Chapter 40 Bloom

A low murmur spread through the crowd gathered beneath the torchlit darkness. Whispers traveled faster than the wind weaving through the ancient oak leaves overhead. Curiosity. Disbelief. Respect they could no longer hide.

Even the scent filling the air shifted.

Those who had come expecting to watch helpless prey be crushed were now staring at a hybrid whose stubborn strength refused to break. And the ones who had believed in me...

They watched with pride shining plainly in their eyes. Beta Zane stepped forward, expertly masking his surprise beneath his usual composed expression. His gaze lingered on the blood running down my chin before settling on the fact that I was still standing.

"Breathe, Bloom."

His voice was noticeably gentler this time.

"Let the wolf blood inside you do its work."

He gave a small nod.

"We're giving you a short recovery period."

At his words, I drew in a slow, steady breath and looked beyond the circle. Toward the three people waiting there.

The jealous, furious man from school was gone. Something entirely different had taken his place. The fear and helplessness I'd seen in Cassian's eyes only moments ago—when he'd been ready to sacrifice everything to pull me out of that circle—had transformed into something that filled my chest with warmth.

Pride. Wild, untamed pride.

I could feel Axel's reaction through the waves of Cassian's aura. The wolf stood tall inside him, honoring the fact that I had remained on my feet. Cassian's blue eyes practically glowed in the darkness. The possessiveness that always lingered in his gaze hadn't disappeared. But now...

It was mixed with genuine respect. Beside him, Ivy and Kai still looked stunned. Yet beneath the shock was something else. Faith. A quiet, unwavering belief in me.

For the first time since arriving in this town, I truly felt that I wasn't facing this alone.

With every passing second, I could feel the strength racing through my veins.

The fire burning inside my lungs slowly faded. The deep ache in my bones gave way to fresh energy. My healing wasn't as instantaneous as a full-blooded wolf's. Broken flesh didn't knit itself together in seconds. But compared to an ordinary human...

My body was miraculous.

Every cell renewed itself at impossible speed, steadily restoring my strength. When Zane glanced down at his stopwatch before lifting his head again, I knew my break was over.

I stepped back into the center of the rune-covered circle.

This time, Alpha Ronan remained where he stood. Instead, Beta Nova walked forward. She shrugged off her leather jacket and tossed it aside before rolling her shoulders loose. Her expression was stern and disciplined. But not hostile.

Zane raised his voice once again. "Stage Two... Endurance."

His gaze swept over both Nova and me. "The conditions are equal, and the rules are simple."

"You will face Beta Nova in hand-to-hand combat while remaining entirely in your human forms. No shifting. No claws. This trial is based solely on physical strength, speed, and combat skill."

He paused.

"The objective is not victory."

"It's your ability to stay on your feet and continue fighting until the allotted time expires."

Nova stepped fully into the circle and settled into a fighting stance directly across from me. The difference in experience between us alone was enough to tighten the air. She was one of this pack's military leaders. A veteran wolf who had defended these borders for years and survived countless battles.

"When you're ready," Nova said.

Her tone carried a hint of challenge. But the seriousness in her eyes made one thing perfectly clear. She wouldn't go easy on me. I lowered my center of gravity and raised my guard. The instant I nodded Nova moved.

A wolf's speed, even in human form, existed far beyond what an ordinary person could perceive. I barely caught sight of her first right hook. I tried to lean back at the last second, but her fist still grazed just beneath my cheekbone, throwing me off balance.

As I staggered backward, she didn't hesitate. Twisting her body, she drove a brutal kick straight into my ribs. I hit the stone floor hard. A muffled groan escaped my lips.

A sharp, stabbing pain exploded through my side, stealing the air from my lungs. The metallic taste filling my mouth told me my lip had split open. A frightened cry rang out from outside the circle. Ivy.

Kai's fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. Cassian couldn't stand still. He paced back and forth, grinding his teeth hard enough that I thought they might shatter just to keep himself from growling.

The agony burning in his eyes...

The admiration mixed with it...

It became fuel.

"Is that all you've got, Bloom?"

Nova stood several steps away, watching me carefully. "Stay down."

Give in to the pain? Never. Instead of staying down, I planted both palms against the cold stone beneath me. The instant I did...

My healing surged through my body again. The throbbing in my split lip faded within seconds. The bleeding slowed. The bruising spreading across my ribs began disappearing as my accelerated regeneration repaired the damaged tissue from within.

Feeling my body recover sharpened my mind. And fed the stubborn determination burning inside me. I pushed myself to my feet. Raised my guard again. Then looked Nova directly in the eye. A faint smile curved across my lips as I wiped away the blood with my tongue.

"We're just getting started."

A flash of approval crossed Nova's face before she charged again. This time, I slipped beneath her rapid left-right combination. I ducked. Pivoted.

Then drove a hard left fist into the opening she'd left in her torso. It wasn't enough to seriously hurt a wolf. But it was enough to force her back a step. She recovered instantly.

A vicious elbow slammed into me, sending me stumbling backward once more. The fight became a true battle of endurance. Blow after blow landed. My back slammed against the stone.

My shoulders screamed. Pain spread through every inch of my body. But every time I fell... I got back up. Each time more stubborn. More focused. More determined than before.

I didn't have to defeat Nova.

The rules were simple. I only had to keep fighting until time ran out. And every single time I stood again, I proved to the entire pack that I possessed a wolf's relentless spirit...

And endurance far beyond that of any ordinary human. Nova's final kick sent me flying backward once more. I landed flat on my back. I was breathing hard. Sweat soaked my body. Every muscle ached.

But my mind remained perfectly clear. I had just started pushing myself upright, ready to launch another attack when Zane's booming voice echoed across the ritual grounds.

"Time's up!"

The tension gripping the clearing vanished instantly. I let myself fall back onto the stone.

Lying there, I stared up through the towering oak branches covering the night sky and drew in a long, satisfying breath. Already, the bruises and aches across my body were beginning to fade beneath the relentless work of my wolf blood.

A shadow appeared above me. Nova. She was no longer in a fighting stance. The hard expression she'd worn throughout the trial had disappeared completely. Instead, she was smiling. A genuine, warm smile.

She held out her hand. I took it. With one effortless pull, she lifted me to my feet. After we shook hands, she surprised me.

Without letting go, she tugged me forward and wrapped both arms tightly around me. Leaning close enough that only I could hear, she whispered. "You did an incredible job, Bloom."

A smile touched her voice. "You've cleared Stage Two." She gave my shoulder one final squeeze. "You're going to fit into this pack just fine."

Nova stepped away and returned to the other leaders. I lifted my chin and looked toward the crowd. Two stages were behind me. And the unstoppable surge of strength flowing through my body whispered only one thing. I was going to win this fight.