Chapter 16 Chapter 16
Chapter 16: PRIDE GOES WITH HURT
~ IGNAS’S POV
The air felt sharp and heavy the moment I stepped onto the training ground. My muscles felt stiff, but not from weakness. It was from the constant push and pull I had buried deep inside me since that night. My mind kept crawling back to him—without my consent, to Lykon. The way his hands touched me, the way he tasted me, the way he made me fall apart. The way he had slowly touched every part of me like a sacred artifact. The way he had started at me. I hated that I let him do it. I hated that I wanted more.
But this morning, I stood here, stronger, sharp, my heart locked behind iron walls again. I had no time for weakness. My people came first. My pack came first.
Lykon had been watching me from the ground, I could feel it. His eyes burned holes into my skin as I sharpened the blade in my hand, acting like I hadn't felt his hands all over me that night. Like I hadn't tasted myself on his mouth when he kissed me after.
Roy had reported to be that there were rouges attacking the border. Fucking rogues.
I could feel him walking closer even before he said a word.
"You're planning to go out there alone?" he asked, his voice low and rough. I didn't stop moving, didn't lift my eyes from the blade.
"Yes," I answered coldly, not wanting to see look up at him because I was afraid of those deep eyes.
"That's stupid," he snapped. "You know it's not just a simple attack. You need me, and don't give me the bullshit of me being weak. You know I'm not! I've become stronger. I've trained for these kinds of stuffs!"
I finally looked at him. His face was hard, but his eyes held something else. Something raw. "I don't need you," I said, my voice sounding even sharp to my ears like the blade in my hand. "I never needed you."
His jaw clenched, and he stepped closer, standing right in front of me now. "Ignas, stop acting like you're made of stone. You're strong, I know. But you're not invincible."
My fingers tightened around the handle of my blade. "I don't care what you think. These are my people. My responsibility. I won't let anyone else fight for them. Not even you."
"You're letting your pride make you blind," he said. "This isn't about strength. This is about surviving the fight."
My chest rose with a heavy breath. "I survived worse before you ever showed up."
His hand reached for my arm, fingers gripping me, not soft, not gentle, just strong. "And I’m not standing by and watching you die because you’re too stubborn to accept help!"
I yanked my arm away, from him, raising my sword swiftly to his neck, glaring up at him. "Stay out of my way, Lykon."
Before he could answer, I turned, stomping off with heavy steps. My heart was hammering in my chest, but not from fear. From rage. From the fight bubbling inside me, the need to prove I could do this without him.
The attack came quicker than expected. The rogues had crossed the border. My wolves were ready, but the enemy was brutal, hungry for blood. I moved fast, shifting into my wolf, leading the attack head-on. My teeth sank into some flesh, my claws ripped through bodies, the sound of growls and yelps grew loud in my ears.
I fought like the Alpha I was. I could feel the strength in my limbs, the power in my bones. I didn’t need anyone. Not him. Not anyone. Only me and the fight.
But the rogues weren’t normal. Their smell was off, their eyes were wild like something dark was pushing them forward. I tore through another one, but a sharp pain suddenly hit my side. I snapped my head, teeth bared, and saw the rogue who had scratched me with its claw. Its claws glistened with a faint purple tint. Poison.
I killed it before it could run, but the damage was done. My side burned, my legs wobbled for a second, but I forced myself to stand tall. I couldn't fall. My pack needed me.
Even if my vision is too blurry, I keep on going.
The fight was over in minutes, the rogues retreating, leaving some bodies behind. I stood there, breathing hard, pressing my palm against the burning wound. My head felt light, my skin cold, but I didn’t let it show.
And then I heard him.
"Ignas!" Lykon's voice was sharp, angry. He rushed to me, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. When he saw the wound, his face twisted in something close to rage.
"You let them scratch you?" His voice shook, hands gripping my arms. "That’s poison. You should’ve let me fight by your side!"
I pulled back, even though the world was starting to spin. "I told you I didn’t need you."
His eyes flashed. "And look where that got you! You think this is strength? Letting your pride almost get you killed?" His voice broke a little, like the anger wasn’t just anger but fear too. "You should have let me help you. I could have stopped this."
I looked away, swallowing hard. My throat felt dry, my body heavier by the second. "I can handle it," I whispered.
He shook his head, his hands pressing tighter around my arms to hold me up. "You can’t even stand straight. Stop lying to yourself."
The world was going dark at the edges of my sight. My pride wanted me to shove him away, to stand on my own two feet, but my body betrayed me. I stayed still in his hold, breathing slow, biting back the weakness.
He looked down at me, his voice low, almost soft now. “God I hate you so much!” he muttered.
The words hung in the air. The fight was ove
r, and I didn't have any fight in me to fight him.
Pathetic of me.