Chapter 3 Three
Elara’s POV
“You need to be strong.”
The rogue leader's words kept echoing in my mind as I followed him deeper into the inner alleys of Nightshade City.
"Where are we going?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
The man took a glance at me. His enthralling green eyes seemed to scan me for a moment before he finally answered.
"To the heart of the city. The Syndicate doesn't like outsiders, but they'll tolerate you if you stay close to me."
The Syndicate. I’d heard a little about it when I was still back at Blackstone. It was basically an underground network of werewolves and rogues who thrived outside the traditional weight of packs and mafias.
The streets became narrower and darker as we went further into rogue territory. I could sense we weren’t alone.
From every shadow, eyes seemed to watched us. Some looked curious while others were purely hostile. I kept my head down, trying not to draw any more attention than I already had.
My heart kept racing as we turned yet another corner. The man stopped in front of what looked like an old warehouse. The door slowly creaked open and we stepped inside. This was no ordinary warehouse. It was a base.
Inside the base, werewolves moved with a sense of purpose. Some were training while others talked in hushed voices. Different weapons lined the walls. I could feel the atmosphere charged with tension and energy.
"Welcome to the Syndicate."
The rogue leader motioned for me to follow as he weaved through the crowd of werewolves. I tried to keep up with his pace. My eyes were darting around as I took in the hardened expressions of the wolves surrounding me.
We reached a door at the far end of the warehouse. The rogue leader opened it and motioned for me to enter. I hesitantly took a small step inside.
It was a pretty small room, dimly lit by a single lamp hanging from the ceiling. There was a large map of Nightshade City covering one wall. It was marked with various territories and symbols I didn’t quite understand.
The rogue leader closed the door behind him and crossed his arms. His eyes were fixed on me.
"Do you know why I saved you out there?" I shook my head, unsure of what to say.
"You fought back," His gaze never wavered.
"Most omegas would’ve run or begged for their lives, but you didn’t. That’s why I stepped in."
"I don’t want to be weak anymore." I let out a breath.
"Good," He nodded his head. "Weakness will get you killed out here."
"You have potential." The rogue leader continued. "However, potential means nothing if you don’t know how to use it. If you want to survive in the Syndicate, you’ll need to learn how to fight, how to lead, and how to outsmart everyone around you."
"I’ll do whatever it takes," I said, my voice stronger than I expected.
He stared at me for a moment before nodding his head.
"Alright. Training starts tomorrow."
_
The weeks that followed after that were a blur of pain, exhaustion, and determination. Training with the Syndicate was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Every day, I pushed my body to the limit. Sparring, running and learning to handle dangerous weapons. The rogues didn’t bother holding back.
Every I was knocked down, I forced myself to get back up. Luca’s rejection still burned in my back of my head. I would never let anyone see me as weak again.
The rogue leader whose name was Kael was more than just a leader. He was a strategist, a warrior and a master at reading people. He saw potential in those no one else did, and he knew how to push us beyond our limits.
"You’re getting stronger," Kael said to me after a particularly brutal training session.
"I have to." I tried to catch my breath.
"Are you ready for the next step?" Kael asked, his eyes locking onto mine.
I hesitated for a second before nodding my head. "Yes."
He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Good. There’s a job coming up, and I think you’re ready to be part of it."
_
The next day, Kael gathered a small group of us in a dark alley near the heart of Nightshade City. He explained the plan in short and precise statements. It was a heist. We would be targeting one of the smaller mafia territories controlled by a rival pack. It was dangerous, but it would send a message.
The Syndicate was growing and we weren’t afraid of anyone.
My heart raced as I listened to what he was saying. This was what he had been preparing me for. A real test. A chance to prove that I was more than the weak omega who had fled from her pack.
As the sun began to set and the city slowly plunged into darkness, we made our move. Every step felt like a leap into the unknown. None of that mattered. I knew I was ready for anything that might happen.
We approached the target. It was a heavily guarded building that housed the mafia's illicit operations. Kael motioned for us to split up and I found myself moving with a level of confidence I hadn’t felt before.
We slipped into the building, avoiding detection with no hassle. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest as we approached the vault where the mafia kept their most valuable assets.
Just as we were about to reach it, a low growl echoed through the hall. My blood ran cold as I turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows. It was a mafia enforcer, larger and more dangerous than any wolf I’d faced before.
For a moment, panic surged inside me. Kael’s words ran through my head.
Strength isn’t everything.
I tightened my grip on the dagger in my hand. I wasn’t that weak omega anymore. I was part of the Syndicate.
One of us would be going down today and it sure as hell isn’t going to be me.