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The morning sun filtered through the wooden shutters, casting golden rays across the room. I blinked awake, my body heavy with exhaustion but my mind unusually clear. The events of the previous day felt like a dream—a brutal, heart-wrenching dream that had left me in an entirely different world.
A soft knock at the door startled me. Before I could answer, Selene's voice drifted through.
"Breakfast is ready. Lucian wants to see you after."
Her tone was clipped, lacking the warmth I'd expected. Still, I mumbled a quiet, "Thank you," and dragged myself out of bed.
Shadowhaven in the daylight was even more breathtaking than it had been the night before. The settlement was alive with activity, the wolves moving with a quiet confidence that spoke of their unity. Despite the tranquility, I could feel eyes on me as I walked toward the main hall.
Selene stood by the long dining table, setting down plates of freshly baked bread and roasted meat. She barely glanced at me as I entered.
"Eat," she said shortly. "You'll need your strength."
I hesitated, unsure if her hostility was personal or just her nature. Deciding it wasn't worth dwelling on, I sat down and began to eat. The food was delicious, though my appetite was dulled by nerves.
Lucian entered a moment later, his commanding presence filling the room. He gave Selene a nod before taking a seat across from me.
"Good morning," he said, his tone neutral.
"Good morning," I replied, setting down my fork.
"We need to talk about what comes next," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Shadowhaven isn't just a sanctuary—it's a pack. If you're going to stay here, you'll have responsibilities."
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "Responsibilities?"
"You're not a guest, Aria," he said. "You're a wolf. That means contributing to the pack. Training, patrols, whatever's needed."
His words weren't unkind, but they were firm. I nodded, unsure what else to say.
"Training starts tomorrow," Selene interjected, her voice cold. "You'll be paired with one of our enforcers."
I glanced at her, catching the slight curl of her lip. Whatever her problem with me was, it was clear she didn't plan to hide it.
"Thank you," I said quietly, though the thought of training filled me with dread.
Lucian must have sensed my unease because his tone softened. "You'll learn at your own pace," he said. "But it's important you learn to defend yourself, Aria. Shadowhaven is safe, but it's not invulnerable."
I nodded again, my mind spinning. I barely had time to process his words before the door burst open, and a young boy rushed in.
"Alpha!" he cried, his face pale. "There's trouble at the eastern border."
Lucian was on his feet in an instant, his expression grim. "What kind of trouble?"
"Rogues," the boy said breathlessly. "At least a dozen. They've taken down the outer sentries."
My stomach churned at the mention of rogues. Memories of the previous night flooded back, the fear and desperation clawing at me.
"Selene," Lucian said sharply, "take Aria to the safe house. Stay there until I return." "But—" I began, only for Selene to cut me off.
"No arguments," she snapped, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the door.
I stumbled after her, my mind racing. "What's going on?"
"Rogues," she said curtly. "They've been probing our borders for weeks. Looks like they're testing us again."
Her grip on my arm was firm but not painful as she led me through the settlement. We passed wolves arming themselves, their faces grim with determination. The sense of unity I'd felt earlier was now laced with tension.
The safe house was a small, nondescript cabin on the edge of the settlement. Selene pushed me inside and locked the door behind us.
"Stay here," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "Lucian will deal with the rogues." "And if he doesn't?" I asked, my voice trembling.
She gave me a long, hard look. "He will."
With that, she left, leaving me alone in the dimly lit cabin. My heart pounded as I paced the small space, the walls closing in around me.
What am I doing here? I wondered. I don't belong in this world.
But even as the thought crossed my mind, a small voice whispered in the back of my head. You belong more than you think.
The hours dragged by, each minute feeling like an eternity. I strained my ears for any sign of what was happening outside, but the cabin was silent.
Finally, the door creaked open, and Lucian stepped inside. His clothes were torn, and blood smeared his arms, but he looked otherwise unscathed.
"It's over," he said, his voice weary. "The rogues are gone."
Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. "Why are they attacking?" I asked.
"They're desperate," he said simply. "Desperation makes them dangerous."
He sat down heavily, running a hand through his hair. "This is why you need to train, Aria. The world outside Shadowhaven isn't safe, and I can't always be there to protect you."
His words stung, but they were true. For the first time, I realized that my survival depended on more than just running—it depended on fighting back.
"I'll train," I said quietly, meeting his gaze. "Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Good. You'll need that resolve in the days to come."
As he left, I sank into a chair, my mind heavy with thoughts. Shadowhaven had offered me a chance at a new life, but it was clear that life wouldn't come without challenges.
I didn't know if I was strong enough to face them, but one thing was certain: I wasn't going to give up without a fight.