Vyra

Titus whistled as his attention volleyed between Seren and I.

The Alpha went silent, which meant he was thinking. Lines appeared between his dark brows.

He decided it was better to move on despite the tension, "The second trial forces you to think past yourself. It will assess your loyalty towards the pack, and how well you trust your pack members. Even if you don't necessarily like them, their life should be equal in your eyes. Then, you will have to rescue pack members in need with your group."

The irony of the situation was astounding.

"Equal? That has never been my issue." There was no snark in my voice, it was purely factual. "I'm supposed to trust either of you?"

Seren's gaze burned into me, "You're supposed to trust all of us-"

"I trust him." I interrupted, pointing at Titus. "Not too sure about either you or the woman who stood right beside Cyrus until he was exiled."

Mena made no move to counter me. She looked bored, fiddling with the end of her braid.

Seren eyed Titus, who conveniently looked away. More than likely having an internal conversation I couldn't hear.

The Alpha smiled tightly, "That is the point. You will learn to, and we'll reciprocate."

"I'll believe it when I see it." I said dubiously, crossing my arms and leaning onto my hip.

They would need to get over their feelings about Outcasts first. I could work with them no matter what. I have.

I lived amongst them for years and did my duty as a weaver. If someone would have gotten hurt, I would help them either way.

It was them who denied me.

"You let her talk to you like that?" Mena stepped forward, looking at Seren like he was mad. Then, her fierce slate colored eyes struck me, "Has being an Outcast taught you nothing? You were almost alright when you were docile."

This is the woman I expected. Never did she go to the lengths Cyrus did, but she surely never denied the chance to remind me of my place.

I turned to the woman, many unspoken words playing in my head. "Quite literally if I breathe the wrong direction you have something to say. What is the use in lying down and taking it?"

Her expression hardened, ready to launch back but was interrupted.

"Mena, quiet." Titus said softly, shaking his head.

Her eyes softened, and she had the nerve to look embarrassed.

She disliked me because she was told to, because it was the law of the pack. I didn't feel any real threat from her, whatever she felt for Titus mattered more.

Seren took it as a sign that he could continue, "Now this trial will take longer than any other. This is when you will learn to fight in both your forms." He gauged my reaction, but I offered none. "We will spar, and then learn to battle cohesively as a unit. It will be difficult to even attempt to get you to the level we are on."

"As I've been told." Over and over again.

"But we will try." Seren said, his tone surprisingly resolute.

His eyes scanned over me, probably taking in lack of muscles and height even the smallest of full bred Lycan females had. Mena was the perfect example of a Lycan female. Above 5'8", toned, and willowy.

They were made for hunting and battle.

I covered my torso, feeling insecure at the softness that lay underneath. Seren's expression shifted into confusion then became inquisitive at my show of covering myself.

I looked away, not wanting to see it turn to disappointment at my weaker physique.

"Who knows." Titus broke the uncomfortable silence, clapping his hands together. "Maybe the hybrid will be better than all of us."

We started with the basics.

Titus and Mena complained, saying they learned it as toddlers. Seren dutifully ignored them.

It made me happy to know he wasn't charming all the time, and he had a great knack for pissing off others by following the rules.

It meant I wasn't alone.

We were on a hay strewn mat, which was laid out onto the snow. The Alpha had us doing stretches.

"Don't be such a hard-ass." Titus had said, out of breath as he was bent onto his knees.

Seren rolled his eyes, "Vyra, why are we stretching?"

"I don't know." I said, my hair in my face.

"Exactly!" The man's sarcasm was palpable. "So Titus." He clamped his hand on the man's shoulder, making him buckle. "Explain why stretching is the first step in preparation for fighting."

Even though my arms wobbled under my own weight, I couldn't help but laugh. With their complaints, there was less time for the Alpha to focus on me.

"It prevents injuries and makes your body absorb hits better." Titus answered begrudgingly, falling out of his pose. "You should join us, Alpha."

I peeked through my hair, "Yeah. How are we a team if you're not training with us?"

I expected the Alpha to laugh us off, and continue barking orders and directions of where to move our body.

"You're right."

We all were shocked. I was more surprised when he moved into the space between Titus and I instead of on the end next to Mena.

There was little room, his body brushing against mine.

"Can I suggest something?" He asked, his breath tickling the curled locks near my ears.

My arms quivered as I stared at the mat beneath me, my fingers turning white. "Go ahead."

I wasn't too offended. I watched him hunt when he first taught me, and he meticulously followed each step every time.

