"Lila, are you really going to keep doing this?" Tessa asked, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed.
"Yes," I said, panting as I swung the wooden staff again, hitting the dummy I'd made out of hay and rope. "Every single day."
She shook her head. "You were never this serious before."
"Things are different now." I wiped sweat from my forehead, gripping the staff tighter. "I can't waste time."
"Different how?" she pressed. "What happened to you? You've been acting strange for weeks."
I froze, lowering the staff. Tessa's eyes were sharp, waiting for an answer.
I forced a small laugh. "I just… don't want to be weak anymore.
She studied me for a long moment before sighing. "Fine, but don't kill yourself over it, alright?"
I nodded, but inside I knew I had no choice. This second chance wasn't something I could waste.
Every night, I trained. Push-ups, sparring, runs through the forest until my legs shook. My body hurt, but my determination burned hotter. I couldn't afford mistakes this time. Not with Damon's betrayal ahead. Not with Kael's rejection still hanging over me.
I needed to be strong enough to survive.
***
A week later, training day came for the young wolves. The courtyard was filled with the sound of punches, kicks, and wooden weapons clashing.
"Pair up!" the instructor barked.
I grabbed a short staff, my hands steady. I didn't look nervous, though inside I was tense. I remembered this day from before. I had stumbled, embarrassed myself, and everyone laughed but not this time.
"Lila," the instructor called. "You're with Tessa."
We faced each other, staffs raised.
"You ready?" she asked.
Always," I said, giving her a grin.
She charged first. Her staff swung hard, but I blocked it cleanly, the sound sharp. Gasps echoed from the other trainees. I used the momentum to push back, making her stumble.
"Whoa," Tessa said, surprised. "When did you get this good?"
I didn't answer. I kept moving, quick and precise. My strikes came sharper, my footwork faster. She barely kept up. Finally, I knocked her staff from her hands, holding mine at her chest.
The courtyard went quiet.
"That's enough," the instructor said, his brows raised. "Impressive."
I lowered my staff, breathing steady. Whispers spread fast around me. Since when was the Omega's daughter this skilled?
I ignored them. Instead, my eyes flicked to the balcony.
Kael was standing there, arms folded, watching. His face was its usual mask, cold, unreadable. But when my strike landed against Tessa's chest, I caught it.
The slip.
His expression changed, just for a second. Surprise, maybe even interest, before the mask returned.
My heart skipped, but I forced myself to look away. I wasn't here for him not anymore.
***
Later that day, while I was gathering water at the well, whispers drifted behind me.
"She's hiding something," a young man muttered.
"Probably cheating in training," another said.
"She thinks she's better than us."
Their voices carried on purpose, loud enough for me to hear. I clenched my jaw, pretending not to notice, but every word burned. When I finally turned, my eyes landed on Damon.
He was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, watching me. His smirk widened when our gazes met, his eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction, like he had planned it all.
"Problem?" I asked loudly.
The men froze, glancing quickly at Damon, unsure if they should keep talking. He only shrugged, his smirk widening as if he enjoyed every second of this. "No problem at all," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with false charm. "Just surprised you're suddenly so strong, Lila. Almost like it came out of nowhere." His tone was mocking, fake-friendly, the kind that made my skin crawl.
I held his gaze, refusing to flinch. "Maybe I just work harder than you," I shot back, my voice steady.
The others snickered at my words, some hiding their laughter, but Damon's smile tightened. For a brief moment, his eyes darkened, and I thought he might snap. Instead, he pushed off the wall lazily, brushing past me as if I wasn't worth his time.
I exhaled slowly. He was dangerous. I couldn't forget the fire, i knew i had to be careful around him.
****
That night, I followed him.
I kept to the shadows as Damon slipped away from the pack grounds. He moved quick, confident, as if he had done this many times. My pulse raced, but I stayed silent.
He went deep into the forest, far beyond patrol lines. Finally, he stopped at an old shed near the edge of rogue territory.
I crouched behind a tree, straining to listen.
"Supplies are ready," Damon said, his voice low.
