Chapter 9 Steamy Training

Camilla POV

I push myself up from the cold stone base of the well with all my muscles aching and my mind still hazy, yet I manage to make my legs pull me up and out. Through the darkness, Lucien's voice reaches me with an urgent yet gentle tone as he calls my name. I climb the mossy wall by gripping roots until I reach the courtyard illuminated by moonlight. I draw in the earthy aroma of pine and moist soil and gasp from my first complete breath.

At the well's edge, Lucien kneels while relief shows across his face as he extends his hand to me. The elder's dagger left my arm throbbing, but I chose to ignore the pain while he drew me near. As he searches my eyes, his chest rises in rapid heaves while I sense his burning concern pass through me. For a fraction of a second, I nearly move closer to him, but I break the connection, remembering my promise.

As Lucien brushes dirt from his cloak, he says with a trembling voice, "You must rest." He guides me through the quiet courtyard until we reach the ancient training grounds.

Silver moonlight covers the clearing when we reach it, which creates soft illumination and long shadows behind us. Lucien pauses with his hand on a wooden post before turning to face me with a trembling voice. The warmth in his eyes makes my heart race when he asks if I will train the pups with him again. With a steady voice, I quietly confirm, "I will."

The circle of young wolves surrounds us as eager paws scratch the grass while their eyes track Lucien and me. The wooden swords he gives me feel smooth to the touch as I take them into my hands. A surge of warmth travels up my arm when his hand touches mine as I accept a wooden sword. I inhale sharply as I recall my purpose for being here.

Lucien observes me for an extended period while his gaze appears to etch every feature of my face into his memory. He points at the wolves and explains basic stances and strikes. I replicate his teaching with accurate gestures, ensuring all movements like blocks and thrusts remain exact. The wolves copy our actions while their tails fly high in anticipation.

As he moves toward the young pup to adjust its stance, his shoulder makes contact with mine while I detect the warmth of his body against mine. I feel my stomach twist as conflicting feelings of desire and vengeance battle within me. I make myself concentrate on the wolves as I direct their arms to sweep in broad circles. The night air becomes charged with raw energy as their growls echo softly.

The unexpected wind stirs the foliage above while I tremble as elusive power pulses within my veins, which I haven't yet mastered. Lucien looks at me quickly with his features becoming more intense because of his alarm. I suppress the internal surge while maintaining a composed smile. He gives me his trust through a nod, and the wolves encircle us once more.

Under the watchful moon, we move together, teaching blocks, charges and parries in sequence. The tranquillity and steadiness in Lucien's voice make training puppies seem like an entirely normal activity. The proximity to him turns my body into a humming machine while every touch and look reignites a hidden passion I once believed extinguished. Revenge continues to smoulder underneath my skin.

After our final drill, Lucien approaches and speaks to me in hushed tones. His voice holds both wonder and fondness as he whispers that I possess more strength than he ever realised. My heart jumps inside my chest, but I keep my face emotionless. I nod my head and respond with "I've had plenty of time to learn."

His forehead presses against mine while his haunted eyes fix on me, and the space between us vibrates with tension. The warmth of his breath mixes with regret's tang and a dangerous desire in my senses. My throat becomes dry, and I swallow with difficulty. A pup yips and rushes between us before I can utter a word, breaking the spell.

Together, we shift our gaze towards the young wolf as it pulls at my cloak with bright eyes, showing its worry. I ruffle his fur while deliberately making my voice sound lighter. Lucien's features soften into a gentle smile as relief washes over him. The moment snaps, and I step back.

He summons the wolves from the night by clapping his hands while his bright tone signals their dismissal. I return the wooden swords to their place, but my fingers remain on Lucien's hand for an extra moment. He squeezes my palm, voice low: The warmth from his eyes sends my heart fluttering through his simple thanks.

Lucien pulls me aside under the old oak tree at the clearing's edge when the last pup dashes away. The roots beneath the moonlight twist in patterns of hidden truths while he faces me. He asks me to reveal my deepest pain with his voice just above a whisper. The heaviness of his plea causes my breathing to stutter.

In place of speaking words that fight to escape from my throat, I press my hand against the carved initials in the bark that we made long ago. Lucien observes me with a gaze that reflects both pain and expectation. I force down the pain and feel tears surface in my eyes. I managed to say through gritted teeth, "You will know soon."

With eyelids heavy from longing, he nods before moving closer until only moonlight divides us. We share a breath while I feel bold enough to bridge the distance between us. The earth shakes under our feet as a faint growl echoes through the distant trees. Lucien becomes rigid as his wide eyes track the howls that respond from afar to the earth's tremor.

My heart races and fills my ears with sound while dread intermingles with adrenaline as my gaze locks onto Lucien. "They've returned," he hisses while his voice constricts with terror. The old oak tree stirs its foliage while darkness forms strange shapes around its roots. Electric blue eyes shine coldly from the centre of the clearing where they watch us both.

The moment stands still while I comprehend that our real danger stems not from external packs but from something emerging from my past's flames.