Chapter 5

The dawn mist hung low over Kael’s training grounds, shrouding the clearing in a silver haze. The forest was alive with the sound of birds and distant streams, but here, in the open dirt circle, the air was tense, thick with anticipation.

Aria stood at the center, her legs trembling slightly, arms pressed at her sides. She had trained briefly yesterday, but today Kael intended to push her further. Her chest still throbbed with the memory of Rion’s rejection, and now the memory of Bethanie’s triumph seared her pride. Anger had become fuel, and Kael intended to teach her how to harness it.

He stepped into the circle, golden eyes gleaming in the early morning light. His presence was magnetic, commanding attention without words.

“Focus,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Your emotions are dangerous if you let them control you. But if you channel them, they can make you unstoppable.”

Aria clenched her fists. “I’m ready,” she said, her voice trembling, not with fear, but with determination.

Kael’s lips curved faintly. “Good. Then begin.”

The first exercises were simple—stances, footwork, and balance. Kael’s movements were precise, fluid, a predator teaching prey how to defend itself. Aria struggled at first, clumsy and slow, but she didn’t give up. Every time she faltered, Kael’s sharp voice drove her forward.

“Again. Faster.”

“Keep your weight centered.”

“Don’t flinch.”

Sweat prickled her brow, her muscles ached, but with each correction, she felt her body awakening. She could sense her wolf stirring inside her, restless and eager. Her senses sharpened; the rustle of leaves, the flutter of a bird’s wings, even the subtle change in Kael’s stance—all of it became clear to her.

And then came the moment she couldn’t explain.

As Kael lunged toward her, a surge of energy erupted from within her chest. A white light shimmered around her form, subtle but undeniable. She moved with fluid grace, faster than her body should have allowed. She blocked Kael’s strike, spun, and countered with a sweep of her legs.

Kael paused mid-step, golden eyes widening in surprise. The faint glow in her eyes mirrored the light that danced around her movements.

“You’re… stronger than I thought,” he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rush of adrenaline.

Aria’s chest heaved. “I—I don’t know what’s happening!”

Kael shook his head, stepping closer, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “It’s happening because you’re not just training your body. Your power is waking. That… is your gift. You are the White Wolf, Aria. You have the blood of the Moon Goddess flowing through you. This is only the beginning.”

Her icy blue eyes widened in shock. “The White Wolf…? That’s a legend! I’m… I’m just me!”

Kael’s golden gaze held hers. “You are not ‘just you.’ You are more than any legend, more than any Alpha. You have been chosen for something far greater than being a Luna. That bond with Rion? That rejection? It was not the end—it was the start of your true path.”

The words sent a shiver down her spine. Her heart pounded, not with fear, but with excitement—and something else she could not yet name.

Training continued all morning. Kael pushed her through sparring, footwork, and hand-to-hand combat, correcting every mistake with patient precision. He showed her how to channel her anger, her grief, and even her lingering fear into power.

By midday, Aria’s muscles burned, sweat dripped from her hair, but she felt alive in a way she hadn’t since Rion’s rejection. She realized her body could do things she hadn’t imagined: her reflexes were sharper, her movements swifter, and her strength far beyond what she had known.

Kael watched her silently at first, then nodded in approval. “You’re learning faster than I expected. But power without control is dangerous. Never let your anger rule you—it will consume you.”

Aria’s wolf stirred restlessly within her, its white fur bristling in response to his words. She understood, at least partially, what he meant. Anger could drive her, yes—but she had to master it, not be mastered by it.

“I understand,” she said, panting, gripping her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

Kael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, yet grounding. “Good. One more exercise. This time, I want you to combine your instincts with your speed. Move as I move, but trust your wolf. Trust yourself.”

Aria nodded, determination hardening her spine.

Kael lunged again, faster this time. Aria’s wolf responded before her mind did, instinct guiding her every movement. She dodged, weaved, struck, and countered. The white glow around her eyes grew brighter, and the power surged in her veins like molten fire.

Kael blocked her strike, breathing heavily, yet his eyes gleamed with pride. “You’re ready for more than just training. You’re ready to rise.”

Aria’s chest heaved, sweat and dirt clinging to her skin. Her heart raced, not with exhaustion, but with exhilaration. For the first time since Rion’s rejection, she felt… unstoppable.

After training, Kael led her to the river that ran near the camp. Water sparkled under the afternoon sun, cool and inviting. Aria knelt beside it, splashing her face, letting the cold water wash away sweat and grime.

Kael leaned against a nearby tree, his golden eyes watching her. “You’ve done well today. Most wolves would have given up hours ago. You didn’t.”

She looked up at him, chest heaving. “I… I have to get stronger. Not just for me, but… for everyone who wronged me. Rion, Bethanie… they’ll see me rise, and they’ll regret every word they said.”

Kael’s gaze softened, almost imperceptibly. “Yes. Let that fire burn, but remember—it must be controlled. Otherwise, it will destroy you before it reaches them.”

Aria nodded, understanding but also feeling a thrill at the thought of her revenge. The spark of determination in her chest had grown into a roaring flame.

Her wolf stirred within her, sensing Kael’s presence nearby, drawn to him. She didn’t understand why, not fully, but a faint warmth spread through her at his nearness.

“Tomorrow,” Kael said, breaking the silence, “we continue. But tonight, rest. Your body and your wolf need it. Tomorrow, the real training begins.”

Aria looked at him, the golden-eyed Alpha who had saved her, taught her, and awakened something she didn’t know she had. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Kael’s lips twitched, almost a smile, but his voice remained steady. “Don’t thank me yet. You’ll thank yourself when you realize how far you’ve come.”

As she settled by the river, letting the cool water soothe her aching muscles, Aria thought of Rion, Bethanie, and the Blackthorn Pack.

She would make them pay—not in petty ways, but in showing them her true strength.

And when that day came, no one would dare call her weak.

Her wolf stirred once more, fierce and unyielding. And deep inside, beneath the fire of revenge, a faint, unnameable pull toward Kael stirred too—soft, warm, and insistent.

The White Wolf was awakening.

And nothing would ever be the same again.