NEVER MEANT TO STAY

Teeth

"Absolutely not."

The words came out before Kael had finished speaking.

He blinked once.

"You didn't even let me explain."

"I heard enough."

"No, you heard the first five words."

"I heard I want to train you. That's plenty."

Rhys leaned against the courtyard wall, folding his arms.

"I'd let him finish," he said.

"No one asked you."

"I know."

Kael looked suspiciously close to smiling.

The courtyard behind the Keep was quiet at this hour. Morning sunlight spilled over the stone walls, warming the flagstones beneath their feet. Wooden practice dummies stood off to one side, scarred from years of sword strikes, while racks of training weapons lined the opposite wall.

Elara looked from the swords... to Kael.

"...You're serious."

"Very."

"I've never held a weapon."

"I'm aware."

"I've never even been in a fight."

"I know."

She threw her hands into the air.

"Then why am I here?"

"Because I don't intend to lose you."

The courtyard fell silent.

Even Rhys looked away.

Kael seemed to realize what he'd said a heartbeat too late.

He cleared his throat.

"I mean..."

"I know what you meant."

She wasn't sure she did.

Neither, apparently, was he.

To everyone's relief, Rhys spoke.

"So..."

He clapped his hands together.

"Training."

---

Kael stepped into the center of the courtyard.

"No weapons today."

"Good."

"No shifting."

"I can't shift."

"I know."

"No running?"

A tiny pause.

"...We'll see."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I don't like how you said that."

He ignored the comment.

"I want you to try to hit me."

She stared at him.

"You're joking."

"I'm not."

"You could probably throw me across the courtyard."

"I could."

"And this seems fair to you?"

"No."

"Then why—"

"Because I need to know how you move. Wolves are born knowing how to fight. Humans have to learn everything. You're neither, entirely — and I'd rather find out what you already know than assume you know nothing."

"And if I don't have any of it?"

"Then we start from nothing." He held her gaze. "But I don't think that's true. You didn't run, in that clearing. Every human who's ever crossed into Blackfang territory ran the second they felt what I am. You didn't."

"Maybe I'm just stubborn."

"Maybe," he allowed. "I want to see what else it is."

She sighed.

"I already know how I move."

"You know how you walk."

He held her gaze.

"I want to see how you fight."

"I don't fight."

"We'll find out."

She muttered something under her breath.

"What was that?" Kael asked.

"I said this is a terrible idea."

"I heard the version before that."

Rhys laughed.

"I like her."

"I noticed," Kael replied without looking away from Elara.

Something about the answer made Rhys suddenly very interested in the opposite wall.

---

Elara took a breath.

Then another.

"Fine."

She lunged.

Kael moved before she reached him.

Not fast.

Just enough.

She stumbled past him.

A hand caught her elbow before she hit the ground.

His fingers lingered only long enough to steady her.

"You leaned too far."

"I noticed."

"Again."

She tried.

Again.

Missed.

Again.

Missed.

Again.

This time she changed direction halfway through.

Kael's eyebrows lifted.

"Better."

She attacked again before he finished speaking.

His hand caught her wrist.

The other settled lightly against her shoulder to stop her momentum.

For one strange second...

Neither of them moved.

They were close.

Far closer than they had been since the forest.

She became suddenly aware of his heartbeat.

Steady.

Slow.

His scent wrapped around her again — cedar, rain, and something warm she still couldn't name.

Kael let go first.

"Again," he said quietly.

She nodded.

Trying very hard not to think about the way her pulse had sped up.

---

Nearly an hour passed.

Sweat dampened her hair.

Her breathing grew uneven.

Kael hadn't landed a single strike.

He'd only blocked.

Redirected.

Corrected.

"You're thinking too much," he said.

"I'm trying not to embarrass myself."

"Stop trying."

"Helpful."

"It is."

"It really isn't."

He walked behind her.

"Gently."

"Relax your shoulders."

Without thinking, he adjusted her stance.

One hand rested briefly against her shoulder.

The other touched her elbow.

"Like this."

She swallowed.

"...You're very close."

"I know."

Neither of them moved away immediately.

Across the courtyard, Rhys quietly turned around and began studying the sky with great interest.

---

"Again," Kael said.

She exhaled.

This time...

She didn't think.

She moved.

Fast.

Faster than before.

Her body twisted instinctively, changing direction halfway through the movement.

Her foot swept low.

Kael actually had to step back.

His eyes widened.

She almost caught him.

The silence afterward lasted only a second.

But it was enough.

Rhys looked at Kael.

"You saw that."

"I did."

Elara frowned.

"What?"

Kael's expression had changed.

Not alarm.

Recognition.

"What did I do?"

He walked toward her slowly.

"You adapted."

"So?"

"So wolves spend years learning that movement."

She blinked.

"I've never done this before."

"I know."

His voice was quieter now.

"That's why it shouldn't have been possible."

Before anyone could say another word...

A long howl echoed through the mountains.

Every wolf in the courtyard froze.

Rhys's head snapped toward the eastern wall.

"Scout."

Kael was already moving.

His hand found Elara's without him thinking about it.

"Stay with me."

This time...

She didn't pull away.