Chapter Six
The last thing I remembered was the poison eating through my veins, Dylan's cruel smile, and John being dragged into the dark. Then—blackness.
But someone had been watching.
From the shadows, the Supreme Elder, Jasper, moved like a phantom. His cloak whipped behind him as he caught my limp body before it touched the ground. Silent as the night, he carried me into the depths of the forest to a hidden cabin cloaked in wards. He laid me on the bed and kept watch.
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The next morning, sunlight crept through the window, warm against my face. I groaned and tried to block it with my hand. My head throbbed.
"Where… am I?" My voice was barely a whisper.
That's when I noticed him.
Jasper was sitting in a chair beside me, watching me like a hawk.
I jolted upright, my heart racing. "You—" Memories from the night before slammed into me, and I clutched my head.
"Oh, good. You're awake," Jasper said evenly, as if this were all normal.
Rage boiled inside me. "Don't act like you saved me. I know what you did."
One of his brows arched. "And what exactly did I do? Besides stop you from dying?"
"You made me a target!" I snapped, voice cracking. "You handed me that token in front of everyone—you knew they'd come after me! Why?!"
He didn't answer. His silence felt heavier than words.
Then it hit me. John.
"John!" I pushed to my feet, panic rushing in. "He's still with Dylan—I have to find him!"
Before I could move, Jasper's hand pressed me firmly back onto the bed. "You can barely stand, let alone save him."
I froze, staring at him. "How do you even know about him?"
Jasper's smirk deepened. "i saw you guys together in the cabin last night "
My chest tightened. I tried to fight back, reaching for anything. "The Lightning Pack took the token. If they use it before we get there—"
"Oh, that?" Jasper leaned back casually. "Don't lose sleep over it. The token I gave you was fake."
The words hit me like a slap. "What?!" My voice cracked with disbelief. "You—you played me?"
I tried to lunge at him, but he sidestepped without effort. I hit the floor hard, pain rushing up my arms. Tears blurred my vision.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I choked out.
Jasper's eyes hardened. "Don't blame me for your weakness. You did this to yourself here."
My fists shook as I forced myself up. "If you hadn't made me the saint, none of this would've happened!"
"And if you can't even protect a token," Jasper cut in, voice sharp, "how are you supposed to protect your family? Your pack? The entire clan?"
His words cut deep. I staggered back onto the bed, his glare pinning me in place.
"This world isn't kind, Luna," he said, his tone colder now. "You either hunt… or you're hunted. Which one are you?"
Memories flashed. Running. Always running. Wolves closing in. Hunters with silver blades. John protecting me over and over.
I hated it. I hated being helpless.
My fists curled. "I don't want to run anymore. I want to fight. Train me."
For the first time, Jasper's lips curved in something close to approval. "Good. Change into the clothes on the table. Meet me outside."
Minutes later, I stepped into the clearing, the air sharp and cool. Jasper stood with his back to me, staring at something in the distance.
"What are you looking at?" I asked.
"That tree."
I followed his gaze until I spotted it—marked with a red X.
"Run there and back in thirty seconds." His tone was flat, like he didn't doubt me.
I smirked. "That's it? Please. Easy."
But the moment I started running, my body dragged like I'd been shackled. Each step was harder, heavier.
"Oh," Jasper said almost lazily, "I forgot to mention. Those clothes are laced with special threads. The more power you use, the heavier they get."
My chest burned as I tried to move forward, legs trembling.
Then he raised a whistle to his lips and blew, sharp and commanding.
"Time starts now," Jasper said, a dangerous smirk tugging at his lips. "she is just like her mother ".