~Amelia~
Kaden went into training with the sort of energy that said his nerves had turned into a fist, and the whole field felt it before anybody even called the first sparring round. By the time he stepped into the ring, the war had clearly moved into his bones and started rattling around for an exit, and the only thing that came out was force. He blocked too hard, struck too fast, and pushed one of the warriors back so sharply that the poor guy almost lost his footing in the mud.
Caleb caught it first and barked, “Kaden, slow the hell down,” while one of the younger fighters ducked away with a half-laugh and said, “Alpha’s fighting three enemies at once today, and one of them is living rent free here.”
One guard brought him a fresh report on Blake’s patrol route, and Kaden barely glanced at it before tossing it to Caleb, “Not now.”
From the edge of the field, I watched the whole thing with Lily on my hip and a terrible feeling settling in my chest.
