The morning sun spilled through Elara's window, warming her face long before she opened her eyes.
For a brief moment, she lay still.
The dream lingered.
Her mother's smile.
The flames.
The screams.
The voice calling her little moon.
A dull ache settled in her chest.
She pressed a hand over her heart and stared at the ceiling.
The memories still felt distant, like fragments hidden beneath thick ice. Yet they were there.
Waiting.
Real.
"I won't run from them," she whispered.
A soft warmth stirred inside her.
Lyra remained quiet, but Elara felt her presence.
Watching.
Listening.
Agreeing.
Slowly, Elara sat up.
Yesterday had changed everything.
She wasn't wolfless anymore.
She wasn't helpless anymore.
For the first time in her life, she had something of her own.
A wolf.
A future.
A mate.
The last thought immediately made her groan and bury her face in her hands.
Kael.
The terrifyingly handsome Alpha who looked like he had stepped straight out of every ridiculous fantasy story ever written.
Her mate.
The fact still felt absurd.
After dressing, Elara left her room and headed downstairs.
Pack members greeted her with smiles as she passed.
Some bowed their heads respectfully.
Others offered congratulations.
A few children waved excitedly.
It was strange.
For years, most wolves had looked through her as though she barely existed.
Now they looked at her differently.
Yet Elara couldn't ignore the lingering whispers.
The curious glances.
The doubts.
She knew what many of them were thinking.
She had only shifted yesterday.
She had no training.
No combat skills.
No knowledge of pack leadership.
She was the Alpha's mate, but what use was she truly?
The thought hardened her resolve.
She wasn't going to remain useless.
Not anymore.
Spotting one of the warriors near the entrance, she approached him.
"Excuse me."
The warrior immediately straightened.
"Luna."
Elara nearly winced.
She still wasn't used to that title.
"Do you know where Kael is?"
A grin instantly appeared on the man's face.
"The Alpha is at the training grounds."
Of course he was.
"Thank you."
The warrior's grin widened.
"Good luck."
Elara narrowed her eyes suspiciously before continuing on her way.
The training grounds sat near the edge of the pack territory.
Long before she arrived, the sounds reached her.
The clash of wooden weapons.
The thud of impacts.
The sharp bark of commands.
Curiosity pulled her forward.
As she stepped through the entrance, the sight before her brought her to a complete stop.
Dozens of warriors filled the field.
Some sparred in pairs.
Others practiced drills.
Several younger wolves ran obstacle courses.
But none of them captured her attention.
Kael stood at the center of it all.
Sweat glistened across his skin beneath the morning sunlight.
A training sword rested in one hand.
His movements were effortless.
Precise.
Powerful.
One warrior lunged.
Kael sidestepped.
Disarmed him.
And sent him flat on his back before the man even realized what had happened.
The surrounding warriors groaned.
Kael smirked.
"Again."
The fallen warrior muttered something under his breath before climbing back to his feet.
Elara stared.
Her mate looked completely different here.
Not the patient man who had sat with her through the night.
Not the gentle man who had held her hand while she spoke about her parents.
This was an Alpha.
A warrior.
A leader forged through battle.
Every movement commanded respect.
Every glance demanded obedience.
And somehow...
Somehow...
That man was her mate.
Her.
Elara Thorn.
The former wolfless girl who once tripped over her own feet carrying laundry.
The universe had a very strange sense of humor.
As though sensing her presence, Kael turned.
Their eyes met across the training field.
His stern expression instantly softened.
The transformation was so quick that several nearby warriors looked between them with poorly hidden amusement.
Elara felt heat creep into her cheeks.
Kael lowered his training sword and walked toward her.
The crowd's attention followed him.
Naturally.
Because apparently embarrassing her was his favorite hobby.
When he reached her, one dark eyebrow lifted.
"You should be resting."
Elara folded her arms.
"I slept."
"Barely."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You spying on me now?"
A hint of laughter flashed in his silver gaze.
"Someone has to make sure you don't wander into bushes again."
A nearby warrior immediately snorted.
Elara wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
Kael looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"I came for a reason," she said quickly.
His expression became serious.
"What is it?"
Elara took a breath.
This mattered.
More than she could explain.
"I want you to train me."
The amusement vanished.
Several warriors nearby went silent.
Kael studied her carefully.
"Train you?"
"I want to learn everything."
She lifted her chin.
"Combat. Strategy. Pack law. History. Anything you think I should know."
His gaze sharpened.
"Why?"
Because I don't want to be useless.
Because I don't want people looking at me with pity.
Because if danger comes again, I want to be able to protect myself.
Because I want to deserve standing beside you.
The words crowded her throat.
"I want to become stronger."
Silence settled between them.
Then, slowly, a smile appeared on Kael's face.
Not amused.
Not teasing.
Proud.
A warmth spread through Elara's chest.
"Good," he said.
Her eyes widened.
"Good?"
Kael nodded.
"I was wondering how long it would take before you asked."
Elara blinked.
"You were?"
"The moment you shifted, I knew this conversation was coming."
A grin tugged at his mouth.
"You've never been the type to sit still."
For the first time, Elara found herself smiling.
Maybe this was exactly where her new life truly began.
And judging by the look in Kael's eyes, she had no idea what she had just signed herself up for.