CHAPTER 27: SPECIAL TRAINING CENTER.

"Where are we?" Victoria asked, her voice laced with confusion as she stood between her two brothers. They flanked her like bodyguards, their broad shoulders tense, gazes fixed on the small building ahead. An elegant sign hung above the door, its lettering reading: Special Training Center.

But what truly left the trio speechless was the sight beyond the gate.. five figures, both male and female, moving swiftly within the building’s open courtyard.

"You know that already, sister," Theo muttered, not taking his eyes off the structure.

Victoria crossed her arms, her brow arching in suspicion. "Yeah, I can know that, but... what’s with those people moving around? Am I not supposed to be the only one training here?"

Callum placed a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Well, I’m afraid not," he said with a sigh. "Students from other powerful families are here. This isn’t a private training ground anyways but the special training ground for students. Honestly, I think they only accepted you because of Alpha Darius. Otherwise, no one would care if you failed or succeeded especially not now, when you’ve already crossed the three most powerful alphas at school."

Victoria let out an exasperated groan. "Oh, please, enough with the ’you’ve offended the three alphas’ thing," she snapped, irritation flashing in her eyes. Theo and Callum immediately fell silent, recognizing the warning in her tone.

After a beat, Callum cleared his throat and continued. "Anyway, let’s focus. Unfortunately, Theo and I won’t be allowed to stay with you at the training center. You’ll be required to live here, on-site, until the examination day. If I’m right, that’s exactly five days from now."

"Wait... I’ll live here?" Victoria asked, disbelief coloring her voice. Her gaze flicked back to the students inside. "Live here with them?"

Theo nodded slowly. "Oh yeah, little sister. And to be honest with you, those guys and girls from the prestigious families... they’re not going to be friendly. You’ve been trending all over the school network, and after you disrespected their beloved alphas, they’ll be itching to make your life miserable. They’ll want to impress those three alphas, gain favor and the easiest way to do that is to make you their target."

Victoria’s expression darkened, but she remained silent as her brother continued.

"That said," Callum added, his voice low and sincere, "you still have a choice to leave though. There are over a thousand training centers. Students were divided randomly, and you just happened to be assigned here. If you want, you can opt out of the training entirely. You don’t have to live on the grounds. You can stay home and show up only on exam day to take the test. Or, in some cases, the exam might even be delivered to your residence. No one will think less of you if you skip the training. Honestly, it might be the smarter choice. Theo and I wouldn’t be able to protect you properly."

Victoria let out a sharp scoff, folding her arms tightly across her chest. She stared ahead, eyes narrowing on the figures still moving gracefully through the courtyard, then toward the heavy door her supposed tutors had entered moments before.

A tense silence stretched between the siblings until Victoria spoke.

"I’ll stay," she said firmly. Her voice was clear, unwavering, and filled with quiet resolve.

"Huh?" Theo blurted, startled. "Victoria, do you even realize what you’re saying right now? Skipping the training doesn’t make you a failure. You can still take the exam and pass it just fine. And once you’re in the academy, your four brothers will make sure no one lays a hand on you. You don’t need to go through this hell."

But Victoria shook her head, her jaw clenched and eyes blazing.

"I’m not going anywhere," she said, louder this time. "I’ve already come this far, and I’m not turning back now. I’m curious about what those students and so-called instructors are up to. I want to see it for myself. I’m not scared."

Theo opened his mouth to argue again, but Victoria silenced him with a look.

"You can’t be serious, Victoria," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "This place is dangerous. And that’s not even considering the fact that you’re hated here. When Damien told you to apologize to the heirs and you refused, I supported you, remember? I didn’t say a word against you. But this is different. This isn’t politics or social standing. This is survival."

Victoria offered them a forced but reassuring smile. "You two can go now. I’ll be fine, I promise. You don’t need to worry about me."

Callum let out a long, resigned sigh, his eyes filled with sadness. "Well... it’s your choice then," he said quietly. "But just so you know, Theo and I will only come check on you during the evening visiting hours. We’ll make sure you’re not entirely alone."

