Iris Something was wrong.
I felt it before I even reached the training ground.
I couldn’t get a proper rest last night after leaving Cassian and the Alpha.
I couldn’t forget the look on Alpha Hades’ face last night.
I was not expecting him back and worst of all it felt like we had been caught doing something wrong.
I wondered if had a bad travel.
The tension last night was suffocating.
I was scared of Alpha Hades’ even with the pull I felt towards him.
Now, walking to the training ground, I felt unsettled.
I had come to live training especially with a teacher like Cassian.
It was hard not to fall in love with it.
I slowed down as I stepped onto the field, my eyes scanning instinctively.
The warriors were already there.
Some were training, while others were having a conversation.
Some others were watching the ones training.
My eyes searched for Cassian.
It was weird that I was here before him.
Normally, he was the one waiting for me.
My stomach tightened.
Where did he go?
His absence felt wrong.
My morale to train suddenly vanished through the air.
He had been there every day and every session.
If he didn’t come today, I didn’t know what to do.
I thought about waiting for him.
That would be best.
He might be running an errand now that the Alpha has returned.
I went to a corner and sat down on a rock.
I started playing with stones while I waited.
“You look lost” a cold voice cut through the silence I was enjoying.
I didn’t turn.
I didn’t want to either.
I thought about ignoring her but I knew she wouldn’t leave and so I turned.
Elke stood a few feet away, her expression already twisted into something amused.
“Where’s your protector?” Elke continued, her tone light but cutting.
“Did he finally get bored of babysitting you?” Her tone was condescending.
I glanced around and a few nearby warriors were looking.
I straightened.
“I don’t need anyone to train.” Elke’s brow lifted.
“No?” She stepped closer slowly.
Then stopped just in front of me.
“Then this should be entertaining.” I looked at her in confusion wondering what she meant by that.
My pulse quickened and my hands curled at my sides.
I stood up from the rock that I had been sitting.
I was going to use what I learnt from Cassian, today.
He said I should never show fear in front of anyone.
“I really don’t have time for this, Elke” Her eyes flickered with surprise.
She didn’t expect that.
“Y-you dare call me by my name?” She asked in disbelief.
“What else am I supposed to call you” she huffed.
“I get it now.
Because you have been moving with Cassian, you think you can speak as you like, right?” Elke asked.
“Whatever you say” I tried to walk past her but she dragged me back roughly, I almost stumbled but I held myself.
“What was that for?” “Don’t walk out while I’m still talking!” This was becoming too much.
I decided to ignore again and tried to leave but this time she tried to hit me and I dodged it.
I didn’t believe it myself but I had become sharper now.
Cassian’s teaching was not in vain.
I realized now what he meant by to always be on alert.
Her nose flared.
She was angry that I had dodged that hit.
I was lost in my victory that I barely saw her move.
The impact hit my shoulder, sending me stumbling back.
Pain shot through my arm and breath caught.
But I didn’t fall, not this time.
A murmur rippled and I noticed some people watching on us.
“You couldn’t dodge that one, huh?” She mocked.
My breathing was uneven and my heart pounded.
I didn’t want to disappoint Cassian.
“I’m not perfect yet.
I’m learning” Elke smiled but there was no warmth in it.
“From him?” The words were quiet but sharp.
My jaw tightened.
“Yes, from Cassian.
He’s a better teacher” Elke’s eyes darkened slightly.
“You both are now on first name basis?
Are you sleeping with him?” “That’s none of your business” I spat at her.
“None of my business” Elke repeated, almost amused.
Her gaze moved around and then back to me.
“You’ve made yourself quite comfortable here.” I remained silent.
“That is dangerous for you” her voice dropped slightly.
Was that a threat?
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Elke tilted her head.
“You think this is your place?” I thought about that.
This was not my place and would never be my place.
“I didn’t say that.” “You didn’t have to.” Elke’s voice sharpened.
“You walk around like you belong here.” “I don’t—” “You do.” The interruption was sharp.
Elke took another step, closing the distance completely.
“And the worst part?” she continued, her tone quieter now but far more dangerous.
“You don’t even understand what you’ve stepped into.” My chest tightened.
“I understand.
I was brought here by the Alpha.
I didn’t beg to be here so you have to deal with that.
If you don’t like it then take it up with the Alpha” Elke laughed.
“No.
You don’t.” Her gaze dropped briefly to my wrist and back to my face.
“You think being his mate makes you important.
He would never look at you twice” The words cut deep.
It was not meant to hurt as much as it did because I shouldn’t care “And what would you know about it?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Elke went still and the air tightened instantly.
I mentally scolded myself.
I shouldn’t have said that.
I was trying to avoid problems and now I had just fueled it.
Elke smiled.
I knew that was not a good smile.
“More than you ever will.” The words were quiet but they echoed.
Lots and clear.
Once again I was reminded that I knew nothing.
“What does that mean?” I asked “You really don’t know, do you?” Elke murmured.
I pressed my lips together because I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it.
Elke’s lips curved.
“That’s sad.” She paused.
“I have shared things with him you couldn’t even begin to understand.” The words hit like a slap.
It wasn’t just the words.
It was the way she said them with confidence.
My mind flashed, I tried to imagine Alpha Hades’ and Elke together and my throat tightened.
“You’re lying,” I said but my voice didn’t sound convincing.
Not even to myself.
Elke’s smile widened.
“Am I?” There was silence.
The kind that suffocates.
“I was there long before you,” Elke continued.
“And I’ll be here long after you’re gone.” The words sank in.
My hands trembled and body felt too tight.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I stuttered.
I didn’t have anything else to say.
Those were the only words I could come up with.
Elke’s gaze flickered, then hardened.
“You don’t get to decide that.” Something inside me snapped then as if I had been possessed.
“Neither do you” I shot back.
I heard gasps and I realized I was loud.
The tension spiked instantly.
Elke’s expression darkened further.
I watched her ball her hands into fist “You think you can speak to me like that?” she asked.
Her voice low and threatening.
I didn’t back down.
“Maybe someone should.” The words landed hard and Elke’s hand her shot forward grabbing my arm tightly.
I gasped.
Her grip was painful and I tried to pull away but she didn’t let go.
“You don’t know your place,” Elke said, her grip tightening.
“And I’m done watching you pretend.” My heart pounded and my other hand came up, trying to break free but it was useless.
Elke was stronger and faster.
Everything I wasn’t.
“You’re nothing but a placeholder” Elke continued.
She spat those words with venom.
“You’re here because fate made a mistake.
A big mistake” Pain shot through my arm as her grip tightened further, her nails digging into my skin.
“And when it corrects itself—” “That’s enough.” The voice cut through the tension.
It was sharp and commanding.
Everyone stilled and several warriors stepped forward immediately closing the distance.
Elke didn’t release me immediately.
Her gaze stayed locked on me.
A burning and promising look.
A look that could kill.
Slowly, she let me go.
I moved back.
My arm throbbed and my chest heaved.
The space between us filled quickly.
Warriors standing in between us to keep us apart.
To prevent something worse.
I was surprised at the intervention too.
Elke straightened, her mask slipping back into place.
“This isn’t over” she said quietly.
Even with the distance, she looked me dead in the eye.
Then, she turned and walked away like nothing had happened.
The crowd began to disperse slowly.
Murmurs spending and whispers growing but I stood there, unmoving.
My arm aching and my chest tight.
My thoughts were loud.
Placeholder.
The word echoed.
Over and over again.
No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake it away from my mind.