Chapter 18: Shadows in the Woods

"Nothing hurts more than being broken by the one person who you thought would never hurt you"

   - Bia Tenuta 

*** 

The forest surrounding Blake's pack territory stretched endlessly, a tapestry of towering trees and tangled underbrush. For four days, I had been here, honing my newly acquired abilities under the watchful eyes of Blake's pack. Despite the animosity between Blake and me, the pack members were diligent, treating me as one of their own. Yet, the tension between Blake and me was a constant undercurrent, darkening every interaction.

A cool breeze rustled the leaves as I practised shifting between my forms. The transition was getting smoother, but it still drained me. I was in mid-shift when I sensed someone approaching. Blake stepped out from the trees, his face a storm of conflicting emotions.

I continued training, refusing to let his presence distract me. He jogged past me, his sweaty form glistening in the dappled sunlight. He didn't even glance my way, didn't utter a single word. It was as if I didn't exist.

"What's your problem, Blake?" I called out, my voice cutting through the silence of the forest.

Okay maybe his presence did distract me.

He halted but didn't turn around. His back was a rigid line of tension. "What are you talking about?" he replied, his voice cold and distant.

"Why do you ignore me and treat me like shit?" I demanded, stepping closer, my frustration boiling over. "What did I ever do to you?"

Blake slowly turned, his eyes hard and unyielding. "You know why," he said, his voice a low growl.

"No, I don't," I retorted, crossing my arms. "Enlighten me."

"Your kind," he spat, his eyes flashing with barely concealed rage.

"My kind?" I echoed, confusion knitting my brows together. "What do you mean because of my kind?"

"Your vampire side, it disgusts me!" Blake's words were venomous, each syllable dripping with contempt. "Of all breeds you could've had, you become a hybrid with a vampire side."

His words cut deep, like icy shards piercing my heart. "What? It disgusts you?" I asked, my voice trembling with hurt. "Why do you hate vampires so much? What have they done to you?"

"They killed my mother!" he exploded, his voice echoing through the trees. "Your kind killed my mother. Is that good enough of a reason for you?" His eyes had turned a pitch black, the rage within him turning his gaze into an abyss.

I staggered back, stunned. That was not the answer I was expecting. "What do you mean?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Then who is Luna Lauren?"

"She's my dad's second mate," Blake replied, his anger cooling into a cold, hard facade. The blackness in his eyes made him look empty, a hollow shell. I felt a shiver of fear run down my spine, something I never thought I'd feel towards him.

"Blake," I said softly, taking an unconscious step back, "it wasn't me though. I didn't kill her."

It might be my imagination but as I took that step, his fist clenched and his eye seemed to twitch in anger. But a different kind of anger. The anger you feel when you are in pain. However eyes deceive and the mind plays tricks, this could be something I'm imagining. Something that's not real.

"Why must the innocent carry the burden of the guilty? Not every vampire you meet is filled with bad deeds. Why should your hate for the vampires who killed your mother be directed towards the whole vampire breed? Hate the ones who killed her, hate the ones who caused you and your family pain. Hate them, not the innocent ones! They don't deserve it." My voice cracked, and the tears I had been holding back spilled over.

"I don't deserve this." I whisper, looking straight in his eyes.

"You know", I continued, snickering emotionlessly wiping the tears from my eyes, "it's funny how a mate is supposed to love you unconditionally and protect you but all my mate does is hurt me. All you do is hurt me."

"Skye..." Blake's voice wavered, but I cut him off.

"Thank you for proving me wrong. You've woken me up from this mate spell I've been under. Seeing as how the sight of me repulses you, I'll be out of your way." I turned and walked away, each step away from him breaking my heart a little more.

But there's nothing I can do because I'm nothing but a monster to him.

Behind me, I heard Blake mutter something, but I didn't stop to listen. I couldn't. The pain was too much, and I needed to get away from him before I broke completely. I made my way back to the pack house, the tears blurring my vision, my heart heavy with a sorrow that felt like it would crush me.

