Chapter 5 A Test Of Strength

Rowena's heart thudded in her chest, her pulse roaring in her ears as Garrick circled her, his eyes never leaving hers. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to fight, to prove she wasn't weak. But deep down, she knew the truth-this wasn't just a test of strength. This was a game, and the rules had already been written. The Alpha had made it clear: she had to prove herself, or she would be nothing more than a tool, a pawn in someone else's world.

The ground beneath her feet felt cold and unforgiving, and as Garrick lunged at her again, she barely had time to react. His massive form slammed into hers, knocking the breath out of her. Rowena stumbled, her legs buckling under the force of his attack. But she refused to stay down.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself back to her feet. She couldn't afford to show weakness. Not here, not now.

"Come on, little wolf," Garrick taunted, his voice laced with amusement. "Is that all you've got?"

His words stung more than they should have. But Rowena refused to let him see how much they affected her. She wasn't going to let him break her. Not after everything she had already been through. She had fought for survival her entire life. This was just another battle.

Garrick took another step forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This was no longer about teaching her. This was about him asserting his dominance over her, reminding her that she was nothing in his eyes. But Rowena wasn't about to let that happen.

With a deep breath, she launched herself at him, her body moving with a fluid grace she didn't know she had. She dodged his first attack, the muscles in her legs propelling her with surprising speed. She wasn't as fast as he was, but she had a different kind of strength. She knew she could outlast him if she had to. And so, she fought with everything she had.

The two of them clashed again, their bodies slamming together with a sickening thud. Rowena gritted her teeth as the force of Garrick's attack pushed her back. But this time, she was ready. She countered with a low growl, her claws raking across his side. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it was enough to draw blood.

Garrick let out a roar of surprise, but the Alpha's voice cut through the chaos before he could retaliate.

"That's enough."

Rowena froze mid-attack, her eyes flicking toward the Alpha. His commanding tone was unmistakable, and for a moment, the tension in the air seemed to lift.

"Rowena," the Alpha continued, his voice soft but firm, "you've passed."

Rowena's breath came in ragged gasps as she stepped back, her muscles trembling with exhaustion. She had been ready to keep fighting until the very end, but hearing the Alpha's words felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She wasn't weak. She wasn't a failure. At least, not in his eyes.

She turned to face him, her heart racing. "What does that mean?" she asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.

The Alpha's gaze was unreadable as he stepped closer to her. "It means you've earned a place here," he said, his tone still impassive. "But it also means that you're not free. Not yet."

Rowena's stomach twisted at his words. "What do you mean? I proved myself."

He nodded. "Yes, you did. But this pack is about more than just proving strength. It's about loyalty, submission, and power. If you're going to survive here, you need to learn what it truly means to be part of this world. It's not just about fighting. It's about bending to the pack's will, and accepting that there's always someone stronger than you."

Rowena's throat tightened, her eyes narrowing. "I didn't come here to bow down to anyone. Not to you, and certainly not to anyone in this pack."

The Alpha's lips curled into a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You'll learn, eventually."

"Will I?" Rowena's voice was tinged with bitterness, but she didn't back down. "Or will I just be another tool for you to use?"

For a long moment, the Alpha said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, he stepped forward, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. Rowena stiffened at his touch, but he didn't seem to notice.

"I'm not going to pretend to be a saint," he said, his voice low. "But this isn't about you being a tool, Rowena. It's about survival. Survival in a world that doesn't give a damn about you unless you've earned your place in it. If you want to be strong, if you want to survive, then you'll have to accept that power comes with a price."

Rowena's heart pounded as his words settled over her. The truth of what he was saying hit her harder than any blow Garrick had delivered. She had always fought for herself, but here, in this world, it seemed that no matter how strong she was, she would always be at the mercy of someone else.

She hated the feeling. The helplessness that clawed at her chest. But she couldn't ignore it. Not when the Alpha stood before her, holding all the power, making the rules.

She wanted to fight him. She wanted to scream and reject everything he was saying. But a small, insidious voice in the back of her mind told her that maybe, just maybe, he was right. The world was ruthless, and no matter how hard she fought, she couldn't change that.

The Alpha gave her one last look before turning away, his posture rigid with authority. "Tomorrow, we'll begin your real training," he said, his voice cool and detached. "Rest while you can."

Rowena stood there, her body aching from the fight, her mind racing with the implications of everything the Alpha had just said. He was right. This wasn't just about proving strength. It was about submission. About learning to bend to the will of those stronger than her.

And as much as she hated the idea, she knew she didn't have a choice.