Chapter#04

Selene POV

The camp was alive before the sun had fully risen. Sunrays stretched over the damp earth as we ran our laps. The sharp morning air bit at my lungs with every breath, and my legs burned with exhaustion. Sweat soaked through my gray uniform, making it cling to my skin like a second, heavier layer.

Beside me, Rowan and Caden were steady and focused. I, on the other hand, felt every step like it might be my last.

As we came to a halt, the sound of boots slamming together echoed through the courtyard. Commander Griffin stepped forward. His presence alone demanded silence. His face was all sharp angles with steely gray eyes that seemed to cut straight through you.

“This is no place for weakness,” he barked, carrying over the assembled recruits like a thunderclap. “The strong rise; the weak are cast aside. There will be no exceptions, no mercy. If you fail, you are out.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. Why did I agree to this? I didn’t belong here. Not really.

I dropped my gaze to the ground, trying to ignore the pressure of Griffin’s words. My fingers brushed the hem of my gray uniform. Across the yard, the elite recruits in their black uniforms stood proud. Gold embroidery framed their cuffs, and the silver wolf crest on their chests gleamed in the morning sun.

They were everything I wasn’t.

“Kaelen!”

Liam’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned just in time to see him jogging toward me. He had a way of standing out, even in this brutal place. There was an ease to him, a kind of natural warmth that didn’t belong in a camp designed to crush spirits. He wasn’t just another recruit clawing for survival—he was different.

I’d heard the whispers. Liam was born into one of the most revered lineages among the wolves, his bloodline laced with legends of warriors who had led packs to victory for generations. He wasn’t just strong; he was brilliant, a strategist as much as a fighter. The kind of person people followed without question.

But it wasn’t just his reputation that made him stand out. Liam carried himself with a kind of lightness, a rare trait in a place where every interaction felt like a battle for dominance. He didn’t just survive here—he thrived, and he helped others do the same.

He’d been in the camp longer than most, and his recent promotion to officer status had only cemented his standing among the recruits. People respected him. Trusted him. And he earned it, not by tearing others down but by lifting them up.

Liam was the kind of person who made you believe in second chances. And for someone like me, clinging to secrets and memories, that was dangerous. Too dangerous.

“You holding up?” he asked, letting out a long breath.

“Barely,” I admitted with a sigh.

He chuckled, reaching out to rest a hand on my shoulder. “It’ll get easier. First few days are always the worst. You just have to push through.”

For a moment, it felt like Damien’s hand on my shoulder, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt since...since before everything went wrong.

I instantly jerked back, forcing a faint smile. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

Liam didn’t seem to notice my discomfort. He nodded toward the training grounds. “Endurance runs are done, but the trials are just getting started. Stay put Kaelen. These wolves will do anything to be on the top.”

He jogged off before I could respond.

The physical trial pushed us to the brink. By the time we reached the combat arena, I was barely holding myself together. My brothers, of course, made it look easy. Rowan took down his opponent in seconds. Caden’s fight was longer but no less impressive. The crowd loved them, cheering with an energy. And I did too. I loved seeing them win.

But then my name was called.

I swallowed hard, stepping into the ring. My opponent was wiry and lean. His lips twisted into a cruel smirk. He looked at me like I was an easy meal.

“You got this,” Liam murmured as I passed him.

I didn’t dare look back.

The moment the fight began, I knew I was outmatched.

He moved like lightning. His punches were fast. I managed to dodge a few, but my counters were sloppy and weak. The crowd’s jeers hit me harder than his fists.

“Kaelen’s useless!” someone shouted, followed by a wave of mocking laughter.

Anger surged in my chest, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the humiliation. He landed a solid hit to my ribs, and I crumpled to the ground. I felt the metallic taste of blood on my tongue.

“Stay down,” my opponent sneered, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself back up.

I wasn’t fast enough. Another blow sent me sprawling, and this time, I couldn’t get up. My vision blurred as the jeers grew louder.

And then, I smelled it.

It was faint at first—a scent that cut through the blood and sweat and dirt. Earthy, wild, and sweet. My heart stumbled in my chest. It was impossible, but it was there. Damien? Was he alive?

No. It couldn’t be. I could swear I saw his head ripped apart from his body. But what was that scent? Was it just my fantasy?

It grew stronger, wrapping around me like a lifeline. Something deep inside me stirred, something primal and raw. My wolf, dormant for so long, growled to life.

I pushed myself to my feet. My opponent hesitated and his smirk faltered as I met his gaze.

This time, I struck first.

My fists landed with precision I didn’t know I had. Each hit drove him back. The crowd fell silent and I felt unstoppable. A kind of force drove me I couldn’t control.

And then it was gone.

The strength vanished as quickly as it came, leaving me trembling and weak again. The last thing I saw before everything went dark was Liam.