Chapter 2 Who is She?

Chapter 2

Cael’s POV

Who is She?

“Shift your stance this minute,” I snapped, my voice vibrating like thunder, and overwhelming the murmurs in the training yard.

The recruits froze the moment I shouted, straightening under my gaze. I could smell how weak they were, how terrified their guts were. Everything about them was predictable.

Then I turned, only to see her.

The new girl called “Lira,” just like the papers she presented said. I saw her standing at the back of the line. Just a glance at her, she appeared be another Omega, the kind who might break when under too much pressure, and who can't endure, and prefer running back to her pack in tears. But the moment my eyes landed on her, my wolf stirred within me. My instincts didn't agree with the descriptions she gave of herself.

“You.” I said the moment I lifted my chin to her direction. “Step forward.”

I watched her keenly, the way her head jerked up, the way her eyes locked on mine. I noticed it was wide, too wide for an omega. For a second, I seemed to sense something different from what we all thought she was. It was more like recognition, but before I could figure out what it was, she masked it carefully, and remained expressionless.

“Yes, Instructor,” she replied. I noticed her voice was very steady, though I wasn't careless to miss the manner she tightened her hands into fists.

I circled her like she was my prey. “You said your name is Lira, didn’t you?”

She just nodded once. “Yes.”

“That sounded more like you are uncertain.” My lips curved into a fulfilled cold smile. “Do you even have an idea what your own name is?”

I was so engrossed that I didn't know when the recruits roared into laugher. I watched her closely, to know if she would flinch, but she didn't.

“Yes, Lira is my name,” she repeated firmly, showing no sign of fear.

That was interesting to watch. Unlike what others would have done, she didn't break under mockery. Most omegas would have stammered under such intense stare and pressure from me. Some would have begged me to stop, but she did none of that. I noticed she was wearing false confidence, and for some reason, it was like an armor all over her, making me to almost believe it was true.

I leaned in closer to her, doing my best to catch her scent, but something was off. Even with the heavy perfume, there seemed to be a trace of something richer, wilder for her kind. My wolf was left confused on her identity.

And at that moment, it came to my mind like a flash what I had seen earlier. The strange symbols on the gate of the Academy, the way it glowed faintly the exact time she walked passed, as if reacting to her presence. And surprisingly, none of the guards saw that, but I did. Why did the symbol glow at her presence, and why did my wolf also snarled?

I straightened up, and took few steps backwards. "Pairing is going to change from now onwards. Lira..." I let her name roll freely off my tongue, and for some reason, it felt warm. "...will be paired with me."

The crowd of recruits were left in gasps, some furious. "He had never paired with an omega before." One of them muttered.

She froze at first, but strengthened up with a polite smile. "As you so wished, Instructor."

Her calm response only added fire, making my wolf snarl louder. Omegas didn’t look me directly in the eye like she did, let alone accept the challenge with a smile, and not flinching.

It wasn't long, and we were facing each other in the sparring ring. Just a glance at the faces of the recruits, one could spell curiosity.

“Show me what you’ve got, little omega,” I said.

She hesitated calculatively. Then moved, very swiftly, and sharper than I expected. Our fists collided, but the shock from it traveled up to my arms. In amazement, I arched a brow.

“You seem to have trained before,” I drawled, making sure to block her next strike.

“Every recruit trains at their convenient,” she replied, her breath under control.

“Not in this way.” I said, forcing her to stumble, but I was shocked at how fast she recovered. “Who taught you this moves?”

“No one important,” she answered, and sent heavy kicks at my ribs.

It connected, very precise and heavy. The recruit kept gasping each time she sent blows, her eyes burning brightly like fire, too much for an ordinary Omega.

I crouched low, trying to grab her from below. “You’re lying through your teeth.”

Her lips curled as she released a smirk, and still defiant. "Or maybe, you are the one that's not as good as you've seen yourself to be."

The whole yard became silent as a graveyard. No one moved, no one said anything. Even to the point my wolf was amazed. Instead of snapping, as I would have done, I let out a dangerous chuckle.

“You’ve got real fire,” I murmured. “But you are forgetting that fire burns out too fast when starved of air.”

She scrambled up, but she lunged again, her strike almost got me rolling on the ground. I caught her wrist, pinning her to a wooden post, before whispering into her ear.

“Who are you exactly?” I whispered calmly.

“Lira,” she answered sweetly, locking eye contact with me. "Or do you intend sucking my blood too, Instructor?"

Her words cane out strange, like she carried a lot of secrets. My mind drifted back once more to the strange symbols on the gate. What if she's not only lying about her rank, but also her bloodline?

I released her too quickly that she almost landed on the ground. She was definitely hiding something very deep, because, no omega could move at her speed, or had such scent.

The session ended, and as expected, recruits dismissed. My head should be clear by now, and focused, but no, it was crowded with images of her.

Not long when I got back to my quarters, I stared through the window, observing my surroundings. But my wolf was restless.

“She’s definitely lying, and hiding something,” I muttered aloud.

“You’re probably obsessed,” my second in command, Joren, said the moment he stormed inside. He dropped lazily on the chair nearby, like he owned the room. He had entered without knocking, typical of him.

“Shut up.”

He chuckled as though he knew he was saying the truth. “Pretty omega shows up, only to get under your skin, and the next minute, all you do was sniff after her like a desperate pup. It would be better if you admit that you are curious."

Well, curiosity wasn't the word alone. I was intrigued, challenged, and for no reason, threatened.

“She’s definitely hiding something dark from everyone,” I said again.

Joren shrugged like he doesn't care. “Then, Keep her close and peel off her mask. You’re good at doing that.”

His words stayed with me, but surprisingly, onger than I wanted to admit. Keep her very close. Yes...that's what I'm going to do, but what if keeping her close as he suggested would be the very thing that would destroye me?

That same night, I had a dream.

This wasn't anything close to the usual nightmares. It was completely strange and different. I was standing in a forest, and the next thing, there were silver fog curling at my feet. Then I heard a howl, a mournful, unfamiliar one. Then a strange wolf emerged forward, nothing like what I have seen before. It has dark fur, and a streak of silver, eyes glowing like coal, burning like wild fire. When the head turned to my direction, I was shocked at what I saw.

It was her.

Lira.

I woke up gasping for air, sweat all over my body. My wolf growled restlessly inside me.

Who is she

exactly?

And why on earth did my wolf sound dangerously close to calling her one special name? Mate!