The Alpha kings Secret Mate

Chapter 7: The Fire Within

The wind howled through the clearing as Kade circled me like a predator stalking its prey. His red eyes glowed in the fading light, sharp and calculating. The air between us felt heavy, charged with tension.

"You wanted this fight," Kade said, his voice low and taunting. "Don't disappoint me."

I gritted my teeth, adjusting my grip on my daggers. My muscles ached from days of relentless training, but I refused to let the pain show. I had faced rejection, humiliation, and doubt my whole life—I wouldn't back down now.

Kade struck without warning. He moved like lightning, his blade flashing toward my side. I barely dodged in time, twisting away as the cold steel sliced through the air just inches from my ribs.

"Too slow," Kade growled.

I didn't answer—I couldn't. My breath was coming in short bursts, and my heart pounded like a drum in my chest. I lunged forward, slashing at his arm. He dodged easily, but this time I didn't stop. I spun, feinting right before darting left, aiming for his side.

Clang!

Kade blocked my strike, but his feet shifted—he had to adjust. A flicker of satisfaction sparked inside me. I was getting faster. Stronger.

"Better," Kade muttered, almost to himself. But then his expression hardened. "But not enough."

Before I could react, he lunged at me again. I jumped back, but his blade nicked my shoulder. Pain flared, sharp and hot, but I swallowed the scream rising in my throat.

"Focus!" Kade barked. "Pain is nothing. Fight through it!"

I clenched my teeth and moved faster, dodging his next strike by inches. My pulse pounded in my ears, and sweat trickled down my back. My muscles burned, but I refused to slow down.

Then I saw it—an opening.

Kade's footing shifted slightly, his balance uneven. Without thinking, I lunged forward, aiming for his exposed side.

For a moment, I thought I had him.

But Kade twisted at the last second, grabbing my wrist and yanking me forward. Before I could react, his arm locked around my throat, pulling me tightly against him.

"You're too predictable," he murmured against my ear.

I struggled, twisting and thrashing, but his grip was like iron. I couldn't breathe. My lungs screamed for air, and dark spots danced at the edges of my vision.

"Get… off me!" I gasped.

"Then make me," Kade growled.

Desperation surged through me. My instincts screamed for me to panic, but I forced myself to focus. I remembered what Kade had taught me—use your opponent's strength against them.

I let my body go limp, pretending to give up. Kade's grip loosened slightly, just enough. With a sudden jerk, I drove my elbow into his ribs, twisting free of his hold.

I stumbled away, gasping for air. My vision swam, but I blinked hard, forcing myself to stay upright.

Kade chuckled darkly, rolling his shoulder. "Clever," he said. "But you'll have to do better than that."

"I'm not finished," I shot back.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I charged forward. This time, I didn't aim for his blade—I aimed for him.

I feinted right, then spun low, sweeping my leg toward his ankles. Kade leapt back, but I was faster. I followed up with a strike from my dagger, slicing toward his chest.

For the first time—I landed a hit.

My blade cut across his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.

Kade paused, staring at the wound. Then—he smiled.

"Finally," he muttered.

I barely had time to react before he attacked again, faster and stronger than before. I dodged as best as I could, but my limbs felt like lead. His blade slashed down, and I raised my daggers to block—

CRACK!

The force of his strike knocked one of my daggers from my hand, sending it flying across the clearing. Before I could grab it, Kade's boot slammed down on my wrist, pinning me in place.

"You lost," he said coldly.

I glared up at him, breathing hard. "I'm still standing."

Kade's lips twitched, almost like he wanted to smile. Then he stepped back, releasing me.

"You're learning," he said. "But you're still holding back."

I clenched my fists. "I'm giving everything I have."

"No," Kade said, stepping closer. "You're still afraid. And until you let go of that fear, you'll never win."

His words stung, but I knew he was right. Deep down, part of me still doubted myself—still believed I wasn't strong enough.

I stood, wiping the blood from my shoulder. "Then teach me how to stop being afraid."

Kade's expression darkened. "I can't teach you that," he said. "That's something only you can do."

He turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the fading light. My heart still raced, and pain throbbed through my body. But even through the exhaustion and frustration, I felt something else—determination.

I wasn't done yet.

I would learn.

I would grow stronger.

And next time, I would win.

The sky had turned dark by the time I stumbled back to my room. My legs felt like stone, and my shoulder throbbed from where Kade's blade had cut me. I peeled off my torn shirt, wincing as the fabric stuck to the dried blood. The gash was shallow but angry-looking.

I grabbed a damp cloth and dabbed at the wound, biting my lip to stop myself from crying out. My reflection in the cracked mirror caught my eye. I barely recognized the girl staring back at me — messy hair, bruises blooming along her arms, and tired eyes that seemed to hold too many memories.

"You're stronger than this," I whispered to myself. But was I?

Kade's words echoed in my head.

> "You're still afraid."

I hated that he was right. No matter how hard I pushed myself, there was always something holding me back — the voice inside that told me I'd never be strong enough, never be good enough. After years of being rejected and humiliated, part of me still believed it.

I sank onto my bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The room was cold and empty, but my mind was far from quiet. Memories flooded in — the way my old pack used to whisper behind my back, the cold stares, the sneers. The night my father turned his back on me.

I had spent so long proving everyone wrong, yet somehow, it still didn't feel like enough.

I can't keep living like this.

I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms. I wouldn't let my fear control me anymore. I had to fight — not just against Kade, but against the weakness inside me.

Determined, I stood and grabbed my boots. The training grounds were empty by now, but I didn't care. I needed to train — needed to prove to myself that I could be stronger.

The night air stung my skin as I stepped outside. The moon hung low, silver and cold. Shadows stretched across the training ground, and the silence was unsettling. But I pushed forward.

