Chapter 5 SHADOWS OF THE PAST

ELARA'S POV

The afternoon sun burned high in the sky, casting golden light over the open training grounds. The scent of sweat and dirt filled the air as the young warriors of the Crescent Moon Pack sparred under the watchful eyes of their trainers. I stood among them, silent and observant, my muscles tense as I prepared for another exhausting session.

Today was supposed to be routine-another day of keeping my head down and enduring whatever snide remarks came my way. But I had a feeling it wouldn't be that simple.

Micah, the future Alpha, had left with his father and brothers to visit the Shadowfang Pack, securing an alliance that could strengthen their rule. With them gone, Micah's younger sister, Lila, had been left behind. And unfortunately, I was stuck dealing with her.

Micah had promised to help Lila train, but with his absence, she had insisted I take his place. I knew she wasn't happy about it. She despised me-perhaps because I wasn't like the others who fawned over her. But it didn't matter. I was here to do a job, and that was all.

Lila crossed her arms, her golden hair glinting in the sunlight as she smirked. "Try not to embarrass yourself, Elara. I wouldn't want Micah to come back and find out his little project was useless."

I clenched my jaw but said nothing. The others around us chuckled, their amusement clear. They all loved Lila-either out of admiration or fear of her status. I, however, had no such concerns.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the training circle. The young wolves around us shifted, their eyes glowing with excitement. It was common for warriors to let their wolves take control during sparring. It helped them hone their instincts, sharpen their reflexes. But I couldn't afford that luxury. If I let my wolf out-if I showed them what I was truly capable of-there would be questions. And I couldn't risk that.

Lila shifted first, her lean wolf form pacing in the dirt with impatience. Her golden fur gleamed under the sunlight, her eyes locked onto me like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Shift," she commanded.

I hesitated.

"I don't have all day, Elara," she sneered. "Or are you scared?"

I could feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on me, waiting to see what I would do. But I had spent years controlling my wolf, hiding her strength. Shifting in front of them was out of the question.

"I'll fight as I am," I said simply, keeping my voice neutral.

Lila growled but didn't argue. Instead, she lunged.

She was fast. But I was faster.

I dodged effortlessly, twisting my body to avoid her snapping jaws. She came at me again, her claws aiming for my shoulder, but I sidestepped, grabbing her scruff and using her own momentum to flip her onto her back. A gasp rippled through the crowd.

Lila scrambled to her feet, shaking off the dust. Her ears flattened in frustration. I could tell she was holding back-she didn't expect me to last this long.

"Again," she snarled.

She lunged once more, this time feinting left before darting right. But I anticipated it, dodging at the last second. Instead of countering, I let her tire herself out, dodging each attack with calculated precision.

The watching warriors were no longer laughing. They were paying attention now.

And that was dangerous.

Before Lila could launch another attack, a blood curdling howl split the air.

The scent hit me before I even saw them.

Rogues.

The training grounds erupted into chaos as shadows burst from the trees, dark figures moving with deadly precision. They weren't ordinary rogues. Their attacks were coordinated, their movements too skilled. This wasn't a random ambush-this was planned.

Shouts rang out as warriors shifted into their wolves, fur and claws meeting teeth and blood. Lila was frozen for a split second before instinct kicked in, and she let out a warning growl.

But she wasn't fast enough.

A rogue lunged at her from behind. Without thinking, I moved.

I intercepted the attack, slamming my fist into the rogue's side before twisting sharply to throw him off balance. He snarled, baring his fangs, but before he could attack again, I drove my knee into his ribs, sending him crashing into the dirt.

Lila gaped at me, her wolf form stunned.

I had moved too fast. Too strong.

I didn't have time to dwell on it. More rogues poured in, and the battle raged around us. I fought alongside the pack warriors, but something felt wrong. These weren't ordinary rogues.

Then I saw it.

A tattoo.

It was barely visible beneath the torn sleeve of one of the attackers, but I recognized the symbol instantly. My blood ran cold.

These men weren't just random outcasts. They belonged to him.

Xander.

My alias. The name I had used when I fought alongside my father, the name that should have been buried in the past.

If they were here, it meant they were looking for something. Or someone.

A rogue lunged at me, and I acted on instinct. My wolf clawed at my control, demanding to be released, but I couldn't-I wouldn't. Instead, I ducked under the rogue's swipe and slammed my elbow into his throat. He staggered, gasping, and I used the moment to grab Lila's scruff.

"Run!" I shouted.

She hesitated, but I didn't give her a choice. With a sharp push, I sent her towards the river that bordered the training grounds. Some of the others followed, their howls ringing through the trees.

I jumped in after them, the cold water shocking my system. The current was fast, but I fought against it, dragging Lila along as we were swept downstream.

When we finally reached the opposite shore, I pulled myself up, coughing as I gasped for air. Lila collapsed beside me, shivering from the cold.

And then I heard it.

A whisper.

A name.

"Elara..."

My entire body froze.

Slowly, I turned my head.

Standing on the bank, just beyond the trees, was a rogue. But he wasn't looking at the others.

He was looking at me.

And he had called me by a name he shouldn't have known.

My real name.

A wave of dread washed over me.

Before I could react, he disappeared into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.

I stood there, my breath uneven, my mind racing.

Lila was coughing beside me, completely unaware of what had just happened.

But I knew.

This wasn't over.

They had found me.

And soon, Micah would, too.