Bound by Lies

chapter 8

Isla

With the sun lower in the sky, Larkin carried me on his arm and steadily maneuvered me towards Sera's hut. The aches and pains from my sparring session with Emily throbbed with every step, but it wasn’t just my body that hurt. My pride was hurt, and not-very-strong pain, like tears and drama, stung the back of my eyes.

“You’ll be fine,” Larkin reassured, his voice gentle. “Sera will fix you up in no time. She’s the best.”

I nodded, forcing a small smile, though my chest felt heavy. The village’s main path was alive with activity—warriors returning from patrol, children laughing as they played, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. Typically, the din would give me a comforting feeling of being part of something, but today, I felt diminished.

Sera’s hut came into view, nestled under the shade of a sprawling oak tree. Its exterior was covered with dried herbs and talismans, making for a mystical look. Smoke swished from the chimney, and a subtle smell of chamomile and sage welcomed us approaching.

As soon as we entered the building, Sera's quick eyes caught up with me. The middle-aged healer had an air of no-nonsense authority, her gray hair pulled into a neat bun and her sleeves rolled up as though she were always ready for work.

“What happened to her? she demanded, hands on her hips.

Larkin shifted uneasily. “Emily. She... got carried away during training.”

Sera’s expression darkened. “That girl. Larkin, bring her to me. Now.”

“No, please don’t,” I interjected quickly, shaking my head. “I’m fine, Sera. I am looking for herbs for pain and inflammation.”

Sera studied me for a moment, her frown deepening. “Larkin, take her inside and leave. “I’ll deal with her from here.”

Larkin hesitated, but at my pleading glance, he nodded. He led me to a chair by the hearth fire and placed me softly down on the floor. “I’ll come back for you,” he promised.

“Thank you, Larkin, I said softly, watching as he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Sera pulled up a stool and sat facing me, her accusing stare fixed. Isla," she started, the sound softer now, but firm, "why are you getting yourself into such a bind? Are you trying to activate your Alpha powers?”

I stiffened, my cheeks flushing. “No, I’m not. I’m just... training. Learning how to fight.”

Don't lie to me, girl," she said, rather sternly, stepping in closer. “You know the risks.”

Her words triggered a memory, one I had buried deep.

It was months ago, shortly after Sera had helped erase my memories to give me a fresh start. I had been confused and frightened, trying to get a sense of who I was. That’s when Sera had her vision.

“Your mother was an Alpha, she had told me, her voice trembling slightly. “But I don’t know which tribe. Your powers will come unexpectedly, Isla. They’ll awaken when you least expect it—when you don’t need them. And when they do, someone will get hurt.”

The fear I’d felt at that moment had been overwhelming. “Please,” I had begged her, “don’t tell anyone. Not Kael, not Riley. No one.”

Sera hesitated but eventually nodded. “Very well. But you must promise me, Isla, to tread carefully. Your destiny is not something to play with.”

The memory faded, and I found Sera’s piercing gaze still locked on me.

I'm not trying to do anything," I lied, looking away. “I just... I want to be strong, that’s all.”

Sera sighed heavily, shaking her head. “Activating your powers won’t just bring disaster, Isla. It could change everything—for you and everyone around you.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, guilt gnawing at me.

It softened, retrieving from the shelf next to it a jar of ointment. “You’ve got a good heart, Isla. But you need to be careful. Now, let’s get you patched up.”

She worked quickly, her hands gentle as she cleaned the cuts and bruises on my arms. The slave she applied smelled of eucalyptus and lavender, its cooling effect soothing my battered skin.

The door came open abruptly, and Kael walked in, presence washing over the little house. His dark eyes scanned my body, constricting as they reached my wounds.

“Sera," he said, his voice thick, steady only, but rage crackled just below the surface, deep within. “Why is she hurt?”

Sera didn’t flinch. “Because someone let her fight when she wasn’t ready. Don't let her on the training field until she's tougher," you shouldn't.

Kael’s jaw tightened, and he turned to me, his expression softening. He knelt before me, his towering frame somehow small as he lowered himself to my level. “Isla, he said, his voice thick with guilt, “I’m so sorry. I should have been there to protect you.”

“You don’t need to apologize, I said quickly, my cheeks heating.

However Kael shook his head, his gentle hands wrapping hers. “No. I failed you. And I’ll make it up to you.”

Before I could protest, he scooped me into his arms as though I weighed nothing.

“Kael!” I exclaimed, blushing furiously. “Put me down! I can walk!”

No way," he explained firmly, not a bit of controversy. “You’re not taking another step until you’ve rested properly.”

Sera raised an eyebrow but didn't dispute, just crossing arms and waiting with a barely there smirk.

Holding me out of the hut, Kael crashed into me; I hid my face upon his and jumped with the beat of my heart. Despite the pain and embarrassment, warmth bloomed inside me—a mixture of gratitude, affection, and something deeper that I wasn’t ready to name.

“You’re impossible, I muttered, though my voice lacked any real bite.

“And you’re stubborn, he countered, his lips twitching into a small smile. “But I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

As we walked back to the packhouse, I couldn’t help but feel safe in his arms, even as a nagging fear lingered in the back of my mind. My powers were a ticking time bomb, and I could only hope that when they finally surfaced, they wouldn’t destroy everything I’d come to love.