Cara pov
The moment Garreth’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, everything froze. My body, still buzzing with energy, stilled. My mind was spinning, trying to catch up. Lissa stopped too, her smug expression fading as she glanced at Garreth, clearly just as confused as I was.
The crowd around us fell into an uneasy silence, the cheers and jeers dying down. I could still hear their disappointed murmurs as Garreth raised his hand, signaling the end of the fight.
that strange strenghtening still brimed inside me, it was not the normal feeling of power accompanied with change in my eyes colour, thud was different, like a part of me was set free. It was confusing and new to me.
Garreth’s cold eyes locked onto mine, and for just a split second, I thought I saw something different, recognition, maybe even fear. But then it was gone, his usual stoic expression back in place. He stepped forward and waved the crowd away, his voice calm but firm.
“Training’s over for today. Everyone, get out,” he said, his voice having no room for argument.
The pack members shuffled away, some muttering under their breath, a few of them throwing curious glances my way. Lissa hesitated, looking as frustrated and confused as I felt, but eventually, she turned and walked off without a word.
I stayed on the ground, my whole body trembling, not just from the fight but from the strange sensation still lingering in my muscles. It was like something had unlocked inside me, something deep and powerful. My limbs felt lighter, stronger, and yet, I hadn’t transformed. Not fully. But something had definitely changed.
I seethed with rage, waiting for Garreth. I wanted to ask Garreth why he had stopped the fight, why he hadn’t let me finish,
Before I could push myself off the ground, Garreth walked over to me, that same infuriating smirk playing on his lips, but it did little to hide whatever fear or recognition I thought I’d seen earlier. He looked down at me, as if challenging me to ask the question I so desperately wanted to.
“Why did you….?”
“Tomorrow, we’re doing more drills, and more and more runs” he said, quickly cutting me short in my questions. not even giving me a chance to respond before turning on his heel and walking away, disappearing into the crowd.
What…but I won your stupid duel? I asked already getting infuriated and being fed up with his attitude.
“Did you?, last I checked there was no winner”
I stared at him, he was being unbelievable and seamlessly. He stooped the fight mid battle.
“I was about to win, you know that. That is why you stoped the fight, you dont want to be a stupid looser!”. I raged, almost going nuts in anger.
Whoah, whoah, what do will talk about control, he said with a smirk, “besides your fans are waiting for you, enjoy the fame while it last”
I glared after him, every curse word I knew swirling around in my mind. I was beyond frustrated. He’d stopped the fight just when things were getting intense, and now is lecturing me about getting out of control on my anger. The only thing I wanted now is to lose control on his head.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered to myself, still fuming as I stood up, brushing the dirt off my clothes. But that strange feeling, the one that had been unlocked during the fight, was still there, simmering just beneath the surface. I could feel it in my veins, like a switch that has been turned on.
Around me, a few of the pack members, mostly the newer recruits, gathered. Their eyes were wide with amazement, like they couldn’t believe what they’d just seen. Garreth was right, they were there waiting for me.
I sighed in surrender, putting up a smile,
“that was amazing! I didn’t know you had it in you,” one of them said, clapping me on the back.
I forced a small smile, still trying to shake off my frustration. “Yeah, thanks,” I mumbled, my mind elsewhere.
After a lot more of congratulations, I realized it was getting late. The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the training ground. Looking around, the surrounding were. Basically empty. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, ready to head back to my cabin and sort through everything that had just happened.
As I was walking out, a young boy, no older than sixteen, approached me. He had messy brown hair and an eager smile, like he couldn’t wait to talk to me.
“Hey, fighter? That was incredible what you did back there. I’ve never seen anyone stand up to Lissa like that,” he said, his eyes wide with admiration.
I raised an eyebrow, a little wary. “Thanks, it was nothing, … uh, and you are?”
“Oh, sorry! I’m Mark,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’m one of the newer recruits. I’ve been watching your training sessions for a while now. You’re… really good.”
“I wouldn’t say that, I lost to her, remember”
“Noo, that was lissa using underhand method to catch you unawares, besides she is the best fighter in our set, for you to stand up to…”
“Wait…you mean she is the best in your set?” I asked not believing what I was hearing.
“Yes, definitely, that’s why we are amazed that a new recruit like you can go toe to toe with somebody like lissa” he said bringing out his hands.
I hesitated for a moment, but then I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mark.”
My mind was still trying to make sense of what Mark said, if what he was saying is true that means, “Garreth is a shameless and a manipulative son of a rogue,” damn him having integrity as he literally pushed me to fight the best fighter in the new recruiters that have been training for like two, three months now
He grinned, walking alongside me as I made my way out of the training ground. “So, what’s the deal with Garreth? Why train with him?.
“Huh?” I answered, my mind still preoccupied.
Uuhh, nothing, I said absentmindedly
“Oohh, he is hard and very strict, we hardly breath when he is in charge”
I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, you could say that. He’s… complicated.”
Mark laughed, shaking his head. “I bet. But hey, if you ever need to blow off some steam, I know just the place.”
I glanced at him, a little suspicious. “Blow off some steam?”
“Yeah!” he said, his face lighting up with excitement. “There’s this spot, kind of a secret place, where some of us go to relax. It’s called the Den. We can hang out, let loose, and nobody’s gonna tell Garreth you were there. It can be our little secret.”
I hesitated, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
“Naahh, you dont need to feel scared, we go there all thile time, even the pack bar can’t compare” he said with a convincing smile.
Something about this felt… off. But then again, maybe I was just being paranoid. Mark seemed harmless enough, and after everything that had happened today, I could definitely use a distraction.
“Alright,” I said slowly, convincing myself there was no harm in it. “Lead the way.”
Mark’s eyes lit up, and he motioned for me to follow him. “Awesome! You won’t regret it.”
We walked through the pack, following a narrow path that wound between the trees. The sun had almost completely disappeared now, casting the world in shadows. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease creeping up my spine, but I pushed it down. Mark seemed excited, and a few other people, scantily dressed, were heading in the same direction, laughing and chatting as they went.
After a while, we arrived at a clearing, it was a little far off from the normal bubbling pack square. There, nestled between the trees, was a hidden little shop, it was concelaed perfectly you could hardly know it without looking for it.
It was dimly lit inside, with a few lanterns hanging from the branches, casting a soft glow over the area. People lounged around the small shop, talking and drinking, and we were in a line that led to a small door.
“This is the Den,” Mark said, smiling. “What do you think?”
I looked around, trying to shake the uneasy feeling in my gut. “It’s… something.”
Mark laughed, clapping me on the back. “Come on, Cara. Loosen up. You’ve had a rough day. Let’s have some fun.”
I forced a smile, but the uneasy feeling wouldn’t go away. Something about this place, about the way Mark had been so eager to bring me here, felt wrong. But I pushed the thought aside, telling myself I was just being paranoid. I looked up at the hefty looking rogue at the doorpost, after scrutinizing me, he motioned at the door, with a humph.
“Welcome to the Den”