Alph strode forward, each movement commanding attention. The boys crowded around Maxine parted like the Red Sea and wordlessly stepped aside. He didn't push them away from her; it was simply that they shifted, acknowledging his presence and silent authority that he carried with him. His eyes never strayed from where Maxine still sat in dumbfounded shock over her transformation."Maxine," he said, his voice low, even, but unwavering. "When did you get here?"At the mention of her name, Martin's eyes did a double take. "Maxine?" he echoed, in obvious disbelief. He blinked then, rubbing his eyes as if in expectation of some altering vision on opening them again. "That. That's Maxine? The nerdy fa—”Before Martin could get the sentence out, Trevor's fist connected with his shoulder in a rather sharp punch that made Martin wince. "Shut your mouth, Martin," Trevor grumbled, full of irritation. He gave Martin a firm look, as if to warn him to keep his thoughts to himself."Ow! Damn you, that
Maxine's heart hammered in her chest as she watched Alph move toward her, his piercing eyes cutting through the crowd of boys that had been swarming around her just moments ago. It was too early for this. She hadn’t expected to see him, not so soon after coming back. Her pulse quickened, a mix of emotions swirling inside her—anticipation, dread, and something else she didn’t quite want to name. Her heart bit just get back to normal when alph leave with his friend. "Busy, huh? Looks like you're popular here," a familiar voice teased. Maxine turned her head, eyes widening in surprise. "Adam?!" she blurted, her voice a mix of shock and confusion. Adam grinned down at her, his arm still casually slung over her. "Why? You sound surprised. Didn’t expect to see me here?" She shook her head, still processing his sudden appearance. "What are you doing here?" "What? Am I not allowed to enroll here?" Adam’s grin widened, clearly enjoying her reaction. Maxine blinked. "Yes, but how did you
The air felt charged, thick with competition and expectation. Maxine and Adam walked side by side, blending into the crowd, though it was hard to ignore the weight of what lay ahead. Maxine's eyes scanned the massive field, already crowded with nearly 500 wolves, both familiar and unfamiliar faces around them. “This is it, huh?” Adam muttered, glancing over the sea of bodies. “Hope you’re ready.” Maxine only nodded, though the truth was, she wasn’t entirely sure. She hadn’t participated in the Hunt in years, and returning now felt surreal. She had changed so much since the last time, both inside and out. A loud voice echoed across the field, breaking through her thoughts. “Welcome, welcome, everyone!” the MC announced, his voice booming from the speakers set around the perimeter. “This is Galic, your Wave 1 Master of Ceremonies. I know, try not to get too tired of seeing my face—because I’m here with you from start to finish!” He made a joke, but no one laughed. The participants
The field bubbled with energy as the crowd swarmed around the fighting circle in the middle of the forest clearing. It was an annual hunt that had taken quite a different turn from what it was usually meant for. Whereas the original plan was to retrieve the flag in the center of the forest, this year the organizers put forward a new rule: *Game Of Chance* a game that might give a team a huge advantage or a serious drawback depending upon its outcome.Maxine and Alph stood shoulder to shoulder at the edge of the circle, their hands at their sides as they sized up the competition. Droko and Drake, twin sons of a royally blooded pack, stood opposite them. Their towering physique spoke volumes of their surety, and their names spoke volumes on their own. Maxine had heard stories of their prowess in combat, but she wasn't intimidated. Still, she knew this wasn't going to be easy.Galic's voice boomed once again above the noise of the gathering crowd. "Alright, people, we got a twist in this
Silently, Leo stood at the edge of the crowd, his arms crossed, and watched the end of the battle and the declaration of the winner. His gaze followed every movement of Maxine, each calculated gesture. A bitter smile curled on his lips, though his eyes remained cold."She did come back and change. just as I expected," he muttered, mostly to himself. The tightness of his jaw denied the casualness of his tone."Be ready, Maxine. You don't know what you hold." He sighed, his eyes already averting as he slipped out into the crowd and disappeared into darkness as the game came to a close.The crowd was still energized, the competition tension slowly being released into a sated set of breaths caught. Maxine and Alph were standing side by side, their hands still tied from the final round. Beads of sweat glimmered in their foreheads, but Maxine's keen eyes cut through the crowd, her thoughts far from victory.They were on their way off the field when Trevor came up to them with an easy grin.
As Adam and Maxine wove through the jostling crowd, the energy surged around them, humming from the excitement of the games. Adam turned to her, his face still wreathed with his playful grin. "So that's your brother?" he asked casually, though a note of curiosity seeped in.Maxine flashed him a glance, correcting him in a trice. "Stepbrother," she clarified, with perhaps just a hint of sharpness in her tone-not because she was snappish but because she didn't want misconceptions.Adam shrugged, unbothered with the correction. "Stepbrother, half sibling-whatever. He is your brother now." He paused to let the sentence sink deep inside her brain before he said, with a smirk, "He's hot. You really expect me to believe you never had feelings for him? Maybe a little crush growing up?”The suggestion almost choked her; it had her steps faltering for a second before she composed herself. "That… will *never* happen," she said with absolute firmness in her voice, mixed with incredulity and annoy
“We can't leave this place, right?" Maxine asked, her voice lower than she would have wanted, standing by the small window of their shared room. Night time was endless outside, weighted with shadows and memories clung to her skin like a second layer of skin. She turned around to watch Alph pack his things.“We cannot. It is in the rules." Alph's voice was firm as his hand came up to store his luggage in the compartment above. His movements were short and quick, each one showing the discipline and control he had learned over the years.Maxine looked for a minute longer before speaking again. "I wanna see Sarah… I haven't talked to her.".Alph pauses, his hand hovering over his bag as the mention of Sarah stirs a memory. He lowers his hand, slowly, his expression softening in that way Maxine seldom sees. Reaching inside his pocket, he pulls out his wallet and draws out a folded piece of paper. He hands it over."Sorry, it's a bit creased. After graduation, she said to give this to you."
Maxine left at exactly 3 a.m. as Alph had instructed her to do. The night was heavy with silence, save the sporadic rustling of leaves; her breathing remained regular as she quickened her pace. Alph had been right-there were no guards to be seen. The gate, however, was closed.But that was no problem.In one swift move, Maxine went over the gate with ease, landing quietly on the other side. Her heart was racing, but not from the exertion; it was at what lay ahead. She couldn't get rid of this feeling that something was amiss. Sarah had been distant as of late, more than usual, and tonight, Maxine felt it in her bones-an unease gnawing at her.She pulled her phone from her pocket and sent Sarah a text.*"I'm outside. Are you up?"*She waited, pacing back and forth in the quiet street. Normally, Sarah replied within seconds, but this time, the minutes stretched out, each one more unsettling than the last. Five minutes passed, then six, and still, no response.Maxine's worry deepened. Sa