His words hit me like a punch to the gut. He was right. I had always held back, afraid of losing control, of what might happen if I fully embraced the power inside me. But standing here, in front of Mason, I realized I couldn’t afford to be afraid anymore. Not if I wanted to survive, to protect those I cared about.
“I’m not afraid,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt.
Mason’s eyes softened, just a fraction. “Then prove it. Show me what you’re really capable of.”
I took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. This was it. The moment of truth. I closed my eyes for a brief second, focusing on the power within me, the strength I had been so afraid to tap into. When I opened them again, I felt a shift, a surge of energy coursing through me.
Mason must have sensed it too, because he smi
