It was the final round and I needed more points to make sure I beat Drea who had indeed turned out to be my main competition. “For the last round, your strength will be tested.” The announcer called and my hopes plummeted. “Each of you will be faced with an opponent. All weapons are strictly prohibited in this round as you are to fight in your human or wolf form.” A door to our left opened up and five brutish werewolves prowled in. The training grounds seemed to shrink with their massiveness. Whilst the scary new additions changed to their no less intimidating human forms, the announcer continued. “These will be your opponents. Before the commencement of the last round, you are each allowed free twenty minutes. Avoid leaving the arena until the end of the final round, doing so will automatically disqualify you. Your time starts now, enjoy.” ‘What was the point of the free time if I couldn’t even leave this death field?’ I thought miserably to myself as I sidestepped our intimidatin
Paralyzing terror consumed me and kept me rooted where I was in plain sight of the menacing he-wolf. He didn’t spot me so I rolled soundlessly into a rose bush and followed his line of sight to see where his attention was at. My heart sunk further with trepidation at the scene.Huddled together in a corner with a snarling werewolf prowling around them were a group of children none of whom looked older than eleven. Fear was etched in their faces but they all kept a mindful eye on the little blonde girl with the knife pressed to her throat.Righteous anger quickly replaced my feeling of fear. How dare they even think of doing such a thing when the Alpha was just a few feet away? How had they even been able to infiltrate successfully?I noted that they had cunningly kept to the far side of the garden to avoid being heard and I was sure the noise from the competition also helped to mask the sound of their devious operation.“What the hell is taking that bastard so long?” the knife handler
I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck and the voices coming from around me only worsened my gnawing headache.“Isn’t the underworld supposed to be a quiet place?” I grunted, burying my head deeper into the pillow. All I wanted to do was sleep for a thousand years and never get up.A certain someone however had other ideas.“Great, you’re finally awake.” Kaiden’s baritone voice sounded from somewhere near me and I squeezed my eyes tight trying to delay facing my reality.I heard him sigh then say, “Aliya and I will be back at the training grounds after I’ve had a quick word with her, you all can go ahead.”Shuffling of feet sounded for a couple of seconds then I was blessed with total silence.“You are healing up, Red, I think it’s time you opened your eyes.”I groaned and turned away from his annoyingly attractive voice. Every single part of my body hurt, the last thing I wanted to do was stand up from here.A shriek escaped my lips as warm hands clasped my shoulders a
My mouth hung open.“Aliya Manor? Like me? Me, Aliya Manor?” I blubbered, pointing erratically at myself in shock. My eyes found Kaiden’s and he gave me a subtle, smug wink.Drea shot me a withering look. “This is stupid.” Raising her voice, she called out. “That doesn’t make any sense. I won! She got disqualified!”I narrowly missed the finger that she jabbed my way. Surprise slowed my retort but there was no way I was going to let my eyeball get poked out by the queen brat.“Sorry, babe, I don’t make the rules.” I said with a happy shrug.It all started sinking in. I had done it! I was going to have a place right here in this goddessforsaken pack house. Sure, I almost just got killed but is it even a win if you don’t get a quick taste of death first?Drea whirled on me with a snarl, her eyes glowing silver.“You did this! You somehow manipulated this whole sham!” She screamed shrilly.“You do know this is a job right? Like, you’ll have to take care of responsibilities not win a gran
“And last but certainly not the least, Aliya, meet Quinn my darling daughter.” Kaiden said, turning the little girl in his arms to face me.“Wait.” I pointed at her in bewilderment as my gaze darted from Kaiden the familiar blonde in his arms. “You’re the pup from the garden!”Quinn tucked her face into Kaiden’s neck while his eyes darkened at my exclamation. “Yes, Quinn was the one you saved in the garden and for doing that, I owe you my life.” He said solemnly.Poking Quinn’s side gently, he nudged her to face me. “Go on, sweetheart, say hello to the new trainer.”Huge blue eyes peered curiously at me and so many thoughts raced through my mind, each one bringing with it more hurt and a deeper sense of loss than the last. Loss of what I had never had.“Hi!” She greeted me with a hesitant smile and wiggled out of Kaiden’s hold to stand near me. Then in one breath, Quinn went–“Daddy said talking about features are rude but you have the prettiest eyes and nose and prettiest everything
A human skull lay in the middle of my room surrounded by shards of glass from my now broken window. The time on my phone read 11:47 PM.“This is way too much drama for one day.” I mumbled as I popped my head through the window in search of the culprit but they were gone and I couldn’t pick up a scent.I prodded the frontal bone of the ghastly structure with my toe, how does one deal with an expressly delivered skull?The scent told me this was the real deal and not just a model.I prodded the skull again, doing my best to suppress my panic when a piece of paper slipped out. Written out crudely on it was:‘You whore! You ruined everything! Meet me at the pack's east border before midnight. Don’t test my patience, Omega.’ My throat dried at the last sentence. The word ‘omega’ stared maliciously back at me, a title that I could never escape. How did whoever this is was know my identity?I threw on a hoodie, pants and my hiking boots on autopilot. Could they just be speculating?Stilling
