Evaline:
The moment River introduced me, a wave of whispers rippled across the training ground. Not subtle ones either... blatant, questioning murmurs. I caught fragments.
"I heard she's wolfless?"
"Why is she here?"
"She doesn't even have a wolf…"
I didn't flinch. I didn't blame them. If I were in their place... if I had met the Eva from a year ago... I would wonder too. I would question what a weak girl with no wolf, no background, and no confidence was doing standing among warriors-in-training.
But that Eva was gone.
Oscar's voice cut clean through the noise.
"Today, every trainee will face two opponents," he announced, his tone firm and commanding. "This is an adaptive-endurance drill. You will be challenged beyond your comfort zone. Don't expect an easy round."
The murmurs died instantly.
I exhaled, sitting beside Kyros on the stone bench lining the perimeter. He nudged me lightly with his shoulder.
"Nervous?" he whispered.
