Lara's POV
The morning sun filtered through the training room windows as I faced off against my cousin in another sparring session. Harlan moved with the fluid grace of someone who had been training since childhood, and each exchange taught me something new about both combat and the family I was just beginning to know. Sweat beaded on my forehead as we circled each other, and I could see the approval in his eyes when I successfully countered one of his more complex moves.
After we finished, Austin and I made our rounds through the pack territory. Joseph had given us a list of pack members who could benefit from a few minutes of our time, and we spent the morning greeting families and checking on various ongoing projects. The responsibility felt heavy on my shoulders, but seeing the genuine warmth in people's faces when we stopped to talk made it worthwhile.
