CalistaThe mat is cool beneath my palms, the fabric of my gloves worn and familiar. I throw a punch, another, then a kick, feeling the burn in my muscles, the sweet ache that says I’m getting stronger. Every jab, every uppercut, it’s like I’m hitting back at the terror that’s been clutching at my heart since the attack. With every drop of sweat, I’m reclaiming pieces of myself I thought I’d lost.Armata’s standing there, all coach and no-nonsense, watching every move. “Longer reach, Calista,” Armata calls out, his tone as sharp as the snap of my gloves against the bag. “Hit it like you actually want to hurt it.”I grind my teeth and extend my arm with a snarl, my fist connecting harder, imagining it’s the shadow that haunts me, not just a sack of sand. “How’s that for intent?” I challenge between grunts.His laugh is a low rumble, approval lacing his voice. “Good girl,” he says and heat immediately pools in my core.What the hell.I wouldn’t recognize the girl in the mirror now—swea

CalistaI slam the door to the training room behind me, my heart pounding in a furious rhythm that matches the rage boiling in my veins. Levi—no, Armata, because that’s what he is, just a codename, a role, and nothing more—has crossed a line. I can feel the phantom pressure of his hands on my wrists, the heat of his body too close to mine, and it ignites something within me that’s as close to pure fury as I’ve ever felt.I should be used to this, to him. Levi, with his ever-changing moods and his methods that border on cruel, but last night, something shifted. We nearly kissed. The memory of his closeness, the warmth of his breath mingling with mine—it sends a shockwave through my system, and I’m pissed. Pissed because it means something, and even more because he’s acting like it means nothing.I turn the water on, not bothering to test the temperature before I step under it. It’s hot enough to turn my skin pink, steaming up the shower stall, clouding the air, but it’s nothing compar

CalistaPacing the expanse of my bedroom, the luxurious opulence feels suffocating. The brocade curtains, the plush carpets—none of it offers comfort. Levi’s troubled gaze haunts me, his abrupt departure a gnawing puzzle. Did I push him too far? A twinge of guilt coils in my stomach, and I halt mid-step, a breath caught between worry and regret.I halt mid-step, pressing my palms into my eyes, willing away the sting of tears that threaten to betray me. A distant howl, a sound both mournful and wild punctures the silence of the night. It draws me, a siren’s call, to the balcony. The chill of the night air kisses my skin as I push the doors open, stepping into the moon’s soft glow.Down below, the night stretches out with shadows and whispers, and in the midst of it all stands Levi, a solitary figure making his way back, his sweat-soaked clothes sticking to his body, a glistening layer of exertion. What the hell was he up to? Did he shift and run for hours?It’s 3 a.m. The world is sile

CalistaAfter last night’s confession to Levi, I thought things would be super awkward between us, but that’s not the case at all. In fact we’ve been flirting non-stop with Levi not even reeling in his attraction.Of course, this is only when we’re in each other’s company. I don’t know what everyone else would think if they knew how I felt about Levi and how he must feel about me as well. The last thing I want is for my father to send him away thinking Levi ruined me or some shit.As we head to Luna Training, Levi and I continue our banter, the air light for a change. He’s got this way of teasing that keeps me on my toes, and I play along, throwing back quips like we’re in some kind of verbal sparring match.“You ready for the training grind, Princess?” he asks, smirking.I give him a side-eye. “I was trained by the best for weeks, I’m sure I’ll be fine,”He nudges me with his elbow. “Ah, you’re going to give me a big head at this rate, better rein in those compliments.”I chuckle. “

Armata / Levi We arrive at the mansion, and as soon as we enter; I turn to her. “I need you to wait for me in the gym. I have something to collect from my bedroom.” I don’t wait for her response, already heading towards the stairs. Once inside my bedroom, the weight of the night’s events crashes down on me. I pull out my phone and dial Alpha Nikolaos’s number. The line rings, and I pace the room, my heart pounding. “Levi,” Alpha Nikolaos’s deep voice comes through. “What’s going on?” I relay the information the Rogue gave me, my voice steady but filled with disbelief. “Alpha Demetrious is trying to marry off his daughter to one of your men. He wants to link his pack to ours through her. The Rogue said it’s all a setup.” There’s a heavy sigh from the other end. “I suspected as much. Demetrious has been trying to strengthen his pack’s alliances. But this... it’s low, even for him.” I lean against the wall, my mind racing. “So it’s true then? He wants one of us to marry Calista?”