CHAPTER 5

Lisa's POV

By the time I arrived at the pack house, a guard escorted me into the main training hall.

Lucien stood at the center, surrounded by five newly recruited warriors.

Lucien strode toward me.

"Perfect," he said with a satisfied smile. "You're finally here."

I lowered my gaze, refusing to look at him.

His fingers suddenly hooked beneath my chin, forcing my face upward as rage exploded inside me.

"You son of a bitch!" I slapped his hand away and threw a punch straight at his stomach.

"Ow!"

Pain shot through my knuckles instead. It felt like I'd punched solid steel.

Before I could swing again, two guards seized my arms from behind.

Lucien chuckled as though my anger amused him.

"I see you didn't come here to apologize." He leaned closer. "Your father already gave me permission to do whatever I want with you."

His lips curved into a cruel smile. "After all... you belong to me."

My wolf snarled. ‘Monster’

"I don't belong to anyone." I met his eyes without flinching. "Especially not you."

His smile disappeared. "So stubborn."

He turned and walked toward a massive object hidden beneath a black cloth.

With one swift pull, the cloth dropped.

My entire body froze.

It was a giant statue of me with every exaggerated curve and every inch of my body had been grotesquely enlarged.

Laughter erupted throughout the hall.

"This," Lucien announced proudly, "is what you actually look like."

The warriors burst into another round of laughter.

My chest tightened.

So this… this was the surprise, Elara had tricked me again.

Lucien rubbed the spot where I'd punched him before turning toward a warrior.

"Kael Ashford."

The man stepped forward.

"Yes, Alpha."

"You're the strongest among the new recruits." Lucien folded his arms. "I have a special assignment for you."

Kael bowed his head. "I'm listening."

"Starting today, Lisa joins the warrior division. She'll train, fight, and serve this pack until I say otherwise."

My eyes widened. "What?"

My wolf growled furiously. ‘We refuse’

"I won't do it." My voice rang through the hall. "I'd rather leave this pack."

Lucien laughed.

"I won't let rogues kill you so easily." His eyes turned cold. "If you're going to die… then you'll die protecting Bloodfang."

He looked back at Kael. "Train her exactly as you would a man." His expression hardened. "No special treatment, no mercy. She doesn't deserve kindness."

Kael nodded once. "Understood."

The guards finally released me, but before I could take another step, Kael stopped beside me.

"Come." His voice was calm. "We're starting now."

I frowned. "Starting what?"

He didn't answer, instead he bent down, lifted me onto his shoulder as though I weighed nothing, and started walking.

"What are you doing?!"

I pounded against his back.

"Put me down!"

"You'll collapse carrying me!"

I deliberately shifted my weight, hoping to make him stumble… but it did nothing, his breathing remained perfectly steady, not even a grunt.

How strong was this man?

After several minutes, we arrived at the training grounds. Only then did he gently lower me.

The moment my feet touched the ground, my knees buckled as I stumbled.

Before I could fall, Kael’s strong arm wrapped around my waist. For a heartbeat… neither of us moved.

I quickly stepped away. "What the hell?"

He simply walked toward a wooden weapon rack, picked up two practice swords, and returned.

He held one out to me. "We begin."

I ignored it, instead, I stared directly at him.

Something wasn't right, the shape of his face… his jaw… even the way he carried himself. Why did he remind me so much of Cassian?

"Have we met before?"

His smile barely changed. "I don't think so, I'm new here. And apparently, your new instructor."

He gestured toward the sword again. "Let's begin."

I grabbed it, then tossed it onto the ground as the wooden blade landed with a loud thud.

"You don't understand." I dropped onto the grass, hugging my knees. "Everyone in this pack hates me."

"My father, my sister, the Alpha. Why should I become a warrior to protect people who'd rather see me dead? I don't want to protect them." My hands clenched. "I want revenge. I want every single one of them to regret what they've done to me."

Kael didn't speak immediately. Instead… he slowly sat beside me.

"I understand." His voice was unexpectedly gentle. "My mate rejected me too."

I looked at him.

"She said a man who wanted nothing but to become a warrior would never be worthy of her."

A flicker of pain crossed his face before disappearing.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine." He smiled faintly. "Because it helped me realize something."

"What?"

"If the place you're standing only brings you pain… leave it."

I blinked.

He looked at me. "What if I helped you become a warrior in another pack?"

Another pack? A place where nobody knew me. Nobody would call me Empty Belly and nobody would laugh every time I walked.

"You could really do that?"

He nodded. "If you're willing to train, to prove yourself. Courage isn't measured by appearance, it's measured by what you stand up after surviving."

His words settled deep inside me.

For the first time since the rejection… someone believed I could become something more.

I looked at him carefully. "Why are you helping me?"

He chuckled. "Because I want something in return."

"I knew it."

"What is it?"

His eyes met mine. "Be my girlfriend."

I stared. "...Excuse me?"

"My fake girlfriend," he corrected calmly.

"When I eventually introduce you to another pack, people will trust you more if they believe we're together."

He folded his arms. "Besides, Lucien still thinks he owns you. If everyone believes you're with me… he loses that control."

I hated admitting it.

But… it actually made sense.

"How long?"

"Until you've earned a position in another pack. Once you're accepted… we end the relationship."

That sounded fair.

I hesitated.

Then another thought struck me.

"Can that pack… be Silver Moon?"

A strange smile appeared on his face.

"That," he answered quietly, "...will be the easiest part."

I frowned.

Why did he sound so confident? Still, if I became a Silver Moon warrior… I'd have the perfect chance to destroy everything Lucien cared about.

Kael extended his hand. "So… do we have a deal?"

I stared at it for several long seconds.

Then finally, I slipped my hand into his. "Deal."

His grip tightened briefly before he let go.

A slow smile spread across my lips.

Lucien Vale… you'll regret everything you did to me. And when that day comes… I'll make sure you remember my name.