The Lightning Wolf Chronicles Chapter 167

**Evelyn's POV**

I sank into the sofa, exhaustion seeping into my bones.

"It's like I'm stuck in some weird loop," I said to Nadia. "Everyone wants to protect me, keep me safe, yet they still need me on the front lines. They hide stuff thinking I'll break, but guess who still has to make the tough calls?"

I rubbed my temples. "I get that they care, but shouldn't I have a say in my own life? The only thing I've ever actually asked for was to join Sentinel training."

The moment those words left my mouth, I felt lighter somehow. Tired, but lighter.

"Then let's change things up," Nadia jumped to her feet. "How about we hit the training grounds for a few laps? You need to burn off some energy, not sit here moping."

"Now? It's pouring outside."

She cocked an eyebrow. "What, our badass Sentinel afraid of a little rain? Call Mark, Cyrus, and Sophia. You workaholic freaks need to move. Seriously, when was the last time you actually relaxed?"

She had a point. Since my rescue, I'd barely stopped to breathe between training, learning, and missions.

Twenty minutes later, we were all running laps around the training center, then along the castle perimeter. The rain had stopped, leaving behind that clean, earthy smell that cleared my head. We chased each other around like normal teenagers without life-or-death responsibilities. Eventually, we collapsed under a gazebo at the edge of the grounds.

"Heard your tracking thing is going well?" I asked Sophia and Cyrus between breaths.

"Pretty good," Sophia nodded. "Found some of Freya's pack already. Once things settle, she might get to meet them, maybe invite them here or join wherever they're staying."

"The Rogue King tracking's moving too," Cyrus added. "Since we figured out they need witches and those specific herbs, we've been watching those sales. The witch council's helping - they're pissed about their people being forced to cast spells."

I took a water bottle from Sophia. "What about Aria's mark thing? Could the same thing happen to me since mine's temporary too?"

"Diana thinks it was a special case," Nadia explained. "Aria's bond with Alistair was crazy strong, plus her contract with Alpha King Nathan was equally powerful. The two forces basically fought each other until the mark broke. Lucky she made it through without more damage."

"How are they doing?" I asked. "Haven't seen them since that day."

"Adjustment period," Nadia wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "New mate bonds need... strengthening, especially with three people. But Luna Queen Selena says they're doing fine. Aria's starting to accept the whole Luna Queen thing."

"They're probably busy making babies. Why are you turning red?" Nadia teased. "It's totally normal."

"I'm not blushing," I protested. "I just don't think we should be talking about their private stuff out loud."

"Of course we should! How else would anyone learn? Bet the guys talk about this stuff all the time. Right, Mark? Cyrus?"

"Maybe not that detailed, but... yeah, basically," Mark admitted, making my eyes widen.

"Some girls never get what 'just having fun' means. The clingy ones are the worst. We usually help each other deal before it gets messy..."

My jaw dropped, and he quickly added, "That was years ago. The full Sentinel mark makes all that impossible now."

"Seriously? Completely impossible?" Nadia looked horrified. "I couldn't handle that."

"Honestly, it's no big deal," Mark shrugged. "The desire just isn't there. If I still wanted to but couldn't, I'd have washed out of training day one. You could all strip naked right now and I wouldn't react."

"TMI," I muttered.

"Don't act all innocent. You're probably the wildest one deep down. Quiet ones always are." He winked, leaving me speechless.

Thankfully, the dinner bell rang, and I bolted toward the dining hall like my life depended on it.

Morning training had gotten more interesting since we'd been split into tactical teams. Hard to believe I'd been at camp exactly a year now, with new trainees arriving soon. Felt like another lifetime.

Our core team - Sophia, Freya, Mark, Cyrus, and me - mainly focused on finding Freya's pack members and tracking the Rogue King's movements. Both had become personal for Freya and me.

We'd been on mission for a week without seeing Alistair, Rowan, or Aria. Today's job: intercept enemy transport. The trucks looked ordinary, but Freya's facial recognition had caught Brandon on camera.

Then we got intel that Brandon's convoy had added another truck heading toward a base we were watching.

After briefing, Alpha King Nathan approved our recon mission - no engagement, just gather intel on what those trucks were carrying.

"According to satellite," Cyrus pointed at our map, "they'll stop in this valley for about two hours to refuel and rest. Lots of trees, perfect cover for us."

"Guards?" I asked.

"Four per truck, all werewolves but carrying guns and blades," Mark said. "Fixed patrol routes, rotating every 15 minutes."

"Be careful," Sophia warned. "They seem to have something that detects unfamiliar werewolf scents."

I nodded, pulling out small bottles. "Then we stay human and use these. Diana's concealer masks our scent for about 30 minutes, so we move fast."

Four hours later, we were hidden in the forest overlooking the valley. The four trucks sat in a clearing with guards circling them.

I studied their pattern. "There's a five-minute gap in the southeast corner during shift changes. Cyrus, enough time for the trackers?"

He considered. "With cover, yeah."

"I'll go," Sophia volunteered. "I'm fastest."

"Freya's monitoring from the comm vehicle. She'll warn us if anything changes," I reminded them. "Remember, just recon. Plant the devices, then out. No engagement."

"Got it, Captain," Cyrus mock-saluted.

"Ready to move. Shift change in eight minutes."

I watched Sophia and Cyrus slip from cover, using bushes for concealment. They moved silently, not alerting any guards.

*Freya, status?* I asked through our link.

*All clear,* she replied.

They planted trackers on the first two trucks smoothly, but as Cyrus approached the third, a guard turned toward him. No time to finish - they ducked into shadows.

Seeing the convoy preparing to leave, I ordered, *Everyone pull back. Two trackers are enough.*

Mission accomplished, we headed back to camp. In our dorm, Freya collapsed fully clothed onto her bed and was instantly asleep. I gently covered her with a blanket, turned off the light, and slipped out.

Outside, moonlight filtered through clouds onto the training ground, casting everything in silver. I changed into workout clothes and started jogging the perimeter, letting the built-up tension slowly drain away.