Cal sat in darkness most evenings now. He checked in with the instructors at the academy with his father to discuss his progress and training amongst the pending council appearance he was due to make at any point they decide to summon him. After the meetings, he shadowed Darrin following up with Brady and Kel on security and finances. The head warrior would make recommendations on new recruits that Cal and Darrin would sign off on. New recruits meant more protection for the pack. New recruits meant safer borders. More recruits, now, meant they were taking them at younger ages than before. For Cal, deciding to take on younger men, boys really, into security felt quite literally like sending boys off to war. Some he knew from school already, and though many were even older than he, the weigh
