Chapter 8 The Official Challenge
SERAPHINA
I exited the cafeteria with a calm, measured stride, though a storm of panic violently churned inside. Was he staring at my
Involuntarily, my fingers brushed over my hips again and again, checking that the fabric hung loose enough to conceal my shape, ensuring nothing about my appearance invited the wrong kind of attention. Everything seemed in order. So why did feel as though his gaze had already stripped away every careful layer I’d put between myself and discovery?
“He notices us far too much,” Phina murmured in the back of my mind, and I couldn’t deny it.
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, the sharp sting grounding me. What is this Alpha’s deal?
My spiraling thoughts were interrupted when a sharp siren blared, followed by a booming announcement instructing all trainees to gather on the Academy grounds within half an hour.
The massive, open training grounds buzzed with energy as dozens of Alpha heirs assembled, their towering forms radiating confidence, raw strength, and unfiltered dominance. As I took my place among them, an undeniable thrill ran through me. This is it. I finally made it. My dream… the otticial challenge.
Noticing everyone forming rows, I quietly moved to stand at the far end of the fourth line, only to realize Finn had taken the spot beside me.
“Hey,” I ventured, deciding to greet him first.
He offered a faint, reassuring smile. “I was worried when you were the only one left in the cafeteria with Alpha Ronan. Are you alright?
I gave a soft chuckle. “Yeah, what could possibly happen to me?”
He chuckled as well, and for a brief moment, we both looked ahead. But the air around us had thickened, the charged atmosphere palpable among the gathered Alphas.
“What’s with this sudden tension?” I murmured, just loud enough for Finn to catch.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Finn turned to meet my eyes, his expression sober, “Here, every challenge isn’t just about strength. It’s about exposing weakness… weeding out anyone who doesn’t belong.”
A knot tightened in my stomach- not from fear, but from the crushing weight of what his words implied. At this moment, no one was more out of place than me. The one who, if discovered, would be labeled as the ultimate outsider. The one who didn’t belong.
My gaze drifted over the gathering, instinctively searching for familiar figures. That’s when I spotted him, Ronan, standing on a raised platform above the others. Only now did I fully register how tall he truly was, his presence towering, making everyone else seem smaller in comparison.
On the opposite side, another striking figure caught my attention. Dante. His devastatingly handsome face was etched with arrogance, a cold smirk curling his lips. The way his gaze flicked over the others spoke volumes to him, they were nothing but insects underfoot
But what really intrigued me were the other three Alphas standing apart from the crowd. “Why are they separated from the others?” I wondered aloud. “Are they treated differently because they belong to the hierarchy?”
Finn followed my gaze and gave a knowing nod. “I heard the hierarchy’s chosen not to participate in this round of challenges
I raised a brow. “Why?”
“So the others have a chance to win, probably. If they stepped in.. well, who do you think would stand a chance?” He gestured meaningfully toward them.
I pressed my lips together, eyes briefly flickering toward Konan. The hierarchy might have opted out of this round, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t join at any moment if they wished.
Chapter 8 The Official Challenge
+8 Pearls
— – And then as if sensing my thoughts Ronan’s eyes shifted, locking onto mine with unnerving precision. My heart slammed against my ribs. I tore my gaze away instantly. Shit.
I hoped he hadn’t mistaken my glance for anything more. Out of so many towering Alpha heirs, how had he managed to find me I was barely noticeable among their imposing forms.
I kept my head lowered, doing everything I could to remain inconspicuous, even as a flicker of unmistakable interest from Ronan made my skin prickle. His intense violet gaze hadn’t strayed far from me since last night.
And that was a problem.
As Alpha Instructor Gideon entered, a heavy silence crashed over the grounds like a wave. His name alone carried weight, but his presence was something else entirely. Sharp, merciless, and as cutting as the gleam in his steely gaze, he stood at the center with an expression carved from stone. His eyes swept across us like a predator sizing up his prey.
That wolf was a legend in his own right, rumored to have torn through rogue packs single–handedly. His name was synonymous with bloodshed, discipline, and an unforgiving standard no one dared fall short of.
“Welcome to the third challenge,” he announced, his voice a low growl that seemed to crawl over our skin.
Third challenge?
A jolt shot through me. I missed two? No wonder my name hadn’t appeared on any official list.
“Only those who endure,” Gideon continued, “will earn their place.
He let the words hang in the air like a threat, his gaze promising ruin to the weak. The challenge, he explained, would be a high–intensity survival course designed to push every limit we possessed.
“You’ll pass the first two phases in your human form. And for the third…” He paused, a slow, cruel smile curling his lips, “you’re free to shift.”
A ripple of tension rolled through the gathered heirs. Shoulders stiffened. A few exchanged wary glances. No one asked why.
I clenched my fists. I can’t afford to stand out too much. But I can’t afford to fail either. Not here. Not when I needed to survive. Not if I wanted to avoid drawing any more of Ronan’s attention.
I would have to walk the line between invisible… and invincible.
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