The sun crossed the sky and edged closer to the horizon by the time Cora finished her first day of training. She was more exhausted than she had ever been in her entire life. It made Cora realize that she had reached adulthood before ever punching a single thing. Asla also focused on dodging and kicking, so as to acquaintance Cora with her body and its movements.

Whenever Cora had been tempted to take a break, Asla reminded her of Steigen, and that Grimshaw would never allow her a break. The motivation worked, and Cora groaned and cried throughout her final throes of fighting, refusing to give up.

She had no image to put in her mind when thinking of Grimshaw, so she used the shadow from the flames to channel her energy.

Despite the motivation, she reached a point where she wanted to give up; the sheer physical demand was immense, and she couldn't imagine doing this day in and day out. Asla had told her, translated by Mina, "The battle with Steigen? Our Seers and your witch reveal that it concerns us all...but the battle with Grimshaw is yours, Cora Gabris. How strong you are when you face him is up to you."

After that, Cora pushed herself so hard that her legs were trembling by the time it was over, with at least a dozen deep bruises forming.

It had only been one session, but it changed Cora. Coming to Reiger on her brother's behalf, facing Theran, and never having tasted so much dirt in her life from continuously falling to the ground...Cora was different.

She was stronger. More determined. Grimshaw could never have her, not as long she breathed. And she'd be the one to ensure that, rather than relying on another. She wanted to be like Asla, and to be a pillar of strength that others didn't dare to challenge. Like how no one wants to challenge Ludovic. I want to be like that.

She never wanted to have to hide herself again.

Hours had passed since she first entered the training grounds. Sore and covered in dry sweat and dirt, Mina, Cora and Asla now sat at a wooden stadium with a fighting arena below. It was an area where lycans would come to spar and challenge the other to fight in real time and display their prestige. It was the ultimate way to training in fighting, and the easiest way to learn to deal with painful wounds before facing a true enemy.

The wooden stadium was more filled than empty, but not overly crowded; perhaps a hundred or so lycans attended. It was the largest official fighting pit of Reiger, although sparring could take place anywhere.

"So, how is someone like Asla or Ludovic not riddled in scars? I mean I know they have them, but not to the degree this makes it seem," Cora said with a wave of her arm at the arena before her. "Asla said she and Ludovic fight others here often, but back home that would mean people have so many scars it would look like veins."

Her hand landed on her thigh and she winced as she accidentally hit a fresh wound. She looked down to eye a gash, and upon closer examination, she swore it might already be healing.

Mina chuckled, taking in a deep breath before exhaling. "Well, as you've clearly noticed with your thigh, we heal very well. An injury has to be deep and ugly to truly mar us. You're already healing, even after just drinking that serum," Mina said, eyeing it close and with curiosity. "I can't imagine your powers once you actually become one of us."

"Huh," Cora said with a half smile on her face, trying to picture just what that would mean for her. 

It was a lot to take in, however, and instead she just looked up and around, giving a sigh of her own. The ambient glow created a calming effect, and Cora yawned despite the rowdy energy from boisterous lycans ready to watch a fight, many chatting in their foreign tongue and laughing.

As the sun crested over the mountains, it took the heat of day with it, leaving only just enough light to reveal the grounds. The nights were getting colder as well. Fall would be on them soon, and she was definitely looking forward to the warm baths in the cooler months. Perhaps even as it snowed.

Her lips crooked upwards, realizing she'd be a lycan by then, and even have a mate...she entertained her imagination with thoughts of Ludovic. He did not make it to her training, but they came here to watch him, and her mind seemed to always wander back to thoughts of him.

"So, Ludovic will be here?" Cora asked, staring at the open grounds with only boulders in its confines. Half of it was enclosed from the stands, and the other half was open land that spilled out into the forest in front of them. Tree stumps lined the ground, and Mina had said that the trees were broken from bodies smashing into them over the years.

"Yes, Asla said he would be here," Mina said, stretching out her leg on the bench before her. She had participated in the day of training as well, wanting to get stronger herself. 

"Where is he now?" Cora asked, looking around, eager to catch his eye.

She was also interested in watching Ludovic fight, as his fight with Theran was wrapped in so many potential devastations that the memory was still a blur to her. These training grounds were a much simpler way to engage in combat, and her curiosity was piqued, especially now that she knew just how exhausting a single session could be. Ludovic had been training since he was a youngling, just like Asla, and Cora appreciated what that meant now, and how hardened he truly must be.

