Chapter 5 Please, Don't Stay Angry

This was the first time she had felt such a clear and undeniable attraction toward him. A strange mix of excitement and tension swept through her, making her swallow repeatedly under the weight of his overwhelming presence. The light seemed to shine solely on him, as if he were the only person in the entire universe. It was the best feeling she had ever experienced.

As he slowly wheeled his chair closer, his gaze never leaving hers, a wave of nervousness took hold of her. She instinctively tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, but the moment she remembered the bruises marking her face, her confidence wavered.

Does he see me as ugly? As a pitiful, weak girl? she wondered.

How could he not? Even in his current condition, he still carried himself with an air of authority and unshaken dignity.

"What are you doing here?"

His voice was devoid of emotion, yet laced with clear disapproval, shattering her thoughts like a sharp blade. She blinked, caught off guard, struggling to gather her thoughts, but they scattered like leaves in the wind.

"I... I was..."

Her words faltered. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hold his gaze for long-it was simply too intense. His body, despite everything, remained powerfully built, an image of strength she found difficult to ignore.

He sighed deeply, rubbing his face with one hand before speaking again, his voice calm yet commanding.

"You should be in bed, Hazel."

Hearing her name in his deep, raspy voice sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine. Her heartbeat quickened, and despite herself, she felt her attraction toward him deepen. Does he actually care about me?

"Why? It wasn't even that bad of a hit."

She shrugged, playing with a lock of her hair in an attempt to appear nonchalant. But when she noticed the slight smirk tugging at his lips, followed by a brief, sarcastic chuckle, she knew she had failed.

"Right. Sure," he muttered, turning his chair away dismissively.

Her face burned with frustration. Was he mocking her? Anger flared within her as she stomped her foot against the floor and turned sharply, storming out of the room-and out of the hall entirely.

At that moment, Ethan felt a whirlwind of emotions: disappointment, weakness, helplessness. The walls around him seemed to close in, trapping him in his own thoughts.

His conversation with Lucas had left him simmering with anger-but not at anyone else. No, his fury was directed entirely at himself.

A bitter sense of powerlessness consumed him. He had come to a painful realization: he was no longer fit to be her protector, let alone the shield she could depend on.

How could he be a leader worthy of respect when he couldn't even protect the one person who mattered most?

That thought lingered, gnawed at him, until he could no longer sit still. He left his office with forceful strides, ignoring the knowing look Lucas cast his way. He knew exactly where he needed to be-the training hall. The only place where he could release his anger without restraint.

He threw himself into training with relentless intensity, his mind shutting out everything else. With each strike, each movement, he forced out the darkness clouding his thoughts. Sweat dripped down his body, but he didn't care.

For the first time in a long while, he felt some semblance of relief.

Then, suddenly, his focus was broken by an unexpected presence.

He lifted his head sharply, and his eyes locked onto long brown strands of hair swaying gently around a familiar face.

Hazel.

She stood at the entrance, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, her cheeks flushed as if she had been running. She was breathless, her hand gripping the door handle, her body trembling slightly as she hesitated to step forward.

She looked stunning.

Something shifted inside him.

His wolf, Dark, reacted instantly, taking control for a fleeting moment. A single, silent command slipped from him before he could think: Stay.

And in that moment, he realized-he didn't want her to leave so easily.

Ethan climbed onto the iron railing and settled into the designated chair, turning his wheelchair toward her. His gaze zeroed in on the bruises on her face, stirring a deep ache in his chest. Yet, as always, he let anger mask every other emotion.

This time, however, he fought to control himself.

"You should go back to your room, Hazel."

It wasn't an order; it was a quiet plea for her safety.

Still, he could see the stubborn defiance burning in her eyes.

And oddly enough... he liked it.

---

The Next Morning

They were all woken up at dawn for training. Complaints and groans filled the air, yet Hazel was the only one who felt a surge of excitement. To her, there was nothing more exhilarating than pushing her limits, strengthening her body, and honing her skills.

After much deliberation, she tied her hair into a high ponytail. She had considered leaving it loose, but she didn't want to hear the inevitable remarks-she had learned long ago that wearing her hair down during training only invited criticism.

The group set off through the forest, but this time, their path deviated from the usual route. Instead of heading toward the traditional training hall, they ventured deep into the untamed wilderness.

When they reached a wide clearing devoid of trees, they found Lucas and the Alpha already waiting for them.

The two men stood facing the group, and as soon as the Alpha spoke, everyone's curiosity piqued.

"Today, we'll begin a different kind of training. This time, you won't be relying on modern equipment. You'll rely solely on yourselves... or rather, on your wolves."

Excitement rippled through the trainees. Cheers erupted, for they had not been allowed to shift since arriving here, and their wolves had been growing restless.

But what the Alpha said next left them all stunned.

"The leader of today's test will be someone with a special ability. As you all know, there are a rare few among us who are born with extraordinary gifts-abilities that defy the limits of ordinary wolves. Today, one of those individuals will oversee your training."

Murmurs spread among the group, a mix of skepticism and intrigue. They had heard of such powers before, passed down through certain bloodlines, but none of them had ever seen them in action.

