barely

lready awake, lying still beneath the sheets, staring at the ceiling. T

dn't matter. But now, they weren't just whispers. They were ta

was letting

the door made her

ped inside, her expression tight. She hesitate

to her much over the last few days. Mayb

ed outside, the packhouse was already alive with movement-warriors training in the clear

stares before

ith poorly hidden smirks, o

t a second before she forc

ds, surrounded by a few high-ranking wolves. Rowan sto

ly and approached. "

eping over her. "You haven'

ed. "I train

ected, nodding toward the warr

she had joined the warriors, they had made it clear she wasn't welcome-litt

ran kne

ay," he said, his tone

The pack's lead warrior, one of Kieran's clos

lf to meet Kiera

e you belong here

lief spread throug

rs nearby chuckled

n in her throat and squar

d toward Mar

his knuckles. "Don't ta

took her

he lu

it, not a test. Celeste barely dodged in tim

ainst her ribs, knocking

ated, sweeping her leg out. Marcus dodged easily,

ed through the

s cheeks

ance, breathing thr

time. She blocked, barely, but th

o slow," h

She had trained for years. But she could see it in their eyes-none

Kier

rching his face for something-

watched, exp

inside h

ut from under her, and

Marcus was above her, his boot pressing lightly against h

erupted

Marcus sa

s vision

ning. This was a

asn't st

ting them

r head-locking eyes with the mate w

at moment

was

ly enough to taunt her, to remind her of her place. Around her, t

t

the force of the last hit, h

ripping with amusement. "Come on, Luna.

le felt like

demanding she fight. But as she shifted, Marcus pressed his foot do

curled i

ding their smirks behind their hands. Even those

Kier

er gaze towa

y, arms crossed, watchi

e. No sign that he

t, something twisting

going t

in her s

d hear. "This pack will never follow you. Kieran k

it harder t

whistle cut t

Kieran fin

ed back, but not before

into the dirt. Her entire body ached, but it was noth

r. For one brief moment, she thought he mi

did

he gathered wolves and

murmuring to one another, but not b

away without

t Kieran like he couldn't beli

feet, swallowing down the humi

r again, his gaze unreadabl

he said befor

nding there, br