Chapter 44

Claire’s POV

As I entered the Redwater training grounds in the early morning, the air was clear and scented with pine and damp earth. Derek stood in the middle, arms folded across his wide chest, while a dozen soldiers huddled in a crude circle, their eyes undecipherable.

Do you wish to fight with us?  As his golden eyes met mine, his deep voice reverberated throughout the pitch.  "Then demonstrate that you can stay up."

The warriors began to murmur.  The thought of an outsider—a former Omega—training alongside them made some snicker.  Others appeared suspicious, not sure they could rely on me.  They weren't to blame.  Trust was lacking following the events of the attack, the spies, and the Beta's treachery.

However, I wasn't here to receive favours.  I raised my chin and balled my fists.  "Then let's get started."

Derek nodded sharply and turned to Rowan, his Beta, who was now in charge of the warriors.  "Pair her up."

Before focussing on a huge warrior with a thick scar down his left arm, Rowan's piercing eyes darted towards me.  Mason.  He was a mountain of a man, and I could tell he was strong and lethal by the way the other fighters nodded their agreement.

Rowan grinned and said, "Try not to break her too fast, Mason."

Mason's knuckles cracked.  "No promises."

He lunged before I had a chance to react.

His second swing caught my ribs and knocked the wind out of my lungs, but I managed to avoid his first one.  Even though I was in pain, I resisted going down.  I whirled, trying to hit his legs, but he saw my approach and blocked with ease.

He grunted and slammed his shoulder into me, sending me sprawling into the dirt. "Too slow," he said.

The pitch reverberated with laughter.  My veins were hot, but not from pain, but from embarrassment.  I bit the inside of my cheek and tasted blood, but I didn't stay down.

I forced myself to stand, meeting Mason's gaze.  He raised an eyebrow, seemingly anticipating my surrender.

I grinned and wiped my mouth.  "Again."

His eyes lost their amusement and took on a new quality: respect.

And I was prepared when he charged at me once more.

—

My muscles were screaming in protest by the time the sun was high in the sky.  I had taken some hits of my own, but my body hurt from the bruises—minor triumphs.

With his arms crossed and an unreadable expression, Derek observed from the sidelines.

Mason put a heavy hand on my shoulder after the last spar.  "Not bad, Omega."

I clenched my jaw at the moniker.

Derek abruptly stepped forward and said, "She's not an Omega anymore."  Despite the calmness of his voice, there was a finality to it.  The fighters looked at one another, and gradually, the group gave each other nods of approval.

I wasn't yet one of them.  However, I was drawing nearer.

I was about to exhale when a sharp, urgent, and desperate howl pierced the atmosphere.

A scout ran in Derek's direction.  "Alpha!  There was a patrol of the Midnight Moon near the eastern border.

There was silence on the training ground.

Derek glanced in my direction.  "It appears that you will have an opportunity to prove yourself after all."

 Every warrior in my immediate vicinity tensed as the scout's words echoed through the atmosphere.  Rigid tension replaced the relaxed camaraderie that had begun to develop during training.  The patrol that Midnight Moon conducted close to Redwater's boundaries was an outright provocation.

Derek's face remained the same, but his posture changed—his body tensed like a predator about to attack.  "How many?"  His voice was deadly but controlled, like ice.

The scout sputtered, "At least six."  They were testing our defences while circling.  Before we could intervene, they vanished into the trees.

A strategic move.  They were searching for something, not just a fight, Midnight Moon, or someone.

Me.

Derek's golden, razor-sharp eyes darted in my direction.  He was also aware of it.

"Assign a team to sweep the eastern border, Rowan.  I want them apprehended rather than killed if they come back."

"Comprehensive, Alpha."  In a matter of seconds, Rowan's signal to a group of warriors caused them to transform into their wolves and vanish into the trees.

Mason's knuckles cracked.  "Instead of letting them flee back to Jared, we ought to be ripping their throats out."

Derek stated unequivocally, "We will when the time is right,"  "We wait for now."

I felt a chill run down my spine as he turned to face me.  "You're with me."

I paused.  "Why?"

"Because I don't think you'll stick around."

Almost as if amused, the corner of his mouth quirked.  However, his tone was devoid of humour.  He was correct; if Midnight Moon had been involved, I wouldn't have stayed behind.

So, when he led me down from the soldiers who were still bruiting to each other and towards the nascence's diggings, I did not kick.

Quietly, we made our way to his office, which was furnished with bookshelves and antique charts of Redwater's home that were fixed to the walls. After shutting the door behind us, he crossed his arms and leaned against his office.

He stated plainly, "You're a liability."

I tensed up.  "Pardon me?"

"The purpose of Midnight Moon is not to instigate conflict.  Not just yet.  His eyes were unreadable as he studied me.  "They've got you covered, Claire."

I took a deep breath.  I was aware.  But it became real when he told it.

"Jared would have sent assassins, not a patrol, if he wanted me dead."

Derek gave a nod.  "Exactly. Which implies that he has other plans.  Perhaps he believes he can make you return.  He might be trying to exchange you for something.  In any case, you are making this pack a target by remaining in Redwater."

My stomach twisted with guilt.  I had battled to gain acceptance here and demonstrate that I wasn't merely a burden, but the reality was that my presence endangered them all.

I muttered, "Then I should leave."

Derek's mouth twitched.  Where would you go, too?

I didn't know how to respond.  I was unable to return to Midnight Moon.  It was also not an option to run alone.

Frustration flickered behind his golden eyes as his expression darkened.  "Claire, stop being such a moron.  I'm not saying you should go."

I blinked.  "You just said—"

"You're a liability, I said.  That doesn't imply that you aren't valuable.  Although he spoke softer now, his intensity remained the same.  "You've shown your worth.  You fought alongside my warriors, exposed a traitor in our ranks, and rescued Redwater from an ambush.  I'm not sorry I let you stay.  However, I need you to be aware of the danger.

There was something heavy in the air between us that I couldn't identify.

I said, "So, what now?"

He raked a hand through his dark hair and sighed.  "We're getting ready now.  Whenever Jared wants to play games, we make sure Redwater is prepared for his plans.

In my chest, a slow determination burned.  I would not allow Jared to triumph.  Not now.

I gave a nod.  "Then let us get ready."

But before Derek could answer, we were both interrupted by a sharp knock.  With a grim expression, Rowan entered as the door swung open.

His words, "We have a problem,"  "At the border, the patrol left something behind."

Derek furrowed his brows.  "What?"

With hesitation, Rowan took a rolled-up piece of parchment, sealed with the Midnight Moon crest, out of his jacket.

My blood became icy.

"A message," said Rowan.  "From Jared."

Derek looked over the words as he broke the seal on the parchment.

His whole body froze.

With a pounding heart, I took a step closer.  "What does it say?"

He raised his eyes to mine, and I noticed something new in his face for the first time.  Not rage.  Not annoyance.

Something very nearly concerning.

"He’s giving you three days to surrender, Claire."

The room seemed to tilt. "And if I don’t?"

Derek’s grip tightened on the parchment. "Then he’s coming for you. And he won’t be alone."