Chapter 6:The Aftermath

Selena sat at the edge of the training grounds, her body aching from the fight. The bruises on her arms throbbed, and every breath she took reminded her of the blows she had barely dodged.

Around her, the Crimson Shadow Pack continued with their routines, as if her battle had never happened. A few wolves glanced her way, some with mild curiosity, others with outright disdain.

"You survived," Kade's voice cut through the silence.

She looked up to see him standing over her, arms crossed. His golden eyes held the same unreadable expression as always, but there was a hint of something else this time—approval?

"Yeah," she muttered, wincing as she stretched her arm. "Barely."

He crouched beside her, inspecting the bruises. "You fought smarter than I expected. That was your only advantage."

"Thanks," she said dryly.

Kade chuckled. "It wasn't a compliment." He stood, offering her a hand. "Get up. You're training with me now."

Selena blinked. "Wait, what?"

"You want to survive in this pack? You need to be stronger. And I don't train weaklings for free."

Suspicion crept into her mind. "What do you want in return?"

Kade smirked. "We'll see."

Something about the way he said it made her stomach twist, but she knew she had no choice. If she wanted to belong here, she had to fight for it.

With a deep breath she took his hand.

And so the real training began.

Selena's screamed in protest as she collapsed into the dirt panting,Sweat dripped down her forehead,

her muscles aching in ways she didn't know where possible.

Get up kade ordered.

I--" she groaned I can't .

Kade crouched beside her. "You think you can't. But if you were in a real fight, staying down means death."

Selena gritted her teeth, forcing herself onto shaky arms. Every part of her wanted to quit, but she couldn't. She wouldn't.

She pushed up, standing on wobbly legs. Kade nodded in approval.

"Again."

The next strike came faster than she could react. She barely blocked in time, her arms trembling from exhaustion. Kade didn't go easy on her, and she was beginning to realize that he never would.

By the time training ended, she was covered in bruises, but something inside her had changed. She wasn't just enduring anymore—she was fighting back.

As she limped away, she caught Raven watching her from a distance. Unlike before, there was no smirk on her lips. Just silent observation.

Selena wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

Days passed, and Selena's training intensified. She was still far from strong, but she was no longer the weakest.

One night, as she wandered near the edge of the pack's territory, she overheard hushed voices. She pressed herself against a tree, listening.

"She's not just some weakling, Kade," Raven's voice was sharp.

"She's learning," Kade replied evenly.

"You don't train just anyone. What's so special about her?"

Silence. Then—"I don't know yet."

Selena's breath hitched. What did that mean? Was there something more to her than she realized?.