The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 20

–The First fe

He didn’t wait for an answer. Just stripped off his shirt and began undressing

I averted my gaze and quickly peeled off my layers, folding them and setting them aside. The cold kissed my bare skin like punishment. Then I let the shift come.

My bones broke and rebuilt themselves in a rush of light and muscle. My vision sharpened. The pain

faded.

My wolf surged forward.

Kael–now a massive black Lycan hybrid with obsidian fur and ember–colored eyes–nodded once and

took off.

I followed.

The second leg was… easier.

Not painless, but smoother. My wolf ran with more grace than I ever could. Her breath didn’t falter. Her

muscles didn’t scream. She was built for this.

We reached the next checkpoint and turned back.

By the time we reached the first one again, I was ready to collapse–but Kael shifted back into human

form, grabbed his clothes, and barked, “Get dressed. Last three. Let’s go.”

I shifted, tugged my clothes back on with trembling hands, and started the final stretch. My human form

was slower, weaker, but I forced my legs to keep moving.

When we finally returned to the training grounds, I collapsed onto the frozen grass.

Kael checked the stopwatch.

“110 minutes,” he said.

I groaned into my arm.

“That’s almost twice the target time,” he added.

“I gathered.”

“But you made it. That’s what matters today.”

I rolled onto my back, panting. “Please tell me that was the hard part.”

Kael smirked. “That was the warm–up.”

I glared at him.

He held out a hand and pulled me up. “Rest. Eat. Hydrate. You’ve got hand–to–hand drills after breakfast.”

“You’re evil.”

“No. I’m your trainer.”

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< CHAPTER 20 – The First Run

I glared up at him, my body a shaky mass of overcooked noodles.

He offered a hand. I took it.

“Come on. Light breakfast, then drills.”

I winced. “You’re serious?”

“Deadly.”

He led me toward the dining hall–well, what I assumed was the combatants mess. It wasn’t the same grand hall from last night. This space was simpler. Open air Rough wood beams Benches and tables

stained from use.

There were a handful of warriors already eating. Most gave me a nod. A few barely glanced up.

Kael didn’t comment. He just handed me a tall glass of something thick and purple.

“What is this?” I asked, sniffing it.

“Protein smoothie. Berries, oats, almond milk, egg white, and something green. Don’t ask questions–just

drink it.”

I took a sip and nearly moaned. “Okay. That’s… shockingly good.”

Kael arched a brow. “Don’t sound so surprised.”

“Wasn’t expecting something that didn’t taste like regret.”

“Drink it all. You’ll need the fuel.”

I downed the rest, wiped my mouth, and gave him a long, tired look. “Alright. What now?”

“Now,” he said, setting his empty glass aside, “we figure out if you know how to throw a punch.”

He led me back to the training grounds, which were starting to buzz with morning energy. Weapons

clashed in distant drills. A pair of Lycans in beast form wrestled in a pit. I heard the dull thud of fists

meeting flesh and the barked commands of trainers.

Kael turned to face me, arms crossed. “I need to assess your skill level before we begin any real training.”

“Assessment how?”

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