Chapter Four: Unleashed
Nora's POV
The moment those hurtful words left Alex's lips, something inside me snapped.
I narrowed my eyes, my heart still hammering in my chest. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
Alex let out a low, amused chuckle. "Who am I?" She stepped forward, her piercing blue eyes gleaming with mockery. "I'm Gamma Alex—second only to the Alphas and Beta Grey. And more importantly…" She tilted her head. "I'm the one who runs this training ground."
She folded her arms, her smirk deepening. "Which means, little omega, you answer to me now."
I bristled at the insult.
"Omega?" I scoffed. "Is that what you think I am?"
Alex's smirk widened. "I don't think—I know." Another step forward, her voice dripping with cruel amusement. "You may be the Alphas' mate, but that doesn't make you worthy of anything. Right now, you're nothing more than a weak, pathetic girl with no place here."
I clenched my fists.
I didn't want to be here. I wanted no part of this twisted pack.
But her words still burned, leaving something deep inside me.
I turned on my heel. "I don't have time for this."
If Keal wasn't here to force me to stay, I sure as hell wasn't going to listen to her.
But before I could take a single step, Alex's next words froze me in place.
"I wonder what the Alphas see in you."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
I could feel their eyes on me—watching, waiting.
I spun back around, rage curling in my stomach. "Excuse me?"
Alex grinned. "You heard me." She stepped closer, savoring the moment. "You don't belong here. You're weak. Worthless. What exactly makes you think you deserve to be the Luna of this pack?"
Then, before I could respond, she did something that sent the entire training ground into silence.
She tossed me a sword.
The metal clattered against the dirt at my feet.
All eyes were on me now.
Alex's smirk widened as she looked around, making sure everyone was watching. Then she turned back to me. "You want to leave?" She gestured to the sword. "Fine. But first…" She lifted her chin. "Fight me."
A ripple of anticipation ran through the crowd.
I could see it in their eyes.
They wanted to see me fail.
I swallowed hard, staring at the weapon.
I wasn't a warrior. I wasn't trained for combat. I had barely even held a sword before.
Alex, on the other hand, was a Gamma. She had spent her entire life training for battle.
She would crush me.
And yet…
I couldn't walk away.
Not with everyone watching.
Not with Alex's words still cutting into me like knives.
If I backed down now, I'd only prove her right.
Slowly, I bent down and picked up the sword, gripping the tight with both hands. My fingers trembled, but I tightened my grip, forcing my nerves down.
Alex grinned. "Good."
And then, without warning—she attacked.
She moved like lightning, her blade slicing through the air. I barely had time to react before the clash of metal rang out around us.
The force of her strike jolted up my arms, making me stumble backward. My muscles burned as I struggled to hold my ground.
Alex didn't hesitate.
She pressed forward, her strikes coming faster, sharper. Each blow forced me back another step. Soon, I was completely on the defensive, barely able to keep up.
"You're slow," she taunted, slashing at me again.
I blocked, but the impact sent pain shooting through my wrists.
"You're weak." Another strike. My breath came in short, ragged gasps.
"You don't belong here."
She pretended to walk away, but suddenly turned around—slamming the blunt edge of her sword into my ribs.
Pain exploded through my side.
I gasped, stumbling to the ground. My sword slipped from my fingers. My vision blurred as I struggled to breathe.
The crowd murmured. Some whispered. Others laughed.
Alex twirled her sword between her fingers before stepping closer. "Pathetic," she muttered. "The Alphas must be desperate if they think this is Luna material."
Something inside me cracked.
Lara stirred.
Not fully. Not enough to shift.
But enough to take over.
I felt it the moment it happened.
The rush of heat. The sudden, blinding fury.
A growl ripped from my throat—deep, angry.
One second, Alex was towering over me.
The next, I was on her.
I tackled her to the ground, knocking the sword from her grip. A snarl tore through me as I pinned her down, my fingers curling into claws.
She barely had time to react before my nails raked across her cheek—leaving deep, bloody marks.
A collective gasp echoed around us.
Alex let out a strangled scream, struggling beneath me.
But I wasn't done.
I raised my hand again, my mind clouded with rage, instincts screaming at me to finish her—
The doors to the training ground burst open.
"NORA!"
Killian's roar sliced through the air like a whip.
His voice hit me like ice water, snapping me out of the haze.
I blinked.
The anger drained from me all at once, replaced by horror.
I looked down at Alex.
Her face was covered in blood. Her blue eyes wide, her expression a mix of fury and… fear.
I scrambled back, my breath coming in sharp gasps.
My hands were shaking.
What have I done? What have Lara done?
Killian strode forward, his silver eyes locked onto mine.
He didn't look at Alex. Didn't care about the gasping crowd.
His focus was only on me.
I opened my mouth, desperate to explain—
But before I could speak, he grabbed me by the arm.
Hard.
"You're done," he growled.
He didn't give me a chance to argue.
He yanked me away from the training grounds, dragging me through the halls, up the stairs—until I was back in the same cold, dark room as before.
He shoved me inside and slammed the door shut.
"You'll stay here until you learn your lesson," he said, voice cold.
And then, without another word—he was gone.
The lock clicked into place.
Silence.
I sank to the floor, my whole body shaking in pain.
I had lost control.
Lara had almost killed someone.
And now, locked away once again, I could only do one thing.
Pray for death.