“That was impressive,” a voice said, and suddenly I was aware again. The audience had fallen away while we were fighting. I’d heard them cheering occasionally, but ignored them. Sparring with Donovan took one hundred percent of my focus.

There were more Weres now. Almost the entire pack must have been watching us. Some faces were shocked and others were mad. Some looked impressed and pleased, while even more were… I’d call it unhappy.

But at least I’d won over half of them.

Ian came up to me. “I don’t believe it.”

I shrugged. “I’m a Wayfarer. Plus, I’ve been training with Donovan pretty much all the time for the last few weeks. And while he was gone to Canada, I had my older brothers on my ass, twenty-four seven.” I wiped sweat from my brow. “I wasn’t half this good a month ago.”

“That’s a lie,” Donovan said. “I can’t teach that in a year, let alone a month. She’s better than most Weres I’ve come across but has yet to realize it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” He was talking me up to them. That wasn’t true.

I’m not lying.

You don’t have to say that. We’re already mates.

It’s the truth. I swear it.

Part of me wanted to believe it, but I was used to being around so many amazing fighters that it was a little hard.

A couple guys came up to talk to Donovan, and I stepped aside, scanning the floor to find my hoodie. It fit perfectly to my body without being too tight, and it was cashmere. I’d never find another like it. Throwing it on the ground in a packed room might not have been my best call.

Just as I was about to give up, a woman stepped up to me, holding my jacket. Tendrils of her frizzy, curly black hair were escaping her braid. She was a little shorter than me, but the way she was hunched down made her look way shorter.

I took my hoodie from her outstretched hand. “Thanks.” I gave her my best let’s-be-friends smile.

“I…” She trailed off, and I waited patiently, trying not to be self-conscious. “That was amazing. We haven’t… We don’t train all the time—I haven’t in years—but with what happened to John and Thomas, I can’t just sit around anymore. I want to learn. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind workin’ with me?”

My smile got so big, I was sure I was glowing. Finally. A solid in with this pack. I wasn’t about to pass that up. “Of course.”

That’s Francis. She works in the kitchen. I believe she makes the pastries.

Good person to know. Dessert was the most important meal of the day.

Yes. Donovan was quiet for a second. The bonds are changing. Calming.