Aria's POV
Viktor was the first person to make me realize that training harder wasn't always the same as training smarter. After the ambush, I'd expected him to tell me to increase the intensity of my sessions.
Instead, he studied me. He watched the way my bloodline power moved through my body, how Lydia responded when I pushed too far, and how quickly my control deteriorated when I tried to force an output that my body wasn't ready to sustain.
One evening, after I'd nearly lost control during a power-release exercise, Viktor caught my wrist before I could try again.
"Alpha, stop."
I glared at him. "I'm not finished."
"You are." He sighed. "If you continue, you'll burn through your reserves and spend tomorrow recovering."
I pulled my hand free. "I need to get stronger."
"And you wi
