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Chapter 34

Author: REESE
last update Last Updated: 2025-06-11 02:39:13

EZRA

The air in the clearing was already thick with her fear before she even arrived. I could smell it on the breeze, a sour tang that coiled in my gut. It was the scent of prey, and my own wolf stirred restlessly, eager for the hunt or the fight.

She stepped through the trees, looking smaller and more fragile than the day before. Her failure yesterday had hollowed her out, leaving dark circles under her eyes. Good. Failure should leave a mark.

“You’re on time,” I said. My voice was a flat, hard thing in the quiet woods. “Don’t expect praise for it.”

She just nodded, her jaw clenched. She hugged her arms around herself, a futile attempt to ward off the chill in the air, or maybe the chill that was me.

“Yesterday was a pathetic showing,” I stated, circling her slowly. I moved with a predator’s purpose, letting my presence press in on her. “You whimpered. You gave up. You let the pain win. Today, you won’t.”

“I tried,” she whispered, her voice tight.

“Trying is for children.” I stopped
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