Chapter 267: Do You Know Who You’re Talking To?

Chapter 266: Do You Know Who You’re Talking To?

At the same time at the training grounds.

The shift in atmosphere was immediate after Orion left. His absence hung over the training grounds.

Garron stepped forward with quiet authority, clapping his hands once to bring everyone’s attention back. "Everyone, keep moving. Don’t think you can slack off just because Orion isn’t here anymore. If anything, you should work harder so you can show that you’ve improved when he shows up."

Some of the trainees straightened instantly. Others dragged their feet. A few cast glances toward the exit where Orion had disappeared with Rita.

But one person didn’t even pretend to pay attention.

Holly.

She stood completely still, her swords hanging loosely at her sides. Her jaw was tight, her lips pressed thin, eyes locked on the path Orion had taken—like she expected him to suddenly turn back for her.

He didn’t.

And that frown deepened.

He just left? She couldn’t believe it. This had to be a joke after all. Orion wouldn’t just... she shook her head. He left after all, didn’t he?

She was sure it was because of that demon girl. The demon who had come to destroy her pack. The one who was making Orion so blind that he couldn’t tell his left from his right.

"Come on, let’s get back to training. Alpha Orion isn’t here after all," Nia told Holly.

But Holly didn’t move. She stayed rooted to the ground.

Nia waited a second... then another.

"Holly," she called. "You do know staring isn’t going to bring him back here, right? We may as well get back to training."

Holly turned to her then, her gaze cold. There was a sneer on her lips, but she nodded.

"Let’s start with stance first," Nia instructed. "Shortswords require closeness. They are core-engaged and not like longswords. Relax your shoulders."

Holly lifted her hands but made no real effort to adjust.

"Your wrists are too stiff," Nia added. She stepped closer, pointing toward Holly’s grip.

"Don’t fucking touch me," Holly growled at Nia, who frowned.

"Um... pardon me, but I haven’t even gotten that close to you to make you growl at me like that. If you don’t like me coming close, then just say so kindly," Nia told her.

Holly looked at her like she’d just been insulted.

"You’re very bold all of a sudden."

Nia’s lips curved slightly. "Maybe you don’t know me, but I’ve always been bold. I don’t cower, especially not when growled at like I stole your banana."

Holly laughed, but it was humorless. "Do you know who you’re talking to?"

Nia didn’t even hesitate. "Yes," she replied calmly. "I’m talking to you, Holly."

Holly stared at her, genuinely taken aback that someone had spoken back to her so directly — and in front of others.

"Are you going to train or not? If you’re not, then you can leave so the rest of us can continue training. I’m sure you saw the results of the last test, but we aren’t very good at this yet," Nia told her calmly.

Holly stared at her in anger. Someone as low as Nia, who was still labeled a trainee, was speaking to her like they were on the same level? She could not believe it. It was insulting too. Blinded by anger, she lunged at Nia, swinging her blades, determined to cut her down.

But she was only halfway there when cold metal at her throat stopped her. She looked at the blade at her neck and then turned to the culprit.

"Touch even just a hair on my sister’s body and I can’t guarantee you’d be walking out of this training ground without any scar on your body," Laia told her calmly, but her eyes held anger.

Holly froze.

"You wouldn’t," she hissed at Laia. "If you touch me, then you’ll be in trouble."

"I wouldn’t, especially because you tried to hurt my sister first and I was only protecting her," Laia told her.

"You wouldn’t dare hurt me," Holly scoffed.

Laia tilted her head slightly. "Try me."

The tension vibrated between them.

From behind, Joren broke the silence.

"Alright," he said calmly, stepping between them just a little. "Deep breaths. Everyone take a moment before someone does something dumb they’ll regret."

Laia didn’t move immediately. She stared Holly down, unblinking.

Slowly... she withdrew her sword.

Holly swallowed, her chin lifting in wounded pride. She glared at all of them before she turned on her heel and began marching out of the training grounds, boots heavy, fury radiating off her like heat.

Not one person tried to stop her.

When she was gone, Nia exhaled.

She turned to Laia, hands settling on her hips.

"You need to control your anger issues."

Laia blinked at her.

"Anger issues?" she echoed.

"Yes," Nia said. "You don’t threaten people every time they irritate you."

Laia shrugged casually. "I’m not angry."

Nia eyed her.

"You would have really hurt her."

Laia’s lips twitched. "Okay, so maybe I was a little angry, but you don’t get to reprimand me. You didn’t even move to stop me, which showed you were angry too."

Nia nodded. "I’m not even going to deny it, I was angry. She was speaking like I was supposed to be beneath her. We are around the same fucking age and we are both trainees."

Laia looked away, staring in the direction Holly had left.

"This is my first conversation with her and I have to admit that didn’t go as planned. Maybe she’s like this because she’s with him?" Laia asked.

"With who?" Nia asked her.

"Alpha Orion."

"You know..." Joren spoke up. "From what I saw before Alpha Orion left, I’m not sure he and Holly are together."

"Really?" Nia asked him, intrigued.

Joren nodded. "I mean... think about it. He avoided her when he was here. He made sure to keep distance between the both of them and he didn’t even acknowledge her when Rita came. If anything, I’d say she’s the one into him."

Laia nodded. "I hate to admit it, but you are right. I don’t think he and Holly are together after all."

Nia smirked. "Contrary to what Dren thought, Cat might’ve been right."

Joren tilted his head. "About?"

"About not seeing them together," Nia replied. "Cat said she just didn’t see it, remember?"

Laia hummed in agreement.

"I remember," she said. "Alpha Orion barely even acknowledges her. He only does because he has to."

"And because she forces it," Joren added.

Nia groaned. "It’s embarrassing to watch. And it’s also mortifying that we all thought that he and Holly were together."

They fell silent for a moment, observing the other trainees across the grounds. Garron barked instructions at the longswords group, his voice steady, unbothered by the drama.

Joren shifted his weight. His expression softened slightly.

Then he spoke.

"Don’t you think..." He paused. "...Alpha Orion and Sophia look better together instead?"