Chapter 3
*Aria*
The commander slowly closed the distance between us, "I know you've been snooping around gathering intel. You seek revenge don't you?"
I swallowed and gave a brief nod, backing away on instinct. My lungs felt like they were being crushed by an invisible. I wanted to say something, but my mouth just wouldn't move.
"Relax kid, I don't intend to harm you. I'll let you know, I was only following orders that day."
For a moment, I just stared at him. My mind struggled to process the words, as if they had been spoken in a language I didn't understand.
My back hit the edge of a wall, only then did I realize I couldn't move further away. If I could enter the wall,I swear I would have.
"You were following orders?" I repeated.
My voice came out thin and unsteady.
Commander Ryden nodded, his cold eyes fixed on me with that same unreadable calm expression he'd worn since I entered the room.
"You slaughtered my parents," I said, my fingers curling into my palms so tightly my nails bit into skin. "And you're calling it orders?"
My chest tightened, my breath turning shallow. The office suddenly felt too small and the air too thin. The walls seemed to press inward, dragging memories I had spent years trying to bury back to the surface.
I could see it as clearly as if it were happening again. My mother screaming.
My father forced to his knees.
Blood spreading across the floor.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my entire body tensing.
Not here! Not now!
"Look at me, Aria."
His voice cut through the storm in my head, but i didn't move.
"Look at me."
The sharpness in his tone made my eyes snapped open before I could stop them.
Ryden was closer now. I hadn't even noticed him move. Those piercing eyes locked onto mine. "I don't care how much you hate me. I allowed you here for one reason. To train you. If you carry your father's bloodline, then you have powers beyond what any Beta could ever possess."
I scoffed in disbelief, tears blurring my vision. "Powers huh? Too bad, I haven't even awakened my wolf yet."
"And that's cause of your damn trauma." He growled, slamming against the wall so hard it shook, making me flinch without intending to.
My throat tightened. "You don't get to say that."My voice shook, but the anger forced its way through. "You don't get to stand here and talk about my trauma like you weren't the one who caused it."
Ryden's jaw flexed. His expression didn't change much, but something flickered behind his eyes, irritation… or guilt. I couldn't tell. With him, it was always impossible to tell.
"Look kid, I didn't call you here to talk about old days. You need to get your act together. You want revenge? Then fucking step up and stop acting like a freaking child."
His voice thundered, his expression tensed. I started wide eyed at him. I couldn't understand why he was doing this. What would he gain from this. Why would he want to train me even after knowing my reason for coming here.
I clenched my teeth, holding back the dozen questions I wanted to ask him. I finally exhaled, swallowing in my emotions. "You'll train me right?" I asked calmly.
"With every pleasure." He replied flatly.
I had finally set eyes on the man I've been wanting to get revenge on all these years, but deep down I also knew he wasn't the one I was supposed to go after.
The royal family who had ordered my father's execution, they were my main target. That was the only reason I'd joined this academy after all. Joining hands with this man for the main time wouldn't hurt.
"Then we have a deal." I nodded, my chin raised as I stretched out my hand for a handshake. "I would be sure to go easy on you while I slice through your throat in the future. Until then, I'll call you master."
His lip tugged into a proud smirk as he stretched his arm, accepting my handshake. "Welcome to Royal Guardian Academy."
I pulled my hand away, my skin crawling from the awkward contact. Surprisingly, I was no longer nervous. "How do I locate my dorm?"
"There'll be someone waiting outside the door. They'll take you to your room."
I nodded once and turned, my fingers still tingling from the handshake.
As soon as I stepped outside, my gaze landed on someone. A girl leaned against the corridor wall, her arms folded, she looked like she'd been waiting for me.
Her uniform was black and fitted, with a high collar and silver trim along the seams. The academy crest was stitched on her chest, and a belt cinched her waist. She wore a short pleated skirt over thigh-high boots, and cloves too. To be honest, she looked intimidating in a kind of way I couldn't understand.
She pushed herself off the wall, raising a brow and staring me head to toe. "Finally. I thought you'd never come out."
I forced a smile, "we had a short conversation."
"Are you familiar with the commander?" She asked coldly, already walking ahead and expecting me to follow her, which I did.
"Not exactly." I replied, not wanting to reveal more to someone I'd just met. She wasn't that interested in me either, I guess she must have found it weird that Ryden summoned me into his office upon my arrival.
We both walked the rest of the hallway quietly, my eyes catching the glares of students passing by but I barely paid attention to them.
She led me to a door, then a card appeared in her palm out of freaking nowhere. I wondered how she managed to do that. She pressed the card against the door, and it clicked open.
"This is our dorm." She said, pushing the door open to reveal a wide room.
The dorm room was spacious but simple. Two beds stood against opposite walls, both neatly made with dark gray sheets. A large window let in pale afternoon light, illuminating polished wooden floors. There were two desks, two wardrobes, and a shared shelf stacked with academy-issued manuals.
I stepped inside slowly, my boots sounding louder than they should have.
The girl walked in ahead of me and tossed the card onto the nearest desk. "You'll be on that side," she said, pointing to the bed by the window.
I nodded once. "Thanks."
She turned toward me again, folding her arms across her chest. "You look like someone that'll attract a lot of unnecessary attention. Just Try to stay out of trouble. The students of Royal academy aren't so nice. Especially to knew students."
I gave an awkward smile, "Yeah sure."
A slow smirk curled on her lips. "And that includes me." Before I could even shift my weight, she moved with lightning speed, her fingers clamping around my neck as she slammed my back hard against the wall, the impact shaking the frame.
My breath hitched, panic exploded in my chest. What the hell… was this girl trying to kill me?