Chapter 17

Chiara's POV

Sweat drips down my face as I land one final hit on the punching bag I found to be my partner this training class. I was already partnerless, but the combination of beating Alice a few weeks ago, and my new reputation from the picture has made people avoid me like the plague.

I may not have anyone to spar with, but I haven’t let that stop me. I lift weights, I practice my aim, and most importantly I put everything into this training. Passing this class is my one shot at getting out of this hellhole and I won’t let that pass me by.

I grab my towel out of my bag and wipe my forehead, waiting for the couple of girls ahead of me to take their leave before I move to the weights station. As they go, I can’t help but overhear their conversation.

“I know it’s just a rumor, but I really think it’s true!”

The other girl nods. “I think so too, it explains why Alice has been working so hard. She wants to be Vedant’s Luna.”

The first girl giggles. “I say I blame her. It would be an honor to even be considered and Vedant’s really cute.”

The other girl laughs. “You better not let Alice hear you say that. She’s going to think you’re trying to steal her man.”

“I would never. Yes, he is objectively eye candy, but Alice and Vedant have known each other since they were kids since he’s friends with her brother Simon. It’s so cute.”

The other girl lets out a dreamy sigh, “They are definitely meant to be. It’s so romantic.”

I don’t bother to hold back my eyeroll at their conversation. Some people have a better reason for passing the training class than becoming Vedant’s Luna. I wait until they are a reasonable distance away before following but quickly catch up when they come to a stop.

The girls shush each other, barely containing their giggles. I peer around them to see what the holdup is only to be met by the sight of Alice and Vedant themselves.

Alice laughs at something Vedant says, looking up and leaning into them. I do my best to stay indifferent, but the sight of them together causes the mate bond between me and Vedant to flare. Alice grabs Vedant’s arm, letting him escort her to her next destination and the sharp pain in my chest nearly brings me to my knees.

I shake it off and make it to the weights, but the afternoon heat combine with the pain starts to make my head spin. Alice finally lets go of Vedant’s arm and makes her way to her station, and the pain eases, but the dizziness does not.

Alice casts a glance my way as she walks by and smirks. “You seem like you’re really struggling over there. It’s probably better to not waste the time or the effort on training. You don’t even have a wolf, and I’m definitely going to win first place.”

I hold back my sigh as Alice steps closer, a menacing look in her eye. “You will never be Vedant’s Luna,” she whispers, stepping back.

Alice walks away and I shake off her words, pushing past the afternoon heat. I know I can do this. I don’t need to be first, I only need to pass. The moment I am approved for warrior training, I will demand that Vedant release me from out mate bond so I can leave and protect the pack.

I will complete my service and then take Felix up on his offer. I will not be beholden to this pack any longer. I will escape.

Everybody thinks that I am wolfless, but I have Molly’s strength to draw upon. Let them underestimate me, they will regret it when it comes to the final challenge and I will earn my spot amongst the warriors.

I finish my set and make my way to the challenge ring. There are only a few people who haven’t completed their final challenge, so I know my time is drawing near. As I approach, I realize that I am the only person who hasn’t been called on.

I gasp. I should have been paying attention, but the first few matches had been called at random, meant to eliminate the weak. I hadn’t realized how much time had passed or that I would be fighting in the final round.

Alice stands in the middle of the ring practically snarling after her last victory. She is ready for blood.

For a moment I remember Alice’s face in the forest, moments before she put a bat to my face. I shudder, the memories flooding back.

I shake my head refusing to shrink. Alice had already brutalized me once. I won’t let her do it again.

I take a deep breath and steel myself for the fight ahead. It doesn’t matter that I am facing off against Alice, I need to win. I refuse to live in hell for another day.

Alice smirks and lunges toward me, but I’ve seen her fight. I quickly maneuver out of the way, leaving her to fall on her face.

She shoots back up and whips around to face me. She doesn’t make the same mistake of falling, but I still manage to get around her attacks, intentionally slowing myself, so she doesn’t realize I have the upper hand.

When I realize that she is primarily aiming for my left side in order to throw me off balance, my strategy shifts. She shoots for my upper left and I go for her lower right, sweeping her leg. She lands hard on her back and I can’t help the grin that crosses my lips.

I’ve done it. I am going to earn top girl in the class and win my freedom. I am about to land the winning blow on Alice when Alice lets out a deep, primal groan of pain.

I pause for a second but continue to swing my arm down. My freedom is more important than Alice’s temporary injury. I continue to swing my arm until I hear the sharp sound of a whistle in the background.

The referee is ending the match. I try to stop, but the momentum of my swing is too much. I close my eyes, but I feel strong hands wrap around my arm before I can make contact with Alice.

I turn and see Vedant behind me, seething. Before I can explain myself a crowd begins to gather, with Alice’s brother Simon leading the charge.

The blood drains from my face as I see Simon’s expression. He looks murderous, like he really thinks that I hurt Alice in some way.

“What were you thinking? You could have killed her. Is that what you wanted?”

I do my best to find the words, but nothing I can think of sounds right. Eventually I shake my head. “No. I didn’t mean to. She was-“

Panic wells in my chest as I survey the scene around me. Everyone already thinks that I’m a monster, why wouldn’t they think that I hurt Alice on purpose. I look to Vedant hoping he will come to my defense but he snarls. “What did you do to her?”