Kaiden’s POV “What the fuck do you mean 'she went for a run'?” I growled through the mind link.“She said she couldn’t sleep, I had a lot on my mind already and– shit Kai I’m sorry, I should have thought it through.” Ten replied and I could envision his forehead creased with worry.I let out a deep sigh and pushed my wolf to reach the pack house faster.“Come out, let’s go find her. Hopefully our newest trainer hasn’t been mauled yet.”Ten was already pacing in his wolf form when I arrived at the house and joined me as we pounded towards the east border.A few hours ago, I had left the pack house in Ten's care and taken guards up to our borders to check for any suspicious activity. Anything to help me figure out how the rogues had infiltrated.At our second to last scout, we had been held up by a bloody mess. All our guards at the north-west border had been ruthlessly slaughtered. I was livid, so when Ten told me Aliya had not returned from her run, I told myself that the dread that
Yara's (Aliya’s) POV “Wat—” I cleared my throat and tried again, squinting against the harsh rays that streamed through the window. “Water.” I requested as I struggled to sit up in the foreign bed. “Hey,” A voice said and hands adjusted the pillows to help me get comfortable. “Careful now, you could rip a stitch.” No... “You didn’t.” He could not have come. No way he actually followed me here. “Here.” The object of my disbelief handed me a glass of water. I gaped at him, too stunned to move. Ian sighed, “Drink up, cupcake.” At his words, a scoff sounded from the other side of the bed, drawing my attention. My pulse leapt when I spotted Kaiden staring right at me with brows dipped and arms crossed. What is going on? I looked around me before bringing my gaze back to Ian and despite the concern written on his face, anger bubbled in me. Anger and hurt that he didn't trust me to do this on my own. “Why are you here, Ian?” I asked, tossing the covers away and swinging my feet to
Yara's (Aliya’s) POV “Wat—” I cleared my throat and tried again, squinting against the harsh rays that streamed through the window. “Water.” I requested as I struggled to sit up in the foreign bed. “Hey,” A voice said and hands adjusted the pillows to help me get comfortable. “Careful now, you could rip a stitch.” No... “You didn’t.” He could not have come. No way he actually followed me here. “Here.” The object of my disbelief handed me a glass of water. I gaped at him, too stunned to move. Ian sighed, “Drink up, cupcake.” At his words, a scoff sounded from the other side of the bed, drawing my attention. My pulse leapt when I spotted Kaiden staring right at me with brows dipped and arms crossed. What is going on? I looked around me before bringing my gaze back to Ian and despite the concern written on his face, anger bubbled in me. Anger and hurt that he didn't trust me to do this on my own. “Why are you here, Ian?” I asked, tossing the covers away and swinging my feet to
Kaiden’s POV “What the fuck do you mean 'she went for a run'?” I growled through the mind link.“She said she couldn’t sleep, I had a lot on my mind already and– shit Kai I’m sorry, I should have thought it through.” Ten replied and I could envision his forehead creased with worry.I let out a deep sigh and pushed my wolf to reach the pack house faster.“Come out, let’s go find her. Hopefully our newest trainer hasn’t been mauled yet.”Ten was already pacing in his wolf form when I arrived at the house and joined me as we pounded towards the east border.A few hours ago, I had left the pack house in Ten's care and taken guards up to our borders to check for any suspicious activity. Anything to help me figure out how the rogues had infiltrated.At our second to last scout, we had been held up by a bloody mess. All our guards at the north-west border had been ruthlessly slaughtered. I was livid, so when Ten told me Aliya had not returned from her run, I told myself that the dread that
A human skull lay in the middle of my room surrounded by shards of glass from my now broken window. The time on my phone read 11:47 PM.“This is way too much drama for one day.” I mumbled as I popped my head through the window in search of the culprit but they were gone and I couldn’t pick up a scent.I prodded the frontal bone of the ghastly structure with my toe, how does one deal with an expressly delivered skull?The scent told me this was the real deal and not just a model.I prodded the skull again, doing my best to suppress my panic when a piece of paper slipped out. Written out crudely on it was:‘You whore! You ruined everything! Meet me at the pack's east border before midnight. Don’t test my patience, Omega.’ My throat dried at the last sentence. The word ‘omega’ stared maliciously back at me, a title that I could never escape. How did whoever this is was know my identity?I threw on a hoodie, pants and my hiking boots on autopilot. Could they just be speculating?Stilling
