The next day kicked in like normal, for normal people, the beast's glare into my eyes before it was killed by my mate haunted me even in my sleep. And I winced, the pain in my shoulder blade had subsided compared to when Garrett was applying ointments a few hours ago.
"What are you doing get down here?" Said my trainer, Garrett, I plopped into the training ground and the morning sun reflected on my face, I used my hand as a shield as I walked past the archers, their efficiency was undisputed, it was different from what they had back in the packhouse. Fast, uniform and experienced as if ready for war."Good morning sir," I said and he barely looked at me as he got his hands full. A slightly worried frown knitted on my face but I looked at him, for once I saw light in what he did, how he does it with passion as he positioned the boy before him.He placed his hands on his waist and focused his hands properly on the bow."Pull out your chest, not too much, relax and release.""Archery is an art and art isn't supposed to look beautiful, your perception makes it."He was right I thought, knowing his words didn't only partake in archery alone."Nice work out here, trainer," I said, I prefer calling him trainer because he is one, and more so I couldn't disrespect the fact that he already had grey hairs sprung out of his deep black hair."You shouldn't be out already," he said and I smiled at him lightly. "What about you, are you less injured than I'm?" I meant running my hands through my head before pointing at his bandaged ribs. And he let out a chuckle, "I'm a warrior." He reminded me of me. He was right, no one cared how they felt even after suffering losses they put up a strong face and pretend as if it doesn't reach them.We were chatting and laughing at the very least, I also learnt from him, he experienced more than I thought and reminded me of the alchemist, just me being stubborn back then, barely listening to him."Is there anything you don't know?" I said and his jovial expression changed instantly." Did I do something wrong?" I asked worried as to why he had flinched."No, you didn't just that–""You can tell me I won't judge you," I assured him and he loosened his face, I knew something bothered him."Uhm, I lost my family in the last war that had occurred between Ramanov and the elven clan," he said as he turned his face away."That doesn't make you a coward, you know, it must have been hard for you." I tried to assure him, and relieve the guilt it might have inflicted on him."I wasn't there to save my five-year-old baby and her mother." His face twisted, and I couldn't help it, I know the pain he felt, I've been there when the only thing you cared about goes all up against you."But you tried your best I'm sure, you ain't a person to give up easily.""Anyway sorry for bothering you, I'll leave you to your training," I said turning to leave and I was busy selecting the lightest among the sword racked up. I didn't want him to get into emotional trauma.He smiled and returned to the field, I trailed behind him with the sword I had taken, I was eager to learn swordsmanship, at least if I couldn't shift I could be fast and expedient, to standout for myself."You're weak to standout." He said eyeing my shoulder blade briskly."And yet we shouldn't succumb to it." I winked at him, circumstances do make people get closer, especially Garrett, I thought he was proud and cold-hearted, realizing he was more lively than his daily expression, I've grown fond of my trainer, he was comfortable to train with I smiled.I launched the sword in my hand in attack in the air clashing with his in defence giving a metallic sound. This went on for minutes. Clang clang."Gotchya," I said."Do not relax at supposed victory." He said and in a blink of an eye, he was already pointing his sword at me."How can I beat you?" I asked teasingly."Staying alert."We trained and I found a mark on his hand, he had concealed this wearing long sleeves always, even in summer, but my knife tore through it, "You're from sunju pack?" I asked, the mark was a representation of a crescent moon and a star, He rapidly covered it and I could see he was scared of people finding out his identity.We all have our pasts, and this gave me an understanding of trying to blend in and what he had done yesterday in the carrier with the girl. Covering up my scent using hers."Yes, during the first fall some of us ran to neighbouring packs and it