Chapter 0493

A sudden jolt shakes me from peaceful slumber.

"Evelyn, wake up. We need to get you back to your room before sunrise."

My eyes fly open. The rooftop. Gregory. I'd texted him in the middle of the night when sleep refused to come. He'd brought me up here, and just as I was about to storm off, he'd whispered that no one else had ever seen this secret spot. Then exhaustion won. With Evander's rumbling purr and Gregory's fingers tracing patterns through my hair, resistance was impossible.

Gregory stands, offering his hand. "Now, Evelyn. Before the warriors start morning drills."

"What time is it?" I scramble off the blanket as he folds it with military precision.

"Dawn's close. We overslept." He slides down the sloped roof, then signals for silence—one finger pressed to his lips. His grip steadies me as we creep along the ledge. My window squeaks when he pushes it open.

"Fifteen minutes. Meet me downstairs," he murmurs as bootsteps echo from the training yard below. I nod, shutting the pane just as a gruff voice shouts orders.

I'm a whirlwind—jeans, sweater, teeth brushed, hair yanked into a ponytail. The stairs creak under my hurried steps when Gregory materializes behind me.

"Morning, Evelyn. Sleep well?" His grin is all innocence, as if we hadn't been tangled together minutes ago.

"Eventually. Once I crashed, it was... solid." My cheeks warm.

"Patrick's got the warriors running drills, so we're hitting the obstacle course."

For ninety relentless minutes, he pushes me harder than ever. My punches land faster. My sprints leave dust swirling. When he gestures toward a ten-foot gap between platforms, my stomach drops.

Valeria could clear that blindfolded. Me? I've face-planted trying to jump puddles.

Gregory demonstrates—the coiled spring of his thighs, the explosive push-off. After a dozen attempts, I'm matching his distance.

"Good. Now you're starting to feel your Guardian strength." He helps me down the cargo net. "We'll keep testing your limits."

Alpha Alistair waits at the base, arms crossed. "Impressive display, Evelyn. Gregory wasn't holding back."

I wipe sweat from my brow. "It's... exhilarating. I'm stronger every day."

"Glad to hear it." His gaze flicks to Gregory. "Did he mention I'll be evaluating your progress regularly?"

Gregory had hinted, but the confirmation tightens my throat. "What exactly would that involve?"

Alistair's smile is all teeth. "Sparring. With me or Nathaniel."

Gregory chuckles at my deer-in-headlights expression. "Relax. We'll train this afternoon—you won't be unprepared."

Alistair blocks our path. "One more thing, Evelyn." His stare makes Gregory step closer, his palm a steady weight between my shoulder blades.

"Gregory told me about your father's visit last night."

The memory hits like a sucker punch. My nod is jerky. Gregory's fingers press harder, silent solidarity against the storm inside me.