Chapter 8: The Wolfless Recruit

Wren

"The Nightwardens?"

I stared at Liora, waiting for her to explain why she recognized the symbol hidden inside Grandpa's knife.

She turned the small piece of metal over in her hands before carefully returning it to me.

"That's what the book called them. They were supposedly some kind of elite military unit, but I don't remember much else. My father always said the stories were exaggerated."

"What kind of stories?"

"Something about warriors who could defeat entire squads of wolves without shifting." She frowned. "Apparently, they disappeared years ago. Nobody really knows what happened to them."

My heart began pounding.

Grandpa had never mentioned the Nightwardens, but he'd taught me fighting techniques that none of my instructors recognized.

Could he have belonged to that unit?

"Do you think the Royal Army would have records about them?"

"Probably. But I doubt they're going to hand classified military documents to a couple of new recruits." Liora tilted her head. "Why? Was your grandpa one of them?"

"I don't know." I looked down at the broken knife. "But I'm going to find out."

Ironhold Garrison was nothing like I'd imagined.

Massive stone walls surrounded the military compound, with watchtowers positioned along the perimeter. Beyond the gates, enormous training fields stretched toward the surrounding mountains.

Soldiers marched in formation while others practiced combat techniques in designated arenas.

Everywhere I looked, there were wolves.

Some remained in human form, while others shifted during training, their enormous bodies moving with terrifying speed.

For the first time in my life, I wondered whether Grandpa had truly prepared me for something like this.

"Welcome to Ironhold," Sergeant Mercer announced as our vehicle stopped outside the administration building. "You'll report for registration immediately. Your preliminary combat evaluations begin tomorrow morning."

Liora groaned. "Tomorrow? We're not even getting a day to recover from traveling?"

Mercer looked at her. "Would you prefer to begin tonight, Recruit Fenwick?"

"No, Sergeant. Tomorrow sounds absolutely wonderful."

I hid my smile as we climbed out.

Inside the administration building, dozens of recruits waited in lines according to their assigned divisions.

When I reached the registration desk, a uniformed officer examined my paperwork. "Wren Blackwood. Combat Division."

"Yes, ma'am."

She scanned my records. Then she stopped. "There's no wolf classification listed."

"I don't have one."

The officer looked up. "You're wolfless?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Her expression changed. "Combat recruits are expected to participate in physical engagements against shifted opponents."

"I'm aware."

"And you understand that accommodations won't be made simply because you lack an awakened wolf?"

"I wasn't planning on asking for any."

A few recruits standing behind me laughed.

"She's going to get herself killed," someone muttered.

Before I could respond, a sharp female voice cut through the conversation.

"What's holding up the line?"

A tall woman with dark red hair approached, wearing a fitted black training uniform with a silver squad-leader insignia.

She looked me over with obvious disdain. "I'm Vera Kestrel. Acting squad leader for the incoming combat recruits. Is there a problem?"

The registration officer gestured toward my paperwork. "Recruit Blackwood has no awakened wolf."

Vera stared at me. Then she laughed. "You're joking."

I kept my expression neutral. "No."

"And they accepted you into Combat Division?"

"Apparently."

Her eyes narrowed. "Who did your family pay to get you here?"

Heat rose in my chest. "Nobody."

"Right. Because the Royal Army regularly accepts wolfless little girls who couldn't survive five minutes against a properly trained warrior."

I met her gaze. "Then I suppose tomorrow's evaluations will be interesting."

Her smile disappeared.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then Vera leaned closer. "Careful, Blackwood. You might be used to getting special treatment wherever you came from, but that won't happen under my supervision."

"Good. I'd hate for anyone to think I didn't earn my place."

Someone behind us snickered.

Vera's jaw tightened. "Barracks Seven. Report to the eastern training grounds at six tomorrow morning. Don't be late."

I collected my identification badge and walked away.

Liora caught up with me near the exit. "Well, you've been here approximately ten minutes, and you've already made an enemy."

"She started it."

"Oh, I know. I was watching." Liora grinned. "It was magnificent."

The following morning, I arrived at the eastern training grounds fifteen minutes early. Nearly sixty combat recruits stood in formation, waiting beneath the cold morning sky.

An older officer approached the platform overlooking the arena.

"Attention!"

Every recruit immediately straightened.

"I'm Commander Rourke. For the next six weeks, I'll be responsible for determining whether any of you deserve to wear the Royal Army's insignia."

His gaze moved across our ranks.

"Today is your preliminary combat evaluation. You'll be graded on endurance, weapons proficiency, hand-to-hand combat, and tactical adaptability. Your scores will determine your initial rankings."

Vera stood near the front with her arms folded.

When she caught my eye, she smirked.

I ignored her.

"Your wolf might give you an advantage," Rourke continued, "but this army doesn't reward strength without discipline. Understand?"

"YES, COMMANDER!"

