Chapter 11 Part 2 Training

SERENA POV

“Wait right there.”

Jayden’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.

I ignored him.

I continued walking toward the wall, my spine straight, my steps deliberate. I refused to let him think he could summon me like a soldier under his command. I had endured enough humiliation for one day.

But before I could take another step, he was there.

His hand wrapped around my arm and yanked me back hard, pulling me against his solid chest. 

The sudden contact sent sparks exploding through my body, hot and electric, racing through my veins like wildfire. I sucked in a sharp breath, and I knew, without a doubt, that he felt it too.

There was no mistaking the way his body stiffened. His hand slid up, gripping my jaw firmly, forcing my face up until my eyes met his. 

His expression was thunderous. Furious. Dark.

“How dare you walk away from me,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. 

“Did I give you permission to move?”

My heart slammed violently against my ribs, but I refused to flinch. I refused to show fear.

“I don’t need your permission,” I said steadily, though my jaw ached under his grip. 

“You don’t get to control or command me, Alpha King. I am your mate. Your queen. That makes me your equal.” His grip tightened.

Pain shot through my jaw, sharp and deliberate, but I didn’t cry out. I didn’t wince. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

“Don’t try me,” he said coldly. “You are not my mate yet. Nor my queen. And you will never be my equal.” His eyes burned into mine. 

“Do not push your luck. You won’t like what happens next.” Then he shoved my face away and stepped back, severing the contact abruptly.

I staggered only slightly before regaining my balance.

Around us, the training ground had fallen unnaturally silent. I glanced around and saw warriors staring, wide-eyed, frozen. 

The moment they realized I noticed, they immediately looked away, pretending they had heard nothing.

But I knew the truth. They heard everything. Without another word, I turned back toward the obstacle course. My chest burned, not from weakness, but from fury. I would not let him break me.

I climbed the wall again. This time, faster.

My hands found their grips without hesitation. My body moved with purpose, determination fueling every muscle. 

I reached the top and dropped down smoothly on the other side, landing solidly on my feet.

Next came the swinging ropes over the pit of thick mud. Each swing required precise timing and strength. I launched myself forward, gripping the ropes tightly as my body flew through the air. 

The wind whipped my hair around my face as my muscles strained, my pulse roaring in my ears. One wrong move and I would be coated in filth.

But I didn’t fall.

I moved from rope to rope, controlled, focused, relentless, until my boots hit solid ground.

Jayden’s gaze never left me.

Every step I took, every breath I drew, he watched. The bond surged violently, heat flooding my chest, desire and anger twisting together so tightly it left me dizzy.

Finally, I reached the row of targets, dummies marked with symbols representing different pack members. 

Jayden stepped forward and placed a gun in my hand. 

“Accuracy,” he said simply. “Concentrate.”

My fingers tightened around the grip. My hands trembled slightly, but I forced them steady.

Focus, Artemis said, her presence cool and grounding as it flowed through my veins. This is not about his approval. This is our test.

I raised the gun. The first shot struck the target dead center. Then another. And another. Each strike landed perfectly.

Jayden tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, but the bond reacted violently, pulsing as if it were alive, almost celebratory.

“Not bad,” he said finally. 

Just three words. Calm. Neutral. They carried weight. Approval, or a warning. I couldn’t tell.

“But not enough,” he added, dousing whatever satisfaction I felt like cold water.

I should have known better than to expect anything from him. The final exercise was announced.

A sparring match.

Not with a dummy, but with one of Jayden’s elite warriors. My heart jumped violently.

The warrior stepped forward, tall and intimidating, his movements precise and efficient. 

The moment we began, he attacked swiftly. I dodged, countered, blocked, my body moving on instinct, Artemis guiding me, sharpening my reflexes.

Every punch. Every kick. Every shift in balance.

Jayden stood to the side, arms crossed, watching with brutal intensity. When it ended, sweat poured down my body, my muscles screamed, but I stood tall. The warrior bowed.

I didn’t. I turned toward the crowd. Some faces showed respect. Others disdain. Some were unreadable.

Jayden stepped closer, close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from him. He didn’t touch me. Didn’t speak. But the bond roared inside my chest, urgent and demanding.

He knows. He sees everything. 

“End of day one,” he announced finally.

“Tomorrow, you will continue training with the pack.” His gaze locked onto mine. “And you will spar with me.”

My breath caught. Spar with him?

Every instinct screamed warning, but Artemis hissed back, We will fight. We have to.

Jayden held my gaze for a moment longer before turning and walking away, every step radiating authority, dominance, control.

I straightened my spine, forcing my trembling muscles to relax. The real test was only beginning.

Then he stopped. He turned back and walked toward me.

What does he want now? I thought.

“You will also train with the omegas,” he said flatly. “Zora will lead your training.”

I stared at him, stunned.

“You’re joking,” I said.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he replied. “You will train with them every day after your session with the pack.”

He wanted to humiliate me.

“So I’ll train under your admirer?” I asked sharply.

He didn’t answer.

“You expect me,” I said, raising my voice, “an Alpha, the future queen of this kingdom, to be trained by your lover?”

I didn’t care that everyone was watching.

 “I won’t do it.”

“Yes, you will,” he said, gripping my shoulder. “And lower your voice. I don’t appreciate your tone.”

“Let me fight her,” I said instantly. “If I lose, I’ll train under her willingly. But if she loses, I will train the omegas, and Zora will train with them.”

A pause.

“Fine,” Jayden said. “Tomorrow. Today, you train with them.”

“Alright,” I agreed. 

Just for today.

The omegas arrived, and training began. Jayden stayed nearby, watching, watching me. I cooperated. I never saw training with omegas as weakness. They were part of us.

The session lasted thirty minutes and ended quickly.

As the omegas left, Jayden shot me one last look before walking away, leaving only me and Zora behind.

I grabbed my things and turned to leave.

“Serena, wait,” Zora called.