Chapter 8 Learning to STAND

Talia's POV

The evening was quiet when I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Talia?"

I looked up from the small journal I had been scribbling in. I had asked Ingrid to get it for me.

Ramon stood there, tall and imposing as always, his expression unreadable.

"You're going to start training," he said simply.

I blinked. "Training?"

"Yes. Self-defense. Everyone in the pack learns it," he replied, his eyes scanning the room like he expected me to argue.

"I... I don't understand," I said, sitting up. "Where I come from, I was safe. I took care of people. I was fine. Why do I need training? Why bring me from my safe space to here to... watch my back?"

He didn't answer. He never explained more than he had to. "Get ready. Karon will come for you."

I frowned, the irritation rising in me like always when he didn't explain himself. "That's it? No reasoning? No 'Talia, this is for your own good'? Nothing?"

"Just... get ready," he said, his voice calm but final.

I groaned, knowing resistance was useless. He turned and left, leaving me with my thoughts and a growing sense of dread.

******

Karon arrived shortly after, just as the last light of sunset faded. Ingrid brought him in, he just stepped into the room, tall and lean, with an easy confidence that made me tense.

"You ready?" he asked.

I folded my arms, trying to look brave. "I guess."

He raised an eyebrow. "Guessing isn't good in a fight. But it's a start."

I bit my lip. "I'm not exactly used to... this."

"Most people aren't," he said, with a small smile. "Come on. Let's go."

The training ground was lit by torches, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The forest loomed around us, dark and quiet. Karon wasted no time, showing me the basics: stance, balance, and movement.

At first, everything was exhausting. My arms burned, legs trembled, and my head spun from trying to remember the instructions.

"You're too stiff," he said, adjusting my stance. "Relax. Move with me."

I tried, stumbled, and he laughed lightly. It was... unexpected.

He was Warm and easy to talk to. And it made my heart lift a little.

"Don't look at me like that," he teased. "You're making me feel like a proper human."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile. Maybe I didn't have to fear everyone here.

Karon was patient. If I stumbled, he didn't snap. He explained again, demonstrated, and guided me slowly through every movement.

"You're learning fast," he said after a while. "Faster than I thought."

"I've been... doing things my whole life," I muttered. "Just... different things."

"Like taking care of people," he said, nodding. "I like that. You'll need that instinct here too. Not just strength."

We sparred lightly, him holding back, letting me get used to the movements. My punches were clumsy, my balance off, but he corrected me gently, teasing me when I got it wrong, praising when I did it right.

"You're stubborn," he said once, laughing after I refused to give up a move.

"Stubborn is different from dumb," I shot back.

"Touché," he said, grinning.

"Careful," he said softly. "Even small mistakes can hurt."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, brushing dirt off my pants.

"You're improving," he said, his tone proud but casual. "Better than I expected."

"Better than you expected?" I asked, surprised.

"Maybe I underestimated stubbornness," he said with a laugh.

I laughed too. His laughter was easy, warm, and contagious. Somehow, the weight of the pack, the constant tension, faded a little whenever he laughed.

Training was hard, Karon's patience never wavered. He pushed me, corrected me, and sometimes teased me relentlessly, but always with a kind laugh.

I managed a sequence of attacks perfectly, landing a mock strike on him.

"Finally," he said, laughing. "You're brave, Talia. Weldone."

I laughed too, the sound mixing with his. "Brave?"

"Yes," he said, still chuckling. "Brave, stubborn, and just a little crazy. It's a very perfect combination."

I shook my head, grinning. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," he said, smiling.

And then I noticed him.

Ramon. At the edge of the clearing. He was watching quietly. His eyes fixed on me with a weight I couldn't name. Approval? Concern? Something deeper.

The bastard had been watching me.

Karon noticed him, but didn't say anything. Ramon didn't move.

I didn't know how long he had been standing there, but the intensity of his gaze made me feel... exposed.

I was going to ignore him.

I turned back to Karon, who gave me a small, knowing smile. "You did well today."

I exhaled, laughing softly again. "Thanks. I think I might survive this after all."

Karon chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not just surviving, Talia. You're learning to fight. That makes you brave."

We laughed again, and the sound carried through the clearing. But even in the warmth of laughter, I felt the weight of Ramon's eyes. Standing there silently, he seemed to watch more than my progress, he watched me.

And I knew that whatever I did, he would always see.