"Then let's begin."

The first assessment was endurance.

We had to complete a brutal obstacle course that included rope climbs, balance beams, climbing walls, and a six-mile run carrying weighted equipment.

Several recruits immediately shifted, using their wolves to cover the distance faster.

I remained human.

Grandpa had spent years making me run through forests carrying bags of stones, climb steep hills in the rain, and practice maintaining my balance across fallen trees.

I'd hated every exhausting second of it. Now, I silently thanked him.

I finished the course in fourth place overall and first among the recruits who'd remained in human form.

Vera looked irritated when she saw my time. That irritation only increased during weapons training.

I scored near-perfect marks in archery, throwing knives, and close-range defensive techniques.

By the time we reached hand-to-hand combat, several recruits had stopped laughing at me.

Commander Rourke examined his tablet. "Blackwood. You're up."

I stepped into the combat ring.

My opponent was a broad-shouldered man nearly twice my size.

He cracked his knuckles. "Try not to cry when you hit the ground."

I adjusted my stance. "I'll do my best."

He charged before the instructor had finished calling the opening command.

I moved sideways, avoiding his first strike.

His second punch was faster, but he committed too much weight to it. I caught his wrist, stepped inside his reach, and used his momentum to throw him over my hip.

He landed hard on the mat.

A few recruits gasped.

He scrambled upright, furious. "That was luck!"

"Then you should probably stop giving me opportunities."

He lunged again.

This time, I ducked beneath his arm, swept his supporting leg, and pinned him before he could recover.

"Yield," the instructor ordered.

My opponent struggled.

I increased the pressure on his arm.

He slapped the mat. "I yield!"

I released him immediately and stood.

Commander Rourke studied me with an unreadable expression. "Where did you learn that technique?"

"My grandfather taught me, sir."

"His name?"

"Gideon Blackwood."

Something flickered across the commander's face. But before I could ask anything, he glanced toward the next group. "Return to formation."

I obeyed, though I couldn't stop thinking about his reaction.

Had he recognized Grandpa's name?

By the final assessment, my muscles ached, and sweat had soaked through my uniform.

The last event was a tactical combat exercise.

Each recruit had to retrieve a marked object from the center of the arena while defending against two opponents.

We were allowed training weapons and controlled partial shifts, but lethal strikes were prohibited.

When my turn came, Vera selected two of the largest recruits remaining. "Let's see how talented you are without someone standing still for you, Blackwood."

I entered the arena without answering.

The first opponent rushed me, his claws extending as he partially shifted.

The second circled behind me.

Grandpa's voice echoed through my memory.

When you're outnumbered, little bird, don't fight two enemies. Make them fight each other.

I waited until the first warrior committed to his attack. Then I dropped low and rolled beneath his swinging arm.

His claws struck his partner's shoulder guard.

Both men stumbled.

I seized the opening, drove my training blade against the first recruit's exposed side, and twisted away before the second could grab me.

"First elimination!" the instructor shouted.

The remaining warrior snarled. His muscles expanded as his wolf pushed closer to the surface.

He was stronger than me. Much stronger. But strength was useless if he couldn't predict where I'd move.

I retreated toward the center marker, deliberately leaving my left side exposed.

He took the bait.

The moment he lunged, I stepped around him, caught his extended arm, and used his momentum to drive him onto the mat.

My blade stopped against his throat.

"Second elimination!"

I grabbed the objective marker.

"Exercise complete!"

The arena fell silent.

Then Commander Rourke stepped forward. "Blackwood. Report."

I straightened, breathing heavily. "Both opponents neutralized. Objective secured, sir."

He checked his tablet.

For several uncomfortable seconds, he said nothing. Then he looked toward the recruits. "Preliminary combat rankings are finalized."

Vera folded her arms confidently.

Rourke began reading the results, starting with third place, then second.

Finally, he announced the highest score.

"First place, with ninety-eight points out of one hundred..." He paused. "Recruit Wren Blackwood."

The silence was immediate.

Vera's mouth fell open.

One recruit actually laughed in disbelief. "That's impossible! She doesn't even have a wolf!"

Commander Rourke slowly raised his head. "And yet she defeated everyone who does."

I stood motionless as the words settled over me.

For the first time in years, my hard work had been recognized without someone demanding I surrender the achievement to Elodie.

Rourke approached me. "You've had excellent training, Blackwood."

"Thank you, sir."

His gaze lingered on me. "Tomorrow, I want to discuss your grandfather."

My heart skipped.

Before I could respond, he turned away. "Dismissed!"

Liora appeared beside me almost immediately.

"FIRST PLACE!" she practically screamed. "WREN, YOU GOT FIRST PLACE!"

I laughed as she threw her arms around me.

Across the training grounds, Vera glared at us. But for once, I didn't care who was angry about my success.

I was too busy wondering what Commander Rourke knew about Grandpa.