ALPHA'S REGRET: LUNA'S RISE

the crisp morning air, her muscles stiff with exhaustion. She hadn't slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Sil

anym

staking the raw power beneath his stillness. "You said you want to be

r shoulders. "What

answer. Inst

on the ground, breath knocked from her lungs. Pain radiated

l muttered, stepp

teeth and pushed h

side, frowned. "You did

es who come for her,

right. If Kieran came, if Silverclaw cam

dded.

ed. "That's

hen he moved

ion and speed. She twisted, dodging the first hit, but his second strike came faster. His arm hooked aroun

rcling her like a predato

erself up. Every muscle in her body s

g?" Rafael asked, his

rom her brow. "I don't kn

s in defense, blocking his first strike, but he was relentless.

rd, frowning. "Maybe yo

ed. His gaze never left Celeste. "She

The words hit dee

ict

Every moment she had spent trying to prove herself, trying to earn scra

curled i

rked. "The

he ducked, twisting to the side. Her instincts screamed-move, strike

a flicker of approval c

rself. This was j

stop. Rafael circled her like a wolf toying with its prey, his golden eyes gleaming with

," he

, sidestepping his attack. But Rafael was ruthless. He pivoted, sweeping her legs out from under her, and

y screamed for rest. But she cou

e rolled onto her knee

his voice edged with approval. "Pain mea

her brow, her heart hammeri

s not. But you eithe

ay, exhaled sharply. "You cou

" Rafael countered. "She n

hard. She wasn't h

ing her thoughts. "You're stil

e she didn't know how to fight like him, like a warrior who had spent

stepping out of line. Of being seen

ad been trained to b

ended

ting Rafael's gaze. "I'm

smirk curled at

elf, instincts flaring. She blocked his first strike, then ducked under his n

. A flicker of approval passe

me, she felt it-not just resistance, not

done bei

ers. "You'll be ready when the time com

dding. She knew thi

n, who gave her a s

onger than you were

ning to rise over unfamiliar land. For the first time in a