The training

Fifty-five minutes later, I found the training yard.

It was a large open space with workout equipment, sparring mats, and an obstacle course that looked designed to kill people.

Jax waited for me, arms crossed. Zara stood beside him. So did five other wolves I didn't know.

"You're early," Jax said. "Good. Shows you can follow basic instructions."

"What are we doing?" I asked.

"Testing you." Zara cracked her knuckles. "We need to know what we're working with. So you're going to fight me."

My stomach dropped. "Fight you?"

"That's what I said. Unless you're scared?" She smiled. "It's okay to be scared, little Pack wolf. I promise I'll try not to break anything important."

The other wolves laughed.

I looked at Jax. "Is this really necessary?"

"Victor's orders. He wants to see what you can do. Or can't do." Jax gestured to the sparring mat. "Get on the mat, Tracker. Let's see if you're worth the trouble."

I stepped onto the mat.

Zara followed, rolling her shoulders. She was bigger than me. Stronger. More experienced.

This was going to hurt.

"Rules are simple," Jax called out. "Fight until someone submits or can't continue. No wolf forms. No killing. Everything else is fair game."

"Ready, princess?" Zara asked.

I raised my fists. "Ready."

"Good."

She moved like lightning.

One second she was across the mat. The next, her fist was flying toward my face.

I barely dodged. Her knuckles grazed my cheek, hard enough to make my eyes water.

I swung back. She blocked easily and swept my legs.

I hit the mat hard, air rushing from my lungs.

"Too slow," Zara said. "Again."

I rolled away as her boot came down where my head had been. Scrambled to my feet.

She was already attacking again. Faster than anyone I'd ever fought.

I blocked. Dodged. Tried to find an opening.

Nothing worked.

She was toying with me. I could see it in her eyes. She could end this anytime she wanted.

Pride burned in my chest. I wasn't just going to roll over.

Zara threw a punch. I ducked under it and drove my shoulder into her stomach, using her momentum against her.

She stumbled back, surprised.

The other wolves murmured.

"Not bad," Zara admitted. "You've got instincts. But instincts aren't enough."

She came at me again. Harder this time. Faster.

I tried to keep up. Really tried.

But she was too good.

A kick to my ribs. An elbow to my jaw. A throw that sent me crashing into the mat again.

Pain exploded through my body.

"Submit," Zara said, standing over me.

"No."

"Submit or I keep going."

I tried to stand. My legs wouldn't work right. Everything hurt.

But I wasn't going to quit on my first day.

I pushed myself up on shaking arms.

"Stubborn," Zara said. She sounded almost impressed. "Stupid, but stubborn."

She raised her fist for another strike.

"Enough."

Victor's voice cut through the yard.

Everyone froze.

He walked toward the mat, his expression unreadable. When he reached me, he crouched down to my level.

"You lost," he said simply.

"I know."

"But you didn't quit. Even when you should have."

"No."

Something flickered in his dark eyes. Approval, maybe.

He stood and addressed the group. "This is what I want from all of you. Loyalty. Determination. The refusal to break." He looked down at me again. "Get up, Tracker. Training isn't over."

I dragged myself to my feet, tasting blood.

Zara stepped forward. "Boss, she needs medical—"

"She needs to learn." Victor's tone left no room for argument. "Pain is the best teacher. Aria, you have five minutes. Then we run the obstacle course."

He walked away.

Jax handed me a water bottle. "Drink. You're going to need it."

I drank, my hands shaking.

Five minutes.

Then I had to prove myself all over again.

Welcome to the Den, I thought bitterly.

This was going to be the longest year of my life.