Just like how her father had calloused hands from years of tending the farm and building things. The entirety of Ludovic seemed calloused, and Cora smirked as she reminded herself that Asla was no softer.

"I catch his scent in the wind. He's definitely here," Mina said with excitement. "I know I don't seem like it, but I do love watching fights. It gets the blood pumping."

Cora's veins prickled with excitement at mentioning that Ludovic was near. Then she chuckled as she pictured Mina getting excited during a fight. "I wouldn't have guessed that about you."

Mina glanced at Cora, mud still on her neck and jaw, grinning. "Hey...surely there's something that I don't know about you that you like."

Cora looked away, noticing the crowd's excitement only increased as they must have smelled the Alpha as well, and she tried to think of what she enjoyed that would surprise Mina.

However, Cora frowned. "I honestly don't know. I haven't been able to go do much in my life," she said, unable to come up with something as unique or interesting as enjoying watching battle arenas.

Mina, ever the positive force, said, "Well, being an Omni, I'm sure you'll have all the opportunity to find new things to enjoy."

Cora was about to smile and thank her but the crowd began to cheer more, and through the doors of the ground level of the fighting grounds emerged a dark-skinned male, even darker than Mina. Although his hair was bone white, much like Rasha's, only to be contrasted by the fact that he looked far too young for hair such as that.

Many cheered something in Dånesh, although it didn't sound like she was in support of this lycan as he confidently walked in.

Asla tutted, raising a foot to put on the bench in front of her as she crossed her arms.

Mina leaned in and said, "That's Boldin. He's from the Frost Moon pack. He's a cousin of Sava—" Mina's eyes went wide. "Oh, wait, you don't know of Sava."

"Who? Also, is that guy related to Rasha? His hair is so white," Cora said, not really interested in whoever 'Sava' was. Instead, she wanted to know more of this potential opponent of the Alpha.

Mina gave an awkward sigh, and Cora furrowed her brows as Mina said, "Yes, Rasha is a Frost Moon. They get their name because only their clan carries hair that color, said to have been kissed by the moon long ago...and um, well, Sava...well, she is a Frost Moon and related to both of them. She is Ludovic's former lover. They were quite close."

"Oh," Cora said, her stomach souring as she went momentarily silent.  "Are they still a thing?" Cora asked, not sure if she should even feel anything sour about that. She hardly knew Ludovic. And yet that doesn't sit well with me.

"No. Sava is ambitious, and while she loved Ludovic, she wanted the title of being a mate to a Reiger—or more like the Reiger—and the power that came with it. Ludovic is too much, well, of an Alpha, to have that as a mate. Not that he didn't respect her—quite the contrary. But the Omega to an Alpha has to be a compliment, not a rival. And even though Theran was the Alpha for a while, there was a period beforehand where people rumored that Ludovic would take the throne instead. Which is why so many are okay with it now."

Cora pondered on that, thinking it through while she observed Boldin, who raised his muscles arms at the crowd, which half cheered for. "So, Ludovic doesn't want someone who challenges him?" Cora asked, furrowing her brow.

"Not necessarily. He just wants someone that won't try to own the throne. Which I respect. We are not, as humans put it, a democracy, so it's important that the leader is clear. But we also have control over who sits the throne, as Ludovic showed in taking over."

"So what does that mean for someone like me?"

Mina frowned and raised her brows. "Hm. Well, do you want to be a leader? Like do you always have to take control of a situation? I suppose that's something to consider."

Cora wasn't sure what the answer to that was, but she also didn't feel right saying that she never felt the need to take control. "A little," Cora hesitantly said. "Sometimes I feels the need to take over things."

Mina nodded. "A little is good. He won't want someone that has no personality or drive. The best way to put it, is that he wants someone that channels the same energy as him, but doesn't want to be him. Sava wanted to lead, more than an Omega. In another world, she'd make a good Alpha."

"Women can be Alphas?" Cora asked with a higher pitched voice, curious about this fact.

"On rare occasions. It's not that our kind doesn't respect females as Alphas, it's just something that rarely happens. Doesn't have a big reason for it, honestly. Over half the males of the pack would be afraid of Asla. It's just males tend to fight for those roles more, although I seriously would never mess with a she-wolf."

"A she-wolf?"

"That's what we call females that will dominate anyone in their path."

"Like Sava?"

Mina shrugged. "Sort of. Asla is a better example. She is a known she-wolf."

Cora smiled and nodded, appreciating that about Asla. "So is an Omega a she-wolf, then ?"

