Kora’s POV
The sky turned red as dusk settled over the compound, streaks of gold fading into a deep burnished orange. The training field looked different at this hour—emptier, quieter, the air charged with the kind of tension that always came before a storm. Edward was already there, standing at the far edge near the trees, his jacket off, sleeves rolled to his elbows.
He looked like the Alpha everyone feared again. Hard, focused, dangerous. But when his eyes met mine, the edge softened, just a little.
“You’re late,” he said.
I glanced at the horizon. “It’s still dusk.”
His lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite. “Come.”
I walked toward him, my boots crunching softly on the dirt. My palms were already sweating inside my gloves, even though the evening was cool.
Edward handed me