The large male shifted, his body lying sideways so he could look at me. My shoulder nearly buckled, not used to him being so close.

"It's much easier if you let go of the tension here." He spoke in low tones, placing a single finger at the top of my spine. I couldn't relax.

His touch disappeared. I let my shoulders sag a bit, and he was right. It hurt less.

Then, I felt the full expanse of his palm holding my stomach from underneath, the heat moving through the leather pieces I wore.

I felt him begin to press, bringing the rest of my body further from the ground with his hand alone.

His voice was even quieter when he explained, and somehow he was much closer, "Putting your focus here will help you build strength."

Seren was still holding me up when I stole a glance.

I found him staring back.

Losing my balance, my hands slipped on the mat. I cursed, but the man easily settled me.

Using the other hand, he caught me around my waist so that I could set my hands back on the ground.

My body was swarmed with a palpable warmth as he continued to hold me, his face so much closer than before. I could count the sunburst rays of white and deep gray in his silver irises.

They took on a different form in the dark. In the day his irises were the metal itself. Now, they appeared like the full moon in a summer's haze, muted and soft behind the fog.

"I'm alright now." I murmured, looking between us. With his body set to the side, he nearly embraced me in his attempt to prevent my fall.

"Perfect." He said, his eyes flickering. The male shook his head, knocked out of his daze. He slid his arm from over my back, and pressed against my stomach lightly once before letting go entirely."Your form is perfect now."

"Thanks." I responded unsurely.

His compliments were rare and usually more cryptic. My cheeks heated stupidly at the meaningless praise he offered now.

But does he know?

The small smile on my lips fell, and Seren's content mood went with it.

I thought it was a shame such a pretty man might be so evil. With his eyes narrowed on me, I could only guess he was severely dissatisfied with everything else.

Shifting was something I could do. Hunting was something I could learn.

This trial would show just how disadvantaged I was to all other Lycan. He knew it, I knew it.

We fought in silence until we were interrupted.

"Seren," Titus called. He sat back on his hunches. "It's growing dark."

The Lycan didn't bother with pleasantries. Mena bowed sardonically at Seren, and ignored Titus entirely.

"Is she alright?" I knew she didn't like me.

I wasn't sure why everyone else was getting the cold shoulder now. I didn't like the defeated look on Titus's face as she walked away.

Seren smirked, filling in the blanks. "She's always liked Titus, he's just oblivious. She's my friend but nothing ever past that. I wouldn't hurt him like that. She listens for me." He said as if that explained everything, before rolling his eyes, "I think she'll get over the whole Outcast thing, her hearts never been in it. But she won't get over how close you two seem to be."

Titus must have realized who he was talking to, because he quickly sobered, putting on a neutral expression and getting off the mat.

He held out his hand without looking at me, and I took it. The man pulled me up like I was made of feathers.

"If you were polite for a second longer, I would've thought we were becoming friends." I instigated the man playfully, swiping the dust off my body.

The tension shifted.

"Never." The man pledged, his eyes darkening.

Shamed and frustrated, I started walking away.

Not far enough to hear Titus run up to the man.

"I had no idea why either of you were mated to each other, and not because of the existential stuff." The guard admitted, "But now I see it."

"See what?" Seren sounded aloof, like he wanted the conversation to be over.

Unable to tame my curiosity, I slowed my steps just enough to hear what the male said next.

"You get this look in your eye when you really want something, and you're willing to do anything to get it. She does the same."

I laughed to myself. Seren and I had nothing in common, like I once thought before.

He was the night sky and I was the waning moon, there was so much of him and so little of me. He could get anything he wanted and people would be happy to provide.

He was the Alpha and he was also perfect, possessing two gifts that made people fall at your feet. Power and beauty.

He knew who he was and what he was meant to do. He would kill me in a year, he would win, and life would go on.

I'd learned what really happened to my family days ago and yet I was a failure.

I let out another exhausted laugh, though not a single thing in the world was funny at all.

They wouldn't have realized I was eavesdropping.

If I hadn't fainted in the snow right then and there.

***

I woke up pressed against blissful, solid heat.

For a moment I let myself settle into the comfort, before remembering I fainted and I should be cold and covered in snow.

When I opened my eyes, I cowered, finding myself in Seren's arms.

As per usual, a very pissed off Seren was holding me under my knees and the top of my shoulders.

"Why are you carrying me?" I croaked, my throat dry as parchment. Barely being able to keep my eyes open, I tried to squirm out of his arms. "Where are you taking me?"