"Not usually. A she-wolf has immense respect among the packs in a way that someone like Ludovic does. If one were to rise to such levels, she'd be an Alpha. Which is where I can see it being applied to Sava, although she isn't known as a she-wolf. She doesn't fight enough to get that reputation. Some Omegas can be she-wolves though. It really depends."

Cora sat up straighter, eyeing the field as the guards near the entrance of the fighting pits moved to the side, as if someone were about to enter through. Quickly, Cora asked, "Why are they fighting again? Is it just random?"

"The Clans get along just fine, but that cousin in particular is still a little peeved that Ludovic didn't consider Sava a second time."

"So, fighting an Alpha is normal, then?"

"Yes, actually. Although Theran didn't do it. Shocker. It's one of the things my kind lost respect in him for."

Overall, it had only been a single day and yet Cora felt like she understood the lycans at a deeper level now, appreciating just how important physical strength was to them.

Cora held her breath as she saw a familiar male walk through the archway below, Ludovic's unmistakable styling of hair—dreaded down the center of his skull and bound down his back—signaling who he was. Many cheered and stamped their feet. The two males looked at each other, moving like two creatures harboring kinetic energy

Quick flashes of seeing Ludovic earlier—and him witnessing her spying—went through her mind. "I really hope he isn't mad about me practically spying on him earlier," Cora mumbled.

Mina chuckled. "I think Asla was right—it probably just filled his ego. You have to remember, he likes what he sees when he looks at you as well."

Cora scratched her nose as she gave a tepid smile, her arms so tired that even raising them to her face was more difficult than before. I will be feeling this for an entire week. None the less, she pushed past it. If Ludovic could ignore his hands, which were still bandaged, then she could ignore her sore body.

The wind blew, carrying Cora's hair in the wind. It didn't take long before Ludovic looked up in her direction, narrowing his gaze once he spotted her. Cora's body ran cold as if nervous and worried what he thought, although a wave of warmth followed close behind it. Her first instinct was to ask Mina what to do as he looked at her while he slowly paced, but Cora did what felt like the right response and gave him a single nod of acknowledgement, not taking her gaze off of him.

He didn't look away, and she honestly had no idea what drew him to her, but she absorbed every moment of it like she had been starved of the sun for years and was finally basking in its warmth. 

Asla raised her arms and over the sound of the crowd, shouted something to Ludovic in Dånesh. He moved his gaze to her before looking away and back at his opponent.

"I can't believe he does this," Cora said with excitement, her breathing quickening from anticipation.

"It reaffirms who he is. An Alpha that spars, and frequently wins, has a much easier time controlling his people."

There was no formality in how the fighting began. Rather, the one named Boldin transformed into a pale wolf, nearly white in color as Ludovic transformed into a very dark one, although not quite black. 

They were both massive, and it reminded Cora of Theran turning into a wolf. He seemed so far away now, and she often wondered what happened to him. Was he truly gone, or just gone from her circle, seeing as how she had Ludovic's men guarded her? She was aware that certain details were kept from her—

She winced when the fighting broke into vicious snarls, biting for the others thick fur in fast movements. It reminded her of watching cats get into fights, where moves were quick and deadly all at once. Except this was clearly more intense than any cat fighting – she could almost feel the vibrations of their snarls and growls into her feet attacked the other, turning to wolves and biting and snarling, a whimper sounding as they parted, coming from Boldin. Then they attacked again.

She couldn't help it, as when Ludovic was able to fend Boldin off, she made fists with her hands and hit her thighs while saying to herself, "Yes!"

It seemed to gain the attention of another, one that kept looking at them.

"Olin! Yo broge esa discorna Omni ajoia," someone shouted.

Cora glanced over to see a female yelling at Asla. The female looked like any other with pale skin and brown hair, her hair styled like the rest, her tattoos blending in with her clothes.

Mina leaned in said, "She asked why Asla is here with you, and I'm, well, sorry, Cora...she commented that you're a disgraceful Omni."

"Great," Cora said with a sigh, breathing deeply as she took in the smell wood and leaves.

A few others looked on and it's as if they didn't realize she was there, although their attention locked on once they realized she was the Omni.

Asla defended Cora, and the two females engaged in a heated conversation, as if riding in the energy of the wake of the below.

The dialogue caught Ludovic's attention as his large, dark wolven head faced them. Boldin bit Ludovic in the thigh, to which he yelped in pain, only to return it tenfold and deliver an even more punishing bite in a swift movement of snarling and putting his entire weight into his attack.

