Chapter 19 A Smack
SERAPHINA
The late afternoon sun cast elongated shadows across the academy field as I stepped out into the unknown area where the Alpha instructor brought all of us. There was only greenery and trees in the surrounding area. The scent of freshly upturned earth mixed with the electric hum of anticipation. A buzz of eager chatter surrounded me, every Alpha assembled for the trial that had finally arrived after three relentless days of grueling physical training.
“Hey, are you alright?” Finn asked, falling into step beside me. “You’ve seemed out of it since last night. And you did not talk much the entire time we made our way here. Did something happen?”
My muscles instinctively tensed. Dante’s voice from the night before echoed in my mind-“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”
His suspicion had left me restless, gnawing at my thoughts all night and haunting me through lunch. I’d been so careful. How did he end up suspecting me? He hadn’t uncovered the truth, not exactly–but still…
“Everyone gather up and stand on the line!” The Alpha instructor ordered.
I quickened my pace like the others until I felt it. A sudden, burning intensity prickling across my skin. I slowly turned my head, my instincts already screaming.
Dante.
He stood on the opposite end of the field, his gaze locked on me with the focus of a predator sighting prey. When our eyes met, he smirked–slow, deliberate, and far too knowing My blood surged with heat and warning. I forced my expression into indifference, tearing my gaze away as if he meant absolutely nothing.
What I didn’t see was how his smirk faltered, how his expression twisted the moment he caught the faintest scent lingering
on me.
His eyes snapped toward a familiar figure passing nearby, and without hesitation, he reached out and seized Reed by the
collar.
“D–Dante..” Reed’s face went pale, his thoughts clearly scrambling as he wondered what he’d done to land in Dante’s bloodthirsty grasp.
Dante’s deep blue eyes narrowed as he growled lowly, “Why the hell does that Darven reek of Volkstane?”
“Seth?” Reed blinked, realization dawning as he connected the dots. And was pissed that because of the most disliked person he was caught in Dante’s grasp. But still he replied, “I–I don’t know. But I heard Ronan gave him his uniform…”
Every word was fuel to the fire. Dante’s jaw flexed, fury bleeding into every line of his face. “Volkstane gave him his uniform? And he wore it?” His voice was razor–sharp, dangerous.
He shoved Reed away and turned his gaze to where Roman stood across the field, casually speaking with Alpha Asher. But Dante didn’t see a casual conversation. He saw a challenge.
“Marking my prey with your scent like a claim?” he snarled under his breath eyes flicking to follow Ronan’s gaze–straight to
- me. A furious smile curved his lips. “Unacceptable.”
He then looked at Reed, “You hate that Darven, right?”
Reed’s expression flattered at Dante’s next word, “Then
From my place at the end of the third row, I red Dante speaking with Reed Confusion bloomed in my chest. Those two knew each other? And why did Dante look so. tense?
Tarely had time to process that when a strange sensation pulled at my awareness. I turned, almost instinctively–and froze.
Roman was sta
Boldly Intently. Like I was the only thing at.
worth look
My heart leapt painfully in my chest. How long has he been watching me?”
Chapter 19 A Smack
My fingers twitched as I fidgeted with the hem of the uniform. His uniform. My face burned with the realization.
Did he notice?
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Goddess. It was mortifying–wearing his clothes, standing so close to him, pretending it meant nothing when it felt like everything.
Before things could spiral further, the Alpha instructor’s voice boomed across the field, cutting through the tension like at whip
“Silence! All of you!”
The chatter died instantly.
Today’s trial will take place in the Blackmoon Forest, he declared, his tone grave.
A collective shiver moved through the crowd. Even the cockiest Alphas stiffened at the name. The Blackmoon Forest was infamous–an untamed, lawless stretch of land haunted by creatures not even elders could name. Every wise soul knew better than to wander near it.
“When leading a pack, your enemy is not always a wolf, vampire, or hunter,” the instructor continued. “Sometimes, you’re dragged into battles with beings whose existence you never imagined–creatures that crave your blood and flesh.. and might be far stronger than you.”
