The Princess's Revenge Chapter 25

Valencia’s POV

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the laughter and jeers from the crowd. My fingers wrapped around Dragon Claw's handle, and I began to pull it from its sheath.

This was my reality. This was what I would always be - powerless, at the mercy of those stronger than me. I lifted the dagger toward Xander with a blank expression.

"Then who the fuck deserves it?"

The angry voice cut through the air like a blade. Everyone's heads turned toward the stone building. Alpha Logan was walking toward us with Dr. Vance beside him. His face showed no emotion, but the power radiating from him made the air heavy. I could barely breathe.

Xander swallowed hard when he saw Alpha Logan approaching. The confidence drained from his face in seconds.

Without a word, every warrior in the training grounds dropped to their knees. I helped Delphine steady herself as we both knelt on the cold stone. My heart pounded so hard.

Alpha Logan's boots stopped right in front of Xander. Then his hand moved faster than I could see. The slap echoed across the air. Xander's head snapped to the side, and he had to put his hands on the ground to keep from falling over.

"Who's the alpha?" Alpha Logan's voice was deadly quiet, but it carried to every corner of the training grounds.

Xander wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with shaking fingers. "It's you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"WHO'S THE ALPHA?" Alpha Logan roared this time.

The power in his voice hit me like a physical force. I felt compelled to answer, like my body wouldn't let me stay silent. Along with everyone else on the training grounds, I found myself shouting, "IT'S YOU!" The words came out of my mouth before I could think about them.

Alpha Logan's dominance was overwhelming. He looked around at all of us and his gray eyes were cold. "This is Valencia," he said, his voice carrying clearly to every person present. "She's my girl."

My mouth fell open in shock. He had said it so publicly. There was no room for misunderstanding. I stared up at him in complete disbelief.

"All of you saw me bring her back," Alpha Logan continued, his voice growing harder with each word. "And yet you dare to humiliate her again and again. I told you the most important thing to me is fucking loyalty. If I find this happening one more time, I will rip out the heart of whoever is responsible."

The anger rolling off him was terrifying. I could feel it in the air around us dangerous. But I felt relief and gratitude growing in my chest. The humiliation and rage from moments before began to fade away. His promise to protect me hadn't been empty words.

My mother had always taught me never to trust men. "Don't listen to what they say," she used to tell me. "Watch what they do instead." He was keeping his word.

"Come with me," he said.

I looked up instinctively and found his eyes staring directly at me. My heart skipped when I realized he was talking to me. I scrambled to help Delphine to her feet, my hands shaking from nerves.

"Can you walk?" I whispered to her.

"Yes," she said softly, though I could see she was still dizzy. "I'm okay."

I wrapped my arm around her waist to steady her as we followed Alpha Logan and Dr. Vance toward the stone building. Behind us, I could hear the whispered conversations starting up again as the other warriors slowly got to their feet.

"What the fuck is going on?" one of them asked quietly.

"Alpha Logan has never claimed anyone before," another voice replied.

"What does that make her now? Is she Luna?"

"Bullshit, she's a fucking wolfless."

I tried to ignore their words, but they echoed in my head.

Logan's POV

I stood outside the stone hut that Dr. Vance handled wounded trainees here, my jaw clenched tight with anger. My pack member had attacked an innocent woman who was only trying to help my girl. The thought made my blood boil.

How dare they treat her under my protection this way? The rage simmered beneath my skin, threatening to explode. But I forced myself to stay calm.

I pushed open the door to find Dr. Vance cleaning Delphine's wounds while Valencia sat nearby, her face pale with worry.

"How is she?" I asked, my voice coming out rougher than intended.

Dr. Vance looked up from his examination. "Mild concussion. She'll need rest for a few days, but she should recover fully."

I nodded. At least the damage wasn't permanent. But the fact that it happened at all was unacceptable.

"Check Valencia too," I ordered. "Make sure she's healing properly."

"Alpha, I'm fine," Valencia protested softly.

I fixed her with a stern look. "That wasn't a request."

Dr. Vance moved to examine Valencia while I watched carefully. His hands were gentle as he checked her wounds.

"Her injuries are healing well," he reported after a thorough examination. "The cuts are clean, no signs of infection. Her strength is returning."

"Good." I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

I turned to Dr. Vance. "Continue treating Delphine." Then I gestured for Valencia to follow me. "Come."

I led her across the training grounds toward the northern section – my private training area.

The area was smaller than the main training grounds but better equipped. Heavy stones for strength training, specialized weapons, everything I needed to maintain my edge.

Valencia looked around with wide eyes, taking in the equipment. "Alpha, this is where you train?"

"Yes." I walked to the weapon rack and selected a training dagger. "And this is where you're going to learn to fight."

