SHADOWS AND WHISPERS

The evening air was thick with anticipation as I stepped into the dimly lit training hall. The scent of aged wood and faint traces of sweat lingered, grounding me in the reality of the pack's world. Derrick stood at the center, his posture relaxed but eyes sharp.

"Ready for your lesson?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

I nodded, masking my unease. "As ready as I'll ever be."

We began with basic stances, his instructions precise. But as the session progressed, his proximity grew closer, movements more invasive.

"You're tense," he murmured, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I stepped back, creating distance. "I'm fine."

He chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Just trying to help."

I grabbed a towel and walk to the doorways

"Leaving so soon?" Derrick teased, his voice low and edged with something unreadable.

I wiped sweat from my brow, meeting his gaze. "I've had enough for today. Besides, I need time to process."

He stepped closer, his presence pressing. "You don't have to do this alone, you know. Let me help."

I swallowed hard, heart racing. "Help or control?"

Derrick's smirk softened just a fraction. "Sometimes, the line's thin. But trust me—I'm on your side."

I didn't know what to say, only that the tension between us had shifted—uneasy, but something more.

As I turned to leave, his voice dropped to a whisper. "Don't walk away from what you don't understand."

"I'm fine," I lied, rubbing the spot where the pain lingered.

Derrick's gaze darkened. "Don't lie to me, Lina. I can see through it."

I met his eyes, biting back the urge to snap. Instead, I swallowed hard. "It's nothing."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "This isn't just about training. Something's bothering you."

I hesitated, heart pounding. The weight of his stare felt like it was peeling me open. Finally, I admitted, "I don't know what Luca's planning. The pairing, the mission… it feels like I'm walking into a trap."

Derrick's smirk faded into something softer. "You're not alone in that. None of us fully trust Luca right now."

My breath caught. "Then why follow him?"

"Because," Derrick said, voice low, "sometimes survival means making hard choices—even trusting the untrustworthy."

The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken questions.

Then Derrick's lips curved into a sly grin. "But don't worry—I'll be watching your back."

I froze, my breath caught in my throat as Derrick's voice sliced through the silence.

"Lina…?" he said, softer now, almost hesitant.

I looked up, meeting his eyes—intense, expectant.

"Why do you hold back?" Derrick asked, stepping closer. "What are you afraid of?"

"I don't know," I admitted, voice trembling. "I want to, but it feels like something's stopping me. Like I'm chained inside myself."

Derrick's gaze softened for a moment. "You're not alone. We all struggle at first."

He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. The touch was electric—warm but strange, confusing.

"You don't have to be perfect," Derrick said quietly. "You just have to believe."

My heart hammered, a mix of fear and something else stirring deep inside. I swallowed hard, searching his face for answers.

"Can you teach me?" I whispered.

Derrick's smirk returned, but gentler this time. "I thought you'd never ask."

He stepped back, giving me space but his eyes never leaving mine.

"Ready when you are."

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Let's take a walk."

The forest air was thick with pine and damp earth as Derrick led me deeper into the woods. His steps were purposeful—almost like he knew this terrain better than anyone. But I couldn't shake the tension swirling around us. Every step seemed to echo louder than the last, his presence a reminder of my own uncertainty.

We walked in silence, the crunch of leaves underfoot and distant bird calls the only sounds. My heart raced—not from fear, but something else. Derrick was watching me in a way that made my skin crawl.

Finally, he stopped.

"Alright, Lina," Derrick's voice broke the silence, low and steady. "Let's see what you've got. Shift."

His words hit me like a punch. A part of me wanted to refuse, but the desperate need to prove myself won out. I closed my eyes, focusing on the shift. But like before, nothing happened. The air felt heavy with failure.

Derrick's gaze never wavered. "I know you can do this, Lina," he said softly, coaxing something from me I couldn't reach.

I felt trapped—my wolf trapped inside, unable to break free.

Just then, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Lina…?"

I turned quickly. Standing at the clearing's edge was Alina, concern and confusion in her eyes. But it wasn't just her presence that caught me off guard—it was the tension in the air.

She looked at Derrick, then back at me, eyes narrowing.

"Luca sent me to find you. He's worried."

Derrick's expression darkened; his jaw tightened as he glanced at Alina.

"Why is Luca worried? I'm helping Lina with her shift," Derrick snapped.

Alina's gaze flickered to me. "Lina doesn't need to be involved. She needs to do this on her own."

Derrick's voice sharpened. "Lina isn't ready. Luca's worry is misplaced."

Alina stepped closer, eyes fierce. "You don't get to decide that."

I felt the tension crackling between them, caught in the middle, unsure whom to trust.

Derrick smirked. "She's your problem, not mine."

Alina's gaze hardened. "If you hurt her, I won't forgive you."

The forest held its breath as their words hung heavy.

Derrick's smirk twisted into something colder. "Hurt her? Please. I'm the only one keeping her alive."

Alina's eyes flashed fire. "By controlling her? By standing in her way?"

I stepped forward, voice shaking. "Stop. Both of you."

They turned to me, surprise flickering in their eyes.

"I need to decide how this goes," I said, heart pounding. "Not Luca, not Derrick, not Alina."

Derrick laughed darkly. "You think you have a choice?"

Alina's jaw clenched. "You're stronger than you know, Lina. Don't let him break you."

I swallowed, caught between two storms. The forest seemed to close in, the night pressing down with unspoken threats.

"Fine," I whispered. "I'll try on my own."

Derrick's eyes narrowed. "Good luck with that."

Alina reached out, her hand briefly brushing mine. "I'm here."

The tension didn't fade, but for the first time, I felt a spark of hope flicker in the darkness.

My heart pounded—this wasn't just about training anymore. Something much bigger was at play.

And just then, a sudden rustling from the trees made us all freeze.

Eyes darting to the shadows, the unknown waited