The Alpha King's Mistress Chapter 78: Bow And Arrows

I slowly walked towards it, recognizing the young girl from earlier. She stood poised with a bow in hand, her intent focus fixed on a circular target on the trunk of a nearby tree. The marked lines on the trunk show the girl had been practicing her archery for quite some time.

Quietly leaning against a nearby garden fixture, I watched her. Her small face contorted in a deep frown as if she was going to throw a hand to the tree.

With each attempted shot at the target, her arrows repeatedly missed the mark, and she would let out a deep sigh.

"Hey, your arms seem a bit shaky," I commented as I approached the young girl, noticing her tensed posture and unsteady grip.

Startled by my sudden appearance, the girl looked at me in shock, took a step back, and bowed nervously.

I chuckled softly, "Oh, no need for that. I am just a guest here."

The girl hesitantly raised her head, looking at me. “No, you're not a guest. You're the Alpha’s Mistress.”

“And you think that's an important role?”

“Aha,” she shrugged, “My sister said that the Alpha needs someone to accompany him since the castle can be lonely.”

I smiled at her. She was an eloquent child for such a young age. “What's your name?”

“Lisa.”

I extended my hand to her, “Florence.”

The girl wiped her hand first on her shirt before taking my hand and shaking it. She was staring at me so intensely, making me chuckle.

“Has anyone told you that you are very pretty, like my doll?” she suddenly blurted out, “You're like the prettiest doll I have, which came from the Alpha himself.”

That piqued my interest.

“Does the Alpha give you presents?”

Lisa giggled, “Yeah, he does. Every Christmas, he would give all the children in the pack a gift. But I am special since he gave me and my sister gifts on our birthdays as well.”

A smile crossed my lips. I didn't expect that information from the big and bad Alpha King.

“Do you live here?”

Lisa nodded, “Yup. The maid's quarters are very big, and the Alpha allowed me to stay here.”

“So, what about that old woman, Olga? What really happened back there?”

She clenched her small fist, “Mrs. Olga really did order me to bring the food to the hall herself. I complained to her earlier that the tray was too heavy for me, and since I was practicing archery yesterday, my arms are a bit sore. But she just scolded me and called me a freeloader.”

“What?!” I exclaimed angrily. “I will kill that old hag.”

Lisa chuckled, “You can't. Ms. Samantha liked her.”

“Have you seen me caring for her opinion earlier?” I whispered jokingly.

“No,” she grinned.

I sighed, “Why would she say that to you though?”

"Hmm... Mrs. Olga never really liked me and my sister. My sister's guess was because she was appointed by the Alpha to clean his room after just being here for five years when Mrs. Olga did it for decades. She also didn't like it when the Alpha supported my studies and hobby of archery."

"Nicholas—I mean, the Alpha does?"

"Yes. He supports me, that's why I do my best at school."

I couldn't help but ruffle her chestnut and curly hair. "I'm sure he knows it. So, make sure not to listen to Mrs. Olga. It's the Alpha who wanted to do it, not her. Okay?"

She nodded and smiled at me. "Yes, Ma'am!"

I extended my hand towards her and asked, "Mind if I take a shot?"

Looking at me with surprise and doubt, she cautiously handed over her bow and arrow. I took them gently, smiling at her. I examined the well-crafted bow, noting its quality craftsmanship. With a confident stance, I raised the bow, aligning it carefully, taking a moment to focus on the target.

Drawing back the arrow, I aimed, adjusting my posture slightly before releasing it with a fluid motion. The arrow soared through the air, landing precisely at the center of the target with a satisfying thud. A delighted gasp escaped the girl as the arrow found its mark.

"THAT’S A BULLSEYE!"

"Yeah, it is," Chuckling at her reaction, I turned to her, "Did your older sister—I mean, the woman named Lena—get this bow and arrow for you?"

"How did you know the maid earlier was my sister?"

"It was pretty obvious. She seemed ready to defend you with her life, and both of you are equally beautiful. It was easy to connect the dots."