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Wait, are you telling me you can’t walk me through the gates right now? I won’t see either of you again until tomorrow evening?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Callum said, frowning. "The center has strict rules. Once you step through that gate, you’re officially in training. No family access until visiting time."

Victoria let out a disbelieving laugh, short, bitter, and sharp. "This is insane," she muttered.

"Oh, yeah," Theo replied, releasing a deep sigh. "I packed so much stuff thinking we were heading to the mountain, forest for your training. I even brought rations, water filters, survival kits... Never thought Father would pay your way into the structured training facility like this alongside others, no less. What in the world was he thinking?"

"You can’t bring any food inside," Callum added, his expression grim. "The training center provides everything, meals, clothing, supplies. You’re not allowed to take anything in with you. Just yourself. That’s the rule. So, tell me again, Victoria... are you really sure about staying here?" His eyes narrowed, concern heavy in his voice. "You haven’t stepped through the gate yet. It’s not too late to leave. No one would fault you."

Victoria smiled faintly, though her expression was more steely than serene. "The little tricks they’re planning to pull on me won’t work, brothers. You really should calm down and go home." She tilted her chin upward, her gaze unwavering. "I’m capable. There are just five other students here, aren’t there? I’m sure I’ll find a way to deal with them."

Her calm certainty left both brothers speechless.

"Goodbye, brothers," she added softly. "I’ll be expecting you during the evening visitation."

Then, without giving either of them a chance to protest further, Victoria turned toward the entry gate of the training house. Two tall, burly men stood posted on either side, their faces blank but watchful.

’Since I’m here, there’s no point turning back now.’ Her thoughts churned as she walked. ’I know what this training entails. I know blood will be spilled, students will fight tooth and nail just for a chance to be admitted into the academy.’

’Even though I never attended the academy in my first life, I learned a lot just by observing during my time at the mansion. I know how things operate behind closed doors. And now that I’m here... I’m ready to face it. Whatever it is.’

Without glancing back at her brothers for one last look, Victoria stepped forward and crossed the threshold of the training house.

**

"She really made up her mind, huh?" Theo muttered, folding his arms across his chest with a slow shake of his head. "Our little sister... she’s become bold. She doesn’t look like the timid, naive girl we once knew. She’s different. Stronger."

Callum’s eyes were locked on the building, sorrow flickering in their depths. "Even if she’s bold now, we still have to protect her no matter what. Especially now that she’s caught the attention of the three Alphas. But at least this time... it wasn’t us who handed her over. We didn’t spread the secret of her blood. We didn’t tell Mother."

His jaw clenched. "This second life....it needs to be different. It must be. We dedicate this one to protecting Victoria, no matter the cost."

Theo nodded slowly. "Yeah. I was misled once. Fooled. But not this time. Never again." He frowned deeply, thinking aloud. "I’m glad Damien and Lucian haven’t turned out to be vile in this life. But it makes me wonder... could they have gotten a second chance too? And we just don’t know it?"

He paused, his voice lowering. "People don’t just change overnight. Especially not Mother. Shouldn’t she be poisoning Father’s mind by now? Why hasn’t she made a move? Or is she just playing a longer game this time, a more calculated plan to destroy Victoria later on?"

Callum exhaled heavily. "Right now, the only thing that matters is protecting Victoria. Maybe it’s a good thing not everyone remembers the past. Just the two of us knowing is enough. We’ll protect her with everything we’ve got. It’s obvious she doesn’t fully understand the dangers yet. She’s acting confident, sure but this path she’s chosen is riddled with risk."

He paused, his tone darkening. "Still, I made arrangements. There’s already a bodyguard nearby, stationed around the training grounds. He’s an assassin, trained in elite swordsmanship. And he swore on his life that he’d protect Victoria, no matter what."

Theo placed a hand firmly on Callum’s shoulder. "Good. She can count on us and now him too." He glanced at the gates one last time. "Let’s go. We’ll come back during visiting hours."

With one final look at the training center, the brothers turned and walked silently toward their parked car, their hearts heavy with both pride and dread.