The First Test

The morning after the encounter in the corridor, Diva awoke to find the mansion eerily quiet. Her body still trembled from the memory of the glowing red eyes and the monstrous presence that had emerged from the shadows.

Derek had been tight-lipped, offering no explanations before disappearing for the rest of the night.

As she sat on the edge of her bed, the weight of her situation pressed down on her. She was trapped in a mansion full of secrets, bound to an infuriating Alpha she barely understood, and haunted by strange occurrences that made her question her well-being and sanity.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Before she could answer, the door swung open, and Caleb stepped inside, his expression neutral.

“The Alpha wants to see you,” he said simply.

Diva frowned, her defenses immediately rising. “What does he want now?”

Caleb shrugged, but his tone held a hint of warning. “You’ll find out soon enough. I suggest you don’t keep him waiting.”

Reluctantly, she followed Caleb through the spacious halls of the mansion. He led her outside to a training ground surrounded by thick forest.

The morning air bit at her skin, and the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves offered a brief reprieve from the tension that seemed to follow her everywhere.

Derek stood in the center of the clearing, his broad shoulders exuding authority. His gray eyes locked with hers as she approached, and she couldn’t help but notice the hardness of his jaw.

“What is this?” Diva demanded, crossing her arms.

“Your first test,” Derek replied, his voice cold.

She raised an eyebrow. “A test for what?”

“To see if you’re as strong as you claim to be,” he said, stepping closer. “You’ve made it clear you don’t want to be here, but if you’re going to survive in this world—my world—you’ll need to prove you’re capable of handling yourself.”

Diva’s fists clenched at his words. “I didn’t ask to be part of your world.”

“And yet here you are,” he said sharply. “The bond doesn’t care what you want, and neither do the rogues or whatever else is lurking in the shadows. If you want to stay alive, you’ll learn.”

Diva glared at him, her anger bubbling to the surface. “And what if I refuse?”

Derek’s expression darkened. “Then you’ll die.”

The bluntness of his words sent a chill down her spine, but she refused to let him see her fear.

“Fine,” she snapped. “What do you want me to do?”

Derek nodded toward the edge of the clearing, where a series of obstacles had been set up—climbing walls, ropes, and artificial weapons for combat practice.

“You’ll start with endurance and strength training. Caleb will oversee your progress.”

Diva glanced at the obstacles, her stomach sinking. She had no training, no powers, and no idea how to navigate this world. The weight of her helplessness settled over her like a blanket.

“Do you really think this will make a difference?” she asked bitterly.

“It will,” Derek said, his tone final. “If you want to survive, you’ll adapt.”

The first task was simple—climbing the wall. But for Diva, it felt like an impossible mountain. Her hands trembled as she gripped the rough surface, her muscles straining with every movement.

“Don’t look down,” Caleb advised, his voice calm but firm.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

By the time she reached the top, her arms were shaking, and sweat dripped down her face. The moment she touched the ground again, her legs wobbled, and she collapsed into the dirt.

“You call that resilience?” Derek’s voice cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving.

Diva shot him a glare. “You’re welcome to try it in my shoes,” she snapped.

Derek smirked, but there was no humor in it. “You’ve barely scratched the surface. Get up.”

The rest of the training was full of exhaustion and frustration. Caleb pushed her harder than she thought possible, and Derek’s cold gaze never left her. Every failure felt like a blow to her pride, but she refused to give up, determined to prove him wrong.

By the time they finished, her body ached in protest. She could barely stand, her breaths coming in loud gasps.

“You’re not ready,” Derek said bluntly as Caleb helped her to her feet. “But you’ll keep training until you are.”

Diva’s anger flared. “I’m not some soldier you can mold into your perfect warrior,” she spat.

Derek stepped closer, his towering presence suffocating. “No, you’re not. But you are mine, whether you like it or not. And as long as you’re under my protection, you’ll do what’s necessary to stay alive.”

The possessiveness in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to back down. 

“You don’t own me,” she said defiantly.

For a moment, something sparkled in his eyes—something dangerous and unreadable. But he didn’t respond, turning and walking away without another word.

That night, as Diva lay in her bed, her muscles aching and her pride wounded, she felt more isolated than ever. She was trapped in a world she didn’t understand, surrounded by people who saw her as nothing more than an obligation.

As her eyelids grew heavy, the whispers returned, faint and insistent. They were different this time—closer, almost tangible.

“Diva…”

Her eyes snapped open, her heart pounding. The voice was soft, melodic, and haunting.

“Help me…”

Diva sat up, her blood running cold as the whispers grew louder, echoing through the room like a mournful cry. And then, just as suddenly as they began, they stopped, leaving her in suffocating silence.

She clutched the blanket tightly, her mind racing. Who was Lillian really? And why did she feel like the danger surrounding her was only just beginning?