The sickening sound of Damien's fist against Prince's jaw echoed across the clearing.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Prince's head snapped to the side from the force, but he did not fall, he only staggered back, before sinking his boots into the dirt, then slowly he straightened again.
Blood now filled the corner of his mouth.
He touched it with his thumb, and looked at it carefully, almost proudly.
And then smiled.
A slow and satisfied smile.
"I was wondering how long it would take," Prince said lightly.
He wiped the blood across his knuckles and spat to the side.
"You even hit just as weak as he did."
A ripple of murmurs moved through the gathered Alphas.
Damien stepped forward again, fury bubbling just under the surface.
The prince tilted his head.
"Is that all the great Blackthorn heir can manage?"
Damien tightened his fists again, even tighter than before, ready to lunge forward before Serena moved.
She stepped directly in front of him, forcing herself between the two Alphas.
"Don't."
Damien's growl was low and dangerous. "Move, Soren. Now!"
"You're letting him get into your head." she shot back.
Behind her, Prince laughed.
"Head? I'm in his blood."
Damien tried to step around her. She shifted with him, blocking his path again.
"This is what he wants," she said quietly, urgently. "You hit him again, you give him the show."
Prince's voice carried clearly.
"Run along, golden or Or let your little guard dog fight for you."
The insult landed.
Damien's breathing grew heavier. His fists tightened to the point that his knuckles were beginning or turning white.
Serena lowered her voice so only he could hear.
"Don't give him the satisfaction."
A long and tense second passed.
And then after another Damien finally exhaled a little.
Finally, he stepped back.
"Pack up," he said flatly.
Serena released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and grabbed her bag quickly.
The prince called after them.
"Still running!"
No response.
"Just like your father did!"
It hit Damein again, just as before, but this time, he just kept walking.
The clearing swallowed them in silence as they crossed into the forest.
The sounds of the other Alphas still at the clearing faded behind them as they stepped deeper into the forest.
They walked for a long stretch without speaking.
The air between them was heavy.
By the time the sun had dipped and given way for the moon, the forest seemed different, far less safer.
The temperature around them dropped sharply. It was freezing cold.
Serena adjusted the strap of her bag and finally broke the silence.
"What is it between you two?"
Damien didn't answer immediately.
She kept her gaze forward before asking again.
"Is it just an Academy competition? It feels a little more than that?"
He walked another few steps before responding.
"No, it isn't just competition."
She pressed on, thought, licking , picking her words carefully. "Then what is it?"
He exhaled slowly.
"We're Alpha heirs," he said at last. "of two neighboring packs."
Serena glanced at him.
"The Blackthorn pack," he continued, "and the Valen pack."
"Prince."
"Yes and to say that our packs don't get along would be a very massive understatement."
"Our territories share a border," Damien said after a pause. "They always have."
"And?"
"And neither pack trusts the other."
"Why?"
He paused before answering.
"Our fathers hated each other and their fathers before them."
"And you inherited it as well."
"We didn't have a choice."
She thought back to the clearing.
"He mentioned your father."
Damien's expression hardened instantly.
"Don't."
"She brought him up for a reason."
Silence fell again.
Then, more quietly, "He didn't run."
Serena didn't interrupt.
"He died during a border conflict," Damien said. "He tried to negotiate for peace with Valon's pack and instead it turned into an ambush.
He retreated but barely made it before he was killed."
Killed?! My breath isn't still.
"Prince's pack killed him?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry-"
"Don't be." Serene tried to apologize, to be comforting, but Damein cut her off before she could finish.
They walked in silence again.
Soon, they reached a small clearing where the trees opened slightly, allowing the soft silver moonlight to spill across the ground.
Damien stopped.
"This will work."
"For the night?" Serene asked, taking in the place.
"Yes and then we search for a moonstone at first light."
He shrugged off his bag and immediately began setting up the tent with efficient movements.
Serena set her pack down and began gathering dry twigs and branches for a fire.
The forest was damp under the surface, but she found enough kindling to attempt it.
She knelt and struck the flint.
A spark.
Nothing.
She tried again.
Another spark.
Still nothing.
The wood hissed faintly but refused to catch.
Frustration flickered through her.
She struck harder.
The spark died.
Behind her, Damien secured the tent stakes and glanced over.
"Do you need a hand?"
"Yes. I do."
The words left her mouth-
Wrong.
It was soft, too soft...
The voice was feminine
Both of them froze.
Serena's stomach dropped.
That hadn't been Soren's voice, that one was hers...
Damien straightened slowly.
"What's wrong with your voice?"
Panic surged through her then.
The spell. No, no, no,no..
It was thinning at the wrong pack.
"No-" she cleared her throat quickly. "Cold."
Her tone was uneven.
"I'll be back."
Before he could question further, she stood abruptly.
And ran.
"Soren!" Damien called. "Get back here!"
She didn't stop.
The forest blurred as she moved faster than she should have.
Faster than Soren ever could.
Branches whipped past her and leaves cracked underfoot.
Behind her, Damien shouted again.
"Soren, come back! The forest isn't safe!"
She increased her speed, putting distance between them.
She didn't slow until she reached the sound of rushing water.
A narrow river cut through the forest, the moonlight reflecting across its surface.
She stopped at the bank, her breathing hard and heavy.
Her reflection stared back at her.
It was still Soren's face, the rest of the illusion was still intact.
She opened her mouth.
"Damn it."
The voice that came out was hers.
Serene's.
Her throat tightened.
The spell wasn't fully broken.. but it was weakening.
.
She pressed a hand to her chest, forcing herself to breathe evenly.
If it collapsed completely-
If he heard her like this-
Everything would be over.
She knelt at the water's edge, staring at her reflection.
"I can fix this," she whispered.
The voice trembled.
She clenched her jaw.
No.
She would not lose control now.
Not when the Gauntlet had just begun.
A sound broke through her thoughts.
A faint rustle.
She went still instantly
She rose slowly to her feet and then she heard another rustle, this time closer.
Her heartbeat quickened.
The rustling grew louder and closer.
Serena took a slow step back from the riverbank.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
The rustling came again...
And this time, it was right behind her.
