ELLIE’S POV
The forest was damp with morning mist, the smell of pine sharp in my nose as I moved among the younger wolves. Every branch, every patch of moss beneath my boots, felt alive — a pulse in rhythm with my own. Today’s training wouldn’t be easy. Not for me, not for anyone under my command.
Jovani stood across from me, arms crossed, eyes sharp, watching every movement. Maela lingered near the edge of the clearing, her gaze both supportive and worried, lips pressed tight. They had insisted on watching today, but I could see it in their eyes: they feared how far I would push myself. I welcomed it.
“Form!” Jovani barked. His voice cut through the fog like a blade. “Again. Faster. Harder. Precision matters. You’ll not let weakness define you.”
I tightened my jaw and lunged into the
