The first rays of morning sunlight filtered gently through the canopy of trees, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Trinity stretched her shoulder slowly, feeling the tightness in the muscles begin to ease. Though the sharp pain from Spencer’s attack hadn’t completely vanished, the bruises and swelling had faded significantly. Her shoulder felt stronger now—almost like it used to, almost normal again.
No sooner had she acknowledged this small victory than Asher appeared quietly by her side, as if materializing from the shadows. His familiar grin spread wide across his face. “Ready?” he asked, his voice brimming with unshakable confidence.
Trinity crossed her arms, a hint of weariness in her eyes. “Do we have to start today? Can’t I just have… I don’t know, a day to rest? A day to just be?”
Asher chuckled softly, shaking his head. “A day to just exist? Trinity, you’ve been through hell and back. One day won’t cut it. Training starts now. And don’t tell me you’re not ready—you’ve healed, your strength is coming back, and your mind is sharper than ever.”
She scowled, frustration bubbling up. “I don’t care if my mind is sharper. That doesn’t make this any easier.”
Tilting his head, Asher’s smile softened. “It will get easier, I promise. I’ll make sure of it.”
Trinity groaned, exasperated. “I hate it when you’re always so… optimistic. Like I can do anything if I just try hard enough. It’s exhausting.”
His grin didn’t waver. “Good. That’s the whole point. Exhaustion is the first step toward strength.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t deny the truth in his words. Still, the optimism grated on her nerves when her muscles screamed in protest, her arms felt like heavy weights, and her body seemed to forget everything it once knew how to do.
Dennis, Petra, and the others had all advised her to take it slow, to pace herself. But Asher refused to hear any of it. So here she was, standing in a small clearing just outside the pack’s territory, waiting for him to give her the first task.
“All right,” he said finally, stretching his arms above his head with an almost casual ease. “We’re starting with agility and reaction. You need to move fast, dodge attacks, and maintain your balance. Ready?”
Trinity huffed, the faintest spark of determination lighting her eyes. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
With a sharp clap of his hands, Asher set her into motion. She sprinted through a series of drills—quick bursts of speed, leaping over fallen logs, rolling across the uneven forest floor. Each time she thought she was getting the hang of it, Asher pushed her harder.
“Faster! Lower! Quicker!” he urged, grinning like the pain was some kind of game she should be enjoying.
By midday, her legs burned fiercely, her shoulder throbbed with a dull ache, and sweat stung her eyes. The urge to quit gnawed at her, but she swallowed it down, thinking of Spencer, her parents, and all the hardships she had endured. She straightened her back, refusing to give in.
Mid-morning, Gage and Arlo appeared quietly, carrying water and snacks. They didn’t offer to help directly but handed her supplies and stayed on the edges, watching as Asher drove her through the relentless drills.
“You’re insane,” she muttered between gulps of water. “Why are you making me do all this today?”
Asher’s grin only widened. “Because you need it. You want to be ready, right? You can’t just hope nothing attacks you next. You need skill, strength, and instinct. Today, we build all three.”
Trinity shot him a glare. “You’re so annoying.”
“You’re adorable when you’re angry,” he teased, and she nearly threw her water bottle at him.
By late afternoon, her arms barely lifted, her legs trembled uncontrollably, and every movement felt stiff and awkward. But Asher either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it.
“Come on, Trinity,” he said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “One more exercise before we call it a day. It’s simple. Follow me.”
Grumbling, she followed him deeper into the forest, where the shadows grew longer as the sun dipped lower. The air was cooler here, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth.
“Why does it always have to be in the middle of the woods?” she muttered.
That maddening, infuriating smile appeared again. “Because I want you to adapt. The forest is unpredictable—the ground shifts, trees block your view. You never know where an attack might come from. That’s real life. If you can handle the forest, you can handle anything.”
She groaned. “I hate the forest.”
“You don’t hate it,” he said softly. “You just haven’t learned to respect it yet. That’s what we’re working on.”
They stopped in a small clearing, and Trinity leaned wearily against a tree, her body trembling from exhaustion.
“All right,” Asher said, voice serious now. “This exercise is about defense. Stay alert, watch your surroundings, and react quickly. Someone might… attack. You have to protect yourself. Ready?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Attack? Who would attack me here?”
His grin turned sly. “We’ll see. Just remember: this isn’t just about fighting. It’s about awareness, reaction, and survival. Don’t overthink it.”
She nodded slowly, despite her heavy limbs. She had to focus. Losing control now was not an option—not with the training, not with what was coming.
Moving cautiously through the clearing, her eyes scanned the shadows between the trees. Every snap of a twig made her jump; every rustle of leaves sent her heart racing.
Minutes passed with nothing happening. She muttered under her breath, “This is ridiculous. I’m not scared of shadows.”
Then, without warning, something lunged from the underbrush. She barely had time to react.
Twisting her body, she dodged a low swipe aimed at her legs. Her shoulder protested sharply, but she ignored it. Her body moved on instinct—ducking, rolling, twisting—as the attack came again.
She struck out blindly, hitting something solid. There was a grunt, a stumble, then movement.
For a heartbeat, she froze, then refocused, her heart pounding in her chest. Her arms and legs trembled, but she stayed alert, eyes searching for the next strike.
“Not bad,” a familiar voice said suddenly, causing her to jump back.
Asher stepped out of the shadows, laughter in his voice but seriousness in his eyes. “How’s that for your first surprise attack?”
Breathing heavily, she blinked, realizing she’d been set up. “You—” she started, then groaned. “You scared me half to death!”
He shrugged, still grinning. “Exactly the point. You need to learn to protect yourself—even when it’s unexpected. You did better than I thought. That’s progress.”
Crossing her arms, she panted. “I hate you.”
“You love me,” he shot back with a wink.
She said nothing more. Her limbs shook with exhaustion, but beneath it all, a flicker of pride ignited inside her. She had reacted. She had survived. And annoying as Asher’s relentless positivity was, she had to admit he was right.
“You’re going to make me strong, aren’t you?” she muttered.
He nodded firmly. “I’m going to make sure you can handle anything, Trinity. No one will ever take advantage of you again—not your parents, not anyone.”
Asher stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her, sensing her fatigue. She tried to pull away but found she couldn’t, no matter how much she wanted to.
Exhaling deeply, she felt the weight of the day settle into her muscles and bones. The training was grueling, slower than she wished, and utterly exhausting. Yet, even with Asher’s maddening optimism, she was learning. Every stumble, every dodge, every moment her body moved faster than her mind expected was proof.
Asher’s arm slipped around her waist as she struggled to stay upright. “Tomorrow, we push harder. Next week, even more. But tonight… rest. You’ve earned it. You’ll be sore, but you’ll be stronger.”
She groaned, collapsing onto the soft grass, finally allowing herself to give in. “You’re lucky I love you.”
Her shoulder no longer ached, though her body throbbed with the good kind of hurt—the kind that meant progress.
Lying there, breathing in the cool forest air, she realized something important: this wasn’t just about fighting. It was about surviving. About being ready. About proving to herself that she could face whatever came next.
Even if Asher’s relentless optimism made her want to scream.
And even if the next attack came when she least expected it.
She didn’t know it yet, but this was only the beginning.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
SUMMARY (~1000 Words in English)
