Betrayed by My Ex, Marked by His Alpha Emperor Brother novel Chapter 215

Chapter 215: Chapter 215

Elara’s POV

The training grounds smelled exactly the same. Sweat, iron, and ambition. Years gone, and nothing here had changed.

Everything else had.

My boots hit the packed earth, and the sound echoed through my chest like a drumbeat. Dozens of bodies moved across the sprawling yard—sparring, drilling, running formations. The clang of practice blades rang sharp in the morning air. Breath misted from exertion. Someone barked orders near the archery range.

Kaelen’s hand settled at the small of my back. Light. Barely there. A steadying pressure that said I’m here without words.

I hated that it helped.

I exhaled through my nose. Squared my shoulders. Kept walking.

The main training hall loomed ahead—a massive stone structure with arched doorways wide enough for three men abreast. Inside, the smell intensified. Leather and chalk dust and old blood ground into the mats. Sunlight fell in slanted columns through high windows, illuminating the floating particles of dust that danced like tiny sparks.

"I don’t believe my fucking eyes."

The voice boomed across the hall like thunder rolling off a mountain. I barely had time to register it before two enormous arms wrapped around me and lifted me clean off my feet.

"Marcus—"

"You’re back." He crushed me against his chest. The man was built like a siege wall—shoulders wide enough to block a doorway, arms thick as tree trunks, a jagged scar cutting across his left cheek from temple to jaw. "You’re actually back. After all these goddamn years."

"Can’t breathe," I wheezed.

He set me down. Held me at arm’s length. His scarred face split into the widest grin I’d ever seen on him. "Ela. Look at you." His eyes swept over me—cataloging the changes, probably. The harder edges. The new scars. The way I stood differently now. Wider stance. Lower center of gravity. Ready.

"You look like you’ve been through hell," he said.

"Something like that."

His grin didn’t waver. "Hell suits you."

Behind me, I felt Kaelen shift. A subtle territorial energy rolling off him like heat from a furnace. Marcus noticed. Gave a respectful nod. But his attention stayed on me.

"Come on." Marcus clapped a massive hand on my shoulder. "I’ve got news that’ll make the pups howl."

He led us to the center of the main hall. Training had paused. Bodies stilled. Eyes tracked our movement across the floor. I felt the weight of every gaze like pressure against my skin.

Marcus faced the assembled students. There must have been a large group of them—a mix of men and women, all young, all radiating the barely contained energy of wolves in their prime.

"Listen up!" His voice cut through the residual chatter like a blade. Silence fell instantly. "As of today, we have a new Head Instructor for the women’s combat division." He gestured toward me. "You’re looking at her."

Silence stretched.

Then a murmur. Low. Uncertain.

A young man near the front—broad-shouldered, arms crossed—spoke first. "Sir." His tone was respectful. Toward Marcus. "With all due respect... she’s mortal."

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