Chapter 25: Preparation

SERA

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Vivian's face twisted with hatred, heard her words, he's going to burn this compound to the ground because of me.

I stood at my window watching the compound transform. Even in the dark, I could see rogues working, building fortifications, reinforcing walls, organizing weapons. They'd been at it since Vivian left, working through the night, getting ready to fight a war I'd brought to their doorstep. The guilt was crushing.

A knock at my door made me turn. "Come in."

Elena entered carrying a tray with tea, "thought you might need this."

"I can't sleep."

"No one can," She set the tray down and poured two cups. "The whole compound is on edge."

I took the tea but didn't drink. "They're going to die because of me, because Clearwater wants me dead."

"They're going to fight because they choose to," Elena corrected. "Because they believe in what Kade is building here, a place free from the Council's corruption."

"But if I wasn't here.."

"The Council would still be their enemy, Clearwater would still want this compound destroyed. You didn't create this war, child, you just gave them something worth fighting for."

I didn't believe her, but I nodded anyway.

Elena left and I finally fell into restless sleep as dawn broke.

Training started early, Kade pushed me harder than he ever had. We ran through combat scenarios, multiple attackers, surprise assaults, fighting while injured. He was relentless, demanding perfection.

"Again," he barked as I failed to block his strike for the third time.

I was exhausted, my muscles screaming, but I got up and took my stance.

"You're hesitating," Kade said, circling me. "In a real battle, hesitation means weakness."

"I'm trying.."

"Try harder." He attacked and this time I was ready. I blocked, countered, used his momentum against him.

"Better," He stepped back, "But not good enough. They'll come at you with everything they have."

"I know."

"Do you?" His eyes flashed gold. "Because if you die Sera, everything we've done means nothing. You're not just fighting for yourself, you're fighting for every wolf here who's putting their life on the line for you."

The words hit like a physical blow, "that's not fair."

“Fights aren't fair." He moved closer, his voice dropping. "I need you ready, not just powerful, can you do that?"

I met his eyes, "Yes."

"Prove it."

We trained for hours. By the time he called for a break, I could barely stand but I'd landed more hits than I'd missed, controlled my power through every scenario, stayed focused even when exhausted.

"You're getting better," Kade said, handing me water.

"Not good enough yet."

"No," he agreed. "But you will be."

Around us, the compound buzzed with activities. Warriors sparred in groups, scouts returned with reports, Marcus barked orders about patrol rotations and defense positions.

Everyone was preparing.

"How many?" I asked. "How many wolves does Clearwater have?"

"Our scouts estimates three to four hundred, maybe more." Kade's jaw tightened. "We have a hundred and fifty."

The numbers made my stomach drop. "We're outnumbered."

"Yes but we have advantages, we know this territory, we have fortifications and we have you."

"Me?"

"A Silver Blood who can make an entire army kneel." He looked at me seriously, "You're our advantage Sera, your power could turn the tide of this battle."

The weight of that responsibility pressed down on me. "What if I lose control? What if I hurt our own people?"

"You won't."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do." His hand found my shoulder, "because you're not the same woman who accidentally destroyed a tree. You've trained, grown and you're ready."

I wanted to believe him.

"Get some rest," Kade said. "We'll continue tomorrow."

But rest felt so impossible. I wandered the compound instead, watching preparations continue.

Rogues nodded to me as I passed, some even smiled. Few weeks ago, they'd looked at me with suspicion or fear, now there was respect in their eyes.

I found Marcus overseeing wall reinforcements, he saw me and waved me over.

"How's training?" he asked.

"Brutal."

"Good, Kade doesn't go easy on people he cares about." Marcus caught my expression and grinned. "What? You think he trains everyone this hard? He's pushing you because he knows what you're capable of."

"Or because he needs me to be a weapon."

"Maybe both." Marcus's expression turned serious. "But I've known Kade for seven years, I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you, not even.." He stopped himself.

"Not even his mate," I finished quietly.

"That's not what I meant."

"It's okay, I know about Lydia." I looked at the rogues working around us. "Do you think we can win? Against Clearwater?"

"Honestly? I don't know." Marcus crossed his arms but I know we'll fight like hell and with you on our side, we've got a shot."

That night, I couldn't stay in my room. I went to the training ground and practiced alone, silver light blazing around me in the darkness.

I worked through every combat form Kade had taught me, practiced controlling my power, summoning it, directing it, pulling it back over and over until my body ached and my power pulsed steadily beneath my skin.

"You should be resting."

I spun to find Kade watching from the shadows.

"Couldn't sleep," I said.

He stepped into the moonlight, "me neither."

We stood there in the quiet, the only sound was my heavy breathing and the distant noise of night patrols.

"I'm scared," I admitted. "Not for me, for everyone here, they're risking everything because of me."

"They're risking everything for what's right," Kade corrected. "The Council has ruled through fear and corruption for too long, you're just the catalyst. The thing that finally gives us a chance to fight back."

"What if we lose?"

"Then we lose fighting for something that matters." He moved closer, "but we're not going to lose Sera because you're stronger than Clearwater realizes, stronger than you realize."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I've watched you transform from someone who was afraid of her own power into someone who can face down a Council Elder's daughter and make her kneel." His eyes met mine, "that woman can win this war."

The belief in his voice steadied something inside me.

"I won't run," I said. "I won't hide, when they come, I'll fight."

"I know."

"And if I die…"

"You won't." His voice went hard, "I won't let that happen."

"Kade.."

"Get some rest Sera, real rest. We have a few days before Clearwater makes his move, use them."

He left and I was alone again under the stars but I felt different, lighter somehow.

The guilt was still there, the fear but underneath it was something new.

Determination.

Let Clearwater come with his army, let him try to kill me like he killed my grandmother.

I wasn't Elara, I wasn't alone and defenseless.

I am a Silver Blood who'd survived rejection, awakening and everything else that had been thrown at me and I was done being afraid.