The training grounds were alive with the sounds of warriors pushing themselves to the limit. The air was thick with sweat and determination, every movement fueled by the knowledge that war was no longer a distant possibility but an impending certainty.
I stood at the edge of the field, watching as Kane moved through the rows of sparring pairs, offering corrections, encouragement, and the occasional sharp critique. He was in his element—commanding, powerful, and utterly relentless.
But I felt like an imposter.
The warriors around me were fast, strong, lethal. And I... I was still me. Still the girl who had lost her wolf. Still the girl who had spent most of her life trying to disappear rather than fight.
And yet, here I was.
I had spent the past week pouring over maps, organizing patro
