Chapter 40. Training

Ally's POV

And so I unleash her, allow the power of my inner wolf to surge forth, meeting Elliot's challenge with newfound ferocity. Our movements grow more fluid, a silent understanding developing between us with each breath, each collision of energy.

"Excellent, Ally," he praises, and though his words are simple, they resonate deep within.

"Again," I demand, driven not just by the need to improve, but by the desire to remain here, in this space where Elliot and I exist in a world apart- a world where the promise of something more hovers just out of reach, its allure as captivating as the enigmatic man before me.

The weight of the sword in my hand grounds me, a constant reminder that I am here- alive and fighting. My muscles strain under the persistence of combat, each move a silent war between my past and present. Elliot watches, his gaze as palpable as a touch, tracing the lines of tension that run like rivers down my arms.