with a loud thwack. If I had been a second slower, it would have pierced my skull.
"Ah!" I cried out, rolling onto my side as my broken ribs scread in protest. Blood from my reopened forehead wound began dripping into my eye again, blinding half my vision.
Move! I scread at myself desperately. Move or die!
"First arrow missed," Kaden’s distant voice called out, completely devoid of emotion. "Notch the second."
I scrambled back to my feet, my breaths coming in ragged, sobbing gasps. The stone post was still so far away. I pushed my body past its limits, dragging my feet through the dirt, forcing myself to run through the blinding pain.
Twang!
The second arrow flew. I didn’t have the strength to dive again. I tried to dodge, but the silver tip sliced deeply across the flesh of my thigh.
A loud scream of pure agony tore from my throat as I fell forward, scraping my hands and knees violently against the stones. Hot, rushing blood imdiately began soaking through my torn dress. The magical choker humd heavily against my throat, keeping my wolf locked away, forcing to feel every single ounce of the agonizing pain.
I lay in the dirt, sobbing, my vision fading into darkness. I couldn’t do it. My leg was useless, my chest was crushed, and my enemies had won.
"The final arrow is notched," Kaden announced, his voice drawing closer. "If you do not reach the post before it leaves the string, it will find your heart."
Through the blur of my tears, Monica’s smug face flashed in my mind. If I died here, she and Brandon would live happily ever after, completely innocent in the eyes of the world, while the real Queen’s murderer got away.
No.
A fierce, burning rage ignited deep within my chest, pushing past the pain. I wouldn’t let them win. I would live and prove my innocence.
Using my raw fingernails, I dragged my broken body forward, clawing at the ground, pulling myself toward the base of the stone post.
The bowstring pulled back to its absolute limit, creaking under the archer’s imnse strength.
Twang!
The final arrow tore through the night sky, aid directly between my shoulder blades. With one last, agonizing scream, I lunged forward, throwing my entire weight against the cold stone post just as the arrow slamd violently into the wood right beside my neck, vibrating against my skin.
I had made it.
I slumped against the base of the post, gasping for air, blood pouring from my forehead and my thigh. My body completely gave out, and I slid down into the dirt, staring blankly up at the moon.
Slow, heavy footsteps approached .
King Kaden walked into my blurry line of sight, standing tall above my bleeding form. He looked down at the arrow embedded beside my head, and then at the raw, stubborn glare I gave him through my blood-soaked vision.
For the first ti, a small, dark smirk touched his lips, though his pitch-black eyes remained completely dead.
"Impressive," Kaden whispered, bending down to grab my chin, his claws digging slightly into my skin as he forced to look up at him. "You made a big mistake by surviving."
He leaned closer, his hot, heavy breath brushing against my lips.
"Welco to your living hell, breeder." Kaden’s words echoed in my ears as his large hand released my chin, letting my head drop back against the stone. He turned on his heel and walked away without another word, leaving bleeding and broken.
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