“War?” My mother’s hand was shaking as she reached for my father. “A real war? What does this mean for all the men in our pack?”
“Mom, I…” Words failed me. How could I explain the gravity of the situation without scaring her even more?
“It means we need to be prepared.” Ty’s gaze never left my father’s face. “I’ll be holding a pack meeting soon to discuss what’s happening and how we can protect ourselves. If a war is coming, we’ll need every able-bodied man to step up and fight.”
My father sighed heavily. I watched my mother’s hands shake as she clutched at her husband’s arm. “There hasn’t been a pack war in centuries.” He shook his head. “It seems history is coming full circle.” My dad turned, his face etched with years of wisdom and experience. “I’ll fight, Liza. Not just for the pack, but for you.” He sounded firm, and unwavering, and pride surged in me.
“Us, too.” Michael crossed his arms while Mason nodded, his face set in a grim expression. They might have had opposite personalities, but when it came down to protecting their little sister, they were always united.
The last thing I wanted was for my family to be swept up in this brewing storm. My insides twisted painfully at the thought of losing any one of them. “I don’t want this to come to war,” I began, cracking under my emotion. “There has to be a way to stop it.”
“The only way we can stop it is by being prepared,” Ty answered firmly, his analytical mind already working through possible strategies. “We’ll do everything in our power to protect our home and the ones we love. We’ll face whatever comes head-on.”
Despite his reassuring words, a shroud of unease settled over me. Would we be able to protect everyone we cared about?Or would this war tear us apart, leaving nothing but shattered hearts and broken dreams in its wake?
I looked around the room, studying the familiar faces of my family members. They were all willing to risk everything for me, for the pack. It was both humbling and terrifying. Somehow, I had to find the strength within myself to face whatever lay ahead.
The sun blazed overhead,casting its unforgiving heat upon us as we continued our training. Sweat trickled down my back, and my muscles screamed for a break, but I couldn’t afford to stop. Not when Castro was out there, waiting for his next move. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, yet the thought of my family and of Ty pushed me forward.
“Come on,” Liam barked as he lunged, his fist swinging at my face. I barely dodged in time, feeling the rush of air as it whizzed past my cheek. “This isn’t a game. You need to tighten up.”
“Damn it, Liam,” I grumbled because he was right. My movements were sluggish, my focus scattered. “I’m trying.”
“Trying isn’t good enough.” His eyes narrowed as he circled me. His voice was harsh, cutting me like a knife. “You’re not some porcelain doll, Liza. You’re a goddamn Wylde. Start acting like it.”
His words ignited a fire within me. I couldn’t cower in fear or let my insecurities hold me back. I needed to be strong for myself and for those I loved.
With renewed conviction, I charged at Liam with my fists clenched and my pulse pounding in my ears. Our blows connected, the sound echoing through the yard as we traded hit after hit. He didn’t pull any punches, and neither did I.
“Is that all you got?” he taunted, smirking while I struggled to catch my breath. Anger bubbled up inside me, fueled by both exhaustion and frustration.
“Shut up,” I snarled, driving my fist toward his face. He dodged it, but I was ready and followed up with a swift kick to his gut that sent him stumbling back. “How’s that for all I’ve got?”
“Better,” he said, catching himself and grinning through the pain. “Still not enough.”
“Enough for now.” I wiped the sweat from my brow.
We continued our back-and-forth until we were both panting and covered in dirt. Finally, we collapsed onto the ground, laughing as we lay there.
“Sorry I’m being so tough on you,” Liam choked out between laughs, his eyes meeting mine. “I just don’t want anything happening to you. If you’re serious about learning to fight, you have to stop holding back and being afraid of your own strength.”
His words struck a chord within me. The fear that had been gnawing since Castro’s appearance had grown into something bigger—something paralyzing—but I couldn’t let it control me. I needed to face it head-on and embrace the power that coursed through my veins.
“Thank you.” I was almost hoarse from exertion. “You’re just trying to help. I promise I’ll keep pushing myself.”
“Good,” he said, offering me a hand to help me up. “Because we’re not done yet. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
With his hand in mine, I effortlessly stood up, feeling a sense of security and support.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, and the dim light of dusk fell over the training grounds. With each passing moment, my fear started to fade, giving way to a newfound sense of confidence. Liam was right. The only way to overcome my fearwas to face it and embrace the power that coursed through my veins.
“Promise me something,” I said, turning to Liam. “Promise me you won’t let me give in to the fear.”
“Of course.” His words were full of sincerity. “I’ll always have your back, Liza. You’re not alone in this.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for his unwavering support. With that, we parted ways for the evening, and I hurried into the house, eager to share my progress with Ty.
When I got upstairs, I heard water running from the bathroom. I followed the noise, finding Ty emerging from the shower with beads of water glistening on his skin. My heart skipped a beat as I took in the sight before me, and desire flared through me.
