Chapter 622 - Your mother didn’t die after birthing you
"If you fall for the third time, then you’ll spend the whole day on strength training." Voren’s voice was stern, brooking no argument.
Corvine quickly got to his feet, his pride stinging. This time, he was able to dodge three of Voren’s kicks and punches, his movements improving with each near-miss.
He could feel the rhythm of the fight, the flow of Voren’s attacks, and he began to anticipate them. His footwork grew sharper, his reactions quicker.
But just as he was finding his footing, pack warriors began to walk into the gym. Their eyes widened at the sight of their Alpha in full training mode, his expression cold and merciless.
They spread out cautiously, forming a loose circle around the sparring area, ready to observe and learn. The air was thick with anticipation.
Kael and Damon soon followed, their footsteps echoing across the polished floors. But seeing Corvine’s sweaty form, his chest heaving, the warriors grew nervous.
It was obvious that their Alpha would always be grumpy during training. There was no escaping his intensity. The memory of previous sessions, of broken bones and bruised egos, was still fresh in their minds.
Athaliah reported to training with Jasmine after Jasmine had sent the kids to the academy. But Voren was upset when none of the warriors wanted to train with him.
They were still afraid because of their previous experiences, though Seraphine had healed them. Part of their excitement last night was because Kael had already informed them that Seraphine was Doctor Ash.
However, they also heard the news that Seraphine was pregnant. With that knowledge, they had no hopes that Alpha Voren would allow her to use her powers in her condition.
Her healing abilities would be reserved for emergencies only. With this thought, no one wanted to train with their Alpha. The risk of injury without the guarantee of healing was too great.
"Alpha." Burke said nervously, his voice trembling. He had tasted of broken bones before, and the memory still haunted him. "Can I train with Beta Kael?" He glanced at Damon. "Beta Damon is also good, but I haven’t trained with Co-Alpha yet."
Unknown to him, his words angered Voren greatly. His eyes flashed with barely contained fury.
He first turned to Kael and Damon, his voice carrying a note of command. "Corvine leaves in three days, and we shall be training together after the normal training session."
It was clear to Voren that Kael was too soft on the warriors, that the training had grown lax in his absence.
Damon was excited to learn some new moves, his eyes bright with anticipation. But when he saw how pale Kael had become, his expression draining of all color, he began to wonder what was going on.
Voren’s voice roared through the gym, sharp and commanding. "Hundred lapses in thirty minutes." His gaze swept across the assembled warriors. "Everyone, get out."
There was a war coming, and they were joking with training. It was just sad that he could not tell them. That would only scare them, would only spread panic through the pack.
Before he could say another word, everyone had left the gym, including Corvine. The space emptied in seconds, the warriors scrambling to obey.
Well, Voren didn’t make it easy for any of them. He stepped into the pack ground, watching as the warriors ran around the huge expanse.
Their footsteps pounded against the bare earth, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. By the count of fifty, some were getting tired as Voren expected. But thanks to his presence, none of them dared to stop. His cold gaze followed them, a silent reminder of the consequences of failure.
When they returned to the gym, Voren only allowed them five minutes to catch their breath before intense training began without any one-on-one. It was brutal, relentless, designed to push them to their limits and beyond.
However, he informed them, his voice carrying absolute finality. "Tomorrow, every warrior is going a minute with me."
Their shoulders slumped instantly, the weight of his words pressing down on them. The prospect of facing their Alpha one-on-one was terrifying. Soon, only Corvine and Voren remained in the gym.
Athaliah watched from the entrance, her arms crossed, her expression tight with worry. In the beginning, Corvine seemed to be doing well, dodging, blocking, countering.
But then, his movements grew sluggish, his reactions slower. Either he was getting tired, or the training had just gotten too intense. Voren pushed harder, his attacks coming faster, more brutal.
As the punches and kicks grew more intense, Corvine begged to take a break, his voice strained. Voren’s response showed that wasn’t happening, his face implacable. That was when Liah decided to look for help.
By the time Seraphine got there, Corvine was half-conscious on the floor, his body battered and bruised. His chest rose and fell in shallow gasps, his eyes barely open.
Seraphine’s heart clenched at the sight. "V, are you training or killing him?" Her voice was sharp, accusatory.
Voren showed no remorse, his expression cold and distant. "Every pain he feels, he would inflict on his enemies." His voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "This is what it takes to win."
He sipped bottled water and dropped it before saying, "We need to see the shaman." His eyes rolled to the back as he mind linked Kael. ’Bring Damon to the shaman’s cave.’
Then he mind linked his father. ’Dad, we should meet at the shaman’s cave.’
When he was done, he looked at the man on the floor again, his voice carrying a note of disgust. "Don’t tell me your wolf is also too slow. You should be healed by now."
Everyone knew that Voren was being ruthless, but none of them could utter a word. Corvine’s wolf had been healing him since the beginning, working tirelessly to repair the damage.
But naturally, with continuous injuries, the healing would slow down. The body could only take so much.
Corvine got up, his movements slow, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. Voren passed him a bottle of water, his expression cold. "Drink, and let’s go."
As soon as he reached Seraphine, the coldness melted from his eyes. He lifted her in his arms, cradling her against his chest. "Let’s go."
Seraphine tried to wiggle out of his arms, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "V, I’m okay. I can walk."
Last night, it had been romantic, a gesture of love and possession. But this time, she was embarrassed.
After all, she wasn’t that weak, wasn’t some fragile thing that needed to be carried everywhere. However, Voren only dropped her gently on the floor after they arrived at the shaman’s cave.
The woman seemed to be waiting for them due to the sitting arrangement. Chairs arranged in a semicircle, candles flickering, the air thick with incense and mystery.
As soon as everyone took their positions, the shaman asked Voren, her ancient eyes sharp. "Are they all aware?"
"No." Voren’s voice was firm. "But as leaders, they have to know. We’ll work together on the funeral, and you have to take the newcomers through the pack ritual before the ceremony."
Only Voren will do things backwards but that was exactly what was needed at this moment.
The shaman forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "That’s exactly why I couldn’t tell your father." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "Your mother didn’t die after birthing you."