Chapter 45

The morning started like any other. The training yard was bathed in soft morning light, the air still carrying the crispness of dawn. Althea sat on the bench near the training area, adjusting the brace on her injured ankle. Her muscles ached from the previous day’s drills, a constant reminder of how far she’d come: and how far she still had to go. Kaden was a few feet away, speaking with one of the warriors about patrol routes. His silver eyes were sharp as he listened, his presence commanding as always. Althea couldn’t help but steal a glance at him every so often. There was something reassuring about him being nearby, even if he didn’t say much. The memory of yesterday’s events still lingered in her mind. Standing up to Bianca had been a turning point: not just for her, but for how the pack seemed to view her. She’d caught the subtle changes in their gazes, the way they no longer looked at her with pity but with something closer to respect. And Kaden… She still remembered the way he’