Chapter 190 – The Ground Shakes
–LIA’S POV–
The training chamber was colder than I remembered.
“Again,” Zane said, standing across from me.
I exhaled slowly, facing him. The last time we trained down here, I’d made him kiss me without even intending it. I’d made him say he enjoyed pineapple on pizza. It had been terrifying. And powerful.
But now?
I couldn’t even get him to blink.
“Come on, Lia. Compel me,” Zane said.
I squared my shoulders. “Alright. Don’t move.”
I pushed. Tried to reach into that place inside me where the power usually sat—just under the surface, like a live wire. But all I got was static. A dull flicker that fizzled out halfway through.
Zane didn’t budge.
“You’re holding back,” he said.
“I’m not.”
Chapter 190- The Ground Shakes
Lucky Draw
“Then you’re blocking yourself.”
I clenched my fists. “I’m not blocking anything. It’s just not working.”
“Try again.”
I grit my teeth and lifted my chin. “Kneel.”
He stared at me. Completely still.
Nothing.
No heat. No flare. Not even the strange tug that came with a successful command.
“I said kneel,” I repeated, louder.
Zane folded his arms. “Say it like you mean it.”
“I do mean it!” I snapped. “Why do you think I’m down here?”
I tried again. And again. The words left my mouth like bullets, sharp and clear.
“Freeze.”
“Step forward.”
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Chapter 190 – The Ground Shakes
“Look at me.”
Nothing.
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Lucky Draw
Ajax leaned against the wall near the door, watching with a worried frown. Warner paced. Sheila and Aaron just stared, their expressions unreadable.
“You okay?” Ajax asked.
“I’m fine,” I said. Too fast. Too sharp.
Zane walked closer. “You’re not fine.”
“I can do this.”
“Not like that.”
I felt the heat rise to my face. “I don’t know what you want me to
say,
Zane. I’m trying. It’s not like I forgot how it feels.”
“You’re scared,” he said quietly.
I blinked. “What?”
“You’re afraid of what this power means. You’re afraid of becoming something you can’t control.”
I laughed—bitter and short. “That’s rich, coming from you guys.”
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Chapter 190–The Ground Shakes
Lucky Draw
The Hounds exchanged uneasy glances. “What does that mean?” he asked softly.
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “You’re the one who keeps calling me dangerous. When I used my power for the first time, you guys refused to talk to me for days. And even last night, I could see the looks on your faces when Zane kissed me. So don’t act like I’m the only one who’s scared of me.”
Zane stepped back slightly. “I never said I was scared of you.”
“But you are still scared for me.”
“Of course I am, Lia. I love you. I cannot risk your safety, my
love.”
“You don’t trust me, Zane, to hold my end,” I muttered.
“That’s not true,” he replied.
“Oh yeah? Then why won’t you let me fight without that power?”
He stared at me like it was obvious.
“Because if it’s gone, you’re vulnerable.”
“I’m not a child, Zane. I can protect myself.”
“I know you’re not.”
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Chapter 190 – The Ground Shakes
Lucky Draw
The Hounds exchanged uneasy glances. “What does that mean?” he asked softly.
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “You’re the one who keeps calling me dangerous. When I used my power for the first time, you guys refused to talk to me for days. And even last night, I could see the looks on your faces when Zane kissed me. So don’t act like I’m the only one who’s scared of me.”
Zane stepped back slightly. “I never said I was scared of you.”
“But you are still scared for me.”
“Of course I am, Lia. I love you. I cannot risk your safety, my love.”
“You don’t trust me, Zane, to hold my end,” I muttered.
“That’s not true,” he replied.
“Oh yeah? Then why won’t you let me fight without that power?”
He stared at me like it was obvious.
“Because if it’s gone, you’re vulnerable.”
“I’m not a child, Zane. I can protect myself.”
“I know you’re not.”
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Chapter 190 – The Ground Shakes
Lucky Drow
“Then stop treating me like one.”
His jaw tightened. “If your power doesn’t come back, you’re staying inside during the fight.”
I froze.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m deadly serious. I’m not putting you on the front lines if you can’t defend yourself, Lia.”
“I have other powers, Zane. I am strong too now. I get claws. Did you forget about that?”
“Lia. You’re untrained. These are Order soldiers we’re talking about. You saw what one bullet did to Warner. To Sheila. How can I take the risk if you cannot compel people?”
“Well, I’m trying to fix it, okay?” I cried, my voice cracking.
“I know you are,” he replied. “Keep trying. But if you can’t, you’re not fighting. I know where you’ll be safe. You will stay in that part of the pack house.”
“Zane. I can fight without it,” I insisted.
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Chapter 190 – The Ground Shakes
Lucky Draw
“I won’t let you.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I do. I’m your Alpha.”
That hit harder than it should’ve. My stomach dropped.
“Oh. Is that what this is about?” I said, my voice quiet. “You being my Alpha? I’m not even a werewolf. More like a goddess.”
“No,” he replied, blue eyes narrowed. “It’s about the fact that I love you and I’m not willing to lose you just to make you feel useful.”
I flinched like he’d hit me.
“So what—I just stay locked inside while the rest of you bleed for
me?”
“If it means you stay alive? Yes.”
I shook my head. “No. No way. You’re not doing this to me. You don’t get to protect me into helplessness.”
“Then give me a reason not to.”
I stared at him. Breathing hard. Heart pounding. Then I turned to Ajax.
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Chapter 130 The Ground Shaker
“Let me try again,” I said.
“Maybe you should rest–” Ajax started.
“No. One more time.”
He sighed and stepped forward.
I looked at him, everything inside me burning.
“Obey me,” I said.
Nothing.
“Obey me!”
The
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Lucky Draw
power didn’t rise. My eyes didn’t glow. I felt… empty. Like someone had unplugged me and forgotten to tell me.
“Lia…” Zane said.
“No,” I whispered. “No, no, no, I can do this.”
My vision blurred. Not from tears, just from panic.
I grabbed Ajax’s arm, looked him in the eyes. “Please.”
Still nothing.
Lucky Draw
Zane reached for me. “Lia, that’s enough–”
“I need to do this!” I yelled. “You don’t get it, Zane! I can’t be the weak link again! I won’t!”
“This isn’t about stren–” Zane began, only to be cut off as the entire chamber shuddered.
Dust fell from the ceiling. The lights flickered. Somewhere above us, glass shattered.
“What the hell–” Aaron whispered.
Another explosion. This one louder. Closer.
The ground vibrated. Aaron and Sheila spun towards the stairs. Warner’s claws were already out.
Zane grabbed my wrist, his eyes black. “Let’s go. Stay close to me.”
I didn’t argue.
Not this time.
The war had just come to us.
