Chapter 2

Chapter Two: Kale

The crack of bone against bone echoed through the training grounds.

“Again.”

The warrior across from me staggered slightly before straightening, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth onto the dirt beneath his boots. Around us, the rest of the training field had gone quiet.

Wolves watched carefully, shoulders tense, waiting to see whether their packmate would surrender or make the mistake of lunging at me again.

To his credit, he chose the second option.

He came at me fast.

Too fast.

I sidestepped easily, catching his wrist before slamming him onto his back hard enough to knock the air from his lungs. Dust rose around us as he groaned in pain.

I released him immediately.

“Your left side is weak,” I said coldly. “Fix it.”

The warrior nodded breathlessly. “Yes, Alpha.”

Murmurs spread quietly through the crowd as I stepped away, rolling the stiffness from my shoulders. Dawn had barely broken over Ashfang, yet sweat already clung to the back of my neck beneath my black training tunic.

Pathetic.

Most of them fought like frightened pups.

I exhaled slowly, wiping sweat from my jaw with the back of my hand.

Restlessness stirred beneath my skin again.

Lately, it never seemed to leave.

Sleep had become shorter. Patrols more irritating. Every sound felt sharper than usual, every scent stronger somehow. My wolf paced endlessly beneath the surface of my mind like something unseen waited just beyond reach.

It was exhausting.

“Well,” a familiar voice drawled behind me, “someone’s in a murderous mood this morning.”

A few nearby warriors relaxed instantly at the sound of Cassian’s voice.

I turned slightly as my Beta approached through the training grounds, his heavy boots crunching against the frost-covered dirt. Unlike most wolves here, Cassian carried authority easily, without forcing it. Warriors greeted him naturally as he passed, some with nods, others with quiet smirks.

He returned each one effortlessly.

“Late again,” I muttered.

Cassian shrugged, entirely unapologetic. “Some of us enjoy sleeping.”

I grabbed the waterskin resting near the wooden fence and took a long drink before answering.

“Some of us have responsibilities.”

“That sounds suspiciously close to criticism.”

“It is criticism.”

A grin pulled briefly at his mouth before his gaze drifted toward the battered warrior still struggling to breathe nearby.

“You know,” Cassian said mildly, “most Alphas don’t treat training sessions like public executions.”

“Most Alphas lead weak packs.”

That earned a quiet laugh from him.

The sound faded quickly as movement near the edge of the grounds caught my attention. Several younger wolves had stopped sparring entirely, their focus fixed toward the village pathways below.

“Dismissed,” I ordered sharply.

The warriors scattered almost immediately.

Silence settled over the grounds again, broken only by the distant sounds of the waking pack.

Cassian leaned casually against the fence beside me. “Varik’s looking for you.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

Of course he was.

“What now?”

“He says you’ve avoided his petition to meet three nights in a row.” His expression turned dangerously amused. “Apparently he finds this disrespectful.”

“He finds breathing disrespectful.”

Cassian snorted softly.

Varik served as advisor to my father when he was Alpha. He wanted to use the same grip he once used ruling beside my grandfather decades ago. Age had done little to soften him. If anything, it had sharpened his patience into something far more dangerous.

Recently, however, his attention had become focused on one thing.

Finding me a mate.

“The council keeps asking questions,” Cassian continued carefully. “They’re growing impatient.”

I said nothing.

I already knew what came next.

“Ashfang needs a Luna,” he added after a moment.

Ashfang needed many things. Better border security. Less corruption among lower officials.

Warriors who knew how to fight without relying solely on brute strength.

But apparently my mating status had become the pack’s greatest concern.

“The future Luna must be strong,” Cassian continued. “The council worries the bond could weaken the bloodline if…”

“If what?”

He hesitated briefly before answering.

“If the goddess pairs you poorly.”

A humorless laugh left me.

“The goddess Nythera will pair me when she’s ready.”

Still, my wolf stirred restlessly at the conversation, irritation flashing hot beneath my ribs.

Mine.

The possessive growl echoed faintly in the back of my mind.

I shoved it down immediately.

Footsteps approached from behind, calm and unhurried against the damp dirt.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“You missed breakfast again.”

Marla’s voice carried the same quiet disapproval it always had.

I glanced over my shoulder as she stopped beside the wooden fence, thick wool wrapped tightly around her shoulders to keep out the cold. Silver threaded through her dark hair now, though her sharp brown eyes remained unchanged from childhood.

Most wolves in Ashfang feared me enough to avoid unnecessary conversation.

Marla never had.

“I was training,” I replied.

