Chapter 6: Lessons in the Shadows

The forest was eerily quiet the next morning as Amara stood in the clearing, her fists clenched at her sides. Adrian stood across from her, his arms crossed, his expression impassive. The bruises and cuts from his fight with Logan were barely visible now, though she knew they must still sting.

“Today, we work on strategy,” Adrian said. His voice carried no room for argument.

Amara raised an eyebrow. “Strategy? You mean, like fighting?”

“Not just fighting,” Adrian corrected. “Surviving. Out here, brute strength only gets you so far. You need to think ahead, anticipate your opponent’s moves, and most importantly, learn when to fight and when to walk away.”

She frowned. “Walking away doesn’t sound like much of a strategy.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It is when staying means getting yourself killed.”

The cold truth of his words settled over her, and she swallowed hard. She hadn’t realized how much of her previous training had been rooted in the safety of a structured pack. Here, in Rogue Haven, the rules were different.

“Let’s start simple,” Adrian said, gesturing to the trees around them. “Tracking.”

“Tracking?” she repeated, surprised.

“You’ll need it,” he said. “For hunting, for evading threats, and for finding your way if you get separated.”

Amara nodded, trying to absorb his words.

Adrian knelt, his fingers brushing the ground. “Look at the soil. What do you see?”

She crouched beside him, studying the dirt. It looked like...well, dirt.

“It’s disturbed,” Adrian said, pointing to a faint indentation. “Someone passed through here recently.”

“How can you tell?”

He smirked faintly. “Years of practice. The weight of their steps, the direction of the prints—it all tells a story.”

Amara nodded, though she wasn’t sure she understood. Adrian rose, motioning for her to follow him deeper into the forest.

They spent the next few hours moving through the woods, with Adrian pointing out trails, scents, and subtle signs of movement. He explained how broken twigs, claw marks on trees, and even the way leaves were scattered could reveal information about who—or what—had passed through.

“You’re a quick learner,” Adrian said, glancing at her as she correctly identified a set of wolf tracks.

“Thanks,” she said, a small sense of pride bubbling in her chest.

But that pride was short-lived. As they returned to the clearing, Mara was waiting for them, her arms crossed and her blue eyes flashing with irritation.

“What now?” Adrian asked, his tone laced with exasperation.

“Logan’s pack,” Mara said bluntly. “They were spotted near the river this morning.”

Adrian’s expression darkened. “How close?”

“Too close,” Mara replied. “They’re testing our borders again.”

Amara’s heart sank. She had hoped that Logan’s retreat the previous night would have ended the tension, but it seemed he wasn’t done causing trouble.

Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’ll deal with it.”

Mara raised an eyebrow. “We? You mean you and your new pet?”

Amara bristled at the insult, but Adrian stepped forward, his tone sharp. “Enough, Mara. She’s not your enemy.”

Mara snorted. “Maybe not yet. But trouble follows her like a shadow.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to Amara. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?” she asked, her stomach knotting with unease.

“To the river,” Adrian said. “If Logan wants to test our borders, we’ll show him he’s not welcome.”

Amara followed him without hesitation, though doubt gnawed at her. She had only just begun to understand the rules of this new world, and now she was being thrust into its harsh reality once again.

---

The river was a rushing ribbon of silver, its surface sparkling under the midday sun. Adrian led her to a spot where the bank curved, offering a clear view of the surrounding forest.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice low.

Amara nodded, her senses on high alert. She scanned the trees, her wolf restless beneath her skin.

A low growl broke the silence, and Adrian tensed. Logan and two of his packmates emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice.

“Back so soon?” Adrian said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Logan smirked. “Just wanted to say hello. You know, keep things friendly.”

“Friendly?” Adrian’s voice was cold. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

Logan chuckled, his gaze shifting to Amara. “And who’s this? Still dragging around your little stray, I see.”

Amara clenched her fists, refusing to let his taunts get to her.

“She’s none of your concern,” Adrian said, stepping between them.

“Oh, but she is,” Logan said, his smirk widening. “You’re putting all of us at risk by keeping her here. She’s pack. She doesn’t belong.”

Adrian’s growl was low and menacing. “She belongs wherever I say she does. Now leave before I make you.”

Logan’s expression darkened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might attack. But then he stepped back, his smirk returning.

“Enjoy your peace while it lasts,” he said. “It won’t last long.”

With that, he and his packmates disappeared into the trees, leaving an uneasy silence in their wake.

Amara let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “What now?”

Adrian turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Now, we prepare. Logan’s not going to back down. And if we’re not ready, he’ll destroy everything we’ve built here.”

His words sent a chill down her spine. She had thought exile was the worst thing that could happen to her. But now, standing at the edge of a war she didn’t fully understand, she realized her fight was far from over.