Everything was happening so quickly around Cora, from Ludovic and Boldin to Asla and the new female yelling at each other, all the way to others that began watching on. Cora breathed quicker and her cheeks warmed, not knowing what to do.

The crowd cheered and Cora looked around to see that Boldin returned to a human figure, limping away with a hand raised. Ludovic turned into a human as well, limping with his own injuries, although he glowered at Boldin with a ferocity.

It also gave room for the others to watch on as the female was relentless with Asla, her eyes burning with clear fear and uncertainty, which only confused Cora.

She hated not speaking their language. 

Then, the female sneered and spoke at the same time while she glared at Cora, "Le folla esa a yo fara Steigen."

Mina leaned even closer and lowly said, "I'm sorry, I hate this and she is wrong, but she says that Steigen coming for us is your fault."

Even more of the lycans around look at Cora, all the foreign eyes on her. All from people she didn't know or understand. It was the unanimous uncertainty in their gazes that made Cora's heart race, her brows raising upward with her own indecision. She didn't know these people, nor their personal lives. What if they had family they were thinking of? How on Eloria could she possibly tell them to fight for her?

She did the only thing she could think of, which was to take it all on herself; just as she was used to. She stood up and grimaced from how stiff she was, licked her lips, and said, "And I will take him on, alone, if I must. I don't ask for any of you to die for me."

Asla shot a hot glare at Cora as Mina translated.

The female didn't seem phased, and instead glared at Cora. "Mora yorra arraneo."

Mina sighed.  "She says but we will."

Cora looked down at the bleachers, frustrated. She hated that the lycans weren't wrong. How could she seriously ask any of these people to defend her? Mating Ludovic, or anyone of his stature, felt like hiding behind one's skirts rather than taking her own problems head on.

She didn't know how to fight or stand up for herself. At least, not in this setting.

Despite her determined spirit, for the rest of the night— even after they left the fight— Cora remained frustrated and uncertain with what to do.

An entire week had passed for Cora, filled only with training, relaxing in warm waters, and sleeping. It wasn't much, but Cora already felt more confident in her abilities. Her frustration didn't ease much, but being physical was a good way to take her mind off of things.

Out of everything, Cora learned that she was most adept at dodging. She had never been much of a fighter before, but she was used to swift movements so others couldn't see her, and used to watching people very closely. Apparently, master dodgers were the same. 

It wasn't as glamorous as being a striker, but Asla told Cora that being an Omni would cover that strength, so being good at evasion would be a step above the others.

Dodging, unfortunately, was not that much easier on the body. It required a lot of muscle use, and if Asla managed to strike, it hit Cora hard.

After a nasty fall that twisted her ankle, Asla ended it early so Cora could soak and let her body absorb the healing properties. Tonight, she rested in Ludovic's bathhouse next to his war room with Ben and Hilda only a few flights away. Overall, many of the lycans were still uncertain of Ludovic's desire to keep Cora, which meant keeping her close to the edge, especially at night.

As Cora sat in the dark room, alone in the steaming water, she looked around at the carved opulence of these mountain walls. Her gaze fell to giant, open windows where the moonlight gently shone through. Warm, golden torches glinted off of the water.

It was odd, in many ways, to live and train among them for an entire week. On one hand, she'd do whatever she had to in order to fight Grimshaw.

On the other hand was where all her apprehension lied. Could she really adopt all of this luxury, just because her blood made her appealing to an Alpha? She could hardly punch, so why did she deserve any of this? On what basis could she truly ask for these people to defend her? To keep her safe in these halls while they fought for her? How could she possibly be ready to fight Grimshaw herself when she had hardly any time to truly train? Asla had been doing it for years, whereas Cora felt like she only had months.

Let alone if Grimshaw came any sooner.

While they kept her isolated from that, Cora could still hear the rumors. Or at least, Hilda kept her informed. While a vast majority were happy with Ludovic, half of the pack was leery of him keeping her instead of giving her to Steigen. How could they trust the words of a witch? Or even the words of their Seers, if it meant death for them?

Cora understood their reservations. It's why she took so long to commit to seeking anyone out. Her deal with Grimshaw was her own, and as far as she knew, it meant that her going to him would spare the lives of others. Which meant mating a male would result in his family potentially fighting to their death.

The thought made her sicker than she could stomach, and she touched the spot on her thigh where the flames had licked her. Someone stalked their shadows, that was for certain. Someone that made even their Seers nervous.

Cora looked back around the bathhouse and sighed.

Perhaps what got to her the most was how she felt like a precious object being tucked away for protection. She was not used to it from this angle, only used to being kept a secret to protect others, not herself. It made her uncomfortable to think that others would get hurt on her behalf.