The Alpha's next words sent a wave of shock through the crowd.

"This ability," he declared, his voice firm and commanding, "is the power to control darkness."

The whispers turned into outright disbelief. Some scoffed, others exchanged wary glances. Olivia and Dylan were among the first to express their doubt, dismissing the claim as nothing more than a ridiculous joke.

But Hazel's focus was locked onto one person-Ethan.

In his eyes, she saw something indescribable. A sharp, penetrating look that she had come to recognize.

Yet there was something different this time.

Could it be... him?

The test began with the Omega announcing the rules. Participants were required to find the glowing flags scattered throughout the forest and bring them back to the starting point, while the Alpha shrouded the forest in darkness, summoning luminous shadow creatures to guide them. However, these creatures could attack anyone who reeked of fear.

Olivia protested loudly, "What kind of nonsense is this?" Her outburst briefly caught everyone's attention before they ignored her.

The task of dividing the teams was assigned to Lucas and another young man. Olivia clung to Hazel to ensure they were in the same group. Alongside them were a few boys from the Moon Pack-bare-chested, their arms adorned with various tattoos, giving off the impression that they were well accustomed to such challenges.

Suddenly, the sky darkened further, and the other groups vanished, leaving Hazel and her teammates alone. The atmosphere grew tense as howls echoed around them, heightening the sense of unease. Yet, the boys from the Moon Pack were the first to dash down the only available path, prompting the others to follow, including Hazel, who ran alongside Olivia, with Dylan's gray wolf keeping pace beside her.

Deep in the forest, a glowing blue flag appeared just a few meters ahead. Hazel sprinted toward it, ignoring the pain creeping into her limbs. A wolf with luminous eyes lunged from the shadows toward the flag, but Hazel was faster. She leaped forward, letting out a sharp howl to signal Dylan, who wasted no time snatching the flag.

The attacking wolf's claws raked across Hazel's arm, leaving a deep gash. She shoved the beast away, watching blood spill freely down her right arm. A sharp sting shot through her, forcing her to clench her teeth to suppress a pained gasp.

Moving cautiously, she soon realized she was lost among the identical paths. There was no sign of Olivia or Dylan, and anxiety clawed at her chest. Her heart pounded violently as she turned in every direction, disoriented and alone.

At the starting point, Ethan watched the returning wolves anxiously-some carrying flags, others arriving empty-handed. But the one still missing was Hazel.

His unease grew when her teammates returned without her.

"Why isn't she back yet?" he murmured to one of his companions.

Lucas responded in a reassuring tone, "Don't worry, she'll be here soon."

But Ethan wasn't convinced. Something felt wrong. Without hesitation, he made his decision. "I'll bring her back myself."

Ignoring Lucas's startled expression, Ethan began tracking Hazel's scent, paying no heed to the fact that the test had ended and the forest had returned to its normal state.

Meanwhile, Hazel stood near a large tree, pressing her hands against her bleeding wound. Her gaze swept around, searching for the clothes usually stored near the trees for shifting back into human form. Once she found them, she quickly transformed and slipped into them.

Tearing a strip from her shirt, she tied it around her wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Moments passed, and she noticed the darkness lifting-a sign that the test was officially over.

Yet, she remained alone, unsure of how to find her way back. A lump formed in her throat, but her pride refused to let her cry.

Then, suddenly, she heard someone calling her name.

She turned toward the sound, immediately recognizing Ethan standing with his back to her. But she was certain it was him.

Without hesitation, she ran toward him, shouting his name so he could hear her.

At the sound of her footsteps, he turned, his tense expression softening with relief. The worry that had shadowed his face moments ago faded.

"Are you okay?" he asked the moment she stood before him.

She nodded, but she knew his eyes were already drawn to her injured arm.

His expression darkened with anger as he took in the sight of the fresh blood still seeping from the wound.

"What happened to your arm?" he demanded sharply.

Hazel instinctively took a step back, muttering, "It's nothing."

Ethan moved closer, but she withdrew, refusing to let him examine the injury.

His jaw tightened. His face remained impassive, but his eyes burned with barely contained fury.

Without another word, he turned his back to her and started walking, leaving her no choice but to follow.

Trailing behind him, Hazel deliberately furrowed her brows in a show of irritation, though she kept a wary eye on his movements. She hadn't even realized that she had unconsciously followed him deeper into the forest.

As the starting point came into view, Hazel suddenly broke into a run, ignoring the pain in her arm. She was determined to reach it before Ethan.

But he didn't let her win.

With a swift motion, he grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned to him in surprise, her eyes locking onto his.

Ethan held her hand gently but firmly, pulling her slightly closer. His voice dropped to a softer tone.

"I'm sorry, Hazel," he murmured. "I didn't mean to mock you... So please, don't stay mad."

There was something in his voice-an unmistakable sincerity that sent an involuntary shiver through her.

But she refused to show weakness.

She remained silent, searching his gaze for any hint of deceit. But all she found was honesty.

Slowly, her hand slipped from his grasp as she turned away, walking toward the starting point with feigned indifference.

Yet, deep inside, an unfamiliar warmth stirred within her.

Ethan watched her go, a small smile playing at his lips as he silently followed.