Chapter 14%
Quinn’s POV
Training was over, I wasn’t supposed to be out here. As Callan had oh–so–lovingly barked at me the other day in full Alpha mode. “No wandering beyond Stormbane’s boundaries, Quinn. You got that?
Yeah, loud and clear, Alpha Controll
But I needed to feel like I could still make my own choices. So I disobeyed him. Again. Maybe it was the stubbornness. Maybe it was the part of me that still needed to prove I wasn’t some helpless little damsel waiting for a growly Alpha to play hero Despite two weeks of brutal training, I still couldn’t shift. My body had become stronger and faster, but something inside me remained locked. Every time I tried, the memories struck like a wall the grief, the blood, the unbearable loss of my pup. My wolf refused to come forward. Maybe she couldn’t. Maybe she was just as broken as I was.
I was halfway back to the cabin when I sensed I wasn’t alone. The forest had gone still and the silence pressed in like a warning. My instincts screamed, and my fingers curled tighter around the knife on my thigh, ready for whatever was coming.
I took a cautious step forward, scanning the trees. “Who goes there?“}]
It was then that movements flashed through the trees. Before I could react, a blade slashed across my shoulder, slicing through my jacket and grazing skin. Pain bloomed sharp and hot, but I didn’t waste time screaming, I dropped low, swept his legs out, and slammed my elbow into his throat as he hit the ground with a thud.
He was good. Trained. But not as desperate as I was.?
ljdidn’t recognize his scent–definitely not from Stormbane. Rogues, maybe. Mercenaries. But when I ripped the patch off his belt and saw the symbol stitched into it my stomach turned.
Zane’s crest?
Bounty hunters. He’d sent his bounty hunters after me. Why would Zane want to hurt me? The last time I checked, he wanted me back. He even followed me all the way here to the northern territories. So why send men who clearly didn’t care if I lived through this? What changed?
The second one came at me from behind, and I barely rolled out of the way just in time, his axe burying itself into the tree where my head had been seconds earlier. There was no time to think, so I moved on instinct and fought back. I ducked, slashed, and felt warm blood splash across my knuckles. My shoulder bled freely, and my breaths came in short, angry gasps as I pushed through the pain.
*I backed up a step, blood dripping from my fingers as I raised my knife defensively. My voice shook with anger as I shouted, “What the hell do you all want from me?
Unfortunately, three more emerged from the woods.
My body screamed, every muscle alive with pain and fury. I fought like hell, but one caught me by the wrist, twisting until my knees hit the earth Another grabbed my throat, pinning me back against the bark of a tree.
“You’re worth a fortune, miss,” one of them sneered, pressing a blade to my jaw. “Alpha Zane wants you alive, but not necessarily in one piece I
“Wow.” I croaked, breathless but furious. “That the best line they gave you before shipping you out here? I expected more from Zane’s
My voice dripped with sarcasm, even the blade pressed harder against my skin. I wanted them to know I wasn’t scared of t
of them. Not
But my vision blurred at the edges I gritted my teeth, refusing to scream. I wasn’t going to give them that. Then a low growl cut through the air, and Callan came out of the trees like something the forest spat out in self–defense. No shifung No pretense Just rager
He didn’t roar of bark orders because, of course, Callan didn’t need to announce himself like the rest of us. He moved so fast, one man already dead before he even realized who was in front of him, his neck snapped at a sickening angle. Another got the express flight straight into a tree, hard enough that the crack of his spine echoed like a warning through the glade.
with the knife to my jaw turned, thed to grab me tighter, maybe use me as leverage t
But Callan didn’t give him the chance He drove his fist into the guy’s ribcage so hard I actually winced, and I was pretty sure something exploded in there. Then he grabbed him by the throat, lifted him like he weighed nothing, and stared into his eyes with all the warmth
storm until the light flickered out completely
When the last body hit the ground, Calfan finally turned to me. He was breathung hard, jaw clenched, blood splattered across his shirt and
In the
seemed to bother famë
hand was slumped against the tree My shoulder was still bleeding, soaking through the shredded fabric of my jacket Dut clung to my scraped knees and blood matted hair clung to my face. My hands trembled, though I tried to steady them
sold you not to supposed to do
ked offering a hand for me to grab 3
but before I could say another word, his w tightened and those steel eyes narrowed
go wandering beyond the damn borders, he growled, pointing down at me “What if they killed you? Huh? What am I
-apologize to your ghost?‘i
| blinked stunned by
scolding My mouth opened, but no words.
He stepped closer. Lowering over me, hands clenched at his sides “Tve already invested a hall of a lot of time and effort keeping your
The least you could return the favor by being ju
obedient. I’m not asking for samthoud Chann Just
353 PM ď ď:
“I told you not to go wandering beyond the damn borders,” he growled, pointing down at me. “What if they killed you? Huh? What am supposed to do then–apologize to your ghost
I blinked, stunned by the sudden scolding. My mouth opened, but no words came out!
He stepped closer, towering over me, hands clenched at his sides. “I’ve already invested a hell of a lot of time and effort keeping your stubborn ass alive. The least you could do is return the favor by being just a little obedient. I’m not asking for sainthood, Quinn, Just
basic survival instincts.
The sarcasm in his tone was thick enough to choke on, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch him or melt into the ground.
“Noted,” I muttered, trying–and failing–not to sound sheepish
He crossed his arms, eyes still drilling into me. “Because of this little stunt, you’re grounded in the healer’s cottage for a week. No arguments. You so much as step a toe outside, and I’ll tie you to the bed. Don’t test me.
I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off with a raised brow and a look that said, Don’t even try.
“And after that,” he continued, “you’re getting extra training. Congratulations. Guess who your new instructor is? That’s right, mel So enjoy the rest while it lasts, sweetheart, because when I’m done with you, you’ll wish those bounty hunters finished the job.”
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “Seriously? You?
He gave a slow, smug nod. “Mm–hmm. Me. Looking forward to it already.”
I grumbled under my breath but didn’t argue further. Because deep down, a part of me was actually looking forward to being trained by him personally. Not that I’d ever admit that out loud.
3:53 PM et et ·