For the next few days, I avoided Blake as much as possible. Whenever he entered a room, I left. Whenever he approached, I turned away. It was painful, but it was the only way I could protect myself. I threw myself into training, focusing on mastering my abilities and proving to myself that I was more than just a monster in Blake's eyes.

But despite the distance I tried to maintain, our bond was undeniable. Every time he looked at me, every time our eyes met across the training field, I felt the pull of the mate bond. It was a cruel twist of fate, binding us together even as we tore each other apart. And deep down, a part of me still yearned for him, for the man I knew he could be if he just let go of his hate.

The days following our confrontation were tense and charged with unresolved emotions. Blake also kept his distance, yet I could feel his eyes on me whenever I trained. The pack members had noticed the shift in our dynamic, whispers circulating among them, but no one dared to speak openly about it.

This morning, we gathered in the training field, the elite warriors already deep in their drills. I struggled to keep up, the newness of my abilities making me slower and less coordinated than the seasoned fighters around me. Sweat dripped from my brow as I focused on each movement, trying to blend my wolf and vampire strengths seamlessly.

"Skylar, focus!" one of the trainers barked as I stumbled.

I nodded, redoubling my efforts, but I could feel the frustration building. The pack members exchanged glances, their murmurs barely audible over the sounds of our training. I pushed harder, determined to prove myself, but my body was betraying me, the exhaustion from days of intense training taking its toll.

Blake emerged from the woods, fresh from a run. His eyes scanned the training field, lingering on me for a fraction of a second before he turned his attention to the other warriors. He barked a few commands, the authority in his voice unmistakable. The pack members snapped to attention, their movements sharper, more precise.

"Skylar, spar with me," Blake ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I bristled at his commanding tone, my frustration boiling over. "Fine," I snapped, stepping forward. The warriors fell back, forming a loose circle around us, their eyes keen with interest.

Blake and I faced each other, the tension between us crackling in the air. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the determination in his eyes. We circled each other, the forest around us fading away as we focused solely on each other.

He struck first, a blur of motion that I barely dodged. Our bodies clashed, a flurry of blows and counterblows. Despite his aggression, I could sense he was holding back, his strikes controlled, his movements calculated.

"You can do better than that," I taunted, my anger fueling my strength.

Blake's eyes narrowed, and he lunged again. This time, our movements were more synchronized, a dance of power and precision. The pack members watched in awe, their whispers growing louder as the fight continued.

Our breaths came in ragged gasps, the intensity of the fight taking its toll. Blake's eyes never left mine, a mixture of frustration and something else—something softer—lingering in his gaze. I felt the mate bond tugging at my heart, a cruel reminder of our connection even as we fought.

"You hate me so much, but you can't deny this," I said, my voice a breathless whisper as I dodged another strike. "You can't deny us."

Blake hesitated for a split second, and I used that moment to land a solid hit. He staggered back, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and something deeper—regret, perhaps.

The pack members murmured, their eyes wide with disbelief. They had never seen their alpha so off-balance, so vulnerable. The fight slowed, our movements more measured, less about landing blows and more about expressing the turmoil within us.

In a swift move, Blake disarmed me, his body pressing mine against a tree. Our faces were inches apart, our breaths mingling. His eyes bore into mine, the walls he had built around his heart crumbling, if only for a moment.

"Skylar," he breathed, his voice raw with emotion. "I..."

Before he could finish, the sound of clapping broke the spell. The pack members had started to cheer, their admiration for the fight we had just displayed evident in their expressions. Blake stepped back, his mask slipping back into place, the moment lost.

"Good work, everyone," Blake said, his voice steady once more. "Training is over for today."

The pack members dispersed, their voices buzzing with excitement. I stood there, my heart pounding, the weight of our fight pressing down on me. Blake turned away, his shoulders tense, and walked back into the woods.

As the last of the warriors left the clearing, I sank to my knees, the tears I had held back finally spilling over. The fight had been more than just physical—it had been a battle of wills, of hearts. And despite everything, I still felt the pull of the mate bond, still felt the love buried beneath the layers of pain and anger.

But for now, we were both too wounded to bridge the chasm between us. And so, I let the tears fall, hoping that one day, we might find a way to heal.