My stomach tightened. I glanced to my right. Thankful that it was not Finn. I did not want to find my friend. But it was a broad-shouldered Alpha with narrowed eyes that was already sizing me up, good. "The winners will then face another one-on-one round. This continues until only twenty Alphas remain." The crowd shifted with renewed murmurs. Twenty out of nearly a hundred. Brutal odds. "Those twenty," the instructor continued, his eyes gleaming, "will enter the final stage: a last-standing match. No alliances. No rules. The Alpha who remains conscious at the end will be the victor. They will be rewarded with the highest recognition and the hierarchy room!" My heart thudded harder. Among all of these Alphas, I had to be the last standing even if my body would be worn out. It was the cost of the freedom, the privacy that was of the utmost importance for me at this academy. "All combatants, to your starting marks!" the instructor barked. The arena buzzed to life as Alphas spread out across the training ground. I stepped onto the dirt-packed center and cracked my knuckles. Across from me, my opponent-a cocky Alpha from the West pack-flexed his neck like he was already celebrating. His mistake. A loud horn blew, signaling the start of the first round. He lunged. Sloppy. Predictable. I dodged his fist, twisted behind him, and drove my elbow into his spine. He staggered, then I swept his legs out from beneath him and pinned him to the ground in one fluid motion. A gasp rippled through the crowd. "Winner: Alpha Seth Darven!? the instructor shouted. I stood and dusted off my hands, breathing evenly. As I made my way back to the line, I felt them. Eyes. I didn't need to look to know who they belonged to. Dante. He stood in the shade arms crossed, his gaze burning a hole through my skull. Cold. Curious. Possessive. But for some reason my eyes went to another figure just behind the railing Ronan. His eyes weren't cold. They were sharp. Focused. Watching me like I was something dangerous… or something- I swallowed hard and turned away. "Hey!" Finn's voice rang out as he jogged toward me, a grin splitting his face. "We won at almost at the same time." I laughed, bumping his shoulder. "Of course you did. You're secretly terrifying" I had seen the silent and shy type Finn portrayed for who he really was. He was actually incredibly strong and powerful "Shh. Let them keep underestimating me," he winked. I laughed only to feel a pair of cold eyes drilling a hole in the side of my face I followed that feeling and found Ronan glaring at me. What's his deal?" I said in my mind. "Is he crazy? " Phina frowned as well, "Yeah, what crazy mood swings this Alpha is having as if we have done him wrong in some way?!" Ignoring him, I stood side by side with Finn on the winner's side, sharing a moment of quiet pride before the second round was called. Finn said, "I'm gonna hit the men's room before the next match." T 8:18 。 I stood alone for a while, watching others still locked in combat. Time passed. My nerves began to settle again. But as the second round contestants were being called… Finn didn't return. I glanced toward the dorm building. No sign of him. "Alpha Seth Darven," soon my name was called. I stepped forward and my opponent was a crazy Alpha with insane physical strength and height! He was close to seven feet tall When facing that kind of opponent, we needed a brain to defeat them as it was not a real life and death fight. So I finished it by catching him off guard and slamming his head against the ground. He was knocked out and I won. I stepped out of the ring catching my breath when- "Alpha Finn Hart, to the arenal" the instructor called. Heads turned. My pulse stuttered. He was still gone. I scanned the crowd. Nothing. Five seconds passed. Ten. Still no Finn. A quiet warning crept into my thoughts. Something was wrong. Very wrong. The second round was already underway. More and more victors were returning to the winners' side, bloodied and breathless, while Finn's name still echoed unanswered across the combat ground. The Alpha instructor's jaw ticked as he crossed his arms, scanning the group. His patience was unraveling fast. "Alpha Finn Hart," he called again, louder this time, voice sharp with authority. "Final warning." My chest tightened. Where the hell was he? I didn't even think. I sprinted forward, pushing through the crowd and toward the instructor before logic could stop me. "Alpha!" I called, breathless as I reached him. His eyes narrowed on me, expression unreadable. "Yes?" I forced calm into my yoice. "Finn… he's not skipping. His stomach, he's got a stomach ache. Something he ate earlier. But he'll be back. He just needs a moment." The instructor raised a skeptical brow. "Convenient." "I swear it's not an excuse. He's not the type to back out. He's probably doubled over in pain somewhere." A beat passed Then, with a reluctant grunt, he nodded. "Fine, but listen closely." I stilled. "From this moment on, he'll face whoever is left standing. That means the stronger the opponents, the worse it'll be for him. If he delays too long, he'll be up against the best." 374 P P . I backed away and returned to the winners' line, anxiety buzzing in my bloodstream. I scanned the area, still no sign of Finn. Where are you? I tried not to fidget. Not to pace. But time was slipping away, and so were his chances. Then it happened. Someone brushed past me. Fast. Intentional. I looked up, but the person was already gone, swallowed into the crowd. A folded scrap of paper now sat in my hand. I secretly unfolded it. One sentence. Scrawled in sharp, uneven ink. " You sent your friend to die here in your place ? I thought so highly of you , Seth Darven . Now he is here and ready to die for you . I have to admit that's true friendship . " My heart plummeted to my feet. It seemed someone had asked me and laid a trap for me but Finn….he went in my place. Send Gifts