The Alpha's Secret Luna

Chapter 782: Sam’s Mistake

Chapter 781: Sam’s Mistake

12 Days To Go

From the moment Sophia stepped foot on the training ground, she knew that this wasn’t going to be easy.

Daniel had a smile on his face, a knowing glint in his eyes that made her stomach tighten. He looked like he was already planning how to take her down, and she had no doubt that he would succeed.

Brynhild’s gaze swept around them, her silver eyes fixed on nothing, yet somehow aware of everything. Her twin swords were sheathed at her sides, but her hands were loose and ready.

Garron looked excited, practically vibrating with barely contained energy. He was bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, his eyes darting between the trainees as if he couldn’t decide who to attack first.

And then there was Taylor.

Sophia had seen her in passing, and she had never been unkind to her. But that didn’t mean she was any less dangerous.

Taylor had a huge scar over one eye. It was quite jarring against her very pale skin, a jagged line that spoke of a battle she had survived. The eye with the scar was a milky white, bordering on silver like Brynhild’s. But her other eye—a light brown—swept across those gathered with sharp, calculating focus. She had a bow strapped to her back and arrows at her waist.

Sophia took in those with her who would be training.

Sam was right next to her, and she looked nervous. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, her shoulders tense, her eyes fixed on the trainers with barely concealed apprehension.

"If this is how this war is going to feel like..." Sam began, then she shook her head. "I certainly hope it isn’t."

"It will be worse than this," someone chipped in from behind them.

"And we have to do good," another added. "It was brutal yesterday, and I don’t doubt for a second that it will be even more brutal today."

Sophia swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

Just then, she noticed that there were people gathering around the training grounds. A crowd was forming at the edges, their breath fogging in the cold air, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.

"We have spectators," one of them noticed dryly.

"No doubt it’s to watch the Luna," Sam said.

Sophia’s stomach dropped. "Now how am I supposed to cope with that much pressure?"

"Oh, you would do well. Just ignore them," Sam told her.

Sophia gave her a small, grateful smile. It was easier said than done, but she appreciated the sentiment.

Then suddenly, the air changed. It became charged with energy, crackling with anticipation.

"Let’s hope you lot can impress me," Daniel said as he unsheathed his sword. The blade caught the light, gleaming cold and sharp.

Sam took a calming breath, her shoulders rising and falling with the effort.

"I’m fast," she told Sophia, her voice low and steady. "And so I’ll go after Taylor. Most times, the archers are an issue, not that the others wouldn’t be strong even without said archer, though."

"I understand," Sophia told her. "If we can get the archer down, then it’s one less trouble. Those arrows can come from anywhere."

Then she unsheathed her shortswords. The pale blades gleamed faintly in the light, their creamy white surface almost glowing against the snow.

"I’ll cover you," she said to Sam.

And without even waiting for approval, she moved.

She ran directly towards the trainers, her boots pounding against the frozen earth. Daniel’s smile grew as she approached, his eyes lighting up with approval.

"Yes, that’s it," he said loudly. "That’s the spirit."

He immediately went after Sophia, his sword making a lunge for her midsection. But Sophia went to her knees immediately, snow flying at the movement as she avoided his attack. Then, instead of attacking him, she sheathed one of her swords and picked a dagger, sending it flying towards Garron.

Garron immediately jumped out of the way, the dagger embedding itself in the spot where he had been standing.

Meanwhile, Sam had already taken the opportunity and started going after Taylor.

Taylor had a smile on her face, calm and confident. She sent an arrow towards Sam, who deflected it immediately. But that wasn’t enough for Taylor. She sent two arrows in succession towards Sam, each one faster than the last.

One thing about Taylor was that she fought similarly to Tobias. And Sam had trained with Tobias.

Their arrows were designed similarly—thin and flowing with the direction of the wind, so they never looked at the direction their arrows headed towards because they were certain it would go where they wanted. It was a subtle art, one that required years of practice to master.

Sam knew those methods, and that was something that gave her a bit of an edge as she fought with Taylor. She anticipated the arrows’ paths, deflecting them with practiced ease.

And perhaps that was where she got too confident and slipped up.

She should have known, though. Most archers searched for a place to hide, a cover so they could shoot freely. But Taylor didn’t hide.

And another thing Sam failed to take into consideration was that Taylor wasn’t the only one they were fighting.

She was too late in realizing that because the one person she had thought to avoid was the person who attacked her then.

Brynhild.

And she had a smile on her face as she did it.

Her sword connected with Sam’s, sending a bolt of pain and shock through Sam’s arms. Sam staggered back, barely managing to keep her grip on her weapon.

Brynhild struck again, her movements fluid and precise, forcing Sam to defend desperately.

An arrow went flying towards Brynhild from somewhere behind her, and she used her sword to break it in two without even turning. Then she turned towards the source, her gaze fixed on the person who had dared to attack her.

But before she could act, a dagger flew past her from another direction, so close that it almost hit her.

Brynhild’s smile grew bigger, and then she turned to the source of the dagger, her unseeing gaze locking on the person who had the guts to throw a dagger at her so close that it almost hit.

"You’re good," Brynhild told her.

"I’m sure Orion would like to hear that," Sophia said, her chest heaving from the effort of the fight.

Brynhild immediately unsheathed her other sword, the blade catching the pale light.

"There’s no need to go easy on you," Brynhild said.

And immediately, she ran up to Sophia, closing the distance between them.