Chapter 121

I couldn’t recall the last time I experienced such a tranquil sleep. It felt as though every lingering anxiety had taken an unannounced leave of absence. My mind was blissfully clear, and the storm of emotions that often raged within me was locked away, leaving a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in ages. I needed that. For the first time, I woke at dawn completely refreshed, brimming with energy. A weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying had lifted, though I couldn’t pinpoint the source of this newfound lightness.

With more time than I anticipated before my scheduled training, I decided to do something I hadn’t attempted in over a year: meditate. Slowly, I began to arrange the scattered fragments of my thoughts, repairing what was broken and soothing the deeper aches of my mind. When I finally opened my eyes, I felt... transformed. A sense of clarity and focus replaced the haze I had grown used to, as if I had unlocked a space within myself long sealed.

Seated on the floor beside the bed, I gazed out the window and noticed details that had been invisible to me only the day before. A bird perched on a branch nearly a thousand feet away, and I could discern the intricate patterns of color on its feathers. My eyes swept to the floor, where the tiniest cracks in the wood now appeared distinct, each one revealing its own shape and texture. I chuckled softly, astonished at this heightened perception. But sight wasn’t the only sense that had sharpened.

When I closed my eyes, I could hear footsteps echoing downstairs, each stride unique in pace and weight. I could even count them. Drawing in a deep breath, I caught the faint scents of Beta Ronan and the elderly woman who had brought food to my room earlier. Yet, my heightened senses also came with a drawback—I could smell the sweat on my own skin, and it demanded an immediate shower.

Grinning like a fool, I stepped into the shower and marveled at the sensation of water droplets striking my skin. It was as though every nerve had come alive in a way I’d never experienced. Something inside me had awakened, and I couldn’t wait to test my newfound sharpness during training. Energized to the point of hyperactivity, I stretched, relishing a newfound flexibility.

Dressed in black leggings and a snug tank top, I waited for Beta Ronan. He arrived promptly at quarter to eight, as promised.

“Well, look who’s ready to get her butt kicked,” he teased with a chuckle.

“We’ll see whose butt takes the real beating,” I shot back, zipping up my sweatshirt as I stepped out the door.

“Feeling cocky today, are we?” he asked, amused.

“I just woke up with a little extra confidence, that’s all.” I shrugged, grinning.

We exited the main building, and Ronan led me to the training grounds behind the mansion. The vast open field stretched before us, meticulously raked for ground exercises. Beyond it stood a massive structure the size of an industrial warehouse. As we approached, I noticed other wolves converging in the same direction, their numbers swelling to fifty or sixty.

“We’re starting indoors today,” Ronan said, nodding toward the building ahead.

When we entered, my jaw nearly dropped. The space was colossal, far larger than the Royal Army’s arena. Around the central circle, several floors of scaffolding and platforms provided the perfect setting for unconventional battles. Warriors filled the space quickly, most of them towering men whose sheer presence exuded power. Among them, I counted fewer than ten women, all of whom were impressively muscular and considerably taller than me. My earlier confidence began to waver.

Ronan snorted, a glint of pity in his eyes. “Alpha must still be mad at you. Looks like you’ll be training with the elite squad.”

I forced a nervous smile, my mind instinctively mapping out every possible exit. Moments later, Kenzo entered. The crowd parted as though he were Moses parting the Red Sea. His commanding stride demanded attention, and it was impossible not to notice the aura of authority radiating from him. He wore black sweatpants and a matching tank top, revealing broad, sculpted shoulders and arms adorned with tribal tattoos. His defined chest and abdominal muscles gave him the appearance of a weapon honed to perfection.

Our eyes met, and his lips curled into a wicked smirk. My heart raced as he approached, every eye in the room shifting to us. Ronan, the traitor, stepped back, leaving me exposed. Kenzo stopped in front of me, his gaze leisurely trailing from my head to my toes. Without warning, he grabbed my sweatshirt zipper and removed it in one fluid motion.

“Much better,” he murmured, his eyes devouring every inch of me with an intensity that rooted me in place. I felt like prey frozen before a predator.

Snorting, he slung an arm around my shoulder and turned me toward the pack. “This is Thalassa,” he announced, his voice commanding the room’s attention. “She is the human daughter of Cassius Marwood.”

Shock rippled through me. How could he just reveal that? At the mention of my father’s name, snarls erupted, and the wolves bared their fangs. Hostility thickened the air, and every instinct screamed at me to run. I tried to shake off Kenzo’s arm, but his grip tightened.

“She isn’t an ordinary human,” he continued. “She’s the daughter of two Alphas, with unique abilities of her own. Starting today, she joins us.”

Laughter and derisive snorts spread through the hall, but Kenzo ignored them. Instead, he gave me a sly smile before shoving me toward the group warming up under Ronan’s lead.