Her face went pale. "Alpha, I don't think—"

"You accepted the challenge," I cut her off. "Now you need to be ready for it." I handed her the dagger. "Show me your grip."

Valencia took the weapon awkwardly, holding it like she might hold a kitchen knife. I moved behind her, my hands covering hers to adjust her position.

"Firm grip, but not too tight," I instructed. "You need to be able to move quickly."

Her skin was warm under my touch. I could feel her pulse racing. Her purple eyes, brown hair, her profile captivated me completely. Her graceful figure awakened both my protective instincts and the desire deep within me.

Focus, I told myself. She needs to learn this.

"Like this?" she asked, adjusting her hold on the weapon.

"Better." I stepped back to observe her stance. "Now, basic movements. Thrust forward, pull back, keep your guard up."

She attempted the motion, her movements clumsy but determined. I could see she was trying hard, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Again," I commanded.

Valencia repeated the thrust, this time with more confidence. There was something there – a natural fluidity to her movements that surprised me.

Interesting. Most people are stiff when they first hold a weapon. But she's adapting quickly.

"Faster," I ordered. "In a real fight, hesitation will get you killed."

She picked up the pace, her movements becoming more natural with each repetition. I watched carefully, noting how she instinctively shifted her weight, how she kept her balance even as she moved.

"Good. Now, defense." I held out my hand. "Give me that training dagger. Use your own weapon." She handed me the practice blade and drew the red dagger from her waist. The crimson weapon suited her perfectly. I silently praised Gareth. Good job.

"I'm going to attack slowly. Block my strikes."

Valencia's eyes widened with fear. "I don't know how—"

"You'll learn." I moved toward her with a slow, deliberate thrust.

She raised her dagger instinctively, managing to deflect my attack. The metal rang as our blades met.

"Excellent," I said, genuinely impressed. "Again."

We continued the drill, gradually increasing the speed. Valencia's reflexes were sharp – sharper than they should be for someone with no training.

There's something here. I couldn't sense a wolf in her, but there was definitely something beneath the surface. A sleeping power that she hadn't tapped into yet. It made me even more curious about her past, about who she really was.

"You're holding back," I observed after several minutes.

"What do you mean?" Valencia was breathing hard, sweat beading on her forehead.

"Your body knows what to do, but your mind is stopping you." I circled her slowly. "You're afraid of hurting me."

She flushed. "You're an Alpha. I couldn't hurt you if I tried."

Wrong answer. I moved without warning, my dagger flashing toward her throat. Valencia reacted instantly, not just blocking but countering with a strike toward my ribs. I barely managed to deflect it.

"Where did that come from?" I demanded.

Valencia stared at her own hand holding the dagger, looking as surprised as I felt. "I... I don't know. It just happened."

Fascinating. Her body moved on pure instinct, without conscious thought. That kind of natural ability is rare.

"Do it again," I ordered.

"I don't know how—"

I attacked again, faster this time. Valencia's response was immediate and precise, her dagger moving in a perfect defensive pattern before transitioning into an attack that would have found its mark if I hadn't been ready for it.

"Incredible," I murmured.

She has natural fighting instincts that most warriors spend years developing. But how is that possible? She's wolfless, supposedly untrained. Yet her body moves like it remembers combat.

"Alpha?" Valencia lowered her dagger, confusion clear on her face.

"You have talent," I told her honestly. "Raw talent that most people would kill for."

Her cheeks flushed with pleasure at the praise. "Really?"

"Really." I set down my weapon and studied her more carefully. What are you hiding, Valencia? What secrets are buried in that pretty head of yours?

There was definitely something dormant inside her. I could feel it now, a subtle energy that pulsed beneath her skin. Not a wolf – I would recognize that immediately. But something else. Something powerful.

Valencia's POV

We'd been training for over an hour when Logan suddenly stopped mid-strike. His training dagger lowered, and his gray eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"Take a break," he said, his voice rough.

I nodded, grateful for the respite. My muscles were screaming, and sweat dripped down my face despite the cool air. I sat on one of the large stones used for strength training, trying to catch my breath.

Logan remained standing, but he wasn't looking at the training equipment anymore. He was looking at me. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words.

I thought about what I'd decided during those three days on the mountain. I needed answers.

"I know it was you," I said quietly.

His expression didn't change, but I saw something flicker in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"On the mountain. The food that appeared at my cave. The rabbit that was already prepared. The presence I felt watching me, protecting me." I met his gaze steadily. "I know it was you. I need to know why."

For a long moment, Logan said nothing. Then he walked over and sat on the stone beside me. Not touching, but close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"Yes," he said finally. "I was there. Every night."