Chapter 5 – Trial by Fire

Selena's ribs still ached from Lyra's punch, but the pain was nothing compared to the cold stares drilling into her. She could feel the pack's energy shifting, their instincts screaming that she didn't belong.

She was human. Prey among predators.

And yet, she refused to cower.

Kieran's command had ended the confrontation, but it hadn't changed anything. The wolves didn't see her as an equal. If she wanted to survive here, she had to become more than human.

The Alpha's Command

Kieran turned to face his pack, his expression unreadable. "Enough games. We have more important matters to deal with."

Grayson and Lyra exchanged a glance before stepping back into the crowd. The tension remained, thick and unmoving.

Kieran's gaze flicked to Selena. "You will train with them."

The words sent a ripple of surprise through the pack. Even Selena tensed.

"Train? With werewolves?"

Lyra scoffed. "You can't be serious."

"I am." Kieran's tone was final. "She's under my protection, but she won't be useless. If she wants to survive, she'll fight."

Selena met his gaze. He wasn't offering her a way out—he was throwing her into the fire.

Fine. She'd burn if she had to.

"Training starts tomorrow," Kieran continued. "And if she can't keep up…" He let the sentence hang, the meaning clear.

Selena would be left behind.

Thrown to the Wolves

The next morning, she stood in the training ground, surrounded by warriors. It was an open field behind the main lodge, the ground marked by deep scars from past battles.

Grayson stood at the front, arms crossed, looking entirely too smug. Lyra stood beside him, cracking her knuckles.

Selena swallowed hard. This wasn't training. This was a test.

"Alright, human," Grayson said. "Let's see if you're worth Kieran's time."

Then he lunged.

Selena barely dodged as he came at her, his speed inhuman. His fist brushed past her shoulder, and before she could react, he was behind her. A sharp kick sent her sprawling to the ground.

Laughter echoed around her.

"Pathetic," someone muttered.

Selena gritted her teeth, pushing herself up. She wasn't done.

She turned, fists raised, and charged.

Grayson smirked. "Bad idea."

His foot swept under her legs, sending her crashing down again. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs.

"Stay down, little girl," he said.

But she didn't.

Selena rolled onto her hands and knees, coughing, but she forced herself back up.

The laughter faded. The pack watched her differently now.

She wasn't strong. She wasn't fast. But she wasn't giving up.

And that meant something.

Grayson tilted his head. "Not bad. Maybe you're not completely useless."

Lyra sighed. "She still won't last a week."

Selena wiped the dirt from her face, locking eyes with Kieran across the field.

She wasn't sure if he was proud of her or disappointed.

But one thing was clear—this was just the beginning.