Chapter 14: Hidden Strength
878 Words
"What aren't you telling me now?"
The question echoed across the training field.
Nobody answered.
Of course.
Marcus and Damien exchanged another look.
I was beginning to hate those looks.
They were always filled with information.
Information I apparently wasn't allowed to have.
Marcus folded his arms.
"You should continue training."
I stared at him.
"That wasn't an answer."
"No."
His expression remained calm.
"It wasn't."
My eye twitched.
Damien looked suspiciously close to smiling.
I glared at him.
His face immediately became serious again.
Coward.
"I deserve answers."
"You do," Marcus agreed.
Hope sparked briefly.
Then he added,
"Just not all of them yet."
The hope died instantly.
I groaned.
Loudly.
My wolf laughed.
"You're dramatic."
"They're impossible."
"Also true."
Unfortunately, she had a point.
The next few days settled into an unexpected routine.
Morning training.
Breakfast.
More training.
Arguments with Damien.
Even more training.
Somehow, despite my constant complaints, I was getting stronger.
Faster.
Sharper.
Every day became a little easier.
Every day Damien pushed me a little harder.
Every day I wanted to punch him slightly less.
Which was probably a problem.
One afternoon, we were sparring alone.
Most of the warriors had already left.
Only Ethan and Marcus remained nearby.
Watching.
Always watching.
I circled Damien carefully.
He looked completely relaxed.
Which annoyed me.
I, meanwhile, was sweating.
"This would be easier if you stopped moving."
Damien raised an eyebrow.
"This would be easier if you hit me."
Rude.
Very rude.
I lunged.
He sidestepped effortlessly.
Again.
I growled.
His eyes brightened.
"Better."
"I wasn't trying to impress you."
A lie.
Not a complete lie.
But definitely a partial lie.
My wolf was horrified.
*"We were absolutely trying to impress him."*
"Quiet."
"You fixed your hair before training."
"I hate you."
Damien suddenly moved.
Fast.
Much faster than before.
Instinct took over.
Everything seemed to slow.
I saw his movement.
Saw his foot shift.
Saw his hand reaching toward me.
And reacted.
Power surged through me.
Wild.
Hot.
Unfamiliar.
Before I knew what was happening, I twisted away and shoved forward.
A pulse of energy exploded from my body.
The ground beneath us shook.
The impact threw Damien backward.
Not far.
But far enough.
The entire training field fell silent.
My heart stopped.
Damien stared at me.
Ethan stared at me.
Marcus stared at me.
Nobody spoke.
The silence felt wrong.
Dangerous.
I slowly lowered my hands.
"What was that?"
Nobody answered.
Again.
My frustration immediately returned.
"Seriously?"
Ethan looked alarmed.
Marcus looked concerned.
Damien looked...
Shocked.
For the first time since I'd met him.
Genuinely shocked.
A cold feeling settled in my stomach.
"What happened?"
Marcus recovered first.
"Enough training for today."
My eyes narrowed.
"That's definitely not an answer."
"No."
He looked at Damien.
"It's not."
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I crossed my arms.
The moment I did, dizziness hit me.
The world tilted.
My knees buckled.
Before I could fall, strong arms caught me.
Damien.
Of course.
His grip tightened around me.
"Ava."
His voice sounded worried.
Really worried.
"I'm fine."
"You nearly collapsed."
"I said I'm fine."
His gray eyes met mine.
Neither of us looked away.
The world seemed strangely quiet.
For a moment, it was just us.
No Marcus.
No Ethan.
No secrets.
Just Damien.
His hand remained on my waist.
Steady.
Warm.
Safe.
The realization caught me off guard.
Safe.
I felt safe with him.
That should have terrified me.
Instead, it made my chest ache.
My wolf sighed happily.
"Finally."
"Don't."
"You trust him."
"Not completely."
"But you do."
I hated how difficult it was to argue.
Damien helped me sit on a nearby bench.
Neither of us spoke for several seconds.
Then he surprised me.
"You did well."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You did well."
The compliment sounded awkward.
Almost uncomfortable.
As though he wasn't used to giving them.
For some reason, that made it mean more.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
"Was that praise?"
His expression immediately became guarded.
"No."
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound surprised both of us.
For a second, Damien smiled too.
A real smile.
My heart immediately forgot how to function.
Again.
This was becoming a problem.
A very attractive problem.
My wolf practically melted.
"Mate."
"Not now."
"Always now."
That evening, after dinner, I couldn't sleep.
Too many thoughts.
Too many questions.
Too many secrets.
I wandered through the corridors of the packhouse.
Eventually, voices caught my attention.
Marcus.
And Damien.
They were inside a nearby office.
The door wasn't fully closed.
I should have walked away.
I didn't.
"She's progressing faster than expected."
Marcus sounded worried.
Damien sounded worse.
"I know."
A long silence followed.
Then Marcus spoke again.
"We don't have as much time as we thought."
My stomach tightened.
Time for what?
The silence stretched.
Then Damien's voice came.
Low.
Tense.
"What are you suggesting?"
Marcus sighed.
"I'm suggesting the truth."
My pulse quickened.
The truth?
Finally.
"She's not ready."
"No."
Marcus paused.
"But she may not have a choice."
Fear crawled down my spine.
I stepped closer.
Trying to hear.
Trying to understand.
Then Marcus said the words that made my blood run cold.
"Once she fully awakens, they'll know exactly where to find her."
My heart stopped.
They?
Who was they?
- Writer
