lari's pov
The next three weeks were the most grueling of my life, I swear I thought I was going to die in more than one occasion.
I pushed myself until I couldn't even move and still found the strength to go past that.
I don't know how or when it happened but whenever it was, I started using my strength to the fullest.
I stopped holding back and it was then I realised, I'd actually been holding my progress back by being so afraid to hurt someone.
They didn't even care whether bones broke or not.
Plus mom's memories were coming in handy, and that thing I do, seeing without looking, yeah I was getting real good at doing that.
“Okay, that's enough for today” Kyle heaved as he bent forward, using his knees to hold himself up.
“Tired already” I panted, mimicking his stance, to which he chuckled at.
“Yes, I'm beat” he said, standing up straight when Brent brought us water bottles.
“Thanks” I said taking the bottle he'd offered and downed it.
“That was intense” Brent said, whistling as he threw me a towel.
“And I still can't believe we only started training you less than a month ago, you're a literal miracle” Kyle said sitting down, looking at me like he was trying to figure something out.
“What can I say, I'm just good” I said, making my way out of the gym.
“I will know your secrets one day Luna, superheroes don't exist!” Kyle yelled behind me just as I was about to close the door.
I laughed as I went on my way, quite impressed with myself.
Even with my magic, I had gotten so much better at using it. I couldn't do the things my mother does in her memories but I was much better at defending myself with it now that I was when Xavier attacked me.
I made my way through the halls in a haste, after the four session I just had with Kyle, I desperately needed a shower.
I went straight for the bathroom when I finally arrived and the first thing I noticed was the note pasted on the mirror.
It was folded in half, making it impossible to see what was on it without ripping it off the mirror.
I was a little excited to know Damien had written and so I didn't waste time grabbing the note, opening it just to freeze where I stood, eyes glued to the note.
“What the hell?” Sapphira asked, alert and sensing if there was someone else in the room with us but it was just me and the guards at the door.
“Maybe Damien left it?” The words came out a question I knew the answer to, my voice weak and hands trembling.
“Oh come on Alari, we both know who it's from, the initial is right there!” Sapphira snapped a little, the urgency in her tone causing me to panic.
“Damien?” I called into the link and just as usual, he didn't hesitate to respond.
“Hey baby, done with practice?’ he asked and I nodded, then quickly realised he couldn't see me.
“Yeah, just got back to shower” I said, my heart now hammering right at the base of my neck, choking me.
“Okay, I'll be there soon, just wrapping up the border inspection” he said, and my stomach dropped.
That's right, he'd left before me for the weekly border inspection. The realisation became too real and I felt my stomach twist painfully.
He couldn't have left the note…
“Hey Damien, did you by any chance come back and leave a note on the bathroom mirror?” I asked, my silly self needing to be absolutely sure it wasn't him.
“No?” He sounded confused and his answer sounded more like a question, waiting for me to fill in the blanks.
I sighed, the truth of the note in my hands hitting me so hard I shivered a little.
“Uh… someone left a note on the bathroom mirror and I think it's Narcissa” I said, and was met with silence for a good few seconds.
“I'm on my way!” Damien said, sounding like he was already running to me.
Loud knocking made me jump but a sigh followed when Mason's voice came through the thick doors.
“Luna! We need to come in and make sure you're alright!” He called loudly and my feet moved on their own, going to the door.
I opened it and he and Liam rushed inside, followed by another four that guarded the hall ways. Liam being one of the four that stayed by my side at all times.
“The Alpha and Luna chambers are clear” Liam said coming back from the walk in closet.
Time slowed down when I thought of how this woman had been in my room, in my bathroom.
Yes, I was well aware of the threat that was hanging over my head but not once did I think she'd invade such a private space.
Had she gone through our stuff? Had she taken something? Would I even know if she took something?
This was too much and my head was starting to hurt. It felt too unreal.
The door burst open, hitting the wall hard and causing a loud bang to echo throughout the large room.
Damien made it to my side in a flash and had me in his arms while he glared at my security personnel.
Lucien and my parents also rushed in, mom quickly coming to my side while dad looked around.
“I'm fine, I'm okay” I said, trying to reassure myself, maybe that would stop the ringing in my ears.
“Are you sure you're not hurt?” Damien asked, his words whispered and filled with worry.
I looked down at my shaking hands, silently cursing myself. Why the fuck was I this terrified?
Everyone looked ready to kick ass and here I was, shivering like a child who'd been playing in the rain.
“What does it say?” Mom asked, making me unfold the paper in my hands again.
“Look who's all grown up and ripe for picking. I'll be seeing you soon princess!” It read, with the letter ‘N’ at the bottom.
