Chapter 14

Elena’s POV

The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the trees, casting through the light across the training grounds. I stood in line with the other trainees, my mind still replaying the scene from yesterday. Oliver’s persistence lingered like an unhealed wound, and now Chloe’s sudden appearance left me on edge. The pack members’ stares didn’t help—most of them still saw me as an outsider.

“Focus, Elena,” I whispered to myself, gripping the handle of the wooden sword as our instructor barked orders.

“Push harder, Elena!” his voice cut through my thoughts. I swung with more force, feeling the strain in my muscles. Each strike was a release, a reminder that I could still fight, that I still had control over some part of my life.

As I went through the drills, I caught sight of a figure watching from the edge of the training ground—Oliver. His gaze was unyielding, intense, and unsettling. Every time he watched, it was as if he were silently pleading with me, urging me to let him back in. But after everything he’d done, I couldn’t just forgive him. My resolve hardened, and I focused on the swing of my weapon, blocking him out.

Oliver’s POV

Watching Elena from the sidelines brought a pang of guilt that I couldn’t shake. She looked fierce, her eyes steely with determination as she trained. Yet beneath her defiance, I could see her hurt, the wariness she carried, and it was all because of me. Bringing her back had been my way of keeping her safe, but instead, I’d only made things worse.

Chloe’s return wasn’t helping either. She was already suspicious, asking questions that were difficult to dodge. I knew that her curiosity wouldn’t wane; she would dig until she found out the truth about Elena’s presence here. And with Elena refusing my protection, I couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt because of me—again.

“Oliver!” Chloe’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She approached, her face adorned with her usual mischievous grin.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, following my line of sight and spotting Elena. Her brow arched. “Oh, still watching over the rogue wolf?”

My jaw clenched. “Chloe, I told you to let it go. She’s here under my protection.”

Chloe’s laughter was cold. “Under your protection? That’s unusual, Olly. You’ve never taken interest in a rogue before. She must be… special.”

“Enough,” I said, keeping my voice steady, though my patience was thinning. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, I think I would. Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked, her eyes narrowing in challenge.

I held her gaze, the silence stretching between us until she finally relented with a sigh. “Fine, keep your secrets. But I’m watching Oliver. And I’ll find out what you’re hiding.”

As Chloe stalked off, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Chloe’s persistence was a problem, one that could risk everything. I glanced back at Elena, who was now sparring with a pack member, her movements sharp and precise. But her eyes carried a glimmer of sorrow—a sorrow I knew I had put there.

“Don’t worry, Elena,” I murmured. “I’ll find a way to make this right.”

Elena’s POV

By the time training ended, I was drenched in sweat, but at least my mind felt clear. That is, until I spotted Chloe near the entrance, waiting with her arms crossed. She watched me with an expression that made my skin prickle—a mix of curiosity and contempt.

“Well, rogue, done playing soldier?” she sneered, her voice echoing in the training ground.

I ignored her, attempting to slip past, but she blocked my path, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Didn’t Oliver tell you to keep to your place? Rogues like you don’t belong here.”

I swallowed my retort, trying to push past her, but Chloe was relentless, stepping into my path. Her voice lowered to a whisper, “I don’t know why my brother’s keeping you here, but trust me, you won’t be here much longer.”

Before I could respond, a figure approached from behind—Lucas. “Is there a problem here?” His voice was even, but the warning in his tone was clear.

Chloe straightened, plastering a fake smile onto her face. “Not at all, Lucas. Just getting to know our new ‘guest.’”

With a final sneer in my direction, Chloe walked away, leaving me and Lucas alone.

“You alright?” Lucas asked, his gaze softening.

I nodded, feeling the tension slowly drain from my shoulders. “Thank you.”

He gave me a small smile. “Don’t let her get to you. Chloe can be… intense.”

“I noticed,” I muttered, and he chuckled.

Lucas fell into step beside me as we walked back toward the pack house. I’d always felt a sense of ease around him, a quiet strength that didn’t demand or suffocate. “Oliver’s intentions are complicated,” he said, his tone cautious. “But I know he’s trying to protect you.”

I stopped, looking at Lucas. “Then why doesn’t he just let me go? All this… it’s suffocating. I don’t want his protection.”

Lucas hesitated, glancing at the pack house in the distance. “Sometimes protection comes at a cost. He doesn’t want you to get hurt, Elena. I think he’s trying to find a way to earn your trust again.”

The sincerity in his words made something in me soften. But memories of the past reminded me of the pain Oliver had caused, and my resolve hardened once more. “If he wanted to earn my trust, he’d have respected my choice to leave.”

Lucas nodded, understanding. “I’ll speak with him. Maybe he needs a reminder that trust is earned, not taken.”

As Lucas left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were shifting. The pack was watching me, Chloe was a threat, and Oliver’s actions were becoming harder to ignore. Every day here was like standing on the edge of a precipice, waiting for the ground to give way.

Oliver’s POV

Night fell swiftly, casting a stillness over the pack house. I sat in my study, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of the desk lamp. I hadn’t seen Elena since training, and her absence was like a shadow in the corner of my mind.

A knock sounded on the door, breaking my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, expecting Lucas or one of the other pack members. But when the door opened, Chloe stepped inside, her face unreadable.

“What’s wrong, Chloe?” I asked, keeping my tone measured.

She shut the door behind her, crossing her arms. “I know you, Oliver. And I know that girl isn’t just some rogue you decided to protect out of the goodness of your heart.”

I didn’t reply, waiting for her to continue.

She took a step closer, her eyes sharp. “Does she mean something to you? More than the pack?”

My silence seemed to give her the answer she needed. Chloe’s face twisted with disappointment. “You’re risking everything—for a rogue?”

“Elena is more than that, Chloe. She’s…” I hesitated, the truth catching in my throat. “She’s my mate.”

Chloe’s eyes widened, shock and disbelief mingling on her face. For a moment, she was silent, but when she finally spoke, her voice was low, almost a hiss. “You’re throwing away your loyalty, your duty, for someone who doesn’t even belong here?”

“I don’t expect you to understand, Chloe. But this is my decision. And it’s final.”

Chloe’s expression hardened, her mouth a thin line. “I’ll be watching, Oliver. One wrong step, and you might just lose more than you realize.”

As she turned to leave, a heaviness settled in my chest. Chloe’s words hung in the air, a foreboding promise that the days ahead would only bring more turmoil. And as I sat alone in the darkened study, I couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out—time to make things right with Elena before I lost her for good.