Chapter 64 64

Chapter 64 64
Rhea’s POV

Regret is definitely an emotion I don't wish upon anyone and I have now learned not to make decisions based on pride.

The training grounds smelled like iron and damp earth. I stood just outside it at the edge of the gates. My toes curling inside borrowed boots that were already a size too heavy, watching the morning fog drift across the grounds.

It wasn't too late to turn back. I mean it's not like the twins would care. They tend to support my decisions both the good and the bad.

“You’re late.” Alicia’s squeaky voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.

I turned my head slowly. She stood near the center of the grounds, arms crossed, posture relaxed in the way only someone confident in their dominance could manage.

Her braid was tight, her expression sour and her eyes already assessing me like I was a smudge of dirt she couldn't be bothered to deal with.

“It’s dawn,” I said quietly.

“For wolves sure.” She tilted her head. “Not for someone who spent the entirety of yesterday horizontal.”

Heat crept up my neck, but I didn’t look away. The sexual relationship between the twins and me wasn't something I should be ashamed of.

Lucien and Damian were nowhere to be seen. That had been intentional because I had made it clear that this was mine. I didn't want them hovering interfering and absolutely no mercy was shown with affection.

I swallowed.

“Where do we start? Or do you have so much time to try to taunt me?” I asked.

Alicia smiled and that was never a good sign.



By the end of the first hour, my lungs burned. By the second, my hands shook and by the third, I was no longer sure my legs were actually responding to commands or simply moving out of habit.

“Again,” Alicia said flatly.

I dropped into another squat, thighs screaming as I lowered myself. A weighted bar rested across my shoulders. It was far lighter than what the wolves usually trained with, yet impossibly heavy against my already-trembling body.

I pushed up, failed halfway and my knees hit the dirt yet again.

Alicia didn’t rush forward, she only raised a brow.

“Get up,” she ordered.

I stared at the ground, breath coming in short, humiliating gasps.

'This is stupid.' Nyra muttered in my head, her voice clearly irritated.

'You don’t have to do this. You’ve proven enough.'

“Haven’t,” I whispered aloud, barely realizing it.

Alicia’s eyes narrowed. “Talking to yourself already? A little workout made you mad?” she sneered.

I forced my palms into the dirt and pushed myself upright, muscles protesting violently.

Nyra went quiet for a moment before she spoke again.

'You hate her that much?' She asked.

“Yes.” I thought back bitterly and it was not just her.

The majority of the pack didn't. They looked down on me and made comments when they thought I couldn’t hear them.

They treated me like I was only tolerated because of who claimed me and Alicia.

It was always Alicia waiting for me to fail.

'She’ll never let you forget it if you quit.' Nyra said.

My jaw tightened.

“I’m not quitting,” I said aloud.

“Good,” Alicia replied coldly. “Then lift.”

By midday, sweat clung to my skin and my vision blurred at the edges.

We were made to run laps until my sides cramped. I learned how it felt to be thrown around again and again into the dirt.

How to fall without breaking bones, how to roll on a field ridden with sharp rocks.

At some point, I stopped counting or even thinking.

My body simply moved on its own while I endured it all.

When I finally collapsed onto my back, staring up at the pale sky, I didn’t even have the energy to curse.

Alicia loomed over me.

“You’re shaking,” she said with a smirk.

“I noticed." I rasped.

"Pity. This is nothing compared to the actual hunt. At this pace, you won't make it past the first round. Not that I would be surprised. " she added.

I rolled my eyes but stayed silent mainly because my throat was scratchy and dry from all the heaving.

“We’ll continue tomorrow,” she said finally walking away.

Relief hit me so hard I almost laughed.

Almost. I would have if it wasn't for the stabbing pain in my sides every time I took a breath.

As she walked off, her voice drifted back to me.

“Don’t mistake survival for strength, Rhea. If you’re still here in a week, then we’ll talk.”

I lay there long after she was gone, chest rising and falling slowly.

The myth about warm showers was a lie. I spent thirty minutes under running warm water and still felt like I was run over by a truck. Multiple times.

Even eating felt like a task. My joints ached with every movement. I gave up the task and opted for a restful sleep instead.

Earlier that evening, Lillian came by with a message from the twins. Apparently they got a lead and were tracking it down. They'd be gone for a few days and wanted to let me know.

It was perfect timing. I knew it'd be hard to focus on my training with the twins around seeing as we had difficulties keeping our hands to ourselves around each other but I was also worried.

The twins were immensely strong but tracking down a vampire on their own seemed a bit dangerous. Even for them.

I was asleep before I knew it and even in my dreams I was haunted by the rigorous training of the day. Alicia’s voice barking orders in the background as well.

I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep when the knocking started.

Not the polite kind either. It was relentless.

A sharp, rhythmic pounding against my door that drilled straight into my skull.

I groaned, rolling onto my side and burying my face into the pillow. My body protested immediately, muscles screaming as if offended by the mere thought of having to get up but the knocking didn’t stop.

“Rhea!” a male voice called. “Get up. Training starts in ten.”

I cracked one eye open, squinting at the dim light filtering through the curtains.

Ten.

Ten what? Minutes? Seconds? Heartbeats?

Nyra stirred sluggishly in the back of my mind.

'Tell him to choke.' she muttered.

“Go away.” I croaked, my voice sounding like I’d swallowed sand.

Another knock came harder this time.

“Orders from Alicia.” the voice said. “You’re already behind.”

That did it.

I pushed myself upright with a hiss, every muscle in my body lighting up in protest. My legs trembled as they hit the floor, and for a brief, I wondered if I’d actually be able to stand.

I dragged a hand down my face and forced myself upright.

“Coming.” I called, not bothering to hide the irritation in my tone.

There was a pause on the other side of the door, then there were retreating footsteps.

Good.

I moved slowly,pulling on clothes, tying my hair back with fingers that didn’t quite want to cooperate. My reflection in the mirror looked… rough, pale and bruises blooming along my arms and collarbone,

I straightened my shoulders anyway.

'She wants us broken.' Nyra said quietly. Don’t give her the satisfaction.

“I won’t.” I murmured, grabbing my boots. “Not today.”

By the time I stepped back into the corridor, my body still ached, my head still throbbed, but now something else had settled in alongside it.

Stubbornness.

And if Alicia thought yesterday was enough to make me quit, she was about to be very disappointed.