ARIA
Montana's dawn woke me from restless sleep. This wasn't my bedroom in Black Forest Pack.
Reality crashed back. We had fled. This was Moon Shadow territory. Yesterday, I'd been accepted into a new pack under a new Alpha.
"You can't show weakness," I whispered to myself. "Not now."
I got out of bed with determination. I needed to prove myself quickly. I wasn't just Gabriel's human charity case—I was Aria Silverbrook, trained by one of the best warriors in werewolf society.
I tied my hair up and put on my training gear—lightweight leather Gabriel had custom-made for my sixteenth birthday, modified for my human vulnerabilities while allowing mobility.
In the kitchen, Gabriel was already making breakfast. Without turning, he said, "You're up early, little deer."
My heart squeezed at the familiar nickname. Despite everything we'd lost, Gabriel remained my constant. "Don't want to waste time," I replied, snatching an apple from the bowl on the counter. "I'm joining morning training."
I took a deliberate bite, avoiding the concern I knew would be in his eyes when he turned around.
"Are you sure?" His amber eyes found mine, his forehead creasing. "Jace gave us time to adjust. There's no rush."
"That's exactly why I should go," I countered, shrugging with more confidence than I felt. "We'll have to face it eventually. Might as well be now."
Gabriel gave me that look—the one that mixed pride with worry, the one that made me feel both strong and fragile simultaneously. "This isn't Black Forest, Aria. You're the only human, and..."
"And their Alpha is supposedly descended from Primal Wolves," I interrupted, rolling my eyes to mask my nervousness. "I know the stories. But I'm not going to hide in a corner just because I'm human."
Gabriel sighed, but I caught the smile tugging at his lips as he squeezed my shoulder. "Be careful. I might come check on you later."
The warmth of his hand lingered as I headed out, a small comfort against the butterflies in my stomach.
I followed the trail Hunter had pointed out yesterday, the sounds of training growing louder with each step. My pulse quickened. Why was I so nervous? I'd trained with werewolves my entire life.
*But you're the outsider here*, a voice whispered in my head.
I pushed the thought away as I emerged into the clearing. The training grounds were massive—at least three times the size of Black Forest's—with varied terrain and equipment I'd never seen before. Warriors moved with practiced precision, some in human form sparring with ferocious intensity, others as wolves navigating complex obstacle courses.
I stood frozen at the edge, suddenly questioning my decision. What was I thinking? These werewolves had trained together for years. They'd probably laugh at the human girl pretending to be a warrior.
Before I could retreat, a tall figure turned toward me. Hunter, Jace's Beta. His expression shifted from surprise to curiosity.
"The human girl from the Silverbrook family," he said, his tone neither friendly nor hostile. "Eager to prove yourself?"
I straightened my spine, meeting his gaze directly. "I don't like being idle. Gabriel never let me skip training days back home."
Hunter nodded with approval. "Gabriel's strict regimen is well-known." He glanced around before beckoning to a muscular young warrior. "Dominic, train with our newcomer."
Dominic strode over, his gray-green eyes raking over me with undisguised interest. He sneered. "Really? She's not even a wolf."
My cheeks burned, but I kept my expression neutral. I'd heard worse.
"That's precisely why you should moderate your strength," Hunter warned him. "She's Gabriel Silverbrook's adopted daughter."
"Oh," Dominic's smirk widened into something that made my skin crawl. "Don't worry, pretty one. I'll be gentle with you."
I couldn't stop the eye roll. "Don't bother. I don't need special treatment."
As I moved toward a bench to remove my jacket, the air changed. A familiar scent filled the training ground.
I looked up, drawn by some instinct I couldn't explain.
And there he was.
Alpha Jace stood on a platform overlooking the training area, his presence commanding even from a distance. As his gaze swept across the grounds, it suddenly locked with mine.
Those ice-blue eyes—like deep mountain lakes—held me captive. My lungs stopped working. My heart pounded in my chest.
*Why was he looking at me that way? Why couldn't I look away?*
After what felt like forever but was probably only seconds, he broke our connection, turning to speak with a warrior beside him. Only then did I realize I'd been holding my breath.
"Hey, human girl," Dominic's voice yanked me back to reality. "Ready for your lesson?"
I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my racing pulse.
"My name is Aria," I corrected him, pushing away my confusion. "Not 'human girl.'"
Training would help clear my head. It always did.
Dominic clearly underestimated me from the start—a mistake many had made before him. His movements were fast and powerful, but too straightforward, lacking subtlety. Growing up human among werewolves, I'd learned to use my opponents' strength against them.
When his first direct punch came, I sidestepped smoothly, using his momentum to flip him onto his back. The look of shock on his face was almost comical.
Several surprised gasps rose from nearby warriors who had paused to watch. Heat flooded my cheeks, but I pushed away the self-consciousness. This wasn't about showing off—it was about survival.
Dominic scrambled up, annoyance flashing in his eyes. "Just got lucky."
"Then try again," I challenged, settling back into a defensive stance.
In the next few rounds, I repeatedly brought him down using different techniques. Each time, his frustration grew more evident. I could feel more eyes gathering—including that intense gaze that sent electricity through my veins.
Was Alpha Jace still watching? The thought made me hyperaware of every move, every breath.
After several rounds, my throat felt parched. "Time out," I called, turning toward my water bottle.
However, what happened next left me stunned by such shameless betrayal. A collective gasp rose from the crowd as shadows converged around me, danger closing in from where I least expected it.
