Chapter 4: The wild wolf
Pandora
The wolf lumbered closer, its fur gleaming in the glow of the fireplace. Green eyes scrutinized me, appraisingly, without blinking. It seemed I wouldn’t survive the first round of the game; I was about to become this wolf’s dinner. My pack had never been a fighter, just a hider, a ghost on the fringes. That was what we knew. We prayed, too, begged the moon for mercy. Tonight, I begged him.
“Slayer? Is that your name? I apologize if I've bothered you. Is this your place?” I asked, crawling back as best I could. With a name like that, he didn't exactly seem cuddly. The old women in my pack always said wild wolves were vengeful creatures, agents of the moon who carried off sinful souls. To be honest, there were worse people here than me.
Slayer didn’t growl, but he kept coming. I backed away, and he took another step.
“Please, don’t hurt me. I just wanted to sleep for a while,” I said. Then he growled and, to my horror, his jaw closed around my ankle. I screamed out until I realized he wasn’t biting. No pressure, no pain. He tugged, dragging me across the floor. As if understanding he might injure me, he released my ankle and caught my sweatshirt instead, hauling me along with surprising care.
“Wait… where are you taking me?” I asked as we reached the edge of the bed. I scrambled upright. The wolf leapt onto it, high, crisp, surely comfortable, and I froze. “You want me to lie here?” I asked. I must have sounded mad, talking to a wild wolf. He stretched out on the mattress, and the answer was obvious. Nervously, I climbed onto the bed, hoping he would move away; instead, he edged closer, nosed the blankets and sheets, then flicked them open in a clear instruction to get underneath. When I did, he nudged the covers into place over me, tucking me in like a child.
“That was… thank you,” I whispered, sleep seeping through my bones. At this point, if he decided to bite me in my sleep, I might have thanked him for the courtesy. I felt him settle at my side, a warm, soft-furred presence. I didn’t check. The moment felt like a dream threaded with nightmare. Had that terrifying wolf really told me to sleep in his master’s bed? Maybe he wanted me to be well-rested before he finished me off. His master… my enemy. Would he return?
It was still early when a knock sounded and a blond beta stepped in.
“Miss? I’m Piero, Alpha Tristan’s beta...you know, the grumpy alpha from yesterday.”
In the last hours, people had called me “Miss” more than once. No one ever had before.
“Pandora,” I said, sitting up, heavy with sleep. To my surprise, the wolf was still beside me. Piero noticed, brows lifting.
“I see Slayer’s been keeping watch. I brought you some clothes; we need to get you ready,” he said, offering a black tracksuit with a kind smile. Breakfast arrived, and he gave me privacy to bathe. The outfit, track pants, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket stitched with the emblem of Pierced Moon fit well.
Slayer shadowed us closely. We passed along corridors of the vast building, each floor marked by different colors and banners, with gyms and training spaces branching off. Piero drew many looks, especially from women. He was attractive, yes, but there was something unusual in his charm.
“I’m sorry you lost your position in the game,” I said. He glanced at me, puzzled.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for; it was the Moon’s decision, Miss. I only worry about you,” he replied. Strange, to see such faith in a rogue. “All right, let’s see,” he added, and my stomach tightened as we stepped into a gym full of werewolves. “What skills do you have, Miss?”
“None,” I muttered, lowering my gaze. He crouched so I had to meet his eyes.
“I’m sure you do,” he said, smiling. “Wolves from your region are fast and quiet,” he added, then ran me through a few tests, weights, and short sprints. Slayer watched, attentive, nudging me with his snout as if to urge me on. “Not bad. We can work with that.”
“I suppose the game is terrible.”
“Some phases are,” he admitted. “But not everything depends on strength, you’ll see. You can handle this, I’m sure of it.” He had so much faith in me that I almost believed him. Then his expression shifted, as if a message had just landed.
“They’ve moved up the briefing. A critical piece of Zero Point leaked; it’s the kickoff, the foundation, crucial to everything.” Slayer sprinted ahead and vanished around a corner.
“Yes. No one is supposed to have the instructions. Each phase allows only a few hours of preparation, just enough to devise a plan with your team,” he explained. A knot tightened in my throat: I’d be in a team with Tristan, the alpha who had destroyed my village and who undoubtedly hated me. The feeling was mutual.
“The games are run by an ancient council. We met with them two nights ago.”
When we reached the far side of the compound, a massive structure loomed before us.
"A casino?"
"It's the Grand Dome, where part of the games are held." Outside, crowds gathered; reporters swarmed.
"Is that the omega without a wolf?"
“Is she a slave?” they called out.
“Who told you that?” Piero snarled, and the crowd parted.
"It's just a rumor, beta..." one ventured. Piero grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Keep your mouths shut, worms," he growled, forcing his way through the crowd. We rode an elevator up, and the roar of voices hit us as the doors opened. Tristan’s voice cut through the din. I saw several teams clustered across the floor. Beyond them, Drogba looked amused. His gaze lingered on me, especially when he noticed the rogue emblem on my jacket.
“Tell us!”
“We have to know!” they shouted.
"What's going on, Alpha?" Piero asked.
"The information was leaked. Some teams already have it. The rest of us demand access,” Tristan spat. He kept his distance from me, glowering.
"With a little notice, we could prepare the young lady," Piero said, reaching his alpha.
Tristan roared, nearly silencing the uproar. His gaze snapped to me, blazing with loathing. A flash of green gleamed through his usually light brown eyes. What in the hell?
"Listen to me, beta. Listen carefully. She will not participate. Is that understood?"
“Alpha, with due respect... what the hell? She is your teammate!
“I am not playing,” he thundered. “She will not take part. I will not spend another minute near her!” He had barely finished when another player’s voice broke across the room.
“It can’t be!”
“What?” an alpha demanded, and heads turned. Faces tightened with dread.
“The Zero Point… requires a virgin.”
“What did you say?” Tristan demanded, stunned.
“The first phase is to find an adult virgin,” the master of ceremonies said with a snort. All eyes swung to me. Piero’s mouth tipped into a faint smile.
“What were you saying, Alpha?”