Chapter 27: 26

Chapter 26

"My one minute starts now?" Cataleya repeated the words as if they were poison to her tongue. "Who do you think you are?" Her initial purpose was to do this as discreet as possible, but she couldn't help but raise her voice at the audacity of the inexperienced trainee, standing before her.

Amber Santiago dares issue a countdown on her?

"Who do I think I am? I don't quite understand the lady's question. I thought you approached me because you knew who I was." There was a genuine look of confusion on Amber's face. She also even got the time to grab the face towel, hanging over shoulder, and wipe the sweat off her forehead nonchalantly. "The clock is ticking."

All the blood rushed to Cataleya's head. "What's with the warning? Don't you know who you're talking to right now? I'm a squad leader." Without further ado, she put her hand on Amber's shoulder in attempt to push her down, and make her kneel, but she was instead met with shock.

The kid's stance didn't budge one bit.

What more…

Amber just threw her hand a puzzled look as if she didn't feel the strength she put in it at all.

"Is that supposed to be a pat, Ms Cataleya?"

The question threw her off, causing her to reluctantly get her hand off the kid.

'What's wrong with her?'

Amber's friendly tone was pissing her off.

She still has got the nerve to smile at her like that?

"Don't take me for a fool, Amber Santiago," said Cataleya through gritted teeth. "You're doing it on purpose, aren't you?"

"Pardon…?"

"Quit playing innocent," she roared angrily. "Come with me for a second."

'I don't get it. What's so special about her? Not only did she receive a warm welcome from the Chief, the Alpha went to personally check on her, too, before leaving for his meeting.'

Amber was reluctant to follow the squad leader at first.

To her, the idea didn't make sense, and was such a waste of time.

Does being called like this while in the middle of training normal?

As far as she knows, she's doing the squats right—though her pace is a little faster than the rest. That also explains why her current count has already reached seventy-nine.

Is she doing it wrong?

Is that what this is about?

Amber's steps came to a halt when a pale of water was thrown in her face, awakening her senses in full.

It was only then she realized that Ms Cataleya brought her to a secluded area where upland tallgrass prairie was abundant. The squad leader sneered down at her with a malicious glint in her eyes.

Amber had to wipe her wet face with the back of her hand. Her brows knitted upon the sight of her clothes—they were completely soaked.

What's happening…?

"Are you starting to feel pity for yourself now, Amber Santiago?"

The unmistakable contempt in the lady's voice told her that she more or less held something against her. Otherwise, she wouldn't be ostracized, and treated in such an appalling manner.

Sir Brandon had warned her about how notorious squad leaders could get in sessions, but Amber wasn't expecting it was to the point she'd get hectored like this.

Amber was baffled to the point she couldn't even remember what the lady asked her just now. "What is this behavior?"

But then again, Ms Cataleya looked even more offended by her question. "What did you say?" She marched towards her with a determined expression, and when she was about to lay a hand on her, Amber swiftly jumped away. "Who said you could evade your punishment? Don't make me use brutal force on you, Amber Santiago. Come back here."

Punishment?

For which transgression exactly?

Amber couldn't think of anything, so once again, she defied the lady's order.

She refused to move from her spot—which was several yards away from the angered squad leader. "I shall head back to the training grounds," she informed her. "I'll forget what happened here, but please never do it again. The other trainees might misunderstand."

And she doesn't want that.

Amber doesn't want people to think that she probably did something to incur a squad leader's wrath.

Perhaps, she could tell her friends that she just slipped, and fell somewhere out there in case they came asking as to why she returned, soaking wet.

Well, she could dry herself on her way back, too—though it probably wouldn't help that much.

'Now that I think about it…'

Ms Cataleya obviously put something in the water. Pure water shouldn't feel this sticky against her clothes… against her skin.

"You'll forget what happened? Why does that sound as if you're doing me a favor instead? Don't think highly of yourself, Amber Santiago. You're just a kid."

Huh?

When did she ever brag…?

"I'm not the one who thinks that, Ms," Amber replied, pursing her lips together. "It's you."

"W-what?"

"I said it earlier. I was willing to forget what the squad leader had done to me. I don't wish to cause a ruckus on the same day I decided to attend the pack training. Doing you a favor, you say? Maybe…" Then, she shrugged her shoulders slightly. "Maybe not. The point is, why make it big when the both of us can avoid trouble altogether?"

