The gym we stepped into smelled of metal, leather, and memories. It wasn’t an unpleasant scent, but it wasn’t welcoming either. It had that dry, ancient aroma that clings to your skin—of lived history and bodies soaked in sweat from centuries of training. The walls bore the marks of time: small dents from impact, grooves worn smooth by hands, claws, and falls. In front of me, a massive mirror reflected the image of a young woman I still hadn’t fully come to recognize.
Me.
Holding my breath, I walked a few steps further. The floor creaked under my bare feet, as if it, too, were sizing me up. Skadi, my wolf, was awake—silent, but watching from the dark corner of my chest. She didn’t move, but her presence was undeniable, as if the space was familiar to her... or challenging.
“This isn’t a
