Chapter 11: Breaking through

SERA

I spent the next two days avoiding Kade as much as possible.

It wasn't hard. He was busy with border patrols, watching for Aldric, managing the compound. I made sure to eat my meals early or late, never when he'd be in the dining hall. I trained alone in the early mornings before he woke up, practicing the forms he'd taught me.

The distance should have made things easier. Instead, it made everything hurt worse.

I missed him. I hated that I missed him, but I did. I missed his rough voice giving corrections during training, the way his eyes would light up when I got something right. Missed those moments when he'd almost smile, like he was surprised by his own reaction.

But Cassandra's words repeated in my head. Better to protect myself now than be destroyed later.

"You look terrible," Elena said during one of my attempts to sneak food from the kitchen.

"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing an apple.

"I mean it, child. You're not sleeping, barely eating, this isn't healthy."

"I'm fine."

"You're miserable," she corrected. "And before you deny it, I've known miserable wolves for sixty years. I recognize the signs."

I bit into the apple instead of answering.

Elena sighed. "Whatever happened between you and Kade…."

"Nothing happened," I interrupted. "That's the point. Nothing was real, i was just confused."

"Is that what you think? Or what someone told you to think?"

I looked at her, but her expression was gentle and knowing.

"It doesn't matter," I said finally. "I need to focus on training, controlling my power, everything else is a distraction."

I left before she could argue.

The morning of the third day, I was in the training grounds working when Cassandra appeared.

"You're doing that wrong," she called out.

I stopped, breathing hard. "I'm following Kade's instructions."

"Kade's not here." She walked closer, circling me the way a predator circles a prey. "He's out on patrol, asked me to help with your training today."

My heart skipped. "That's not necessary, I can train alone."

"Don't be ridiculous, you need a sparring partner." She moved into a fighting stance. "Come on, little Omega, show me what you've learned."

I didn't want to do this, every instinct screamed that this was a bad idea but refusing would make me look weak, scared and I was done being weak.

I took my stance.

We started slow, trading basic strikes and blocks. Cassandra was good, better than good. She moved with a precision that came from years of experience, every movement was deadly.

"You're hesitating," she said, blocking my punch easily. "In a real fight, that'll get you killed."

She struck fast, her fist connecting with my ribs. Pain exploded through my side, I stumbled back, gasping.

"Too slow," Cassandra said. "Again."

I attacked, but she was ready. She caught my arm, twisted it, and sent me crashing to the ground. My shoulder screamed in protest.

"Pathetic." She stood over me. "Is this really the great Silver Blood everyone's so worried about? You fight like a child."

I forced myself up, anger starting to burn through the pain. "I'm still learning."

"You're still weak," she corrected. "Power means nothing if you can't use it and right now, you're useless."

She came at me again, harder this time. I tried to defend myself, but she was faster, stronger, more experienced. Every hit landed with bruising force. My lip broke, ribs ached, my arms were covered in forming bruises.

"Stop," I finally gasped, tasting blood. "I need a break."

"The Council won't give you a break." Cassandra grabbed my arm and yanked me forward, twisting it behind my back. The same hold Kade had taught me to escape, but her grip was iron. "Aldric won't give you a break, when they come for you, they won't stop because you're tired or hurt or scared."

She pushed harder, and something in my shoulder popped. I screamed.

Cassandra released me immediately, and I collapsed to the ground, cradling my arm. The pain was blinding, radiating from my shoulder down through my entire arm.

"Oh no," Cassandra said, her voice was perfectly concerned. "I'm so sorry, Sera. I didn't mean to push that hard, you should have tapped out."

I couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe through the pain.

"Let me help you to the clinic," she said, reaching for me.

"Don't touch me," I snapped, jerking away. The movement sent fresh agony through my shoulder.

"It was an accident," Cassandra insisted, her voice echoed clearly across the training ground, loud enough for the rogues who were starting to gather. "I was just trying to help her train, she lost her balance."

Lost my balance? Like I was clumsy, incompetent.

Elena appeared, pushing through the gathering crowd. "What happened?"

"Training accident," Cassandra said smoothly. "She's hurt, I think her shoulder might be dislocated."

Elena's eyes narrowed, but she focused on me. "Can you walk?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice, with Elena's help, I stood. Every movement was agony.

"I'll take her to the clinic," Elena said firmly.

As we walked away, I heard Cassandra talking to the other rogues. "Poor thing, she's just not ready for real combat training yet, maybe Kade is pushing her too hard, too fast."

Each word was a knife, making me look weak, Incompetent like I was the problem.

In the clinic, Elena examined my shoulder with gentle but firm hands. I bit back screams.

"Dislocated," she confirmed. "I need to pop it back in, it's going to hurt."

"Just do it," I said through gritted teeth.

The pain of her resetting my shoulder was hot and absolute. I screamed then, couldn't help it.

When it was over, I sat shaking, my arm in a sling, tears streaming down my face.

"That was no accident," Elena said quietly.

I didn't answer.

"Sera, you need to tell Kade."

"No." I looked at her. "I'm not running to him every time something goes wrong, I'm not... I don't need him to fight my battles."

"This isn't about fighting battles," Elena said, frustrated. "This is about someone deliberately hurting you. Cassandra is dangerous."

"I know," I whispered. "But telling Kade won't help, It'll just prove I'm weak, that I need constant protection, that I'm..." I swallowed hard. "That I'm useless without him."

Elena looked like she wanted to argue more but finally sighed. "At least rest, your shoulder needs time to heal."

I nodded and let her settle me on one of the clinic beds. She gave me something for the pain, and exhaustion pulled me to sleep.

I woke to voices. Low, angry voices just outside the clinic door.

"I saw the whole thing." That was Marcus. "Cassandra wasn't training her, she was punishing her."

"Why the hell didn't anyone stop it?" Kade's voice was deadly quiet, which somehow made it more terrifying.

"It happened fast, by the time I got there, the damage was done."

"Where is Cassandra now?"

"In the barracks. She's telling everyone it was an accident, that Sera lost her balance."

"Is Sera awake?"

"Elena gave her something for the pain. She's sleeping."

More silence. I kept my eyes closed, my breathing steady, pretending to be unconscious.

"I'm going to kill her," Kade said, and his voice was absolutely certain. "I'm going to tear Cassandra apart for this."

"Kade.."

"She deliberately hurt Sera, she could have done permanent damage."

"I know. But you need to think about this carefully. Cassandra still has allies here. Wolves who remember when she helped build this place. If you execute her without proof…"

"I don't need proof, I saw Sera's injuries. That's enough."

The clinic door opened.

I kept my eyes shut, kept breathing slowly. Through my lashes, I saw Kade's silhouette approach my bed.

He stood there for a long moment, then I felt his hand, gentle on my uninjured shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I should have been here, I should have protected you."

His hand moved to my hair, brushing it back from my face. The gesture was so tender it made my chest ache.

"You're not a weapon, Sera," he continued, his voice rough. "You're not useless and whoever made you believe that is going to regret it."

He left, his footsteps heavy.

I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling, my heart pounding.

Kade was going to confront Cassandra.

And I had no idea what would happen next.