The training yard behind the manor was quiet except for the steady rustle of wind through the hedges. The ground had been cleared of stones, and the packed dirt was still damp from the morning drizzle. Everyone knew this session would be different. Today, Tara would spar with Shannon.
Tristan stood near the steps, arms folded, trying to steady his nerves. He had seen Shannon's wolf form once before, but never in training, never when it was directed at someone he loved. Therese stood at his side, her eyes sharp with focus. Kim and Mira flanked them, quiet and attentive. This was more than a spar. It was a lesson for everyone.
Shannon stepped forward first. His coat of black fur shimmered with grey streaks under the low light, and his frost-blue eyes glowed faintly. He looked massive in wolf form, broader at the shoulders than any of them, his presence filling the yard before he even moved.
