All Chapters of Defrosting Her Cold Heart : Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

Silence fell over the training ground.The men stepped back, forming a rough circle around Casey and Lucas. Some exchanged amused glances, clearly expecting the ‘newcomer’ to be put in their place.Lucas didn’t move. He merely stood there, his hands in his pockets, exuding an aura of effortless authority.Casey met his gaze, her body completely still, her mind sharp.She had fought countless men before—street thugs, underground fighters, survivalists who clawed for their next meal.But Lucas was different.He wasn’t just another fighter. He was a predator—one who was used to people following his orders without question.“Time’s ticking,” Lucas said smoothly, his voice calm, almost bored.Casey smirked. “You sure you want to do this in front of your men?”A few of the men let out low whistles.Austin chuckled. “This one’s got guts.”Lucas’s expression remained unreadable, but the slight narrowing of his eyes told her he wasn’t amused.Then, without warning, Casey moved.A blur of speed

And then_____She crossed the finish line.With three minutes to spare.Panting, she let the dummy drop and wiped the sweat from her brow.The silence stretched.Then Austin let out a low whistle. “I’ll be damned.”Jason checked the stopwatch and finally spoke. “You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that.”Casey steadied her breath, her arms trembling from the exertion.Jason folded his arms. “The boss may have let you in, but this was just a warm-up.”Austin clapped her on the back. “Welcome to Team One, rookie. Hope you survive.”Casey rolled her shoulders, ignoring the burn in her muscles.She’d survived worse.Andrew approached, shaking his head. “You really don’t know when to back down, do you?”“Backing down never got me anywhere.”---The recruits had barracks, but Team One had their own quarters—a privilege earned through blood, sweat, and survival.Jason led Casey through the dimly lit halls, stopping at an empty room. “This is yours. Don’t get too comfortable.”Casey stepped inside

Casey tugged the oversized uniform top over her head, grimacing as the fabric brushed against her damp hair. Droplets slipped down her neck, cool against skin that felt too warm already.She wiped at her face, frustrated. Damn it. Of all days for the dryer to act up…The quick shower had left her hair stubbornly wet, dark strands clinging against her forehead and temples, softening her sharp edges. She caught her reflection in the small mirror above the sink. For the first time, she looked less like the boy she was pretending to be… and more like herself.Too feminine. Too vulnerable.Her chest bindings were in place, tied tight, but they couldn’t mask the faint flush in her cheeks or the faint curve of her jaw that the wet hair accentuated.And then came the worst problem—her stomach cramped, a sharp twinge that made her wince. She pressed a hand low against her abdomen, teeth gritting. Not now. Please, not now.Her body was betraying her, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Still, s