“Yes, because the pack would surely collapse if you ate first.”

Cassian snorted beside me.

I ignored both of them.

Marla’s gaze swept briefly across the bruised warriors scattered around the grounds before settling back on me.

“There’s been a staffing transfer from the collector’s office.”

I reached for the waterskin beside the fence. “And?”

“A new maid arrived at the estate this morning.”

The words barely registered. Servants came and went often enough.

“The collector insisted she begin work immediately,” Marla continued, irritation slipping faintly into her voice now.

That caught my attention slightly.

Beside me, Cassian exhaled quietly through his nose. “That wolf grows more irritating every year.”

“Let me guess,” he muttered, folding his arms across his chest. “Another desperate girl trying to pay off debt?”

Marla’s expression tightened for half a second.

“Something like that.”

I frowned slightly, my grip tightening around the waterskin.

Annoying.

Lately my wolf reacted strangely to everything.

“I assigned her to the western halls,” Marla said. “Try not to frighten her off before the week ends.”

Marla disappeared down the stone pathway leading back toward the estate, her boots crunching softly against the ground.

Cassian watched her leave before glancing sideways at me. “You know,” he said lazily, “most people would consider it impressive that the only wolf in this entire pack who speaks to you like that is an old woman half your size.”

“Marla does whatever she wants,” I replied flatly.

“That explains the terrifying lack of fear.”

I ignored him.

The wind shifted suddenly, carrying the sharp scent of pine through the training grounds. Dark clouds rolled heavily above Ashfang, swallowing what little morning light had managed to break through.

The mountains carried winter early.

Soon, the higher paths would freeze over completely, cutting off travel until the thaw returned.

“Patrol reports are waiting in your office,” Cassian said after a moment, pushing himself away from the fence. “Northern borders have been quiet, but the western traders are complaining again.”

“They always complain.”

“Yes, but apparently now they’re claiming rogues stole supplies near the mountain routes.”

That pulled my attention fully back to him.

“Near our territory?”

“Close enough to make everyone nervous.”

My jaw tightened slightly.

Rogues rarely attacked this close to Ashfang unless they were desperate or stupid. Neither possibility interested me.

“We’ll double patrols near the western borders,” I said. “And warn the traders not to travel after dark.”

Cassian nodded once. “I’ll see to it that it gets done.”

A sharp whistle suddenly cut through the cold air from somewhere near the lower grounds. Several younger wolves immediately scrambled to attention.

Cassian grimaced faintly. “Looks like the elders are starting inspections early today.”

“How unfortunate for everyone involved.”

He laughed quietly before falling into step beside me as we headed toward the estate.

The path from the training grounds wound through the center of Ashfang village, where the pack had fully begun waking for the day. Merchants arranged goods outside small market stalls while pups darted through the muddy pathways despite their mothers shouting after them.

Most wolves lowered their heads respectfully as I passed.

Others stepped out of the way entirely.

Fear.

Respect.

Sometimes the two became impossible to separate.

A few omegas carrying baskets froze completely when they noticed me approaching before quickly moving aside. One nearly dropped her bundle of herbs trying to bow fast enough.

My expression hardened slightly.

Pathetic.

Cassian greeted several warriors as we walked, far more approachable than I’d ever been. Wolves relaxed around him naturally.

Around me, they straightened.

The estate loomed ahead at the highest point of the territory, dark stone walls towering over the rest of the village below. Guards stationed outside the gates immediately bowed as we approached.

The moment I stepped inside, warmth wrapped around me from the massive hearths burning throughout the entrance hall.

Servants moved quickly through the estate carrying linens, trays, and bundles of firewood. Most kept their heads lowered.

One of the younger maids glanced up too late as she rounded the corner.

The instant her eyes met mine, she froze.

Then immediately lowered her gaze again.

Cassian glanced toward the terrified maid before sighing.

“You could at least try looking less homicidal.”

“Why?”

Before he could respond, movement near the western corridor caught my attention.

An omega disappeared around the corner carrying folded linens before I could properly see her face.

But something about the brief glimpse snagged strangely beneath my skin.

My wolf went still.

I slowed slightly.

Cassian noticed immediately. “What?”

The feeling vanished as quickly as it came.

“Nothing.”

Just the scent of cedarwood, burning fire, and something softer lingering faintly in the air before disappearing completely.

It was warm, earthy and unfamiliar.

Annoyance flickered through me instantly.

Lately my wolf reacted to everything.

Without another word, I continued toward my office while the strange feeling lingered irritatingly at the edge of my mind.