Caged by the Wolf King
"I hurt people for other reasons."
She believed him.
She also didn't trust him.
Those two things lived in her chest at the same time, tangled and thorny.
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He took her to the training grounds.
Not the main ring—that was for his warriors, who stopped and stared as she limped past. An Alpha's mate, scarred and chained? Whispers followed them like crows. Kaelen ignored them. So did Elara. She had been stared at her whole life.
The private ring was behind the fortress, hidden in a cave warmed by volcanic vents. Sand covered the floor. Weapons lined the walls—swords, daggers, staffs, things she didn't have names for.