Shadow Beneath the Moon

The training grounds were alive with the scent of sweat, pine, and freshly turned earth. The silver light of the moon cast long shadows across the field where the young wolves of Silvercrest sparred beneath Aiden Blackthorn’s watchful gaze. Selene stood at the edge of the clearing, her fingers twisting nervously around the hem of her cloak.

She wasn’t supposed to be here.

Her heart pounded with every step she took closer to the edge of the circle where the others trained. Most of them were warriors’ children—strong, confident, and accustomed to the rough nature of these drills. Selene, in contrast, felt like an intruder.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Lilith’s voice rang out, loud enough to draw attention from several wolves nearby. Her lips curved in a smirk as she crossed the field, the flicker of amusement in her amber eyes unmistakable.

Selene fought the urge to turn and run.

"I didn’t realize we were recruiting weaklings now," someone muttered. Snickers followed, but Selene forced herself to remain still.

"Enough," Marcus barked, stepping into the clearing. His sharp gaze swept over the gathered wolves, daring any of them to continue.

The laughter faded, but Selene could still feel the weight of their stares pressing down on her like stones.

"Pair up!" Marcus called out, ignoring the tension. "We’re starting with basic forms tonight. No one leaves until you’ve all completed ten rounds."

Selene felt her stomach drop. Pairing up meant fighting, and fighting meant failing in front of Aiden.

She shuffled awkwardly to the side, watching as the others found their partners. Lilith naturally gravitated toward Aiden, her posture confident as she sauntered up to him. Aiden barely acknowledged her, his icy blue eyes locked elsewhere.

Selene.

The moment their gazes met, Selene’s breath hitched. There was no warmth in his stare, only cold appraisal. He looked at her the way one might examine a broken weapon—useless, irrelevant.

"Selene," Marcus’s voice cut through the silence. She turned quickly, finding him standing at her side. "You’re with me."

Her eyes widened. "Me?"

"You won’t improve by standing around." His tone was firm but not unkind. "Come on."

Selene followed him reluctantly to the center of the field. The others had already begun their sparring, bodies moving in fluid, practiced motions.

Marcus faced her, rolling his shoulders. "We’ll start simple. Defensive stance first."

Selene’s heart thudded painfully as she mirrored his posture, shifting her weight awkwardly onto the balls of her feet.

Marcus raised a brow. "Relax. You look like you’re preparing to flee."

"I’m not exactly used to this," she muttered, heat creeping into her cheeks.

"That’s the point." Marcus stepped closer, adjusting her stance with careful hands. "Keep your guard up. Always."

Selene swallowed and nodded.

"Ready?"

She barely had time to respond before Marcus lashed out, his movements swift but controlled. Selene ducked, narrowly avoiding his strike. Her instincts screamed for her to back away, but she forced herself to stay rooted.

Marcus circled her, his eyes glinting with quiet approval. "Good. Again."

The next attack came faster. Selene blocked awkwardly, the force of the blow making her arms tremble.

Lilith’s laugh rang out from the sidelines. "Careful, Marcus. You might break her."

Selene’s grip faltered for a split second—long enough for Marcus to land a light strike against her shoulder.

"Focus," he said quietly, though his gaze flicked briefly toward Lilith in warning.

Selene gritted her teeth, pushing down the embarrassment swelling in her chest. She raised her guard again, this time with more resolve.

"That’s better." Marcus shifted back, signaling her to attack. "Now, show me how you’d counter."

Selene hesitated. "I don’t—"

"Trust your instincts."

She lunged forward, mimicking what she’d seen the others do countless times. Marcus sidestepped easily, but there was no mockery in his expression.

"Again."

She lost track of how many times they repeated the drill. Her muscles ached, sweat pooling along her brow, but Marcus’s quiet encouragement pushed her to continue.

By the time the training session ended, the other wolves had begun dispersing, murmuring quietly among themselves as they walked towards the packhouse.

Selene wiped her hands on her cloak, exhaustion tugging at her limbs.

"You did well tonight," Marcus said as he approached her.

She arched a brow. "I barely landed a hit."

"Strength isn’t just about striking. You held your ground. That’s more than most expected."

Her lips parted, but before she could respond, she felt the weight of another gaze pressing into her back.

Aiden.

He stood at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His face remained unreadable, but something about the way he watched her made Selene’s pulse quicken.

After a long moment, Aiden turned sharply and disappeared into the trees without a word.

"What was that about?" Selene asked softly.

Marcus’s expression darkened slightly. "He’s watching."

"For what?"

Marcus didn’t answer right away. "To see if you break."

Selene’s stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"But you won’t," Marcus added, his voice resolute. "Because you’re stronger than you realize."

She wished she could believe him.

---

Later that night, Selene lingered beneath the old oak tree near the edge of the village, staring up at the moon. The cool wind brushed against her face, tugging at the loose strands of hair falling over her shoulders.

She should have felt proud—relieved, even—but the heaviness in her chest wouldn’t fade.

"You shouldn’t be out here alone."

Selene spun around to find Aiden standing a few feet away, his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket.

Her heart jumped to her throat. "I wasn’t expecting company."

"I’m not company." Aiden’s voice was calm but edged with something she couldn’t place.

She shifted awkwardly. "I needed air."

Aiden’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment. "You did better than I thought you would tonight."

The unexpected compliment left her momentarily speechless.

"Don’t let it get to your head," Aiden added quickly. "You’re still weak. But at least you’re trying."

Selene’s hands curled into fists at her sides. "You don’t have to remind me."

Aiden took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I’m not trying to."

For a brief second, something flickered in his gaze—something almost soft—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"Get some rest," Aiden said, his tone returning to its usual indifference. "You’ll need it."

Before she could respond, he disappeared into the woods, leaving Selene alone beneath the silver glow of the moon.