Octavia's Point of View
The mats smell faintly of sweat and leather as I tighten my ponytail, trying to shake off the nerves buzzing under my skin. The room is already full of energy, wolves stretching, sparring, laughing. I tell myself I belong here just as much as anyone else, but my chest still feels too tight.
Then I feel it, that gaze. So heavy and unwelcome.
I glance up and, of course, it is him. The cocky blond from yesterday. Rafael, Kai had called him. Tattoos, smirk, attitude thick enough to choke on. And of all the people in this room, he is walking straight towards me.
Just then the instructor’s voice cuts across the noise. “We are sparring in pairs today. Both partners work offense and defense, attack and block. I want rotation, I want focus, and I want no one holding back
