Chapter 52

The sunlight spilled into the training yard the next morning, painting the grounds in shades of gold and green. The air was cool, but it carried the faint promise of warmth as the day progressed. Althea stood in the middle of the yard, the steady rhythm of her breathing syncing with the light breeze brushing against her skin. Her hands rested on her hips as she stretched, her movements fluid and controlled. Weeks ago, this kind of morning would’ve been daunting: a reminder of how much work she had to do to catch up, how far behind she felt compared to everyone else. But now? Now it felt like her ritual. Her space. The ache in her muscles was familiar, almost comforting, proof of how much progress she had made. She no longer needed crutches, and her limp was barely noticeable unless you knew to look for it. And she knew people had noticed. The pack wasn’t whispering as much anymore. Kaden leaned against a nearby post, watching her with a calm intensity. He’d arrived before her, as usual