Chapter 4

After that, Lilith became the person in the training room who needed the most care.

She was always pale. She always said she did not sleep well. She always fell during sparring matches and then smiled and said, “It is okay. I can keep going.” Every time, Orion frowned. Every time, he walked over and asked if she was hurt.

“She is too weak,” he said to me once. “You need to go easier on her.”

I looked at him. We had trained together for years. He never told me to go easy on anyone before. He made me win. He made me lose. He never pushed me aside just because someone else was weaker.

“She is older than me,” I said.

“She is not as strong as you.” Orion said it like it was a fact that needed no discussion. “You are stronger. What is the big deal about letting her have this?”

I was stronger. So I had to give in. I did not know how to argue with that logic.

During training, Lilith always stood next to me. She always asked questions in that soft voice. Then before I could answer, her eyes went red. “I am sorry. Am I too slow?” Her eyes were big, and when they got red, everyone noticed. Orion always said, “You just need more time. Take it slow.”

He never told me to take it slow. He always told me to go faster. To hit harder. That I could still do better.

During a squad sparring match, Lilith was put on the opposite side. Her moves were slow. Her openings were obvious. I did not hold back. I attacked the way the instructor taught us. I pushed her to the edge of the training floor.

She fell. I did not knock her down. She took a step back when I lunged, slipped on her own, and hit the ground. Her gear made a dull sound. She curled up and did not move.

The training room went quiet. Orion was the first to rush over. He crouched beside her with his hand on her shoulder and asked if she was okay. Lilith lifted her head slowly. Her eyes were red. Her lips trembled.

“I am fine. I just got too nervous.”

She tried to stand but fell back down. Orion caught her and turned to look at me. His eyes were cold.

“Sylvie, this is a sparring match, not real combat. You hit too hard.”

“I did not touch her.” I said. “She slipped on her own.”

“Can you not see how much weaker she is than you?”

I said nothing. Lilith leaned against Orion’s shoulder and whispered, “Do not blame Sylvie. It is my fault for not being good enough.”

Her voice shook. Every word sounded like she was holding back pain.

Orion helped her to a seat and walked back to me. His face was hard. “Be more careful next time.”

I watched him and thought about the time I fell during a sparring match in intermediate training. My wrist guard came loose. My opponent tripped me. My knee hit the floor hard. I could not stand up. Orion ran over and crouched in front of me. He checked my knee first, then looked up at me and said, “You scared me. But your wrist guard came loose again. You need to tie it tighter. I do not want you getting hurt because of something you could have prevented.”

The last squad meeting before the Academy Festival arrived.

I walked into the training room wearing my family’s traditional dark training gear. Lilith looked at me and tilted her head.

“Sylvie,” she said softly. “Your training gear today… the color is so dark.”

A few teammates glanced at her, then at me. No one laughed.

“Did something happen at home?” Lilith asked in a small voice. Her eyes were full of just the right amount of concern. “I heard… something happened at the southern gathering.”

The training room went quiet.

She knew. Of course she knew. What happened at the southern gathering was not my family’s fault. But in the wolf world, rumors run faster than truth. She was hinting at it. In front of everyone.

I looked at Orion. He was not smiling. But he said nothing.

“Say that again.”

Lilith stepped back and lowered her head. “I am sorry. I should not have brought it up. I was just…” Her voice got smaller. “Just worried about you.”

She looked so fragile. So innocent. Like a frightened pup. Orion walked over and stood in front of her.

“Sylvie. She does not know how to talk to people. Do not hold it against her.”

“She insulted my family in front of everyone,” I said. “And you want me to let it go?”

“She does not know any better. Could you at least act with some dignity?” Orion’s voice was impatient now. “The whole training room is watching. What kind of picture are you painting with this scene?”

“Apologize.” His voice dropped, like he did not want to waste another word on me.

“I will not.”

“What do you want from me?” Orion’s patience was clearly gone. “She already apologized. I am trying to talk to you nicely. If you keep pushing this, do you want everyone to think you are unreasonable?”

I looked into his eyes. “You think I am being unreasonable?”

“You are being unreasonable right now,” he said. “Apologize.”

“I said no.”

Then his hand came down.

No one in the training room made a sound. I held my face and looked up slowly. Lilith stood behind Orion with her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were red. Her face looked scared, heartbroken, sorry for me. But her eyes were too bright. There was a glint of triumph in them.

I felt tired. Twelve years of history shattered by one slap.

“Orion Draven,” I said, my voice quiet but steady. “Our engagement is over. I am done with you.”