Chapter 5 FOUR

[NYRA'S POV]

A nightmare is what wakes me up in the middle of the night. I am sweating, and my heart is racing. That didn't feel like a simple nightmare.

I'm still shaking by the time Kade finds me in my room. He instantly moves over to me and holds me in his arms without another word.

I let myself be comforted by someone other than my parents. His pine scent is so soothing that I feel my racing nerves being calmed down in seconds.

When my breathing evens out, and my heart rate goes back to normal, he pulls away and looks at me. “Now, let's hear what the dream is all while."

With shaky breaths, and trembling hands, I slowly begin to explain the details of the dream I've been having since I was a child. Only my mother knows about it, and now one more soul has been added to the collection.

I tell him about the fire, the screams that never seem to stop and the blood everywhere.

When I'm done, I expect Kade to ask thousands of questions. But he doesn't. Rather he stands up and places both hands in his pockets.

“Get some rest, Little wolf. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day."

~~~

If any one had told me that ‘a tough day ‘ would mean waking up before dawn to jog despite the severe cold, I would have certainly laughed and said, " Count me out, thank you very much.”

But here I am, at five am, outside in the cold along with other rouges, waiting on Kade to give instructions on the morning run.

Zoya had dragged me out of my bed, not giving a damn about my protest, and brought me here. She was so excited, muttering things about the body needing exercise.

Several rogue wolves are gathered, male and female alike. Kade stands up front, addressing the people, giving out targets and breaking the group into teams.

He's dressed in nothing but a pair of black sweatpants, and boy is he hot

The man radiates effortless arrogance, tattoos tracing his arms like dark vines. The early sunlight catches the sharp lines of his jaw as he paces, barking orders in that deep, honeyed voice that does terrible things to my insides.

“Alright, mutts!” he calls out, voice slicing through the morning fog. “Today’s run isn’t just about stamina, it’s about endurance. You’ll push past the limits your pampered asses think you have.”

Several wolves groan, and I’m tempted to join them.

Kade smirks, clearly enjoying himself. “Ten laps around the ridge. No shifts. You run on two legs. Last team to finish cleans out the kennels for a week.”

The crowd explodes into groans and mutters of protest.

Zoya nudges me in the ribs. “Don’t make that face. It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” I whisper back. “I have yet to fully recover and you expect me to run laps now?”

“Better than having Kade’s wrath on your head,” she says sweetly. “Trust me. He enjoys making examples.”

I open my mouth to reply, but Kade’s voice booms again. “Nyra.”

My heart stops. “Y-yes?”

Every head turns toward me.

Kade’s lips curl into that infuriating smirk. “You’ll join Team Three. Let’s see if that fire in your eyes matches your speed.”

A few wolves snicker. Someone mutters something about “fresh meat,” and my, Lyrica, lets out a low growl in my head.

“We should show them who the hell we are.”

" Oh, you're awake,” I say, unable to hide the relief in my voice. " Thought you'd hibernate forever “

" I was awake hours ago. I just didn't want you ruining my peace “

“Fine,” I say to Kade, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

Kade’s gaze lingers on me for a moment too long, eyes glinting with something between amusement and challenge. “Try not to fall behind, little wolf. I’d hate to have to carry you.”

My blood heats instantly. “Don’t worry, Alpha,” I bite back. “You won’t have to touch me.”

His smirk deepens, and something dark flickers behind his eyes, something that makes my pulse quicken. “We’ll see.”

Before I can respond, he turns sharply and blows the whistle hanging from his neck.

The ground erupts in motion. Wolves sprint forward, feet pounding against dirt and leaves. I push off the ground, my muscles screaming in protest, the cold biting at my skin.

Completing the first lap isn't a big of an issue. Melyn and I usually ran with the pack warriors back at home.

But by the second lap, my lungs burn, my muscles ache , and I doubt I'll make it to the fourth round.

But I do, and by then I’m sure I’m dying. My muscles ache so much I feel the pain shoot to my brain. But when I glance up and catch Kade watching from the front, arms folded, that smug look on his face, I know I can't give up. So I push harder.

Lyrica’s voice growls inside me. “Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

Her voice is pained, but we are not used to letting people see us as weak, so we push harder.

By the eight lap, I can't take any more. My knees burn and my joints ache. I can't take it anymore.

I collapse on the ground breathing hard, my chest burning. A strong veiny hand stretches before me. I raise my gaze and meet the dark eyes of Keiran .

I feel a strong pull towards him, and in my mind Lyrica whispers. “Mate."

What the…?

Again?