Chapter 41 Chapter 41
After Lucian left, I finally had time to think. He wanted to train exclusively with me? That was so surprising when few weeks ago he couldn’t even stand the sight of me. I smiled, it meant we were making progress or not. I didn’t know what to think anymore. I tried to shut my thoughts out.
‘He’s finally opening up’ my wolf said softly and I couldn’t agree less but at the same time it felt like I was overthinking things. It felt like everything changed when I almost died. Lucian behaved differently or was I imagining it? I didn’t want to confuse his attention with love
“Ahhh” I screamed out. This thoughts were really messing with my mind.
“Think of something else” I told myself.
There was a knock on the door, it was so soft that I thought I imagined it. I sat upright in alert. I knew Lucian wouldn’t knock like that, he would just barge in . Then I heard it again, it was gentle but hesitant.
“Ailsa?” A small voice said from the door. My heart slammed.
“Lina?”
I didn’t even wait, I rushed to door, threw it open and there she was. She was free, alive and standing.
A sharp breath escaped me as I hurled myself forward and wrapped my arms around her. She smelled like sweat but she was warm. I tightened my arm around her.
“You’re okay” I whispered, squeezing her tighter. My eyes stung.
“Lina, you’re here” she laughs shakily.
“Yes I am. You’re going to break me into half” she jokingly said.
I pulled back enough to look at her face. She looked exhausted, there were dark circles underneath her eyes, her hair messy, her wrists red but there was laugh in her smile.
“What happened?” I demand. “When were you released? Were you hurt? Did they…”
“Ailsa” she cuts in gently. “I’m fine. I’m tired but I’m fine. I’m glad I’m no longer in there”
I ushered her into the room immediately and shut the door behind us. She looked around the room.
“I’ve missed coming here and staying with you” I heard the sadness in her tone.
“You are here now and that’s all that matters. You aren’t going anywhere again and I’ll make sure to protect you” I said but she gave a weak smile which didn’t look convincing to me.
“You have to tell me all that happened when you were arrested”
“I’ll tell you but another time. I’m still in shock about you being poisoned. I always have a taste of the food before I bring it up here for you and I’m sure nothing was in it before I brought it here. So then did ut become poisoned?”
“I know. I didn’t believe for one day that you’d try to poison me. I wanted to tell you, I overheard two people talking about eliminating someone in the pack before tragedy struck” her eyes widened in shock.
“Why didn’t you tell someone immediately?”
“I was still asking myself whether I really heard it and I came back to my room thinking about it and then I remembered you told me you were going to being food for me and I didn’t want you to get angry when you saw I didn’t and so I ate the food, the rest they say is history”
“Now this makes more sense. The person must have been timing me and put the poison when you were away from the room. There is one thing that keeps bothering me. Who could have done it?” Her eyes shows so much concern before her expression shifts.
“I have something to tell you” my stomach tightened.
“What?”
“When I was in the cell I heard something” she inhaled deeply.
“What did you hear and what is about me?” She nods.
“One of the prisoners in the next cell next to mine was a rogue. He knew something about you. He said someone wants you dead and the person won’t stop till you are” my pulse quickened.
Someone was really trying to kill me. The thought made my blood run cold.
“Did you hear anything else?”
“I also heard them talk about the Silver Moon pack. This is the second time, I’m hearing about them. I think someone from that pack came here” my pulse stood.
“Did they say a name? Was Lucian there?” She shook her head.
“I only heard part of it. I didn’t even know what they were talking about at first. I don’t think the alpha was there” I decided to change topic back to her.
“How were you interrogated? Did they beat you anytime?” She shook her head.
“They asked me who sent me to poison your food and I told them I would never try to poison you but they said I was working with someone. I swear I didn’t try to poison you” she tried to explain but I stopped her.
“I know. That’s why we have to find out who tried to poison me so your name and the cooks name can be cleared” she nodded.
“Honestly, I don’t know who hates me so much that the person would go as far as killing me”
“Who do you think would do such to you?”
“I can’t think of anyone right now maybe something would eventually come to me” Lina touched my knee, her voice soft.
“I’m only telling you because I don’t want you to be blindsided. I think…someone in this pack might be responsible for it” she squeezed my hand.
“Thank you” I whisper. “For always being here for me. I probably would have fallen into depression since if you were not here” she rolled her eyes.
