MARKED BY FATE

Heart of the Fight

Vivian's POV

Tension permeates the air, and when I see Lucian facing the renegade wolf, my heart speeds. The mess of the common area envelops me—shouts and growls blend with the strong aroma of sweat and anxiety. Though a stronger feeling drives me to stay and fight by him, I want to leave and hide.

"Vivian, get back!!" Lucian yells, his voice slicing across the noise.

But I'm rooted to the place; my breath quickens as I see him square off the invader. The renegade is ferocious; his eyes radiate savage fury. Lucian stiffens his muscles and takes a defensive posture, prepared to guard not only himself but also my child and myself.

"What do you wish?," Lucian asks, his voice consistent in face of the threat before him. You are on pack territory and trespassing.

"Your time is up, Lucian," the renegade sneers, a nasty smile curving his lips. Here I am for what is rightly mine. The ability you pilfered from your own species.

I look at Lucian and my stomach starts to hurt. What authority? This man is referring to what? Ready to yell a warning or demand explanations, I step forward slightly but Lucian's arm stretches out to restrain me.

With a low, dangerous tone, Lucian replies, "Leave now, and I'll consider this a warning."

The rogue chuckles, a sharp sound cutting into the suspense. You believe you might frighten me? There is still more of us. Lucian, you have created enemies; I am just starting here.

The renegade jumps toward Lucian with a rapid motion, and instinct starts. I hurry forward without thinking, adrenaline pumping through me. Just as the outlaw is about to reach Lucian, I grab the closest object—a big chair—and swing it toward him.

"Get out!" I roar.

The chair smacks with the back of the rogue, who stumbles forward temporarily dazed. Using the chance to seize the renegade by the throat, Lucian shoves him against the wall.

"Who sent you?" Lucian's demands have a snarl in voice.

I stop dead, my breath trapped in my throat. As the renegade gets back under control, his look changes from surprise to rage. He snarls, seeking to remove himself from Lucian's hold and regrets this. "You are outmatched." The pack runs weak without you.

Enough! Lucian tightens his hold and barks. Tell me, who you work for, or I vow I'll—

The eyes of the renegade narrow, a fierce spark blazing inside. Do you believe you can influence me? You are a foolish man, Lucian. You do not grasp the forces acting here. Whether you like it or not, the pack is about to evolve.

A gang of pack members bursts in before I can understand his words, snatching the renegade from Lucian. Knowing how near we came to catastrophe, my heart races.

One of the pack warriors orders, "Get him out of here," pulling the renegade toward the door. He is not worth the effort.

Turning to me, Lucian shows a mixture of relief and resentment. "What, Vivian, were you thinking? You might have suffered damage!

"I wasn't going to let him hurt you," I said, my voice firm even though panic was running through me. "I will not hide behind you going forward. I am a fighter as well.

He looks at me and flickers with respect. You are entering into something none like. This is our life on line, not just a game.

I shot back, "Neither do you." "You assume I have never seen risk before? I have been living in constant anxiety for far too long. I am not going to back down.

We hang charged and electric tension between us. We are momentarily caught in the whirl of emotions—fear, wrath, and something deeper flickering just under the surface.

"Fine," he answers at last in a gentler voice. "But you have to use caution. I cannot lose you, particularly in these times.

Feeling the weight of my comments, I say, "I'm not going anywhere." Not when so much is on line.

The lodge goes back to some sort of normal as the disturbance settles. Everyone's weight of attention on me is palpable; their respect mixed with concern. They watched me stand and although it was thrilling, it also terrified me.

"What was that about?," asked. My voice low, I ask as I walk up to Lucian, still raging with excitement.

"The rogue was a warning," he says, his jaw tight. "There are groups in the forest seeking to undermine my leadership. We had time to get ready, but obviously they are acting earlier than I anticipated.

My stomach is starting to feel like it is covered in dread. But with me, what do they wish for?

He pauses with a focused stare. "They want me to be weaker. Right now, you are a part of my life and they view you as means of access. Should they threaten you, they believe they can compel me to resign.

I chew hard, the truth of my circumstances sinking in. What then should we do?

"We fight back," he says, his voice charged with will. "Vivian, you must believe me. We will compile our friends and fortify our defenses. But I will not put you at risk once more.

"I want to help," I say, voice firm. "I cannot simply watch helplessly while my future is in jeopardy.”

Lucian looks at me for a moment, clearly both proud and worried. "We have to create a strategy if you are going to assist. You will need training, and throughout all of this we will have to keep you safe.

"I'm not scared to learn," I say, a flood of will sweeping over me. "I want to advocate for the future of our child."

A little smile breaks through Lucian's stress, and for a minute we connect powerfully and hopingly. Then we begin now.

My life becomes a flurry of study and preparation over the next few days. Driven by our predicament, I get up early every morning. Lucian drives me to the training area, a clearing encircled by tall trees where pack members hone their abilities.

One morning while we spar, Lucian tells me, "focus on your instincts." "Your body has to trust itself to react to threats."

I nod and face him feeling the tightness in my muscles. He surges forward, and I almost dodge—the surge of air from his motion brushes against my skin. He barks again, and we go right back.

Every collision helps me to get more confident. Lucian's presence is both scary and comforting; every good dodge or blow makes me see the spark of appreciation in his eyes. It drives me more and feeds my will.

Good! After another round, he says, "You're getting better," and I can't help but grin proudly.

"thanks!" I am learning from the greatest; I tease, wiping the sweat off my brow.

The closer we become as the days stretch into weeks. We share tales, exercise together, and gradually I see the man I fell in love with reappearing—softened by the weight of responsibilities yet ferocious in his will to defend what most counts.

But I also see the shadows hovering in his eye at the still times. The words of the renegade come back to me: "The pack is weak without you." I can't get rid of the impression that our lives are at risk. Lucian bears a great weight since there is a whole pack depending on him.

After a particularly demanding training session one evening, we wait on the lodge porch while the sun sets below the horizon. The hues of orange and pink painted on the heavens stand in sharp contrast to the weight in the air. Leaching back in my chair, I sigh from tiredness.

"Do you consider us ready?" I query, looking at Lucian. Lines of concern define his face, and I can sense the weight of leadership falling on his shoulders.

His voice low, he says, "We have to be." "Before this is over, I have no idea how many more threats we will encounter. I will, however, swear not to let anything happen to our child or you.

"I trust you," I remark, startling myself with the clarity of my words. Still, we cannot minimize their importance. They are terrible.

Exactly, he says, his eyes sharp. We have to keep one step ahead. That renegade was not functioning in a vacuum. I won't stop till I know who; behind him is a bigger group.

A wild howl breaks through the night air just then, chilling me from the bottom up. Echoing across the woods, the sound is terrible and forlorn. Lucian stands with alertness and his body seems tense.

"What was that?," I ask. With my heart pounding, I ask.

His voice low but firm, he orders, "Stay here." He strains to listen as he approaches the edge of the porch. My gut turns with terror as the howl breaks through the quiet once more, nearer this time.

I insist, "I'm coming with you,".