The Chosen One •

26

✨ Isabel ✨

The air was crisp and biting as we trudged out of the cabin, barely awake at 4 AM. The ground was still covered in a thin blanket of snow, reflecting the pale light of the early morning. My muscles ached from the uncomfortable sleep on the couch, and I could tell Kun wasn't in any better shape. He sipped on a protein shake, looking at me with a knowing grin as I did the same with mine.

"Drink up," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "We're going to need it today."

I glanced at him, a little skeptical. "What's different today from yesterday?"

Kun shot me a sideways glance, his smile faltering for just a moment. "Half of the packs we've summoned to train with us will be here in the late morning. Training will be more intense."

My stomach flipped slightly at the thought of training with so many unfamiliar wolves. I paused mid-step, staring down at the icy forest ground, the snow crunching under my feet. The trees around us were tall and imposing, casting long shadows over the forest floor.

Kun noticed and stopped walking too. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

I hesitated for a moment, chewing on the inside of my cheek. "Will I have to train them with magic today?" I asked quietly, the words hanging in the cold air.

He took a long sip of his shake, his gaze thoughtful. "Not if you're not comfortable. I know my pack won't say anything about your magic outside of this pack, but I can't promise the same for the others."

I swallowed hard, knowing that the revelation of my powers would be inevitable, but I wasn't ready to share that side of myself with others just yet. "I don't want to reveal myself to the others, at least not yet," I said softly.

Kun nodded in understanding, his expression serious. "I get it," he said, his voice steady. "We'll handle it how you want."

We continued walking in silence, the weight of the moment hanging between us. The day ahead was daunting, but the cool morning air had a grounding effect, making it easier to push forward.

When we finally reached the training grounds, I was relieved to see that most of the pack had already started their routines. Tara was at the center, yelling instructions with fierce energy as pairs of wolves sparred, others were doing endurance drills, and some practiced what I had taught them yesterday, though without magic this time.

Jacob spotted us first and waved us over. Kun and I walked toward him, and I couldn't help but smile as I watched the pack move with such coordinated precision. The training was already intense, and the atmosphere was alive with purpose.

"Morning," Jacob greeted us, his voice warm but tinged with exhaustion.

"Morning," Kun replied, flashing him a smile before glancing at Tara. "Looks like she's in full drill sergeant mode."

I chuckled softly as Tara barked out another round of instructions, her voice sharp and commanding. Kun shook his head, a proud grin spreading across his face.

"I'm not trying to be cocky," he said, his tone light, "but there's a reason we're one of the strongest packs in North America, and the strongest in our region."

I absorbed his words with a smile, nodding slowly. "I can see that. You've all got this... unity. It's impressive."

Kun's expression softened, his gaze meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. "Thanks," he said simply.

Jacob led us toward the rest of the pack, and we joined in on the training. The atmosphere was both fierce and focused, with the wolves working together in perfect synchronization. As I moved between the groups, offering guidance when needed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. Despite the uncertainty of everything happening, I felt a strange comfort in being here, part of something much bigger than myself.