rolled across the training grounds. The sky stretched wide and cloudless, a bri

. She had barely gotten any sleep with Kieran Stormbane's presence looming over her in the dark. Every shift of his weight, e

ademy's training regimen, she realized that her

grizzled wolf named Commander Darius, strode forward, his piercing am

nd I don't train weaklings. You either keep up

m, his boots crunchi

rst trial. Combat drills.

ease through her. She was fast, precise-but she was also smaller than most of the

a reason. If she backed down now, she might as well

ice cut throug

t to die

e her, his grin lazy

te herself. "You're assum

watch yourself. Some of th

the warning, a shad

al

other recruits take a step back, as if sensing the danger radiating from him. He was a Great House heir, son of a powerful Alph

he looked Seraphina up and down

nd biting, but Seraphina re

outlast you,"

as swallowed by amusement. He stepped closer, towering over he

r of his wolf pushing agains

her jaw. She

spread across Talon's fac

ly, but Seraphina didn't waver. She

field, Kieran S

something flickered beneath the surface. His wolf was restless, bris

toward him, he looked away-like

the tension in his

n a grueling haze

y dodge, every block had to be perfect. She couldn't afford to be we

s packed, the scent of roasted meat and spiced bread heavy in the air. Recruits filled t

ing herself to keep her exhaustio

d one of his housemates as they jested about the day's traini

ina ign

other bite when the en

m, his uniform crisp, his expression seri

is voice rang thr

age from Alpha M

a's blood

scroll, his eyes scanning th

mating ceremony. A bounty has been placed on her capture.

retched, thick

teady as she lifted her spoon again. S

used on

ne is look

scription wi

Not Seraphina. Not M

f Beta descent, with dark hair and

ale. It was

ending in.

ran Stormbane's ga

ating. He wa

aring stra

ar shot throu

against the silence. Without a word, without acknowled

a's heart

s he

on her spoon, forcing

rmbane knew-if

s alrea