Lyra Thorian wasn’t backing down, and now the three of them were out on the training ground. There was something fierce and locked-in about his eyes. His build was solid and his body moved with a natural agility — dodging and slipping around Vaelin’s attacks like it was second nature. His fists were clenched and ready, never dropping their guard for even a second. Vaelin, on the other hand, was no pushover. He was leaner, with a wiry frame that didn’t look like much until he moved — quick and sharp in a way that caught you off guard. His eyes burned as he circled Thorian, patient and calculating, looking for the right moment to land something that would count. The two of them squared off in the clearing, both breathing hard, both wound tight with anticipation. Thorian’s Alpha instinct

