Chapter 24

The crisp morning air carried the faint scent of pine and damp earth, the grounds of Kaden’s estate bustling with life. Althea stood at the edge of the training field, watching silently as pack members sparred in pairs. She clutched the strap of her satchel tightly, her gaze flitting nervously between the warriors who moved with sharp precision, their every step fluid and confident. This wasn’t her world. No matter how much Kaden reassured her, no matter how many times he told her she belonged here, she couldn’t help but feel like an outsider. Her limp made her painfully self-conscious, and the whispers she’d overheard,whispers about her being weak, about her being a liability,still echoed in her mind. But Kaden had encouraged her to watch the training today, to “get to know the pack better.” So here she was, standing awkwardly on the sidelines, feeling like a spectator at a game she didn’t know the rules to. “You made it.” The smooth, confident voice sent a shiver down Althea's spine,