Marked by the enemy

Chapter Three

Lira’s POV

The blade never reached me.

A force slammed into my attacker first.

Kael.

He moved like a shadow breaking through light—silent, precise, and brutally controlled. His arm locked around the warrior’s wrist mid-strike, twisting just enough to force the blade away without snapping bone.

But what struck me wasn’t the speed. It was the control. He wasn’t trying to destroy them. Even now, even with a blade aimed at me.

“Back away,” he ordered again—this time louder but the warrior didn't respond. Didn’t even flinch.

His eyes stayed distant, unfocused… like he wasn’t really here. My chest tightened as it hurt for a second.

“That’s not normal,” I whispered. Kael didn’t look at me.

“I know.”

Another warrior stepped forward behind him—mine. And then another.Then another. Many of them.

All moving in sync.Not like trained soldiers. Like something else was guiding them. Blood hammered at my throat. One beat, they two crowded each other.

“What did you do to them?” I snapped, even though I already knew it wasn’t him. Kael’s jaw tightened slightly.

“I didn’t do anything.”

That was the problem because if it wasn’t him…

Then someone else was inside my pack…Something colder crept down my spine.

The warrior Kael had stopped suddenly, jerked free with unnatural strength. Strengths too sharp that’s not known within us. Like something had snapped inside him.

He turned again toward me.

And this time—he gave me a wicked smile not natural or human.

My grip tightened around my blade.

“Move,” Kael said sharply, stepping in front of me again. I didn’t move.

“I don’t need you shielding me,” I muttered.

“You do right now,” he said.

Before I could argue— the warrior lunged again. Kael intercepted him instantly. This time, the restraint broke slightly. A controlled strike to the shoulders clean and sharp. But still not lethal.Even now still surrounded. My mind couldn’t process it fast enough. Because my own people—were trying to kill me and they didn’t even look like themselves.

“Lira!” someone shouted behind me.

I turned just in time to block another strike.

Metal clashed against metal. The impact vibrated through my arm. I staggered back. The warrior came again harder and faster. My heart beat running times two.

“Stop!” I shouted. “It’s me!”

No response.

Nothing.

Just that same empty stare. Kael appeared beside me again, knocking the attacker before I could be hit.

“Stay behind me,” he said again.

“I told you—” “Lira,” his voice cut through mine not loud, not harsh but warm and firm to obedience in seconds.

“I’m not your enemy right now.”That sentence hit harder than it should have because it was true and I hated that.

Another warrior collapsed nearby not dead but suppressed. Then another.

Every single one was moving like something inside them was being pulled by invisible strings. I wasn't able to breathe for a second.

“This is impossible,” I whispered. Kael didn’t answer but his eyes were scanning for the authority, the person or object responsible and that told me something worse. He had seen this before.

A scream ripped through the camp again.Closer.I turned sharply. A group of warriors were dragging one of the healers toward the center of the clearing. Her face was pale and terrified.

“Stop!” I shouted, taking a step forward. Kael grabbed my wrist instantly.

“Don’t,” he warned.

“Let go of me,” I snapped. But he didn’t.

For the first time—His grip wasn’t just controlled, it was established and almost needed every time.

“You can’t reach her without getting surrounded,” he said. I glared at him.

“So I just watch?”

“No,” he said quietly. “You think.”

That made me look like a fool for a second.

Like he was trying to pull me back from something worse. Another warrior moved toward us. Kael released me only to step forward again, blocking the strike without putting much strength or resources. My eyes flicked to him.

“How are you doing that?” I demanded.

He didn’t look at me.

“Focus.” He said bluntly.

“That’s not an answer.”

He exhaled sharply. “I’ve dealt with controlled packs before.” My stomach clicked for a second, one sharp squeeze that stole the next breath before I could take it. So I was right. This wasn’t normal aggression, it was manipulation.

Something inside my pack had been tampered with. My grip tightened. Imlowt balance.

“Who?” I asked. Kael didn’t respond immediately and that silence— Was worse than anything else.

“Someone who knows how to overwrite pack instincts,” he said finally. My blood ran cold almost at the point of dying.

“That’s not possible.”

“It is,” he replied. “Just rare.”

Another warrior attacked. He blocked it but sustained a small slice and was bleeding. My eyes widened.

“You’re bleeding,” I said before I could stop myself. He didn’t look down.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing,” I snapped. He finally glanced at me and something in his expression shifted, not pain nor anger but focus.

“Lira,” he said carefully, “listen to me.” I hated that he was saying my name like that. Like it meant something which it might.

“What?”

“This isn’t random,” he said. “Whoever did this knew exactly where to strike.” My chest compressed again.

“You think someone inside my pack did this?” He didn't give me a straightforward answer.. That silence said enough. My breath diverted and became sharp again.

“No,” I said quietly.

But even as I said it—I remembered my father. The way he reacted earlier. The way he didn’t question quickly enough. The way he spoke about war was like it was inevitable. My stomach veered around.

A warrior came behind me but Keal was fast enough to take cover. But instead of getting back up—the warrior stayed down. I stepped forward instinctively.

“Stop hurting them,” I said. Kael looked at me sharply.

“They’re not in control.”

“I don’t care,” I snapped. “They’re my people.” That made something flicker in his expression merely.

The— “Then save them,” he said. I froze.

“What?”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Find the source.” Then he added– “Or they’ll all die before you even realize what’s happening.” The words landed heavily as if logs of wood fell upon my head but it wasn't a threat rather he was warning me. A loud crack echoed through the tree leaving everyone frozen even the controlled warriors. Kael’s head snapped toward the sound changing his expression immediately.

“This is bigger than I thought,” he muttered. My heart pounded.

“What is it?” But he didn’t answer instead, he grabbed my wrist again.

“Stay close,” he ordered.

“I don’t take orders from you—” Kael pulled me back sharply and for the first time—he didn't hesitate. He fought like someone who understood the situation was escalating beyond control and as I was pulled behind him, I saw something I didn’t expect– protection. Real protection. And that confused me more than anything else happening right now because monsters don't protect and Keal was supposed to be one.

Another scream echoed. This one is closer to the edges of the tree. A figure appeared calm and Sluggish. Watching everything like it was unfolding exactly as planned. I be a me breathless because I recognized the symbol on their cloak. Not my pack. Not Shadowclaw. Something else entirely. Kael’s grip on my wrist tightened slightly.

His voice dropped low.

“…So it’s already started.”

My heart stopped.

“What has started?” I asked.

He didn’t look away from the figure.

But his answer— Was the last thing I expected.

“War,” he said quietly. “Just not the one you're expecting.