Dawn’s POV
The moment lights went out that evening, I found myself staring at the ceiling, replaying every detail of the mission in my mind. What had I done wrong that warranted being sidelined by the Captain? My performance during that first field operation seemed solid enough, and my work ethic exceeded that of most other soldiers here.
None of that seemed to count for anything. The Captain demanded results, and I had failed to retrieve the orb they desperately needed.
The challenge hadn’t been simple either. That massive house contained countless rooms across multiple floors, with no intel on where exactly the artifact was concealed. I could have spent hours searching every corner without success.
The real miracle was that I had escaped with my life intact, avoiding capture entirely.
My thoughts drifted to her face again. That woman who had confronted me during the mission.
The intensity in her gaze. The striking beauty of her features.
Despite knowing she was a werewolf, despite years of conditioning that taught me to despise her kind, I couldn’t deny the truth. She possessed an otherworldly beauty and carried herself with a commanding presence that seemed impossible to replicate.
My phone’s sudden buzzing yanked me from these dangerous thoughts. I fumbled for it on the nightstand, squinting at the bright screen through my drowsiness.
TRAINER FLETCHER - meet me in the gym. NOW.
A cold dread settled in my stomach as I read those words. I dragged myself out of bed and pulled on my training clothes: loose cotton pants, a fitted tank top, and my worn sneakers.
Checking the hallway revealed empty corridors, allowing me to slip out of the dormitory unnoticed. I crossed the moonlit training grounds until I reached the gym building.
The heavy door swung open to reveal Trainer Fletcher with his back turned, working through a set of heavy lifts. The sound of the door closing caused him to pivot toward me, setting his weights aside with deliberate slowness.
"You requested to see me, Trainer?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
"I did. Word reached me that you’re upset about being excluded from the upcoming mission." His tone carried an edge that made my skin crawl.


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