15: A Test Of Resolve
Celeste’s POV
Kaelen’s reaction was not what I anticipated.
He stared at me for a moment. Then, slowly, a chuckle escaped his lips. It was low at first, but then it grew, filling the room with a sound I had never heard before.
Kaelen was laughing.
I froze, completely taken aback. The cold Alpha who rarely even smiled was laughing because of me. His usually tense features softened.
It made my heart flutter in a way I didn’t expect.
But the longer he laughed, the more irritation bubbled up inside me. “What’s so funny?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
Kaelen leaned back in his chair, his smirk infuriatingly wide. “You. The idea of you training with my army.”
I crossed my arms, frowning. “I’m serious.
His laughter died away, but his eyes still shimmered with mirth. “I know you are. That’s what makes it so… surprising.”
I moved closer, pressing my hands against his desk and leaning into him. “Kaelen, I’m not joking. If I want to take vengeance for what happened to Thornclaw, I need to get stronger. And right now, I’m not good enough.
His expression shifted, the amusement falling away to something a bit more thoughtful. “You’re stronger than you think, Celeste.”
“Not strong enough,” I countered my voice firm but sure. “They attacked my pack because they saw us as weak. And they weren’t wrong. I couldn’t protect my people, Kaelen. I couldn’t protect anyone because I was just an Omega.
The word felt bitter on my tongue, and I hated the way it tasted.
Kaelen’s eyes darkened, his gaze narrowing. “You’re not ‘just an Omega.‘ You’re Luna now.”
That title doesn’t change who I am,” I said, straightening. “It doesn’t change what I’ve been through or what I need to do. If I want to stand beside you, if I want to fight for this pack and the survivors of Thornclaw, then I need to be more than I am now. I need to be better.
He said nothing more for a moment, and his gray eyes looked deep into mine as if in search of something. “You think training with my army will make you better?”
“Yes,” I said with no hesitation. “Your warriors are the strongest I have ever seen. If I am going to survive what is to come, then I must learn from the best.
15 A Test Of Resolve
Kaelen sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Celeste, you don’t understand what you’re asking. The training my warriors go through, it’s not for everyone. Hell, it’s not even for most. It’s brutal, relentless. They don’t hold back for anyone not even me.”
“Good,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I don’t want them to hold back.”
His lips pressed into a thin line, his frustration evident. “You think you’re ready for that kind of intensity? To be pushed to your limits and then pushed even further?”
“I have to be,” I replied, my voice soft but resolute.
Kaelen leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Do you know how many recruits fail out of the training program? How many leave with injuries that never heal or worse?”
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. “I know it’s dangerous. But I’m willing to take that risk.
His eyes softened slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might relent. But then he shook his head. “No.”
The single word felt like a slap, and I took a step back, my chest tightening. “Why not?” “Because I won’t lose you,” he said simply.
My heart ached at the raw honesty in his tone, but it didn’t change my resolve. “Kaelen”
“You don’t get it,” he cut in, already standing and rounding the desk until he was in front of me. “Those warriors don’t see rank. They don’t see titles. All they see is someone who needs to be broken and rebuilt from the ground up. If you go into that training, they will treat you the same way they treat every other recruit. They’ll push you until you break, and then they’ll push you again. They’ll show no mercy, not even to their Luna.”
“Then let them,” I said, lifting my chin. “I’m not asking for mercy, Kaelen. I’m asking for the chance to prove myself.”
His jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “You don’t have anything to prove to them, Celeste.”
“Yes, I do,” I insisted, stepping closer. “Not just to them, but to myself. I need to know that I’m strong enough to protect the people I care about. I need to know that I can stand on my own two feet.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his gray eyes filled with frustration, concern, and something else I couldn’t quite name. Finally, he let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“No,” I said firmly,
Kaelen shook his head; a faint smirk tugged at his lips. “You’re stubborn. I’ll give you
that.
15: A Test Of Resolve
“I’ve been told,” I returned, folding my arms over my chest.
For a moment, I thought he might argue the point more. But then his face relaxed, the hard planes of his face easing off a bit. “Fine. If you want to train, then you’ll train.”
My heart surged, in a mix of relief and excitement. “Really?”
“But not with the army,” he added, his tone leaving no room for argument. “If you’re going to do this, you’ll train with me.”
I blinked, surprised. “You?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “I’ll train you myself. That way, I can make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”
For a moment, I was speechless. The idea of training under Kaelen was intimidating. He was the strongest wolf I’d ever met, and while I knew he would push me harder than anyone else, I also knew I could trust him.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice filled with gratitude.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, the smirk twisting his lips once more. “You might regret this.”
I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I won’t.”
“We’ll see,” he replied, his eyes glinting.
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