44 Chapter 44
44 Chapter 44
Seraphina’s POV 1
The Nightshadow Pack training facility was nothing like what I’d expected. Located in a converted warehouse on the outskirts of Silver
Moon Harbor, the space was massive-high ceilings supported by steel beams, concrete floors worn smooth by countless hours of
The scent hit me the moment I walked through the doors: sweat, testosterone, and the metallic tang of blood from countless sparring sessions. My wolf A stirred uneasily in my mind, overwhelmed by the aggressive alpha energy that saturated the air like humidity
before a storm.
“Second thoughts?” Damien asked quietly, his hand settling on the small of my back. He’d changed out of his expensive suit into ck
tactical pants and a fitted t-shirt that showcased every sculpted muscle of his torso. The transformation from corporate executive to
deadly predator was both thrilling and intimidating.
“Not a chance,” I replied, though my voice came out slightly breathless as I took in the dozen or so warriors scattered throughout the
space. Almost all male massive, intimidating specimens who looked like they could bench press small cars without breaking a sweat.
And every single one of them had stopped what they were doing to stare at <ol><li></li></ol>
“Alpha,” a gravelly voice called from across the room. A man who looked to be in his forties approached us, his scarred face set in lines of
barely concealed disapproval. His brown hair was streaked with silver, and a jagged scar ran from his left temple to the corner of his
mouth, suggesting he’d seen seriousbat. “This is the omega?”
“Marcu,” Damien’s voice carried a warning edge that made several nearby wolves take automatic steps backward. “Meet Seraphina
Knight. She’ll be training with us on weekday afternoons.”
Marcus looked me up and down with obvious skepticism, taking in my workout clothes-yoga pants and a fitted tank top that suddenly
feltpletely inadequate for this testosterone-fueled environment. “With respect, Alpha, training is for warriors. We don’t have time to
babysit desk workers who want to y soldier.”
Heat flooded my cheeks, but before I could respond, another voice cut through the tension.
“Oh,e off it, Marcus.” A woman emerged from behind one of the heavy punching bags, wiping sweat from her forehead with a towel.
She was probably my age, with shoulder-length auburn hair pulled back in a practical ponytail and the kind of lean, muscr build that
spoke of serious athleticism. Unlike the intimidating males surrounding us, her smile was warm and genuinely weing. “Not everyone can be born with your charming personality.”
She extended a hand toward me, ignoring Marcus’s re. “I’m Riley Santos. I spend most of my time trying to teach these knuckleheads
that there’s more tobat than brute force.”
“Seraphina Knight,” I replied, grateful for her friendly demeanor. “And I’m definitely looking forward to learning more than brute force.”
“Santos,” Marcus growled, “she’s an omega. One hit from any of these warriors and she’ll be in the hospital. It’s a liability we can’t afford.”
“Then don’t hit her that hard, Riley shot back with the kind of casual confidence that suggested she regrly stood up to Marcus’s
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intimidation tactics. “Besides, didn’t you hear about what happened to that blonde bitch who tried to mess with her? Word is she put Valerie Nightshadow in the hospital with her bare hands.”
Several of the warriors exchanged nces, clearly hearing this story for the first time. “That’s different,” Marcus insisted. “Civilianbat isn’t the same as warrior training. She’ll get herself killed.”
“Only one way to find out,” I said, surprised by the steel in my own voice. “Unless you’re too worried about your reputation to risk training someone who might actually be capable of learning.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Even the sound of weights nking and punching bags being hit faded as every wolf in the
facility turned to stare at the omega who’d just challenged their head trainer.
Marcus’s scarred face darkened with what looked suspiciously like anticipation. “Fine,” he said, moving toward the center of the training
mat with predatory grace. “Let’s see what you’ve got, omega.”
“Marcus,” Damien’s voice cracked like a whip across the space. “You will treat her with the same respect you’d show any other trainee.
That means you don’t try to intimidate her, embarrass her, or prove a point at her expense. Are we clear?”
For a moment, I thought Marcus might argue. Then his gaze shifted between Damien and me, and something calcting flickered in his
expression. “Crystal clear, Alpha.”
The next two hours were the most physically and mentally challenging of my life. Marcus put me through a series of basic exercises
designed to test strength, speed, and endurancea€”push-ups, sprints, defensive maneuvers, and reaction drills that left me gasping and
drenched in sweat.
But the most challenging part wasn’t the physical demanda€”it was the constantmentary from the peanut gallery.
“Watch her form on those push-ups,” one warrior muttered to his partner. “She’s gonna hurt herself.”
“Ten bucks says she quits before the first hour is up,” another added with a snicker.
“Should we call an ambnce now or wait until she passes out?”
Each snidement was like a match struck against my determination. Instead of breaking my resolve, their skepticism fueled
something fierce and stubborn in my chest. I’d spent my entire life being underestimated, dismissed, written off as weak and worthless.
Not today.
When Marcus demonstrated a defensive move designed to counter arger opponent’s attack, I watched withser focus, memorizing
every detail. When it was my turn to attempt it, I threw myself into the technique with everything I had.
“Not bad, Riley called out encouragingly when I managed to sessfully deflect her practice attack. “Your center of gravity is naturally
lower than most of the guys here, Use that advantage.”
Riley became my closest ally in the training facility, staying after official sessions ended to work with me on technique.
“You know,” Riley said as we shared protein shakes after an especially intense session, “I’ve never seen Marcus look actually impressed by
a trainee before. But just now, when you managed to pin Jake using that sweep we’d been working on, I swear I saw him smile.”
“He seems don’t smile,” I protested, though warmth spread through my chest at thepliment. “He has two expressions: disapproving
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and deeply disapproving.” 1
Riley grinned, then her expression grew more serious. “Can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure.”
“What really happened that night with Valerie? The rumors are getting pretty wild, and Marcus has been asking questions about your
background.”
“She threatened my son,” I said simply. “And I discovered I’m capable of more than I thought when ites to protecting him.”
Riley nodded slowly. “Maternal instincts are powerful things. But Sera… if there’s more to it than that, if you need someone to talk to
about pack politics or bloodlineplications, I’ve seen some strange things in my time here. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
Before I could respond, the training facility’s main door burst open with a crash that echoed through the space like a gunshot. A warrior
I didn’t recognize stumbled through the entrance, his clothes torn and bloodied, one arm hanging useless at his side.
“Border attack,” he gasped, his voice carrying clearly across the suddenly silent facility. “Multiple casualties. They need all avable
fighters now.”
The effect was immediate. Every warrior in the facility dropped what they were doing and began grabbing gear, their casual afternoon
training transformed into urgent preparation for battle.
1
“Where?” Marcus demanded, already strapping on weapons with the efficiency of long practice.
“Eastern sector, near the logging roads. Rogues, at least a dozen of them. They hit the patrol hard and fast.” The messenger swayed on
his feet, and I could see bone gleaming white through a gash on his forearm. “Beta Lucas’s down bad, and Thompson…” He shook his
head grimly.
Riley grabbed my arm. “Come on,” she said, her earlier lighthearted demeanorpletely gone. “The medical bay is in the back. They’ll
be bringing in wounded, and we’ll need all the help we can get.”
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