{ZEPH}

“Master Damian,” I bowed my head, my training overriding the shock and anger of simply being in the same space as him. Had my eyes met his, I knew for sure that he’d punish me. Though, I knew better not to look any Inhuman in the eye.

It was ingrained in me-in all humans-to never meet the eyes of inhumans. They were considered our betters and it was considered most disrespectful.

As Master Alaric turned back to Damian, discussing matters I couldn’t focus on, a wave of anxiety washed over me. The recklessness of my actions during the attack crashed down on me. I had attacked a Lycan King-the Lycan King.

The potential consequences-they were terrifying.

“Zeph?” I heard my Alpha say, his voice bringing me back to currents. “You’ve done well today. You’re dismissed for the evening.”

“Thank you, Master Stone.” I bowed my head slightly and immediately headed for the door. When I realized that he’d never moved.

“Master Damian,” I said as humby as I knew how. “It is…a pleasure to receive you.”

“Well, we both know that’s not true, little human,” he said to me. “Disobedient…and a liar.”

I certainly didn’t want to see Master Alaric’s expression of confusion or curiosity. I didn’t respond. What could I say?

“I’d appreciate a little less disrespect when addressing my vassal, Damian,” Master Alaric defended.

“Hmph,” he scoffed. “Right, it’s clear we need to discuss further, present company excluded.

Oh, I am in trouble!

“Seems so,” my Master finally said with clear curiosity in his tone. “Well, you’ve done well today, Zphreya,” he emphasized as if he knew that I hadn’t done so good the day before. His words were kind, cautious, and dismissive. “I will call you if I need anything.”

“Yes, Master Stone.”

As I took my leave, the Sigma having finally moved from the doorframe, I felt his gaze on me, heavy and intense, even as Alaric continued to speak. A shiver ran down my spine-a mix of apprehension and a strange, unwelcome awareness.

Unable to shake the feeling of unease, I found myself drawn to the training grounds later that evening.

The familiar weight of a practice blade in my hand, the rhythm of combat drills-it was a way to ground myself, to find a semblance of control. But even there, the memory of Damian’s strength, the burning intensity of his gaze, lingered, fueling my movements with desperate energy.

After I overexerted myself from training, I waited to see if Master Alaric would call for me. When he didn’t, I decided to retreat into the basement to my quarters, take a shower and decompress as much as I could before I undoubtedly got my butt handed to me tomorrow.

I sat on the edge of my bed, considering opening a book to read when a soft knock at my door startled me. At first I thought it was Master Alaric raring to hand my butt to me on a platter.

But it was Lyra.

Admittedly, despite our hot and cold relationship, I was glad that it was her instead of the Alpha.

“Hi, Mistress,”

“Oh, you can drop the act, Zeph,” she said to me. “Noone’s around,” she shrugged and leaned against the wall of my room. “We both know you’re too…family to actually keep calling me that when no one’s around.”

There was a bit of annoyance in this confession. I knew that Lyra wasn’t necessarily pleased about the fact that Master Alaric thought so fondly of me as a human.

He’d found me as an infant, and told me many times that it was never his intention to keep me. I’d been found during an attack on the town, and he was going through something with his mate that I could fix.

I’d never met his love, but it was clear that there were…unresolved feelings where she was concerned. I did hear enough to know that I loved her, and that she loved me. So much so, that I was the encouragement that she needed to try one last time with Master Alaric, to have a child.

It was this last time that she actually went to full term and gave birth to Lyra.

We grew up close until Lyra began to notice the differences. Then one day, she became wild with…hunger and tried to attack me. Things changed after that. For a while, she wasn’t even allowed near me. That only made her resentment grow.

Why was Zeph so special? Why wasn’t she trusted to go near her? Then it became, why do you care so much for this lowly human? Our once symphonic relationship digressed into something far more….complex over the years. But some part of me still felt that she cared about me.

“Well, if you’d prefer me to call you, Mistress then that’s what I will do. No matter what he thinks,” I then said. “You are my better, after all.”

“Glad you know,” she said after a moment of thought. There was a hint of teasing in there somewhere. I’d hoped.

My gaze lingered to the closed book on my nightstand as I asked. “Is there something that I can do for you?”

She chuckled. “Unless you’re willing to find me a human snack, then no,” said Lyra.

Yeah, human. Because Inhumans fed on humans. There was a sustenance there that I just could not understand. And as a human, it wasn’t for me to, I guess.

“No,” she said again, bringing my thoughts back to currents. “I watched you today…something was off.”

“How do you mean?” I asked. Surely, my distracted mind wasn’t that noticeable. “Did I do something wrong today?”

“Hm, not necessarily,” she answered. “But you kept…dazing off. Looked like you were worried. Still do,” she said, then tilted her head to the side as she said. “Any particular reason why that is?”

I wasn’t sure that this was the best idea, but it’s not like I had anyone else to confide in. Even the other humans didn’t know whether it was alright to befriend me or not. Not like my position was normal for a human.

So, Lyra was my confidante. At least during the rare occasions that I did choose to confide.

“I…might have committed a mortal sin against…someone of great importance. Something that…could most definitely get me into trouble.”

Lyra’s ears perked up and her eyebrow rose in curiosity and…maybe concern?

“That night…during the attack?”

“Yeah?”

“There…was a guy…big guy…Inhuman…I might’ve…had a…slightly…physical confrontation with him?”

“Oo, yikes!” she said. “Well, yeah, that can suck, but you probably can get away with-”

“I…I’m sorry to cut you off, Lyra, but…I…I don’t think it’s-it’s not that simple.”

“How?” She shrugged. “I mean, you’ll probably be reprimanded by daddy but other than that-”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“You’re his golden child. Of course, it’s that simple.”

There was that hint of resentment again.

“I’m just his glorified butler, Lyra. You are the golden miracle.”

She scoffed. “Regardless, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

I shook my head. “Lyra, it was…it was the Lycan King?”

“What? What do you mean-”

“The one I got into a fight with…it was Damian Gallo…the Lycan King.”

Lyra’s reaction was immediate and stark, her eyes widening, her casual expression replaced with a flicker of genuine alarm.

“Zeph…you…you fought a Lycan King? The Lycan King?” she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief. She chuckled, but it was an uneasy one. “Emberwood’s Golden Child…finally made a big mistake.”

A cold dread settled in my stomach. Lyra was right. The consequences of my actions, they were very significant. Just as significant as I had imagined.

When Lyra finally left, despite her attempts at reassurance, I still was panic-stricken. I was left alone, now, with my thoughts, and the chilling reality of my transgression against an extremely powerful, extremely important Inhuman. The thought weighed heavily on my conscience. Suddenly, the unsettling presence of the Lycan King hung even heavier over Emberwood. Like a thunderous cloud. And I knew that I’d be caught in this storm.