CHAPTER 6
Verity's POV
Darek's visit left me unsettled. The mention of a 'key' meant nothing to me, but his accusation—however subtle—lingered in my mind.
What could the rogues want?
Unable to sleep, I decided to take a walk. The moon cast a silver glow over the fortress as I made my way to the courtyard. The air was crisp, the silence soothing.
Until it wasn't.
A rustling sound came from the shadows. I froze, my heart pounding.
"Who's there?" I called, my voice steady despite my fear.
A figure stepped into the light—a rogue, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Hello, Luna," he said, his voice a menacing purr. "We've been looking for you."
I took a step back, my mind racing. "What do you want?"
"The key," he said simply. "Hand it over, and no one gets hurt."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voice firm.
He chuckled darkly. "Then you're of no use to us."
He lunged, but I was ready. Years of training kicked in as I dodged his attack, landing a solid kick to his side. He stumbled but recovered quickly, his movements predatory.
I didn't stand a chance against him alone, but I refused to go down without a fight.
Just as he closed the distance, a feral growl echoed through the courtyard. Darek appeared out of nowhere, his eyes glowing with rage.
The rogue hesitated, but it was too late. Darek shifted mid-leap, his wolf form a blur of muscle and fury.
The fight was over in seconds. The rogue lay motionless on the ground, and Darek shifted back, his breathing heavy.
"What were you thinking?" he snarled, his anger directed at me now.
"I wasn't going to let him take me," I shot back.
"You could've been killed!" he shouted, his voice shaking with something that sounded almost like fear.
"But I wasn't," I said, meeting his gaze.
He took a step closer, his eyes boring into mine. "You don't understand what you mean to this pack"
For a moment, his walls crumbled, or so I thought.
"What do I mean to the pack Alpha?" I asked, hoping for something else.
"You mean nothing more than a truce; if you die in our land, war will occur between both packs, and I don't want that," he said to me emotionlessly.
"Get inside," he said, his voice so cold and cruel.
I obeyed, but as I walked away, I couldn't stop the tears that escaped my eyelids. Wiping my tears, I walked into my room, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this 'key' than either of us realized—and that Darek was hiding something.
I must find out what it is, and I won't let Darek's words get to me; I have to be strong.
I spent the morning exploring the fortress, trying to familiarize myself with my new home—or prison, depending on how I looked at it.
The tension with Darek was palpable, but I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. If he thought I would cower, he had another thing coming.
As I wandered into the training grounds, I caught sight of the warriors sparring. Their movements were fluid and precise, a testament to their discipline. Making me remember the days when I used to train with my mum and brother back in our pack.
"Do you fight?" a voice asked behind me.
I turned to see a young warrior, his expression curious.
"I used to," I admitted. "Before..."
I trailed off, unwilling to delve into my past.
He nodded, not pressing further. "Would you like to spar?"
I hesitated. It had been years since I'd trained, but the idea was tempting. "Sure," I said, stepping onto the mat.
The warrior, whose name I learned was Theo, handed me a practice sword. We circled each other, the rest of the warriors pausing their training to watch.
Theo lunged first, but I sidestepped, bringing my sword up to block his next strike. The movements came back to me instinctively, my muscles remembering what my mind had almost forgotten.
The sparring match didn't last long. Theo was skilled, but I held my own, earning a few cheers from the watching warriors.
"Not bad," Theo said, grinning as he extended a hand to help me up.
"Thanks," I said, out of breath but exhilarated.
The moment was short-lived.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Darek's voice cut through the air like a blade, silencing the training grounds.
I turned to see him striding toward us, his expression thunderous.
"Training," I said evenly.
"You think this is a game?" he growled, his eyes blazing. "You could have been hurt."
"I can handle myself," I said, refusing to back down.
"This isn't up for debate," he snapped. "You are not to spar with my warriors."
"Your warriors?" I shot back. "I thought I was their Luna."
A muscle ticked in his jaw, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Theo. "Get back to your duties."
Theo nodded quickly and retreated, leaving me alone with Darek.
"You can't keep me locked away, Darek," I said, my voice quieter now but no less firm. "I'm not some fragile ornament you can control."
His gaze softened for a moment, but his tone remained cold. "You don't understand the danger we're in, Verity. The rogues aren't just a threat to the pack—they're a threat to you."
"Then let me fight," I said. "Let me help."
He shook his head. "You'll stay safe. That's all that matters."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the training grounds, my fists clenched.
That night, as I lay in bed, Darek's words echoed in my mind.
You'll stay safe. That's all that matters.
There was something in his voice, a hint of vulnerability he couldn't quite hide.
Maybe he wasn't just trying to control me.
Maybe he was trying to protect me.
But from what—or from whom—I still didn't know.