Chapter 5 A Deal With The Devil

Chapter 5 - A Deal with the Devil The scent of blood and smoke clung to the night air. Lena sat on the cold ground, her body aching from exhaustion, but her mind sharper than ever. Across from her, Kieran leaned against a massive tree, arms crossed, his piercing eyes locked onto her. “You have two choices,” he said, his voice smooth but edged with danger. “You can leave now and die alone, or you can stay and become strong enough to take your revenge.” Lena clenched her fists. Visions of Damian’s betrayal, Selene’s smirk, and the way her own parents had stood silent burned behind her eyes. She swallowed her pain, straightened her spine, and met Kieran’s gaze with unwavering determination. “Teach me,” she whispered. “I want to destroy them all.” Kieran smirked, but there was no warmth in it. “Then let’s see if you’re even worth my time.” Without warning, he whistled sharply. The sound barely echoed through the trees before a shadow moved behind her. Lena turned too late. A rough shove sent her sprawling across the dirt. She rolled, instincts kicking in just in time to avoid a boot slamming down where her head had been. A rogue—a large, scarred man—stood over her, his grin cruel. “I don’t train weaklings,” Kieran said. “Prove you’re not one.” Lena scrambled to her feet, her muscles screaming in protest. The rogue wasted no time, charging at her. She ducked his first swing, but he was faster than she expected. His fist slammed into her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She staggered but didn’t fall. Pain surged through her ribs, but she refused to let it control her. The rogue came at her again, this time aiming for her face. She sidestepped, barely avoiding the hit, and lashed out with a wild punch of her own. It barely fazed him. The rogue laughed, shoving her back again. “Pathetic.” Lena’s vision blurred for a second. She tasted blood in her mouth. But she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright. Weak. Helpless. Unworthy. The same words she had heard her whole life whispered through her mind. She had been thrown away by the people who were supposed to love her. But she wouldn’t be discarded again. Not this time. Something inside her snapped. Her wolf, buried under pain and rejection, stirred. As the rogue lunged again, Lena didn’t retreat. She moved forward, ducking under his arm and slamming her elbow into his ribs. He grunted in surprise. Before he could recover, she kicked at his knee, sending him stumbling. She saw an opening and took it. Lena grabbed a nearby rock and smashed it into the rogue’s temple. He roared, staggering back, blood trickling down the side of his face. The moment his balance wavered, she was on him, throwing every ounce of rage and desperation into her next attack. The rogue hit the ground with a heavy thud. A beat of silence passed. Then—laughter. Kieran clapped, stepping forward. “Not bad,” he said. “You fight like a desperate animal.” His smirk deepened. “I like that.” Lena stood, panting, her hands shaking. Her knuckles were raw, her body screaming in pain. But she had won. Kieran crouched beside the fallen rogue, inspecting him. “You’ll live,” he told the man before looking back at Lena. “Barely.” The rogue groaned, but he didn’t argue. Kieran rose, his expression unreadable. “You start training tomorrow.” Lena’s legs nearly buckled from relief, but she forced herself to remain standing. She wouldn’t show weakness. Not here. Kieran turned, motioning for her to follow. “Come.” Lena swallowed hard and stepped forward, leaving behind the battered rogue and the last remnants of the girl she had once been. The Rogue Camp Lena followed Kieran deeper into the rogue territory. The forest around them was eerily silent, the trees thick enough to block most of the moonlight. When they finally reached the camp, Lena was met with wary eyes. Dozens of rogues, hardened and dangerous, watched her like a predator sizing up weak prey. She ignored them. She had already been judged once today. Kieran led her to a small, run-down cabin. “You’ll stay here,” he said, nodding toward the wooden door. “Sleep now. Tomorrow, you either survive—or you don’t.” Lena stepped inside, finding only a single cot and a small fireplace. It was nothing like the luxury of the packhouse, but she didn’t care. She sank onto the cot, exhaustion hitting her all at once. Every inch of her body ached, but she welcomed the pain. It meant she was still alive. As she stared at the ceiling, her mind burned with one thought. She would not break. --- Dawn and Blood The next morning, Lena woke to a bucket of ice-cold water thrown over her. She gasped, bolting upright, shivering violently. Kieran stood in the doorway, arms crossed. “Training starts now,” he said. “Get up.” Lena gritted her teeth and pushed to her feet. Outside, the rogues had already gathered. Kieran wasted no time, throwing her into relentless drills. Hours passed in a blur of pain. She ran until her legs burned, fought until her muscles screamed, and fell more times than she could count. But she never stopped. Kieran watched her closely, pushing her harder each time she refused to give up. By nightfall, Lena collapsed onto the dirt, gasping for breath. Kieran knelt beside her. “Most would have quit by now,” he said. “But you’re still here.” Lena turned her head to look at him, her vision hazy with exhaustion. He smirked. “Good.” As the stars blinked to life above them, Lena knew one thing for certain— She had lost everything. But now, she would make them all regret it.