08 – THE SUPREME ALPHA’S TEST

POV: AIRYS

“Chosen one?” I asked, confused, trying to understand what it meant. “What does that mean?”

Daimon didn’t answer. His gaze remained fixed on the woman with celestial eyes, as if the conversation didn’t involve me at all. A chill ran down my spine.

What was I doing here?

“Begin the test.” Daimon ordered, his deep voice echoing through the hall.

“What test?” My voice rose, trying to break the wall of silence. “What are you going to do to me?!”

No one answered.

Before I could react, something struck me. My body lost its balance, and my vision blurred. The air was ripped from my lungs, and the floor vanished beneath my feet. The hall disappeared. Time ceased to exist.

My head was spinning when I found myself in an unfamiliar place.

Thick mist covered the ground, crawling around as if it had a life of its own. The damp smell of earth invaded my nostrils. My entire body prickled, the feeling of danger becoming unbearable.

“It’s dangerous for us to stay here.” A voice whispered around me, low and gentle.

I spun on my heels. There was no one there.

A roar sounded in the distance, deep and menacing. The sound reverberated in my chest like a warning that something was close. My breathing became irregular, and fear took hold of every fiber of my being.

“Is anyone there?!” My voice came out louder than I expected. Silence was my only answer.

“What’s happening?” I murmured, trying to stay in control.

The sound of claws scraping the ground echoed behind me. The dry, dragging noise made my heart race. Something big was there. Too close.

My legs reacted before my mind could catch up. I ran. My body surged forward through the trees, my feet stepping on something that cracked under the impact. I looked down, and terror hit me—it wasn’t dry branches like I had thought.

They were bones.

My steps faltered. I leaped to the side, trying to get away from the ground covered in skeletal remains.

“Where am I?” My voice came out shaky.

The fog around me seemed to move, dense and suffocating. Emptiness stretched in every direction. There was no sense of direction. No way out.

Something moved in the darkness.

“Prey...” A guttural voice echoed all around, followed by a deep roar and a sharp hiss that made the air vibrate. “My chosen one!”

My heart hammered.

“Chosen for what?” I shouted, trying to contain the panic.

Something enormous and ferocious moved among the shadows. Instinct screamed at me to run. And I obeyed.

My feet burned with every step. I looked down and realized I was barefoot, a thin white dress covering my body. The cold from the mist seeped into my skin, but the fear was far stronger.

I looked around desperately. Where was I supposed to go?

Three doors appeared in front of me. One red as blood, one white as snow, and another black as coal. Each one marked with symbols that glowed faintly in the dimness.

I was confused. Was this part of the test? Which one was I supposed to choose?

The white one looked safe. My fingers trembled as they touched the doorknob. I pulled hard. Nothing. The door didn’t move.

My jaw tightened. The symbols looked familiar, almost human. But if that was the case, why wouldn’t it open?

“The other door.” The mysterious voice whispered around me.

Time seemed to slip through my fingers. The presence behind me was getting closer. The ground vibrated with the weight of whatever was there.

I had no choice.

I swallowed hard and turned toward the next door.

Furthermore, I tried the black one. The carvings were strange and indecipherable. My heart hammered against my chest, desperation growing stronger. I pulled the doorknob with force, my sweaty fingers slipping on the cold metal. Nothing. The door didn’t move.

The smell of blood filled the air. The stench was suffocating.

I’m going to die here!

My breathing became ragged. I looked back and saw the darkness shifting—something enormous and dangerous advancing. My muscles locked for a second, but I couldn’t stop. I pounded on the door, threw my weight against it, and punched hard. Nothing happened.

“Only one left…” I murmured, my voice weak and filled with fear.

My eyes darted to the last door. Red as blood. The symbols on it were familiar.

The ancient language of the Lycans.

The sound behind me grew louder. Heavy footsteps crushed the ground, getting closer and closer. The air thickened as I felt the creature’s hot breath brush against the back of my neck.

My body froze. A low growl reverberated behind me.

My instinct screamed. “Run!”

I spun around, yanked the red door open with all my strength, and threw myself inside at the last second.

Something sharp tore across my back. Pain exploded in a hot, burning slash. I gasped, stumbling forward, my legs giving out from the impact.

The door slammed shut behind me.

My body fell forward, my arms instinctively rising to protect me from hitting the cold floor. But before I could crash into the hard surface, strong hands caught me firmly, stopping me from falling.

The touch was warm, solid. Strong enough to hold me in place, pinning me with ease. The heat against my skin contrasted sharply with the icy environment around us.

I gasped, heart racing, and lifted my gaze.

Daimon.

His eyes—intense and predatory—were fixed on me. Something in them shone, something I couldn’t quite decipher. His expression was closed off, but the way his fingers pressed into my waist revealed more than he probably wanted.

He didn’t release me right away. He stayed right there, studying me, his brow slightly furrowed. I could feel his breath—slow and controlled—while the silence between us stretched and grew heavier.

The woman with starry eyes remained completely still, watching the scene with a small smile.

“Straight into the beast’s arms.” Her voice was low, heavy with meaning. “The paths are entwined.”

My breathing was ragged. Daimon’s grip on my waist tightened for a brief moment before he finally let me go.

My hands trembled as I tried to catch my breath. My entire body throbbed. What the hell had just happened?