h4Chapter 498: Getting Better at Control/h4

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    strongChapter 498/strong

    strong~Snow’s POV~/strong

    Draven stared for a long moment, saying nothing. Then he ced a steady hand on my shoulder.

    "You nning to tell the others?"

    "Not yet," I said. "I need answers first. I’m leaving tomorrow morning to see the Lycan King’s priestess. If anyone knows what’s going on, it’s her. She would be the best bet in figuring this out before I go see Zara."

    Alpha Draven nodded slowly. "Alright. Be good."

    I looked at him. "Draven—"

    "You’re a friend," he said simply. "And a great asset to this alliance. We can’t afford to lose the strongest Alpha in the kingdom. Be safe. Find your truth. And when you’re ready, we’ll be here."

    His words hit harder than I expected. I ced my hand over his for a second. "Thank you."

    He nodded once more and then walked back toward the others, who were still talking by the benches, clearly unaware of the exchange.

    I turned away, pulling my hood back on properly this time.

    i"Snow,"/i cier whispered within me. i"You’ll need strength for what’sing. But you’re not alone."/i

    I knew that. And yet, something about this change terrified me in ways even war never had.

    iWhat if I am turning into some kind of monster as punishment for cheating death and Zara?/i

    iWould Zara still find me lovable? Would she still want to be mine?/i

    Later that night, I bid the rest of the Alphas goodnight. They didn’t question it. Zeno threw me azy salute, Killian smirked, and Xavier told me to get some real sleep for once.

    I nodded at them all. "See you in the morning."

    But even when I got inside and copsed onto the bed, my mind was anything but quiet.

    I pulled out my phone, staring at the homescreen wallpaper. Zara’s smile stared back at me. She was in nothing but her sexy bathing suit with a white shawl tied over her hips.

    I loved that picture as it made me see more than her sexy side but the beautiful creation the moon goddess bestowed on me.

    The one thing that always grounded me.

    I missed her. Missed her scent, herugh, the way she talked to me like I wasn’t Alpha but just a man she loved.

    I closed my eyes and imagined her voice, warm and teasing, calling me dramatic for stressing too much.

    Was she alright? Was she eating well? Sleeping properly?

    I opened ourst chat. Herst message was hours ago.

    strongZara:/strongiDon’t forget to sleep. We need you strong. I love you./i

    I stared at it longer than I should have, thumbs hovering over the keyboard. Then I typed:

    strongMe:/strongiI love you, too. More than I can exin. I’ll be home soon./i

    I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. But whatever this power was inside me, whatever truth Lady Siona would reveal, I’d face it.

    Not just for the alliance or for the pack but for her, for Zara and the future we were fighting for.

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    strong~Zara’s POV~/strong

    It had been a while since I trained with Siona—too long. Between the council meetings, rogue reports, and the never-ending stream of administrative nonsense, my days were consumed by strategy and politics over Zoom calls with my mother and pack.

    I missed the feel of movement, the rush of magic under my skin, the way the world quieted when I was focused on something other than survival.

    This morning, I woke up and stared at my calendar. Full. Again.

    But for once, I didn’t care.

    I turned off my phone, ignored my schedule, and pulled on my training gear—form-fitting leggings, a cropped sports top, and light boots that gave just enough grip without weighing me down.

    My body was humming with restless energy, and I needed to let it out before it swallowed me whole.

    As if on cue, my phone vibrated just after breakfast when I turned it on, hoping to message Snow.

    strongSiona:/strongiI’ming over. Gear up. No excuses./i

    I smiled at the message. She always knew what I needed. Without a second thought, I finished my meal and got ready to head for training.

    By the time the sun was fully over the treetops, Siona stepped onto the training grounds behind the estate.

    Dressed in sleek white tactical wear, her white hair was tied in a high braid, and her expression was all mischief.

    "Well, well," she said, striding over. "You actually beat me here."

    "I’m not alwayste," I shot back, stretching my arms over my head.

    "You’re right," she smirked. "Sometimes you cancel altogether."

    I rolled my eyes. "Just train me."

    Siona grinned, pleased. "That’s what I like to hear."

    We began with hand-to-hand, quick warm-up drills, kicks, blocks, and strikes. My muscle memory kicked in faster than I expected.

    Siona didn’t go easy. She never did. But even as I deflected her attacks andnded a few counters, I could feel the magic stirring in my core.

    It was wild and eager.