He raised a large glass jar, filled with tiny, folded chits. “Inside this are your targets. Each of you will draw one, and that will be your prey for tonight.”
Alphas exchanged glances, the air now thick with unease.
“You’ll have until sunrise to bring back your assigned prey. Only those who succeed will advance to the next trial. Fail,” his eyes swept over us like a guillotine, “and you’ll be eliminated from the academy immediately.”
My
fists clenched at my sides. So that’s why the last three days were pure hell. But what kind of prey were we talking about?
“Step forward one at a time. Pick a chit. The moment the horn sounds, the hunt begins,” the instructor commanded, before turning on his heel and leaving.
Last time the horn had blared almost immediately. Everyone knew it. Panic took over as the Alphas surged forward like children scrambling for candy, only this candy could cost you your life.
Caught up in the chaos, I was shoved forward, boxed in by bodies thicker and taller than mine. Even if I’d wanted to retreat, it was impossible. The crowd was a current and I was forced to swim with it.
Alphas who managed to grab their chits wore twisted expressions–some bitter, others downright horrified. Judging by their faces, none of us were about to be chasing rabbits.
“Shit, I got a leopard!” someone groaned in the distance.
My eyes snapped toward the voice. A leopard? Seriously?
If there were leopards in that forest, this would be worse than I thought…
I kept listening–trying to piece together what else might be lurking in that cursed place–until finally, the Alphas ahead of me cleared. With the pressure behind me increasing, lunged forward and snatched a chit from the jar.
Just as I was about to unfold it. I felt a hand.
Not just a touch–a squeeze on my ass.
A violation.
My blood ran cold, before lava surged through me, scorching every nerve. Phina roared awake inside me like a storm
I spun around and smacked the bastard with everything I had.
The smack echoed across the field like a gunshot
LISPU
Chapter 19 A Smack
+8 Pearls
Gasps exploded all around me as the crowd parted in stunned silence. The Alpha I’d just smacked straightened slowly, a red handprint blossoming across his face.
Alpha Asher
“Holy fuck, the new guy hit Ronan’s friend!”
“He’s dead. So fucking dead!”
You son of a bitch, Asher growled, his voice like a cracking stone. “You’re dead today!”
He lunged, fist raised. I jumped back, bracing to strike again–but someone beat him to it.
Ronan stepped between us in a flash, his violet eyes ablaze with fury–but not at Asher.
At me
“How dare you slap him?!” he snarled, stepping closer, his anger laced with something darker.
I stood my ground, eyes blazing. “Is he a god now?! He touched me! It’s a miracle I didn’t break his entire face.”
Ronan halted, just an inch from me. “He touched you?”
There was a flicker–just a flicker–of hesitation in his eyes.
But Asher immediately cut in from behind.
“He’s lying!” he roared. “Why the fuck would I touch him?!”
Ronan’s hesitation snapped like a twig.
His jaw tightened. His hands balled into fists.
“You lied, huh?” he growled, grabbing my arms with such force I swore something cracked. Pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth.
“I didn’t!” I hissed, struggling in his grasp, rage boiling over. “Let go of me!”
Unseen in the crowd, Dante watched the unfolding chaos with a wicked grin, while Reed smirked with quiet satisfaction from
the shadows.
“Asher doesn’t lie!” Ronan shouted, his wolf clawing at the surface. “He’s my friend–I trust him!”
“Well, that’s your problem!” I barked. “Your perverted friend touched me, and I gave him exactly what he deserved!”
Phina’s voice layered over mine, her presence blazing.
“You’re lying!” Asher spat.
“He knows what he did!” I cut in. “He’s just too much of a coward to admit it.”
Before I could finish Ronan seized my jaw and leaned in close, voice dripping venom. “Watch your mouth, Seth Darven. And apologize Now”
I gripped his hand and yanked it away. I stared into his eyes.
“Over My Dead Body”
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