Chapter 223

KAELOS “Again!” I commanded, my voice loud but not harsh. Alaric—who was already sweaty and breathing heavily—got up from the ground for the tenth time. We had been practicing combat for almost three hours, and I hadn't held back at all. “Papa,” Alaric gasped. “I... I can't do this anymore.” “When you become an Alpha,” I said firmly, “your enemies won't care if you're tired. They won't care if you're not at your best. They'll attack with full force, and you have to be ready.” Alaric wiped his face, covered in sweat and dirt, then took up his fighting stance again. “Okay,” he said with determination. “Again.” We fought again—I attacked with complex combinations, testing his reflexes and defense. Alaric defended well, blocking most of my attacks. But then I used a fake move—pretending to attack from the left but actually coming from the right. Alaric fell again, but this time he immediately rolled and got up in one smooth motion. “Good!” I praised him. “You're learning. Now, attack me.”