Alpha Deception

er cloak. She wasn't just Clinton Roy here; she was a shadow hiding in plain sight, weaving

g gaze locking onto he

i

. soft. Rita's stare wasn't one of recognition but fascination, as if the persona Mia wore was a beacon in the du

quiet kind of awe an affection reserved for someo

g through the woods, a promise of friendship before the world tore them apar

ickered, nudging each other as they whispered about Cli

yourself." he said as he stood with hand behind h

but she forced herself to keep walking, the

ere warriors dueled fiercely. Her muscles itched to move,

hrough the din softl

int

e. His eyes held concern mixed with something

nt to train together,"

clenched her jaw, struggli

shaking her head. "No. I

on her shoulder "Why not? You'

ly touched her cheek, her knees betrayed her. She s

iet reassurance. She closed her eyes for a moment, tasting safet

so softly no one b

as Kelvin's mocking voi

to act tough," he sneered, stalking past wit

th fury. "Keep your

ward, Jayson's hand gripp

, glaring at Jayson. "D

welled, and then a ch

he shadows like a vi

with malice. "Do they allow people to com

ed, memories crashin

shb

their childhood

over Mia as she knelt in the

istake," Trina hissed.

d the earth, heart

Mia squared her shoul

ged, slashing with a hidde

ime, feeling the cold

d through her quick blocks, evasive steps, counterattacks. Her body moved

ped closer,

n, watc

ain, vicious a

wrist and twisting, forcing the

rowd

ward, her voice

ing reckle

with eyes burning . Then

pset the woman you'r

idn't

sult, every bruise, eve

now. She was fighting the pas

to her side,

be ca

d at him a

her here and asked f

g to be careful

way without

daggers left hanging in the cold air. Mia's chest heaved with ragged breaths, her lungs aching, but he

od home. The ground was cold and damp beneath her knees. Dirt caked her fingers, tears blur

re just a bastard of a being

he had learned early to fight silently. To hide behind a mask of fire and fury, lest she be cr

ds throbbed anew. But this time, Mia was no longer

er gotten satisfaction from leavi

inton," Trina spat, stepping clo

rce as steel. "Maybe I'm ex

ling like smoke. The air thickened with ten

oice cut throu

iga

ard Oligario. His eyes, cold and unforgiving, locked on Mia with unmistakable disdain.

ligario's presence during her childhood flooded back, a

shb

rself cornered beneath a sky dark with storm clouds. Oligario stood bef

y," he warned, voic

embling and she screamt. "Sh

was cold and empt

o's hand tightened on his sw

ke," he growled, his v

licker of fear. "I don't kno

flash of silver but before the sword could

oug

iating in every step. His sharp eyes swept ove

aid, voice cold and final. "Oligario, sheath

but he obeyed, sliding the blade back i

cking smile as she withdrew,

knew one way or the other sh

to the edge of the training grounds. The cold seeped through her

hewn log, muscles achi

ly beside her, his pre

voice low. "Why do

the distant stars. Then, voice barely above a

ther and Jessie's fierce face,

ing and the First