LOGINThank you for reading :)
VENUSBronze and Rowan exchange a quick look. That raises my suspicion. Then Bronze nods. “Yes.”My lips purse. That’s what I thought. I look at Bronze. “So…you were planning this?” I ask him while I feel Rowan’s stare on me. “I couldn’t just stand by and let you be tossed aside like this,” he says in a firm voice. “I know how much this training means to you, Venus. I’m not letting your dreams end here.”A small smile tugs at my lips. I nod. “Thanks… really.”But the feeling in my gut doesn’t go away. Why does it feel like he’s lying and there’s more to this? I don’t have any proof. So I let it go. For now.Rowan checks his watch. “I expect you to be on time for the midnight training,” he says sternly. Then he tosses his suit jacket over his shoulder and walks out of the office without a backward glance. —--------------------The forest is dark and still when I arrive, the only light coming from the moon hanging high above the trees. The air feels colder out here, brushing against
VENUSI clench my fist, my nails digging into my palm. His words feel like someone stabbed me. He’s acting like I’m a burden to the camp. Before I can sink deeper into dread, Bronze places his hands on my shoulders. “Listen,” he says, looking at me with something bordering between frustration and protectiveness. “Since Rowan stopped you from training at the field, I spoke to him. We came up with a different plan. But only if you’re okay with it.”I frown, glancing between them again. “What plan?”Bronze looks at Rowan. Rowan sits back, arms crossed now. “Look. You can’t train in the camp right now but I spoke to Rowan and he has agreed to train you separately but it has to be a secret.” Bronze explains. I stare at him in disbelief. “You spoke to Rowan?” I repeat slowly. The doubt in my voice is almost impossible to hide. I shift my gaze to the man in question. Rowan looks nonchalant as usual. Also extremely bored, as if he does not want to be here. “Don’t get it twisted,” he say
VENUS “What do you mean suspended? They can’t do this! This is unfair!”Sid’s voice practically explodes through her room the moment I finish telling her everything that happened at the meeting. She shoots up from the couch, her face flushed with anger. “I’ll talk to my mom about this,” she adds, pacing back and forth.Alex stands near the window, arms folded tight across his chest. His jaw is clenched. “This doesn’t make sense at all,” he mutters. “Why are they always cornering you, Venus? Out of everyone in that camp, it’s you they go after every single time.”I give a small shrug, staring down at the floor. “Because they probably don't like me. I’m the only one here without a wolf. It’s easy to blame me for things when I’m already… different.” I hate how sad I sound now. Sid turns to me sharply. “That’s absolute bullshit. You’re stronger than half those loudmouths in the camp. They just talk big and pretend to be powerful.”I want to smile at that, but it doesn’t come. My chest f
ROWANHe’s up almost instantly in his half-shifted form, his claws glinting under the dim gym light. He swipes his claws at me. I dodge his moves easily in my half-shifted form. They are sloppy. His strength is impressive, but his control is weak. He’s not used to this kind of power yet so he needs training to harness his power as a royal wolf. Bronze roars and lunges again. I let him attack me in his new form. When I’ve had enough, I catch his throat mid-charge. I don’t have much time to waste. He struggles under my grip, trying his best to fight it as my fingers tighten around his neck. With one arm, I lift him off the floor, his feet dangling in the air. Then I slam him against the wall. The sound echoes through the empty gym.“I know how Kyle found out Venus is my mate,” I say coldly. Bronze freezes on hearing that. His eyes return to their normal color and I see the fear in them clearly now. “You have no idea what you’ve started,” I continue. “Now that you opened your mouth
ROWANI tighten my jaw. “I had no intention of keeping her in the camp.”He hums, taking a few steps closer. “So what then? You suspended her to get back at me? Because you couldn’t stop her from choosing me?”There’s an edge of cockiness to tone. It grates at my nerves. If only he knew. He has her now because I allowed it. If I wanted Venus for myself, she’d never have gone back to him. Never. I would have never let her go. The next punch on the bag lands harder than I intend. The bag swings violently, chain rattling above. The silver tears through the glove and bites into my palm. I catch the bag with one hand and hold it still. The sting feels good.“I had no such intention,” I say while staring at the bag. My breathing comes out slightly ragged. Bronze smirks, shoving his hands in the pockets of his joggers. “Come on, Rowan. Admit it. You’re losing whatever game you’re playing. Venus is mine now. You can’t do anything about that.”“I wasn’t finished talking.” I mutter. His s
ROWANVenus looks utterly stunned by his theory. “That’s ridiculous!” she exclaims, shaking her head. “I had no such intentions.”Matthew leans forward, his eyes narrowing at Venus. “Then why did you ask Miss Olivia to spar at a desolated clearing where no one else was present?”Venus opens her mouth, but no words come out. I can already see where this is going. The council isn’t seeking truth, they’re building a case. Piece by piece, they’re shaping her into a criminal no matter what she says.It’s pathetic and infuriating.Bronze speaks up. “You don’t have any solid evidence against her. You can’t just throw baseless allegations.”Mallory responds, “What Alpha Bronze says is valid,” she begins, her gaze sliding toward Venus, “but Venus’s actions are undeniably suspicious. Starting from Rimi’s murder to the recent kidnapping, problems in the pack seem to occur wherever she goes. That’s not something we can ignore.”Venus’s lips part in disbelief. Bronze turns toward Mallory, eyes f







