CHAPTER 1

Weakest of Them 

 Theme: Insecurity and Isolation

Aria's POV  

The fresh breeze swirls around me as I stand at the edge of the training grounds, watching the others.  They’re aggressive, fast, and full of force, everything I’m not.  The sounds of growls, grunts, and thuds fill the air as they practice their combat methods, their bodies moving with an ease I can only dream of.  My chest tightens.  I want to be strong, but deep down, I know I don’t belong here. 

“Come on, Aria, you should train with us,” Luna shouts out, her voice bursting through my thoughts.  She stands boldly in the center of the group, her golden hair shimmering under the midday sun.  She’s everything I’m not brave, skilled, and full of energy. 

I shake my head, taking a step back.  “I’m not like you, Luna,” I mutter.  “I’ll just make a fool of myself.” 

Luna’s stare softens as she walks over to me.  “You won’t get stronger if you keep hiding,” she adds, resting a hand on my shoulder.  “You’re part of this pack, Aria.  You should be out there with us, not standing on the sidelines.” 

Her comments sting, even though I know she’s only trying to help.  “I don’t belong here,” I murmur, averting her gaze.  “I’m the weakest wolf in the pack, Luna.  Everyone knows it.” 

Luna moans but doesn’t push further.  She turns and rejoins the others, leaving me alone with my doubts.  My eyes stay fixed on the ground, a heaviness sinking in my chest.  No matter how hard I try, I can never catch up to the rest of the pack.  I’m a burden, not a warrior. 

Suddenly, the air shifts.  A presence greater than any of us reaches the training grounds, making the others pause in their steps.  I look up, and my heart skips a beat. 

Damian. 

He strides in, big and imposing, his dark hair ruffled by the wind.  His bright blue eyes sweep the group, and even though I’m far from the heart of the action, I can feel the pull of his strength.  His entire presence demands attention.  Everyone straightens up, wanting to please him.  Everyone but me. 

I shrink further into the darkness, watching from a distance.  He’s the Alpha’s son—strong, confident, and destined to command the pack one day.  He’s everything I could never be.  My stomach tightens with a mixture of longing and dread.  The kinship I feel with him is clear, but I know better than to hope.  He doesn’t even know I exist.  Why would he? 

“Keep up, or you'll be left behind!”  Damian’s strong voice echoes across the training field, bringing everyone back into action.  His gaze is keen, his presence imposing.  He moves among the trainees, giving directions, and adjusting their form.  He’s a natural leader, born to lead wolves into combat. 

I watch from the sidelines, my heart thumping in my chest.  I should leave, disappear before anyone recognizes me here.  But something holds me frozen to the spot, my eyes riveted on Damian as he glides with a grace that’s almost inhuman. 

Just as I turn to go, something unexpected happens. 

Damian’s eyes lock into me. 

I freeze, my breath seizing in my throat.  For a minute, time seems to stand still as he marches toward me, his gaze hard and piercing.  My heart rushes, and every instinct in me screams to run, but I can’t move.  His presence is tremendous, and I’m powerless under his sight. 

Before I can grasp what’s happening, he’s standing in front of me.  His look is unreadable as he reaches out, gripping my arm.  The touch is electric, a spark blazing between us.  My eyes widen in disbelief.  What is this feeling?  It’s like a rush of energy pouring through my veins, and it takes all in me not to gasp. 

Damian’s hold tightens for a few seconds, his face stiffening with something I can’t quite place.  Then, just as swiftly, he lets go and steps back. 

“Pathetic,” he mutters, his voice filled with hate. 

I’m left standing there, stuck in place as he turns and goes away without another word.  The connection we experienced moments ago disappears, leaving me hollow and puzzled.  I watch at his leaving figure, my heart sinking.  What just happened?  Did I envision it?  Or was there something real between us? 

I stood there, paralyzed, Damian's harsh words repeating in my thoughts. 

"Pathetic." 

It shouldn't hurt as much as it does.  I’ve heard worse from the pack, from my inner voice.  But coming from him, it cuts deeper than I imagined.  My heart drops, and I’m instantly conscious of how the others are watching me.  Some glance over, their eyes filled with sympathy, while others smirk as if they knew all along that I didn’t belong. 

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I fight back the tears threatening to burst over.  I don’t want them to see me like this.  Weak.  Vulnerable.  Exactly what Damian just called me. 

Taking a deep breath, I force my way through the crowd, avoiding the curious gazes.  I need to get out of here.  Away from their judgment.  Away from him. 

Luna catches my eye as I walk past, concern engraved on her face, but I shake my head slightly.  I don’t want to chat.  Not now.  Not when I feel like my world is crumbling beneath my feet.  I just need space to breathe. 

Once I’m far enough away, I let the tears fall.  They stream down my cheeks, hot and angry.  How could he just dismiss me like that?  How could he see me as nothing more than a weakling, someone not worth his time? 

I know I’m not strong like the others, but I have value, don’t I?  There has to be more to me than what the pack sees on the surface.  But the reality is, even I’m not sure what that is. 

I wipe my eyes with the back of my palm, glancing around to make sure no one’s following me.  The training grounds are far behind me now, and the forest stretches out in front of me like a secure sanctuary.  The thick trees, the smell of pine and earth, it all feels like a comfort I can escape into. 

Without thinking, I start walking, letting the silence of the woods wrap around me.  My mind spins with everything that just happened.  Damian’s touch, that spark between us it wasn’t normal.  There was something there, something I didn’t understand.  But it doesn’t matter.  To him, I’m nothing. 

Pathetic. 

I shake my head, attempting to force the word out of my mind, but it stays.  No matter how much I want to forget, I can’t erase the way he stared at me, the coldness in his eyes.  It’s like he didn’t just perceive me as weak—he saw me as beneath him.  Unworthy. 

Suddenly, a sound shakes me out of my thoughts.  A rustling in the bushes nearby.  My body tenses, and I halt, listening closely.  The woodland is typically silent, but suddenly I feel like I’m being watched. 

“Who’s there?”  I call out, my voice trembling slightly.  I curse myself for sounding so scared, but I can’t help it.  The feeling of being followed sends a chill down my spine. 

Silence. 

I was hesitantly step forward, my heart racing in my chest.  My senses are on high alert, yet nothing moves.  Maybe I’m just being paranoid.  After everything that transpired today, it wouldn’t be shocking if my nerves were playing tricks on me. 

Just as I’m ready to turn around, a man emerges from the shadows.  My heart nearly stops. 

It’s Damian. 

He steps out from behind the trees, his demeanor opaque, but there’s something different in his eyes now.  Something darker.  I take an instinctual step back, my pulse accelerating. 

“What are you doing here?”  I inquire, my voice barely above a whisper. 

He doesn’t answer right away.  His eyes are fixed on me, piercing and uncompromising.  The silence between us is suffocating, and I can feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on me.  For a moment, I think he’s going to turn around and leave, just like he did back at the training grounds.  But then he takes a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. 

“You should be careful out here alone,” he continues, his voice low and chilly.  “There are things in these woods that would tear you apart without hesitation.” 

I swallow hard, my throat dry.  His words send a shudder down my spine, but I refuse to let him see how afraid I am.  I won’t give him the satisfaction. 

“I’m not afraid,” I answer, though my voice wavers slightly. 

Damian’s lips twist into a thin, almost mocking smile.  “You should be.” 

Before I can react, he turns and walks away, retreating back into the shadows of the trees.  I stood there, my heart beating in my ears, unaware of what just happened.  Something unusual in how he looked at me was something I couldn’t quite comprehend. 

But one thing is clear...Damian is more dangerous than I ever thought.