Chapter 4 The Alpha's Game

Rowena's mind raced as she followed the Alpha through the dense woods, the dark night surrounding them like an impenetrable wall. The full moon cast an eerie glow over the landscape, but all she could focus on was the tension between them. She was trapped in this game-one she didn't understand, and worse, one she didn't know how to escape.

The Alpha's silence only deepened her unease. His presence loomed over her, unyielding and suffocating. Every step she took felt like it was taking her further into his world, one she didn't belong in.

"What do you want from me?" she asked again, her voice shaky, but she couldn't keep the edge from creeping in. The answer was always just out of reach, slipping through her grasp no matter how hard she tried to hold onto it.

The Alpha didn't turn around, but his lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. "I've already told you. You have something that belongs here. You're not like the others."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

But he didn't answer. Instead, he led her through the trees toward a clearing, the air thick with the scent of wolves. The sound of footsteps and low murmurs filled the air, and Rowena's eyes flicked warily from one wolf to another. She had been brought to a clearing, but this wasn't just any gathering. The wolves around them were watching her, sizing her up as if she were some kind of spectacle. It made her skin crawl.

The Alpha finally slowed his pace and turned to face her. His intense gaze was unwavering, and for a moment, Rowena felt like she was the prey being stalked by the hunter. He knew something she didn't, and that knowledge, that power, terrified her.

"What is this place?" Rowena asked, struggling to keep her voice steady as the wolves around them continued to stare.

"A training ground," he replied simply, his voice low and commanding. "You'll learn everything you need to survive here. You'll learn to fight, to lead, and more importantly, you'll learn your place in this pack."

Rowena's stomach twisted. She had heard stories of packs that were ruthless, where submission and hierarchy were the law of the land. But she never thought she would be forced into one, let alone one that would change her life forever.

"I don't want to be here," Rowena growled, her anger bubbling up. "I'm not your pawn, not your toy to be played with. I'm not some weak wolf you can push around."

The Alpha's eyes glimmered with something dark, something far more dangerous than anything she had ever encountered. He stepped closer to her, his presence overwhelming, suffocating her with his intensity. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, a stark contrast to the chill of the night air.

"You don't get to choose what happens next," he said softly, his tone almost mocking. "This isn't about what you want. It's about what's necessary. You're not in control here, Rowena. You never have been."

The weight of his words settled on her like a boulder, and for the first time since she had been thrust into this world, Rowena felt the cold sting of helplessness. She was at the mercy of someone who held all the power, and she had no idea what to do with that knowledge. She had always fought to survive, to keep her head down and protect herself. But here, in this strange world where wolves ruled, survival meant submission. It meant bending to the Alpha's will.

She could feel her wolf growling in frustration, her body itching to retaliate, to prove that she wasn't as weak as they thought. But it wasn't that simple. Her wolf may be strong, but she was no match for the pack. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

The Alpha took another step closer, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her blood run cold. "You don't belong here because you're weak, Rowena," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "You belong here because you're stronger than any of them realize. You have the power inside you. It just needs to be unlocked."

Her breath hitched. "Power? I don't have anything left."

He shook his head, his lips curving into a knowing smile. "You don't see it yet, but you will."

With that, the Alpha turned away, his attention focused on the group of wolves now gathered around them. Rowena could hear the quiet murmurs of the pack, their voices filled with curiosity and doubt. She was the new addition, the outsider, and they weren't sure what to make of her yet.

"Tonight," the Alpha called to the gathered wolves, his voice carrying across the clearing, "we will see just how strong she is. She's going to prove herself, whether she likes it or not."

Rowena's heart skipped. "What do you mean?" she demanded, her voice rising in panic. "What's going to happen?"

The Alpha didn't answer directly. Instead, he motioned to the wolves who had gathered, and Rowena's eyes widened as she saw a couple of them step forward, looking at her with challenging eyes.

Her stomach turned. This wasn't a test she had asked for, but it seemed like she had no choice but to face it.

The Alpha gestured for one of the wolves, a tall male with deep gray fur, to step forward. "Garrick," he said, "show her what it means to survive."

The gray wolf's eyes gleamed with a predatory edge as he stepped into the center of the clearing. His posture was tense, his muscles coiled like a spring. Rowena knew immediately that he wasn't just any wolf. He was strong-stronger than her, and it was clear that this was no simple sparring match.

"Wait," Rowena said, her voice tight with fear. "You said I was strong. Why do I have to fight him?"

The Alpha's eyes locked onto hers again, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of something in his gaze-something almost like pity. But it vanished too quickly to decipher.

"Because you need to understand," he said, his tone calm but unwavering, "what it means to be strong in this world."

Before Rowena could protest further, Garrick lunged at her, moving faster than she could react. Her instincts kicked in, and she sidestepped just in time to avoid his teeth sinking into her flesh. The momentum from his attack caused him to crash into the ground, but it didn't take long for him to recover.

Rowena barely had time to catch her breath before he came at her again, this time with a low growl. She felt the adrenaline surge through her veins as she leapt sideways, narrowly dodging another attempt.

But the truth was clear: this wasn't a fight for survival-it was a lesson. A lesson in submission. A lesson in power.

Garrick's eyes gleamed with amusement as he circled her, his movements fluid, graceful, as though he were testing her limits. Rowena's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she scrambled to keep up with him.

But no matter how fast she moved, no matter how much she fought, she knew that this fight wasn't hers to win. Not yet.

And as the Alpha's voice cut through the clearing, the weight of his words hung in the air.

"You need to prove yourself, Rowena. Prove that you're worthy of being here."