6. A Second Chance
1413 Words
Ara's POV
"Come on, Ara! Faster!" Amara's voice cut through the morning air like a whip.
My lungs burned. My legs screamed. Sweat poured down my back in rivers as I stumbled through my tenth lap around the training field. The ground rushed up to meet me as my knees gave out, my palms scraping against the rough dirt as I caught myself.
"I— can't—" I gasped, my chest heaving like a bellows.
Amara jogged up beside me, barely winded. "Goddess, that was just the warm up."
“Easy… for you… to say," I panted, remembering my first day here when I couldn't even finish one lap without vomiting. Now, after a week in this underground sanctuary, I could almost pass for a real werewolf. Almost.
I flipped onto my back, staring up at the artificial sky of the underground training grounds. The painted clouds looked so real! This entire city was a masterpiece of illusion.
“Give me... a break..." I huffed.
Amara crouched next to me, her dark braid swinging. "Did you ever train back in your pack?"
"Not... really..." I panted. "Since, you know..."
"You found out you're wolfless," she finished, her voice softer than usual.
I nodded, watching as she effortlessly balanced on the balls of her feet, "how do you move like that? Like you have a wolf?"
Amara's eyes lit up as she explained, "we might not have wolves, but we have the gene. The more we train it, the stronger we become— better healing, sharper senses, more strength and speed. We could manifest our wolf abilities in human form."
My breath caught. "Really?"
"Yeah. Once you are ready, we will choose a weapon for you." She leaned in as if she was about to share a secret. "Luna Celestine says if we train hard enough, some of us might even shift one day."
I sat up abruptly, ignoring the way the world spun. "The Luna... there's something different about her."
Amara's expression turned reverent. "She has never shifted in front of us, but even the warriors with wolves bow to her. Kade says their beasts fear her."
We lived in a male dominated society where the alphas generally ruled. If a bunch of rogues were bowing to a woman, definitely she wouldn't be just some random rogue.
"That first night... she knew I wasn't a threat with just one touch." I uttered more to myself.
"She has never been wrong. She has that ability." Amara plopped down beside me, her usual sharpness melting away. "Listen, Ara... I'm sorry about how I acted when you first got here."
I waved her off. "Don't worry about it. I've survived worse."
Kade was right about her. Since day one, she made sure I trained, had proper meals. And suddenly I started to feel at home. I had been living here for almost a week now.
A comfortable silence settled between us before I asked, "What's your story? Why did you leave your pack?"
Amara picked at the grass.
"The usual tragedy. Alpha's daughter with no wolf,” she shrugged, but I saw the pain in her eyes.
"I get that. My parents were Beta warriors." The old shame twisted in my gut. "How long have you been here?"
"Two years." Amara's smile returned.
“And Kade?” I asked.
"Kade's been here nearly a decade— since his first shift." Amara replied.
"Why did he leave?" I asked.
Amara lowered her voice. "He's a… half Lycan. His wolf is... different. His father's family made him leave."
My mouth fell open.
"Ly-lycan?" The word came out as a whisper.
In our world, lycans were like gods! Massive in size. Brutal strength. Most of them were in the royal court. They were royalties, they ruled over us. I heard how a royal lycan could take down an entire pack.
And Half Lycans could have Lycan abilities depending on the rank of their lycan parent.
"Yeah." Amara grinned at my shock. "Explains why he's built like a mountain, doesn't it?"
I thought of Kade's effortless strength, the way he carried himself— like royalty. His weird aura. It all made sense now.
"Ara, stay with us." Amara grabbed my hand, her dark eyes earnest. "This place can change your life. You could find a new family here. Maybe even your mate."
I stiffened. "Mate is the last thing on my mind."
Lucian's betrayal flashed through my mind— his hands on Bianca, his lips on hers. The memory still cut like glass. Besides, I were dying. So what was the point?
Amara squeezed my fingers.
"I heard what happened from Kade. But not all men are like that." Her face lit up. "We've had plenty who found their true mates here. It's like we're a real pack."
A pack, huh? But what about my cancer? The secret I'd been carrying like a stone in my chest. If I stayed, if I trained, if my wolf abilities were enhanced… could I actually beat it? The thought brought a shiver down my spine.
"How does it work? I mean I heard for the werewolves, they could sense it once they turn eighteen and if they are under the full moon. The goddess guides them. What about us?" I asked curiously.
Amara's face lit up. "During the full moon, we can feel the pull. We can’t say for sure, but it is supposed to be different. And if you touch your mate..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Sparks. Fireworks. The whole shebang."
I laughed despite myself. "You've really thought about this, huh?"
She gave me a smile.
"Chop chop!" Amara jumped up, pulling me with her. "Enough slacking. Back to training!"
We took off running again. My muscles protested, but something felt different— lighter. Maybe it was hope.
"Faster! You can do it!" Amara called as she sprinted ahead.
I pushed harder, determined to keep up. Then suddenly the world tilted. Colors blurred together. A metallic taste flooded my mouth.
"Ara!" Amara's scream sounded far away as I collapsed to my knees.
Warm liquid dripped from my nose, splattering crimson on the dirt. I wiped at it numbly, my fingers coming away red.
“I'm fine,” I huffed.
"You're not fine," Amara hissed, hauling me up. "We're going to the healers."
"You have healers here?" I slurred, my head swimming.
Amara rolled her eyes. "Duh. We're a real pack."
The medical center stunned me— gleaming equipment, organized shelves, everything a top-tier pack hospital would have. How did rogues afford this? Where was the money coming from?
Amara dragged me into an exam room where a kind-faced woman looked up from her charts.
"Lina, check her out," Amara demanded. "She collapsed and started bleeding from her nose during laps."
Lina gestured to the exam table. "Have a seat."
As she checked my vitals, her brow furrowed. "Has this happened before?"
My eyes darted to Amara. I wasn’t ready to tell them the truth. But there was no reason for hiding either.
“Amara, give us a moment?" Lina asked gently, as if she could read my thoughts.
“I'll be right outside,” Amara hesitated but stepped outside. The door closed behind her.
"You can trust me," Lina said once we were alone.
The truth spilled out like poison I needed to expel. "I have stage four brain cancer. My old pack's doctor gave me a year, maybe two."
Lina's hands stilled for just a moment before continuing her exam.
"I see." She made notes on a chart. "I'll prepare some medications. And give you some tests to assess your situation. But I need to inform Luna Celestine."
"Please don't," I begged.
Lina's smile was gentle but firm. "It's for your best. Our Luna... she has knowledge beyond regular healers. There may be hope."
My heart stuttered. "You're saying I could survive?"
"Possible. You're still a werewolf, and genes don't lie,” Lina smiled.
Tears pricked my eyes. For the first time since my diagnosis, I dared to hope.
As I stepped out, Amara jumped on me, nearly tackling me. "What happened? What's wrong?"
"Nothing serious." I wiped at my face, surprised to find myself smiling. "Amara... take me to Luna Celestine. I want to ask permission to stay."
Amara's whoop echoed through the halls as she grabbed my hand, pulling me toward our future.
Maybe staying here would change my life! Maybe it would give me a second chance!
- Writer
