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“Keep your core tight,” Derek instructed, adjusting my form with careful hands. “There you go.”

Caleb sprawled on a nearby bench, supposedly spotting but mostly just offering commentary. “You’re filling out nicely, little mate.”

I nearly dropped the weights. “I’m literally dying here, and you’re checking me out?”

“Multitasking.” He grinned. “Besides, you’re getting that dancer’s build—lean muscle, perfect proportion. Much better than looking like you bench-press cars for fun like some people.” He flexed dramatically, making me roll my eyes. “And in a few weeks, you’ll have abs that would make fitness models jealous.”

“If I survive that long,” I muttered but kept going. The weights did feel lighter than they had on day one, which was either supernatural genetics or pure desperation.

“Trust the process,” Derek said, his hands steady on my shoulders as he guided me through another set. “Your body knows what it’s doing, even if your mind’s still catching up.”

That was the problem, wasn’t it? My body was adapting to this new reality way faster than my brain. Every morning I woke up feeling stronger, faster, more… different. And every morning I had to pretend that was totally fine and not at all terrifying.

“Last set,” Derek encouraged, though I was pretty sure he’d said that three sets ago. “Then we’ll work on resistance training.”

“You’re evil,” I informed him but finished the reps anyway.

We’d been at it for hours. Storm, who’d appointed himself my unofficial cheerleader, wagged his tail encouragingly from his spot by the door.

I was halfway through what felt like my thousandth set when Marcus’ voice made me jump. “Looking good, little mate.” He was leaning against the doorframe.

“Taking a break from the council meeting?” I asked.

“Technically still in it.” He smiled. “Though I stepped out when the elders started their third hour of… territorial discussions.”

“Let me guess.” Caleb grinned. “They’re nervous about our recent activities?”

Derek’s satisfied smirk told me exactly whose activities were causing concern. I’d seen his team gearing up for another “patrol” this morning, all tactical equipment and contained violence.

“The council is… concerned about maintaining regional stability,” Marcus said diplomatically, though his eyes held the same satisfied gleam as his brothers.

“Less gossip, more training,” Derek cut in, but I caught the proud look he exchanged with Marcus. My newly awakened instincts might still be confusing, but I knew exactly why the Knox Pack was being “dealt with.” Between my developing supernatural senses and the snippets of conversation I’d overheard from Derek’s security team, it was clear the Stone Force wasn’t letting the Knox go unpunished. The guys always returned from their “patrols” looking particularly satisfied, casually dropping comments about “reinforcing boundaries” and “teaching Knox wolves some manners.” Whatever Derek’s team was doing, he was definitely enjoying it.

“Here.” Marcus stepped forward, adjusting my stance with gentle hands. “Keep your back straight, shoulders down. There.”

And now I had three alpha werewolves micromanaging my workout. Perfect.

“I had plans this morning, you know,” I grumbled but let them position me like a life-sized doll. “I miss actually doing things. Being outside. Working at the bookstore.”

“Soon,” Marcus promised, his tone gentler than usual. “Once you can shift and defend yourself.”

“Hey, if you’re missing the bookstore that much, you could always reorganize our library between training sessions,” Caleb suggested. “It’s probably bigger than Stone & Page anyway.”

“It’s not the same thing,” I said, but he had a point. The manor’s library was impressive, and organizing books would at least feel familiar. “Though your current system is terrible.”

“There’s nothing wrong with organizing by acquisition date,” Marcus defended, but his lips twitched.

“Everything is wrong with that system,” I said, but my heart wasn’t really in the argument. As much as I hated being stuck in the manor, protected like some precious artifact, I wasn’t stupid. The Knox Pack had made it very clear how helpless I was right now. And while I technically could tell the brothers to shove their protective instincts where the sun didn’t shine—they weren’t my alphas yet, after all—the memory of being surrounded by hostile wolves was enough to keep me in training.

Call me a coward, but I’d rather sweat through Derek’s workout regime than face another pack of wolves unprepared. Running away was always an option, but even I had to admit that learning to defend myself was probably smarter in the long run.

Still, being escorted everywhere by either a brother or a Stone Force member like some VIP target was getting old. Fast.

I focused on the weights instead of their amused expressions. The brothers seemed to think everything I did was adorable, from my color-coding obsession to my attempts at working out. It should have been annoying. Instead, it felt… safe. Which was probably something I should examine later, preferably when I wasn’t trying to impress three supernatural beings with my improving biceps.

“Water break,” Derek announced, tossing me a bottle that I actually managed to catch. After over a week of training, my reflexes were becoming eerily good.

The ice-cold water was heaven after hours of intense workout. Some of it spilled down my chin, trailing over my throat and soaking into my already sweat-damp shirt. Even through the expensive temperature-regulating fabric the brothers had insisted on buying me, I could feel their eyes tracking every droplet. Their predatory stares made heat pool in my stomach, and a wicked idea formed.