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The trial of teeth and shadows

Author: Cynera
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-17 23:43:34

Chapter 18 – The Trial of Teeth and Shadows

The cold stone of the training yard bit through the thin soles of Aria’s boots, but she barely felt it. The Alpha’s gaze was locked on her — unblinking, sharp, like a predator assessing the worth of a smaller creature before deciding whether to devour it.

The others stood at the edges, a ring of warriors and wolves in partial shift, their breath misting in the winter air. Kieran was among them, his jaw tight, his eyes never leaving her.

“Step forward,” the Alpha said.

His voice was a command wrapped in silk, dangerous in its softness. Aria obeyed, each step a quiet defiance of the instinct telling her to run. Serena, restless inside her, paced along the edges of her consciousness.

Stay sharp, girl. This isn’t just muscle — it’s mind.

The Alpha tilted his head, studying her with the kind of stillness that felt unnatural. Then, without warning, he stepped into her space, circling her like a wolf testing scent.

“You’ve crossed my border,” he sa
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