The pain of training was unlike anything Liam had expected. It wasn’t the dull ache that came from a long run or the sharp, sudden bite of a misstep. It was something deeper, more unforgiving. The kind that gnawed at the edge of his confidence, that made him question every muscle, every movement, every breath. Each day, he met Mike’s eyes with a mix of hope and apprehension, pushing himself beyond his limits, trying to keep up with the man who was everything Liam could never be.
Today was different. Today was the first combat simulation.
Mike stood across from him, his posture easy and relaxed, as if the entire world had slowed to a crawl. His broad shoulders were set, his eyes focused, scanning Liam’s every move. The air between them was thick with unspoken challenge, with the weight of
