Chapter 90: The Training Begins Anna POV

"Pay attention, Anna." The sharpness of Thalion's voice sliced through the silence of the old woodland. With an intensity that made me writhe, his glittering eyes pierced me.

I inhaled deeply, attempting to calm my pounding heart. Like a coiled spring, the energy in my chest was poised to explode. The air around me was charged with excitement as the other wolves observed, their faces displaying a range of reactions from interest to doubt.

"You have to keep it under control," Thalion said. "How do you expect to use your power in combat if you can't even channel it in its most basic form?"

I felt the warmth of the mark on my arm pulse in sync with my heartbeat as I clenched my fists. "I'm trying," I responded, my voice laced with frustration.

"Merely trying is insufficient," Thalion yelled. "Feel it. Give it orders. It is yours; you are not its servant."

Lucas crossed his arms and stood a few steps away. "She might have an easier time if you didn't give her orders like she was a soldier."

A small smirk formed on Thalion's lips as he turned his piercing eyes to Lucas. "And maybe you'd know the stakes if you had even a small portion of her potential."

Lucas's jaw tightened as he snarled. "I can defend the people I care about without the need for special abilities."

"Enough!" I said, sounding sharper than I meant to. The tension between the two men was evident when they fell silent. I faced Thalion once more. "What am I supposed to do?"

After examining me for a while, he nodded. "Close your eyes. Feel the spark that binds you to the Primordial Wolves—the energy that is inside you. Do not allow it to consume you; instead, allow it to pass through you."

Despite my hesitation, I followed his instructions to close my eyes and inhale deeply. As the outside world dimmed, I turned my attention inward, looking for the spark he mentioned.

At first, there was nothing but the steady thrum of my heartbeat. Then, gradually, I sensed it—a warmth that grew stronger every second in my chest. Like an impending storm, it was untamed and wild.

"Good," said Thalion in a calmer tone. "Now lead it. Create something manageable and tiny out of it."

I grabbed the energy and tried to shape it the way he told me. At first, it resisted, slipping like water out of my fingers. However, I continued, exerting every ounce of willpower to keep it in check.

Abruptly, a gentle radiance filled the room surrounding me. A tiny ball of light was hanging over my palm, pulsing softly like a heartbeat, when I opened my eyes.

"You succeeded," Lucas exclaimed with astonishment in his voice.

My lips curled into a smile, but it vanished as the orb shifted and became unsteady. The light burst into a rush of energy, throwing me backward as panic swept through me.

"Anna!" In an instant, Lucas was by my side, helping me stand up.

With a sigh, Thalion's face was unreadable. "It's a beginning," he stated. "But you still have a lot to learn."

I responded, my voice hardened with purpose, "I'll get it. I simply require more time."

"You'll get it," Thalion declared. "But realize that every second you waste increases the risk to you and those around you. In this case, there are no second chances."

Lucas's touch lingered on my arm as he helped me stabilize myself. "You're doing great," he remarked softly. "Avoid letting him affect you."

I looked at Thalion, who was already turning to leave, his stance unbending. "But he's not incorrect. I'm a liability if I can't solve this."

Lucas gave a head shake. "Anna, you're not a liability. We're still here because of you. Remember that."

One of the other wolves, a tall, broad-shouldered male named Kael, came toward us before I could reply. His tone was brimming with contempt, and his sneer was contemptuous. "The Beta appears to be feeling excluded. Seeing your partner outshine you at every opportunity must be difficult."

Although Lucas's jaw tightened, he didn't fall for the ruse. "I have nothing to prove to you."

Kael let out a deep, booming laugh. "That's practical. Standing in the shadow of brilliance is probably simpler than taking the chance of failing on your own."

"Enough," I replied, moving to the side. "This is not something we have time for."

Kael's grin vanished, and he cocked his head in derision. "Your Majesty, as you desire."

He left an awkward silence behind him as he left. I could see the strain coming from Lucas as his hand at his side clenched into a fist.

"I don't trust him," Lucas eventually replied.

"I do," I confessed. "Here, we cannot afford to create enemies. Not quite yet."

As Lucas gazed at me, his eyes grew softer. "Just swear to me that you won't allow them to push you too far. You don't have to do this alone, but you're stronger than you realize."

My chest tightened as I nodded. "I understand. However, if this power is indeed the secret to stopping Oliver, I must discover it. Regardless."