Chapter 65 Gaining Trust
Alex stood at the edge of the training grounds, his sharp eyes following the warriors as they sparred. The clang of steel against steel and the grunts of exertion filled the crisp morning air. He folded his arms, observing their movements, when a low voice interrupted his thoughts.
“They’re sloppy.”
Alex stiffened, turning his head to find Kael standing beside him, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but his tone carried a hint of amusement.
“Excuse me?” Alex said, his tone sharp.
Kael nodded toward the warriors. “Their form is rigid, predictable. They’ve been taught well, but they’re not thinking like fighters—they’re thinking like students following instructions. Out there, that’ll get them killed.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. “You think you can do better?”
Kael’s smirk deepened. “I know I can.”
Alex narrowed his eyes, measuring the rogue Alpha before him. “And why would you want to help?”
Kael shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I’m stuck here, aren’t I? Might as well make myself useful.”
Alex hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Fine. Show us what you’ve got. But don’t think for a second this will earn you anyone’s trust.”
Kael chuckled, stepping forward. “Trust? I’m not that naive, Beta. Trust is earned, not given.”
Kael strode onto the training grounds, his presence drawing the attention of the warriors. Conversations stopped, and all eyes turned toward him as he surveyed the group with a calculating gaze.
“Alpha Derek’s orders?” one of the warriors asked Alex, his voice laced with suspicion.
“Not yet,” Alex replied. “But let him show us something. You might learn a thing or two.”
Kael clapped his hands, the sound sharp and commanding. “Pair up. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The warriors exchanged glances, their reluctance evident, but they obeyed. Kael moved among them, watching their sparring with a critical eye. He occasionally barked out corrections, his tone authoritative but not unkind.
“You’re leaving your left side open,” he told one. “An opponent would exploit that in seconds.”
“Too much weight on your back foot,” he said to another. “It slows you down.”
His instructions were precise, and despite their initial skepticism, the warriors began to adjust their techniques.
“Alright,” Kael said after a while, his voice rising above the din. “Who’s brave enough to take me on?”
The warriors froze, their gazes darting between each other. Finally, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward, his expression challenging.
“I’ll do it,” the warrior said.
Kael nodded, a glint of approval in his eyes. “Good. Let’s see what you’re made of.”
The sparring match began, and it was immediately clear that Kael was in a different league. He moved with a predator’s grace, his strikes precise and his counters devastating. The warrior fought valiantly, but Kael’s experience and skill overwhelmed him.
With a final move, Kael disarmed the warrior, sending his weapon clattering to the ground. He stepped back, offering the man a hand.
“Well fought,” Kael said, his tone surprisingly sincere. “You’ve got potential. Just need to refine it.”
The warrior hesitated before accepting the hand, a flicker of respect in his eyes.
From the edge of the grounds, Alex watched the scene unfold, his expression guarded. Derek appeared beside him, his presence commanding as always.
“What’s going on?” Derek asked.
“Kael decided to give the warriors some pointers,” Alex replied. “He’s... effective, I’ll give him that. But ruthless.”
Derek’s gaze shifted to Kael, who was now demonstrating a series of advanced moves to the warriors. “Ruthless can be useful. It depends on how you use it.”
Alex turned to face Derek. “Do you trust him, Alpha?”
Derek’s expression darkened. “No. But I trust what I see. And right now, what I see is someone who wants us to believe he’s on our side.”
Alex frowned. “You think it’s a ploy?”
“Of course it’s a ploy,” Derek said quietly. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t use him while it lasts.”
\---
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Kael continued to train with the warriors. He sparred with several of them, pushing them to their limits but always stopping short of humiliation. His actions began to win over some of the younger members, who admired his skill and expertise. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, even the most skeptical warriors couldn’t deny his skill.
But Kael’s true intentions remained hidden, locked behind his sharp eyes and easy smirk.
—
Later, as the training grounds emptied, Derek approached Kael.
“You’ve made an impression,” Derek said, his tone neutral.
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his smirk returning. “Good or bad?”
Derek’s gaze was piercing. “That remains to be seen.”
Kael’s expression turned serious. “You don’t trust me. I get it. I wouldn’t trust me either if I were in your shoes. But you need me, Derek. Kevin isn’t someone you can take on alone.”
Derek studied him for a long moment. “Trust isn’t built in a day, Kael. But you’ve earned yourself some breathing room. Don’t make me regret it.”
Kael inclined his head slightly, a hint of respect in his otherwise guarded demeanor. “I won’t.”
As Derek walked back to his manor, Alex caught up with him.
“Alpha,” Alex said cautiously, “Kael’s ruthless. He fights like he has nothing to lose.”
“Maybe he doesn’t,” Derek replied.
“That makes him dangerous,” Alex warned.
Derek stopped, turning to face his Beta. “Everyone here is dangerous, Alex. That’s why they’re here. Kael’s no different.”
Alex shook his head. “He’s different. He doesn’t fight to protect; he fights to destroy. If you’re going to keep him here, you need to be ready for what comes with that.”
Derek’s gaze hardened. “I’m always ready.”
Alex nodded respectfully but didn’t look convinced.
Kael returned to the small cabin he had been assigned. The day’s events played in his mind, the seeds of trust he had carefully planted beginning to take root.
He leaned against the wall, his expression hardening as his thoughts turned darker.
“They have no idea what’s coming.” he muttered to himself, his voice low.
Kael’s gaze fell on a small, weathered map spread across the table. Lines and marks etched into the paper told a story only he could read. His finger traced a path, stopping at the name that had haunted him for months.
As the night deepened, Derek stood on the balcony of his manor, his gaze fixed on the distant cabin where Kael resided.
“Trust is earned,” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the wind. “But betrayal comes easy.”
For now, Kael remained under his watchful eye. But Derek knew all too well that the real test was yet to come.