There was great tension in the air.
At the head of the training area, Damian Blackwood stood with arms crossed over his wide chest, his glittering eyes silently evaluating me. Although the Cold Alpha consented to assist us, his requirements were clear—he wanted his scattered pack located.
And he had one stipulation before he let us depart on that assignment.
"You combat. You establish you are not a liability.
I remained calm.
I had known this was on its way.
Kieran had cautioned me that Damian thought free partnerships had little value. I had to prove I was valuable if I were going to battle with them.
That I could manage myself during conflict.
Gathering around the training area, the other wolves murmured among one another. There were some rogues, like Kieran. Others were survivors of Damian's lost pack, fighters who had decided to remain rather than to entirely leave their Alpha.
They did not believe in me.
They considered me to be frail.
I would refute their claims.
Damian had a chilly, lifeless voice. You fight among one of me. You win; we'll speak about it. You lose; you go.
Kieran evidently unconcerned, clicked his tongue. "You are always so dramatic, Damian."
Damian passed him off as ignored. He fixed his eye on me. Choose your opponent.
Heart thumping, I looked about the group.
Stronger than any I had battled before were the fighters here. Their training and experience were evident. Still, that was of little relevance. My life had been spent in survival's contest. I was capable of doing this.
A wolf with short black hair moved forward carrying a scar down his cheek. He was huge; his presence choked.
"I'll fight her," he said, snarling.
Damian gave a one-sided nod. "Nathaniel then."
I started to grip my fists tightly.
One would not find this simple.
I was not, however, backing down.
The throng turned aside, encircling us in great circles. Nathaniel rounded his shoulders and cracked his neck.
The weight of everyone's eyes, waiting for me to fail, was palpable.
Nathaniel smiled. "Don't treat this personally, little wolf."
Steel in my voice, I met his stare. Ah, I will.
Then he shot forward.
His pace was really stunning. His punch launched toward me missed my jaw by inches, so I hardly had time to avoid. I spun, slipping under his arm and aiming a powerful kick to his ribs utilizing my lesser size to my advantage.
It landed—just barely.
Nathaniel hardly moved.
Whirling, his fist struck my shoulder and sent me falling back. Pain burst down my arm, but I clinched my teeth and pushed myself to remain standing.
The spectators grumbled.
Nathaniel teased, "too slow."
I turned my back on him.
I had to get more clever. Better.
I owed it to myself to win.
Nathaniel came back faster this time. I veiled left, feinting exactly as his fist shot forward passed. I fell low at last, sweeping his legs out from under him.
The contact drove him tumbling to the floor.
I was not waiting.
I launched myself at him, aiming a blow squarely for his throat, but he recovered too fast.
His hand went out to grab my wrist. He had me pinned in an instant, his weight compressing against me as my back sank into the ground.
My breath paused.
The tension broke at Damian's words. "Yielding or fighting."
I tightened my teeth.
I wrestled.
I drove Nathaniel to change his weight by slamming my knee up into his side. It was just right. I wracked my wrist free, sharply turning my body to send him sliding off me.
The instant I was free, I acted without thinking.
I turned.
My wolf sprung from under my skin, bristling as I rushed.
Nathaniel had not time to respond. Teeth pushed into his pulse as my jaws locked around his throat.
The growls around us calmed down.
Under me Nathaniel stilled, his breath laboured.
I neither tightened my hold nor let go either.
The message was rather clear.
I was able to kill him.
But I would not.
I let him go slowly, then stepped back to resume my normal form. Though I stood upright, my chin high, my chest groaned with tiredness.
Nathaniel scrubbed at his throat, his face inscrutable. Then, after a protracted pause, he exhaled.
"Fine," he said in a whisper. "You succeed."
The whispers among the throng changed. The incredulity became something else entirely.
respect.
Damian moved forward, looking at me with those frigid silver eyes.
I looked back at him, not changing.
"You fight like a rogue," he replied at last. "Wild: Unexpected."
I waited while my pulse still pounded.
Then, quite unexpectedly, something almost like approval flashed in his eyes.
Nevertheless, you battle well.
Though I didn't show it, relief slammed over me.
From the sidelines, Kieran gave a smile. told you she was worth it.
Damian gave a sigh. "She will do."
It was not the most complimentary.
But sufficient was enough.
I had demonstrated my own ability.
Right now, I was one of them.
I would also shortly show that I was more than that.
I would show that I was ready for whatever followed.
Zaia has become one of Damian's fighters, but proving herself was only starting point.
Still to test is the actual one.
Will she be ready for the battles still to come? Danger hides in every darkness.
And from her, what secrets are Damian and Kieran yet keeping?
The road is still long from finished.
And the conflict is still to start.