Chapter 7 A Secret Training

Samantha tightened her fists, her knuckles paling as the forest floor shifted beneath her feet. The canopy above them filtered golden light through leaves that danced in the wind, casting flickering shadows across the clearing. She took a sharp inhale as Alex began to circle her like a predator testing the strength of her prey. Ronan stood a few feet back, arms folded, his sharp gaze assessing her every move.

They had chosen this secluded clearing deep within the forest for a reason of secrecy. If the others found out she was being trained, questions would rise. And questions meant danger.

"You're holding your breath again," Alex said, firm but not unkind. "You've got to learn to breathe through the movement. If you freeze, you lose."

Samantha nodded, adjusting her stance. Her legs trembled slightly, not from fear but from the strain of yesterday's bruises. Still, she refused to back down. Not today.

Alex didn't wait for a signal. She lunged forward with speed that made Samantha's heart jolt. Samantha dodged just in time, her foot catching on a root. She stumbled back, barely regaining balance.

Ronan's voice cut through the moment. "Your footwork is weak. You're relying too much on instinct, not enough on awareness."

Samantha's breath came in short bursts. Sweat dripped down her temples as she straightened, brushing strands of hair out of her face. "Again," she said quietly. "I want to get it right."

That earned her the faintest nod of approval from Alex. "Good. Let's go."

They trained for nearly an hour. Samantha was knocked down twice, bruised on her arm once, and nearly lost her footing several more times. But she improved. Each time she rose, her movements were a bit faster, her reactions a touch sharper. Ronan occasionally gave advice; Alex delivered critiques with quick demonstrations. Samantha soaked in every word, determined to be more than the weak outsider they thought she was.

Just as Alex swept her leg toward Samantha's ankles again, a sudden shift in the wind made them all pause. It wasn't just the air it was something more primal. A presence.

Alex's body tensed. Her eyes darted toward the edge of the clearing, narrowing. Ronan stepped beside her, gaze darkening.

"Someone's here," Alex muttered.

Ronan's voice rang with command. "Come out. Now."

From behind the trees, a figure emerged slowly, his steps measured. Golden eyes caught the dappled light-sharp, intelligent, and startlingly familiar.

Derek.

Samantha's stomach clenched. Her heartbeat quickened for reasons she didn't fully understand.

"I wasn't trying to interrupt," Derek said, raising his hands slightly in a show of peace. "I just" He paused, his eyes flickering to hers. "I was looking out for you."

Ronan's stance shifted, guarded. "You were watching us."

Derek shrugged, a small smirk pulling at his lips. "Observing," he corrected. "Big difference."

Alex scoffed. "You're not exactly known for casual strolls. Why are you really here?"

Derek didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze remained locked on Samantha's. "You've been training in secret. Smart. But it's dangerous."

"You won't tell anyone?" Samantha asked, cautious but hopeful.

His expression softened. "No. I won't. I think it's... brave."

Ronan still didn't look convinced. He exchanged a glance with Alex, then reached for her arm. "We'll give you two a moment," he said reluctantly.

Alex hesitated. "You sure?"

"Let's trust her," Ronan replied, then led Alex a short distance away, though neither of them truly let down their guard.

Samantha turned to Derek, unsure of what to say. The silence between them was heavy but not uncomfortable.

"Why were you really watching?" she asked finally.

Derek stepped closer. "Because I can't stop thinking about you."

Her breath caught.

He continued, his voice low. "I know this isn't supposed to happen. I know who I am who my father is. But I don't care." His gaze was intense, earnest. "You're strong, Samantha. You don't let fear stop you. That's rare."

He reached out, hesitating before gently brushing his fingers against hers. The touch was light, but it sent a shiver through her body.

"I don't want to ignore how I feel anymore," he whispered.

Samantha's heart pounded in her chest. This couldn't be real. "Derek... you're the Alpha's son. You're meant for something greater. You can't risk everything for"

"I don't care about fate or expectations," he interrupted. "I care about what I want. And right now, that's you."

She looked away, struggling with the storm in her chest. His words lit something in her hope, longing, terror. "This is dangerous," she whispered.

"I know," he said softly. "But maybe... you're worth the risk."

What she didn't know what neither of them knew was that someone else had been listening.

Hidden behind the trees, Cassius watched, disbelief etched across his face. His fingers curled into fists as Derek reached for Samantha's hand.

Derek? Falling for the outsider?

He turned abruptly, rage and confusion boiling beneath his skin. He didn't wait to hear more. Instead, he bolted through the underbrush, his mind set on only one thing: Serene.

Serene reclined lazily on a moss-covered log, her followers lounging around her like bored vultures. A smug smile played on her lips until Cassius burst into the clearing, breathless, eyes wild.

She sat up, instantly alert. "What now?"

Cassius struggled to speak. "It's Derek. He just told Samantha he likes her. I saw it with my own eyes."

The entire group froze.

Serene stood slowly, her expression unreadable at first. Then her fingers curled into fists.

"What did you say?" she hissed.

"I heard it," Cassius said again. "He was looking at her like she hung the moon."

For a long moment, Serene didn't speak. Then her expression twisted first into disbelief, then cold fury.

"He's mine," she spat. "He always was. And now she thinks she can take him too?"

Cassius looked uneasy, but Serene's eyes gleamed with rage.

"She's already taken my mother's attention. Alex, Ronan... now Derek?" Her voice rose in pitch. "She thinks she's better than me?"

A cruel smile spread across her face, as chilling as the breeze that swept through the clearing.

"She wants to play with fire?" she muttered. "Then let her burn."

She stood tall, eyes gleaming with malice.

"It's time I end this," she said quietly. "For good, and now nothing and no one would stop me and whoever steps in the way would be a scape goat"