Old Scars, New Blood.

Winter’s POV:

I watch Keon’s back as he rages out of the training room, the punching bag a wrecked pile on the floor behind him. His strength was unparalleled. I catch his eyes in the mirror, a dark shade of red.

He seems upset. It makes me feel bad somehow. Should I go apologize? What would I even say? “Sorry for hanging out with your brother that I’m mated to even though I have your mark?

That reminds me. Back there, Derrick mentioned there being two marks on my back. The day Keon marked me, it was only one mark. After the mating ceremony with Derrick, it became two. It made me confused.

Two marks for two wolves?

Does that mean I was double-marked or something? Like the way hotels get double-booked? Does that even happen?

Has it happened between wolves and witches?

How was I even supposed to deal with something like that?

I think I need to talk to Keon.

Fuck my head hurts.

Derrick waves his hand in my face, snapping me out of my thoughts; “Winter? Earth to Winter?”

I fake a smile. “I’m here, I’m here”

His brows furrow. “I lost you for a second there, Winter”

I shake my head. “Sorry, I was just thinking, I’m fine now. What were you saying?”

He looks at the window of the room Keon was in. “It’s about my brother, isn’t it?”

I don’t answer, avoiding his gaze. I don’t know why I feel bad about all this.

He sighs. “I don’t understand his unusual…concern over you, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you Winter.”

But what if I want him to bother me?

I don’t dare voice my thought. Oblivious, he continues. “I think he wants something from you but I’m yet to figure it out. I-”

His eyes gloss for a second, before they turn back to normal. What was that about?

He sighs, getting up. “I’m so sorry Winter, but my guard just called my attention to something very important, I have to leave now.” He kisses my cheek swiftly, effectively stunning me.

I can’t tell if I hate the fact he’s leaving right in the middle of our hangout or love that he’s leaving so I can go find Keon.

I am 100% confused. Regardless, I smile at him, dusting the particles off my dress. “It’s alright Derrick, I’ll see you later?”

He nods, walking away. He turns back. “I might not be back for a while, but stay in my quarters and stay away from Keon.” He turns away, leaving me in the gardens.

The moment he’s out of my line of sight, I turn away from the main pack-house, following in the direction Keon left.

Sorry Derrick, but I need answers and I have a feeling Keon has them.

As I walk, some wolves are scattered across different parts of the house. Some ignore me, others whisper among themselves, making me feel awkward. I put on a brave face and continue. I’m not too sure which direction Keon went in, so I guess my way across the house.

Which I thought was was working, until I realize I’ve passed by the same portrait three times now.

Maybe I didn’t think this through. You see, this pack-house, Derrick told me, is older than me, Keon, and Derrick combined. That’s saying something, since the average witch lifespan is about 150 years, while average werewolves are usually about 90+ years, but Alphas and Royals can live well over a century (if they don’t die in war of course). So this house being older than all of us combined meant it was a historical figure. Technically, it was a relic. It is literally the size of like two mansions, built like a Victorian era castle, houses over a hundred staff and servants, some fifty plus wolves, and the Royals, the Beta from earlier, and the Gamma, who wasn’t at the mating for some reason, but it was her dress I was in when I passed out.

Now, maybe I should’ve taken all that into consideration before I started this side quest, because now I’m positive I have no idea where I am or where I’m headed even though I’ve been at this for twenty minutes.

I try to use my insight, but it’s supposed to warn me of danger, not act as some GPS or compass that’ll lead me to Keon. Regardless, I push on. I take a left after this really long line of family portraits of the Blackbird family. Even Keon’s father looked scary. His beard touches his chest, his eyes looking like death and evil. I shudder, turning right and walking straight down.

On the other side of the hall, I spot a door. It’s metal and heavy, and it takes effort for me to get it open. When I do, the smell of sweat smacks me face first. What the?

Up ahead, about 30 wolves are in the room, many are sparring each other, some are in their wolf forms. Others fight with weapons. There’s a tall woman with tan skin yelling out instructions, correcting their forms. When the door slams shut, everyone notices, turning in my direction. I wince.

They’re all staring, their eyes scanning me from head to toe. Some irritated, a few looking curious. Most are angry. Someone voices their displeasure; “What’s the hag looking for here?” Many of them laugh, snickering at me. Anger and irritation crawl in my skin.

I’m about to throw my own remark when the lady speaks up. Her voice is loud. “Hey, shut the fuck up will ya?! And learn manners while you’re at it too! Who said you could stop by the way? Everyone go down and give me a hundred pushups now!”

The laughter cuts short. No one moves. She raises her voice. “Oi! Are you all deaf or what?! I said get down and get to it!”

Several people start talking all at once.

“Come on Sab you can’t be serious!” “It was a joke teach!”

Wait. Like Sabrina? Sabrina the Gamma? The Sabrina?

Holy shit.

She interrupts their complaints. “That’s none of my business. Maybe next time, you’ll control your bad mouthing. Come on, get to it!”

Everyone grumbles, but eventually most people start the punishment. Except one. He’s the one that first started the jokes, his hair is in a mohawk, his chest puffed out in defiance. “I’m not getting punished for saying the truth. That old hag you call “Father” should’ve died. The Alpha should’ve killed him. Then your people would be slaves to us for as long as you may miserably live, as it should be.”

His level of hatred makes me stagger backwards.

Sabrina’s eyes darken. “Draken-”

“No Sabrina. You know I’m right.” He points at me. "Your disgusting species should’ve died during the Blood-Fang. At least-“

“Draken. Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

“At least Nico would still be here.”

The tension in the room is so palatable my insight rings out.

I blink and Draken is being pinned to the ground, his face eating dirt as Sabrina twists his arm in a position I know hurts like hell. He screams out, and she twists it further, forcing him into silence. “When I say enough. I mean it. When I tell you to shut the fuck up you shut the fuck up like a good dog. And if I damn well tell you to lick my fucking boots you lick it without a fucking thought. Understand?” Unlike before, her voice is deadly calm.

“Yes! Yes I understand!”

The other wolves watch with fear in their eyes, the former annoyance gone.

She holds it for a second, and just when I think she’ll let him go, a loud snap rings out. A total of two seconds pass before Draken screams out, clutching his arm that’s bent in an unnatural position. I wince at the sight.

“I think now you truly understand. And stop screaming you pussy, I just dislocated it. Get to Kira so she can heal you.”

The whole room is silent as he leaves the room still clutching his arm. He doesn’t give me a second look as he rushes out. She turns to the others. “Well? Did I tell you guys you could stop?”

They immediately get to the pushups, the tension still in the air.

When she’s satisfied with them, she turns towards me. I take a step back.

What? I didn’t want to get my arm bent like a pretzel.

She smiles, her eyes already back to normal. “Yeah, sorry about that,” she points at her students.

I nod, unsure where this is going. She suddenly grabs me, joining us by the shoulder. I freeze. “Winter, was it? My oh my, do I have questions for you.”

My eyes widen. Questions? What questions? About Derrick? Keon? Did someone find out about me and Keon? My mind subconsciously goes to the double crescent on my back.

I laugh nervously, “Am I safe?”

She laughs, walking us out through the door I came through.

She shuts the door, still smiling at me. Something flashes in her eyes.

“Let’s just say I’ve heard a lot of things about you Winter.”