CIARA'S POV
The morning light painted the clearing with hazy gold when I squared off against Noah. My breath clouded in the cold dawn air. Around us, a small circle of sentinels watched, their faces a mix of curiosity and confusion. I knew what they were thinking: why was Noah, the most skilled fighter among them, wasting his time with me—the Alpha's daughter who'd never shown any real talent for combat?
I wiped sweat from my forehead and tried to steady my breathing. We'd been at this for nearly an hour, and my muscles burned with exhaustion. Noah stood across from me, barely winded. His posture remained relaxed, casual even. It made my blood boil.
"Again," he said, gesturing for me to attack.
I lunged forward, aiming for his midsection. Noah sidestepped with annoying ease and hooked
