Madam dragged Aire to the banquet hall immediately after breakfast.

She dragged her down with just a firm grip around her wrist and a sharp, "Come."

Aire barely had time to process it before she was being pulled down the corridor. Her steps were uneven as she struggled to keep up.

"Madam—" she tried to reason, her voice soft, and breath catching.

Rather, Madam said. "Walk faster." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Aire’s lips pressed together. She said nothung more, and just obeyed.

Servants moving in quiet efficiency. Guards stationed at their usual posts. A few glanced at her as she passed. Their eyes lingering on just a second too long with tiny judgement.

Aire felt it crawl under her skin. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

The memory of the night before hadn’t left her. It clung to her like something unseen but heavy.

She couldn’t forget Nate’s grip. The wall against her back. The look in his eyes. And then, the slap.

Her chest tightened faintly.

She hadn’t meant to think about it again so soon.

But how could she not?

She could still feel the echo of it in her palm. She couls still see the way he had looked at her after.

Madam didn’t slow down.

They reached the large double doors of the banquet hall, and with a single push, they swung open.

Aire stepped inside, and paused.

The hall was... alive. She was somehow expectng to be the only one in there.

Servants moved in every direction, carrying fabrics, adjusting drapes, and setting long tables that stretched across the room. The chandeliers were being cleaned, polished until they gleamed.

It was chaos. The preparation was an organised chaos.

"For what?" Aire asked softly, refering to the hall. Her voice was almost swallowed by the movement around her.

Madam turned to her. "For you."

Aire blinked.

Madam’s grip on her wrist loosened, but didn’t release completely.

"In four days," she said, her tone clipped, and efficient, "Alpha Elijah will hold a ball. In your honor. To present you properly as Luna."

Aire’s stomach dropped.

"A ball?" she repeated quietly, almost suprised herself.

"Yes."

Aire’s eyes moved slowly across the room again. The decorations, the scale of it, the attention, and the flowers. They were all too much for her.

Her chest tightened.

"I...." she started, then stopped.

She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know what was expected of her. She didn’t know how to stand in the middle of all this and not feel like she didn’t belong.

Madam finally let go of her wrist. "You will not embarrass this pack," she said firmly.

Aire’s lips parted slightly. "I won’t—"

"That’s why you will be trained."

Aire stilled.

"Starting now."

Aire swallowed.

Her fingers curled faintly into her dress. "I don’t understand—"

"You don’t need to understand," Madam interrupted. Her voice softened. "You need to learn."

Aire nodded slowly.

Madam turned sharply. "Follow me."

Aire followed.

What else could she do?

The training ground was not empty.

The moment Aire stepped onto the open field, she felt eyes. She had always been used to eyes, but these ones annoyed her.

Some were already expecting her to fail, some were curious, and she were amused. Her chest tightened, and she kept walking.

Madam stopped near the center.

Aire stood beside her, hands clasped loosely in front of her, trying to steady her breathing.

Then, heavy and familiar footsteps approached her. Aire didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

One by one, the Alphas stepped into view.

Xanden walked in first, calm, controlled, and observant.

Then Nate walked in.

Her breath hitched.

His gaze found hers immediately, sharp, cold, and unreadable. He stared at her as though nothing had happened. Just like he did during breakfast earlier.

Aire looked away first.

She had to.

Madam stepped forward slightly.

"She will begin today." she told the Alphas.

Xanden’s gaze moved to Aire.

"She looks like she’ll fall over," Nate muttered under his breath.

A few quiet chuckles followed his words. People heard it, and so did Aire.

Her fingers tightened slightly, but she said nothing.

Nate didn’t laugh.

Madam turned to Aire. "Show them your stance." She instructed.

Aire hesitated. She stared at Madam. How was she supposed tonknow her stance hn she hasn’t been taught anything. Yet, she stepped forward.

Her movements were careful.

She positioned her feet with confidence, adjusted her balance, and raised her hands slightly.

It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t nothing.

Silence followed her stance.

"That’s it?" someone said, unable to hide the pride in his voice.

Aire’s chest tightened.

"She looks like she’s posing for a painting," another added and immediately, everyone laughed.

Aire’s throat felt dry.

Madam’s voice cut through it. "Again."

Aire inhaled. She adjusted, and tried again. This time firmer, and stronger. Or at least, she tried to be.

Nate stepped forward.

Aire stilled.

Her pulse picked up instantly.

He circled her slowly. Like he was studying something, or deciding something.

"This is what you call improvement?" he asked. His voice was low, flat, yet sharp.

Aire’s fingers trembled slightly.

She forced them still. "I’m trying," she said quietly.

Nate stopped in front of her. He stood too close. "You’re not trying hard enough."

The words landed heavier than they should have.

Aire swallowed. "I—"

"Again." He ordered.

Her lips pressed together. She adjusted her stance again. Her legs already felt unsteady. Her arms now felt too light.

"Pathetic," someone muttered.

Aire heard it.

Her chest rose and fell.

She tried again, and again. Each time, something was off, somthing was wrong, or sonething was not enough.

Her head started to ache. The dull pressure behind her eyes returned. Her breathing grew uneven.

"You’re losing balance," Xanden noted.

Aire corrected herself. Her foot slipped slightly. It was just a little slip, but enough that she stumbled, and barely caught caught herself.

Silence filled the hall. They ached to laugh but they wouldn’t dare at the moment. Not when Nate had his unforgiving gaze pinned on them.

Aire’s ears burned.

Her vision blurred for a second. She blinked it away quickly. "I can do it again," she said.

Her voice was soft, but steady.

Nate’s eyes flickered to her just briefly. He gaze hardened again. "Do it properly," he said, almost softly this time.

Aire nodded. She lifted her hands again, and forced her body to respond. Her strength wasn’t there.

Her arms wavered. Her knees were too weak. Unexpectedly, she dropped. Her knee hit the ground.

Silence fell over the training field, heavy, and uncomfortable.

Aire stayed there for a second, breathing hard, and trying to gather herself. Her hands pressed lightly against the ground.

She pushed herself up. Her body resisted, but she stood anyway.

"I’m fine," she said quickly.

No one had asked, and that made it worse.

Nate stepped closer again. His shadow fell over her. "You’re not fine."

Aire lifted her gaze. "I said I am."

Their eyes met, and tension snapped between them instantly.

"You can’t even stand properly," he said.

"I can."

"Then prove it."

Aire’s jaw tightened.

She adjusted her stance again, forced her legs to steady, and lifted her arms. She forced herself not tonfall again.

Secinds passed, and her hand shook slightly.

Nate saw it. His expression didn’t change, but he stepped in. "Stop."

Aire froze. Her arms dropped slowly. Her chest rose and fell unevenly.

"You’re wasting time," he added.

"I’m trying," she repeated.

Nate’s gaze didn’t soften. "Trying isn’t enough."

Aire’s throat tightened. What were they even doiung here? This training isn’t for them. However, she nodded at Nate words.

Because what else could she do?

What else was there?

Silence lingered.

Then Xanden spoke, breaking the silence. "That’s enough for today."

Relief flickered briefly in her chest.

"It isn’t," Nate said.

Aire stilled.

Xanden looked at him and Nate didn’t look away. "She doesn’t get to stop because she’s tired," he added.

Aire’s fingers curled again. Her body screamed at her to sit, to rest, and to breathe but she didn’t move.

"Continue," Nate said.

Aire closed her eyes briefly. Then, she turned to Madam but there was nothing the older woman could do.