thing distant, but when she opened her eyes, the noise only grew louder. Her chamber was

oor o

ice commanded, de

muscles stiff, her mind still fogge

for the sun," he said.

again. No room

ast night she had chosen to stay. Chosen him. But only now, as

her bed. They were plain but sturdy, the Shadowfang crest stitched into the chest. She sw

ning grounds stretched wide, lined with torches that flickered against the grey dawn. Warrior

was different. These weren't familiar faces. These were strangers-enemies-wol

t by firelight. His silver gaze cut through th

crossed the dirt ground, every step heavy un

ne. You know who she is. You know where she came from. The

the warriors. Selene flin

m, "she is mine now. And I will make her stron

n. You will bleed. You will break. And if yo

but she forced her

e weapons rack at the si

never been trusted to touch. Back in Kael's pack, women like her weren't

she picked up a wooden staff, lighte

y. "Interesting choice. Let

muscles straining against his tunic. H

elene whispe

If you only face shadows, yo

staff, wood clashing against steel. The vibration rat

back, her staff scraping against the dirt.

," someon

o throw the staff down, to run, to scream that she

ed in her mind. His sneer.

inside h

body, and swung the staff upward. It cracked against his ribs. N

sharper, crueler. Selene barely dodged, the blade grazing her

chest, not with strength, bu

Her legs shook. Blood dripped from her cut, soa

s's voice rang

y grudging respect. Selene's chest heaved, sweat dripping down

Then Darius spoke. "B

ntest thread of approval wove through his

arrior after warrior. Each stronger than the last. She was knocke

rove her forward. The memory of rejection. The fir

est heaving. Sweat slicked her skin. Her palm

hed," one war

e, Darius stepped into the circle. H

id. "She's

d hauled her to her feet. His grip was

," he

t him in disbeli

eel, but his gaze burned. "Do not tell me w

ewhere inside, her wolf

d her chi

faced her himself. He didn't dr

me," he

itated. "I

better,"

one hand and twisted, sending her stumbling. She regained her balance and swung again.

he evaded. Sweat poured into her eyes. Her lun

but at his legs. He hadn't expected it. The staff cracked

his chest, almost l

tunned by the flicker of

anded a h

their eyes shifting with somethin

is moment. Weakness is a lie. You've been told it so l

o deny it, to claim it was only luck. B

ing da

hing

e. "Tomorrow, we do it again. And the day a

, her pulse racing. "

s burned into hers, the world n

," he sa

lade. She couldn't look away, couldn't

he turned, his voice snapping

their glances lingered on Sel

, her staff broken, her heart pounding. She didn

thing wa

ever be the