Chapter 3

3

I let out a disgusted smirk.

It must have been hard for him to say something so sweet while feeling so much loathing.

But this time, my father spoke up, his voice booming with authority.

"The decision is made. This is not a game."

"Lyra is right. Duty comes before romance. Go, my daughter. Make me proud."

I could practically see my father rolling his eyes at Xander in his mind.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

I thought Xander would give up, but I underestimated his desperation.

At the war camp, I met with Silas Sterling, the youngest War Chief of the North.

He greeted me with a grin so bright it rivaled the sun.

"Stop smiling," I joked. "You look like an idiot."

"I'm just happy to see you. I've wanted to fight by your side since we were pups."

Silas was only a bit older than me. We grew up training together. He was the reason I loved blades.

We didn't waste time on nostalgia. We drew up a plan to strike the Rogue stronghold.

The battle started well. Silas was a beast on the field, forcing the Rogue leaders back.

But suddenly, a masked man in black dropped from the sky.

His strikes were lethal. Within minutes, my guards were being slaughtered.

The Rogue leaders rallied around him, sensing the tide turning.

"I'll lead him away! You handle the rest!" I shouted to Silas.

I lunged at the masked man and drew him into the deep woods.

I pulled out an Alpha Mirror, a relic designed to burn anyone with Rogue energy.

I thought I had him, but then a blast of pure, blinding white light hit me.

My heart stopped. That wasn't Rogue energy. That was Pack Magic!

Before I could process it, a massive blow landed on my chest. Everything went black.

I woke up in a damp, dark cavern.

My body felt like it had been crushed by a truck. Silver-threaded ropes bound my limbs.

Through the haze, I heard voices.

"The battle drained me. Give me a moment to recover, then I'll take her Lunar Bone for you."

"Xander, it's all my fault. Seeing you this tired breaks my heart."

The man gave a soft, dark chuckle. "This is nothing compared to the pain you felt being poisoned by the Shadow Creepers for me."

Hearing that, a tear slid down my cheek.

The person who had endured the agony of that poison wasn't Seraphina. It was me.

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