“The nerve of that wench!” Mom growled, her anger just proof of my weakened state. Why couldn't I react like that? Angry, instead of afraid.
It felt like all those weeks I spent trying to get stronger were a waste, and I was nothing but a weak thing to be protected.
How could this shake me up so much? I knew something like this would happen from the day I came to this place, everyone, even my birth mother, had warned me about it. Why was I so unprepared?!
“Lucien, get a team of trackers, try and get a scent, sweep through the entire pack if you must!” Damien growled and Lucien didn't even respond, just ran out to carry out his orders.
“Let's get you out of here” Damien said and picked me up bridal style.
“I need a shower'” I said, the words literally flying out of my mouth.
“Okay but not here, not until I'm positive nothing is out of place” he said and left the room.
I quickly showered in one of the guest rooms and now stood in front of the mirror, looking at myself. Ashamed!
“I don't want to feel like this, weak and fragile” I whispered to myself as tears fell.
“How do the hell am I supposed to lead and protect my Kingdom if I'm this rattled by a fucking note?!” I whisper yelled, making sure Damien couldn't hear me from the bedroom.
“It's okay to be afraid, I'm a little scared too” Sapphira said, her words causing me to cry harder.
“We can't afford to be scared Sapphira, so many are counting on us” I said, biting my lip to keep the sobs from reaching my mate.
“There is nothing wrong with being scared Alari, what we cannot afford is being weak and we are not!” Sapphira said with so much authority I shivered.
“We've put in too much work these past couple of weeks, we're not weak!” She continued, making me really look at myself.
My body had started responding to the training and my arms were toning up. I looked nothing like that weak girl from Silverlake.
“We were never weak Alari, we've always been powerful, and now it's time to show it!” She said, my tears drying as I let her words ring loud in my head.
“I'm not weak!” I growled at my reflection, my purple eyes glowing violently as anger replaced the fear.
I was never weak, I was never a wolf-less runt, or a slave!
I've always had my Lycan, I've always had my magic. I am the daughter of a Goddess blessed Lycan Alpha, a King and an Elven Princess! I was never weak!
Feeling all that anger blaze through my veins lit up a fire inside me that had the air in the bathroom freezing up. Frost covering the mirror.
I took breathe to calm myself and pulled my magic back in. Washing my face to try and erase the tears, I got dressed and went back to Damien.
He looked stressed, and like he'd aged a few years. Sitting beside him, I rested my head on his shoulder, taking his hand into both of mine.
“Lucien reported back, they couldn't find anything, not even catch a scent. We have no idea how she planted the note” he sighed, his hand squeezing mine.
“That doesn't matter, what matters is what we do going forward” I said, refusing to let this piece of information break my resolve.
“We knew it was only a matter of time before something happened” I said.
“It's our bedroom! She got inside our home, the place you're supposed to be the safest!” He growled, his body shaking from all the anger he was feeling.
“It's a scare tactic love, she's trying to rattle us so we make mistakes and we won't let her” I said, raising my head to look at him.
“She's been watching, if what's on the note is anything to go by” he said with a deep sigh.
“And she can keep watching while we get ready to end her!” I said with so much conviction he looked at me puzzled.
“What happened while you were in there?” He asked, frowning a little, making me smile.
“I can't be scared, I need to be strong if I'm going to survive this. And smart enough to realise that she doesn't have the power to come barreling through the front door” I said with a shrug.
“She would have if she did” I continued, making him tilt his head to the side in thought.
“She's trying to create an opening to strike” he said, shaking his head.
“Exactly, and we won't make it easy for her” I said.
“Now you're finally thinking like a Queen” Sapphira said, nodding her head in approval.
“Come on, I'm sure everyone is anxious to know I'm okay” I said, getting up and pulling him to the door.
Pearl, along with Mason and a lot more guards than I remember were waiting outside.
“You're okay!” Pearl jumped into my arms, almost knocking me back but Damien held me steady.
“I'm alright sweetheart” I laughed, breaking the hug to look at her.
“For someone that just got a love letter from lady death, you seem happy” she said, squinting her eyes at me.
“Because of I'm not scared of lady death” I laughed, shaking my head at the nick name.
“That's my girl!” She smiled that contagious smile of hers.
“Anyway, your mom's putting up some spell on your room” she said with a shrug like it was normal.
“A spell?” I asked, looking back at Damien, who shrugged in response.
“Yeah, to keep lady death out” she said and I nodded. It's probably a protection or a boundary spell.
“Let's go find her, I'm sure she'd be eager to see you” Damien said, placing his hand on the small of my back.