Chapter 4: Defiance

Theron’s goal was to prove to Commander Cael that he was not just some youth wearing a robe. He hadn’t slept at night, tossing and turning. He would glance at Cael occasionally and notice he wasn’t sleeping either.

He hated the way he was affected by his presence so he spent the whole night thinking of ways in his head.

Morning came faster than usual. The sky had not yet turned bright, but faint streaks of pink cut through the gray clouds above the camp was enough for both of the to stand up.

“You barely slept,” Theron commented, standing up.

“I’m your bodyguard,” Maera spat. “I can’t keep you alive if I sleep.”

She walked outside the tent, noticing men were already awake and preparing for the shift. It didn’t sit right with her because she felt everything about their strategy was lacking and not so organized. The war general were speaking to the men who gathered around a map.

Seeing as no one was paying attention, she hid herself behind some tents and bathed hurriedly. Then dressed as fast as she could, her heart ponding with the fear of being caught. After that, she adjusted her cloak and made her way toward the group that stood by the horses. Theron was already there, talking to one of the lieutenants. She noticed he seemed restless even though he was trying to act unbothered.

“It took you so long to freshen up,” he said without looking at her.

Maera stopped beside him and crossed her arms. “I was checking the supplies. We don’t have enough arrows if this lasts longer than expected. I was informed by elder maverick the soldiers have been grouped by strength— those who fight better with their wolves and those who have better strength as man. The numbers are disappointing. There should always be a balance.”

It baffled her that things in the capital seemed disorganized as opposed to her district. Maybe the kings death really destabilized them.

Theron glanced at her briefly. “We won’t need more than what we have. And the soldiers in the capital are enough too, no need to bring in from other districts. We strike and we return.”

“That’s not how battles work,” she said quietly. “You’re underestimating them.”

“I’m the one giving orders, Commander,” he said. “We ride north, take the ridge, and push them back before sunset.”

She wanted to argue, but she bit her tongue. He was stupid to think that it was as easy as that. She wanted to tell him what he was saying showed that he was daft and didn’t really understand that an army that had spent years trying to shift back attacks could do all that in a day. But there were guards that were standing close and watching them.

Theron mounted his horse and waited for her. “You have something to say, Cael?”

“I do,” she said, taking her place beside him. “I think this plan is reckless. You should wait until we know what we’re facing. Isn’t there someone supposed to return from the battlefield first and let us know what is going on?”

“I won’t wait,” he said. “You said yourself that the longer we wait, the more we lose.”

“Then at least let the others go first,” she said, watching his hand tighten around the reins. “A king shouldn’t be the first into battle.”

Theron smiled faintly. “You think I’m afraid?”

“I think you are just trying to prove yourself to me. And your clothes… not ideal for war,” she whispered the last part to him. She could talk to him however she wanted, but not in front of people beneath him. “You need more armor.”

He ignored her and signaled to the men. They rode out through the field, while some of them ran in the wolf forms.

Maera kept close to him, feeling anxious about how disorganized Theron was. The only reason why they hadn’t fully invaded the capital city was because of the good work the old supreme alpha and his generals had put into place before he died.

As they got closer to the battlefield, several arrows flew. Some were targeted towards the legs of wolves others at their horses eyes.

“Down!” Maera shouted. “They’re shooting from the mountains.”

She leaned forward, pulling her horse hard to the side as arrows rained from above the ridge. Men fell from their horses, their screams swallowed by the sound of hooves and panic.

Theron drew his sword and turned his horse sharply, eyes searching the direction of the attack.

“They know you weren’t prepared to know they had archers,” Maera said, pulling up beside him. “I told you! We needed someone to inform us of the situation first!”

He didn’t answer, just lifted his hand to signal the others to fall back, but another arrow went into his shoulder. He flinched, gritting his teeth, and Maera’s heart sank as he ripped it out.

“Theron!”

“I’m fine,” he said, but his voice came out strained.

Maera jumped down from her horse before he could stop her. She caught the reins of his horse and pulled him down roughly. “You’re not fine,” she muttered.

