"Aliyah," Laura called softly, standing by the doorway of their shared room.
Aliyah sat on her bed, fingers twisting the hem of her tunic, eyes fixed on the floor. Days had passed since the night she served Alpha Leo—days without a summons, a message, anything.
She hoped he believed her when she explained why she left. They'd spoken briefly. Still, the image of him with the two women burned in her heart.
Jealousy twisted inside her. She told herself it didn't matter. But part of her had wished he saw the pain behind her silence.
Maybe to him, she was nothing more than a fleeting thought—someone he'd already forgotten.
Laura's voice cut into her thoughts. "You've been tense," she said lightly, though concern softened her eyes. "Don't tell me it's the army training getting to you."
Aliyah shook her head, barely registering her words.
"Is it…" Laura stepped closer, hesitant. "Because your wolf still hasn't come out?"
Aliyah's heart skipped. The words were too close to the truth. How could she explain the chaos inside her—the pain of Leo's presence, the constant effort to keep her wolf locked away?
She simply nodded, throat tight. It was easier than admitting how much it hurt to hide something meant to be free.
Laura sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Aliyah… don't be ashamed. Your wolf will come when it's ready. And when it does, I know it'll be worth the wait."
Aliyah's eyes welled with quiet gratitude. She clung to Laura's words like a lifeline, even if a part of her didn't fully believe them.
"Thank you," she said, her voice cracking. "You've never made me feel like less. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Laura gave her a gentle squeeze. "Lucky for you, you won't have to find out. Come on—we should get ready."
She followed her friend to face the day ahead—unaware of what it would demand of her.
---
Later that morning, the pack army grounds were a blur of movement. Wolves—young and older—stood in formation, dressed in their training gear. At sixteen, every wolf in the Moon Crest Pack became eligible for combat training. It was law, enforced strictly by Beta Garrick, who ran the drills with military precision.
The Alpha had been away for a month, so the responsibility of overseeing the army had fallen to Garrick.
Moments after the trainees gathered, Beta Garrick walked in—flanked by several wolves from the Blood Crescent Pack.
And among them… Alpha Leo.
Her breath caught.
Dressed in his training blacks, he looked every bit the leader—composed, distant. Her heart thudded painfully.
She had hoped—foolishly—for even a flicker of warmth. But his gaze was cold, unreadable. She stayed still, calm on the outside. Inside, everything screamed.
Her stomach twisted. She wanted to go to him, just for a second. Just to see if his gaze would soften, to find some warmth in it.
But she stayed still. Calm on the outside. Inside, though… everything screamed.
"Wolves of the Moon Crest," Garrick's voice rang out across the field, cutting through the tension. "Today, we welcome the Alpha of the Blood Crescent Pack, here to observe your skill and growth. I expect discipline. Strength. And no excuses."
Murmurs rippled through the ranks.
"For our new trainees," Garrick continued, "you will be paired with members of the Blood Crescent for today's session."
Aliyah was surprised. She hadn't expected this. And the very next moment, her worst fear was realized.
"Zane," Garrick called, "you'll be with Jarek."
He moved down the line, calling names until he paused.
Then, unexpectedly, Bayle stepped forward.
"I'll take one," he said casually, arms folded.
Garrick raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You're a Beta, Bayle. You sure you want to be involved in the training today?"
Bayle shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Thought I'd make an exception."
Their eyes locked—Beta to Beta. For a long moment, neither spoke. Finally, Garrick gave a short nod.
"…Fine," he said, his voice sharp. "Take Aliyah."
Aliyah's breath caught in her throat.
No. Not Bayle.
She had worked hard to avoid him. He knew her. Or worse—he knew enough to recognize her if she slipped.
Leo's gaze flicked toward them. His expression darkened, and his fists clenched behind his back.
He knew exactly what this meant. He knew Bayle—what he was capable of—and what he would do if he discovered the truth about Aliyah.
The training began.
Aliyah's heart dropped. Every part of her screamed to step back, to refuse, but she held her ground, jaw tight. Bayle waited, his smirk barely contained.
