34

Liam pov

As I watched Maxine leave my chambers, a storm of conflicting emotions roiled within me. Her attitude was unexpected, and it chomped at me. What was she up to? Why the sudden change? The way she carried herself, the determination in her eyes—it was all new, and I couldn't help but be intrigued.

I monitored her closely over the next few days, my frustration was mounting as I found nothing suspicious. She trained harder than ever, pushing herself to the brink, but there was no sign of any covert meetings or plans. It was maddening. She was either becoming the warrior I wanted or hiding something far more cunning.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day of overseeing pack affairs, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. The night breeze was cool and refreshing, providing a brief respite from the chaos in my mind. As I passed the training grounds, I noticed Maxine sparring alone, her movements were fluid and fierce. I watched her from the dark, noting the fire in her ey