Rejected At The Altar, Claimed By The Lycan King

11

Zara's POV

Sage's fist connected with my ribs making me stumble back gasping for air. The training ground spun around me with sweat dripping into my eyes as my body screamed for rest.

"Get up," Sage commanded.

I forced myself upright with my arms trembling. My legs felt like they belonged to someone else.

But the physical pain wasn't the worst part.

The worst part was the voice in my head.

She's just a vessel.

Thorne doesn't love anyone.

He'll discard her once she gives him an heir.

I shook my head violently not now. I couldn't think about that now.

Sage circled me like a predator. "Your stance is weak Zara….Your mind is elsewhere I need you to focus."

I tried I really tried but Elara's words kept echoing.

She's not Athena.

She'll never be Athena.

He's done it before.

He'll do it again.

"Again," Sage ordered.

She lunged I barely managed to block. Her foot swept my legs out from under me making me hit the ground hard.

"Pathetic," Sage said. "You're not even trying."

I pushed myself up with my hands were shaking and my vision blurred.

"Sorry," I muttered. "I'm just—"

"Excuses." Sage cut me off. "I don't want excuses. I want you to fight."

Just a girl with powerful blood and a convenient birthmark.

I clenched my fists the words burned in my chest.

Sage attacked again but this time I dodged, swinging back. My fist connected with her shoulder.

She barely flinched. "Better but not good enough."

She came at me harder, faster with each blow sending me reeling.

He'll keep her around until he realizes she can never live up to the original.

I blocked, dodged and tried to fight back but I couldn't focus not with the words ringing in my head.

I couldn't escape the words.

A broodmare with royal blood.

Thorne doesn't love anyone.

He'll discard her just like the rest.

Why do I care!? It’s not like I have feelings for him, why does it bother me?

"Focus!" Sage shouted grabbing my arm and twisting causing pain to shot through my shoulder as I cried out.

"That's all you've got? That's all the Moon Blood heir can do?" She shoved me away. "You're weak, useless and a waste of power."

Something inside me snapped.

Useless.

But she wasn't just calling me useless.

She was confirming everything Elara had said.

Everything I'd tried to ignore.

I was useless and weak. I was nothing but a vessel to be used and discarded.

The silver light exploded from my chest. It came without warning and control. A wave of pure power that blasted outward in all directions.

Sage was thrown backward.

She flew across the training ground her body crashing into the stone wall. She crumpled to the ground unmoving.

I stared at her with my hands glowing and my whole body was shaking.

"Sage?" My voice came out as a whisper. "Sage!"

I ran toward her dropping to my knees beside her. Her eyes were closed and blood was tricklingfrom her lip.

"No. No, no, no—"

I'd killed her.

I'd actually killed her.

The silver light flickered around me I couldn't control it or stop it.

"Sage please—"

Her eyes fluttered open.

I froze.

Sage blinked and looked up at me. He lips curved into a slow bloody smirk.

"Finally," she rasped. "Something to work with."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"What?"

She pushed herself up slowlywincing. "That power. That uncontrolled explosion it’s what I've been waiting for." She wiped the blood from her mouth. "Now we can actually begin."

Has she lost it?

I almost killed her.

Sage grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet.

"You're not weak," she said. "You're not useless. You just needed to stop holding back." She looked at me her gray eyes sharp. "That power inside you? It's not a curse, It's a weapon and I'm going to teach you how to wield it."

I shook my head. "I almost killed you."

"But you didn't."

"I could have—"

"But you didn't." Sage's voice was firm. "Your power responded to your emotions. That's what it's supposed to do. The problem isn't that you have too much power but the fact that you've been trying to suppress it."

I looked down at my hands as the silver light faded slowly, retreating back into my skin.

My fingers were still trembling.

"I can't control it," I whispered. "I don't know how."

"That’s why I’m here to teach you." Sage released my arm.

I swallowed hard.

Sage crossed her arms. "That explosion? That was just a fraction of what you're capable of now I need you to Imagine what you could do if you actually learn to control it."

I looked at the destruction around me, the shattered training dummies, cracked stone floor and then the blood on Sage's face.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," I whispered.

"Then learn to aim." Sage's voice was flat.

I stared at her. Something inside me shifted. Something small but real.

"You're not afraid of me?" I asked. "After what I just did?"

Sage laughed a short humorless sound. "I've trained warriors for fifty years. I've faced enemies that would make your blood run cold. You think a little explosion is going to scare me?" She shook her head. "The only thing that scares me is wasted potential and you Zara have more potential than anyone I've ever met."

I didn't know what to say.

"Now," Sage said, "we're done for today, go get some rest”

I nodded slowly with my legs still shaking. I headed back inside.

When I reached my room Helena was already there waiting.

"My Lady!" She rushed toward me. "What happened? You're covered in—"

"I'm fine." I cut her off. "Just a rough session."

Her eyes narrowed as though she could tell something was wrong but she didn't push.

"Would you like a bath? I can draw one for you."

I nodded. "Yes. Please."

She disappeared into the bathroom. I stood in the middle of my room staring at nothing.

The only thing that scares me is wasted potential.

Sage's words echoed in my mind.

Potential.

I'd never thought of myself as having potential. I'd always been told I was worthless, useless and a burden.

But I was done being whatever they thought of me as, I would learn and then leave.

I refuse to be a breeder!