happened I had been one of them." Sanju pack was currently run by a Japanese luna, she had her pack reside in Vienna and they were all rogues considering their special skills in kung-fu."But you kept it hidden, why?" I asked, surprised at how he had gone unnoticed."Andrea's father, had taken us in when all other packs rejected us, he gave me home – no one is as brave as you're Lucia, so I prefer to go unnoticed," he said and I blushed a little, he was the only one that didn't slander me for who I am."I want to be like you, be strong against my enemies," I don't know where the word is coming from but it gave a jolt of joy to my wolf, Garrett chuckled and threw a stick into my pact."You're too inexperienced practising with a blade." He said and I didn't hesitate.Claire walked past us, she noticed how I wasn't interested in talking to her and took my dedication to my practice as a confirmation. Honestly, she reminded me a little of myself in the past, feeling traces of loneliness and desire to be acknowledged by her."No matter how you try you can never become perfect." She mouthed and I didn't flinch at her words."Let's have a drink together." I proposed after giving it a sensible thought, and my ribs were aching for the six hours straight practice on the field.We studied each other's movements and facial expressions waiting for who to talk to first. I was okay with the way she had reacted, who wouldn't? We were uncomfortable and that is okay, we're equal to rivals.I gently pushed the teacup towards her and she peered through it."It's the nicest tea I've had since I came here." I started, killing the silent aura that surrounds us.She wasn't touching it and was staring at the teacup so strangely that one could say it was made out of dirty water."Why did you want to have a drink with me?" She opened up, I narrowed my eyes and my heart sank."Just so you don't get mad at Andrea for saving my life." It baffled me how I've mouthed it out so easily, the woman I hated for taking away my mate, I'm here begging her not to be mad at him. I couldn't deny I felt pity towards my tenderness.But then her eyes began to water, moistened and a pretentious smile twitched on her lips."Just get out of here and go back to where you came from, you think I'll welcome you by acting all innocent and simple? Never!"She spat at me, then got to her feet, I closed my eyes and then turned them to the left, relaxing my heart, and how she might have perceived me.Chapter nineI'd go to the woods not too deep to practice. Garrett gave me the motivation to do what I can and found it easy to adapt to his tactics since I decided to be like him, sometimes and no one catches a glimpse of me going out in the woods. Today Andrea did catch me sneaking out."What are you doing getting into the woods, you might get injured or probably kidnapped." He said coming out of the shadow as if I'm the only one that goes to the woods, what of shifters, they go to the wood to release their wolves and I've not heard of any casualties."Are you starting to care about your mate?" I said rolling my eyes and he scoffed, "What made you say that?" He questioned with little concern."Well, I don't know, maybe you are choosing your ex-girlfriend over your mate." He looked around a hint of a smile tugged at his face and came closer to me and my heart pondered as his hands fiddled under my cheek down to my neck, stupid mate bond I said to my wolf who is submitting to Andrea'
The cold breeze I felt on my body was sharp, damp and dingy, and afterwards came a warm feel of the blanket that spread on my body, and Fiona's hand wrapped into mine.I turned and tossed wincing in pain, the marbled wall of the room cornered me and I was given a herb to drink."Lucia, are you alright?" called out quickly Fiona, heaving a sigh as I tried to push myself to a seat."What happened?" I asked, the only memory I had was when I collapsed calling out to her for help on the terrace. I looked around, seeing the beads and the inscriptions on the wall. I recognised the scents of herbs and a sigh of relief escaped through my mouth. "Yes, we're in the old woman's cabin, you had collapsed." She said curtly, and I looked at her pleased."I was scared I had to call for her help," she stressed further."Hey, don't fidget, I'm thankful," I said, giving her a sharp smile."You were just unconscious earlier, your friend had done a great job, you could have given up the ghost out there."
