CHAPTER 5
1048 Words
The fresh smell of dew enveloped the air as Selena entered the training field with muscles that still twitched from yesterday's exercises. The forest clearing remained shrouded in thin mist since the early sun rays just escaped from between the tree branches. Very few voices and morning fire sounds broke the silence within the village at that time of day.
From the center position Magnus waited with his arms crossed as the training area stood empty. From her perch against the tree Evelyn watched with inappropriate amusement as Selena couldn't find sleep during the night.
A devious grin appeared across Evelyn's face when she spoke those words.
Selena made a small face expression due to the muscle tightness in her shoulders. “I’m not quitting.”
Magnus nodded approvingly. “Good. Again.”
During her practice with the training sword Selena held it with increased intensity than her previous session. The weight of the sword felt unfamiliar to her yet she was gaining skills. Her previous doubts from yesterday transformed into a pointed determination that took over her mindset.
She wasn’t going to be weak.
Not anymore.
Magnus approached while keeping a solid posture. “Lesson two.Defense.”
The strike happened without Selena being able to respond.
The attacking force made her arms shake as she stopped the strike while impact waves traveled from her wrists to her shoulders. Magnus refused to grant her any breathing space as she positioned herself on the floor. Another movement from Magnus made her change her position as she strained both mind and body to respond.
Evelyn let out a low whistle.
“He’s not going easy on you.”
Selena barely registered the words. A strike intended for her side was evaded by Selena before she blocked it with her sword.
Magnus stepped back, assessing her.
“Better,” he admitted.
Selena was panting while sweat formed droplets on her forehead. “Not good enough.”
The long observation made by Magnus ended with his acknowledgment. “No. But you’re learning.”
She tightened her grip. She needed to perform above mere learning to claim victory.
The instructor moved backward while lowering his weapon toward his side. “That’s enough for today.”
Selena blinked. “That’s it?”
Magnus arched his brow. "Are you seriously considering stopping after just two days?"
She did feel like collapsing. But she didn’t say it. In a controlled manner Selena lifted her posture then gave him a simple nod.
“Good,” Magnus said. The coming day marks the official start of true battlefield experience.
Selena’s stomach twisted.
Evelyn grinned. Watching the upcoming training session will be entertaining according to Evelyn.
Later That Night
The flame from the cottage fire burned without eliciting heat sensation in Selena. She occupied the table space with her eyes on her hands showing signs of the developing hand bruises.
It was the first time she had engaged in such extensive physical training. Complete fatigue has never consumed me before today.
She carried within her both a new sense of awareness and an unknown feeling of life that had never existed before.
A knock on the door startled her deeply.
When she opened the door who she had expected was Evelyn but instead she stopped in her tracks.
Kael stood there.
Her breath caught and her feet plunged into the motionless world. The man appeared above her expectations with his long height and messy black hair and eyes which held an unfamiliar expression. He wore only dark clothes that remained simple yet unpretentious without his Alpha robes. Through his features he positively emitted the essence of an Alpha with his unchanging quiet dominating aura.
Her heart beat so hard it nearly crushed into her rib cage.
She stated her question in a soft voice because she was startled to see him there.
Kael didn’t answer right away. He scanned her body and stopped pausing at the marks on her upper limbs. His jaw tightened.
“You’ve been training.”
Selena lifted her chin. “Why do you care?”
His hands turned into clenched fists next to his sides. “Because you’re my mate.”
Her breath hitched.
His mate.
Her words caused an intense and biting pain to twist within her.
She whispered her voice at a soft volume when she spoke these words. The word no longer suits me. You have already cast it aside.
Kael took a gradual advancement ahead. “I had to.”
Selena clenched her fists. “No, you chose to.”
Silence stretched between them.
Something unmasked showed itself briefly in Kael's eyes—a primitive aspect which she had never observed previously.
Regret.
Pain.
Longing.
She refused to accept the fact at all.
She continued in a harsh tone when she advised him "You should go."
Kael didn’t move. “Lucien is coming for you.”
The tension in her throat prevented Selena from revealing her emotions. “I know.”
His jaw tightened. The knowledge that you must handle this challenge without his assistance becomes clear.
She lifted her chin. “I’m not alone.”
Kael took another step forward. “You don’t understand. The desire of Lucien extends beyond hurting you. He wants to *own* you. According to him taking you into his possession will destroy his entire existence.
Selena’s breath stilled.
Break him?
She refused to accept the issue while moving away from him. “It shouldn’t matter to you.”
Kael exhaled sharply. “It does.”
His words produced an electric reaction inside her body.
No. No, he didn’t get to do this. He arrived at this location after enduring everything to behave as though she had never lost her importance to him.
With determination she pushed down the emotion until she met his eyes. The fact that you released me should not have stopped you from caring.
Kael flinched.
A lost expression appeared on his face for the first time.
Selena managed to push her feelings away as her heart continued to suffer.
She wasn’t his.
Not anymore.
She turned away. “Goodnight, Kael.”
She shut the door while he was still
keeping silent.
The interval since her departure from the pack represented her first occasion for feeling this way.
She let herself cry.
- Writer
