Special Chapter 3: Praetor Dad

ARDEN

The squeals of little voices rang across the training grounds, one that pierced through even the thickest walls of discipline. I had been warned this would be chaos, and they were right. It was the first time the United Factions opened their gates to the children of the workers for a training workshop, and it seemed Cade was already slightly regretting it.

They were alive in every sense of the word—tiny pups darting around like little tornadoes, tripping over each other, laughing, shrieking, their boundless energy filling the air.

Right at the center of it all was Cade.

I pressed a hand to my lips to stifle a laugh. He was standing tall and imposing, his arms crossed behind his back in a stance that could silence even the bravest of commanders.

However, the pups didn’t buy it.

They all stiffened when he cleared his throat—like tiny soldiers pretending they understood the concept of discipline—but the moment he spoke, they dissolved back into