The sun had barely begun to rise, making some parts of the forest dark. Aveline stood at the center of a clearing, surrounded by the shadows of big trees. Her breath was steady, and her body was alert. She was ready.
The sparring began with the clash of swords, the sound of the metals clashing against one another echoed through stillness in the morning air. Aveline moved like a seasoned warrior; her strikes were precise, and her movements were fluid. The weight of her sword felt like part of her arm. With every parry, she felt the familiar rhythm of combat, the adrenaline, the focus.
Her opponent, a fellow pack warrior, was no slouch either. They exchanged blows in rapid succession, each one testing the other's skill and strength. But Aveline's mind, usually razor-sharp in battle, was distracted. It wasn't the warrior in front of her that had her thoughts elsewhere. No, it was the memory of another battle, one from which she could never truly escape.
Gabriel.
Her former mate. Her Alpha. The man she had loved, the man she had lost. His face haunted her every waking moment. His death had been sudden, and violent, leaving no time for goodbyes. The thought of him, of their bond, had never truly left her. His absence was a wound that never fully healed.
There was a clash of swords again between Aveline and her opponent with a louder sound. She shook her head, trying to clear the old memory and focus on the present. But it was impossible. She gets reminded every time through her Every move, every step, and also every breath reminds her of him. Of their time together.
"Focus, Aveline," her opponent said, voice filled with concern. "You're slipping."
Her sword was already aimed at his chest, but she hesitated.
"I'm fine," Aveline said curtly, her voice tight as she refocused. She quickly struck her opponent's side, knocking him off balance. He staggered back, raising his hands in surrender.
"You're always fine," he muttered, rubbing his side. "But you can't keep pushing yourself like this. You're not invincible, Aveline."
She only nodded. It wasn't invincibility she was after; it was closure. It was peace. And if fighting until she couldn't move anymore helped her chase that e peace, then she would keep fighting.
Later, as the warriors gathered around the campfire to eat, Aveline stood apart from the group, staring into the fire. The flame's shadow seems to taunt her with memories of Gabriel. She could almost hear his voice in the crackle of the fire, almost see his smiles as he teased her about her stubbornness.
But that was all gone now.
Aveline shifted her gaze to the horizon, where the forest and the distant hills meet. News had begun to spread through the pack that there had been sightings near the border, and rumors of scouts from the rival pack. She felt a tension in her chest. The rival pack had been a constant threat ever since Gabriel's death, and while things had been relatively quiet in recent months, there were always whispers. And whispers were never a good sign.
There was a different tension in the air and it felt like something was about to happen, Aveline could sense it in the way her fellow pack members moved, whispering amongst themselves and the ever-present unease. It wasn't just the rival pack that had everyone on edge. It was everything, the fear of betrayal, the desire for power, and the void Gabriel's death had left behind.
"Are you listening to me, Aveline?" Elder Thorne interrupted her thought immediately. He stood behind her, his tall figure over-shadowing hers. His dark eyes pierce into her, sharp and unwavering.
Aveline turned, offering him a respectful nod. Elder Thorne was a respected figure in their pack, a man who had seen more wars, and more battles than Aveline could remember. He was always calculating and very cunny, never one to show his true feelings.
"I'm sorry," Aveline said, with a soft voice. "I was just"
"Lost in the past again, I see," Thorne interrupted. "You're a warrior, Aveline, and I expect you to act like one. If you cannot put aside these distractions, then you have no place in this pack's future."
"You must focus," Thorne continued, with a lower voice and more serious tone. "The rival pack is not the only threat we face. Things are happening in the shadows, things you are not yet aware of. Your loyalty to this pack must come first. Everything else must come second."
Aveline's heart skipped with some questions coming to mind. Was Thorne suggesting that Gabriel's death wasn't important? Was there something more to it? "I understand," she said finally, though she wasn't sure she did.
Thorne nodded immediately at her reply but with an unreadable expression. "Good. Stay focused, Aveline. The future of this pack depends on it."
As Aveline walked away, her mind was swarming with questions. What was Thorne hiding? Why was he so adamant that she forget Gabriel, forget her pain? And why did he seem so convinced that something bigger was at play?
She was about to turn toward the camp when her closest friend, Alina, caught up with her. Alina's face was pale, her eyes wide with concern.
"Aveline," she whispered urgently. "You need to hear this."
"What is it?" Aveline asked, her stomach tightening.
Alina looked around nervously, ensuring no one else was around to eardrop on them. "There's going to be a diplomatic gathering. The Alpha has called for one. With the rival pack. It's supposed to be a chance to discuss peace, but—"
Aveline's heart skipped a beat. She had heard nothing of this. A diplomatic gathering? That didn't sound like peace. It sounded like something much more dangerous.
"When?" Aveline demanded, with a low voice.
"In a week," Alina said, her voice barely a whisper. "And there's something more. I don't know what, but the Alpha is hiding something about it. I overheard him speaking to Elder Thorne. Something big is coming. And you need to be ready."
Aveline's mind raced. The rival pack. Gabriel. A secret gathering. What were they planning? And why had her father, why had the Alpha decided now was the time to meet with their enemies?
"Thank you," Aveline said as she turned away with a heart filled with various thoughts. she felt Everything was changing, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for what was coming next.
Aveline stood still. The echoes of Alina's words bounced in her mind. A diplomatic gathering. Her father's secrecy. The rival pack's scouts. Gabriel. The past was coming back, and she had no idea whether it would bring peace or war.