Defend

The next day.
“Did you pack your stuff? We are leaving for the pack in ten minutes,” Maya asked as she entered the room, where Priyank was sitting and Priya was cleaning all his wounds.
“Everything is packed. I am just bandaging his wounds,” Priya answered without looking back.
“If you are done with his wounds, both of you should come outside. We have to leave as soon as possible. This place is not safe to stay, even for a single hour,” Maya spoke as she walked away.
“Just do everything as we planned. You got me, right?” Priyank’s eyes were fixed on Priya, seriousness showing on his face.
“Yes, we need to keep our eyes open for whatever happens next, and I will make sure I have my eyes on Elk too. He won’t slip away,” Priya nodded her head.
Priyank stroked her hair, his heart aching for her. “I know, Priya. It’s hard, but we can’t give up.”
Priyank’s mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of who could be behind the attack. He knew Elk was a suspect in Priya’s eyes, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story.
“Priya, I know you’re scared, and you have every right to be. But we need to be smart about this. We can’t let fear control us,” Priyank said, his voice gentle but firm.
Priya looked up at him, her eyes searching for him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, we need to gather more information. We can’t just accuse Elk or anyone else without proof. That will only cause issues,” Priyank explained.
Priya nodded, understanding the wisdom in his words. “You’re right. But how do we find out who’s behind this?”
Priyank thought for a moment, his brow furrowed. “We start by looking at who has the most to gain from attacking you. Who stands to benefit if you’re out of the picture?”
Priya’s mind raced, considering the possibilities. “Lucas, maybe? But he doesn’t know about me being the true heir.”
“Maybe not, but he could have spies within the pack. Someone who could have discovered your secret and reported back to him,” Priyank suggested.
Priya’s eyes widened, a realisation dawning on her. “Or maybe it’s someone else entirely. Someone we haven’t even considered yet.”
Priyank nodded, his expression grim. “Exactly. We need to keep our minds open and our eyes sharp. We can’t trust anyone.”
Priya took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “I just can’t believe someone would want to hurt me like this. I’ve never done anything to anyone.”
Priyank wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. “I know, Priya. But sometimes, people do terrible things for power and control. We have to be prepared for anything.”
A knock on the door startled them both. “Priyank, Priya, it’s time to go,” Maya’s voice called from the other side.
Priyank gave Priya’s hand a reassuring squeeze before standing up. “We’ll figure this out together, Priya. I promise.”
As they stepped outside, the cool morning air hit their faces Levi, Rish, Jackson, Elk, Maya, everyone was ready to leave already. Elk stood at the front, his expression unreadable.
Priyank kept a watchful eye on him as they say in their car. This time Elk drove it.
His mind racing with possibilities. He knew they had to be careful, but he also knew they couldn’t let their guard down for a moment.
Priya stayed close to Priyank’s side, her eyes scanning the surrounding woods for any sign of danger, even though she was sitting inside the car. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
As the group drove towards the pack territory, an uneasy silence filled the car. Elk focused on the road ahead, his expression giving nothing away. Priyank sat in the back seat with Priya, his arm protectively around her shoulders. Maya, Rish, Jackson and Levi were in the other car following behind.
Priya’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She couldn’t help but wonder if Elk was involved in the attack somehow. She doesn’t have enough reason to suspect him. She glanced at Priyank, grateful for his steady presence and clear-headed thinking.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at the pack’s main compound. As they exited the vehicles, a sense of unease settled over the group. The usual bustle of activity was absent, replaced by an eerie quiet.
“Something’s not right,” Rish muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
Levi nodded in agreement. “It’s too quiet. Where is everyone?”
Priyank’s instincts were on high alert. He moved closer to Priya, ready to protect her at a moment’s notice. “Stay close,” he whispered. “And be ready for anything.”
“It’s nothing. Usually, today everyone goes to watch the fight in the ring, which is why it’s so quiet. You don’t have to worry,” Jackson said, trying to reassure everyone.
Priya couldn’t shake off the feeling that someone had been watching her the whole car ride. It made her feel paranoid. She hadn’t even seen the attack on Priyank, but she was overwhelmed with exaggerated emotions and sensations from the moment she saw him wounded and bleeding, as if she were the one bleeding.
As they came out from the car and walked inside the house.
Priyank kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, his senses on high alert. He noticed Elk walking ahead of the group, his posture stiff and his movements tense. Priyank couldn’t help but wonder if Elk was hiding something.
It could happen, but it might just be that he is doubting himself. There’s no way he wants to doubt anyone or tell anybody without proof because he knows everyone will take Elk’s side rather than his.
“Priya, this evening, you will start learning how to fight. If the curse is taking time to break because you and Priyank don’t want to sleep together, it’s better if you learn how to defend yourself. Priyank may have saved you once, but it won’t happen every time. You need to be physically strong and fight your own battles,” Jackson said, finishing with a sigh.
“Huh?” Priya gasped in shock.
“He is right,” Maya added. “You need physical strength. We thought to give it time, but after this attack, time is not what we have, Priya.”