Penelope moved with precision, each step in perfect sync with her Lycan as she trained with Richard. The bond between them had strengthened, making her feel lighter, stronger — connected in a way she had never known before. But just as she was about to land a strike, a sharp, searing pain shot through her mind. It was not her own.
A cry echoed in her head, distant yet deafening, filled with raw agony. Penelope staggered, her vision blurring as the sound consumed her. She clutched her head, the pain almost unbearable. The world around her swayed, and then — darkness.
Richard lunged forward, catching her just before she hit the ground. "Penelope!" His voice was frantic, laced with concern. He gently lowered her to the forest floor, brushing strands of hair away from her face. Her breathing
