CHAPTER 66: THE AMBUSH

Before she could take a step toward Roman, a trembling hush took over the crowd, the kind that spreads when everyone knows the dominant power in the room has risen.

And that was because he had stood.

Alpha Ashbourne Sinclair. The Alpha of the West.

He rose from the honoured guest platform with this quiet, effortless authority that carried around the whole arena.

Conversations died mid-sentence. Second-years straightened up, killing the intense whispers burning between them, and few that were close to him bowed instinctively - their wolves unable to help themselves.

Ashbourne stepped forward to the railing, his black cloak catching the wind, the embroidery of a dark horse glinting as the cloak swept.

His firm gaze swept over every detail around him.

The lingering dust cloud. The deep gouges on the wall. The bloody sand.

And then, her.

She froze when his gaze touched her.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t angry.

It was the look of a man assessing a weapon.

"Students of Gravemont Academy," He began, his tone carrying that heavy, consuming depth.

The arena was so silent now, it was as if everyone had held their breath.

"You have given me a spectacle befitting the name of this institution. Today, I witnessed strength. I witnessed failure. I witnessed spirit. And I witnessed the unforgiving truth of what it means to be an Alpha,"

His gaze flicked briefly to the destroyed portion of the arena and then he continued, "Combat is not elegance. It is not restraint. It is survival. And survival demands brutality,"

He paused, letting that settle down to the bones of everyone listening, especially the first years who could hear him all the way down to the clinic.

"In this arena, rank does not protect you. Age does not protect you and legacy will do so little to protect you," His eyes moved back to Theo, and she held her breath "Only ability will,"

"To the first-years who bled today, you have tasted your place. And to the second-years who assumed dominance... You have seen that expectations can be shattered in a single strike,"

A few second-years bristled visibly.

Theo kept her chin up, refusing to look away from the Alpha’s stare.

"And let today also serve as a reminder: your enemies, both within and beyond these walls, will not hesitate. They will not warn you. They will not soften themselves for your comfort,"

His words reminded her of Cain. How long would these walls protect her? Would Cain ever give up the intention of marrying her, or would she be stuck trying to hide from his shadow for the rest of her life while carrying her own demons?

Then the Alpha’s final words hit the arena like a closing verdict, "Today marks the beginning of your path. For some, a promising one. For others, a warning. But for all..." His voice deepened, becoming heavy with command, "Let this day be remembered. Let it shape you. Let it scar you. And let it harden you."

He spread his hand slightly, as if dismissing the very world itself.

"With that, the trials end. The first phase of evaluation is complete. Rest. Recover. And prepare. Gravemont does not sleep, and neither should ambition. You are all dismissed!"

The arena erupted into a deafening storm of whispers, glances, tension, and fear-tainted awe.

Alpha Ashbourne stared at her for a short while. His heavy gaze scanned too hard, as if he knew this student from somewhere but just couldn’t put it into place.

Realising she was being studied, a look of guilt and fear flashed across her eyes before she looked away.

Damn it, she shouldn’t have done that. It would only make her appear more guilty.

Ashbourne narrowed his eyes slightly, then he turned away, his cloak sweeping behind him as he left along with the Commandant and a few other teachers.

Theo exhaled shakily, thankful that it did not escalate.

The murmurs from the sidelines of the Second-years were getting louder, but she didn’t care about that right now.

She turned her attention back to Roman, ready to confront him, but she caught him running out of the arena as quickly as he could.

Good. He should run. Because with the kind of anger she was harbouring right now, she would tear him into pieces if she even heard his voice.

Just then, she caught Zeke also walking out of the arena. Their eyes met for a second, and she watched him through her bloody face as he left.

Good. It was best he left, too.

Theo also left the arena, heading straight for the old greenhouse she had hidden the first time she was in this school. It was a perfect place to stay for the rest of the day and calm her nerves down.

The Greenhouse was exactly as she remembered. Broken glass panels above where the sunlight filtered through, abandoned pots, overgrown vines and rotten wood benches.

She stared at the spot where she had found Zeke lying that day, recalling the shock of her reaction when she didn’t notice him earlier.

Shaking her head, she dropped into an overturned trough. Her hands were still shaking, and her mind kept replaying her match against Eric.

She wished it hadn’t unfolded that way.

Inside her, Seraphina was still restless and angry.

*We shouldn’t relax here,* Seraphina murmured, *Your scent is everywhere. Someone could find you,*

Theo was still mad at her wolf, so she ignored her and closed her eyes, leaning back against the cool wall. She just waited to escape reality for a moment, she wanted to take several deep breaths and forget about her problems for a second.

But the universe has always had this dark sense of humour toward her, and Theo got that tingling sensation that she wasn’t alone.

To prove her point, a soft crunch from outside broke the silence and her eyes snapped open.

She heard light footsteps, many of them, surrounding the place.

*The Second-Years are here* Seraphina stated.

Theo moved silently towards the nearest shattered pane and peered outside. Shadows moved quickly and quietly, closing in on her.

And just as Seraphina had said, she could sense wolves.

Dozens of them.

They were here for her.

Good. Now she could stop imagining everything was alright and had something to throw all her rage at.

As expected, the Greenhouse exploded at the other end as a wolf burst inward, splintered wood and shattered glass flying around. Its eyes glowed Golden, with feral rage.

The next one followed.

Then, the next.

One by one, they surrounded her.

They bared their teeth, fangs dripping and claws tearing through the vines with their venomous flares.

*This is a dream come true* Seraphina surged within her, with a wide, hungry snarl, *Let me out, Theo*

*You’ll have your fun* Theo said, falling into an offensive stance as she transformed partially, *I promise. For now, the first few are mine!*

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