Sighing softly, she replied, “Yes, the maid earlier is my older sister. She bought me this bow because she knew I wanted one, but I was not good at it.”

"You know, I think your sister would be proud to see you using the bow instead of letting it sit hidden somewhere"

“You think so?”

Glancing over at the target where the arrow still stood embedded in the center, I smiled warmly at her. "You're making an effort, and that counts for a lot. It shows that you appreciate the gift she gave you. And before we get good at something, we need to put in a lot of time and hard work”

"Did you... do that too?"

"Hell yeah. Took me years to get the hang of archery."

Lisa pouted, "That sounds like forever."

I couldn't help but laugh and finally offered, "Would you like some help with your stance? I mean…you are good but you can work more in your stance and grip to be able to hit your target”

“You will help me?!” she exclaimed, eyes sparkling.

I winked at her, “I’ll just give you some tips” then gave back the bow and arrow to her.

She took her bow and arrows, prepared to take aim at the target once more. I guided her, gently adjusting her arms and the hold on the bow.

"It's important to calm yourself before releasing the arrow. Make sure your arms and legs aren't tense. It is important to try to keep your stance relaxed, imagine yourself as steady as the tree behind you. Don't rush; take your time to aim. Focus your gaze on the center of the target. Picture where you want the arrow to land and breathe slowly."

Lisa complied with my instructions, taking a deep breath and loosening her tense body.

I gently adjusted her grip on the bow and the position of her fingers on the string. "Ensure your fingers pull back the string smoothly……imagine it's like drawing a line with a pencil on paper, steady and controlled,"

She nodded, “Okay”

"Once you're set, let that arrow go with a smooth, easy motion. No need to yank the string; just let it flow," I advised.

Giving her an encouraging nod, I positioned myself behind the young girl, guiding her arms as she prepped for the release. Placing my hands over hers, I made sure her stance was solid, and her grip on the bow was chill but firm.

"Deep breath. Eyes on the prize," I whispered near her ear.

As the tension in her arms eased, I helped her keep it steady. Feeling her ready, I whispered, "Now, let the arrow go gently, and follow through smoothly."

With a gentle but firm nudge, we released the arrow together, ensuring it moved like silk. The arrow soared, hitting its mark—the Inner White or 8-Ring, just outside the red.

A grin of triumph lit up the young girl's face. "YES! WE NAILED IT! WHOA!"

"You sure did," I stepped back. "Now, give it another shot."

Lisa nodded, took a deep breath, and fired another arrow. My eyes tracked its path. It landed in the Red or 9-Ring, close to the line. A definite improvement and a smile played on my lips.

"YES!"

In a burst of excitement, Lisa threw her arms around me in an unexpected hug.

"That's the closest I've ever come!" she exclaimed.

I instinctively hugged her back, giving her a pat on the back. "That was a killer shot! Wanna go for another round?"

She nodded eagerly, getting ready. I settled on the ground, absentmindedly grabbing a nearby stick. Seeing her arms sag a bit, I gently tapped her arm, prompting her to lift it back into position.

"Focus on the target, take a deep breath," I murmured softly.

With a steadying hand, I guided her through the motions, ensuring she was positioned correctly and ready to release the arrow. For the second time, she hit the target again, now closer to gold or 10 rings.

"Wow, you're getting even closer to the center now! You're a natural at this," I praised the girl, feeling a burst of pride at how quickly she was picking it up.

“Thanks, Florence!” Lisa giggled, bouncing with excitement.

Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly. The young girl and I shared a chuckle.

"Guess it's time for lunch," I chuckled, rising to my feet “I think we should head inside—”

I was cut off by a very familiar voice unexpectedly echoing nearby.

“You two are already late for lunch”

Before I turned, I already smelt that natural and intoxicating scent of Nicholas. I turned to my left, seeing him standing a few meters away from us. His unexpected presence took me by surprise, momentarily leaving me at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the young girl respectfully greeted him with a bow and waved at him with a grin after.

“Hi, Alpha!”

Nicholas smiled and waved back, “Hey, Tinkerbell”