Reborn to Claim the Lycan Throne

I sheathed my claws, glaring down at the men before me.

But then, Valeria spoke, her voice soft and trembling. “She stole the techniques while Hayes and I were training!” she declared. “This is the true Northern Pack combat style!”

With Hayes supporting her, she weakly swung her claws a few times, her movements deliberately frail. My eyes darkened as I watched her, until I was practically glaring at her with a predator’s intensity.

She was mimicking my father’s techniques—techniques he had guarded fiercely, never allowing outsiders to learn them. How had she managed to steal them? Unless… there was a traitor among us.

My gaze snapped to Hayes, disbelief flooding me. Had he really betrayed our father for this woman?

I shoved Valeria mid-performance, sending her tumbling to the ground, and turned to Hayes, my voice cold and accusing. “You dared to betray our father?”

For a moment, panic flickered in Hayes’ eyes, but he quickly composed himself, turning to Valeria. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he snapped.

“Valeria,” he urged, “if she won’t believe it, show her the royal pendant!”

Valeria stood, her expression spiteful, and pulled a pendant from her robe. “This was given to my mother by the Lycan King himself,” she sneered. “It’s one of a kind. What do you have to say now?”

My eyes widened as I stared at the pendant in her hand. “How did you get that?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

Valeria smirked. “My mother was ill, so she entrusted it to me.”

“Ill? She was fine just days ago!” I shot back, my mind racing. A terrifying thought struck me. Had they infiltrated my mother’s inner circle? Had they harmed her too?

Panic surged through me, and before I could react, Kolton lunged at me, pinning me to the ground. More hands joined in, and despite my struggles, I was quickly restrained.

Valeria strode over, her smile cruel as she kicked me. “That’s for hitting me earlier,” she spat. “Let’s see what tricks you have left now!”

I let out a bitter laugh, spitting a mouthful of blood at her face.

Palmer’s expression darkened instantly. “Someone, pierce her shoulder blades and strip her of her aura,” he ordered coldly. “Let’s see how defiant she can be without it.”

The pain exploded in my shoulders as the hooks tore through my flesh, the metallic scent of blood filling the air. I bit down hard, stifling a scream, but a strangled cry still escaped me.

“Can’t handle it?” Valeria taunted, crouching beside me. Her sharp nails dug into my chin as she leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. “Just wait until we turn you into a broken shell. Then you’ll know what real pain feels like.”

Her words unlocked the darkest corners of my memories—the agony of losing my limbs in my past life, the searing stench of burning flesh, the grimy hands of those who tormented me.

I shuddered but then laughed, the sound bitter and hollow.

“What’s so funny?” Valeria snapped, her hand raised to strike me.

“I’m laughing at how stupid you all are,” I spat, blood staining my teeth. “Do you really think no one in this world knows who the true Lycan Princess is?”

Their faces paled, their confidence wavering.

At that moment, a commanding voice echoed through the hall, cutting through the tension like a blade.

“Isn’t this supposed to be a marking ceremony? Why does it smell like blood? What’s going on here?”

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the figure at the entrance.