The Beta's Suspicious
1578 Words
The next morning arrived sooner than Kiara expected.
A soft knock at her cabin door startled her awake. Her eyes flew open, heart racing, the old instinct of danger sending a sharp jolt through her chest. For one terrifying second, she thought she was back in her old pack. Back where eyes followed her. Back where whispers of death circled like vultures.
But then Aria’s voice calmed her.
“Wake up, Kiara. It's just Rowan.”
Kiara inhaled slowly and sat up, running a hand through her tangled hair. She opened the door.
Rowan stood there dressed in training gear — all black, simple but sharp. His expression was unreadable as always, but his presence filled the doorway like a wall of solid steel.
“Training starts in ten minutes,” he said. “You ready?”
Kiara nodded. “Yes, Beta.”
Rowan held her gaze for a moment longer, as if searching for cracks in her answer. Then he stepped aside. “Follow me.”
As she walked through the early morning fog, warriors were just waking, stretching, preparing. The air smelled of dew, pine, and fresh earth.
Aria’s presence warmed her mind.
“We must be careful today,” her wolf murmured.
“Rowan watches like a hawk. He senses things other wolves ignore.”
Kiara nodded slightly. “I know. But he’s helping us. I can feel it.”
“He’s curious,” Aria corrected.
“And curiosity can cut deeper than claws.”
Kiara swallowed but said nothing.
When they reached the empty training field, Rowan crossed his arms and studied her silently. His eyes were too sharp. Too observant.
Finally, he spoke.
“You did well yesterday. Better than expected.”
Kiara dipped her head. “Thank you.”
“But,” Rowan continued, “wolves don’t fight or move the way you did unless they’ve been trained before.”
Kiara froze.
Aria growled softly.
“Lie. Protect yourself.”
But Kiara hated lying. She hated the heavy taste it left on her tongue. She said instead, “I just… learned to survive.”
Rowan’s expression tightened. “Survive what?”
Kiara lowered her gaze. “My past.”
He watched her for several seconds before stepping back. “Training first. Answers later.”
Kiara exhaled shakily.
Training began with hand-to-hand combat.
Rowan was fast — faster than Mara, faster than any of the warriors she’d fought yesterday. He moved like a shadow. Silent. Calculated. Deadly.
“Defend yourself,” he said as he lunged.
Kiara barely blocked his strike in time. Pain jolted through her arm. She stumbled back.
“Again.”
Rowan came at her. Kiara dodged left, then right, relying on Aria’s instincts.
“Good,” Aria encouraged.
“Stay light. Don’t let him corner you.”
But Rowan didn’t give her space. He pushed her, tested her, forced her to reveal reflexes she didn’t want anyone to notice.
Within minutes, sweat dripped down her back.
“You hesitate,” Rowan said as he circled her.
“Why?”
Kiara wiped her forehead. “I’m not used to… fighting people I don’t need to fight.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow. “Meaning you’re used to fighting people you did need to fight?”
Kiara tensed. “I didn’t mean—”
He lunged again.
Kiara reacted without thinking. She twisted under his arm and swept her leg under his feet. Rowan stumbled slightly — surprised.
She gasped, realizing what she had done.
Aria whispered proudly, “Good girl.”
Rowan straightened, his eyes gleaming.
“Interesting.”
Kiara looked down at the ground, her breathing uneven.
“You’re not just ‘surviving,’ Kiara,” Rowan said quietly. “You’re running from something.”
Kiara didn’t move.
“And you’re hiding something,” he continued.
“I want to know what.”
Kiara’s throat tightened. “I… can’t.”
Rowan stepped closer, but not threateningly. More… gently.
“Kiara,” he said, voice low, “this pack gave you shelter. Alpha Daniel trusted you. I’m trying to protect you. But I can’t do that if I don’t know what danger you bring with you.”
Kiara’s breath shook.
Aria whispered urgently,
“Do not reveal everything. Not yet. Not until we know we are safe.”
Kiara nodded faintly.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone,” she whispered.
Rowan studied her for a long, heavy moment. Then he stepped back.
“I believe that,” he finally said. “But I also believe trouble is following you.”
Kiara’s stomach twisted.
Because he was right.
---
After two hours of combat training, Rowan moved her to weapon drills.
He handed her a wooden staff.
“Let’s see what you can do.”