“Please. Don’t thank me. I should be thanking you for having me released”
We sit in silence for a moment, holding onto each other’s presence. Then she smiled suddenly, big and bright.
“I missed you”
“I missed you more”
“Impossible” I laughed weakly.
“I tried to come see you in the cell but Lucian caught me. He told me it would cause problems if news got out that I went to see a suspect”
“I totally understand” I smiled at her. I suddenly remembered I was supposed to train.
“I have training” I murmured.
“Finally, the Alpha has finally let you free”
“I’m training with Lucian” her mouth widened in shock.
“Close your mouth before a fly enters it”
“I missed a lot these few days. How did that happen? You both are making progress” she smiled and I blushed at that.
“I told him I wanted to go back to training and he insisted that I train with him so here I am”
“Your life got more interesting when I was away”
“It’s not like that”
“Right. Just like you and the Alpha are not like that” I choke.
“Lina…”
“I’m teasing” she said standing up.
She heads for the door and paused when she reached it, looking back.
“Be careful today, okay? After what I heard, I think the person who tried to poison you would find another way to kill you since you survived” her words made a chill run down my spine.
“I will”
After she left, I wasn’t sure I could focus on anything.
The air outside was crisp. The training grounds were emptier than usual, only a few warriors were practicing, their movements sharp. Lucian stood waiting for me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as always.
“You’re late” he said.
“Sorry” I murmured. “Lina came to the room and I got carried away. Thank you so much”
“Don’t apologize, just get ready”
Normally, his cool tone would have made me focused. Today it only made my heart race.
I stepped onto the field with a bow in my hand, trying to focus but Lina’s word kept replaying in my mind.
Someone would still try to kill you
I knew that I shouldn’t be scared after the resolution I had made to myself but I couldn’t help but feel scared. I was so conscious of my environment that I looked around the surrounding. My arrow trembled.
“Ailsa” Lucian’s gaze sharpened.
“I’m ready” i said quickly, trying to hide the fear in my voice.
I tried to pull back the bowstring, my fingers felt stiff. The arrow slipped out and shot off at a crooked angle, harmlessly into the dirt far from the target. I dropped my hand. Lucian blinked once.
“That was….terrible” heat flushed my cheeks.
“I’m just warming up”
“Hmm” he said. “Try again”
I took another arrow and exhaled. Don’t be scared, no one would try to attack you here. I pulled.
Lina’s words flashed in my thoughts again. The arrow shot wide again. Lucian stepped beside me, his presence making me falter.
“Ailsa, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing”
“Ailsa”
“Nothing” my tone was harsher than it should have been.
He didn’t push but he didn’t look convinced either. We moved on to foot drills, then hand to hand practice. Every time Lucian threw a hand, I dodged too late. Lucian caught my wrist mid-swing, stopping me. His eyes searched mine, piercing.
“You’re not here” he wasn’t asking a question
“I am here” I insisted.
“Ailsa” his voice softened. “This isn’t like you. I’ve watched you train countless times and your moves are sharper than this” I swallowed hard.
“I’m fine, Lucian. Maybe I’ve run out of practice because of how long I stayed locked up in the room” he held my gaze for a moment before releasing my wrist.
“If you say so” his tone didn’t sound like he believed me.
We went through different drills for nearly an hour, I kept pretending like I was concentrating and he let me pretend. I was surprised he didn’t insist on me telling him what was wrong.
Training finally ended and I was breathing heavily, Lucian didn’t even look like he had trained at all.
“We’ll stop here for today and continue tomorrow” he said, although his eyes flickered over me with clear concern.
“Your mind is occupied” I didn’t argue with him this time.
I turned towards the path leading back to the pack house, my thoughts were a mess. A few warriors crossed the field behind me, their laughter echoing. I thought they were laughing at me.
I hugged my arms around myself and quickened my pace. The woods bordering the training grounds stirred with breeze. Then a twig snapped.
My senses were in alert. I stopped and slowly turned my head. Someone stood between the trees. The person stood in the shadow but their stance was still, the person was tall and broad shouldered. My heart slammed painfully against my rib.
The figure stepped forward and the persons bodily features were unmistakable. I knew those features at the back of my hand. My breath caught and my knees buckled.
No.
No, it couldn’t be.