Page 19 of A Warrior's Fate

At the mention of his pack, Isla couldn’t stop her tired mind from traveling to her mate.

She wondered if Kai had already conquered his beast and exited the Wilds. If he was safe. Ready to return to that royal city. So she’d heard, Mavec rivaled Io’s famed capital in its beauty. If it weren’t for many factors—the biggest now being that it was home of the man she intended to avoid for the rest of her life—she would’ve loved to see it one day.

Isla brought her attention back to the Trainee. The pass seemed innocent enough. “If it’s just a road, why can’t I know about it?”

“It’s not just you. It’s something the hierarchy wants buried from everyone.”

“Then how do you know about it?”

“I read the right books and know the right people,” he said before adding lowly, “or the wrong people, depending on who you ask.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

She knew the hierarchy had its mysteries, far above her jurisdiction. Many secrets that would never pass her eyes or ears. Although, within an Imperial family, she was entitled to absolutely nothing. But what could this random Trainee—from Tethys of all places—have been privy to that she wasn’t?

Seeing she was still lost, he explained, “Back before the decimation, the alphas of Phobos and Deimos were brothers.”

“They were?” One bloodline ruling over two separate packs—it was unheard of.

The Trainee nodded. “They secretly made this pass to connect their people and bring their lands together, while already being two of the more powerful regions on the continent by themselves. You can imagine how that went over with the reigning Imperial Alpha. A sudden budding empire. Challengers to his highest rule.”

“Not well?”

“No, definitely not well.” The Trainee shifted on his feet, fear and uncertainty flashing across his face for the first time. As if he finally realized what he was doing. The secrets he was divulging. He hesitated, mouth opening and closing. “I—I saw you talking to the new Alpha of Deimos before the Hunt.”

Isla stiffened. She hadn’t really been covert about it. “Oh.”

“I’d be careful if I were you,” the Trainee said.

“Why?”

“You’re of Io and the Imperial Beta’s daughter,” he said as if it were obvious. “He’s the Alpha of Deimos.”

“Why does that matter?”

The Trainee went quiet. It felt as if hours had gone by before he finished mulling something over and spoke again. “There’s a lot of…darkness in the pasts of Deimos and Io. A lot of bad blood. It runs deep.”

Isla found it difficult to swallow as the forest seemed to take on a new eeriness as if responding to his claims. She paused, listening again to make sure they were safe. Not just from bak but from other listening ears.

She’d heard of some disagreements and difficulties between their packs—not much different than any other internal strife—but nothing along the imposing lines of darkness and bad blood.

“But the decimation and this supposed pass were centuries ago,” she argued for her own reassurance. “Surely any deep-rooted animosity has long diminished.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” The Trainee’s voice was low. “Especially after everything that just happened.”

Everything that just happened? “You mean with the alpha and heir?”

Rustling in the trees had them both tensing, the Trainee raising his sword and Isla drawing her claws in response. But it was merely a small cursedly-deformed, squirrel-like creature that skittered across the forest floor. It would’ve been smart to kill it for food, but Isla was still too wrapped in everything the Trainee had shared.

“I should go.” The Trainee pocketed the marker and adjusted his hold on his weapon with a sigh.

He was right, but—

“Wait,” Isla protested. “You have to explain.”

His features fell, and he shook his head as if he regretted telling her all of this at all. “We’ll…we can talk when we’re out of here.” He turned to head off in another direction. “See you on the other side.”

Isla huffed, and as she prepared herself to shift again, an idea struck.

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