Chapter 2

ARIA

In a flash, Dominic lunged. Pain shot through my back as I hit the ground hard, his weight pinning me down. His face hovered inches from mine, eyes alight with vengeful satisfaction.

"Now you see the difference between werewolves and humans?" he whispered, his hot breath on my face making my stomach turn.

In that moment, something changed in the atmosphere. A deep growl, like distant thunder, vibrated through the air. The sound raised goosebumps on my skin—an Alpha's fury that seemed to shake the very ground beneath us.

But I didn't wait for rescue.

Years of Gabriel's training kicked in. I slammed my forehead into Dominic's nose, simultaneously twisting my body to create leverage. My knee found his abdomen with precision. As he gasped, I rolled, breaking his hold completely.

In one fluid motion, I stood while he remained on the ground, groaning. I placed my foot lightly but meaningfully against his throat.

"Difference?" I kept my voice ice-cold despite the adrenaline surging through me. "The difference is I don't need to attack from behind to win. Don't touch me again, got it?"

The shock in his eyes was almost satisfying as he nodded frantically. When I removed my foot, I suddenly realized the training ground had fallen silent. Looking up, I found four sets of eyes fixed on me—Hunter, two warrior instructors, and Alpha Jace standing at the edge of the grounds.

The intensity of his stare made my breath catch. Even from a distance, those ice-blue eyes seemed to see straight through me.

Great start, Aria. First day and already causing drama.

"You okay?"

The deep voice behind me sent a shiver down my spine. I turned to find Jace standing so close I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. Up close, he was even more overwhelming—towering at least six-foot-four, shoulders broader than seemed possible.

"I'm fine," I managed, suddenly aware of a stinging sensation above my eyebrow.

To my surprise, Jace reached out, his fingers gently touching the spot. His skin was warm and calloused, yet his touch impossibly gentle. The moment his fingers made contact, an electric current raced through my entire body.

"You're bleeding," he said, his voice dropping even lower.

I stared at the smear of blood on his fingertips, struggling to focus. What was happening to me? Why did his simple touch affect me so deeply?

"Just a scratch," I said, hating how breathless I sounded.

His eyes studied me with an intensity that made me feel simultaneously exposed and cherished. There was something in his gaze—recognition, hunger, tenderness.

"Your reactions are impressive," he said, his thumb still resting against my skin. "Exceptional, even for a werewolf."

Pride bloomed warm in my chest at his praise. "Gabriel never went easy on me just because I'm human. You wanna survive in a werewolf world, you better adapt fast."

Something flashed in his eyes—appreciation? Admiration? For a heartbeat, his gaze dropped to my lips, lingering there with such intensity that I felt my cheeks flush.

"Smart," he murmured, his voice rough. "Beautiful and smart."

Did he just call me beautiful? My heart hammered against my ribs as I tried to process his words.

I became aware of Dominic being helped up by other warriors, blood streaming from his nose. But Jace didn't seem to notice anyone else existed. His focus remained entirely on me.

"Get him checked out," Jace commanded without looking away from me. "And tell him if he touches her again, he'll answer to me personally."

The possessiveness in his tone sent another shiver through me. Her. Not 'the human' or 'the new arrival.' Her.

Jace's attention returned fully to me, his gaze traveling down to the wolf-paw birthmark on my wrist. His expression shifted to something I couldn't read—recognition? Wonder? His fingers moved from my face to gently trace the mark, and I gasped.

"This," he said softly. "Where did you get this?"

"I was born with it," I whispered, mesmerized by the way he touched the mark as if it were precious. "It's the only thing I have from my biological parents."

For a moment, he seemed about to speak, his lips parting as if he wanted to tell me something important. But then he simply nodded, his hand reluctantly leaving my skin.

As he walked away, I felt the loss of his presence like a physical ache. I watched his retreating figure, noting how other pack members automatically moved out of his path.

My fingers unconsciously touched my wrist where his had been, the skin still tingling. Why had he looked at my birthmark that way? And why did I feel like something fundamental had just shifted in my world?

"Well, that was something else," Hunter said, approaching with a raised eyebrow. "Gabriel taught you well."

I shrugged, trying to appear casual despite my racing heart. "He didn't give me much choice. Said if I wanted to live among wolves, I needed to be able to kick their asses when necessary."

Hunter's lips quirked into a knowing smile. "Smart man." He glanced toward where Jace had disappeared, then back at me. "The Alpha doesn't usually watch morning training sessions. Or personally tend to injuries. Or threaten pack members over new arrivals."

Something fluttered wildly in my stomach at his words. "I'm sure he was just being... hospitable to the new arrivals."

Hunter actually laughed at that. "Hospitable. Right." His expression grew more serious. "Word of advice? Jace doesn't do anything without reason. If he's paying attention to you, there's a purpose behind it."

"What kind of purpose?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

"That's between you and him to figure out," Hunter said diplomatically. "Clean up that cut and grab some breakfast."

"Actually, I think I'll skip breakfast. Not really hungry right now." The truth was, my stomach was too full of butterflies to handle food.

As Hunter walked away with what looked suspiciously like a smirk, I took a moment to collect myself. What was happening to me? I'd never reacted to anyone the way I'd just responded to Jace's presence.

I gathered my things and headed toward the edge of the training grounds, seeking a quiet spot to think. The morning sun was climbing higher in the sky. Everything here felt so different from Black Forest—warmer somehow, more alive.

Jace's touch still lingered on my skin. The way he'd said my name, his possessiveness when warning Dominic away, the reverence when he traced my birthmark...

I shook my head, clearing these romantic thoughts. This wasn't like me. I never got flustered around men—especially not werewolf Alphas who could have any woman they wanted.

But something about Jace made me feel less guarded. When he looked at me, I didn't feel like a weak human needing protection. I felt valued, worth protecting.

The cool morning breeze carried pine and wood smoke scents, nothing like Black Forest's constant tension and fear. After this morning's encounter, I could almost believe we were safe here.

But safety was an illusion I couldn't afford. Not after what had happened at Black Forest Pack.

My mind drifted back to those final days—Alpha Warren's obsessive pursuit, the way Gabriel and Lucas had quietly packed our lives away in the dead of night. "He won't stop," Gabriel had whispered urgently. "We have to go. Now."