The days following our return to the packhouse were intense, a whirlwind of training and heightened preparation. Every able-bodied shifter was on high alert, training with renewed vigor as the looming threat of potential conflict grew nearer. The pack felt it, sensed it. The tension simmered just beneath the surface, a reflection of the bond I shared with Carter—steady, but carrying an undertone of urgency.
This morning, the sparring grounds were alive with the sounds of bodies hitting the ground, determined grunts, and the shuffling of feet. Ethan, my Beta, and Lena, my fierce Gamma, moved through the lines of warriors, correcting postures and calling out commands with authority. Their presence grounded the warriors, whose expressions shifted between intensity and respect.
Beside me, Ca
