Her heart skipped a beat. There was no way they were talking about the instrument that Simon and she were designed to present in the annual - Katherine's thoughts paused.
"Nocturnals? I heard what happened to them. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. What they did was indeed wrong by trying to steal the manuscripts, but who knows if they were bringing it for the welfare of the wolves only? They were known -"
"Shut up. Don't mention it to anyone. They are even banned from being talked about since they brought shame to the werewolf species," The two men kept walking before turning the corner.
Katherine's heart thumped in her chest.
So now they brought shame to the werewolf world? After all those life-threatening tasks that they completed for royals and Ops organization, they were the abomination of the world? Katherine clenched her fists.
Tears brimmed her eyes, thinking about what her team must be going through.
Her team probably needed her, but here she was, stuck in a weak useless body.
Katherine stepped forward and started running again, the fire in her heart fuelling her movements.
She didn't know how long she ran for. Her lungs were killing her, and her legs were screaming for her to stop, but she didn't stop.
She kept walking, moving, running, or anything she could do without caring for the time.
It wasn't long before the soldiers and Prince Elwin walked to the area to start their training schedule.
"What is this? Was there someone else here-?" Prince Elwin started when he saw some blood on the ground, but his question was soon answered when he saw Delilah running, almost out of breath.
What was she doing here so early in the morning?
His gaze shifted to her foot which was almost bleeding from her running. His pupils dilated when he saw her shivering form.
What was this girl trying now? Prince Elwin's brows furrowed as his haze darkened.
It has been like this from the moment she committed suicide. Was this a new way to make their commander guilty of his actions?
Prince Elwin pressed his lips into a thin line. As much as he hated such desperate girls, there was just something about her that intrigued him, probably the way she shamelessly continued even when everyone kept bashing her.
There was this fire in her eyes that intensified over the last two days. It was hard to pinpoint, but her entire personality felt like a big fat lie.
Thinking his soldiers bullied the girl again, Prince Elwin sighed.
"What is she doing here? Did you guys bully her again?" Prince Elwin asked as they waited for her to reach them.
He thought that she would stop to greet him at least. However, Katherine, who was busy thinking about how she was wronged and how her sacrifices all her life were now called an abomination and shame to the world, didn't stop.
She kept running.
Prince Elwin looked at the girl's disheveled form as she ran past him.
It surprised him.
But what surprised him even more was the fact that she was still running even when she was bleeding. If she really just wanted to catch their attention, this was more than enough, then why-
And why was she looking so respectable in this form? Like a true soldier?
They had a separate section for the women's training squad but it was in the middle of the kingdom and Prince Elwin never walked there.
So seeing a female working so hard made him appreciate her efforts.
"Miss Delilah," Prince Elwin said to catch her attention, but to everyone's surprise, she didn't stop and kept running, going around the corner.
Even the demonic system, who was initially happy that the anger and sadness inside her was helping her complete her first task, started to feel bad for the girl when she realized just how deeply hurt she felt.
Who wouldn't? The demonic system has read her file and observed how she devoted her entire life to her job. And now hearing that all her efforts were being given the name of nothing more than shame to the world. Who would stay sane after that?
"What are you waiting for? Begin your training. Let her be," Prince Elwin said, his cold and deep voice, snapping everyone out of their reverie and getting into the training position.
At the same time, the mysterious man who had gone to run in the forest, looked at the running girl on his way, his brows scrunching when he saw her form.
Shaking his head at her stupidity, he left for his mansion and went to take a bath so he could go to the royal palace and begin his work or training.
After one more lap, Katherine finally stopped from where she started.
Her legs almost felt jello and she took support of the bench before plopping on it, placing her face in her hands and closing her eyes.
She took deep breaths to calm her raging heart, waiting for the system to tell her the next target.
'Nocturnals? Don't talk about them. They brought shame to the species,' The words echoed in her head like a never-ending chant.
Her fists clenched as she dug her nails into her palm to feel the physical pain which might help her suppress the emotional pain she was feeling.
"Here," Katherine looked up when she saw a water bottle in front of her.
She raised her gaze a bit more to see who it was, her gaze darkening when she noticed how it was.
Standing in front of her in nothing but his pants was none other than the man who was the direct subordinate of the man who rejected Delilah.
"Thank you," Katherine stood from her place, ignoring the water bottle offered to her, knowing all too well they would try to justify it with her trying to woo men again.
"Trying hard to get?" Someone commented from some distance and Katherine sighed.
She started moving again, but as soon as she took a couple of steps, she bumped into the person who appeared in front of her out of the blue, making her stumble back.
Katherine raised her gaze and looked at the amber eyes looking back at her.
They weren't the best pair of eyes she had laid her gaze on, but it was definitely something given how she always had a thing for eyes.
"I can't believe you still haven't given up," The man in front of her said.
Katherine didn't need to be told or look into Delilah's memories to know who he was. The arrogance dripping from his words and stance screamed for him.
"Were my words not enough? Stop harassing me with your gifts in the name of -" The commander started speaking, but Katherine rolled her eyes, making him pause.
"Are you done?" Katherine asked, her voice void of any emotions or softness that Delilah used to use while talking to the commander.
To say her choice of words and cold voice surprised everyone would be an understatement. But what surprised everyone even more was the confidence that Delilah was showing.
They were quite used to the girl bringing food for the commander in hopes of making some space in his heart and from what they noticed, the girl never looked into anyone's eyes.
"Excuse me, what?" The commander scoffed.
"You are blocking my path. Last time I checked, I was still a guest of the royals, and you didn't buy this place. Move," Katherine whispered her anger already up because of what she heard from those guards.
"Are you doing this because I rejected you, Miss Delilah? The heights of you, seriously," The commander said and Katherine sighed.
"I am not here for you or -"
"That's a load of b*llshit. Aren't you tired of all this? At least earlier you used to be punctual and truthful, but now you have resorted to lying? If not for me then why? Why were you here?" The commander asked.
Katherine wanted to gag at his narcissistic statement.
"It's a free space for anyone who wants to train or warm up, isn't it? I was here for the same reason. Is there a problem-"
"Pfft... Hahaha," The commander started laughing, followed by other soldiers who were with him.
"You wanted to train? Seriously, Miss Delilah? Couldn't you come up with a better excuse? Why are you adamant about losing the little respect you have and -"
"Why do I have to prove myself to you? Neither are you a king, nor the Prince or a relative. Heck, you aren't even the head royal army commander," Katherine scoffed.
Everything became silent for a second. No one spoke anything as they looked at the girl, wide-eyed.
She seriously disrespected him.
The glaring of his nose and brightening of his eyes was a clear indication of that.
The commander kept looking at her for some seconds before he smirked. His smirk promised nothing good.
"You know what? I am going to believe you. There is a minimum eligibility strength criteria for training here. You can choose anyone from here. Land a punch. If that person stumbles from his place, you can train here, if he doesn't - Don't show your face here. Or I can make this easy for you. Punch the next person who walks here and the rule stays. Do you agree?" The commander asked, bending to look straight into her eyes.