CHAPTER TWO:The First Strike
514 Words
Liranae moved before anyone could react.
Kaelan barely had time to raise his arm before her fist came toward his chest.
He blocked it.
The impact echoed through the training hall.
A gasp went through the room.
Liranae didn't stop.
She twisted, lowered her body, and swept her leg toward his feet.
Kaelan jumped over it.
For the first time, something flickered across his face.
Surprise.
Liranae landed lightly on her feet.
She didn't understand it either.
Her body felt different.
Lighter.
Faster.
As if every movement came naturally.
Kaelan attacked.
Liranae ducked.
His fist passed inches above her head.
She stepped backward, then suddenly moved forward again.
He blocked her first strike.
Then the second.
The third.
But the fourth caught him.
Her palm struck his shoulder.
Kaelan took a step back.
Silence.
Nobody laughed anymore.
Liranae stared at her own hand.
How did I do that?
Kaelan slowly straightened.
His eyes were no longer cold.
They were focused entirely on her.
“Again,” he said.
Liranae hesitated.
He raised his hand.
“Again.”
She nodded.
They moved at the same time.
This time, Kaelan increased his speed.
Liranae struggled to keep up.
One strike caught her in the ribs.
Pain exploded through her body.
She stumbled backward.
A few students laughed nervously.
Liranae clenched her teeth.
She refused to fall.
Kaelan watched her carefully.
“Get up.”
She was already standing.
Something inside her burned.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
Something she had never felt before.
Determination.
She charged.
Kaelan blocked her attack and caught her wrist.
“Too slow.”
Liranae's eyes narrowed.
She twisted her arm unexpectedly, slipped out of his grip and struck toward his chest.
Kaelan stopped her fist with his palm.
Their eyes met.
For one strange second, neither moved.
Liranae's heart began pounding.
Kaelan's expression changed.
His pupils widened.
He looked almost... shocked.
Then he released her.
“Enough.”
Liranae lowered her hands.
The room remained silent.
Kaelan turned toward the students.
“Training is over.”
Everyone began whispering immediately.
Liranae stepped off the mat.
She could feel their eyes following her.
For the first time in years, they weren't looking at her with pity.
They were looking at her with fear.
She didn't know whether that was better.
As she reached for her bag, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her palm.
Liranae froze.
She looked down.
A thin cut had appeared across her hand.
She didn't remember getting it.
Then something impossible happened.
The wound began to glow.
A faint purple light spread beneath her skin.
Liranae's breath caught.
The cut slowly disappeared.
Completely.
She stared at her palm in disbelief.
No one else seemed to notice.
Except one person.
Across the room, Kaelan was watching her.
His face had gone completely still.
His eyes remained fixed on her healed hand.
He knew.
Liranae didn't know what had just happened.
But Kaelan did.
And for the first time since she had entered Silverhowl Academy, the most feared Alpha in the entire school looked genuinely afraid.
Not of her.
For her.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD