The next morning, Aiden stood at the entrance of the eastern courtyard.
He stared at the training grounds.
For the first time since waking in this strange lifetime, something inside him felt almost familiar.
Weapons lined the walls.
Wooden training dummies stood beneath the summer sun.
Several swords rested on a long rack.
Bows.
Spears.
Daggers.
Everything he knew.
Everything he had missed.
Aiden slowly walked forward.
Ronan followed behind him.
Several guards were already training.
The moment they noticed Aiden, their movements slowed.
Then stopped.
Whispers spread through the courtyard.
"Is that the offering?"
"An omega?"
"He's going to train?"
Aiden ignored them.
His eyes were fixed on the swords.
Ronan stopped beside him.
"Remember what Lord Theron said."
Aiden glanced at him.
"Which was?"
"That you may train."
"Exactly."
"That does not mean you may fight the guards."
"I know."
Ronan studied him.
"Do you?"
Aiden smiled faintly.
"I said I know."
He stepped toward the weapons.
His fingers moved over the handles.
Too many were unfamiliar.
Different weight.
Different balance.
Different design.
Then he found one.
A simple sword.
Not decorated.
Not particularly large.
Aiden pulled it from the rack.
The weight settled naturally into his hand.
His fingers tightened around the grip.
For a moment...
he wasn't in the Moon Temple anymore.
He was back home.
Back in the training grounds he knew.
Theron watching from the side.
Ronan shouting instructions.
The pups eventually growing old enough to sneak onto the training field and watch him.
Aiden's chest tightened.
He blinked.
The memory disappeared.
He looked down at the sword.
"...I missed this."
Ronan heard him.
"You've used one before."
It wasn't a question.
Aiden nodded.
"Many times."
"Where did you learn?"
Aiden's expression became distant.
"My mate."
Ronan frowned.
"Your mate?"
Aiden immediately realized what he'd said.
He looked away.
"...Someone important to me."
Ronan didn't push.
Instead, he gestured toward the open space.
"Show me."
Aiden raised an eyebrow.
"You're testing me?"
"I'm assessing whether allowing you to train was a mistake."
Aiden smiled.
"Then watch carefully."
He stepped forward.
The first movement was simple.
Aiden raised the sword.
His feet shifted.
His shoulders relaxed.
The entire change was subtle.
But Ronan noticed.
The omega who had been standing casually a moment ago was gone.
In his place stood a fighter.
Aiden swung.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The blade cut cleanly through the air.
His movements were controlled.
Precise.
No wasted motion.
The guards had stopped training again.
Aiden continued.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
Block.
Another turn.
The sword moved almost as naturally as his own claws.
One of the guards whispered,
"He's actually trained."
Ronan didn't answer.
He was watching Aiden's feet.
That was what surprised him most.
The omega wasn't simply swinging a sword.
He understood positioning.
Distance.
Balance.
Timing.
Those were things that couldn't be learned from a few lessons.
Those were years of practice.
Aiden suddenly stopped.
His ears twitched.
He turned.
A wooden training blade came toward his shoulder.
Ronan had thrown it.
Aiden caught it with his free hand.
The courtyard went silent.
Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"Good."
Aiden tossed it back.
"You could have warned me."
"You would have been ready."
"Exactly."
Ronan almost smiled.
"Again."
This time, Ronan attacked.
Aiden blocked.
The impact travelled through his arm.
He stepped back.
Ronan struck again.
Aiden moved aside.
Another strike.
Aiden ducked.
He turned beneath the blade and brought his wooden sword up against Ronan's side.
The tip stopped a breath away.
Silence.
Aiden slowly straightened.
Ronan looked down at the sword.
Then at Aiden.
"...Interesting."
Aiden smirked.
"You were saying something yesterday about omegas not fighting?"
Ronan lowered his sword.
"I may have been mistaken."
Aiden grinned.
"That's progress."
A quiet laugh came from behind them.
Aiden's smile disappeared.
He turned.
Theron stood at the entrance to the courtyard.
Luna stood beside him.
Li Mei was behind them.
Theron's eyes were fixed on Aiden.
Not on the sword.
On him.
Aiden suddenly became aware of his appearance.
His hair was messy.
His ears were standing straight up.
His tail was moving slightly behind him.
And he was holding a sword like he'd been born with it.
Theron walked closer.
"I see you've found something you enjoy."
Aiden looked down at the sword.
"I used to train every day."
Theron nodded.
"I noticed."
Aiden frowned.
"You were watching?"
"I am the god of this temple."
"That doesn't answer the question."
Theron smiled slightly.
"Yes."
Aiden's ears flattened.
Of course he had.
Luna looked at the sword.
"You really know how to use it."
Aiden shrugged.
"Apparently."
Ronan gave her a look.
"He is better than most of the younger guards."
Aiden glanced at him.
"Most?"
Ronan's expression remained completely serious.
"I don't compliment easily."
Aiden smiled.
"I'll take it."
Theron stepped closer.
He looked at the sword in Aiden's hand.
"Would you like a better one?"
Aiden looked up.
"What?"
"That sword is poorly balanced."
Aiden looked at it again.
He hadn't noticed.
Or rather...
he had.
But he'd assumed that was simply how swords were made in this time.
Theron turned toward the weapon rack.
He selected a different sword.
Longer.
Lighter.
Its handle was wrapped in dark leather, while a small silver crescent decorated the guard.
Theron held it out.
Aiden stared.
"For me?"
"Yes."
Aiden hesitated before taking it.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the handle, the balance settled perfectly into his palm.
His eyes widened.
"...This is good."
Theron's expression softened.
"I thought you might like it."
Aiden looked at him.
For one dangerous moment, he saw his Theron again.
The man who used to stand beside him and choose weapons specifically because he knew what Aiden liked.
The man who knew exactly how much weight Aiden preferred.
The man who could tell when Aiden was tired simply by watching his stance.
Aiden's throat tightened.
He looked away quickly.
"Thank you."
Theron said nothing.
But he watched him.
And for the first time...
he wasn't looking at an offering.
He was looking at a warrior.
An omega who had walked into the Moon Temple chained and frightened—
and somehow still carried himself like he belonged beside a king.
Theron found himself wondering something.
Who had taught him?
And perhaps more importantly...
who had he been before he came here?