"Move your feet, Samuel. You’re standing like a statue in a storm."Nathan Clarke shifted his weight, the gym’s rubber mats squeaking under his boots. He didn't wait for a reply. He lunged. A heavy, gloved fist whistled past Samuel’s ear, the wind of it stinging his skin.Samuel exhaled, a sharp, ragged sound. He scrambled back, his heels catching on the edge of the sparring ring. "I’m an architect, Nathan. Not a gladiator. My job involves blueprints, not getting my ribs turned into dust.""In this house, your job is surviving." Nathan’s face was a mask of cold granite. He didn't sweat. He didn't breathe hard. He just circled, his eyes tracking the pulse jumping in Samuel’s neck. "The pack elders are already sniffing for blood. If you can't defend the King’s mark, they’ll rip it out of your throat."Samuel wiped sweat from his eyes, the salt stinging. The gym smelled of old leather, bleach, and the oppressive, metallic tang of Alpha pheromones. High above, the observation deck remaine
Last Updated : 2026-03-02 Read more