"Looks like you're with me," he said, voice low, a hint of challenge in his tone.
He didn't offer a weapon, just motioned for her to step forward.
Around them, the others were already sparring—boots scuffing the dirt, shouts ringing out. Bayle circled her slowly, his gaze predatory. He was assessing her, looking for weakness.
"You new to combat?" he asked finally, his voice too casual for her liking.
Aliyah nodded once.
He eyed her stance, then smirked. "You don't move like it."
Then, in a flash, he struck.
Fast. Too fast.
She blocked, barely, her arm stinging where his forearm grazed it. Her body moved almost on instinct—wild, unrefined, like a memory she couldn't quite place.
Bayle leaned in, his voice low. "Strange," he murmured, his lips almost brushing her ear. "For someone just starting out, you've got a certain edge. What are you hiding?"
Aliyah stayed silent, fighting the urge to lash out.
Up on the edge of the training field, Leo's eyes narrowed. His arms were folded, his body coiled tight with tension. He didn't miss the way Bayle closed in on Aliyah. He didn't like it.
"Bayle—be mindful," Garrick's voice rang out, sharp. "Her wolf hasn't emerged. You're here to train, not break her."
Bayle barely nodded, his gaze never leaving Aliyah. "No need to answer," he muttered under his breath. "I'll figure it out on my own."
Then he attacked again.
She dodged, blocked, pivoted. Her movements weren't polished—but they were too smooth to be untrained. Bayle noticed. So did Garrick. And Leo.
"She has instincts," Garrick muttered beside Leo, his voice laced with surprise.
Leo didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the girl in the dirt. Every movement, every close call, his attention never wavered. She was holding her own—for now. But it wasn't enough.
Bayle scowled. "Think you're clever?" he growled. "Try dodging this."
He lunged at her.
Leo moved before he could stop himself, jaw tight, fists clenched.
Too close. Too hard.
Aliyah slipped past the blow, barely. Her pulse raced. Her muscles tensed.
Don't shift. Don't break.
He moved around her once more, each step deliberate, hunting for weakness. "You always been in this pack?" he asked, his voice low, probing.
Silence.
"You remind me of someone," he said, slower now. "Dara."
Her hand twitched. Her real name.
For a heartbeat, the world tilted—but she didn't flinch.
Bayle's gaze sharpened, a spark of curiosity flickering. He filed it away, like he always did.
"Let's see what you're hiding."
He came at her harder this time—each strike more forceful, closer, testing her limits.
Aliyah gritted her teeth, holding back the instinct that begged to be unleashed. Her eyes shimmered silver—just for a second.
Leo saw it.
His breath caught in his throat.
She crushed it down, the silver fading as fast as it had appeared.
Bayle didn't miss it. His smirk faltered—but he didn't stop. He lunged for the final blow and slammed his fist into her chest.
Crack.
Aliyah hit the ground, the impact jarring through her ribs.
Pain burst white-hot in her side as she gasped, struggling for air. Her wolf surged, wild beneath the surface, but she forced it back with clenched teeth.
The scent of dirt filled her nose. The world tilted. Then—
"Bayle!"
Leo's voice cut through the haze like a blade.
Leo's roar cut through the chaos like a whip. The field fell silent.
Leo was already moving, his body tense, his stride long and purposeful. He reached her before Bayle had even fully retracted his strike.
His gaze was piercing as he knelt beside her, hands steady as he lowered her gently. His touch was firm, possessive, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
"Aliyah. Can you stand?"
She winced, pain shooting through her side, but nodded. "Yes, Alpha."
Without a word, he steadied her with one firm hand, his grip almost commanding.
"Get her checked," Leo said, his voice low but frigid, every word laced with authority.
Bayle stood still, his smirk gone, replaced with a sharp, calculating look. He watched the exchange between Leo and Aliyah, his thoughts unclear, but something in the pit of his stomach churned. He didn't like this. Not one bit.
Garrick observed quietly, his expression unreadable. Something wasn't right.