“She’s here with her uncle and aunt while her parents work for the Alpha King.” My dad’s words immediately catch my attention. She? No one mentioned anything about a new girl visiting the pack.

Then, just as the thought crosses my mind, she walks in. And damn, does she know how to make an entrance. Strutting across the training grounds with casual confidence, the new girl glances around briefly before moving toward the far side of the group, opposite from where the guys and I are standing. She’s gorgeous—tall, fit, and commanding attention without even trying.

“Did you know a new girl was coming?” I murmur to Ryan, standing closest to me.

“My parents mentioned something,” he replies with a shrug. “She’s doing her sophomore year here. Her parents are off on some mission for the Alpha King, so she’s staying with family.”

I grin. “I call dibs. The girls around here are needy and boring. I need someone new.”

Ryan snorts. “Dibs? What if she’s not into your ugly ass?”

“She will be,” I say confidently. “I’m the best-looking out of all of us. If anyone’s getting her attention, it’s me.”

“Wanna bet?” Aaron asks, a mischievous glint in his eye.

I raise a brow. “What are the stakes?”

Aaron smirks. “Get her to show up at the bonfire tonight—but it can’t be a date.”

“She has to come on her own,” Ryan adds.

“And you have to be the first guy she talks to,” Ethan chimes in.

Aaron leans closer, grinning. “And you can’t approach her. She has to come to you.”

Damn. They’re really stacking the odds against me. I’ll have to keep Stacey and the other leeches busy, or the new girl will never get the chance to come near me. “Fine,” I say, shaking Ryan’s hand. “But if I win, none of you can poach her.”

“Deal.” They all respond in unison, grinning like wolves on the hunt.

I glance back toward the new girl, trying to figure out my approach, but before I can make a move, I see my dad’s second-in-command pair her with Selene. Leo’s sister? I blink in surprise. I hadn’t even realized she was at training today. She usually sticks to the shadows. If she and Leo didn’t look so alike, you’d never guess they were siblings.

Where Leo is outgoing and serious about his future as Beta, Selene is shy and keeps to herself. She’s always hidden behind baggy clothes that make her look smaller than she is, and with how quiet she stays, it’s easy to forget she’s even here.

Training today is supposed to be a formality for us future leaders—showing up just to set a good example. We’ve already learned most of these moves through extra training that no one else knows about. But now Dad’s calling for a demonstration, and things are about to get interesting.

“I think a demonstration is in order,” my dad announces, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. “Kylie, Selene, show us how the new defensive move is supposed to look.”

The guys and I exchange confused glances as we gather around the circle forming on the mats. Selene? Why would Dad use her as a demonstrator? She’s tiny compared to Kylie. There’s no way this will be a fair fight.

Selene is standing still, her gaze locked on my dad in what looks like a silent standoff. The crowd around us snickers and jeers, and I feel Leo stiffen beside me. He’s always been protective of Selene—more like a parent than a brother, given how their dad treats her. She’s probably only introverted because of all the crap she’s had to deal with.

My dad’s booming voice silences the murmurs. “Kylie, you’re on the attack. Selene, use the new defensive move. Let’s see if you can pin her in under thirty seconds again.”

Again? What the hell does he mean by again? The other guys look just as confused as I am.

“No way she pulls that off,” someone mutters from the crowd. “Not in thirty seconds.”

A snarky male voice echoes louder, followed by more laughter. “No way she even gets close.”

I smirk, mentally taking note of who said that. I’m definitely going to pair with him later.

Back on the mat, Selene and Kylie face off, both of them focused and ready. My dad gives them a simple, dry command: “Set… GO!”

Selene moves the instant he says the word. Fast—too fast.

Kylie tries to feign left, dipping down to catch Selene with her shoulder, but Selene’s already a step ahead. She drives her knee toward Kylie’s chest, knocking the wind out of her, then follows with a sharp elbow to her back.

Kylie reacts on instinct, wrapping her arms around Selene’s waist in an attempt to bring her down, but Selene rolls with the momentum. In a fluid twist, Selene lands on top, pinning Kylie’s throat with her knee and locking her arm in an unbreakable hold.

It’s over in a heartbeat. Less than ten seconds.

The crowd falls silent.

Even my dad looks impressed as he pats Selene’s shoulder, coaxing her back to reality. She releases Kylie and helps her up, her expression still sharp and focused.

My dad turns toward the rest of us, grinning.

“Less than ten seconds,” he announces, holding up his stopwatch for everyone to see. “Damn, Devin—looks like she beat your best takedown time. By a lot.”

Laughter ripples through the group, and I feel my jaw drop.

“What the f*ck just happened?” Ethan mutters beside me.

“I blinked and missed half of it,” Aaron says, still stunned.

Ryan smirks, slapping me on the back. “Looks like your reign is over, buddy. Little Selene just stole your crown.”

I shake my head, still in shock—but I can’t help laughing with them.

My dad strolls over, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe now you’ll take this training more seriously,” he teases. “Those two are your biggest competition, and you didn’t even know it.”

He glances at Selene, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. “She’s the best trainee I’ve got—including you.”

He throws a playful wink at Kylie. “And I think Kylie’s not far behind.”

Ryan’s laughter turns mischievous. “That was the hottest thing I’ve seen since summer training.”

Aaron rolls his eyes. “Pretty sure the girl from summer training thought you were a pansy.”

“Doesn’t make two girls grappling any less hot,” Ryan replies with a grin.

Leo growls beside us. “You are not putting my little sister on your list.”

Ryan shrugs, grinning. “What can I say? She’s growing up, and those baggy clothes aren’t hiding much.”

Leo glares at him. “Watch it.”

I just laugh, my mind already working on my next move. If Selene is this impressive, I think I know exactly how to win my bet.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ve found a reason to look forward to tonight’s bonfire.