Chapter 349 The weakness

Chapter 349: Chapter 349 The weakness

Kaelen’s POV

The training yard was empty except for the two of us.

The dew was still fresh on the grass, and the mist was rising from the ground like ghostly fingers. I had been here since before dawn, waiting for Cain to arrive because I needed to train, I needed to push myself, and I needed to be ready.

I heard footsteps behind me, and I turned to see Cain walking toward me. He was already dressed for training, and his face was calm and focused.

"You are early, Alpha." he said.

I nodded. "I could not sleep."

I stood across from Cain, and I felt the weight of the sword in my hand. The morning light was filtering through the trees, casting long shadows across the dirt. I could hear the birds singing in the distance, and I could smell the earth and the grass and the sweat that was already beginning to form on my skin.

But I was not thinking about the birds. I was thinking about the battle that was coming. I was thinking about Malachai’s army, about the corrupted wolves, and about everything that was riding on us winning.

"Ready?" Cain asked, and his voice was steady and calm.

I nodded, and I felt the determination settling in my chest. "Ready."

He lunged, and I blocked. His sword clashed against mine, and I felt the impact vibrate through my arms. I pushed back, and he stepped away with a smooth, practiced movement.

I followed him, pressing the attack. He blocked, parried, and sidestepped with the fluid grace of a man who had been fighting his whole life. I was fast, but he was faster. I was strong, but he was stronger.

"Your footwork is sloppy, Alpha," Cain said. "You are telegraphing your moves."

I gritted my teeth, and I adjusted my stance. "Better?"

He nodded. "Better. Now do it again."

I charged towards Cain, but he still felt too fast for me somehow.

"Faster," he called out. "You are too slow."

I gritted my teeth, and I attacked. I swung my sword in a wide arc, and he ducked under it. I followed with a thrust, and he sidestepped. I was faster than I had been before, but it was not enough. Or at least not yet.

"Again," I said.

We circled each other, and I could see the assessment in his eyes. He was watching me, studying me, and looking for weaknesses. He had been a soldier long before he became my Beta, and he knew how to read an opponent.

"Your stance is too wide," he said. "You are leaving yourself open."

I adjusted my feet, and I attacked again. This time, my sword connected with his, and I saw the surprise flicker in his eyes.

"Better," he said. "Again."

I lunged again, and I felt the familiar burning in my skin.

The burning started in my hands and spread up my arms like fire. I could feel my skin reddening, and I could feel the weakness creeping into my muscles. I tried to push through it, but my body was fighting me.

I stumbled, and I caught myself before I fell. Cain was watching me, and I could see the concern in his eyes.

"Alpha," he said. "Your skin..."

I looked at my hands, and I saw the red welts forming. The silver was burning me, and I could not stop it.

It was the silver allergy breaking out again. It was always there, lurking beneath the surface. Every time I pushed myself too hard, and every time I exerted too much energy, I could feel it. I could feel the burning, the weakness, and the reminder that I was not invincible.

I stumbled, and I felt the world tilting around me. My vision blurred, and I felt my knees buckling beneath me. Cain caught me before I fell, with his hands steady on my shoulders.

"Alpha," he said, and I heard the concern in his voice. "You are pushing yourself too hard."

I shook my head, and I forced myself to stand. The burning was still there, spreading through my veins like wildfire. But I would not let it stop me. I could not let it stop me.

"I am fine, Cain. Again." I said with a firm voice.

He looked at me, and I saw the hesitation in his eyes. He wanted to tell me to stop, and he wanted to tell me to rest. But he knew me too well, and he knew that I would not listen.

"Alpha..." Cain started to say.

"Again," I said with a cold voice this time.

Cain nodded, and he took his stance but he was barely moving. I attacked again, not minding his hesitation, and I felt the silver burning through my veins.

But I did not stop. I could not stop as I thought about the dungeon, and about the silver bars.

I remembered the way the silver had glinted in the torchlight, cold and unyielding. I remembered the way it had pressed against my skin, burning me with every touch. I remembered the way Talia had looked at me, her eyes filled with fear and determination. She had broken those bars with her own blood, and she had saved me.

I would not let her down, and I would not be weak again.