Chapter 3 The Rogues and Roman

****

Roman's eyes flickered with something unreadable at Selina's words, but he didn't respond right away. Instead, he turned to the other rogues, his expression unreadable.

"She stays," he said simply.

The scarred rogue-Silas-arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. "You're just going to let her in?" He scoffed. "She's an omega."

Selina bristled at the word.

Roman didn't look away from her as he replied.

"If she survives the night," he said.

Selina's stomach clenched.

The night?

Before she could ask what he meant, Roman motioned toward the dark forest behind them. "You want to train, omega? Prove it."

A tense silence fell over the group.

Then, one of the other rogues-a wiry man with sun-bleached hair-let out a low chuckle. "You're really going to throw her into the pit?"

Selina's pulse quickened. The pit?

Roman's lips curved slightly. "No better way to see if she's worth keeping."

Silas smirked. "Well, this should be fun."

Selina had no idea what they were talking about, but she refused to let them see her fear.

She lifted her chin. "Fine."

Roman studied her for a long moment before nodding once. "Follow me."

****

The rogue camp wasn't far. Tucked deep in the forest, hidden by thick brush and towering trees, it was nothing like the structured packhouses she had known.

It was raw. Primitive. Survivalist.

Fires burned in small pits, illuminating makeshift shelters and the sharp glint of blades being sharpened. Wolves-real wolves, not just men in human form-prowled the perimeter, their eyes glowing in the darkness.

And in the center of it all... was the pit.

Selina's stomach clenched as she stared at the massive, sunken fighting ring.

The earth was stained dark, trampled down from countless battles. It smelled of sweat, blood, and something feral.

A ring of rogues gathered around the edge, their expressions hungry for entertainment.

Roman turned to her. "You wanted to fight. Here's your first lesson."

Selina swallowed hard. "What do I have to do?"

Roman nodded toward the other side of the pit.

A massive, broad-shouldered rogue with wild red hair and a scarred lip was already stepping in. His arms were thick with muscle, his knuckles cracked and scarred.

Selina's stomach dropped.

"I have to fight him?" she asked, voice low.

Roman tilted his head slightly. "Fight. Survive. Prove you belong."

The red-haired rogue grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Try not to die too quickly, omega."

Laughter rippled through the watching rogues.

Selina clenched her fists, something hot curling in her chest.

She wouldn't back down.

Not now.

Not ever again.

She stepped forward. Into the pit.

The circle closed around her.

And then-the fight began.

****

Selina barely had time to take a breath before the rogue lunged.

He moved fast for someone so big-too fast. She tried to dodge, but his fist slammed into her ribs like a sledgehammer, knocking the air from her lungs. She staggered back, gasping, pain flaring through her side.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"Too slow, omega," the red-haired rogue sneered, cracking his knuckles. "This isn't some cushy pack fight. Out here, we don't go easy."

Selina gritted her teeth, forcing herself to straighten.

She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her fall.

The rogue charged again, but this time, she was ready.

She dropped low at the last second, twisting away from his outstretched arms. His momentum carried him forward, leaving his side open.

Selina reacted on instinct. She drove her elbow into his ribs, then spun and kicked his knee-hard.

He grunted, stumbling, but barely seemed affected. He whirled on her, his eyes burning with something between irritation and amusement.

"Well, look at that," he mused, rolling his shoulder. "The little omega has claws."

Selina didn't respond. She couldn't waste breath on words.

Not when she needed every ounce of energy to survive.

A Rogue's Lesson

The rogue came at her again-but slower this time. More controlled.

Selina realized he was testing her now.

No more careless swings. He wanted to see what she could do.

Fine. She'd show him.

He threw a punch, aiming for her face. She ducked, shifting her weight at the last second and bringing her knee up-right into his stomach.

It connected solidly.

The rogue grunted, but instead of staggering, he caught her leg.

Selina's heart lurched.

Before she could react, he yanked her off balance and slammed her into the dirt.

Pain exploded across her back. The world spun.

The crowd roared.

Selina gasped, her body screaming in protest as she forced herself up. But the rogue was already there, grabbing her by the front of her shirt and hauling her upright.

She barely had time to react before his fist crashed into her jaw.

Stars burst behind her eyes.

She hit the ground hard, dirt and blood filling her mouth. The metallic taste spread across her tongue, sharp and bitter.

This is it, a cruel voice whispered in her mind. This is why you'll never be anything more.

But then-a different voice.

One from deep inside her.

You are more than what they made you believe.

The memory of the vision slammed into her. The silver-eyed wolves. The forgotten bloodline.

The power beneath her skin stirred.

Selina's eyes snapped open.

And this time, she didn't feel weak.

Unleashing the Wolf

The rogue bent over her, reaching for her.

Selina moved.

Faster than she ever had before.

She grabbed his arm and twisted, snapping his wrist back at an unnatural angle.

The rogue shouted in pain-but Selina didn't stop. She used his own weight against him, flipping him over her shoulder and sending him crashing into the dirt.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

Selina didn't give him time to recover.

She pounced, straddling his chest, her fist slamming into his face with a sickening crack. Then again. And again.

Something primal took over.

Her breathing was ragged, her knuckles stung, but she didn't stop.

She wouldn't stop.

Not until he knew.

Not until all of them knew.

She wasn't just some weak, disposable omega.

She was more.

The rogue beneath her groaned, his face bloodied. His body went slack-defeated.

Selina slowly straightened, her breath heavy, her silver eyes glowing.

The arena fell into stunned silence.

Then-a slow clap.

Selina turned sharply.

Roman stood at the edge of the pit, arms crossed, an amused smirk on his lips.

"Well," he mused, his steel-gray eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Looks like you're not as helpless as I thought."

Selina wiped the blood from her mouth and met his gaze head-on.

"I told you," she said, voice steady.

"I choose to fight."