“I said I’m fine,” he repeated, “and we are in the middle of a fight Cael. I do not need a baybsistter.”

“Of course not, but you need a bodyguard,” she said, pulling him to an area that was relatively hidden while ensuring they dodged any arrows raining. “Alpha we just find a way out of here. You look weak and like you’ve no idea what you’re doing. You are embarrassing your father’s legacy and destroying the good work of other commanders because you refuse to listen to anything I say. More men are dying and…” she trailed off and scanned the area quickly — the soldiers were pushing the enemy back now because of the commands of another general. It wasn’t wise to change strategy midfight, but what choice did they have?

“You should go back ,” she said. “I’ll escort you. I shall have to try to retrieve your horse first.”

“I’m not hiding,” he said.

“Yes, you are,” she replied, pressing him down as another arrow flew past them. Nowhere was safe but where they were was a but safer. “You’ll only get yourself killed if you go back out there bleeding like that.”

She ran forward, cutting through the chaos with her sword . The enemies were scattered across the ridge, not many as like the other side where arrows rained. Luckily there was a group there to combat them. Another general has sent wolves there to tear at them.

When she returned to where he sat, he was holding his arm tightly, blood seeping through the fabric of his sleeve.

“You should have listened,” she said, kneeling beside him. “I told you to wait and I definitely spoke about the armor.”

Theron looked at her, sweat trickling down his temple. “Are you done scolding me Commander?”

“I haven’t even started,” she said.

She tore the sleeve open and frowned at the wound. It wasn’t deep, but it was bleeding quite a lot. He hissed when she touched it.

“You’ll need a healer,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter now.

Maera gave him a look. “It’s your first day in battle and you’re already wounded. What do you think it says about you? That you ran into the field and got hit before anyone else?”

He blinked at her. “That I’m a normal person ?”

“It says you’re careless,” she said, pressing a cloth against his arm. “It’s better you keep this to yourself. The men will start to talk.”

“Talk about what?” he asked.

“That their king isn’t ready to be king.”

He stared at her for a long moment,“You really don’t like me, do you?” Theron wasn’t sure why he was bothered about this man not liking him. He just wanted to do everything to Cael from hating him and acting like he was a weakling.

Goddess, why?

Because he’s hot, Riel whispered.

Theron’s cheeks flamed.

“I don’t have to,” Maera said after a bit of silence . “I just have to make sure you live long enough to become what they need.”

She stood and started to walk away, but his voice stopped her. “You’re bleeding too.”

She looked down and noticed a faint cut on her arm, probably from a stray blade. “It’s nothing.”

“Sit,” he said.

“Don’t order me around.”

“I’m not ordering,” he said. “Just sit.”

She hesitated, then sighed and sat down beside him.

Theron watched her as she opened her small leather pouch and took out a strip of cloth and tended to herself.

He watched the way strands of her hair was loose from the tight bun she always kept, though in his mind she was still Commander Cael — the quiet, sharp mouthed, proud and infuriating man he couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Why are you staring your majesty?”

“Cael?” He said. He couldn’t stop his hands from removing the strand of her that was sticking to her forehead with sweat.

Maera swallowed hard, her breath catching in her throat by the gesture.

It doesn’t mean anything, Naya whispered. It can’t mean anything because he thinks you’re a man.

“Yes your majesty?” Maera asked, although she doubted Naya was right.

“Thank you… for…”

Maera rolled her eyes and then walked to where she had led the horses. He mounted and then led the way through the safer side of the woods towards the camp.

It was relatively quiet with only a few injured men being tended to. Theron mad ski comment as he jumped down his horse and walked towards the tent, not waiting for Maera.

“Wait!” She called out to him, grabbing his arm.

“What is that?” He questioned, lifting his brows at her.

“Someone has been—“

“Oh dearest!” A high pitched feminine voice called out, rushing out of the tent and pulling Theron into a tight hug.

Maera felt her chest ache.