The moon bathed the training area in a soft glow, its silver beams glistening unquenchably on the dewdrops scattered across the grass. The cool air seemed to have carried with the far-off howls of wolves, vibrating through the woods.
I wiped off gathering sweat from my forehead, breathing heavily as I faced Cassian. His posture was casual, but I knew this was his position when he was always ready to strike.
"You're improving incredibly," he confessed, tossing me a clean waterskin. I took a sip, appreciating the coolness that soothed my parched throat.
"That almost sounded like praise."His lips curved slightly in a sly smile.
"Don't get too used to it."I rolled my eyes dramatically but of course felt a small sense of pride rising in my chest.
The weeks earlier had been intense, pushing me mercilessly to exceed my limits and beyond. But now I came out stronger. Faster. More composed. And it was all because of Cassian.
I observed him carefully as he leaned against a tree, arms folded, deep in thought. His dark hair was slightly messy - but in a good way - from training, his sharp gaze never wavering but focused on me with silent intensity. When we were alone, I noticed there was something different about him, he was less guarded, as if he had grown to trust me. I paused before asking,
"Why are you concerned with assisting me, Cassian?"
His face remained inscrutable, his expression hidden beneath a practiced calm. "Because I understand what it feels like to be thrown out, what it means to lose everything."
I frowned at his revelation. "What happened to you, then? What's your story?
Cassian sighed deeply, as if contemplating whether to share. Then, he revealed, "I was once the most feared - next in line for Beta."
I stared into space in disbelief. "You?"
He released a soft laugh, shaking his head quietly. "Hard to comprehend everything, right? I was strong, capable. But Elder Varen manipulatively convinced the Alpha that I was a danger. That I would one day challenge his authority."
I clenched my fists in fury. "Varen…"Cassian's expression darkened as he narrated his ordeal. "He comfortably framed your father, Mira. He was the one who masterminded the turning of the council against him."
My stomach churned at the mention of that. "My mother… she appeared to me not quite long in a vision. She revealed that my father was innocent."
Cassian nodded in agreement. "Then she was totally correct. Varen wanted your family and your lineage eliminated. And I suspect he is hiding more than just what he did."
An uncomfortable silence engulfed us. For so long, I had nurtured the thought that I was weak and unworthy. But now, the truth and every secret were becoming clearer.They had intentionally made me weak.
I locked eyes with Cassian, and somehow, an unspoken understanding was felt between us. A shared resolve to fight. A connection neither of us anticipated to exist. His fingers grazed mine unintentionally, and in that fleeting moment, a strange warmth radiated through me.
I quickly pulled away from him, my heart racing."So what happens next?" I inquired.
Cassian's voice was steady, unlike mine. "We uncover the truth wherever it may be. And when the moment arrives… we will reclaim what was taken from us forcefully."
I nodded in affirmation, a fresh fire igniting within me. "Together we will achieve our goal."
But just as the words barely escaped my lips, a rustling sound was heard in the trees, making both of us freeze. Cassian sprang to action, already on his feet, his dagger brandished. I followed suit, my heartbeat quickening in response.
A huge figure emerged authoritatively from the darkness, his green eyes intentionally meeting mine.
Ryker.
His voice was as harsh as usual, filled with urgency and authority.
"Mira, you must waste no time in returning to the pack."
I tensed at his demand. "After all you've done to me? Do you really think I would be stupid to return?"
Cassian positioned himself challengingly between us, ready to defend. "You have but three seconds to explain why you're here."
Ryker ignored him completely, not sparing him a glance. "You don't get it. Varen has cruelly placed a bounty on Mira. If you don't return now, they'll waste no time in finding you. And they won't be kind, I promise."
A cold shiver jolted through me. Cassian and I shared a knowing look.This changed everything we had planned for the day.
Was Ryker honest, or was this yet another of their many schemes?