(Aria)
The moon was bright when I slipped out of the pack house at midnight. I needed air after the intense training session with Kael. My body was sore from learning the new techniques, but my mind was racing with everything Ashley had said earlier.
I walked to the same pool where Kael had first marked me, drawn by the quiet and memories of simpler times. The water reflected the stars, and I sat on the familiar rocks to think.
Footsteps approached ten minutes later. I did not need to turn around to know it was Kael.
"Could not sleep either?" he asked, settling beside me.
"Too much to process. The training, Ashley's accusations, everything changing so fast."
"Having second thoughts about the advanced techniques?"
"No. Those felt right, like I was finally using abilities I was meant
