LILA'S POV
The afternoon sun was slipping away behind the tall pines by the time we all gathered in the training yard.
The chill of early evening crept in, and it had made the air feel heavy and tense.
I could feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. You know, their silent judgments and quiet doubts.
Kade stood in the center. His were arms crossed, and he had a clipboard in hand. His expression was unreadable but sharp as always.
When he called out my fake name, “Liam,” my whole body tensed, like I was about to be thrown into the deep end.
“You’re leading the group through the obstacle course,” he said flatly. “No mistakes. You mess up, you’ll answer to me.”
The coldness in his voice made my stomach twist. This wasn’t just about a drill anymore. It was a test, and I knew Kade w
