Alpha Gideon’s POV
I watched her closely.
The sword shook in her hands. Her arms trembled with effort. Her stance was still wrong — too stiff, too open — but her eyes...
Her eyes didn’t waver.
Most people, after a few failed tries, would have thrown the sword down and walked away.
But not Vera.
She stood her ground, breathing hard, sweat dripping down her face, yet refusing to quit.
I hadn’t expected that.
When I first heard the council’s ridiculous challenge, I thought she would break.
I thought she would run from the fight, cry, beg for a way out.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she stood in that hall, faced the entire pack, and accepted their cruel demands with her head high.
And now — even with no training, no experience — she fought like her life depended on it.
I took a few ste