Kiara held it awkwardly. She had never trained with weapons in her past life. She wasn’t allowed. She wasn’t worth it.
But as she took a stance, Aria hummed in her mind.
“Relax. Let the body learn. You’re different now. Stronger.”
Kiara closed her eyes for a second, grounding herself. Then she began moving.
Rowan attacked with his own staff. Kiara blocked clumsily at first — too slow, too unsure. The impact stung her palms.
“Focus, Kiara,” Rowan urged.
“Your wolf is guiding you. I can see it in your eyes.”
Kiara blinked in surprise. “You… can?”
Rowan smirked faintly. “Your eyes flash silver every time she speaks.”
Kiara flushed, embarrassed.
Aria chuckled softly.
“He’s observant. Very observant.”
Rowan came at her again. This time Kiara blocked faster — not perfect, but better. The rhythm of each movement slowly settled into her bones.
“Good,” Rowan said. “Again.”
They repeated the sequence. Again. And again.
By the time the sun rose fully, Kiara’s arms trembled, her muscles burning, but her stance was stronger. Her steps lighter. Her focus sharper.
Rowan lowered his staff.
“You learn fast,” he said. “Too fast for someone with no training.”
Kiara bit her lip.
“Enough questions,” Aria warned.
“Deflect. Change the subject.”
Kiara took a deep breath. “I… had to learn to adapt. Life… hasn’t been gentle.”
Rowan’s expression softened slightly.
“Noted.”
He rubbed the back of his neck before asking, “Does your wolf speak often?”
Kiara nodded. “She guides me.”
“What is her name?”
“Aria.”
Rowan smiled faintly. “Fitting. She sounds… protective.”
Aria purred in Kiara’s mind.
“I like him. He respects wolves.”
Kiara almost smiled.
But then Rowan asked, “Why did you come here, Kiara? Truly.”
Her heart dropped.
She looked away. “Because I had no other place to go.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one I can give.”
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Rowan exhaled.
“Fine. Keep your secrets. For now.”
Kiara blinked. “You’re not… angry?”
“No,” Rowan said simply.
“But I am watching you.”
Aria hummed with caution.
“He’s dangerous… but not to us. Not yet.”
Kiara nodded slowly.
Rowan added, “Be ready. Your presence here hasn’t gone unnoticed. Some wolves are talking.”
Kiara stiffened.
Rowan continued, “The Alpha wants to see you later.”
“Why?” Kiara asked, panicked.
“To evaluate your loyalty. And… because something strange happened last night.”
Kiara frowned. “What?”
Rowan’s jaw tightened.
“A guard reported an unfamiliar scent near the eastern border. A scent he couldn’t identify.”
Kiara’s blood went cold.
Aria’s voice trembled.
“That scent… is from our past.”
Kiara swallowed. “Do… do you think it’s someone from—”
Rowan cut her off. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”
He held her gaze, eyes sharp.
“And Kiara… if someone is hunting you… then they’re hunting us too.”
Kiara’s breath caught.
She whispered, “I’m sorry…”
“Don’t apologize,” Rowan said firmly.
“Just be ready.”
---
Training ended at midday. Kiara could barely move her arms. But when she walked through the pack, warriors nodded at her. Some smiled. Some offered greetings.
For the first time in her life… she felt seen.
Finn jogged to her side.
“Hey, Kiara! Heard you trained with Rowan today. Survivors usually don’t last ten minutes with him.”
Kiara blinked. “Survivors?”
Finn laughed. “Yeah. Rowan trains like every session is a war. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to him.”
Kiara shook her head. “I don’t think anyone gets used to him.”
Finn grinned. “True.”
Aria spoke in her mind.
“This pack is good. Kind. But they are not prepared for the storm that follows us.”
Kiara’s chest tightened.
Maybe Aria was right.
Maybe she didn’t deserve this peace.
Maybe she was about to bring chaos to the Silvercrest Pack — just like the last.
But deep inside her, a spark of determination ignited.
“No,” Kiara whispered.
“I won’t let history repeat itself.”
Aria’s voice was warm.
“Good. Because destiny is shifting… and we are at the center of it.”
Kiara looked toward the Alpha’s house, where she would soon be summoned.
Whatever was coming, she knew one truth:
This time, she wouldn’t run.
She would fight.
- Writer
