Chapter 7
506 Words
The Training Begins
Three days later.
Isabella hated training.
Or more specifically...
She hated training with Lucian.
The Lycan King was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
"Again."
She glared.
"I've done this thirty times."
"Thirty-one."
She growled.
He looked amused.
She hated that too.
The training grounds occupied a massive valley hidden within the mountains.
Ancient stone structures surrounded the area.
Warriors moved between buildings.
Some trained.
Some sparred.
Some simply watched.
And every single one stared at Isabella.
The lost heir.
The royal bloodline.
The outsider.
The curiosity.
"Again."
She resisted the urge to throw a rock at Lucian.
Instead she concentrated.
Silver energy gathered around her hands.
At first it had appeared only briefly.
Now she could summon it intentionally.
Most of the time.
Sometimes.
Occasionally.
Fine.
Rarely.
The energy flickered.
Then vanished.
Lucian sighed.
"You lost focus."
"I noticed."
His lips twitched.
The man was dangerously close to smiling.
Again.
She hated that.
Especially because he almost never smiled.
When he did, it felt unfair.
Very unfair.
Powerful kings shouldn't be attractive.
It complicated things.
A lot.
"You're distracted."
His voice pulled her back.
"I'm frustrated."
"No."
Golden eyes studied her carefully.
"You're angry."
That too.
Ever since arriving at the hidden kingdom, Isabella's emotions had become increasingly complicated.
She was angry at Damien.
Angry at Sophia.
Angry at herself.
Angry at fate.
Most of all...
She was angry because she still remembered loving Damien.
Even after everything.
The memory disgusted her.
Lucian stepped closer.
Immediately her wolf became alert.
Traitor.
Absolute traitor.
"You keep reaching for rage."
His voice lowered.
"Moon energy doesn't respond to rage."
"Then what does it respond to?"
His answer surprised her.
"Acceptance."
She frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
For the first time all day, Lucian became serious.
Completely serious.
"It means you keep trying to become the woman you were."
Silence.
The words landed harder than expected.
Because they were true.
A painful truth.
"I don't know who I am anymore."
The confession escaped before she could stop it.
Lucian didn't mock her.
Didn't judge her.
Didn't offer empty reassurance.
Instead he simply stood beside her.
Waiting.
Giving her space.
It was strangely comforting.
"I spent years planning a future that doesn't exist."
Her voice cracked.
"I don't know what comes next."
The valley became quiet.
Even the wind seemed softer.
Lucian looked toward the mountains.
Then spoke.
"The woman who loved Damien is gone."
Pain flickered through her chest.
Not because the statement was cruel.
Because it was true.
"Good."
She blinked.
"What?"
His gaze returned to hers.
"She deserved better."
The words stunned her.
For a moment she couldn't breathe.
Nobody had said that.
Not once.
Not since the rejection.
Not even she believed it.
Yet somehow Lucian did.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
"You barely know me."
His expression remained steady.
"I know enough."
Something shifted between them.
Small.
Subtle.
Dangerous.
Neither mentioned it.
Neither acknowledged it.
Yet both felt it.
A connection.
One that seemed to grow stronger every day.
Unfortunately...
Fate had other plans.
- Writer