Grabbing a wooden training sword, I started practicing my strikes — over and over again. Each swing grew sharper, faster. Sweat dripped down my face, my arms shaking with exhaustion.

Again.

Harder.

Faster.

I lost track of time, focusing only on the rhythm of my movements. My mind replayed every fight I'd had with Kade, every mistake I'd made. Each failure only pushed me to try harder.

"You're too tense."

I spun, startled. Kade stood at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed. His shirt clung to his chest, still torn from our earlier fight.

"You're supposed to be resting," he said, stepping closer.

"I don't need rest," I shot back. "I need to get better."

Kade raised an eyebrow. "You're stubborn," he muttered. "But stubborn doesn't win battles. Control does."

He walked over and snatched the wooden sword from my hands. "Here," he said, tossing it aside. "No weapons. Just you and me."

I blinked. "What?"

"You need to stop hiding behind your blades," Kade said. "You're strong — stronger than you think — but you don't trust yourself. You rely on your weapons too much."

I shook my head. "I can't beat you without a weapon."

"Not with that attitude," Kade smirked. "Come on. Show me what you've got."

I hesitated. My muscles ached, and my legs felt like jelly. But something inside me refused to quit.

I lunged at him, swinging hard. He sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing my wrist and twisting my arm behind my back. I gritted my teeth and spun out of his grip, narrowly dodging a counterstrike.

"Better," Kade said. "But you're still thinking too much."

I launched forward again — this time faster. Kade dodged, but I was ready. I ducked low and swept my leg out, catching him off guard. His footing faltered, and I saw my chance.

Without hesitation, I leapt forward, slamming my fist into his ribs. Kade stumbled back, eyes widening.

"Nice," he muttered. Then his smile returned. "But don't celebrate yet."

Before I could react, he surged forward, tackling me to the ground. My back hit the dirt hard, and Kade's weight pinned me down.

"Still too slow," he growled.

I squirmed beneath him, but he didn't let go. His red eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, everything else faded. His gaze wasn't cold this time — it was something else. Something... softer.

"You're not weak, Aria," Kade said quietly. "You never were. But until you believe that — until you stop fighting like you're trying to prove something — you'll never win."

His words hit harder than his fists ever could.

I swallowed hard. "I'll get stronger," I whispered.

"I know," Kade said, releasing me and standing up. "But next time... don't just try to be strong. Be unstoppable."

As he turned to leave, I lay there in the dirt, breathing hard. My body ached, but I felt something new — something powerful.

For the first time in my life, I didn't feel

like a failure. I felt like a fighter.

And I wasn't done yet.

I didn't move for a long time after Kade left. I lay on my back, staring up at the sky. The stars blinked faintly above me, distant yet steady. My chest rose and fell in slow, shaky breaths.

His words kept ringing in my ears.

"Don't just try to be strong. Be unstoppable."

Unstoppable. The word felt impossible — yet somehow, it ignited something inside me. A fire I hadn't felt before.

I pushed myself up, wincing as my sore muscles screamed in protest. My legs shook, my arms ached, but I refused to stop.

I started practicing again — no weapons, no blades — just me. Every punch, every kick, I imagined my past chasing me. My father's disappointed gaze, the whispers of my old pack, the moments I felt worthless. I hit harder. Faster. Stronger.

I wasn't just training.

I was fighting back.

Hours seemed to pass. My breath came in ragged gasps, and sweat soaked my clothes. My hair clung to my face, and my limbs trembled, but I refused to stop.

"Again," I whispered to myself. "Again."

The voice in my head — the one that had always told me I wasn't enough — started to fade.

I didn't hear Kade return, but I felt him watching me.

"You're still here?" he asked from the shadows.

"I'm not done," I muttered, still punching at the air.

"You're barely standing," he pointed out.

"I'll stand as long as I have to," I shot back.

Kade stepped closer, and this time there was no smirk on his face. His expression was serious, his red eyes sharp.

"Alright," he said quietly. "Show me."

I turned to face him, fists raised. My muscles screamed in protest, but I didn't care.

Kade moved first — fast and precise. His hand shot out toward my ribs, but this time I was ready. I twisted to the side, dodging his strike. He tried again, aiming low, but I shifted my weight and blocked his arm with my own.

"Good," Kade muttered.

I lunged at him, feinting left before spinning right. My fist slammed into his side, and for the second time that night, I landed a hit.

But Kade didn't back off. He grabbed my arm and twisted, pulling me into a lock. I gasped, feeling his grip tighten.

"Don't panic," Kade warned. "Use it."

I remembered what he'd taught me — use your opponent's strength against them.

I dropped suddenly, my weight pulling him forward. The momentum broke his grip, and I twisted free. Without giving him time to recover, I drove my elbow into his chest.

Kade stumbled back, coughing.

"You're learning," he said between breaths, his tone almost... proud.

"Good," I shot back. "Because I'm not stopping."

For the next hour, we kept going. Each time Kade knocked me down, I got back up. Each time I failed, I tried again. I knew I couldn't match his strength — not yet — but I wasn't trying to overpower him anymore. I was faster, sharper, and I refused to quit.

Finally, Kade stepped back, raising a hand to signal the fight was over.

"That's enough," he said, breathing hard. "You've pushed far enough for one night."

I staggered back, barely able to keep my legs steady. My body ached, but a sense of pride swelled inside me.

"Not bad," Kade said. His gaze softened slightly. "You're stronger than you think."

I nodded, too exhausted to speak.

"Get some rest," Kade said, turning away. "We'll train again tomorrow."

I watched him disappear into the shadows. For once, I didn't feel like a failure.

I felt like I was finally becoming the warrior I was meant to be.