A second voice answered, rough and deep. I couldn't see the man, but the sound made my skin prickle.
"Good." the stranger said. "Soon, we'll make our move."
Damon smirked. "They won't suspect a thing."
My stomach turned cold. He was working with someone outside the pack, he was working with a traitor.
I pressed back against the tree, forcing myself to stay calm. This was the first real clue. If I played this right, I could stop him before he ruined everything.
But before I could move, a twig snapped under my foot.
Both heads turned.
"Who's there?" Damon barked, eyes narrowing into the trees.
I froze, holding my breath. After a moment, the stranger growled, "We should go."
Damon cursed, then followed him into the shadows.
I stayed hidden until they were gone, my heart racing. My first lead. I couldn't lose it.
****
The next morning, I returned to training, more focused than ever. My body ached, but I pushed harder. Every strike, every block mattered.
I felt Kael's eyes again from the balcony, though he didn't speak. I didn't look back this time. I didn't need his approval.
Still, I knew I had unsettled him and that was enough.
Days later, I decided to search the forest again. If Damon was meeting someone out there, maybe I could find proof.
I slipped out quietly, staff strapped to my back. The forest was quiet, too quiet, but I pushed deeper.
Leaves crunched under my boots as I reached the old shed. It looked empty, abandoned, but the ground around it told another story. They were footprints and they were still fresh.
I crouched, touching the dirt. My gut twisted. They had been here recently.
"Looking for something?" a voice drawled.
I spun around, staff in hand. But it wasn't Damon.
It was a stranger.
No, it was not a stranger. A rogue, His clothes were torn, his eyes sharp, his grin dangerous and he wasn't alone. Figures stepped out from the trees, surrounding me, weapons in hand.
My chest tightened. Ten, maybe twelve of them. I gripped my staff tighter, forcing my voice steady. "Get out of my way."
The leader laughed. "You've wandered too far, little wolf."
I planted my feet, ny heart pounded vigorously, I've been outnumbered. But I wasn't backing down.
I swung first, knocking one back, but another lunged at me from behind. I twisted, blocking just in time. My arms ached with the impact.
They kept coming. I fought, but there were too many. The circle closed in, pushing me toward the trees.
Then a deeper voice cut through the chaos.
"Enough."
The rogues froze, stepping back.
A man stepped forward from the shadows. He was taller than the rest, his presence heavier. His dark eyes locked on mine, steady and unreadable. His hair was black, his stance commanding. Even the rogues around him lowered their heads slightly.
I knew without asking that this was their leader. The way the others waited for him to speak, the way his presence filled the clearing, it was clear. The Rogue Alpha.
He studied me without blinking, his dark eyes heavy, searching. His expression was unreadable, but it made my skin prickle. Finally, his lips curved into the faintest smile, one that didn't reach his eyes.
"Well," he said slowly, his voice calm but sharp, like he enjoyed every second of this. "What do we have here?"
The other rogues chuckled under their breath, shifting around me like vultures. I tightened my grip on the staff, forcing my feet to stay steady even though my knees wanted to give out.
"You'll regret this," I said, my voice firmer than I felt. "Get out of my way."
His head tilted slightly, almost curious. "Bold," he murmured. "But bold doesn't mean smart. You're alone. No one's coming to save you."
The circle around me tightened. I spun slowly, keeping them in my sight, but my eyes kept pulling back to him. Ronan. The name echoed in my mind, cold and heavy.
"Why are you here?" I demanded, trying to keep him talking.
His smile widened, showing a flash of teeth. "Why? Because I smelled something interesting. And now I see it with my own eyes." He took one step forward, then another, his men parting to let him through.
My heart hammered. His presence was overwhelming, far worse than I'd imagined.
Then, just as I raised my staff to strike, he lifted his hand and the rogues stilled.
"Little wolf," he said, voice low. "You carry something tha
t doesn't belong to you."
Before I could speak, he reached out lightning-fast, grabbed my wrist, and whispered.
"I know your secret."
And behind him, Kael stepped into the clearing.