Whispers of the wild

CHAPTER 3

Sienna felt her bones rattle from the initial strike. As she punched the tree trunk, she was surprised by how strong she was. Bark cracked beneath her knuckles, sending a searing pain up her arm. She winced while clenching her teeth.

Kane said mockingly from behind her that it wouldn’t be sufficient. He stood relaxed by a tree, arms folded, observing her difficulties. “You’re not giving it your all.”

Sienna shot him an angry look, feeling pent-up frustration. “I am not restraining myself.”

“Indeed, you are.” Kane pushed away from the tree and approached her, his overwhelming presence unchanged. He moved around her, similar to a predator assessing its potential victim. “You’re battling as if you’re still part of the group, as if you still have something at stake.” He came to a halt before her, his eyes sparkling in the dim lighting. “In this place, the sole regulation is to make it through.”

Sienna tightened her fists once more, refusing to acknowledge the pain in her knuckles. “I have made it through a lot.”

“This is not how it should be.” Kane’s voice decreased in volume, nearly approaching a growl. “You are still constrained by their regulations.” Don’t remember them. Do not remember the group. To survive in the wilderness, you must unleash your inner strength.

His words touched a sensitive spot, the reality of them impacting her more than she wished to acknowledge. Sienna always displayed honor in her fights, even when her life was at stake. However, in the wilderness, honor was irrelevant. Power was the only thing that mattered.

Returning to the tree trunk, she flexed her fingers. The power within her was present – she sensed it, an intense, wild energy bubbling under her skin, ready to be released. However, it filled her with terror. Since Kane’s bite, a transformation had occurred. It seemed like she was not entirely her true self anymore, almost like the wolf inside her.

“What are you afraid of?” Kane’s voice interrupted her train of thoughts.

Sienna didn’t answer. She did not know whether she had an answer.

Kane got nearer, his breath was hot on her ear. Sooner or later, if that power doesn’t kill you, it will make your life unbearable. So, stop holding back.”

His words burned her like fire and she felt a chill down her spine. This was something she couldn’t handle, she didn’t like feeling this helpless. But Kane was right. If she did not learn to control it she would not survive the wilderness that was ahead of her. And if she died here, she would not be able to confront those who had let her down.

Sienna took a second to calm herself down and focus on the task. She was aware of the wildness around her, the energy coursing through her veins. She shut her eyes and for the first time she relaxed.

When she struck the tree again, the force was explosive. Her fist struck the wooden hard and the sound of the thud resonated in the floor. The trunk also split, cracked and broke into pieces. Sienna gasped for air and her chest thumped, she stepped back and glanced at him. The raw power she had unleashed was like an electrical current running through her veins and it was empowering as well as frightening.

“That’s more like it,” Kane said, the relief in his voice clear. He moved closer, and his eyes were cold and intense, although she couldn’t decide whether it was pride she saw in them. Or was it something darker? “You feel that? That is the effect of the wilds, if only one allows them to get into one’s system. “That’s the real power you’ve been hiding.”

Sienna trembled, her hands on the wreckage that was caused by her actions. Panting heavily she was still shaking from the effects of adrenaline rush. “I didn’t know…I could do that.”

Kane laughed a little and moved closer until their faces were only inches apart. “You really do not know much about yourself, Sienna.” But I do. And that’s why you need me.”

She swallowed, feeling the dryness of her throat. “What is this?” She choked up, pointing at the remains of the tree. “What’s happening to me?”

This smile slowly vanished from Kane’s face and he looked stern. “That bite was not only useful to have saved your life.” It opened up a part of you that is primal. You are not just a wolf anymore. You’re something…different. Something more.”

Sienna’s stomach churned. “Different how?”

Kane’s eyes grew heavy and there was a glint of something not so pleasant in his eyes. ‘You are involved with the prophecy.’ The one that tells a story of a wolf that Is going to alter the dynamics on the savannahs. That is why the Shadow Council exiled you. They thought that you might become too strong.”

Those words knocked the wind out of her. “The council…they knew?”

“They didn’t just know. They orchestrated it.” Kane looked pale and his voice was tense, strained. “They sought to get rid of you before you could turn into a powerhouse.”

Sienna stepped back and her thoughts began to whirl round in her head. It was much worse now that the betrayal had been revealed. It was not only about Alaric’s weakness or the council’s fear – it had been a plan of how to get rid of her and prevent her from becoming a danger.

‘And you?’ she asked, her voice shaking. “Why are you helping me?”

Kane looked her into the eyes and held her stare. “Because I want to see you take them down.”

She had never seen such hatred in his gaze, and there was something more than just sheer instinct in his eyes – revenge, maybe? But before she could say anything more, he moved away from her and she could see the mask of war back on his face.

“This is just the beginning, Sienna,” he whispered unable to hide the passion from his voice. “There’s a war coming. And you’re going to be the one to start it.”

Sienna’s breath hitched. His words weighed her down like a huge boulder on her chest, speaking the truth that she was afraid to come out of her bedroom. She had wanted revenge, yes. But now she was poised of becoming part of something much larger and much more deadly than anything she could have previously envisioned.