The Lycan King's Secret Daughter novel Chapter 17

SYLRA’S POV

My hands were still shaking.

Even as I paced back and forth on the edge of the training field, the fury in my chest boiled so hot I thought it might tear me apart. I could barely remember the path I’d stormed down—only the echo of that councilman’s voice playing on a vicious loop in my mind.

“Even Caelen Rhys admits she’s unfit.”

I stopped and stared at the ground, as if the dirt might give me a better explanation than the man himself.

The same man who’d told me three days ago that my footwork was cleaner. That my reaction time had sharpened. That my form had become lethal, precise. That I was getting closer to being the kind of wolf who led armies, not just survived them.

Had all that praise been a lie?

I clenched my jaw and spun around when I heard boots approaching.

He was there.

Caelen.

Still rubbing his jaw where I’d punched him the day before. Still composed. Still too calm.

“Don’t,” I snapped, backing away before he even opened his mouth.

But he didn’t listen.

He walked straight up to me and grabbed my arm.

“Let go of me.”

“Not until you tell me what that was about,” he growled. “What did I do, Sylra?”

I yanked my arm free and took a step back. “You told the council I wasn’t ready.”

His brows knitted. “What?”

“Don’t act confused.”

“I’m not acting.”

“I heard it. With my own ears,” I said, voice rising. “One of the council members said you were the one who told them I was unfit to be Queen. That you questioned my ability. And you stood there with your smug little smirk and pretended like we were fine?”

Caelen stepped toward me again, slower this time.

“I never said that.”

“Liar,” I hissed.

“I’m not lying!” His voice was sharp now. “Why the hell would I put you through hours of training every day just to tear you down behind your back?”

“Exactly my question!”

He ran both hands through his hair, exhaling hard. “I submitted a report to the King yesterday, yes. You know what it said?”

I didn’t answer.

“I said you were improving at a rate I’ve never seen. That you were adapting, enduring, and beginning to think like a leader.”

“You expect me to believe that?” I asked.

“I expect you to ask him yourself,” Caelen snapped. “He has the report. Go read it.”

Silence pulsed between us.

He took another breath, slower now. “Maybe… maybe you misheard.”

I laughed once, bitter. “No. I didn’t. I heard it clearly. They named you.”

“Because that’s the Pack Summit. Every Alpha, every council member, every ambitious traitor will be in one place. And that’s where you’ll have to prove yourself—not just as the King’s daughter, but as his successor.”

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