Morning came slowly.
Nyra didn't remember falling asleep.
All she remembered was the weight of everything Ronan had told her… and the strange calm that followed.
Now—
She could still feel it.
That power.
Quieter than before.
But not gone.
Never gone.
It lingered beneath her skin like a silent promise.
Waiting.
Watching.
"Up."
Nyra's eyes snapped open.
Ronan stood near the door, arms crossed, already dressed like he had been awake for hours.
Of course he had.
She frowned slightly. "Do you ever knock?"
"No."
Simple.
Annoying.
Nyra sat up slowly, brushing her hair back. "What do you want?"
Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"You asked me to teach you," he said. "Or was that just dramatic talk?"
Nyra's jaw tightened.
"I meant it."
"Good," he replied, turning toward the door. "Then stop wasting time."
The training ground was nothing like she expected.
It wasn't polished or structured like pack grounds.
It was raw.
Open.
Surrounded by tall trees and rough earth, like nature itself had claimed it.
This was not a place for rules.
This was a place for survival.
Nyra stepped forward slowly, her senses immediately reacting.
Everything felt sharper here.
Alive.
Dangerous.
"You feel it, don't you?" Ronan said from behind her.
Nyra nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"Good," he said. "That means you're not completely disconnected from it."
She turned to face him.
"So what do I do?"
Ronan walked past her, stepping into the center of the clearing.
"You stop thinking like prey," he said.
Nyra frowned.
"I'm not—"
"You are," he cut in sharply. "Everything about you screams it."
The words hit harder than expected.
Nyra stiffened.
"I'm trying," she said.
"Trying isn't enough."
Ronan turned to face her fully now.
"Power doesn't respond to hesitation," he continued. "It responds to dominance."
Silence.
Nyra clenched her fists.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" she asked.
Ronan's eyes darkened slightly.
"Simple," he said.
Then—
He attacked.
Nyra barely saw him move.
One second he was standing still—
The next, he was right in front of her.
Her instincts screamed.
She reacted on pure impulse, stepping back just as his hand shot toward her.
Too slow.
He grabbed her wrist and twisted slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to unbalance her.
Nyra stumbled.
"Again," he said calmly, releasing her.
Her heart pounded.
"That was unfair."
Ronan tilted his head.
"You think your enemies will be fair?"
She didn't answer.
"Again."
This time, Nyra focused.
Her breathing slowed.
Her senses sharpened.
She watched him carefully.
Waited.
Ronan moved—
And Nyra reacted faster.
She stepped to the side, barely avoiding his grip.
For a second—
Surprise flickered in his eyes.
Then—
Approval.
"Better," he said.
Nyra's chest rose and fell quickly.
She felt it again.
That energy.
Stronger now.
Responding.
"Don't think," Ronan said. "Feel it."
Nyra closed her eyes briefly.
The forest sounds grew louder.
The wind.
The leaves.
His movement.
She could sense him—
Before he even attacked.
Her eyes snapped open.
He moved—
She blocked.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
Ronan's grip tightened slightly.
This time—
She didn't fall.
A faint glow flickered in her eyes.
Silver.
Mixed with something darker.
Ronan saw it.
And smiled.
"That's it…" he murmured.
Nyra pushed forward instinctively.
Energy surged through her arm—
And suddenly—
Ronan was the one stepping back.
Just slightly.
But enough.
They both froze.
Nyra stared at her hands.
"I… did that?"
Ronan exhaled slowly.
"You're learning faster than I expected."
Her heart raced.
Not from fear this time.
From something else.
Excitement.
Power.
For the first time—
She felt strong.
"Again," Ronan said.
Hours passed.
Or maybe it was minutes.
Nyra lost track of time.
All she knew was movement.
Attack.
Block.
Fall.
Stand.
Repeat.
Her body ached.
Her breathing was uneven.
But she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
Because every time she tapped into that power—
It felt right.
Like something she had been missing her whole life.
Finally—
She collapsed to her knees.
"I can't…" she gasped.
Ronan walked toward her slowly.
"You can," he said.
Nyra shook her head.
"My body—"
"Your body is adjusting," he said. "There's a difference."
She looked up at him.
Sweat clung to her skin.
Her eyes burned faintly.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Ronan went quiet.
For a moment—
Too quiet.
Then he crouched slightly in front of her.
"Because," he said slowly, "power like yours doesn't belong in the hands of fools."
Nyra frowned.
"That's not an answer."
Ronan's lips curved faintly.
"It's the only one you're getting."
Silence lingered.
Then—
He reached out.
Nyra tensed instinctively.
But this time—
He didn't grab her.
He simply brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
The gesture was… unexpected.
Soft.
Nyra froze.
Her heartbeat quickened again.
Not from fear.
Something else.
Something dangerous.
Ronan noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Careful," he murmured.
"With what?" she asked softly.
"With me."
Far away—
Kael stood at the edge of rogue territory.
The air felt wrong.
Heavy.
Charged.
He could feel it now.
Her.
Alive.
Different.
Stronger.
His jaw tightened.
"Nyra…" he muttered.
Behind him, his warriors waited.
Tense.
Ready.
"This is as far as we go without a fight, Alpha," his Beta warned.
Kael didn't respond.
His eyes remained fixed ahead.
Cold.
Determined.
"Then we fight."
Back in the training ground—
Nyra slowly stood again, ignoring the ache in her body.
Her eyes met Ronan's.
This time—
There was no hesitation.
"Again," she said.
Ronan smiled.
Dark.
Pleased.
"That's my girl."