Maybe it didn't help that she hadn't seen much of Ludovic. Asla mentioned that he was keeping an intentional distance to let her deal with this world and to settle in. In a way, Cora had greatly enjoyed it. She got to spend time with Ben, get to know Mina, practice Dånesh, and just sit and relax for once.

I think the time for relaxing is over, though. I can't focus.

"Mina?" Cora asked, her voice carrying over the water.

Mina entered the room, coming from outside the bathhouse rather than joining her, as Cora asked for time to ruminate. "How are you, Cora?"

"I've done enough thinking," Cora said, pausing before adding, "I want to ask Asla some questions."

Cora turned around so she could face Mina, resting her arms on the floor of the room as she pressed her breasts against the warm wall before her. Mina said something in Dånesh outside of the door and in walked Asla.

The she-wolf was as wild as always, with her hair and attire designed as if she were ready for war. The light from the torches glinted off of the metal pieces of her wardrobe.

Cora was tired of holding her thoughts back and just went for it as she asked Asla, "Is it selfish to do what I am doing?"

Asla frowned as Mina translated, and Mina said, "She doesn't understand."

Cora sighed, chewing on the inside of her lip as she was questioned whether or not to commit to this question. And yet, she knew she had to. "Is it selfish of me to ask for your pack to defend me? I'm not considering this, what I am about to say..." Cora began, pausing to look at the water, speaking slowly and with defeat, "but I sometimes wonder if it would be for the best that I offer myself to Grimshaw...Ben would be safe, so would Hilda. No one would die for me. I can't ask anyone to go fight with me. Not even one of you."

Asla's eyes widened as Mina spoke, and before Asla could submit her own answer, Mina said, "What do you mean? Cora, you can't offer yourself to Grimshaw."

Cora shook her head, her heart racing. She hadn't brought this up to anyone yet, but she couldn't remain silent anymore on the issue. It was eating at her, and even remotely talking about it now felt like such a weight lifted off of her shoulders.

So, she pressed on, speaking with her hands as she dipped them in and out of water, periodically looking up at the two females. "I don't know. I mean, I don't really mean it. It's just that I look around at your kind and I see so many vibrant families and lives," she said, her voice growing louder as she spoke, "If Grimshaw comes, he will take them all down. Just to get to me. I don't know if that's worth it. Not even with Hilda's visions. Not even with the shadow I saw. What if it's all a trick? Like they tricked Hilda?" Cora hesitated, saying aloud what she could never say to the witch. It's not that she thought Hilda was a danger, but what if this enemy was so powerful that it would trick even Hilda? "What if all of this is so Grimshaw can get to me, while taking many of you down in the process?"

Mina mumbled the words in Dånesh to Asla as Cora spoke, and didn't wait for the she-wolf to respond before Mina asked, "Cora, do you not trust Hilda or something ?"

Cora shot a stern glare at her. "I trust her with my life. With Ben's life. So did my parents. But there are stronger witches than her out there, and witches are like shapeshifters with how well they lie and transform into whatever they need. Hilda is not of their kind, and yet their kind sees me. I still don't know what this mark on my leg is, and yet it's there. It's the only proof I have of something external. What if they are appealing to Hilda's good nature, and everyone dies for nothing? It's just — I don't know, Mina. It's eating at me."

Asla finally spoke, and Mina said, "First, I am sorry you're going this, Cora. But um, Asla says it is comforting to know you're willing to sacrifice yourself for others, but reminds you that even our own Seers have seen this. Sure, a few doubt it vehemently,  like their aunt Naila, but enough, like Rasha, support it. And they all see that if Grimshaw gets you, then we will lose."

Cora considered those words. "But what about the innocents that die? While I spend my time in luxurious bath houses, tucked away behind thick walls?"

Asla shrugged after Mina relayed the words. "She says that it is the way of war. Right now, Grimshaw has ensured death, as he is the one pressing for war.  He will come for you, no matter what. And a few of our Seers, along with your witch, have seen that him getting an Omni, and specifically you, will result in some kind of power imbalance that means everyone will die. So now, all we can do is mitigate that destruction. She reminds that you have to keep training. She really implores that we won't stop, even when we get to Ingram—"

The sound of the door opening made Cora dip back into the water and cross her arms over her chest. A female lycan came in, one that didn't look at Cora and spoke quickly before Mina looked at Cora, and with a quiet voice said, "Oh, well, um, Ludovic wants a word with you."