MARKED BY THE RUTHLESS HYBRID

The library was the only place in the palace where nobody could tell me what to do.

Which was exactly why I loved it.

I was sprawled across one of the long velvet couches with a book balanced against my knees, completely ignoring the fact that I was supposed to be in the training grounds twenty minutes ago.

I turned the page.

Another.

Then another.

I was just reaching the good part when—

“Astrid.”

I froze.

Not because I was scared.

Okay, maybe a little.

I slowly lowered the book until I could see my mother standing at the end of the couch with her arms folded across her chest.

Lucy stared at me.

I smiled.

She didn’t.

“Hi, Mother.”

“Don’t ‘hi, Mother’ me.”

I sighed and closed the book. “You found me.”

“I didn’t have to find you. Half the palace knows where you disappear to whenever you’re supposed to be training.”

“Then I suppose I need a better hiding place.”

“Astrid.”

I bit back a grin.

That was the thing about my mother. She could be terrifying when she wanted to be, but she was still human. Which meant she couldn’t chase me through the forest at Lycan speed when I decided to run.

Not that I had ever tested that theory.

Much.

“Training,” she reminded me.

“I remember.”

“You’ve been saying that for the past hour.”

“I’ve had a very busy hour.”

“Reading?”

“Research.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Research?”

“I’m a princess. I need to be educated.”

“You’re turning eighteen, Astrid. You need to be prepared.”

I groaned and dropped my head against the couch.

There it was.

The speech.

My eighteenth birthday had somehow become everyone’s favorite excuse to remind me that my life was about to become even more complicated.

“You’re a princess,” Mother continued. “You’re the daughter of the Alpha Lycan King. You’re a hybrid. Your wolf is maturing, and soon you’ll be expected to take your place beside your father.”

“Wonderful.”

“You’ll have responsibilities.”

“Even better.”

“You’ll have enemies.”

“Now you’re really selling it.”

She walked over and snatched the book from my hands.

“Hey!”

I sat upright.

Mother held it out of my reach.

“Give it back.”

“No.”

“Mother.”

“No.”

“That’s my book.”

“And this is my daughter.”

“You’re abusing your authority.”

“I am your mother.”

“Exactly. Which means you should be supporting my hobbies.”

“You have been reading for three hours.”

“Four.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

I shrugged.

“At least I’m honest.”

She shook her head, but I caught the tiny smile she tried to hide.

That was my mother.

She could lecture me until the moon disappeared, but she could never stay angry for long.

I stood and reached for the book.

She lifted it higher.

I stared at her hand.

Then at her.

“Seriously?”

“Astrid, you cannot keep avoiding training.”

“I don’t avoid training.”

“You ran away from Beta Lewis yesterday.”

“He was trying to make me do fifty squats.”

“You’re a hybrid.”

“Exactly. I already have strong legs.”

Mother stared at me.

I stared back.

She sighed.

“Training. Now.”

I snatched my book when she finally lowered her arm.

“Fine.”

“And Astrid?”

I paused at the doorway.

“If I find out you’ve been running in the forest alone again—”

“I would never.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I’m actually a very convincing liar.”

“Go.”

I grinned.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She threw a cushion at my head.

I ducked and laughed as I ran from the library.

I changed into my training clothes and stood in front of the mirror, tying my silver hair into a high ponytail.

My reflection stared back at me.

Pale skin. Silver hair. Strange silver eyes.

Everyone in the palace loved telling me how beautiful I looked.

I didn’t really care.

Pretty didn’t help much when someone was trying to punch you in the face.

My outfit was simple: fitted white combat pants, a sleeveless white top, and lightweight boots. The royal crest was stitched into the side of my shirt, because apparently even when I was sweating and getting kicked around, everyone needed to know I was a princess.

I grabbed the dagger sitting on my table and slipped it into the sheath strapped to my thigh.

That, I liked.

Weapons made far more sense than crowns.

I left my room and headed toward the training grounds.

The moment I stepped outside, the cold evening air hit my face.

And I smiled.

This was the part I actually liked.

The palace was beautiful, but sometimes the walls felt like they were closing in around me.

The training grounds didn’t.

They smelled like earth, sweat, steel and freedom.

Beta Lewis was waiting for me in the center of the field.