Thank the stars for my enhanced stamina, or I’d never have survived the grueling sixty-minute warm-up. Yet it wasn’t the exercises that tested my resolve—it was the glares. Everywhere I moved, I felt the weight of hatred directed at me. These wolves despised my father, and by extension, me. They didn’t know I hated him just as much—if not more.

After the warm-up, we ran miles outdoors before sparring began. Along the way, I was shoved, elbowed, and tripped more times than I could count. Their anger was palpable, and I was their chosen outlet.

Perhaps I should be grateful for the strange twist of fate that destined me to be Kenzo’s mate—because I shudder to imagine how this workout might have unfolded if he treated me as an enemy.

My anger at Kenzo ignited a fire in my veins, pushing my muscles harder and faster than I’d thought possible. Fueled by that rage, I outpaced every single wolf, running back to the training house ahead of the pack. As I skidded to a halt, inches from Kenzo, I saw the surprise painted across his face and Ronan’s.

“What’s next… Alpha?” I asked, a smug smirk curling my lips.

Ronan turned away, a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Kenzo’s glare burned into me. Clearly, me outshining his warriors wasn’t part of his plan. Without a word, he seized my wrist and yanked me to his side, holding me there until the rest of his elite squad stumbled back into the hall.

“You let the human outrun you?!” he bellowed, his voice reverberating like thunder. His piercing gaze swept over his warriors, each one wilting slightly under his scrutiny. “You have one last chance to salvage your honor! Who is ready to challenge Cassius Marwood’s daughter?!”

The walls seemed to tremble beneath the force of his roar. A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd until one stepped forward—a mountain of a man, towering at least six and a half feet tall.

“I’ll fight her,” he growled, his voice as rough and heavy as the boulders he probably bench-pressed.

A burst of incredulous laughter escaped my throat. He was massive, his muscles a match for Kenzo’s own chiseled build. As he approached, his grin stretched wide, exposing razor-sharp fangs, and his predatory stare promised destruction. My gaze darted to Kenzo, hoping for intervention, but he only smirked and released my wrist.

“Be my guest, Steele,” Kenzo said, his grin twisted with amusement as he nodded toward the circle.

“Steele?” I repeated, choking back a laugh. “Your name is Steele?”

The beast-man chuckled, clearly taking pride in a name that matched his raw strength. I exhaled deeply, glancing one last time at Ronan and Kenzo. Ronan offered a wry, almost apologetic smile.

“Good luck,” he muttered under his breath.

I rolled my neck and shoulders, bouncing lightly on my toes as I prepared. Then, with a single step forward, I joined Steele in the center of the hall.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said, smirking defiantly.

Steele exhaled through his nose, sending twin plumes of steam into the air, his towering form looming over me. He gestured to the crowd, and their chanting began—his name reverberating off the walls. My irritation mounted as he strutted around, basking in their cheers. While he gloated, I studied him.

To my amazement, my heightened senses revealed more than I expected. A subtle tension in his left shoulder betrayed a recent injury, one that would slow his movements on that side. His bulk gave him tremendous strength, but his steps were heavy, almost clumsy. His arrogance was my opening, and I silently thanked him for it.

Finally, his pretense of victory ended, and he charged at me with a roar that shook the ground beneath us.

“Oh, shit,” I muttered, staring down the human freight train barreling toward me.

Instinct overtook me. My legs propelled me into the air higher than I thought possible, and my foot connected squarely with Steele’s face. He hit the ground hard as gasps echoed through the room. Landing on my feet, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.

“Spider-Woman,” I whispered under my breath, amused.

Steele scrambled to his feet, his rage intensifying. Confidence surged through me as I stood my ground, taunting him with a sweet, daring smile. His fury blinded him, driving him forward in a reckless frenzy. But he was no match for my speed. I weaved around his attacks effortlessly, each swing of his massive arms predictable and slow. My fists and feet connected with precision, a flurry of strikes leaving him reeling.

With each blow, the crowd’s disbelief grew. Steele staggered, swaying on unsteady legs, and I knew this was my chance to finish it. Summoning every ounce of power in me, I launched a roundhouse kick that sent him crashing to the ground. Silence fell over the hall.

I turned toward Kenzo, meeting his gaze. The corner of his mouth curled upward in a smirk, a glimmer of pride flickering in his eyes. My lips tugged into a smile as I let myself exhale, my muscles finally relaxing.

The silence was shattered by a guttural roar that sent a shiver down my spine. Whipping my head back toward Steele, I saw him rising, snarling with rage. His eyes burned with fury as his body twisted and shifted.

He was transforming.

“Oh, fuck,” I whispered, staring at the monstrous wolf now standing where Steele had been.