8. Warrior Commander

Sunlight shone brightly through the curtains directly onto her face as she lay in bed. She frowned in her sleep and furiously called,

“Servants!”

From her single call, a maid was supposed to come running and kneel, waiting for her orders, but there was only silence.

She opened her eyes, and when she stared at the roof, her frown deepened. She had almost forgotten; she didn’t have maids here.

She put her legs on the floor and walked to the kitchen.

In that small kitchen, everything was dry.

“How do I get food?”

“Hunt,” Zaphyra replied.

She closed her eyes. How could she kill that wolf? Hadn't they become one now?

“Nalath had a garden.”

Before long, she stood in front of the so-called garden. Those pathetic vegetables looked as though someone had stomped on them. There was no way she could eat them.

At least that was how she would have thought before those days in that stinking cell. But now...

She crouched and started digging up the potatoes.

Then Zaphyra showed her a well. She fetched water and returned to the kitchen.

How did they even cook these things? She studied them with a frown, a knife in her hand, not even sure how to peel them.

Later, after eating her humble breakfast and preparing herself, she walked toward the door.

Soon, she stopped at a field where the warriors of the pack trained.

There were many of them surrounding a huge, round, flat hill that acted as an arena, shouting loudly. Two muscular men stood in the middle, fighting with pure strength.

From where she stood, some warriors noticed her and gave her surprised and confused looks, but their attention quickly returned to the fight—especially to that man.

Eldric scooped his opponent up and threw him out of the arena. He laughed heartily, and the audience cheered.

Then Eldric noticed her. He composed himself and bowed, his hand on his chest.

“Luna.”

When he did, the other warriors followed.

She knew it was an empty bow, even from that man. Or else he would've come for her when she was in that dungeon. Not that she expected him to. She studied Eldric's expression. But why did he have to force himself with all of this?

“He promised him,” Zaphyra meddled in Radella's thoughts.

Promise?

“Luna, what brought you here?” Eldric, the warrior commander, asked.

She stepped forward and stood at the edge of the arena, still maintaining her seriousness.

“What does it take for one to join your army?”

Eldric looked at the army, then back at her.

The other warriors exchanged glances, then started laughing and murmuring among themselves.

“Luna, what do you mean?” Eldric asked in confusion, forcing himself not to laugh.

Radella looked at him silently, her thoughts deeper than her expression.

“Becoming a warrior.”

“Forgive us, Luna, but that is impossible.”

“Why is that?” she asked.

“Joining the army means going to battlefields and dangerous missions. Taking you with us would add another responsibility—protecting you. That could endanger others. Don't you think so?”

Radella, who had already prepared for that answer, responded without hesitation.

“Then you can teach me how to protect myself.”

Eldric recalled how he had always seen Nalath: a quiet person, polite, and unable to even bear watching them punish a criminal. The only thing she did was play the flute. He compared that image to the one standing before him.

Look at those eyes.

“May I ask why you want to be in our army?” Eldric asked.

Radella answered inwardly, To take over this pack.

“To protect myself and the pack.”

Hearing her answer, the other warriors started laughing again.

“Hey, Luna, this pack was doing just fine even without your protection.”

“Does she think this will help her move on from her heartbreak?”

But Eldric remained silent as he watched her.

“If you let me in,” Radella said, raising her voice slightly as she looked at them, “I will make this pack stronger than it has ever been. No one will compare to it, not even the Eon Pack.”

Now, everyone froze.

She dared challenge the Eons?

Eldric couldn't believe it. What if they heard about this? And he thought their Luna was growing. It turned out she was going crazy. And his father wanted him to protect such a Luna. He never agreed with Ghilas, but having her take over was worse.

Eldric bowed slightly. “Excuse me, Luna. I just remembered a matter I must attend to.”

He immediately left, and the others scattered.

She frowned as she watched their retreating backs. She had expected the Eons to be feared, but not to that level. What was the point of calling themselves warriors?

“The Alpha died fighting them,” Zaphyra told her.

What a pity.

She meant her words. She would sharpen this pack and use it to slay them.

Instead of returning to her room, she decided to take a stroll around.

Her feet brought her to the market. It was busy, bustling with people selling their goods, and everything seemed peaceful.

Low-rankers didn’t know their leader’s face, and she didn’t think it would change anything even if they did.

As she passed, she could hear loud gossip from the booths.

“She got drunk and spilled all her secrets. Hahaha. I can't imagine how funny it was. It turned out she and the Beta's son were mates. Every pack is talking about it,” one of the women selling shoes blurted out.

“I really feel pity for Khalien,” another woman sighed.

“Hey, don't talk about that. I heard her mate is the warrior commander. He even kneeled for her,” another girl meddled in.

Radella could only grit her teeth. They only talked about that, even after everything she had done. What about her promise regarding the wedding?

“No wonder she went after Khalien's marriage. I'm starting to feel pity for her now.”

Radella's jaw tightened, and she walked away.

Then she stopped at one of the booths.

“Welcome, miss. I assure you, these are the best weapons you will ever see. I made them myself.”

She looked at the seller, who seemed less than twenty, his hair in a short ponytail.

“Miss, do you need anything?” the seller asked.

Radella picked up a spear. It was perfectly crafted, its sharpness catching her eye. She wished she could have it, but for someone who hated this situation, she didn’t have any money.

She sighed and returned it.

The seller frowned. Was that girl playing with his business?

“Khalien is near,” Zaphyra hinted.

Khalien?

She turned her head and searched for him.

Not far away, she saw Khalien standing near a jewelry shop with a girl beside him, Anais.

And she thought the marriage would be called off after everything she pulled.

Noticing Nalath’s scent, Khalien also turned.

And their eyes met.

She walked towards him.