Chapter 5: Eyes That Remember

The training field was alive with motion — warriors sparred, arrows flew, and commands echoed through the morning air. Yet all the noise seemed to fall silent the moment Arielle stepped into view.

She walked toward the ring like she belonged there.

No hesitation.

No glance backward.

Just quiet fire in her stride.

Some of the pack turned to look. Whispers traveled faster than arrows — about her return, her rejection, her silence. She heard them, all of them, but her expression didn't shift.

Not even when she saw Elara waving her over from the edge of the platform.

"You're seriously training again?" Elara asked, eyes wide with a mix of awe and nerves.

Arielle removed her jacket and tied her hair back. "Why wouldn't I?"

Elara hesitated, lowering her voice. "Because half the pack still thinks you're a ghost. And the other half... doesn't know how to treat you."

Arielle's gaze moved across the field. "Good. Let them be confused. It keeps them from getting too comfortable."

Elara gave a half-smile. "You're not the same girl I used to watch from the healer's quarters."

"No," Arielle said simply, "I'm not."

From the shadows of the western post, Kael stood — arms crossed, watching her through narrowed eyes.

He hadn't meant to come.

He told himself he was only here to assess training patterns.

But the moment he saw her step into the ring — eyes unafraid, form balanced like a blade — his breath had caught.

She was better.

Sharper. Stronger. Like rejection hadn't broken her, but rebuilt her into something more dangerous.

His wolf stirred uneasily. She's still ours...

Kael tensed.

No. That bond had been severed. He had made that choice.

So why couldn't he look away?

He watched her take down a larger opponent with a clean, calculated sweep of her leg. Applause broke out around the ring. One of the younger warriors laughed, calling out, "Still got it, Ari!"

Ari.

That name. Only Kael used to call her that.

And for a split second, he saw Arielle's hand falter.

But she didn't turn.

Didn't flinch.

Didn't acknowledge it.

Kael's throat tightened. He turned away before she saw him, storm building in his chest.

"Alpha Kael was watching you," Elara whispered, stepping closer.

Arielle raised a brow as she wiped sweat from her forehead. "And?"

"You didn't see him?"

"I didn't need to." Arielle's voice was calm, almost bored. "He's always watching."

Elara studied her for a moment. "You don't talk like someone who's been rejected."

Arielle's lips curled slightly. "Because I'm not here to beg. I'm here to be seen."

After the training session, Arielle sat alone on the edge of the field, lacing her boots with slow, deliberate movements. The sky above was dull grey, mirroring the storm she felt had been brewing since she arrived.

A quiet voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You were impressive."

Arielle looked up. It was Leif, one of the warriors she used to know — Kael's second cousin. Older. Smarter than he let on. He offered her a flask of water.

She took it without a word.

"Everyone expected you to crawl back," he said bluntly. "You didn't."

"I don't crawl," she replied.

He gave a short nod, then added, "Kael didn't take his eyes off you."

"I know."

She stood, brushing dirt off her pants. "Let him watch. That's all he gets now."

From the balcony above, Kael leaned against the railing, his fists clenched at his sides.

He had heard every word.

And for the first time in years, something inside him... ached.

As Arielle walked away from the field, she glanced toward the Alpha's wing.

She couldn't see him — but she felt him.

Just like she always had.

"They didn't break me," she thought, "They just gave me a reason to rise."