Selara had never been very good at breaking.
The realization settled in her bones as Lyanna studied her across the ring.
The training grounds had fallen completely silent now.
No cheers.
No calls.
Even the usual restless shifting of the pack had stopped. The watching wolves seemed to sense that something important had shifted between the two women standing inside the circle of sand.
Lyanna rolled her shoulders once.
"You're tougher than I expected," she said.
Selara kept her stance steady. "You're talking too much."
Lyanna's mouth curved slightly.
"Maybe."
Then she moved again.
This time there was no feint.
No testing.
Lyanna attacked with full commitment.
The strike came fast too fast for hesitation but Selara reacted instinctively. She caught Lyanna's arm before the punch could land cleanly and twisted sideways, redirecting the momentum.
For a moment their bodies collided hard.
The impact knocked both of them off balance.
Sand scattered under their feet.
