Chapter 23
Siena’s POV
The competition hall smells like sweat, metal, and a faint trace of pine drifting in from the open windows.
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It’s a chaotic symphony of sound: the clang of weapons being tested, the murmur of hushed strategies, and the occasional burst of laughter from cocky warriors who think they’ve already won.
My pack stands behind me like a wall of quiet resolve, their presence steady but not flashy. Windhowl doesn’t need flash.
We’ve always been about substance. But as I look across the room at Raiden, his arm slung around Lila like she’s some trophy he’s already polished, I can’t help the bitter twist in my stomach.
His gaze locks on me, cold and sharp, like he’s trying to peel away my skin and see the doubt underneath.
I square my shoulders, refusing to give him that satisfaction.
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My wolf stirs uneasily, pacing beneath the surface like a shadow I can’t quite catch. She doesn’t like Lila. She’s been growling about her ever since Raiden brought her into the pack. Something about her mark is… wrong. Twisted. But I can’t dwell on that now.
The announcement echoes through the hall. “Windhowl, prepare yourselves. You’re up next.”
My heart pounds once, hard and heavy.
The whispers start immediately, slithering through the crowd like snakes. I don’t need to hear the words to know what they’re saying.
My unconventional warriors–scarred veterans, silver–haired elders, and women who’ve fought harder than most men ever will–are not what the other packs expect. They want brawn. They want youth. They want perfection. And we’re not playing their game.
Lila’s laugh slices through the noise, sharp and cruel. “Look at Siena’s army of cripples! Is this what the great Windhowl has become?”
My jaw tightens, but I don’t react. Around me, my pack shifts uncomfortably, their confidence wavering under the weight of her mockery. I can feel the sting of it, like a slap across my face. My wolf snarls, but I shove her down. Now isn’t the time for anger. Across the room, Raiden doesn’t laugh, but he doesn’t stop her, either.
His silence is worse than her words.
I step forward, turning to face my pack. Their eyes are on me, searching for reassurance, for strength. I take a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs and steady my racing heart. My voice is strong when I speak, cutting through the murmurs like a blade.
“Strength isn’t measured by youth or perfection,” I say, my words deliberate and firm, “but by battles survived and wisdom earned.”
The whispers falter. I feel the shift in the air, subtle but undeniable.
My pack stands a little taller, their spines straightening as they absorb my words. I glance at Raiden, catching his gaze for a fleeting moment.
He’s watching me, his expression unreadable. For a second, I think I see something flicker in his eyes–uncertainty, maybe? Regret? But then it’s gone, replaced by that familiar mask of indifference.
“Windhowl, with me,” I say, turning away from him and focusing on the task at hand. My pack moves as one, following me toward the center of the hall where the competition will take place.
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Chapter 23
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The space feels cavernous, the stone walls echoing every sound. The other packs are watching us, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright disdain.
I can feel their judgment like a weight pressing down on me, but I refuse to let it crush me.
The first trial is a test of strength. Simple enough in theory, but it’s designed to favor the young and unscarred. The judges explain the rules, their voices monotone and detached. I glance at my pack, their faces set with grim wisdom that can only
be earned with time.
They are no fools, they know the odds are stacked against us, but they don’t complain. They never do.
The trial begins, and one by one, my warriors step forward to face the challenge.
A hulking male from another pack ‘sneers as one of my elders takes her place. Her name is Elara, and she’s been with Windhowl longer than I’ve been alive. Her hair is silver, her face lined with age, but there’s a fire in her eyes that hasn’t dimmed.
She grips the weighted bar with steady hands, her muscles straining as she lifts it off the ground. The room falls silent as she holds it there, her arms trembling but steadfast in her honor.
When she finally lowers it, the silence breaks into scattered applause. It’s not much, but it’s enough to remind the others that strength comes in many forms.
“Impressive,” Lila says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “For someone her age, anyway.”
I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Elara doesn’t react, but I see the flicker of hurt in her eyes. I step forward, my voice cutting through the noise.
“Say what you want about us,” I say, my tone calm but dangerous. “But do not mistake kindness for weakness. Every scar on this team was earned in battle. Can your pack say the same?”
Can you?
Lila’s smirk falters, just for a second.
Raiden’s gaze meets mine again, and this time, I see something else in his expression. Pride. He tries to hide it, but it’s there, buried beneath the layers of resentment and disappointment.
What game are you playing Raiden?
The second trial is speed. Windhowl isn’t known for, its speed, but we hold our own. A younger warrior named Kael surprises everyone with his agility, darting through the obstacle course with the precision of a predator.
The crowd watches in stunned silence as he crosses the finish line, his chest heaving with exertion but his eyes blazing with triumph.
By the time the final trial begins, the whispers have shifted. They’re not mocking us anymore.
They’re curious. Impressed, even.
Lila’s smug confidence has been replaced by a tight–lipped scowl, and Raiden… Raiden looks like he doesn’t know what to
think.
The last trial is a test of leadership. It’s my turn now.
The judges give us a scenario–a simulated battle–and it’s up to me to lead my pack to victory. The details are complicated, the stakes high. But this is where I thrive.
This is what I was born to do.
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“Listen up, I say, gathering my pack around me. Their eyes are on me, focused. “We’re going to approach this like every battle we’ve ever fought. Stay together. Watch each other’s backs. Trust me, and trust each other.”
They nod, their faith in me absolute. It’s a humbling feeling, knowing they’d follow me into any fight, no matter the odds. The simulation begins, and everything else fades away. The crowd, the whispers, even Raiden–they all disappear as I focus on the task at hand. My wolf is with me, her presence a steady pulse beneath my skin.
We move as one, my pack and 1, anticipating each other’s moves with an ease that comes from years of fighting side by side. When it’s over, we’re drenched in sweat and breathing hard, but we’ve done it. The crowd erupts into applause, but I barely hear it. My eyes are on Raiden. He’s clapping, but his expression is stoic–dead even.
Lila stands beside him, her face a mask of fury. She leans in to whisper something to him, but he doesn’t react.
His gaze is fixed on me.
The head judge rises, his movements slow and deliberate. The bleacher stands fall silent instantly, the weight of the moment settling over everyone like a heavy blanket.
“This year’s winner of the Kingdom Innovation Grant,” the old wolf begins, his voice steady and formal, ‘is a pack that has demonstrated unparalleled vision, leadership, and the ability to adapt to the challenges of our modern era. Their proposal for sustainable pack resources and trade alliances has set a new standard for what it means to lead in uncertain times.”
For the first time in years, I feel a spark of hope. Windhowl isn’t just surviving. We’re thriving.
1 glance at Lila, who stands to my left, her posture relaxed, her expression confident. She’s certain of the outcome. She always is.
But me?
I’m not so sure.
“In recognition of their groundbreaking proposal,” the judge continues, “and their dedication to the prosperity of the kingdom as a whole, we are pleased to announce that this year’s winner is…”
He pauses, and the entire room seems to hold its breath.
“…Windhowl Pack.”
The words hit like a thunderclap,
I turn away, my heart pounding. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. But for now, I’ll take the victory. For my pack. For Windhowl. For me.
AS
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