CHAPTER 67

**Converting Doubt into Faith**

The light in our tent was muted and murky as the early sun battled to penetrate the dense cloud cover. My whole body hurt from the previous night's ambush, but the agony was insignificant in comparison to the events that were repeating in my head. It was all a blur, yet it was so vivid: the scarred rogue, the weird energy running through me, and the way the pack had stared at me afterward.

After putting on a jacket, I made my way to the training area. The pack was already conscious, moving with purpose and their eyes more alert than normal. A new world, where dangers were direct and personal rather than remote, seemed to have suddenly hit everyone.

From the edge of the clearing came a quiet murmur of voices. I recognized the figures as I got closer. Kai was standing next to one of our most seasoned fighters, Lucas. When it came to me, Lucas had always been skeptical. I have heard him say things like, "The Alpha should not have to babysit," and "She is too soft for this pack."

His tone had changed, however.

Lucas was commenting, "I did not believe she had it on her last night." I was mistaken.

The words brought me to a halt.

Kai was the first to see me, and as his piercing eyes met mine, they softened. "Good morning, Luna."

Lucas's face was inscrutable as he turned. I thought he would return to his typical frown, but he nodded curtly instead.

"Good morning," I responded, maintaining my composure in spite of the surprise.

Lucas cleared his throat. He acknowledged, "You were outstanding last night." "I did not believe you had the... determination or the fortitude."

His hesitancy was almost comical, but I refrained from prodding him. Instead, I smiled a little. "I am grateful. However, it was a group effort.

Lucas's eyebrows went up. You held your own, maybe. Whatever the energy burst was, it changed the course of events.

Kai showed his dignity by crossing his arms. She has always had it. It just took some of us longer to notice.

My cheeks began to heat, but Lucas startled me even more before I could react.

He replied, "I want to see what more you are capable of." Let us go sparring together.

Warriors were performing maneuvers or sparring in pairs on the busy training grounds. A few bystanders turned to watch Lucas and me as we stood in a cleared area.

Lucas said in a lighthearted but serious tone, "I am not going easy on you."

With my feet firmly planted in the ground, I said, "I would not want you to."

He was the first to act, a haze of movement as he aimed a blow at my shoulder. He deflected my rapid jab with ease, and I barely avoided it.

"Good," he circled me and said. But you are hesitant. Act instead of thinking.

Not because they were harsh, but because they were truthful, his words hurt. One flaw I had not quite conquered was my tendency to overthink things.

Lucas attacked once again, sweeping my legs out from under me after feinting to the left this time. I landed hard on the ground, but I twisted sideways and sprang back up before he could follow.

There was a murmur of applause from the audience, and I became more determined.

Lucas responded, with a trace of reverence in his face, "You are learning." However, we will watch how you respond to this.

He struck me in quick succession, each blow more accurate and swift than the one before it. I evaded several and blocked others, but one hit me in the ribs and left me gasping.

Even though I was in pain, I persisted. Rather, I let my inner energy awaken and direct it into my actions. I sidestepped and fired a pulse of power at Lucas as he attempted to strike again.

Although it was not as powerful as the ambush explosion, it was still enough to knock him off his feet. He staggered and got back up fast, but his face had changed to one of astonishment.

"Interesting," he said softly.

I applied pressure, delivering a forceful blow to his side. For the first time, I could see genuine acceptance in his eyes as he groaned yet smiled.

I was sweating profusely at the conclusion of the sparring session, and my body was wailing for a break. After a brief moment of hesitation, I accepted Lucas's hand as he offered to assist me.

He responded, "You have got potential." However, potential is insufficient. You must continue to push.

I looked him in the eye and answered, "I will." "I am not planning on stopping."

Lucas stayed behind as the throng dispersed. "Your energy," he said softly. It is not typical. I take that you are aware of that?

I gave a nod. "I am still trying to figure things out."

"Work it out quickly," he urged. "Because we will need every edge we can obtain, no matter what happens."

Later, Kai joined me as I was tending to an injured arm on the back house porch. He sat down next to me and gave me a cup of tea.

With a tinge of humor, Kai said, "You impressed him."

I sipped the tea and said, "I did not do anything for him."

Kai laughed. "No, but it is crucial. It is difficult to win Lucas over. Others will respect you if he does.

I nodded, realizing the importance. Gaining Lucas' regard was just one aspect of winning him over; another was securing my position among the pack.

But before I could think about it any longer, someone came up from the clearing's edge. One of the younger pack members, Maya, was there, her eyes wide with terror and her face pallid.

"Luna," she said in a quivering voice. "You must accompany me. Right now.

After exchanging glances, Kai and I followed her.

**---**

We followed Maya to the edge of the area, where a few warriors were standing together around something—or someone.

I gasped as the throng dispersed.

Covered in bleeding and barely conscious, it was one of the ambush's rogues. However, the sign etched into his chest, which glowed dimly in the low light, was what really chilled me, not his wounds.

"What is that?" My question was hardly audible above a whisper.

Kai knelt next to the outlaw, his face glum. "That is a mark," he said. "A calling card, sent by anyone."

The rogue opened his eyes and stirred. His voice was a raspy rasp as he trembled at the sight of me.

"You," he murmured, staring at me. "They are after you."

"Who?" Kai's tone was stern as he ordered. "Who sent you?"

However, the rogue's body became slack as he made a feeble, icy chuckle.

One of the fighters verified, feeling his pulse, "He is dead."

My gut twisted with uneasiness as I gazed at the emblem on his breast.

"They will not stop," I answered, maintaining my composure in spite of the encroaching panic. "They are after me, whomever this is."

Kai put his hand firmly on my shoulder. "We will be prepared then."

However, one thought kept coming to me as I gazed at the rogue's dead body: *What if I am not ready?*

The rogue's remarks stuck with me as I got back home. Why did "they" want me, and who were they?

I withdrew to my room in the hopes of finding some calm, but the images started as soon as I closed my eyes.

Glimpses of pitch-black woodland. Moving shadows chanting my name. "She belongs to us," said a dark-clad man in a chilly, ruthless voice.

My heart was racing as I woke up. The air seemed thick, like if something invisible was watching, even though the room was dark.

Then I heard it, a faint but distinct whisper.

"Luna."

My breath caught in my throat as I froze. Thi

s time the whisper was closer.

"We are coming, Luna."

I was really scared for the first time as the room appeared to enclose me.