Sweat dripped from Zayn’s forehead as he circled Ezra on the training grounds. The morning sun was harsh, their shadows dancing across the packed dirt. A crowd of warriors had gathered to watch their Alpha and Beta spar, a daily ritual that had grown in intensity lately.
“Come on,” Zayn growled, gesturing for Ezra to attack. “Stop holding back.”
Ezra lunged forward, throwing a punch that Zayn easily dodged. He countered with a swift kick to Ezra’s side, sending him stumbling.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Zayn taunted, his eyes narrowing. Something dark stirred inside him, a restless energy that had been building for days.
Ezra recovered quickly, feinting left before landing a solid hit to Zayn’s jaw. The Alpha staggered backward, a hint of a smile crossing his face as he tasted blood.
“Better,” Zayn said, spitting red onto the ground.
