Alpha Kieran's Regret

Chapter 11

_Katherine's POV_

The days passed slowly, and with each sunrise, I found myself growing stronger. My foot healed little by little, and soon, I was able to walk without limping. It felt good to move freely again and to stretch my legs without pain.

Lucian’s pack was… different. Most of the pack members were kind. They smiled at me when they passed, and some even stopped to chat. But not everyone welcomed me. Some of them were wary. Their smiles were forced, their eyes filled with doubt. They didn’t trust me.

I could hear their whispers when they thought I wasn’t listening.

“She’s an outsider.”

“Why did Alpha bring her here?”

“She doesn’t belong with us.”

It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did. I was used to being treated as less. Back in my old pack, I had been invisible. But here, I wasn’t invisible. I was different, and that made me a threat to some.

Lucian didn’t seem to care what they thought. If he noticed the way some pack members avoided me, he never said anything. Instead, he treated me the same way he had from the start. He was always watching over me and he made sure that I had what I needed.

And then, one morning, he made a suggestion that left me speechless. “Train with the warriors.”

I had stared at him in shock, thinking I had heard him wrong.

“Train?” I repeated, frowning. “With the warriors?”

Lucian leaned against the table, arms crossed, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Yes.”

I shook my head. “I can’t. I am an omega, Lucian. I wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

He tilted his head, his blue eyes glinting with something unreadable. “You won’t know unless you try.”

I let out a short laugh. “I already know. I’ve never trained a day in my life. I would embarrass myself.”

Lucian pushed off the table and stepped closer. “You would be surprised what you’re capable of, Katherine.”

My heart thumped at the way he said my name. Soft. Convincing. As if he truly believed I could do this.

I bit my lip, hesitating. “Why do you even want me to train?”

His smirk faded. “Because you should know how to defend yourself.”

I swallowed hard and looked down at my hands. No one had ever cared if I could protect myself before. In my old pack, I had been nothing more than a servant. I was weak and defenseless. Not worth training.

Lucian saw me differently. And that terrified me.

But a small part of me… wanted to see if he was right.

With a deep breath, I nodded. “Fine. I’ll try.”

Lucian grinned. “Good choice.”

________________

The training grounds were nothing like I had imagined. I had expected something dark and brutal, but instead, it was open and full of life. The area was wide, surrounded by tall trees that gave it a secluded feel. The ground was covered in packed dirt, with different sections for combat training, weightlifting, and agility exercises.

Warriors moved across the grounds. They were practicing their techniques. Some sparred in pairs while ohers ran drills. The sound of fists hitting punching bags and the sharp clang of weapons filled the air. The scent of sweat and earth surrounded me.

I swallowed hard. This was their world. Not mine.

Lucian must have sensed my hesitation because he nudged my shoulder. “Relax, Katherine. No one is throwing you into a fight yet.”

I glanced up at him. “Yet?”

He grinned. “We’ll take it slow. I’ll teach you the basics first.”

I exhaled. I was trying to push my nerves aside. “Okay. Where do we start?”

Lucian led me to an open space away from the others. “Footwork first,” he said. “Everything starts with balance and movement.”

I nodded, watching as he stepped into position. His movements were fluid and effortless.

“Stand like this,” he instructed.

I mimicked his stance, placing my feet as he had.

Lucian circled me, his gaze sweeping over my posture. “Not bad. But…” He suddenly reached out and tapped my knee, making me stumble slightly.

I scowled at him. “Hey!”

He chuckled. “You’re too stiff. Loosen up.”

I adjusted my stance, trying to relax.

Lucian nodded. “Better.”

He moved closer, his hands brushing my arms as he positioned them correctly. “Keep your hands up to guard your face. Always be ready.”

His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but I tried to focus.

“Now,” he said, stepping back. “Try shifting your weight from one foot to the other.”

I did as he said, moving carefully.

Lucian smirked. “Not bad. Now faster.”

I quickened my pace, but I barely lasted a few seconds before I lost balance.

Lucian caught me before I could fall. He gripped me firmly. “Told you to loosen up.”

I groaned. “This is harder than it looks.”

He chuckled. “That’s because you think too much.”

I huffed. “I do not.”

Lucian arched a brow. “Oh? Then what were you thinking about just now?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. He had caught me.

Lucian grinned. “See? You think too much.”

I glared at him. “You’re very annoying.”

He leaned in slightly, his voice teasing. “You love it.”

I felt my cheeks heat. “I—”

“Try again,” he said, stepping back before I could argue.

I exhaled sharply and refocused. I moved my feet, trying to get the rhythm right. It took a few tries, but eventually, I found my balance.

Lucian nodded approvingly. “Good. Now, let’s add some punches.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think I am ready for that.”

He smirked. “You are.”

Lucian positioned himself in front of me, holding up his hands. “Throw a punch.”

I hesitated. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

His laughter rang through the air. “Katherine, I promise you won’t hurt me.”

I rolled my eyes but clenched my fist and threw a punch. It was weak. Pitiful.

Lucian barely reacted. “That was… adorable.”

I groaned. “Don’t patronize me.”

He grinned. “I’m not. But if you want to hit me, you’ll need to do better than that.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Fine.”

I adjusted my stance, remembering what he had taught me. This time, when I punched, I put more force behind it.

Lucian caught my fist in his palm, his expression unreadable. “Better,” he murmured.

I swallowed hard. I was suddenly very aware of how close we were. His fingers brushed against my skin as he slowly lowered my hand.

His blue eyes locked onto mine. “You’re stronger than you think, Katherine.”

I wasn’t sure if he was talking about the training anymore. My heart pounded in my chest. I didn’t know what to say, so I looked away.

Lucian chuckled. “We’ll continue tomorrow.”

I nodded and stepped back. My face felt warm. My mind was spinning.

Lucian was dangerous. Not because he was an Alpha. But because he made me want to believe him.