    "You’ve been holding back," she said, breathless as we broke apart. "Your body’s stronger, but your energy’s... twitchy. You’re bottling it."

    "I know," I panted. "I just haven’t had a chance to release—"

    "No more excuses."

    She took three steps back and her hands red with light. A pale, fiery aura danced around her fingers, swirling into a de-like construct.

    "Let’s channel it," she said. "Magic to magic."

    I nodded and focused. The wind picked up around us, responding to my intent. I reached inward, pulling at the tight coil of energy buried deep in my gut.

    A flicker sparked in my palms—blue at first, then streaks of silver. It pulsed familiarly and dangerously.

    I stepped into a stance and flung it forward. Siona deflected the st with a twist of her wrist. "More control."

    I breathed deep and tried again.

    The next burst was sharper, focused like a spear. She caught it midair and hurled a fireball in return.

    I dodged left, letting it explode behind me, then snapped my hand forward, casting a barrier. The impact sent a ripple through my shield, but it held.

    "Yes!" she called. "Good reaction!"

    We circled each other, throwing bursts of energy, then closing the distance with enhanced speed.

    My magic surged through my limbs, boosting my strikes, empowering my dodges.

    Every time Sionaunched a challenge—telekic grabs, fire arcs, energy shields—I responded with something sharper, something stronger.

    A re of wind magic knocked her back, just slightly.

    Shended in a crouch, panting. "You’re getting better."

    I didn’t answer because I was already moving, casting runes mid-step. Blue sigils burned into the air as I ran past them, drawing their power into my fists.

    Siona met me with a counter spell, but I cut through it, magic crackling across my arms.

    When our hands shed in the final strike, a wave of energy rippled out from the impact, pushing dust and leaves outward in a wide circle.

    We both stood there, unmoving, breathing heavily.

    Siona blinked, thenughed. "Now that’s what I wanted to see."

    I dropped my arms, letting the glow fade. "So? Am I ready?"

    "You’re not just ready," she said, stepping closer. "You’re stabilizing. You’ve always had raw power, Zara, but now? Now you’re learning how to use it."

    She ced her hand on my shoulder. "Keep training. Push further. If something big ising, your magic will be key."

    I nodded, still catching my breath. "I can feel it, you know. Something’s shifting. Snow... something’s changing with him, too."

    Siona’s smile faded into something more serious. "Then you both need to be ready. For each other, and for what’sing."

    I looked toward the horizon, toward the direction he had gone.

    "I will be."

    *******

    By the time Siona and I returned to the mansion, the sun had shifted high overhead. Our limbs ached in the best way, and our clothes clung to us with sweat and effort.

    My skin still buzzed faintly with residual energy—my magic content, but humming like it wanted more.

    "I needed that," I sighed, pushing the door open.

    "You’re wee," Siona grinned as we stepped inside. "I need to get back to Kaid, though. He’ll throw a fit if I’mte again."

    I nodded. "Tell him to chill. You were doing goddess work."

    She rolled her eyes yfully, already tapping into her phone as she walked down the hall. "See you tomorrow."

    The door shut behind her, and just like that, the house felt... empty.

    Storm and Aira were out—Storm was at school, and Aira had left with Zade earlier in the morning to check on a border incident.

    Tempest had gone to visit Koda. The house was silent in a way that should’ve felt peaceful, but only made me more aware of how alone I was.

    I wandered into the kitchen, muscles sore, fingers tingling. Then I stopped.

    A te of freshly baked cookies sat in the centre of the ind counter.

    Still warm, their sweet scent curling into the air—chocte chip, my favourite. A small smile tugged at my lips. I didn’t know which maid had baked them, but I made a mental note to give her a raise.

    I pulled a tall ss from the cab and opened the freezer, grabbing one of the chilled orange juices I’d been craving all week.

    Then I sat down at the counter, the cold marble soothing against my arms as I bit into a cookie.

    It melted in my mouth—soft, gooey, perfect. I closed my eyes for a second, letting the silence wrap around me.

    The good kind of silence.

    For a while, I didn’t move; I just sipped juice and finished two cookies without guilt.

    As it always didtely, my mind drifted to Snow and not Davion.

    I missed him more than I wanted to admit. Not just his voice or his touch, but his presence.

    That intensity, the way he listened even when I wasn’t speaking, the calm he brought into every room he entered.

    I nced around, half-expecting to hear his voice calling from the door but didn’t.

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