FREYA
The circle of wolves around us buzzed with low chatter, their anticipation thick enough to choke on. It was just training, just sparring, but somehow it felt like more. Like Selene wanted this to be more.
I told myself to focus. Drill, block, counter. Keep it clean, keep it simple. Don’t rise to her bait.
But then she lunged.
Her shoulder slammed into mine harder than necessary, driving me half a step back. My heel dug into the sand, catching before I could stumble. Pain rippled through my arm from the impact. Selene straightened, pretending at innocence, a mockery of an apology dancing on her lips.
“Oops,” she said lightly. “Didn’t mean to knock you.”
The smirk in her eyes said otherwise.
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd. My jaw tightened. I forced a slow breath in th