He was built like a mountain and had been training me since I was a child.

He looked at the sky.

Then at me.

“You’re late.”

“I was busy.”

“Doing what?”

“Being a princess.”

He snorted.

“You were reading.”

“Same thing.”

“Not even remotely.”

I grinned.

Lewis shook his head. “Come on, little wolf.”

I stepped onto the training field.

“What are we doing today?”

“Speed.”

My grin widened.

“Finally.”

Lewis raised an eyebrow. “You’re awfully confident.”

“I know.”

“You haven’t even started.”

“I don’t need to.”

“That’s exactly the attitude that gets you knocked on your ass.”

“Then you’d better try.”

His mouth twitched.

“There she is.”

I knew exactly what he meant.

The moment training started, everything else disappeared.

The palace.

My title.

My mother’s lectures.

My father’s expectations.

I was just me.

Lewis sprinted first.

I followed.

The world blurred.

Wind tore through my hair as my feet hammered against the ground. The distance between us disappeared almost instantly.

Lewis glanced over his shoulder.

I laughed.

“Too slow, Uncle!”

“Don’t get cocky!”

“I think it’s too late!”

I pushed harder.

My body responded effortlessly. Every muscle felt stronger than it had the day before. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless and eager.

I loved this.

I loved the feeling of speed.

I loved knowing there was something inside me that could outrun almost anything.

And most of all, I loved the fact that nobody could tell me to slow down.

We reached the edge of the forest.

I stopped.

Lewis skidded to a halt beside me.

He looked at me.

I looked at the trees.

He immediately frowned.

“No.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinking it.”

“I was thinking about absolutely nothing.”

“Astrid.”

I smiled innocently.

He pointed toward the palace.

“Back to the training grounds.”

I groaned.

“Why?”

“Because your father specifically told me not to let you run into the forest alone.”

“My father tells you a lot of things.”

“And I’m paid to listen to him.”

“That’s disappointing.”

He laughed.

I turned toward the trees one more time.

The forest called to me.

It always did.

Something about the endless trees and the cool wind made me feel like I could finally breathe.

But before I could make a run for it, Lewis grabbed the back of my shirt.

“Absolutely not.”

I looked over my shoulder.

“You’re ruining my childhood.”

“You’re eighteen.”

“Exactly. I’m practically ancient. Let me have fun.”

He dragged me back toward the field while I complained the entire way.

Once we returned, he finally drew his sword.

My eyes lit up.

“Now we’re talking.”

He attacked.

I barely moved before his blade sliced through the air where my head had been.

I ducked and swept my leg beneath his.

He jumped over it.

I spun.

He blocked my next strike.

Steel clashed against steel.

This was my favorite part.

No lectures.

Lewis lunged.

I dodged.

He swung again.

I blocked.

Then I caught his wrist, twisted, and nearly knocked the sword from his hand.

His eyes widened.

I grinned.

“Got you.”

“Almost.”

He kicked my leg.

I stumbled.

He tapped his sword against my shoulder.

“Dead.”

I looked at the blade.

Then at him.

“That doesn’t count.”

“It absolutely counts.”

“You cheated.”

“I’ve been fighting for thirty years.”

“Sounds like an excuse.”

Lewis laughed.

I attacked again.

This time he wasn’t holding back.

Neither was I.

We moved faster, trading blows until my lungs burned and sweat dampened my hair.

Finally, Lewis stepped back.

He lowered his sword.

I did the same, breathing hard.

He studied me for a moment before smiling.

“You’re getting better.”

“Obviously.”

“Still arrogant.”

“Also obviously.”

He shook his head.

“One day, that attitude is going to get you into serious trouble.”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“Maybe.”

Then I smiled.

“But it’ll be fun.”

Lewis laughed.

“You really are your father’s daughter.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t tell him that.”

“Why?”

“Because then he’ll start giving me speeches about royal behavior.”

Lewis chuckled.

I looked toward the forest again.

The sun was disappearing behind the trees, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

For a moment, I forgot about everything.

Then I felt it.

A strange pull in my chest.

I frowned.

The feeling was gone almost as quickly as it came.

Lewis noticed.

“What?”

I shook my head.

“Nothing.”

But I kept staring at the forest.

Something had changed.

I just didn’t know what.