Clash with Meliana

Acantha sat alone at the common room dining table, staring at the uneaten food on her plate. She had come out for the usual breakfast she always had with Ghod.

The past four weeks had been full of joy between her and Ghod; she had cherished every moment. But he had been absent for two weeks, and she wasn't happy. His absence weighed heavily on her. He didn't even give her any explanation.

She had hoped for more time with him to build their relationship. The sound of footsteps in the hallway drew her attention.

As she glanced up, her heart skipped a beat. She thought it was Ghod coming for breakfast and looked up, smiling.

Meliana, Ghod's ex, strolled through the hallway, her presence a reminder of the past troubles she had faced. Acantha's mouth opened in shock, quickly becoming sad as she watched Meliana 's confident stride.

She was wearing a Loud makeup, with her lips covered in bright red lipstick, and she wore a short skirt that left nothing to the imagination.

"What is she doing here? Is this why Ghod has been avoiding me?" Acantha asked herself as memories of their previous encounter resurfaced, and she felt insecure. Meliana, with her striking features and commanding presence.

Meliana noticed Acantha's dismay and seized the opportunity. A cruel smile played on her lips as she approached. "Well, look who we have here,"Meliana sneered. "Still playing the dutiful Luna, I see. It's a shame Ghod is too busy to notice you. Has he been around your wing in the past week?"

"How did she know that he hasn't been in my wing? Does it mean she has been around for the past week?" Acantha thought to herself.

Acantha straightened her back, her sadness turning into defiance. "This is my home, Meliana. You may try to undermine me, but I won't allow it."

Meliana's eyes narrowed, and their tension crackled like a live wire. "We'll see about that," she hissed, stepping closer.

The banter was inevitable. Words flew like daggers, each trying to wound the other.

"You whore, you can't stay away from a married man. He can never marry you," Acantha stated.

Meliana replied, "You stole him from me. To think you don't even have your wolf yet. What differentiates you from a mere human species?"

But Acantha stood her ground, refusing to let Meliana's insult penetrate her heart. "You better go out to find a man who can still manage you after knowing about your promiscuity."

Meliana stormed off after what felt like an eternity, leaving Acantha seething.

Acantha was so angry with Meliana, Ghod, and herself. In a bid to distract herself and release her frustration, Acantha sought out Theodorus. She walked to the training ground, where she saw him. Even while training, he had on tight pants that hugged his butt and a shirt that wasn't buttoned, revealing his chest with a gold chain hanging around his neck.

She smiled as she saw him; he held a sword and was in a contest with another fighter. He swung the blade, knocking the other fighter's sword down.

Acantha clapped as she called to him, catching his attention. "Theo, I need your help," she said, her voice tinged with desperation.

Theo looked up from his training regimen, surprised, and smiled. "What do you need, Luna?" I'll do anything for you; if you want me to climb up the mountain to get you dew from heaven, I'll do it; say the word."

Acantha smiled, " No, none of that. I want you to teach me swordsmanship," she implored. "I need to feel capable to defend myself."

Theo hesitated, seeing the determination in her eyes. "Are you sure? That's what you want; It's not easy."

Acantha nodded, her resolve unwavering. "I need this, Theo, Please."

Theo thought about Ghod and how he would feel about it, but seeing her face. Reluctantly, Theo agreed.

Their training sessions began in the clearing behind the pack's main hall. He called one of the servants to get a shield, she was just meant to wear the top, but Theo disagreed. He brought full armor, including face helmet, boots, and trousers that weighed her down; she staggered at every step. He handed her a sword and began to teach her based on swordsmanship.

After an hour, Acantha became so tired and kicked off the pants and helmet out of exhaustion, even with Theo's disapproval.

Day by day, he taught her the basics—how to hold the sword, the proper stance, and the fundamental strikes and parries.

Acantha's progress was slow but steady, her determination driving her forward.

One afternoon, as they sparred, Acantha felt an electric charge course through her veins. She paused, startled by the sensation. "Did you feel that?" she asked Theo, lowering her sword.

"Feel what?" he replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Never mind," she muttered, dismissing it as her imagination. But the charge remained a strange energy simmering beneath her skin.

The tension with Meliana, however, reached a boiling point. One evening, during food sorting, when Acantha was giving instructions to the maid on what dish to prepare for the week, Meliana walked in, interrupting them,

"I would like to have snail pepper soup. I have been craving it," she grabbed the list the maid held up in writing the details Acantha gave to her and cancelled it, making a new list; an argument erupted between them.

Meliana's trouble became unbearable, and Acantha, fueled by frustration, lashed out.

"Enough, Meliana! You don't belong here anymore. Leave us in peace!" Acantha's voice echoed through the hall, silencing the murmurs of the gathered maids.

Meliana smirked, turning to the maid. "Are you going to let her speak to me like that?"

The maid, caught off guard, looked between the two women. Her hesitation was all Meliana needed. "Maid, you know I'm right. Acantha's out of line." she struck the maid for not saying anything.

Ghod walked in; hearing the confrontation between them, Meliana clung onto him and cried,

"Ghod, this woman doesn't want me to eat; she is so mean; please get her to share."

Ghod just stood there and said nothing. Instead of defending Acantha, Ghod 's silence spoke volumes.

His past with Meliana clouded his judgment. "Maybe you both need to calm down," he said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Acantha felt the sting of betrayal. Her mate, her Alpha, had chosen not to support her. Her cheeks flared up in Hurt and anger inside her, and she stormed out of the hall, her vision blurred by tears.

That night, unable to sleep and the thought of what transpired earlier troubled her,

Acantha made a decision. She needed to let off steam to escape the suffocating confines of the Alpha house. Quietly, she grabbed her sword and slipped into the night.

She found peace and silence in the woods close to the house, the only sounds being the wind and movement of trees. Acantha moved deeper, her mind racing.

She found a secluded spot and unsheathed her sword. The cool metal felt cold in her hand. She began to swing it, practicing the moves Theo had taught her. With each swing, she felt a charge. She ignored it and swung the sword again, but the charge grew stronger until it was impossible to ignore.

"What is happening to me?" she whispered to the night. The charge pulsed through her, looking for a release. She raised her sword high, and with a fierce cry, she brought it down.

The energy surged from her body in an instant, travelling through the blade. A thunderous crack split the night as a lightning bolt emerged from the sword, illuminating the forest. Trees splintered, and the ground cracked under the force, a path of destruction carved out by the power.

Acantha stood, panting, her heart racing. The realization of what she had done sank in, and she dropped to her knees, the sword falling from her grasp. The forest around her was silent once more,

"What am I becoming?" she asked herself, tears streaming down her face. The power within her was frightening, a force she barely understood.

The night seemed to close around her as she stood amidst the ruins. As she felt so weak and exhausted.