Chapter 42: Unveiling the truth

Mia's POV 

Zane lunged at me before I could defend myself, and I stumbled to the ground. My legs still trembled slightly, and pain still clung to my muscles from yesterday's training, but I refused to let it slow me down. 

I stood up quickly, and faced him, my determination unwavering. It's either I win or I win. There was two options about it. I'm not giving up no matter what.

Again and again, I moved, dodging, blocking, striking —but I was never fast enough. No matter how I hard I tried, he still won against me. His blows reached me before I knew what was happening, while my own never touched him—he'd sidestepped with ease, and knock me down like a weigh nothing more than a feather.

Frustration bubbled inside me.

"Focus," Zane snapped, his dark eyes accessing me like a predator.

I tightened my fists, facing him head on. "I am focused."

"No, you are not," he answered, striking me suddenly. His arms slamming into my stomach, sending me stumbling backwards. My ribs screamed in protest.

I groaned in pain, clenching my stomach but still remained on my feet.

"Your mind isn't here," he continued, his voice sharp. "You fight with hesitation. And hesitation will ruin you before you know it."

He was right. And I hated it. I was distracted. Not by the pain, not even by the rigorous training —but by that man. That man I had sworn not to have anything to do with ever again. Jasper.

No matter how much I tried to focus on other things, he was always there in my mind. The look in his eyes when I was leaving. The weight of his crimes. The way I had hoped that he wasn't that bad as the stories had painted him to be 

And yet, despite everything, despite myself, my heart and body has betrayed me—still aching in a way I didn't understand, and in a way I didn't want to acknowledge.

Zane sighed, shaking his head in mock pity. Asshole. I cursed internally.

"That's enough for today."

I frowned. "I can still—"

"I'm a busy man and you've been wasting my time." His eyes were sharp, his voice cold. "If you keep letting your emotions get the best of you, then it's useless for you to train. You should train your mind first."

Anger rose inside me, but before I could say a word, he turned away. "Tomorrow, we train in the forest," he side iver his shoulders. "Make sure you are in your right frame of mind."

I stiffened. "The forest? Why there?"

Zane stopped, turned and glance at me. "Yes. And we fight in our wolf form," he answered smoothly like it wasn't a big deal. For him, it wasn't a big deal. But for....me, it was the biggest deal.

I could feel a wave of fear crashed down on me. "That's too fast?"

“Too fast?” He arched a brow, his tone mocking. “Thought you said you wanted to be stronger? Or were you just bluffing."

I gritted my teeth, embarrassment flickering in me. True. I did say I wanted to get stronger, but not like this. “I haven’t even mastered my human form yet. Shouldn’t we—”

"No excuses," he interrupted. "If you can't, then stay in your room, princess," he taunted. "There's no need to come."

His words cut, but it's also made my determination stronger.

Fine. I'd show him I meant every word.

He walked away, leaving standing there with a aching body and a racing heart.I turned towards my room, and as I passed in front of a room, I haven't seen open for days, I heard voices. Two women talking in a hushed tone but the moment I heard 'Jasmine' my feet stopped on its own.

Jasmine? That was the name Ezra called mother. Come to think of it, getting answers was one of the reasons why I came to this pack. I wanted to get answers concerning why my mother who was once a Luna here left and became nothing in the outside world. But then, I have been preoccupied with training and dealing with the packs disapproval that I had barely had time for myself.

"She'll end up like Jasmine. Weak and scared," one of them whispered.

"But....we can't take chances. What if she's different. What if Sylvia ends up losing the throne to her," another replied.

A chill ran down my spine.

What the hell were they talking about?

My hand acted faster than my brain and I pushed the door open.

Both women looked up in shock. One was Elder Seraphina. The other… she looked familiar. It took me a second to place her, but when I did, my stomach twisted. She looked like Sylvia.

Sylvia mother? I have never heard about her in my three days here.

They had a surprise look on their face but it quickly turned to disdain.

I took a step forward, my blood still burning from the training, my emotions still raw. "I heard you mention my mother. What were you saying about her?"

Elder Seraphina stood up slowly, scoffing. "Eavesdropping, are we?"

The other woman's gaze was colder, sharper. "I see you mother failed to teach you manners. So pathetic."

Her words stung but I didn't let it show. Somehow, I needed to get answers from them. Instead, I continued, "I asked you a question."

Seraphina sighed as if I were nothing but a nuisance. “It doesn’t concern you, girl. Leave.”

"No," I stepped closer, meeting their glare. "You called my mother weak. Why did you say that."

"Sylvia's mother's lips curled in disgust. "You won't understand. So leave."

“Fine,” I bit out. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask someone who will.”

Before I could step out of the room, Elder Seraphina's voice stopped on my track. "Do you think you can handle the truth?"

Handle? The truth? Was the truth that serious? But then, I had seen and heard worse. And again, I needed to hesr the truth no matter what. And most importantly, I trusted my mother than anyone else.

I turned towards her, my voice steady. "Yes."