Caelan POV:
I don’t step into the ring, that’s deliberate.
Instead, I take up a place beside Kieran at the edge of the training grounds, arms folded loosely, posture relaxed enough to signal trust rather than scrutiny. This isn’t oversight, it’s allowance. The kind that tells the pack I don’t need to hover to maintain order.
Rhydan stands at the centre of the main ring, shoulders squared, voice carrying easily without strain.
“All right,” he calls. “Pair up. Strength and control today, the same principles we’ve been working on. Clean movement, awareness before force.”
The pack responds smoothly, bodies shifting into pairs with minimal noise. No hesitation or jostling. They know him and trust him.
Elara steps forward without drawing attention to herself. She doesn’t seek the centre, d
