The heavy logs under my hands were slick with dew as I planted myself at the base of the first obstacle, heart pounding with adrenaline. Warrior Osiston’s voice still echoed in my ears: “Go!”

No warm-up, no walkthrough—just a headfirst dive into the Elite Warrior way. I pushed off the ground, springing up the rounded incline of the first log. My legs burned from the sharp angle, but I scrambled to the top and leaped to the next without hesitation.

It was exhilarating, the challenge coursing through me like fire. This was nothing like the neatly organized, controlled obstacle course back at Blue Crescent. Here, the stakes felt higher. The space between the logs was wider than anything I’d done before, and the sheer drop on either side of each plank forced me to focus on every move.

The course was massive, sprawling across a section of the compound I hadn’t even realized existed. From where I stood, I could make out towering cargo nets, rope bridges that looked more like death traps, and unevenly spaced walls designed to test agility. My wolf growled her approval.

This is going to be fun, she murmured. But don’t get cocky. Let’s focus on not falling to our death first.

“Right,” I muttered to myself, landing awkwardly on the next log. My legs wobbled, the elevated beam unforgiving beneath me, but I managed to steady myself before sprinting forward.

The obstacles came one after another, each more challenging than the last. A wall with no footholds? I climbed it using sheer upper body strength and determination. A ten-foot gap with only a hanging rope to swing across? I gritted my teeth, ignored the sweat dripping into my eyes, and made the jump.

The cargo net loomed ahead, stretched between two poles at least twenty feet high. As I reached it, my chest heaving, I could feel Warrior Osiston’s gaze on me from across the field.

“Focus, Little One,” I heard him shout. “This isn’t about speed—it’s about execution!”

Great, I thought, gripping the net tightly as I began my ascent. No pressure.

The net swayed dangerously with every movement, threatening to send me tumbling to the ground below. My arms screamed in protest as I climbed higher and higher, but I forced myself to keep going. This wasn’t just a physical test—it was mental too. A warrior who panicked was a warrior who failed.

As I reached the top, the wind whipping through my short hair, I allowed myself a small smile. It wasn’t just the height or the accomplishment that thrilled me—it was the knowledge that I was finally proving I belonged here.

Kaley’s lies, Stacey’s sabotage, none of it matters anymore. This is my chance to rebuild myself.

I descended the net quickly, landing with a soft thud and immediately sprinting toward the next obstacle. A wooden wall, slick with mud, stood ahead. My wolf surged forward in my mind, lending me strength as I vaulted over it. The mud beneath me was cold and sticky, clinging to my clothes and hands, but I didn’t stop.

This wasn’t just a trial. It was freedom.

By the time I reached the rope bridge, my muscles were quivering with exhaustion. The narrow beam below was slick, and the rope above was frayed and uneven. The drop was at least thirty feet, a fall that would hurt even with my werewolf healing.

You can do this, my wolf growled. One step at a time.

I placed one foot in front of the other, gripping the top rope tightly. The bridge swayed with every movement, and the strain in my shoulders from holding myself steady felt like fire. My breath came in ragged gasps, but I didn’t let go.

Halfway across, a gust of wind hit me, throwing me off balance. I froze, my heart slamming against my ribs. Below, the ground seemed impossibly far away.

Focus! my wolf snapped. One. Step. At a time.

I tightened my grip on the rope and adjusted my footing, forcing myself to breathe deeply. One step, then another. The end of the bridge grew closer, and with a final surge of determination, I leaped onto solid ground.

A whoop of victory escaped my lips before I could stop it.

The final stretch of the course was a sprint. My lungs burned as I pushed my legs to carry me faster, harder. The finish line was just ahead—a worn flag marking the end of the grueling trial. As I crossed it, every muscle in my body screamed in protest, but I raised my arms in triumph.

Warrior Osiston stood at the edge of the course, his arms crossed and an unreadable expression on his face. He nodded once as I staggered to a stop in front of him.

“Well done, Little One,” he said gruffly. “You didn’t fall.”

“That was…” I gasped for air, my hands on my knees. “That was insane.”

He smirked. “It was a warm-up.”

I blinked, unable to tell if he was joking. “A warm-up?”

“Tomorrow, you’ll be running it with weighted gear.”

I groaned, collapsing onto the grass. My wolf was laughing in the back of my mind.

We’ve got this, Selene. We were made for this.

Osiston crouched down beside me, his tone softening. “This wasn’t just about testing your physical limits. It was about seeing how you handle fear, pain, and exhaustion. And you handled it well.”

“Thanks, I think.” I flopped onto my back, staring up at the sky.

“Rest up, Little One. Training starts at dawn. And don’t think this means I’m going easy on you.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I muttered.

As he walked away, I let out a deep breath, my mind racing. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I had control over my future again. No Stacey, no lies, no distractions—just me, my wolf, and the training that would shape me into the warrior I was always meant to be.

And tomorrow, I would be ready.