Seren didn't budge a muscle as I fought against him, instead pulling me tighter to his chest so I couldn't move at. I felt embarrassed by the awkward position, so I turned to our surroundings.

Being much higher than I usually was, I saw that we were on some sort of balcony stretched out from the main foyer. It was in the opposite direction of the rooms, so it was something I hadn't explored before.

Stained wood turned to carved stone, and we found ourselves in front of a large iron door.

Seren easily kicked it open without losing his grip, and we were greeted with a large dining hall.

It was as ornate as the rest of the fortress, with open flame scones and tapestries lining the walls with various Lycan myths. The only windows in the room were on the right side, which overlooked the snow capped mountains.

A single oak table was left in the middle of the room, lined in a midnight satin runner with silver etching, the colors of Clan Umbra. Stranger yet were two chairs on either end, a single candle surrounded by snow drops, and covered tin plates.

Seren carried me over to one of the chairs, pulling it out from the table with his foot. I was then promptly dropped onto the wood, the male huffing until he reached his seat.

I kept my arms at my sides, my expression a mixture of shock and shame as the Alpha lifted off the metal tops, and revealed an assortment of meats, cheese, bread, and some sort of powdered desert.

Seren sighed deeply, before snatching my empty plate from out in front of me. Within seconds it was filled with roasted chicken, rosemary potatoes, and one of the sweet treats.

When he placed it before me, it made my mouth water. I placed my hands underneath my thighs, nearly giving up.

The Alpha grumbled, "Eat."

He didn't even attempt to fill his own plate.

I wanted to give in. At this point, I wasn't even entirely sure why I kept denying him.

Even though I was starving, even though I wanted nothing more than to stuff my face, even though I knew it would be easier to give in...

It felt good to reject his offer. It was one thing I could control because it was my choice.

"No." There was no malice in my tone, I was entirely too polite.

Seren still reeled back, as if I slapped him in the face.

"That's fine." He said, tapping his ringed fingers on the table. With the other hand, he ran his palm through his dark hair, then sat forward. "Every night we will sit here until you are done with your meal."

I had no doubt he would follow through with that. He was so transparent.

It didn't feel good to him to fight a Fracti, outcast woman. It felt even worse to fight an adversary that was too weak to stand.

How far did his morals and honor run? Or was his insistence on keeping me strong far more insidious?

I had accused him before of not feeling like he earned the position of Alpha. Now I knew just how true it was, even if he did not.

"If you want to play that game, fine." I said, accepting his challenge.

I locked eyes with him as I lifted my hands from under my legs, and crossed my arms over my chest. My body shook with hunger, and still I would not forfeit.

Seren's eyes glowed in the dim candlelight, and I wondered if he understood where my true talents lay.

He lifted his knife, placing the point on the table. Spinning it, he eyed me from behind the blade. A distraction to get me to lower my guard.

"You're different. Something happened with that woman the other day, and you're not telling me." He said it casually, pretending to look at the knife.

My heart pinged painfully at his correct presumption.

I kept my expression still, knowing he was ready to sniff out a lie. "How would you know if I am any different or exactly the same? You don't know me."

Genuine laughter filled the air, catching me off guard. The deep rolling sound enveloped me.

His tone was absolutely arrogant as he reached over the feast with his knife, sticking it into a single berry. It ran like blood down the blade.

"I knew what you were like a couple days ago, Vyra. I do not have to know you inside and out to see that you've changed." Seren brought the berry to his mouth, and slowly plucked it off the sharp edge with his straight, blunt teeth.

It was the first time I felt true hatred for the male, as he so easily took a bite when every moment I refrained was a pathetic protest.

I've never wanted anything more than to steal its taste from his stained lips.

My hunger overcame me, "Have I changed? Or am I just treating you how you've been treating me? Maybe I don't want to be kind anymore to people who don't deserve it."

Seren's anger depleted, and I let him wallow in the weight of my words.

It was silent as I began to scarf down my food, hot and burning my tongue until I couldn't feel a single thing.

"Vyra..." Seren lamented. He didn't try to pry again, as he watched me finish my plate.

"Can I leave now?" I mumbled, lifting a thick napkin and running it over my face and hands.

His mouth pressed in a tight line, his hands wrung together.

"Of course. If that's what you want."

Nodding, I got up from my seat. I would find my way back to my rooms eventually, without his assistance.

All the while, a dangerous thought danced in my mind as I retreated.

I won.