Awkwardly I stood there gaping at him, narrowing my eyes as I looked at him, he raised a question. "Is there something wrong?" "Collins," I called the name stuttering on my feet, "what I'm I supposed to do now?" Fear crept through my spine and the sunlight erupted through the room. I brandished the necklace in my hands. I did my best to keep calm but my mind kept wandering to Collins. At some point, I realized I shouldn't have left without him that night, but I had no other option, is it that my stepmom is dead and my dad pressured him to bring me home?"He's Romanov's prisoner." He said, giving me a stream of reminders; he had told me during summer he'll come to Vienna and find me, and then we'll go sightseeing. Did something go wrong? Andrea stared at me."Help me get him out." I pinned his hands pleadingly, knowing what I'm asking of him cannot be possible, he scowled at me and I bit my lips thinking through. With a plunged sensation, I realised Andrea was walking towards me, then
Our eyes bored into each other, and I couldn't decipher what to do. She swayed her hands in the air and made contact."We have to go right now." She said, ignoring my question, dragging me and moving as quickly as the hilly. I lost all sense of how far we had gone or where we were.We walked through the woods, my leg slipping on fallen leaves that covered the ground and Claire, busy leading the way not looking back. I paced my leg to catch up with her, my breath coming out in my grasp. She didn't say a word to me as the hours went on,"Wait for me." I cried out, I fell forward and I put out my hand struggling and thrashing to break the fall. Claire never minded I had to struggle behind her, even with the doubt of its safety I still followed my enemy or was she proving herself as a good person, whatever, I shrugged it off."If you keep this way your shirt will be ruined before we even go there, and end up landing us to patrol wolves." She cautioned me, and I stayed quiet, it was more o
"Where I'm I, Collins, Claire–" I groaned in pain and the room sent echoing sounds of my voice towards me.I could feel my body lying on the cold harsh floor and the room was empty as the cold pierce through me. There stood a stool and a guard far away from where I was struggling. I craned my head around. Am I in an underground dungeon somewhere chained to a wall?Hey, hey what am I doing here, where am I?!" I shout out from my end to call his attention but he moved, my eyes trailed behind him I had laid there crumpled up unable to talk or move even an inch,My hands and legs were fastened and I didn't have the strength to try any crazy shenanigans like wriggling on the floor like a worm. The guard discussed with other guys standing with him. I craned my head again but realized I was the only one in the room. Was I being delusional? I wondered, shaking my head with my hand.A loud rumbling sound escaped my stomach and I suddenly realized I have gone several hours without eating break
He let me free from my shackles and I trotted to Collins, pushing him in for a hug, "Oh Collins," I called his name whimpering. The guard wanted to push me away from his embrace and Ramanov signalled him to let us be, as I saw some trace of humanity in him. Ramanov wasn't as heartless as I thought, that is not what mattered right now, I was delighted to meet Collins."I heard you came here with a friend, what was her name?" Collins asked."Claire, I think she's matured enough to take care of herself, that's what Ramanov told me," I whispered in his ear."Andrea's mate." He stopped us as we were leaving his cabin and I looked over my shoulder."You impress me that I want you within the walls of my cabin." He communicated intrinsically with me and my heart skipped a beat, was he truly the old woman's son? He seemed to have inherited her mind control, he smirks and continued what he was doing, it was easy to get Collins out and I was glad I did what I had to do, all thanks to Lucia, "C
I looked up to his shadows through the broken beams of the moon that reflected on my face."Answer me!" He shouted, glancing at me, something flashed across his face, something that looked like anger or maybe even pain. Without another word, he walked away from me."I don't understand." I said lightly.Tetttccchh, He let out an annoying scoff, I watched him disappear into the darkness and I felt a sensation of guilt. Don't be a fool, my wolf chastised me, he's soon to marry Claire, he is an Alpha and you didn't hurt his feelings. But the thought of the look that had flickered on his face, the shame in his voice when he asked, was that jealousy, maybe resentment? He must have misunderstood Collins and me."Andrea, don't be like this," I shouted out running behind him as he walked to the woods to release his wolf. "Andrea, I'm sorry," I didn't know what I had done, but he did make him slow down. This was no secret. The fact that he was gentle, charismatic and charming. He sighed, "I c
Perusing through the letter, I saw Ramanovs name written boldly at the brim with some anticipating heart signs. I couldn't believe he wanted to test my wolf power when I practically had none. I said to my wolf. I ran to the compartment, after hearing the toll bell, what transpired to have them engage everyone so early in the morning, I became scared as the thought wandered. Alpha Andrea looked around before pocketing his hands through his pants he then leaned in and said, "how about we keep what happened yesterday to ourselves." "Why?" I asked and his face narrowed, does it have to do with what Ramanov had told me about? That's very unrealistic, Andrea was too charismatic and his leadership springs through his people to be nothing less than a monster. "At least can you do this for me?" He requested and I did nothing to help his request, but keep quiet, a lot was going on in my head, from what Ramanov said to what Is about to happen, one could say my brain was in a market. Since I