After the first trial, my body ached all over. Every muscle screamed, and every bruise throbbed. I could still feel the sting of Tharic's punches and Kalenor's pushes. My hands were scraped, my legs tired, but I didn't care. I had survived. I had proven, at least a little, that I could fight.
Talia met me at the edge of the training ground. "Alpha Kaelen wants you ready. Your next trial starts at sunrise," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
"Sunrise?" I groaned, dragging my feet. My body felt like it belonged to someone else. "I can barely walk."
Talia shook her head. "You can. You will. That's the Velkorin way."
I clenched my teeth. She was right. No one was going to coddle me here. I had chosen to stay, and that meant I had to face every trial.
The next morning, the sky