“And last but certainly not the least, Aliya, meet Quinn my darling daughter.” Kaiden said, turning the little girl in his arms to face me.“Wait.” I pointed at her in bewilderment as my gaze darted from Kaiden the familiar blonde in his arms. “You’re the pup from the garden!”Quinn tucked her face into Kaiden’s neck while his eyes darkened at my exclamation. “Yes, Quinn was the one you saved in the garden and for doing that, I owe you my life.” He said solemnly.Poking Quinn’s side gently, he nudged her to face me. “Go on, sweetheart, say hello to the new trainer.”Huge blue eyes peered curiously at me and so many thoughts raced through my mind, each one bringing with it more hurt and a deeper sense of loss than the last. Loss of what I had never had.“Hi!” She greeted me with a hesitant smile and wiggled out of Kaiden’s hold to stand near me. Then in one breath, Quinn went–“Daddy said talking about features are rude but you have the prettiest eyes and nose and prettiest everything
My mouth hung open.“Aliya Manor? Like me? Me, Aliya Manor?” I blubbered, pointing erratically at myself in shock. My eyes found Kaiden’s and he gave me a subtle, smug wink.Drea shot me a withering look. “This is stupid.” Raising her voice, she called out. “That doesn’t make any sense. I won! She got disqualified!”I narrowly missed the finger that she jabbed my way. Surprise slowed my retort but there was no way I was going to let my eyeball get poked out by the queen brat.“Sorry, babe, I don’t make the rules.” I said with a happy shrug.It all started sinking in. I had done it! I was going to have a place right here in this goddessforsaken pack house. Sure, I almost just got killed but is it even a win if you don’t get a quick taste of death first?Drea whirled on me with a snarl, her eyes glowing silver.“You did this! You somehow manipulated this whole sham!” She screamed shrilly.“You do know this is a job right? Like, you’ll have to take care of responsibilities not win a gran
I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck and the voices coming from around me only worsened my gnawing headache.“Isn’t the underworld supposed to be a quiet place?” I grunted, burying my head deeper into the pillow. All I wanted to do was sleep for a thousand years and never get up.A certain someone however had other ideas.“Great, you’re finally awake.” Kaiden’s baritone voice sounded from somewhere near me and I squeezed my eyes tight trying to delay facing my reality.I heard him sigh then say, “Aliya and I will be back at the training grounds after I’ve had a quick word with her, you all can go ahead.”Shuffling of feet sounded for a couple of seconds then I was blessed with total silence.“You are healing up, Red, I think it’s time you opened your eyes.”I groaned and turned away from his annoyingly attractive voice. Every single part of my body hurt, the last thing I wanted to do was stand up from here.A shriek escaped my lips as warm hands clasped my shoulders a
Paralyzing terror consumed me and kept me rooted where I was in plain sight of the menacing he-wolf. He didn’t spot me so I rolled soundlessly into a rose bush and followed his line of sight to see where his attention was at. My heart sunk further with trepidation at the scene.Huddled together in a corner with a snarling werewolf prowling around them were a group of children none of whom looked older than eleven. Fear was etched in their faces but they all kept a mindful eye on the little blonde girl with the knife pressed to her throat.Righteous anger quickly replaced my feeling of fear. How dare they even think of doing such a thing when the Alpha was just a few feet away? How had they even been able to infiltrate successfully?I noted that they had cunningly kept to the far side of the garden to avoid being heard and I was sure the noise from the competition also helped to mask the sound of their devious operation.“What the hell is taking that bastard so long?” the knife handler
It was the final round and I needed more points to make sure I beat Drea who had indeed turned out to be my main competition. “For the last round, your strength will be tested.” The announcer called and my hopes plummeted. “Each of you will be faced with an opponent. All weapons are strictly prohibited in this round as you are to fight in your human or wolf form.” A door to our left opened up and five brutish werewolves prowled in. The training grounds seemed to shrink with their massiveness. Whilst the scary new additions changed to their no less intimidating human forms, the announcer continued. “These will be your opponents. Before the commencement of the last round, you are each allowed free twenty minutes. Avoid leaving the arena until the end of the final round, doing so will automatically disqualify you. Your time starts now, enjoy.” ‘What was the point of the free time if I couldn’t even leave this death field?’ I thought miserably to myself as I sidestepped our intimidatin
I am the most unlucky being on the planet. I bit my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood as images from yesterday flashed in my head. I had called him a colour-blind moron! Please tell me he didn’t hear that. Alpha Kaiden cocked his head in my direction and a sly smirk played on his lips, he was obviously enjoying my this. “Such a pleasant surprise." He drawled. "I must say, Red, I did not expect to see you again so soon.” Before me was the stranger from yesterday. He’s Kaiden? How could I not recognise him? Was that what that niggling feeling was? I stared back at him blankly and watched as his eyes took in my black hair. Curiosity stirred in his gaze and the intensity of it on me made me want to run away. Or get closer. With a blink, the expression was gone and the cold facade that was Alpha Kaiden returned when he turned to address everyone. “You all have been briefed so I’ll cut to the chase. Today will test your wits, agility and strength with the help of the obstacles on