gged on the stone altar, her eyes closed as she breathed deeply. The lingering aftereffects of the transformation still buzzed in her veins,

ad faced the wolf within, and for the first time, she had taken control. Her senses had sharpened, her refl

hts. He stood at the edge of the clearing, arms cross

eight of her wolf form in her chest, the thrum of primal power ready to surge. Yet, she didn't fe

her voice rough, but s

er, the weight of his presence filling the space between them. His

e said. "The Rite isn't the end. It's th

Crimson Fangs were coming for her-coming for the pack-and the fight was inevitable. Th

ow and serious. "You'll train with us. Learn to fight, learn to cont

s voice was impos

sked, standing up from the alt

ing it in battle is different from controlling it in the heat of the moment. The F

espite the warmth of the sun. "What if I don't wan

on't have a choice. The power is a part of you now. You can either learn to wiel

ival-it was for her very soul. If she didn't master this transformation, she would lose her

to die," she

l but approving smile tugging at the corner of hi

a deep breath and followed, determination settling in her bones. She wasn't going to

#

in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The air was still cold, bu

eyes on her, sizing her up, testing her. Fenric stood near the back, his arms crossed

a weight that made the others fall silent. "Elise, you're the newest member of this pack, and that means you'

tro

wolf once, but that was nothing like the kind of c

studied her with a mix of professionalism and concern, a

the real challenge is learning to control your shifts. Learn

, her pulse

s of the pack spread out in a circle around her, each one standing in a def

ust pure skill. If you can hold your own against him, you'l

ty toward her was as palpable as the air itself, and she could sense his

d, his voice low and mocking as he st

into fists, a surge of a

e. "You don't need to prove anything to

at her since last night simmered just below the surface, but she couldn't afford to

. The challenge in his eyes was unmistakable. But there was something el

growled, his voice

didn't have the lu

stincts kicking in just in time to avoid his outstretched arm. She moved fluidly, but Fenric was fast-faster than anyone s

. He grabbed her by the shoulder, his grip like iron, and slammed her into the grou

She forced herself back to her feet, her body screaming

n. Elise blocked his attack with a swift parry, her f

oice rang out. "

er Fenric's next strike, rolling to the side and springing up behind

ent he lunged again, Elise anticipated his movements, but this time, she fo

orking almost automatically. She struck him in th

or the first time, a flicker of s

id, his voice proud.

r was still there, but now, it was just a whisper-

ity had shifted. There was something li

he muttered, wiping s

Elise replied, a smirk playi

of the circle. "We've got a long way

bout mastering herself, controlling the power that had nearly destroyed her. She wasn't just learning to fight