BANE OF THE ALPHA

penetrable wall. The full moon cast an eerie glow over the landscape, but all she could focus on was the tension

ver her, unyielding and suffocating. Every step she took felt like

dn't keep the edge from creeping in. The answer was always just out of rea

faint, unreadable smile. "I've already told you. You have

ed a beat. "Wha

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

avering, and for a moment, Rowena felt like she was the prey being stalked by the

uggling to keep her voice steady as the

You'll learn everything you need to survive here. You'll learn to fight

here submission and hierarchy were the law of the land. But she never thought

ubbling up. "I'm not your pawn, not your toy to be pla

ver encountered. He stepped closer to her, his presence overwhelming, suffocating her with his inten

e almost mocking. "This isn't about what you want. It's about what's

lessness. 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

to prove that she wasn't as weak as they thought. But it wasn't that simple. Her

"You don't belong here because you're weak, Rowena," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "You belong here b

. "Power? I don't

ving into a knowing smile. "You

und them. Rowena could hear the quiet murmurs of the pack, their voices filled with curiosity a

carrying across the clearing, "we will see just how strong she

mean?" she demanded, her voice risi

lves who had gathered, and Rowena's eyes widened as she saw a co

st she had asked for, but it seemed

male with deep gray fur, to step forward. "Garric

is posture was tense, his muscles coiled like a spring. Rowena knew immediately that he wasn't just

ght with fear. "You said I was st

t, she saw a flicker of something in his gaze-something

aid, his tone calm but unwavering, "wh

stincts kicked in, and she sidestepped just in time to avoid his teeth sinking into her flesh. The mom

in, this time with a low growl. She felt the adrenaline surge throug

fight for survival-it was a lesson. A l

graceful, as though he were testing her limits. Rowena's heart pounded in her

tter how much she fought, she knew that

hrough the clearing, the weigh

lf, Rowena. Prove that yo