Cassidy
I hovered at the edge of the training grounds, hidden in the shadows of the pillars. My heart thudded in my chest, far too loud, as if it might give me away. The sound of growls, punches landing against pads, and bone-jarring impacts filled the air. Wolves—real ones—lunged and snapped in synchronized combat while others, in human form, fought with terrifying precision.
They were brutal. Fast. Efficient.
And nothing like me.
My feet shifted back, the instinct to flee tugging hard at my spine. I didn't belong here. I wasn't one of them. I wasn't even close.
I turned slightly, ready to slip away before anyone noticed—
But then he looked up.
The head trainer.
His eyes locked onto mine with piercing accuracy, as if he had sensed my fear from across the field. He was tall, broad, with a scar that cut through his brow like a blade had kissed him there once. His gaze was unreadable, but intense, like a predator assessing whether I was prey or something else entirely.