You are reading story The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight at novel35.com

Cataleya let out a scornful laugh. "Wait… did you seriously think I was going to get in trouble with you?" she questioned, eyes twinkling in dark humor. "I… a squad leader?" All of a sudden, her gaze on her turned sour. "Don't lump me in with the likes of you. Remember this, Amber Santiago. You're just a crumb in this pack—our pack."

Amber just stared at the woman coldly.

It's amazing how she thinks she's got a clean hand in this, and won't get in trouble just because she holds the title of a squad leader.

Is that how it is?

Because… if the answer is yes, then Amber can never see it as a perk.

It's more like a curse—a curse strong enough to alter one's mindset.

And that's dangerous.

Not only would it bring harm to herself, the pack members would surely be affected as well.

"Being a leader doesn't excuse you from responsibilities. It's quite the… opposite. You'll bear responsibilities on your shoulders for every harm done. Being a leader doesn't warrant you free of guilt from anything." Their gazes met meaningfully. "Is the squad leader, perhaps, planning to lie to the Commander about what exactly took place here?"

Cataleya inhaled sharply.

No one has ever dared accuse her of something like that before.

And even if they did, those people didn't actually voice it out.

But, this kid…!

She must be courting death.

"Maligning me in my presence? I hope you're perfectly aware of what you're doing, Amber Santiago. I asked you to come with me because there was this one thing I had to tell you." Her orbs shone differently, hinting that her wolf was nearly taking over. "You. Are. Not. That. Important."

That message again.

Frankly, she was starting to grow tired of it.

Amber isn't the type who normally stoops low to her challenger's level—especially if this person who's trying to get under her skin is a pack member of River Severn.

She firmly believes that conflicts between pack members shouldn't exist in the first place.

Pack means family, right?

They're supposed to have each other's backs… not stab each other in the back.

So, Amber reached a harsh, yet sad conclusion. Ms Cataleya isn't fit to be a leader.

"Have we met before, Ms?"

Ms Cataleya looked at her disgustedly. "Excuse me? No."

"That means I haven't wronged you in any way before…" Amber wasn't playing anymore. After all, she didn't come here for games. Her business here was 'Jay', and the best way to look for a person she wasn't acquainted with was to join the pack training because it was guaranteed that everyone would be there.

Amber finally did her signature move.

Tilting her head to one side—but this time, not because of curiosity, but mockery. "Then, what has gotten you so mad?"

"That…! That's it! I knew that behind that mask, you were ill-mannered! You suck up to the Alpha, and God knows what you've been actually doing to curry his favor!" she seethed. "Tell me, why did you show up here today? It's probably to get everyone's attention, right? Because you're that thirsty, Amber Santiago! You want the whole world to be looking at you! Guess what? That ain't happening." A wicked grin appeared on her luscious, red lips. "After all, you're not among the chosen ones. You're not from an exceptional species!" Cataleya's devilish, gray eyes roved up and down her form. "You're not that… strong."

"…you're shit."

And with that, something snapped.

Amber felt something heavy in her chest as the squad leader's remark gradually sank in.

'You're not that strong.'

The words rang in her head painfully, rendering her incapable of making rational decisions from that point forward.

Amber still didn't forget the deal that she and Alpha Severus had made a long time ago.

To be the strongest is the way.

To be recognized by the Capital's division of pack warriors is key.

And to be allowed to course through Akkad to find her father is the goal.

But, how could she do that when it was a squad leader herself who said that she wasn't even… strong?

How far is she from reaching her goal at this point in time anyway?

Amber was having mixed emotions, but there was one feeling that stood above all.

Her sense of urgency.

So, she looked Ms Cataleya in the eye, and asked, "Are you strong?"

The woman couldn't help but chuckle.

And it only made Amber feel as if she was stupid for asking such a question.

"Stronger than you…" she stated teasingly, "and by a lot."

Amber felt her heartbeat spiked up.

"Good. Then, you can be my stepping stone." Amber pointed a finger at the direction back to the training grounds.. "Let's spar."

You can find story with these keywords: The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight, Read The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight, The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight novel, The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight book, The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight story, The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight full, The Flower that Blooms in the Moonlight Latest Chapter