Chapter 56

**Freya's pov.**

The sky was beginning to dim, casting the training fields in long streaks of gold and violet. Two days of intense training with Tiberius had reshaped my entire understanding of combat—my body ached in all the best ways. I was starting to learn my rhythm—not just with daggers, which I already excelled at, but with movement, instinct, and discipline. And when I wasn’t on the field, I was deep in study with Eira, unraveling the true history of the hunters. The way a true hunter was supposed to fight—and what we were meant to protect.

But despite the soreness in my limbs, my mind refused to rest.

I sat on the edge of my bed, fingers tracing the rune behind my ear. Eira’s words echoed in my head: *strength, sacrifice, leadership.*

I didn’t feel like a leader.

Not yet.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I called.

To my surprise, it wasn’t Tiberius or Eira. It was Nyra—one of the younger trainees I’d met on the field earlier. She looked barely sixteen, nervous as she stepped in.

"Hey," she said shyly. "I—I saw you training. You were... amazing."

I smiled, warmth softening my chest. "Thanks. I’m still learning."

She twisted her hands together. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Is it true? That you’re the daughter of Lucius? That the daggers chose you?"

I hesitated. "Yes. But the daggers didn’t choose me because of who my father was. They chose me because of who I *am.*"

Nyra nodded slowly, then handed me a folded note. "Tiberius said to give you this. He’s being called away to a border outpost. Something about rogue movement. He said he didn’t want to wake you."

I opened the note and scanned it.

*Stay sharp. I’ll be gone a day or two. Trust no one but Eira. And whatever happens—keep training. You’re stronger than you think.*

*\-T*

I folded the note tightly and exhaled. Alone again—just me and the voices in my head, which had started to stir louder now, whispering half-formed thoughts, fragments of instinct, and emotion that weren't entirely mine. Their intensity was growing, echoing stronger with every hour I spent without him.

I tucked the note into the drawer and changed into my gear. If Tiberius believed in me, then I had to start acting like I deserved it. Like I could be more than a lost girl with a haunted past.

I made my way to the archives Eira had mentioned. There, tucked in a quiet corner of the hall, I found the first book on the list she’d given me:

*The Pact of Shadows.*

It was old, bound in worn leather, the title barely legible.

I flipped it open and started reading. Page after page, I learned of the original hunter tribes. Their oath to protect—not dominate. The council of balance. The way the witches once taught them to track magical trails. The blood signatures of rogue wolves. Even the first treaty signed with a vampire family in the East.

It was all so *different* from what I’d grown up hearing.

Hunters weren’t supposed to be assassins.

They were supposed to be protectors.

Somewhere along the way, that had been corrupted.

And maybe… just maybe, that’s why I was here now.

To remind them.

Hours passed. I read through scrolls, diagrams, hand-drawn battle formations and sacred runic maps. I barely noticed Eira when she walked in, carrying a small tray of tea and biscuits.

"You always study this intensely?" she asked with a smile.

"I feel like I have to catch up," I replied. "I was raised in a lie."

She nodded solemnly. "Then let the truth be your sword."

We sipped tea in silence for a few moments.

"Eira?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, dear?"

"If Tiberius is leading us... then who leads *him*?"

She set down her cup.

"No one leads Tiberius. Not anymore. But he listens to those he trusts. That list is short."

"And I’m on it?"

"You’re at the top."

I swallowed hard, emotions rising in my throat.

"He won’t admit it," she added, "but he needs you more than he shows. His anger... it blinds him sometimes. You help him see."

I thought about his arms around me, the fire in his eyes, the gentleness in his rare smile. And the rage he tried so hard to hide.

Suddenly, I felt it.

A shift.

Not around me—*within* me.

Something in my chest burned, pulsed. My skin prickled. My vision blurred for half a second.

I stumbled to my feet.

Eira was beside me instantly.

"What is it?"

"I... I don’t know."

And then I did.

My wolf.

She was stirring.

I didn’t hear words. I didn’t see a face. But I felt her presence. Strong. Steady. Wild.

I met Eira’s eyes, heart racing. "Eira, I think—I think I'm about to shift into my wolf... aaa"

Eira's smile faded as her eyes widened in concern. "Freya, no—you can't shift here. Not now. Gods, try to hold it back. Breathe. Focus. You have to slow the process down."

Her hands were already reaching for me, steady but urgent, as the burning in my chest surged again. The air around us seemed to pulse with energy. I tried to fight it, to push the wild presence down, but it was like holding back a storm with bare hands.

Eira hesitated for a second, then said, "Wait here. Just a moment."

"No—don’t leave me," I cried, reaching for her. "Aaaa, gods—it hurts so much. This can’t be how it’s supposed to feel! This can’t be right!"

Eira crouched beside me, stroking my hair gently. "It’s likely your hunter side is resisting. She’s keeping your wolf suppressed. I’ll get Victor. We’ll figure this out, I promise."

I could only nod, barely believing help would make a difference.

Minutes later, Eira returned with Victor, who immediately cursed under his breath. "Of course your fucking wolf decides to come out when Tiberius isn’t here."

He crouched in front of me, eyes hard. "Listen, it’s not going to be easy, but you need to trust me. We’re taking you into the woods. The farther from the compound, the better. Until then, keep that beast on a short leash. And when you shift, remember we’re your friends. Otherwise, I’ll enjoy forcing your wolf to submit. Got it?"

I exhaled sharply, biting down on the pain. "Thanks for the heartfelt encouragement, Victor. Got it. Let’s go."

I nodded. I wasn’t ready.