Tamed by the Lycan Prince

22- THE RUN

CHAPTER FOUR

-ANTONIO-

It was now late into the night, almost midnight, and the celebration was coming to its last event; the Run. The Run was an age-old royal tradition. It was a game, a chase under the dance of moonlight. Only the King and Queen's children were allowed to participate in the event. Whichever of the royal offspring reached the age of maturity would have to compete against their older siblings. This would demonstrate the royal's skills and formally initiate them into the competition for becoming the future ruler of the Lycan Empire. Tonight, under the moon, Alina would prove her worth as the princess of the Lycan Empire.

A hush fell over the crowd as King Rasso and Queen Camilla stood in front of their thrones. The stone dais on which they stood was etched with ancestral memories and symbolisms, each telling the tale of a ruler past and their ascension to the throne. King Rasso, an imposing figure of regal stature and commanding presence, lifted his hand. A gold signet ring studded with a royal sapphire gleamed on his finger, mirroring the intensity of his gaze.

"Tonight," he began, his voice echoing throughout the vast hall filled with anticipation. "Tonight, my daughter steps forth under the Moon Goddess's watchful gaze to begin her journey towards her destiny."

The King's voice fell solemnly silent before he continued, "Tonight, under the Moon Goddess and surrounded by the stars that have guided our ancestors for generations, we will witness the initiation of my youngest child, Princess Alina." His voice filled the grand ballroom, imbuing his words with a power that held his audience captive. The crowd erupted into applause, the sound thundering through the hall like a cascading waterfall.

"Let the Run begin," he announced, his voice once again echoing through the hall.

The grand doors opened, revealing the castle's vast outskirts, a playground for the wolves, bathed in silver light. The spectators moved towards the wide windows and balconies that overlooked this expanse, their excited whispers mixing with the cool night wind.

Alina looked at her elder brothers, a glint of determination nestled in her blue eyes. Kinnsion bestowed upon her an encouraging nod - a silent message of solidarity among siblings. He and Antonio had been through the trial, each bearing their own scars and victories. It was a test of Alina's strength and willpower.

Antonio's lips curved upward into a gentle smile as he flashed two thumbs up at Alina. The moment hung in the air like a fragile snowflake before the fall. Alina looked back at her parents, meeting her mother's gaze. Queen Camilla's eyes glistened with a mix of overwhelming pride and a motherly worry that was hard to veil. She gave Alina a barely perceptible nod. It was all she needed.

"The Moon Goddess is upon us," King Rasso continued, his voice carrying over the gathered throng. "Tonight, my daughter carries our legacy on her shoulders. Remember - in our veins runs the blood of Lycans."

With that, he raised his arm and pointed towards the Dark Woods at the edge of the palace. His signet ring glistening under the moonlight. The crowd froze in anticipation as Alina prepared herself to break into a run. She straightened her shoulders, steeling herself for the unknown journey that lay beyond those grand doors. Beads of perspiration formed on her fair forehead, twinkling like tiny stars under the moonlight.

"Alina, my child," King Rasso called out, his voice a mix of authority and affection, "Embrace the moon. Run with the wind. Show them who you are!"

Alina flashed a smile at her father before refocusing on her brothers. Her expression oozed confidence. "Don't even think about taking it easy on me."

Kinnsion's lips hitched up in a reasing smirk, his pale blue eyes gleaming with excitement. "Wouldn't dream of it, baby sis."

"Us? Taking it easy on you?" Antonio replied, his smile widening into a charmingly roguish grin. He threw an arm around Kinnison's shoulders, a gleaming mirror to the wolfish light in his sister's eyes. "We wouldn't dream of it."

"Good, because I won't be holding back either," Alina retorted, her gaze flickering with a jocund defiance.

As if on cue, the moon emerged from behind the thick quilt of clouds, casting an ethereal glow upon the castle grounds and bathing the Dark Woods beyond in an otherworldly luminescence. Its striking silver light reflected off Alina's sapphire blue eyes, revealing a world of fierce resolve within their depths.

With a deep breath that sounded like the sigh of the winds, she took off like a bolt of lightning into the moonlit night. Antonio and Kinnsion followed suit, their forms transforming from regal princes to powerful Lycans. The ground trembled beneath them, as though feeling the anticipation and excitement suffusing the air.

Antonio and Kinnsion went in different directions, their bodies moving with an animalistic grace that came from years of training. Their powerful strides echoed through the silent night, rippling over the still waters of the hidden lake and rustling the quiet leaves of forgotten trees. The moon's glow seemed to embolden them, illuminating their paths and casting long shadows behind them.

Antonio veered to the left, his keen senses guiding him through the dense, moss-laden undergrowth. He was a shadow beneath the towering canopies, his powerful gait echoing the rhythm of the night. The forest came alive around him, its inhabitants stirring in alarm at the presence of a predator. He turned his gaze toward an owl perching high in an ancient oak, its radiant eyes bore into him before it took flight, disappearing into the silver-cloaked night.

In a split second, his eyes locked onto Alina's distant form. He had to admit, his little sister was quick, but he had the advantage of his years and experience. Antonio propelled himself forward with renewed vigor, the thrill of the chase rippling through his veins.

Antonio burst through a thicket of ferns, his heavy claws leaving indents in the damp earth. He could detect Alina's scent, a unique mix of honeysuckle and almond, hanging in the air like a delicate perfume. On and on he ran, leaping over fallen logs and sidestepping jagged rocks with an agility that was both mesmerizing and terrifying. He moved with an ease that bore testament to his inherent prowess as a Lycan prince.

The deeper Antonio ventured into the forest, the more enchanting it became. Moonlight filtered down through the lush canopy above, turning ordinary leaves into luminescent emerald disks. The forest seemed to echo his heartbeat, each beat resonating with the eerie serenity of this wild kingdom. Antonio felt the primal call of the woods, a deep connection forged through centuries of his lineage treading these very paths. His breath came out in whirls of mist, dispersing in the chilled air as he charged on.

Suddenly, Antonio slowed to a halt as the forest fell away to reveal an unexpected landscape. It was a clearing bathed in a brilliant tapestry of moonlight; its centerpiece, a tranquil lake that glittered like a sea of sapphires. On the opposite side of the lake was the territory of the werewolves. The territory was a vast expanse, swirling with mysterious energy that hummed in the very air. Beyond the lake, the forest continued, denser and darker than before, its towering trees casting long, foreboding shadows onto the smooth surface of the lake.

Antonio's parents had always warned him to stay away from the werewolves' territory, as they were not fond of Lycans. Yet, his senses were drawn towards it, like a moth to a flame. Antonio felt a tingling sensation in his nose that was both unfamiliar and enticing - the scent of wild honey and blooming jasmine. It was wonderful, almost magical, a scent that seemed to beckon him forward against his better judgment.

Unable to resist, Antonio slowly crossed the boundary of their territories, his heart pounding with anticipation and worry. He followed the mesmerizing scent. It led him through dense foliage. The scent intensified as he ventured further, a tantalizing blend that seemed to whisper promises of an enigma waiting to be unraveled. It was intoxicating, alluring, wrapping Antonio in a golden cocoon of curiosity and trepidation.