CHAPTER FIVE- STRIKE.

~AVA’S POV ~

I hadn’t even gotten the chance to adapt to my new environment when Mira tossed a blade toward me.

The steel flashed in the dim light, landing in the snow with a dull thud. I flinched.

“Exiles. Cast-outs. They come through these woods, starving and wild,” she said suddenly, as if continuing a conversation I hadn’t started. Her tone was calm, too calm. “Most find the rogue trails.”

I blinked at her. “And the others?”

She looked up from where she crouched, eyes cold as winter stone. “Die trying.”

My throat tightened. I choked on my saliva, trying to swallow the weight of her words. Did I escape death, or did I step right into it?

Before I could speak, Mira moved closer. She bent, picked up the blade, and pressed it into my palm. Her fingers were firm, her gaze unyielding.

“Time you learned to protect yourself.”

The metal bit against my skin, heavier than I expected. I turned it awkwardly in my hands, unsure how to even hold it. “I, I don’t know how.”

“The more reason I’m teaching you.” She was already walking toward the back door. “Come.”

I followed her outside. The clearing behind the cabin was still layered in snow, though sunlight had begun to soften the crust. It was more like a training ground.The trees stood tall and watchful, circling us like silent witnesses. For the first time in weeks, the air carried birdsong.

Mira didn’t waste time.

“Blade up. Feet apart.”

I tried to mimic her stance. My knees locked. My shoulders stiffened. Everything about me felt wrong.

“Wrong,” she said sharply.

She stepped behind me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off her despite the cold. Her hands nudged my elbows, adjusted my grip, shifted my weight.

“Again.”

I swallowed, adjusted, tried again.

Mira’s voice came low and steady. “You hesitate too much. Out here, hesitation kills.”

Then, without warning, she lunged.

I gasped, stumbling backward so fast the snow crunched beneath my boots. The blade slipped from my fingers. “Hey!” I yelled, nearly falling.

Her eyes narrowed, no sympathy there. “The world doesn’t wait for you to be ready,” she said, circling me like a predator. “It attacks.”

She took a step back, blade still raised, stance sharp and controlled. “Again.”

I bent, grabbed my weapon, and faced her. My heart hammered so loud I could hear it. This time, when she moved, I reacted. Clumsy, slow, but I dodged. Barely.

The momentum sent me off balance, and I fell, except I didn’t hit the ground.

Strong hands caught me.

When I looked up, silver eyes met mine.

It was him.

Mira straightened immediately, lowering her blade. “You’re back, Damon.”

He didn’t look away from me. “I’ll take it from here.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Mira hesitated, then gave a single nod before stepping back, vanishing into the line of trees.

And I was left alone in the clearing, with him.

“Ava,” he said, voice like smoke curling through my name. Gentle. Too gentle for the sharp lines of his face.

I froze. His tone didn’t match him, too calm, too soft, like a ghost of something human that didn’t quite belong.

I swallowed hard. “Why are you here?”

“I’ll be taking over from Mira.” His reply was clipped, cold. Detached. Not even a flicker of warmth in his silver eyes.

It hit like ice in my chest. “Taking over?”

He gave a short nod, expression unreadable.

I stared, searching for something, anything, in his face. “You were the one who saved me.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “Why?” My voice cracked, trembling at the edges. “Why did you even bother?”

Silence.

He didn’t answer. Just stood there, steady as stone, his gaze fixed on me. The weight of it pressed down until the air itself seemed to thin.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, steady. “The Shadowborn will soon come for you. You need to be ready.”

My stomach twisted. “What do you mean?”

He didn’t blink.

“What Shadowborn?” I demanded. “Why me…?”

Steel hissed.

Before the question could leave my lips, he moved.

Fast.

A blur of motion, blade flashing like silver fire.

I barely had time to flinch before the strike came down. Instinct took over. I stumbled back, raising my sword just in time for the steel to clash with his. Sparks flew.

The impact rattled up my arms. “Are you insane?” I gasped, retreating a step. “You could’ve killed me!”

He didn’t answer. His expression didn’t change.

Then he came again. Faster. Sharper.

The second strike nearly knocked the sword from my grip.

“Strike, Ava, left!” he barked.

My sword jerked left, awkward and late, but it caught him just in time. The force sent a crack of pain shooting up my leg. I stumbled, balance slipping. My knees hit the snow hard.

He didn’t stop.

Every movement from him was controlled, precise. Testing me. Breaking me down.

The clash of metal echoed through the clearing, harsh against the still air.

I tried to stand, tried to breathe, but then something inside me shifted.

I couldn't really explain what was going on within my body but no sound escaped my lips, not even a scream, ripped through my mind.

But then, my wolf surged up.

What was going on with me? Will I really die this time?

My chest tightened, heat burning under my skin. Pressure built like a storm clawing to get out, like fire tearing itself apart inside me. I gasped, clutching at my ribs. The sword slipped from my hand, falling into the snow with a dull thud.

My vision blurred.

The world twisted.

Spinning. Tilting.

Shapes melted into darkness.

Somewhere in the haze, I heard his voice again, sharp this time. Urgent.

“Ava!”

Footsteps. The sound of steel hitting the ground.

Then closer, his tone breaking for the first time. “A-Ava, are you…”

But the words didn’t finish.

As darkness stole everything.