VALERIA’S POV
I was relieved that Elijah’s behavior didn’t change after that day. Despite everything, he treated me the same as always, and for that, I was grateful. I had half-expected him to pull away, to distance himself after learning more about me. But no, he remained steady, patient, and unyielding. It was comforting in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
We resumed training soon after, and every day I could feel myself improving—getting stronger, faster, more focused. My old pack, cruel as it was, left me with one gift that proved invaluable during my training: my pain tolerance. Years of enduring punishment had hardened my body and mind in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated until now.
Each bruise, each ache from Elijah’s rigorous sessions, was a mark of progress, not suffering. I e
